Nano fibrillated cellulose-based foam by Pickering emulsion: Preparation,characterizations, and application as dye adsorbent

An ecofriendly and biodegradable porous structure was prepared from drying aqueous foams based on nano fibrillated cellulose (NFC), extracted from softwood pulp by subcritical water/CO₂ treatment (SC-NFC). The primary aim of this work was to use the modified SC-NFC as stabilizer for a water-based Pickering emulsion which upon drying, yielded porous cellulosic materials, a good dye adsorbent. In order to exploit the carboxymethylated SC-NFC (CMSC-NFC, with a degree of substitution of 0.35 and a charge density of 649 μeqv/g) as a stabilizer for water-based Pickering emulsion in subsequent step, an optimized quantity of octyl amine (30 mg/g of SC-NFC) was added to make them partially hydrophobic. A series of dry foam structures were prepared by varying the concentrations of treated CMSC-NFCs and 4 wt% was found to be the optimum concentration to yield foam with high porosity (99%) and low density (0.038 g/cc) along with high compression strength (0.24 MPa), superior to the conventionally extracted NFC. The foams were applied to capture as high as 98% of methylene blue dyes, making them a potential green candidate for treating industrial effluent. In addition, the dye adsorption kinetics and isotherms were found to be well suited with second order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm models.     

Development of the method of production of the ultrafine macrohomogeneous composite powder

ABSTRACT

A method of ultrafine macro-homogeneous composite powder – B₄C–ZrO₂ production using a planetary mill was developed. From the macro-homogeneous composite high-density ceramics, B₄C–ZrB₂ was produced by the method of reactive sintering (in situ) at 2000°C under the pressure of 41–42?MPa. The effect of ZrO₂ grain size and of its distribution in the matrix on the consolidation parameters, and the microstructure of the obtained ceramics was studied.     

Stability analysis and characterization of the nano emulsified Jatropha-curcas-based bio-fuel

This work investigates the suspension duration of the nanosized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) in B20, B50 and B70 blends of Jatropha Methyl ester. The MWCNT and aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) are added to the fuel blends in the proportions of 50 and 100 pmm separately by ultra sonication. The prepared fuel samples are characterized, and turbidity analysis was done to find the stability rate of nano-additives. The outcomes reveal the maximum stability rate for MWCNT and Al₂O₃ as 83.3% and 87.03%, respectively, with 50ppm in B20 over a period of eighteen days. A considerable drop in suspension was observed with the 100 ppm MWCNT and Al₂O₃ biodiesel blends.     

Robust orientation control of multi‐DOF cell based on uncertainty and disturbance estimation

Multiple degrees‐of‐freedom (multi‐DOF) cell orientation control is a vital important technique involved in single cell surgery applications. Currently, few studies have been performed toward automation of multi‐DOF cell orientation control using robotically controlled optical tweezers. In this paper, a robust control framework is developed to perform multi‐DOF cell rotational control with consideration of model uncertainties and external disturbances. Both simulation and experimental studies are presented to illustrate the performance of the proposed control strategy. The main contributions of this work lie in that this is the first time to develop a unified framework to achieve multi‐DOF cell orientation control without the need for accurate dynamic model parameters and/or any knowledge about uncertainty characteristic, which greatly enhances the robustness of the overall system.     

Multifunctional Hydrophobized Microparticles for Accelerated Wound Healing after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) provides strong therapeutic benefits for early gastrointestinal cancer as a minimally invasive treatment. However, there is currently no reliable treatment to prevent scar contracture resulting from ESD which may lead to cicatricial stricture. Herein, a multifunctional colloidal wound dressing to promote tissue regeneration after ESD is demonstrated. This sprayable wound dressing, composed of hydrophobized microparticles, exhibits the multifunctionality necessary for wound healing including tissue adhesiveness, blood coagulation, re‐epithelialization, angiogenesis, and controlled inflammation based on hydrophobic interaction with biological systems. An in vivo feasibility study using swine gastric ESD models reveals that this colloidal wound dressing suppresses fibrosis and accelerates wound healing. Multifunctional colloidal and sprayable wound dressings have an enormous therapeutic potential for use in a wide range of biomedical applications including accelerated wound healing after ESD, prevention of perforation, and the treatment of inflammatory diseases.     

Corrosion and mechanical properties of plasma electrolytic oxidation‐coated AZ80 magnesium alloy

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings were produced on AZ80 magnesium alloy in a solution containing silicates and phosphates and working at high current densities with short treatment times. The effect of a sealing treatment in boiling water on corrosion and mechanical properties of the coatings were investigated. Moreover, the corrosion mechanism of the samples with and without the sealing treatment was evaluated. The microstructure of the coatings was characterized with scanning electron microscope observation and X‐ray diffraction analysis. The mechanical properties were evaluated with nanoindentation tests and the corrosion resistance was studied by potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and scanning vibrating electrode technique. The results showed that the sealing did not influence the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the samples and instead produced a remarkable increase in the corrosion resistance. The crevice corrosion, present in the sample without the sealing, was avoided with the treatment in boiling water.     

