Project description:The high capacity of calcinated layered double hydroxides (LDH) to immobilize various active molecules together with their inherent gas/vapor impermeability make these nanoparticles highly promising to be applied as nanofillers for biodegradable polyester packaging. Herein, trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium decanoate ionic liquid (IL) was immobilized on the surface of calcinated LDH. Thus, the synthesized nanoparticles were used for the preparation of polycaprolactone (PCL)/LDH nanocomposites. Two different methods of nanocomposite preparation were used and compared: microwave-assisted in situ ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ?-caprolactone (?CL) and melt-blending. The in situ ROP of ?CL in the presence of LDH nanoparticles with the immobilized IL led to homogenous nanofiller dispersion in the PCL matrix promoting formation of large PCL crystallites, which resulted in the improved mechanical, thermal and gas/water vapor barrier properties of the final nanocomposite. The surface-bonded IL thus acted as nanofiller surfactant, compatibilizer, as well as thermal stabilizer of the PCL/LDH nanocomposites. Contrary to that, the melt-blending caused a partial degradation of the immobilized IL and led to the production of PCL nanocomposites with a heterogenous nanofiller dispersion having inferior mechanical and gas/water vapor barrier properties.
Project description:In this research, a low molecular weight poly(lactic acid) (or PLA) synthesized from direct polycondensation was melt compounded with urea to formulate slow-release fertilizer (SRF). We studied the influence of the molecular weight (MW) of PLA as a matrix and the urea composition of SRF towards release kinetics in water at 30 °C. The physical appearance of solid samples, the change in urea concentration, and acidity (pH) of water were monitored periodically during the release test. Three studied empirical models exhibited that diffusion within the matrix dominated the urea release process, especially when the release level was less than 60%. Thus, a lower MW of PLA and a higher urea content of SRF showed a faster release rate. For the entire length of the release experiment, a combination of diffusion and degradation mechanisms exhibited the best agreement with the experimental data. The hydrolytic degradation of PLA may begin after 96 h of immersion (around 60% release level), followed by the appearance of some micro-holes and cracks on the surface of the SRF samples. Generally, this research revealed the good release performance of urea without residues that damage the soil structure and nutrient balance.
Project description:Abstract: Clay-polymer nanocomposites have exhibited a great potential as carriers for controlled release drug delivery. This study aims to prepare exfoliated montmorillonite-Eudragit RS nanocomposites using reactive melt extrusion and investigate the influence of claying loading, clay types (sodium montmorillonite (Cloisite Na) vs. organomodified montmorillonite (Cloisite 20)) on clay-polymer interactions and drug release properties. The clays were used as the filler material at various levels in Eudragit RS and theophylline was used as the active pharmaceutical ingredient. The resulting structure of the nanocomposites was characterized using TEM (transmission electron microscopy) and XRPD (X-ray powder diffraction). The hygroscopicity of the nanocomposites was investigated using DVS (dynamic vapor sorption). The effect of the interfacial interaction between the polymer and clay sheet, the clay loading as well as the clay type on the drug release behavior were further studied by dissolution testing. TEM and XRPD data show that when the clay content is increased from 5% to 15% by weight, the nanocomposite's structure switches from a fully exfoliated state to intercalated structures or partial exfoliation with stacked clay layers. FT-IR (fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and ssNMR (solid-state NMR) results suggest that Cloisite Na and Cloisite 20 layers exhibit different interaction strengths with polymer networks by creating compacted complex structures. The addition of nanoclay in the formulation could robustly adjust drug release profiles, and the clay concentration and type are important factors that affect the crossing-linking density of the nanocomposites by adjusting the drug release properties. This study indicates that the clay-Eudragit RS nanocomposites provide an improved oral controlled drug delivery system that minimizes the drug dosing frequency, potentially leading to improved patient compliance.
Project description:Viral nanoparticles have been utilized as a platform for vaccine development and are a versatile system for the display of antigenic epitopes for a variety of disease states. However, the induction of a clinically relevant immune response often requires multiple injections over an extended period of time, limiting patient compliance. Polymeric systems to deliver proteinaceous materials have been extensively researched to provide sustained release, which would limit administration to a single dose. Melt-processing is an emerging manufacturing method that has been utilized to create polymeric materials laden with proteins as an alternative to typical solvent-based production methods. Melt-processing is advantageous because it is continuous, solvent-free, and 100% of the therapeutic protein is encapsulated. In this study, we utilized melt-encapsulation to fabricate viral nanoparticle laden polymeric materials that effectively deliver intact particles and generate carrier specific antibodies in vivo. The effects of initial processing and postprocessing on particle integrity and aggregation were studied to develop processing windows for scale-up and the creation of more complex materials. The dispersion of particles within the PLGA matrix was studied, and the effect of additives and loading level on the release profile was determined. Overall, melt-encapsulation was found to be an effective method to produce composite materials that can deliver viral nanoparticles over an extended period and elicit an immune response comparable to typical administration schedules.
