Genipin‐crosslinked gelatin hydrogel incorporated with PLLA‐nanocylinders as a bone scaffold: Synthesis,characterization, and mechanical properties evaluation

Nowadays, despite remarkable progress in developing bone tissue engineering products, the fabrication of an ideal scaffold that could meet the main criteria, such as providing mechanical properties and suitable biostability as well as mimicking the bone extracellular matrix, still seems challenging. In this regard, utilizing combinatorial approaches seems more beneficial. Here, we aim to reinforce the mechanical characteristics of gelatin hydrogel via a combination of Genipin‐based chemical cross‐linking and incorporation of the poly l ‐lactic acid (PLLA) nanocylinders for application as bone scaffolds. Amine‐functionalized nanocylinders are prepared via the aminolysis procedure and incorporated in gelatin hydrogel. The nanocylinder content (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 wt%) and cross‐linking density (0.1, 0.5, and 1 wt/vol%) are optimized to achieve suitable morphology, swelling ratio, degradation rate, and mechanical behaviors. The results indicate that hydrogel scaffold cross‐linking by 0.5 wt% of Genipin shows optimized morphological feathers with a pore size of around 300 to 500 μm as well as an average degradation rate (40.09% ± 3.08%) during 32 days. Besides, the incorporation of 3 wt% PLLA nanocylinders into the cross‐linked gelatin scaffold provides an optimized mechanical reinforcement as compressive modulus, and compressive strength show a 4‐ and 2.6‐fold increase, respectively. 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay indicates that the scaffold does not have any cytotoxicity effect. In conclusion, gelatin composite reinforced with 3 wt% PLLA nanocylinders cross‐linked via 0.5 wt/vol% Genipin is suggested as a potential scaffold for bone tissue engineering applications.     

Synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles from [bis(2-hydroxyacetophenato)cobalt(II)] by thermal decomposition

[Bis(2-hydroxyacetophenato)cobalt(II)] was used as a new precursor to prepare cobalt (Co) and tricobalt tetraoxide (Co₃O₄) nanoparticles of 15–25 nm in average diameter by thermal decomposition. The different combinations of triphenylphosphine, and oleylamine were added as surfactants to control the particle size. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Time-dependent FT-IR studies indicate that oxidation of the as-synthesized cobalt nanoparticles in air is slow. The valence change of cobalt from the nanoparticle sample is not observed after it is kept in hexane under air for 30 days. The magnetic property was studied with vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The hysteresis loops of the obtained samples reveal the soft magnet behaviors the enhanced coercivity (H_c) and decreased saturation magnetization (M_s) in contrast to their respective bulk materials.     

Voltammetric determination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis>-penicillamine based on its homogeneous electrocatalytic oxidation with potassium iodide at the surface of glassy carbon electrode

The electrooxidation of D-penicillamine (D-PA) has been studied in the presence of potassium iodide in various buffered aqueous solutions (4.00 ≤ pH ≤ 9.00) at the surface of glassy carbon electrode using cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and chronoamperometry. It has been found that under optimum pH (pH 5.00) in cyclic voltammetry, the electrooxidation of D-PA in the presence of potassium iodide as a homogeneous mediator occurred at a potential about 220 mV less positive than that in absence of potassium iodide at the surface of glassy carbon electrode. The homogeneous electrocatalytic oxidation current wave of D-penicillamine was linearly dependent on the D-PA concentration and a linear calibration curve was obtained in the ranges 3.0 × 10⁻⁵−1.5 × 10⁻³ M and 9.0 × 10⁻⁶−1.2 × 10⁻⁴ M of D-PA with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods, respectively. The detection limits (2σ) were determined as 3.0 × 10⁻⁵ and 3.5 × 10⁻⁶ M with CV and DPV, respectively. This method was also used for voltammetric determination of D-PA in pharmaceutical preparation by standard addition method.     

Ni catalysts supported on nanocrystalline magnesium oxide for syngas production by CO2 reforming of CH4

CO2 reforming of methane (CDRM) was carried out over MgO supported Ni catalysts with various Ni loadings. The preparation of MgO supported Ni catalysts via surfactant-assisted precipitation method led to the formation of a nanocrystalline carrier for nickel catalysts. The synthesized samples were characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption, H2 chemisorption, TPR, TPO and SEM techniques. It was found that the high catalytic activity and stability of the prepared catalysts could be attributable to high dispersion of reduced Ni species and basicity of support surface. In addition, the effect of feed ratio, nickel loading and GHSV on the catalytic performance of CDRM over the catalysts were investigated.     

