Combined Spectroscopic and Calorimetric Studies to Reveal Absorption Mechanisms and Conformational Changes of Protein on Nanoporous Biomaterials

In this study the effect of surface modification of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) on its adsorption capacities and protein stability after immobilization of beta-lactoglobulin B (BLG-B) was investigated. For this purpose, non-functionalized (KIT-6) and aminopropyl-functionalized cubic Ia3d mesoporous silica ([n-PrNH₂-KIT-6]) nanoparticles were used as nanoporous supports. Aminopropyl-functionalized mesoporous nanoparticles exhibited more potential candidates for BLG-B adsorption and minimum BLG leaching than non-functionalized nanoparticles. It was observed that the amount of adsorbed BLG is dependent on the initial BLG concentration for both KIT-6 and [n-PrNH₂-KIT-6] mesoporous nanoparticles. Also larger amounts of BLG-B on KIT-6 was immobilized upon raising the temperature of the medium from 4 to 55 °C while such increase was undetectable in the case of immobilization of BLG-B on the [n-PrNH₂-KIT-6]. At temperatures above 55 °C the amounts of adsorbed BLG on both studied nanomaterials decreased significantly. By Differential scanning calorimetry or DSC analysis the heterogeneity of the protein solution and increase in Tm may indicate that immobilization of BLG-B onto the modified KIT-6 results in higher thermal stability compared to unmodified one. The obtained results provide several crucial factors in determining the mechanism(s) of protein adsorption and stability on the nanostructured solid supports and the development of engineered nano-biomaterials for controlled drug-delivery systems and biomimetic interfaces for the immobilization of living cells.     

Role of nano‐size SiO2 additive on the thermal behavior of cyanoacrylate nanocomposite

Nowadays, solvent‐free, one‐part cyanoacrylate adhesive is widely used in medicine and dentistry. According to a literature survey done by the authors, there are few papers concentrated on the role of nano‐sized particles on the thermal behavior of cyanoacrylate glue. Thus the main goal of the current research focused on clarifying the role of nano‐sized SiO₂ on the thermal behavior of cyanoacrylate. Thermal behavior of all materials including cyanoacrylate and its nanocomposites was studied by using Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) methods. The results of DSC analysis showed that an increase in the amount of nano‐sized SiO₂ results in decreases in the duration of cyanoacrylate curing, energy release during polymerization, and incubation time of polymerization. Furthermore, the results of TGA tests illustrated that the weight loss of cyanoacrylate strongly depends on the contents of both caffeine and SiO₂. In fact, an increase in nano‐sized SiO₂ content increases the degradation temperature of cyanoacrylate. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Optimal Inter-Basin Water Allocation Using Crisp and Fuzzy Shapley Games

In recent years, uneven distribution of available water resources as well as increasing water demands and overexploiting the water resources have brought severe need for transferring water from basins having sufficient water to basins facing water shortages. Therefore, optimal allocation of shared water resources in water transfer projects, considering the utilities of different stakeholders, physical limitations of the system and socioeconomic criteria is an important task. In this paper, a new methodology based on crisp and fuzzy Shapley games is developed for optimal allocation of inter-basin water resources. In the proposed methodology, initial water allocations are obtained using an optimization model considering an equity criterion. In the second step, the stakeholders form crisp coalitions to increase the total net benefit of the system as well as their own benefits and a crisp Shapley Value game is used to reallocate the benefits produced in the crisp coalitions. Lastly, to provide maximum total net benefit, fuzzy coalitions are constituted and the participation rates of water users to fuzzy coalitions are optimized. Then, the total net benefit is reallocated to water users in a rational and equitable way using Fuzzy Shapley Value game. The effectiveness of this method is examined by applying it to a large scale case study of water transfer from the Karoon river basin in southern Iran to the Rafsanjan plain in central Iran.     

Second-order data obtained from differential pulse voltammetry: Determination of tryptophan at a gold nanoparticles decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode

Three-way data obtained from different pulse heights of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was analyzed using multivariate curve resolution by alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) algorithm. Differential pulse voltammograms of tryptophan were recorded at a gold nanoparticles decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE/MWCNTs-nanoAu). The determination of tryptophan was performed even in the presence of unexpected electroactive interference(s). Both the simulated and experimental data were non-bilinear. Therefore a potential shift algorithm was used to correct the observed shift in the data. After correction, the data was augmented and MCR-ALS was applied to the augmented data. A relative error of prediction of less than 8% for the determination of the simulated analyte of interest and tryptophan in synthetic samples indicated that the methodology employing voltammetry and second-order calibration could be applied to complex analytical systems.     

Influence of a Reactive Organoclay on Polymerization and Properties of Polyurethane Nanocomposites

In this study, segmented polyurethane/clay nanocomposites were prepared via in situ intercalative polymerization of polyether polyol mixed nanoclay with toluene diisocyanate, followed by chain extending with 1,4-butanediol. The reactive prepolymer tended to gel by increasing the clay content from 0.4 to 1.5 wt.%. This unusual phenomenon was found to be caused by a catalytic effect of quaternary ammonium intercalant on the organoclay. The procedure used for intercalated nanocomposites, is confirmed by wide angle X-ray diffraction studies. Thermogravimetric analysis results demonstrated a very good increase in onset degradation temperature by adding only 0.8 wt.% of organoclay.     