Project description:Polybutylene Succinate (PBS)/Graphene nanoplatelets (GnP) nanocomposites over a range of GnP from 0 to 1.35 wt.%. were prepared by a melt process. A mixture of individual graphene nanosheets and aggregates was obtained by the addition of GnP in the PBS matrix. The presence of these fillers did not significantly modify the morphology, crystalline microstructure of the matrix or its thermal stability. However, a slight reinforcement effect of PBS was reported in the presence of GnP. The water sorption isotherm modelling with Guggenheim, Andersen and De Boer (GAB) equation and Zimm-Lundberg theory allowed a phenomenological analysis at the molecular scale. The presence of GnP did not modify the water sorption capacity of the PBS matrix. From a kinetic point of view, a decrease of the diffusion coefficient with the increasing GnP content was obtained and was attributed to a tortuosity effect. The influence of water activity was discussed over a range of 0.5 to 1 and 0 to 0.9 for water and dioxygen permeability. Improvement of the barrier properties by 38% and 35% for water and dioxygen permeability respectively were obtained.
Project description:Composites of polyolefin matrices (HDPE and PP) were prepared by melt processing using two commercially available nano ZnO powders (Zinkoxyd aktiv and Zano 20). The mechanical and thermal properties, UV-Vis stability, and antibacterial activity of composites were studied. Tensile testing revealed that both nano ZnO types have no particular effect on the mechanical properties of HDPE composites, while some positive trends are observed for the PP-based composites, but only when Zano 20 was used as a nanofiller. Minimal changes in mechanical properties of composites are supported by an almost unaffected degree of crystallinity of polymer matrix. All polyolefin/ZnO composites exposed to artificial sunlight for 8-10 weeks show more pronounced color change than pure matrices. This effect is more evident for the HDPE than for the PP based composites. Color change also depends on the ZnO concentration and type; composites with Zano 20 show more intense color changes than those prepared with Zinkoxyd aktiv. Results of the antibacterial properties study show very high activity of polyolefin/ZnO composites against Staphylococcus aureus regardless of the ZnO surface modification, while antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli shows only the composites prepared with unmodified ZnO. This phenomenon is explained by different membrane structure of gram-positive (S. aureus) and gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria.
Project description:The obtaining and characterization of some polymeric eco-composites based on wood sawdust and natural rubber is presented. The natural rubber was cross-linked using the electron beam irradiation. The irradiation doses were of 75, 150, 300 and 600 kGy and the concentrations of wood sawdust were of 10 and 20 phr, respectively. As a result of wood sawdust adding, the physical and mechanical properties such as hardness, modulus at 100% elongation and tensile strength, showed significant improvements. The presence of wood sawdust fibers has a reinforcing effect on natural rubber, similar or better than of mineral fillers. An increase in the irradiation dose leads to the increasing of cross-link density, which is reflected in the improvement of hardness, modulus at 100% elongation and tensile strength of blends. The cross-linking rates, appreciated using the Flory-Rehner equation, have increased with the amount of wood sawdust in blends and with the irradiation dose. Even if the gel fraction values have varied irregularly with the amount of wood sawdust and irradiation dose it was over 90% for all blends, except for the samples without wood sawdust irradiated with 75 kGy. The water uptake increased with increasing of fiber content and decreased with the irradiation dose.
Project description:Infections caused by bacterial biofilms are an emerging threat to human health. Conventional antibiotic therapies are ineffective against biofilms due to poor penetration of the extracellular polymeric substance secreted by colonized bacteria coupled with the rapidly growing number of antibiotic-resistant strains. Essential oils are promising natural antimicrobial agents; however, poor solubility in biological conditions limits their applications against bacteria in both dispersed (planktonic) and biofilm settings. We report here an oil-in-water cross-linked polymeric nanocomposite (?250 nm) incorporating carvacrol oil that penetrates and eradicates multidrug-resistant (MDR) biofilms. The therapeutic potential of these materials against challenging wound biofilm infections was demonstrated through specific killing of bacteria in a mammalian cell-biofilm coculture wound model.
Project description:Silver nanoparticles and silver-graphene oxide nanocomposites were fabricated using a rapid and green microwave irradiation synthesis method. Silver nanoparticles with narrow size distribution were formed under microwave irradiation for both samples. The silver nanoparticles were distributed randomly on the surface of graphene oxide. The Fourier transform infrared and thermogravimetry analysis results showed that the graphene oxide for the AgNP-graphene oxide (AgGO) sample was partially reduced during the in situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Both silver nanoparticles and AgGO nanocomposites exhibited stronger antibacterial properties against Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli) than against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphyloccocus aureus and Staphyloccocus epidermidis). The AgGO nanocomposites consisting of approximately 40 wt.% silver can achieve antibacterial performance comparable to that of neat silver nanoparticles.
Project description:Stainless steel (SS) surfaces were grafted with poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) brushes that were post-modified using allylamine, diallylamine, and propylamine as reagents. Likewise, poly[2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] brushes were synthesized. All samples were compression molded with uncured ethylene-propylene-diene M-class rubber and dicumyl peroxide and vulcanized for 12 min at 170 °C. The efficiency of the novel bonding solution was evaluated through peel experiments. Two parameters, the fracture toughness () and the cohesive-to-adhesive fracture ratio (A r), were calculated to evaluate the strength and the performance of the coupling, respectively. For the nanometer-thin PGMA films modified with allylamine, in particular, full cohesive fracture was obtained. The obtained values of (15.4 ± 1.1 N mm-1) and A r (1.00 ± 0.01) matched those obtained for a micrometer-thick commercial bonding agent. Cross-linking of polymer brushes by intermolecular reactions by the primary amines proved to have a significant impact on the type of fracture (cohesive/adhesive) and the performance of the adhesives.