Enhanced electrochemical stability of carbon-coated antimony nanoparticles with sodium alginate binder for sodium-ion batteries

The poor cycling stability of antimony during a repeated sodium ion insertion and desertion process is the key issue, which leads to an unsatisfactory application as an anode material in a sodium-ion battery. Addressed at this, we report a facile two-step method to coat antimony nanoparticles with an ultrathin carbon layer of few nanometers (denoted Sb@C NPs) for sodium-ion battery anode application. This carbon layer could buffer the volume change of antimony in the charge-discharge process and improve the battery cycle performance. Meanwhile, this carbon coating could also enhance the interfacial stability by firmly connecting the sodium alginate binders through its oxygen-rich surface. Benefitted from these advantages, an improved initial discharge capacity (788.5?mA?h?g^?1) and cycling stability capacity (553?mA?h?g^?1 after 50 times cycle) have been obtained in a battery using Sb@C NPs as anode materials at 50?mA?g^?1.     

海藻酸钙包覆聚苯乙烯磺酸钠软胶囊去除废水中Cu2+和Cd2+

采用滴定-固化包裹法制备得到以海藻酸钙(Alg)为壳,内包聚苯乙烯磺酸钠溶液(PSSA)的椭球状软胶囊 (PSSA@Alg软胶囊),用其吸附溶液中的Cu(II)和Cd(II).结果表明: PSSA@ Alg 软胶囊对溶液中Cu(II)和Cd(II) 的吸附量随溶液 pH 升高而增大,吸附过程包括表面吸附和固态海藻酸钙壳内缓慢扩散, 符合拟二级动力学模型, 分别在约240,360 min时达到吸附平衡;等温吸附数据与Langmuir模型拟合良好,25 ℃ 条件下,PSSA@Alg软胶囊 对Cu(II)和Cd(II)的最大吸附量分别为143.92,193.64 mg·g^-1． 海藻酸钙上的羧基和聚苯乙烯磺酸钠上的磺酸基 团在重金属离子吸附过程中起重要作用．     

Improvement of the Antimicrobial Activity of Oregano Oil by Encapsulation in Chitosan—Alginate Nanoparticles

Oregano oil (OrO) possesses well-pronounced antimicrobial properties but its application is limited due to low water solubility and possible instability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility to incorporate OrO in an aqueous dispersion of chitosan—alginate nanoparticles and how this will affect its antimicrobial activity. The encapsulation of OrO was performed by emulsification and consequent electrostatic gelation of both polysaccharides. OrO-loaded nanoparticles (OrO-NP) have small size (320 nm) and negative charge (−25 mV). The data from FTIR spectroscopy and XRD analyses reveal successful encapsulation of the oil into the nanoparticles. The results of thermogravimetry suggest improved thermal stability of the encapsulated oil. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of OrO-NP determined on a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens (ISO 20776-1:2006) are 4–32-fold lower than those of OrO. OrO-NP inhibit the respiratory activity of the bacteria (MTT assay) to a lower extent than OrO; however, the minimal bactericidal concentrations still remain significantly lower. OrO-NP exhibit significantly lower in vitro cytotoxicity than pure OrO on the HaCaT cell line as determined by ISO 10993-5:2009. The irritation test (ISO 10993-10) shows no signs of irritation or edema on the application site. In conclusion, the nanodelivery system of oregano oil possesses strong antimicrobial activity and is promising for development of food additives.     

NaCl 对海藻酸钠/多壁碳纳米管复合溶液流变性能的影响

本文研究了不同氯化钠（NaCl）浓度,不同温度下的海藻酸钠（SA）及其与多壁碳纳米管（MWCNTs）复合溶液的流变行为。利用 Ostwald’s 和 Arrhenius 方程计算得出溶液的非牛顿指数和粘流活化能。结果表明,纺丝溶液属于非牛顿流体,溶液的零剪切粘度随着NaCl浓度的增加逐渐增加,非牛顿指数却逐渐降低。MWCNTs 的加入使得SA溶液的粘流活化能降低,说明 MWCNTs 的加入增加了溶液的流动性。     

Fucoidan and Alginate from the Brown Algae Colpomenia sinuosa and Their Combination with Vitamin C Trigger Apoptosis in Colon Cancer

Brown seaweeds are producers of bioactive molecules which are known to inhibit oncogenic growth. Here, we investigated the antioxidant, cytotoxic, and apoptotic effects of two polysaccharides from the brown algae Colpomenia sinuosa, namely fucoidan and alginate, in a panel of cancer cell lines and evaluated their effects when combined with vitamin C. Fucoidan and alginate were isolated from brown algae and characterized by HPLC, FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy. The results indicated that highly sulfated fucoidans had higher antioxidant and cytotoxic effects than alginate. Human colon cancer cells were the most sensitive to the algal treatments, with fucoidan having an IC₅₀ value (618.9 µg/mL⁻¹) lower than that of alginate (690 µg/mL⁻¹). The production of reactive oxygen species was increased upon treatment of HCT-116 cells with fucoidan and alginate, which suggest that these compounds may trigger cell death via oxidative damage. The combination of fucoidan with vitamin C showed enhanced effects compared to treatment with fucoidan alone, as evidenced by the significant inhibitory effects on HCT-116 colon cancer cell viability. The combination of the algal polysaccharides with vitamin C caused enhanced degeneration in the nuclei of cells, as evidenced by DAPI staining and increased the subG1 population, suggesting the induction of cell death. Together, these results suggest that fucoidan and alginate from the brown algae C. sinuosa are promising anticancer compounds, particularly when used in combination with vitamin C.     

