Folate Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanotubes and their Selective Uptake by Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells: Implications for their Use as Boron Carriers in Clinical Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is increasingly being used in the treatment of several aggressive cancers, including cerebral glioblastoma multiforme. The main requirement for this therapy is selective targeting of tumor cells by sufficient quantities of ¹⁰B atoms required for their capture/irradiation with low-energy thermal neutrons. The low content of boron targeting species in glioblastoma multiforme accounts for the difficulty in selective targeting of this very malignant cerebral tumor by this radiation modality. In the present study, we have used for the first time boron nitride nanotubes as carriers of boron atoms to overcome this problem and enhance the selective targeting and ablative efficacy of BNCT for these tumors. Following their dispersion in aqueous solution by noncovalent coating with biocompatible poly-l-lysine solutions, boron nitride nanotubes were functionalized with a fluorescent probe (quantum dots) to enable their tracking and with folic acid as selective tumor targeting ligand. Initial in vitro studies have confirmed substantive and selective uptake of these nanovectors by glioblastoma multiforme cells, an observation which confirms their potential clinical application for BNCT therapy for these malignant cerebral tumors.     

Recycling polyethylene from automotive fuel tanks

Polyethylene (PE) from postuse automotive fuel tanks is considered a valuable material for mechanical recycling, and we assessed its properties, paying particular attention to transport properties and processability. The characterization included the study of the sorption–desorption isotherms, the rheological analysis of the molten materials and their processability. In particular, we obtained, sorption‐–desorption isotherms using a model molecule (n‐heptane) to simulate contact with the fuel. The measurements were carried out on films of PE blend for tanks and separately on the components of the blend. Rotational rheometry was carried out on scraps from used tanks and on virgin material for comparison. We performed some extrusion tests to evaluate the possibility of mechanical recycling of the postuse materials. In particular, we examined the melt‐fracture incoming conditions by making use of a twin‐screw extruder with a round die. Stress–strain measurements were carried out on films of virgin and used material, obtained with a press on a laboratory scale to evaluate the change of the mechanical properties of a manufacture obtained by reprocessing a polymer aged in contact with a mixture of liquids. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 347–351, 2002     

Influence of substrate on the in-plane ferromagnetic spectrum of epitaxial YIG films

We find a direct correspondence between the lattice mismatch and the in-plane angular dependence of the FMR field for epitaxial YIG films on non-magnetic garnet substrates.     

Structure–property relationships in crosslinked networks from cis-1,4-polybutadiene and methacrylic acid. Swelling behavior

In the present paper, we report results obtained analyzing the swelling behavior of a composite system prepared from vulcanizing mixtures of cis-polybutadiene and methacrylic acid with different amounts of acid. Two solvents were used as swelling agents, decalin and the N,N-dimethylformamide. The structural data, given by low-angle x-ray diffusion spectra, were used to interpret the mechanical behavior described in terms of the Mooney-Rivlin equation and hysteresis loops. Structural and mechanical data give information about the swelling mechanism of the solvents and about the problem of the experimental deviations from the Gaussian theory of rubber elasticity.     

Mechanical behavior of peripheral stents and stent-vessel interaction: A computational study

In this paper stents employed to treat peripheral artery disease are analyzed through a three-dimensional finite-element approach, based on a large-strain and large-displacement formulation. Aiming to evaluate the influence of some stent design parameters on stent mechanics and on the biomechanical interaction between stent and arterial wall, quasi-static and dynamic numerical analyses are carried out by referring to computational models of commercially and noncommercially available versions of both braided self-expandable stents and balloon-expandable stents. Addressing isolated device models, opening mechanisms and flexibility of both opened and closed stent configurations are numerically experienced. Moreover, stent deployment into a stenotic peripheral artery and possible postdilatation angioplasty (the latter for the self-expandable device only) are simulated by considering different idealized vessel geometries and accounting for the presence of a stenotic plaque. Proposed results highlight important differences in the mechanical response of the two types of stents, as well as a significant influence of the vessel shape on the stress distributions arising upon the artery-plaque system. Finally, computational results are used to assess both the stent mechanical performance and the effectiveness of the stenting treatment, allowing also to identify possible critical conditions affecting the risk of stent fracture, tissue damage, and/or pathological tissue response.     

