Hamiltonian nilpotent centers of linear plus cubic homogeneous polynomial vector fields

We provide normal forms and the global phase portraits in the Poincaré disk for all Hamiltonian nilpotent centers of linear plus cubic homogeneous planar polynomial vector fields.     

Control of the water adhesion on hydrophobic micropillars by spray coating technique

We present an alternative approach for controlling the water adhesion on solid superhydrophobic surfaces by varying their coverage with a spray coating technique. In particular, micro-, submicro-, and nanorough surfaces were developed starting from photolithographically tailored SU-8 micropillars that were used as substrates for spraying first poly(tetrafluoroethylene) submicrometer particles and subsequently iron oxide nanoparticles. The sprayed particles serve to induce surface submicrometer and nanoscale roughness, rendering the SU-8 patterns superhydrophobic (apparent contact angle values of more than 150°), and also to tune the water adhesion between extreme states, turning the surfaces from “non-sticky” to “sticky” while preserving their superhydrophobicity. The influence of the chemical properties and of the geometrical characteristics of the functionalized surfaces on the wetting properties is discussed within the frame of the theory. This simple method can find various applications in the fabrication of microfluidic devices, smart surfaces, and biotechnological and antifouling materials.     

Benzotriazole-mediated syntheses of depsipeptides and oligoesters

Reactions of O-Pg(α-hydroxyacyl)benzotriazoles with (a) unprotected α-hydroxycarboxylic acids, (b) amino acids, and (c) amines afforded, respectively, chirally pure (a) oligoesters, (b) depsidipeptides, and (c) amide conjugates (yields 52-94%). N-Pg(α-Aminoacyl)benzotriazoles reacted with α-hydroxycarboxylic acids to yield depsidipeptides (47-87%). N-Pg(depsidipeptidoyl)benzotriazoles, obtained from depsidipeptides, gave depsitripeptides (yields 55-78%) on reaction with amino acids and α-hydroxycarboxylic acids. O-Acylation of α-hydroxycarboxylic acids with N-Pg(α-aminoacyl)benzotriazoles followed by deprotection produced unprotected depsides useful for the preparation of depsitripeptides.     

Advances in Fibrin-Based Materials in Wound Repair: A Review

The first bioprocess that occurs in response to wounding is the deterrence of local hemorrhage. This is accomplished by platelet aggregation and initiation of the hemostasis cascade. The resulting blood clot immediately enables the cessation of bleeding and then functions as a provisional matrix for wound healing, which begins a few days after injury. Here, fibrinogen and fibrin fibers are the key players, because they literally serve as scaffolds for tissue regeneration and promote the migration of cells, as well as the ingrowth of tissues. Fibrin is also an important modulator of healing and a host defense system against microbes that effectively maintains incoming leukocytes and acts as reservoir for growth factors. This review presents recent advances in the understanding and applications of fibrin and fibrin-fiber-incorporated biomedical materials applied to wound healing and subsequent tissue repair. It also discusses how fibrin-based materials function through several wound healing stages including physical barrier formation, the entrapment of bacteria, drug and cell delivery, and eventual degradation. Pure fibrin is not mechanically strong and stable enough to act as a singular wound repair material. To alleviate this problem, this paper will demonstrate recent advances in the modification of fibrin with next-generation materials exhibiting enhanced stability and medical efficacy, along with a detailed look at the mechanical properties of fibrin and fibrin-laden materials. Specifically, fibrin-based nanocomposites and their role in wound repair, sustained drug release, cell delivery to wound sites, skin reconstruction, and biomedical applications of drug-loaded fibrin-based materials will be demonstrated and discussed.