固定化细胞法脱除二氧化硫

运用正交实验确定了海藻酸钠包埋法制备固定化细胞的最优操作条件,并研究了固定床生化反应器中固定化细胞对低浓度SO2废气的去除能力.结果表明,制备固定化细胞的最优条件是:细胞量为0.3 g、海藻酸钠质量浓度为3%、氯化钙质量浓度为4%、固定时间为14 h.在无喷淋液体、气体停留时间为5 s、SO2入口浓度低于7 mg/L时,固定化细胞对SO2的净化效率达90%、最大生化去除量为240 mg/(L.h).固定化细胞的降解能力可以通过向反应器中鼓入空气并喷淋液体的方式在2 h内得到恢复.上述结果说明利用固定化细胞去除SO2废气是可行的.     

海藻酸钠溶液对阳离子聚丙烯酰胺膜污染的清洗性能研究

使用不同浓度的海藻酸钠溶液在碱性环境下对阳离子聚丙烯酰胺(CPAM)污染膜进行清 洗, 测量清洗前后膜的纯水通量及孔径变化,探讨海藻酸钠对CPAM污染膜的清洗流程与清洗效果. 结果表明, 使用质量分数为0.05%~0.70%氢氧化钠与0.03%~0.09%海藻酸钠共混溶液对膜进行清洗, 可以有效地恢复膜的纯水通量, 但是直接清洗会导致膜孔径变大, 膜表皮受损; 而在过滤前将膜预先浸泡在质量分数为0.05%~0.10%可溶性阴离子聚合物海藻酸钠溶液中, 可在膜表面形成海藻酸钠预保护层, 在其过滤CPAM污水受到污染后, 再采用碱性海藻酸钠溶液清洗2~3h, 就可在膜表面形成由海藻酸钠预保护层-CPAM污染层-海藻酸钠清洗层构成的可溶性的“三明治”型聚集体, 在保护膜结构和过滤孔径基本不变的基础上实现清洗效果, 且多次重复清洗的膜仍具有良好的过滤性能.     

Microparticles vs. Macroparticles as Curcumin Delivery Vehicles: Structural Studies and Cytotoxic Effect in Human Adenocarcinoma Cell Line (LoVo)

This study aimed to characterize the hydrogel micro- and macro-particles designed to deliver curcumin to human colon cancer cells (LoVo). Six series of vehicles based on sodium alginate (micro- and macro-particles, uncoated, coated with chitosan or gelatin) were synthesized. The uncoated microparticles were fabricated using an emulsion-based technique and the uncoated macroparticles with an extrusion technique, with both coupled with ionotropic gelation. The surface morphology of the particles was examined with scanning electron microscopy and the average size was measured. The encapsulation efficiency, moisture content, and swelling index were calculated. The release of curcumin from the particles was studied in an experiment simulating the conditions of the stomach, intestine, and colon. To evaluate the anticancer properties of such targeted drug delivery systems, the cytotoxicity of both curcumin-loaded and unloaded carriers to human colon cancer cells was assessed. The microparticles encapsulated much less of the payload than the macroparticles and released their content in a more prolonged manner. The unloaded carriers were not cytotoxic to LoVo cells, while the curcumin-loaded vehicles impaired their viability—more significantly after incubation with microparticles compared to macroparticles. Gelatin-coated or uncoated microparticles were the most promising carriers but their potential anticancer activity requires further thorough investigation.     

Encapsulation of living cells with polymeric systems

Microencapsulation of cells producing recombinant proteins or hormones leads to immunoprotection and immobilization in culture or in vivo. We are investigating three different strategies for the production of calcium cross-linked alginate beads of a small size with immobilized and immunoprotected mammalian cells: a) the AirJet technology (coaxial gas flow extrusion), b) the vibrating nozzle technology, and c) the JetCutter technology. A alginate/poly-L-lysine/alginate complexation was used as the polymeric system. All three methods may be used for production of homogeneous beads with a diameter of approximately 350 μm. While the vibrating nozzle technique was limited to an alginate viscosity of 0.2 Pa·s or less, the AirJet and JetCutter technology were less sensitive to higher viscosities. High frequency Scanning Acoustic Microscopy is used for mechanical characterization of the microspheres as well as for investigation of surface properties.     

Structure and properties of blend membranes prepared from cellulose and alginate in NaOH/urea aqueous solution

Regenerated cellulose (RC)/alginic acid (AL) blend membranes were satisfactorily prepared from 6 wt % NaOH/4 wt % urea aqueous solution by coagulating with 5 wt % CaCl₂ aqueous solution, and then treated with 3 wt % HCl. Morphology, crystallinity, mechanical properties, and thermal stability of the membranes were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), IR and UV spectroscopes, X‐ray diffraction, tensile tests, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The RC/AL blends were miscible in all weight ratios of cellulose to alginate. The membranes have homogeneous mesh structures, and the mesh sizes of the blend membranes (200–2000 nm) significantly increased with increasing alginate content. The crystalline state of the AL membrane prepared from 6 wt % NaOH/4 wt % urea aqueous solution was broken completely, and the crystallinity of the blend membranes decreased with an increase of AL. Comparing with AL membranes, the tensile strength and breaking elongation of the blend membranes were obviously improved in dry and wet states. Therefore, the RC/AL blends offer a promising way of alginate as separate and functional materials used in the wet state. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 451–458, 2001