Transition between two solid-solutions: Effective and easy way for fine Ce1−xGdxO2−x/2 powders preparation

Ceria, pure or doped, is an important electrolyte material in solid oxide fuel cells, catalysts, and plutonium surrogates. Even though ceria is a widely studied material, its coprecipitation with the most common doping element, gadolinium, remains mostly overlooked. Here, we present a comprehensive study of gadolinium–cerium oxalates prepared by coprecipitation of gadolinium (III) and cerium (III) salts by oxalic acid under different reaction conditions and element ratios. For this purpose, we assessed the effects of basic precipitation conditions on the final oxalate size, shape, and conversion into the corresponding oxides. The results showed that coprecipitation with oxalic acid yields and ideal solid solution, which translates into the oxides. This low-cost and straightforward synthetic route provides then high-quality solid solutions of Ge–Gd in the oxide lattice. Thus, this approach has a high industrialization potential, with significant advantages over hydrolysis or hydrothermal techniques.     

The impact of glycated pea proteins on bacterial adhesion

Adhesion is one of the bacterial strategies indispensable for colonization of the small intestine. Food components reaching the small intestine, are not only digested and absorbed there, but may also influence the microorganisms colonizing the mentioned region. In this way, nutrients, particularly the ones the enzymatic degradation of which is hindered, acquire the ability to modify the adhesive potential of the autochthonic microorganisms. The glycated food proteins are noteworthy here for they often undergo relevant structural and functional alterations. Such proteins tend to display a lowered susceptibility to enzymatic degradation and thus may act as modulators of both metabolic activity and adhesive potential of bacteria adhered to the intestinal cells. For that reason, this study aimed at establishing the impact of the glycated pea proteins on adhesion of the bacteria from the genera: Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Escherichia, which are typical for the human small intestine.     

Study on the new bone cement based on calcium sulfate and Mg,CO3 doped hydroxyapatite

In order to improve some features of bone substitutes the new self-setting composite-type implant material based on Mg²⁺/CO₃^2? co-substituted hydroxyapatite (Mg-CHA) and calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CSH) was developed. Synthetic hydroxyapatites doped with small amounts of additives found in natural bone (e.g. Mg²⁺ and CO₃^2?) are regarded as promising components of calcium phosphate bone cements (CPCs). The CPCs, now available on the market, due to low resorption rate are too stable to permit material degradation and are slowly replaced by the newly formed bone. To improve cement resorption we used calcium sulfate which is a well-known biodegradable and biocompatible bone defect filler. Combining properties of Mg-CHA and CSH allowed developing a new, promising, easy shapeable implant material with high potential for bone regeneration.     

Determination of Thermal-Diffusivity Dependence on Temperature of Transparent Samples by Thermal Wave Method

The use of a typical measuring cryostat with a standard temperature controller was proposed for investigation of the temperature dependence of the thermal diffusivity of transparent samples. The basic idea is to use the cryostat heater to control the mean sample temperature and to generate the thermal wave in it, simultaneously. Because of the relatively high thermal inertia of the system, the measurements are carried out at frequencies not exceeding 50 mHz. The periodic temperature disturbance in the sample was detected optically by the use of the mirage effect. The proposed method was used for determination of the thermal diffusivity of yttrium aluminum garnet single crystals in a temperature range from 20 °C to 200 °C.     

A New N-Substituted 1H-Isoindole-1,3(2H)-Dione Derivative—Synthesis,Structure and Affinity for Cyclooxygenase Based on In Vitro Studies and Molecular Docking

Isoindoline-1,3-dione derivatives constitute an important group of medicinal substances. In this study, nine new 1H-isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione derivatives and five potential pharmacophores were obtained in good yield (47.24–92.91%). The structure of the new imides was confirmed by the methods of elemental and spectral analysis: FT–IR, H NMR, and MS. Based on the obtained results of ESI–MS the probable path of the molecules decay and the hypothetical structure of the resulting pseudo-molecular ions have been proposed. The physicochemical properties of the new phthalimides were determined on the basis of Lipiński’s rule. The biological properties were determined in terms of their cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitory activity. Three compounds showed greater inhibition of COX-2, three compounds inhibited COX-1 more strongly than the reference compound meloxicam. From the obtained results, the affinity ratio COX-2/COX-1 was calculated. Two compounds had a value greater than that of meloxicam. All tested compounds showed oxidative or nitrosan stress (ROS and RNS) scavenging activity. The degree of chromatin relaxation outside the cell nucleus was lower than the control after incubation with all test compounds. The newly synthesized phthalimide derivatives showed no cytotoxic activity in the concentration range studied (10–90 µM). A molecular docking study was used to determined interactions inside the active site of cyclooxygenases.     

Ligand-Tuning of the Stability of Pd(II) Conjugates with Cyanocobalamin

Besides the well-known functions performed by vitamin B₁₂ (CblCN) in biochemical processes of the human body, an increasing interest has been raised by the possibility of its use as a transmembrane drug carrier, capable, among others, of enhancing the accumulation of inorganic cytostatics in cancer cells. The present study was aimed at determining the possibility of the formation of CblCN conjugates with Pd(II) complexes. A key aspect was their stability, which we attempted to tune by appropriate choice of ligands. Syntheses, spectroscopic analysis of postreaction systems and kinetic investigations of conjugate formation reactions, have been complemented by DFT modelling. The obtained results showed that ligand charge, geometry and electron affinity may have a significant impact on carrier binding and release leading to the activation of the Pd(II) complex. This provides a rationale to expect that with appropriate composition of the coordination sphere, it will be possible to extend the spectrum of less toxic inorganic chemotherapeutics.     

Epitope-Imprinted Nanoparticles as Transforming Growth Factor-β3 Sequestering Ligands to Modulate Stem Cell Fate

Growth factors (GFs) are biomolecules with potent biological effects but inherent limitations hinder their potential as therapeutic agents and cell culture supplements in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM). Biomaterials that sequester endogenous GFs by affinity binding might circumvent such limitations and thus are being increasingly investigated. Here, molecularly imprinted nanoparticles (MINPs) are proposed as specific abiotic ligands for GFs. As a proof of concept, a conformational epitope of transforming growth factor-β3 (TGF-β3) is designed and surface imprinted onto polyacrylamide-based nanoparticles by inverse microemulsion polymerization. It is found that, depending on the polymerization mixture composition, MINPs can recognize and preferentially bind TGF-β3, either in noncompetitive assays or from a complex human fluid (platelet lysate). Substrates functionalized with MINPs are then used for 2D culture of adipose-derived stem cells. Remarkably, gene and protein expression profiles show a marked upregulation of SOX-9, suggesting activation of TGF-β3 signaling pathways without requiring supplementation with exogenous GF. Likewise, culturing these cells in pellets incorporating MINPs previously incubated with platelet lysate results in higher collagen II-rich matrix deposition, compared to pellets incorporating non-imprinted nanoparticles. In summary, results suggest MINPs can be used as cost-effective, stable, and scalable alternative abiotic GF ligands to guide cell fate in TERM applications.     

Oxidative and microbial stability of poultry meatballs added with coriander extracts and packed in cold modified atmosphere

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of adding of coriander extracts to turkey meatballs. Meat samples were stored in modified atmosphere at 4°C ± 1°C for 9 days. The addition of coriander extract at 500 ppm level delayed the process of lipid oxidation for the period of 6 days of storage and growth inhibition of aerobic microorganisms for the period of 9 days of storage. The usage of a dose of 500 ppm as well as a dose of 200 ppm had no significant effect on the sensory features, but had an impact on colour parameters of the meatballs. In the groups with coriander extract, volatile terpenes were identified.