Evaluation of selective composite cryogel for bromate removal from drinking water

Bromate, which is a potential carcinogen, should be removed from drinking water to levels of less than 10 μg/L. A chitosan‐based molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and a sol–gel ion‐exchange double hydrous oxide (Fe₂O₃·Al₂O₃·xH₂O) adsorbent (inorganic adsorbent) were prepared for this purpose. The sorption behavior of each adsorbent including sorption kinetics, isotherms, effect of pH and selective sorption were investigated in detail. Sorption experimental results showed that the MIP adsorbents had better selectivity for bromate, even in the presence of high concentrations of nitrate, as compared to the inorganic adsorbent. It was found that pH does not affect the adsorption of bromate when using the inorganic adsorbent. Additionally, both adsorbents were immobilized in a polymeric cryogel inside plastic carriers to make them more practical for using in larger scale. Regeneration of the cryogels either containing MIP or inorganic adsorbents were carried out by 0.1 M NaOH and 0.1 M NaCl, respectively. It was found that the regenerated MIP and inorganic adsorbents could be used at least three and five times, respectively, without any loss in their sorption capacity.     

An improved capillary model for describing the microstructure characteristics, fluid hydrodynamics and breakthrough performance of proteins in cryogel beds

A capillary-based model modified for characterization of monolithic cryogels is presented with key parameters like the pore size distribution, the tortuosity and the skeleton thickness employed for describing the porous structure characteristics of a cryogel matrix. Laminar flow, liquid dispersion and mass transfer in each capillary are considered and the model is solved numerically by the finite difference method. As examples, two poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) based cryogel beds have been prepared by radical cryo-copolymerization of monomers and used to test the model. The axial dispersion behaviors, the pressure drop vs. flow rate performance as well as the non-adsorption breakthrough curves of different proteins, i.e., lysozyme, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and concanavalin A (Con A), at various flow velocities in the cryogel beds are measured experimentally. The lumped parameters in the model are determined by matching the model prediction with the experimental data. The results showed that for a given cryogel column, by using the model based on the physical properties of the cryogel (i.e., diameter, length, porosity, and permeability) together with the protein breakthrough curves one can obtain a reasonable estimate and detailed characterization of the porous structure properties of cryogel matrix, particularly regarding the number of capillaries, the capillary tortuousness, the pore size distribution and the skeleton thickness. The model is also effective with regards to predicting the flow performance and the non-adsorption breakthrough profiles of proteins at different flow velocities. It is thus expected to be applicable for characterizing the properties of cryogels and predicting the chromatographic performance under a given set of operating conditions.     

Composite cryogel with immobilized concanavalin A for affinity chromatography of glycoproteins

Composite cryogels containing porous adsorbent particles were prepared under cryogelation conditions. The composites with immobilized concanavalin A (Con A) were used for capturing glycoproteins. Adsorbent particles were introduced into the structure in order to improve the capacity and to facilitate the handling of the particles. The monolithic composite cryogels were produced from suspensions of polyvinyl alcohol particles and porous adsorbent particles and cross‐linked under acidic conditions at sub‐zero temperature. The cryogels were epoxy activated and Con A was immobilized as an affinity ligand. Binding and elution of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was studied in batch experiment and in a chromatographic setup. Increasing adsorbent concentration in composite cryogels will increase ligand density, which therefore enhances the amount of bound HRP from 0.98 till 2.9 (milligram enzyme per milliliter of gel) in the chromatographic system. The material was evaluated in 10 cycles for binding and elution of HRP.     

Oxidized Dextran as Crosslinker for Chitosan Cryogel Scaffolds and Formation of Polyelectrolyte Complexes between Chitosan and Gelatin

Macroporous scaffolds composed of chitosan and using oxidized dextran as a crosslinker are produced through cryogelation. Introducing gelatin as a third component into the structure results in the formation of mesopores in the pore walls, which are not seen if gelatin is excluded. The mesoporous structure is explained by the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes between chitosan and gelatin before crosslinking takes place. The scaffolds exhibit highly elastic properties withstanding compressions up to 60%. The in vitro biocompatibility of the cryogels is evaluated using fibroblasts from a mouse cell line (L929) and it is seen that the cells adhere and proliferate on the scaffolds. The mesoporous structure seems to have a positive effect on proliferation.

     

Mapping of the <Superscript>12</Superscript>C* states via the <Superscript>10</Superscript>B(<Superscript>3</Superscript>He,pααα) reaction

We have studied ¹²C in full kinematics via the ¹⁰B(³He,pααα) reaction at an energy of 2.45 MeV. In our data we have identified states in ¹²C from the ground state up to about 18 MeV, with spins ranging from 0 to 4. Due to the very good resolution, we are able to determine properties of these ¹²C resonances, such as their energy, width, and spin. In this contribution preliminary results from the ongoing analysis are presented. Main focus on the precise determination of the breakup spectra for all resonances.     

Poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate)‐based composite cryogel with embedded macroporous cellulose beads for the separation of human serum immunoglobulin and albumin

A novel super‐macroporous monolithic composite cryogel was prepared by embedding macroporous cellulose beads into poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) cryogel. The cellulose beads were fabricated by using a microchannel liquid‐flow focusing and cryopolymerization method, while the composite cryogel was prepared by cryogenic radical polymerization of the hydroxyethyl methacrylate monomer with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate as cross‐linker together with the cellulose beads. After graft polymerization with (vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride, the composite cryogel was applied to separate immunoglobulin‐G and albumin from human serum. Immunoglobulin‐G with a mean purity of 83.2% and albumin with a purity of 98% were obtained, indicating the composite cryogel as a promising chromatographic medium in bioseparation for the isolation of important bioactive proteins like immunoglobulins and albumins.     

Formation of macroporous self-assembled hydrogels through cryogelation of Fmoc-Phe-Phe

In this study, it was found that macroporous hydrogels were formed when self-assembly of fluorenyl-9-methoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-diphenylalanine (Phe-Phe) peptides was induced using glucono-δ-lactone (GdL) in apparently frozen samples. Formed cryogels exhibited a heterogeneous structure with pore walls of densely packed fibres of assembled dipeptides and pores in the range 10-100 μm. Hydrogels formed from the same composition above the freezing point exhibited a homogenous structure without any apparent porosity. The formed gels were characterised using microscopy techniques, CD-spectroscopy and stress sweeps. The cryogels exhibited less mechanical strength than the hydrogels that might be due to the heterogeneous structure of the former. It appeared that the self-assembled peptide both in the cryo- and hydrogel maintained the β-sheet structure commonly attributed to these.