Iron oxide/gold nanoparticles‐decorated reduced graphene oxide nanohybrid as the thermo‐radiotherapy agent

The main focus of the current study is the fabrication of a multifunctional nanohybrid based on graphene oxide (GO)/iron oxide/gold nanoparticles (NPs) as the combinatorial cancer treatment agent. Gold and iron oxide NPs formed on the GONPs via the in situ synthesis approach. The characterisations showed that gold and iron oxide NPs formed onto the GO. Cell toxicity assessment revealed that the fabricated nanohybrid exhibited negligible toxicity against MCF‐7 cells in low doses (<50 ppm). Temperature measurement showed a time and dose‐dependent heat elevation under the interaction of the nanohybrid with the radio frequency (RF) wave. The highest temperature was recorded using 200 ppm concentration nanohybrid during 40 min exposure. The combinatorial treatments demonstrated that the maximum cell death (average of 53%) was induced with the combination of the nanohybrid with RF waves and radiotherapy (RT). The mechanistic study using the flow cytometry technique illustrated that early apoptosis was the main underlying cell death. Moreover, the dose enhancement factor of 1.63 and 2.63 were obtained from RT and RF, respectively. To sum up, the authors’ findings indicated that the prepared nanohybrid could be considered as multifunctional and combinatorial cancer therapy agents.Inspec keywords: radiation therapy, toxicology, gold, biomedical materials, nanofabrication, nanoparticles, iron compounds, cancer, nanomedicine, cellular biophysics, tumours, graphene compounds, biothermicsOther keywords: graphene oxide nanohybrid, combinatorial cancer treatment agent, cell toxicity assessment, MCF‐7 cells, dose‐dependent heat elevation, multifunctional cancer therapy agents, thermoradiotherapy agent, graphene oxide‐iron oxide‐gold nanoparticles, temperature measurement, radiofrequency wave, flow cytometry, time 40.0 min, CO‐FeO‐Au     

Miscibility and tack of blends of poly (vinylpyrrolidone)/acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive

In this study, miscibility and tack of blends of poly (vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP)/acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) were evaluated. For this purpose, appropriate amounts of PVP (2–30% w/w) were added to an acrylic PSA to obtain visually homogeneous solution. The resulting solution was evenly applied on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film with final specific thicknesses of 10, 40, and 70 μm by using a film applicator and miscibility as well as tack values were evaluated. With the addition of 2% (w/w) PVP the tack value decreased and increased in 5% (w/w) PVP and then continuously decreased up to 30%(w/w). It was found that the tack value was related to miscibility as well as to viscosity and the free functional group such as hydroxyl group of the blend. By the morphological analysis performed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and also by the study of thermal analysis using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) behavior of blends, it was found that the two distinct phases constituted after adding 5% (w/w) of PVP. This resulted in the acrylic PSA forming the continuous phase, and by increasing the concentration of PVP a dispersed phase was developed. The dispersed phase has a higher viscosity than the continuous phase and therefore cannot wet the adherent and hence result in lowering the tack values.     

Least square and Kalman based methodsfor dynamic phasor estimation: a review

The characterization of sinusoidal signals with time varying amplitude and phase is useful and applicable for many fields. Therefore several algorithms have been suggested to estimate main aspects of these signals. Within no standard approach to test the properties of these algorithms, it seems to be helpful to discuss a large class of algorithms according to their properties. In this paper, six methods of estimating dynamic phasor have been reviewed and discussed which three of them are based on least square and others are based on Kalman filter. Taylor expansion is used as a first step and continued with least square or Kalman filter in accordance with the proposal observer of each method. The theoretical processes of these methods are briefly clarified. The characterizations have been made by some tests in time and frequency domains. The tests include amplitude step, phase step, frequency step, frequency response, total vector error, transient monitor, noise, sample number, computation time, harmonic and DC offset which build a framework to compare the different methods.     

Ion-exchange kinetics and thermal decomposition characteristics of Fe2+-exchanged alginic acid membrane for the formation of iron oxide nanoparticles

The ion-exchange kinetics of Fe²⁺ cations in aqueous solution with H⁺ from alginic acid have been analyzed in this study as a function of contact time lengths using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry analysis. The kinetic parameters have been evaluated using pseudo 1st or 2nd order models, and a consistent ion-exchange mechanism is suggested. Furthermore, an insight into the calcination of Fe²⁺ ion-exchanged alginic acid process has been obtained by using simultaneous thermo-gravimetric analysis coupled with differential scanning calorimetry and high temperature X-ray diffraction.     

Using Taguchi method to determine optimum process conditions for flue gas desulfurization through an amine scrubber

This study was done to determine the optimum process conditions for absorption of sulfur dioxide in a mixture of flue gases. Using a selective amine-based absorber; a high amount of SO₂ was absorbed in the scrubbing process. The process was designed to reduce the amount of sulfur dioxide. The pilot plant was designed and set up in the Research Center of Petroleum University of Technology, containing absorption and desorption stages. This paper reports an investigation of the effect and optimization of parameters that improve the efficiency of the whole process. The experiments were conducted under varying levels of desorption temperature, pH of the absorber solution, concentration of SO₂ inlet gas, and flow rate of the absorbing solution. Using Taguchi experimental design method, the optimum conditions were identified for the absorption process. An efficiency of more than 99 % could be obtained by varying the parameters in which all the released SO₂ gas was absorbed from the inlet flue gas; an achievement that is much favorable for industrial purposes.