Effect of microwave sintering on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AA7075/B4C/ZrC hybrid nano composite fabricated by powder metallurgy techniques

AA7075 + 6%B4C+3%ZrC nano hybrid composite was successfully fabricated, with nano reinforcements composition in AA7075 alloy selected based on previous investigation, to achieve better mechanical performance. Two different sintering techniques, namely conventional and microwave, were implemented to determine the effect on microstructural and mechanical properties. Microstructural investigation was performed with the help of W-SEM. Tensile, compression, and hardness were measured with the help of UTM and Vickers microhardness machine. Porosity was calculated by using Archimedes principle. It was observed that the added nano ZrC particles formed agglomerates and the B₄C particles were distributed homogenously. Composites processed by microwave sintering showed excellent mechanical properties compared to the conventionally sintered composites. No intermetallic compounds were detected in microwave sintered composites through XRD analysis, indicating strong and clean interface bonds between matrix and reinforcement particles. High strain to fracture value of 12.24% was noted in microwave sintered nano hybrid composite, while it was 6.12% for conventional sintered one. Fractography revealed no peeling action of reinforcements from the matrix material, and the mode of failure was brittle. It was concluded that, while fabricating nano range hybrid composites, the implementation of advanced sintering technique (microwave sintering) with low sintering temperatures and low sintering times with internal heat generations, helps in eliminating defects that may develop because of high surface energies of nano range reinforcements.     

单晶硅表层机械力学特性的各向异性分析

为探究挠性筋结构单晶硅材料的各向异性特性以及KOH腐蚀工艺对其力学性能的影响规律,进行纳米压痕实验,并结合原子力显微镜观察单晶硅表层3个主晶面上压痕裂纹形貌随晶向的变化规律,分析单晶硅材料表层弹性模量、硬度、断裂韧性等机械力学特性参数在(001)、(110)及(111)3个主要晶面上沿各个晶向的变化规律;分析挠性筋结构单晶硅材料(001)晶面的KOH腐蚀工艺对其材料表面机械特性的影响规律.结果表明:挠性筋单晶硅在(001)晶面上弹性模量的各向异性变化幅度明显,硬度及断裂韧性各向异性的变化幅度不大;挠性筋单晶硅在(110)晶面弹性模量和断裂韧性的各向异性变化幅度明显,硬度各向异性变化幅度不大;挠性筋单晶硅在(111)晶面硬度值、弹性模量及断裂韧性参数的变化幅度幅值均较小;确定了单晶硅表层3个晶面裂纹最易扩展的晶向方向,KOH腐蚀工艺使得单晶硅表面质量降低,腐蚀后暴露的表面微裂纹、缺陷等会使得单晶硅(001)晶面表层硬度、断裂韧性降低,从而降低了挠性筋结构的实际断裂强度.     

纳米氧化锌/低密度聚乙烯膜中锌向食品的迁移研究

目的研究纳米氧化锌/低密度聚乙烯膜(low density polyethylene film,LDPE)中锌(Zn)向食品的迁移行为,探究其迁移规律。方法选取2种食品模拟物(3%乙酸及超纯水)及真实食品(食用白醋及瓶装水),在3种不同实验温度下(70、40及20℃),研究锌向食品模拟物的迁移规律。采用扫描电子显微镜(scanning electron microscope,SEM)和原子力显微镜(atomic force microscope,AFM)表征纳米ZnO/LDPE膜的表面形貌。结果锌向酸性模拟物中的迁移率远远大于水性模拟物中的迁移率,其中锌向酸性模拟物中的最大迁移率分别为22.7%,20.3%及18.6%(ZL-1,ZL-2及ZL-2#),向水性模拟物中的最大迁移率分别为9.9%,5.7%及4.9%(ZL-1,ZL-2及ZL-2#);锌向酸性食品的迁移量(1.59~5.03 mg/g)同样高于向水性食品的迁移量(2.98~24.60μg/g);随着纳米ZnO的初始含量变大迁移率变小;而偶联剂的加入对锌的迁移有一定的抑制作用。随着纳米ZnO浓度的增加,在薄膜中观察到纳米ZnO的不规则形貌。结论纳米ZnO/LDPE膜不适合在高温下包装食物,且其在酸性食品中的安全隐患高于水性食品。     

Multicellular Tumor Spheroids (MCTS) as a 3D In Vitro Evaluation Tool of Nanoparticles

Multicellular tumor spheroid models (MCTS) are often coined as 3D in vitro models that can mimic the microenvironment of tissues. MCTS have gained increasing interest in the nano‐biotechnology field as they can provide easily accessible information on the performance of nanoparticles without using animal models. Considering that many countries have put restrictions on animals testing, which will only tighten in the future as seen by the recent developments in the Netherlands, 3D models will become an even more valuable tool. Here, an overview on MCTS is provided, focusing on their use in cancer research as most nanoparticles are tested in MCTS for treatment of primary tumors. Thereafter, various types of nanoparticles—from self‐assembled block copolymers to inorganic nanoparticles, are discussed. A range of physicochemical parameters including the size, shape, surface chemistry, ligands attachment, stability, and stiffness are found to influence nanoparticles in MCTS. Some of these studies are complemented by animal studies confirming that lessons from MCTS can in part predict the behaviour in vivo. In summary, MCTS are suitable models to gain additional information on nanoparticles. While not being able to replace in vivo studies, they can bridge the gap between traditional 2D in vitro studies and in vivo models.