Biodegradation of Alprazolam in Pharmaceutical Wastewater Using Mesoporous Nanoparticles-Adhered Pseudomonas stutzeri

The release of pharmaceutical wastewaters in the environment is of great concern due to the presence of persistent organic pollutants with toxic effects on environment and human health. Treatment of these wastewaters with microorganisms has gained increasing attention, as they can efficiently biodegrade and remove contaminants from the aqueous environments. In this respect, bacterial immobilization with inorganic nanoparticles provides a number of advantages, in terms of ease of processing, increased concentration of the pollutant in proximity of the cell surface, and long-term reusability. In the present study, MCM-41 mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) were immobilized on a selected bacterial strain to remove alprazolam, a persistent pharmaceutical compound, from contaminated water. First, biodegrading microorganisms were collected from pharmaceutical wastewater, and Pseudomonas stutzeri was isolated as a bacterial strain showing high ability to tolerate and consume alprazolam as the only source for carbon and energy. Then, the ability of MSN-adhered Pseudomonas stutzeri bacteria was assessed to biodegrade alprazolam using quantitative HPLC analysis. The results indicated that after 20 days in optimum conditions, MSN-adhered bacterial cells achieved 96% biodegradation efficiency in comparison to the 87% biodegradation ability of Pseudomonas stutzeri freely suspended cells. Kinetic study showed that the degradation process obeys a first order reaction. In addition, the kinetic constants for the MSN-adhered bacteria were higher than those of the bacteria alone.     

Preparation and optimization of the MnCo2O4 powders for low temperature CO oxidation using the Taguchi method of experimental design

Research on Chemical Intermediates - The MnCo2O4 powders were prepared using a coprecipitation method and employed in low temperature CO oxidation. The preparation parameters in the coprecipitation...     

Functionalization of silicon nanowires by iron oxide and copper for degradation of phenol

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Iron oxide (Fe3O4) and copper-functionalized silicon nanowires (SiNWs) from silicon powder mesh?&lt;?500 with a spherical structure have been...     

Selective Oxidation of Aryl Ketones to α-Diketones with 4-Aminoperoxybenzoic Acid Supported on Silica Gel in Presence of Air

Summary. 4-Aminoperoxybenzoic acid supported on silica gel in presence of air was found to be a selective and convenient oxidant for the oxidation of methylene groups in aryl ketones to convert them to -diketones.     

Enantioselectivity of alcohol-modified polymeric surfactants in micellar electrokinetic chromatography

A novel method of modifying sodium undecanoyl-L-leucinate (SUL) micelles employed in chiral separation of analytes in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) to enhance selectivity toward specific analytes is discussed. The current study aimed at modifying the SUL micelles by introducing different alcohols into the mono-SUL micelles. The micellar solutions were then polymerized in the presence of alcohols followed by postpolymerization extraction of the alcohols to yield alcohol-free polymeric surfactants (poly-L-SUL). The effects of hexanol (C(6)OH) and undecylenyl alcohol (C(11)OH) on micellar properties of this surfactant were investigated by use of surface tensiometry, fluorescence spectroscopy, pulsed field gradient-nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG-NMR), and MEKC. The surface tension and PFG-NMR studies indicated an increase in the critical micelle concentration (cmc) and micellar size upon increasing the alcohol concentration. Fluorescence measurements suggested that alcohols induce closely packed micellar structures. Coumarinic and benzoin derivatives, as well as (+/-)-1, 1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-dihydrogen phosphate (BNP) were used as test analytes for MEKC experiments. Examination of MEKC data showed remarkable resolutions and capacity factors of coumarinic derivatives obtained with modified poly-L-SUL as compared to the unmodified poly-L-SUL. Evaluation of fluorescence, PFG-NMR, and MEKC data suggest a strong correlation between the polarity and hydrodynamic radii of alcohol-modified micelles and the resolution of the test analytes.