Deposition Patterns of Evaporating Sodium Alginate Sessile Droplets Cross-Linked by Calcium Chloride

Controllable patterning of bio-compatible polymers in the presence of a cross-linker in evaporating bi-dispersed colloidal drops is of critical importance in functional coatings, bioprinting, and food packaging. This study investigates the effect of calcium chloride and sodium alginate concentration on the evaporative deposition and elemental distribution of dried-out patterns. Different concentrations of alginate and salt in aqueous solutions are deposited on clean glass substrates to gain a deeper understanding of the final structures. Overall, the results indicate that changing the concentrations of sodium alginate and calcium chloride can significantly alter the elemental distribution and deposition uniformity of the final patterns. The modifications in relative concentration alter the physicochemical characteristics of the solution, resulting in significant changes in the pinning time and contact angle of the droplets that correspond to the alteration of the colloidal size and concentration, ultimately resulting in significant differences in deposition patterns. The dried-out patterns are categorized based on their structures and mechanisms (crystallization, sedimentation, and adsorption) controlling the evaporative deposition, and then justified based on the competitive effects of cross-linking, crystallization, and evaporation-driven flows. Using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, the elemental distribution of dried-out patterns is also mapped to substantiate the discussion made.     

Titanium-Based Nanoarchitectures for Sonodynamic Therapy-Involved Multimodal Treatments

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has considerably revolutionized the healthcare sector as a viable noninvasive therapeutic procedure. It employs a combination of low-intensity ultrasound and chemical entities, known as a sonosensitizer, to produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) for cancer and antimicrobial therapies. With nanotechnology, several unique nanoplatforms are introduced as a sonosensitizers, including, titanium-based nanomaterials, thanks to their high biocompatibility, catalytic efficiency, and customizable physicochemical features. Additionally, developing titanium-based sonosensitizers facilitates the integration of SDT with other treatment modalities (for example, chemotherapy, chemodynamic therapy, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, and immunotherapy), hence increasing overall therapeutic results. This review summarizes the most recent developments in cancer therapy and tissue engineering using titanium nanoplatforms mediated SDT. The synthesis strategies and biosafety aspects of Titanium-based nanoplatforms for SDT are also discussed. Finally, various challenges and prospects for its further development and potential clinical translation are highlighted.     

Comprehensive energy and economic transient analysis of an off-grid hydrogen car-integrated zero energy building

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - In this study, for the first time, an off-grid zero-energy building with hydrogen energy storage integrated with two hydrogen cars is simulated and...