Time-Scale Similarities for Robust Image De-noising

This paper presents a novel image denoising algorithm, namely Atomic Non Local Means (ANL-means), that looks for similarities in the time-scale domain. To this aim, wavelet details are approximated by linear combinations of predefined atoms, whose centers of mass trace trajectories in the time-scale plane (from fine to coarse scales). These trajectories depend on the mutual distance between not isolated singularities, their different decay along scales and their amplitude ratio. These three parameters have proved to be useful in catching image self-similarities and in the implementation of a robust NL-means based denoising algorithm. ANL-means is able to reach and often outperform the most powerful and recent NL-means based de-noising schemes in terms of both mean square error and visual quality.     

Further generalized energies for the application of an energy criterion of conditional stability

A previously proposed energy criterion for predicting the conditional stability of incompressible flows, which is based on properly defined generalized energies, is considered. An extension of the procedure for the construction of generalized energies is proposed here, leading to the definition of a broader class of generalized energies which may depend on several free parameters. The optimal free parameters are computed by searching the value for which the energetic stability criterion predicts the maximum critical L ² energy. The capabilities of the resulting stability criterion are appraised through the application to low-dimensional non-linear quadratic models, mimicking the subcritical instability behavior of particular incompressible flows.     

Effect of functionalization on the thermo-mechanical and electrical behavior of multi-wall carbon nanotube/epoxy composites

The effect of the functionalization of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the structure, the mechanical and electrical properties of composites was investigated. Samples based on epoxy resin with different weight percentage of MWCNTs or COOH-functionalized carbon nanotubes (MWCNT–COOH) were prepared and characterized. Dynamic-mechanical thermal analysis shows that the storage modulus increases with the addition of MWCNTs, whereas a constant value or even a weak reduction was observed for functionalized nanotubes. Two phases were suggested in the composites with MWCNT–COOH, both by dynamic-mechanical properties and by water transport. Chemical functionalization of MWCNTs increases the compatibility with the epoxy matrix due to the formation of an interface with stronger interconnections. This, in turn, causes a significant decrease in the electrical conductivity of this type of composite with respect to the untreated MWCNTs which can be explained in terms of tunnelling resistance between interacting nanotubes.     

Scoping Review on Platelets and Tumor Angiogenesis: Do We Need More Evidence or Better Analysis?

Platelets are an active component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), involved in the regulation of multiple tumor processes, including angiogenesis. They are generated rich in angiogenic factors in their granules to actively participate in the hemostatic process by megakaryocytes and further enriched in angiogenic factors by all components of the tumor microenvironment to control the angiogenic process because of their preferential relationship with the endothelial component of vessels. In recent decades, the literature has reported a great deal of evidence on the role of platelets in tumor angiogenesis; however, it is unclear whether the number or mean volume of platelets and/or their content and localization in TME may have clinical relevance in the choice and management of therapy for the cancer patient. In this scoping review, we collected and critically reviewed the scientific evidence supporting a close relationship between platelets, cancer, and angiogenesis. The aim of this work was to define the landscape of platelet-activated angiogenesis in cancer progression and analyze what and how much evidence is present in the last 20 years in the literature at both the preclinical and clinical levels, to answer whether platelets could be a useful determinant for analyzing tumor angiogenesis. In conclusion, this scoping review indicates that there is much evidence, both preclinical and clinical, but in the preclinical context, studies demonstrate the direct involvement of platelets in tumor angiogenesis; in the clinical context the evidence is indirect, though strong, and the indication of how and to what extent platelet content contributes to tumor angiogenesis is lacking. So, do we need more evidence or better analysis? More molecular and quali-quantitative data is needed to translate the results obtained in preclinical studies into the clinical setting. This information about platelets, if correlated with tumor type and its biology, including tumor vasculature, type of angiogenesis, and patient characteristics (age, sex, comorbidities, drug treatments for chronic diseases) could be an important pa- rameter for correlating platelet biology to angiogenesis, for personalizing cancer therapy, and for clinical prognosis.