Investigation of doped-gadolinium zirconate nanomaterials for high-temperature hydrogen sensor applications

The incorporation of selective nanomaterials, such as common metal oxide semiconductor compositions, into resistive-type gas sensors has been shown by many researchers to lead to very high sensitivities and response rates, especially for micro-sized chemical sensors for room-temperature applications. The same strategy utilizing sensing nanomaterials has not been demonstrated for high-temperature sensors due to the intrinsic instability of typical metal oxide semiconductor nanomaterials at temperatures >500 °C. Within this work, doped Gd₂Zr₂O₇ (GZO) nanomaterial compositions were investigated for H₂ resistive-type sensors for applications between 600 and 1000 °C. This paper investigates the mechanism of H₂ sensing for doped GZO nanomaterials and SnO₂/GZO nanocomposites at the elevated temperatures. By integrating 10 vol.% nano-SnO₂ into yttrium-doped GZO nanomaterials, a sensitivity of 4.15 % was retained for 4000 ppm H₂ levels with a low signal drift of 0.42 %/h at 1000 °C in a 20 % O₂/N₂ gas stream. The signal drift was reduced by more than half of that compared to pure nano-SnO₂ at the same conditions. The nano-GZO limited the grain growth of the nano-SnO₂ particles and also prevented the nano-SnO₂ from fully reducing to Sn at high temperatures in a low oxygen atmosphere. It is among the first resistive-type sensors operating at 1000 °C with sensing times of <5 min. This demonstration provided an example of a strategy of combining traditional metal oxide semiconductor and refractory nanomaterial compositions to form sensing nanocomposites with new sensing mechanisms, as well as, enhanced chemical and microstructural stabilities in high-temperature environments.     

Spray-dried nanoparticle-loaded pectin microspheres for dexamethasone nasal delivery

Abstract

In this study, we present the development of an innovative dry powder dexamethasone (Dex) nasal delivery system comprising Dex-loaded lipid/alginate nanoparticles incorporated within pectin microspheres (Dex/NPs-loaded pectin microspheres; DNM). DNM microspheres were characterized by the mean diameter of 2.76?±?0.10?µm, zeta-potential of –36.2?±?1.1?mV, and drug loading of 3.3?±?0.3%. The morphology study revealed irregular microsphere surface forming external voids. In contact with simulated nasal fluid, DNM microspheres demonstrated desirable property of moderate swelling and ensured stronger mucoadhesion compared with conventional Dex-loaded pectin microspheres. The strategy of Dex incorporation within the lipid/alginate NPs resulted in prolonged Dex release in relation to Dex being directly entrapped within the conventional pectin microspheres. DNM microspheres showed excellent biocompatibility and rendered Dex permeation across the selected epithelial cell model similar to that of Dex solution. In conclusion, balanced biopharmaceutical properties of the proposed nasal Dex delivery system provides the potential for prolonged contact time with nasal mucosa, prolonged therapeutic effect, and improved patient compliance.     

High temperature monoclinic-to-tetragonal phase transition in magnesium doped lanthanum ortho-niobate

Magnesium doped lanthanum ortho-niobate (La_0.98Mg_0.02NbO₄) was prepared by the molten salt synthesis method. X-ray diffraction and dilatometry methods were used to study high temperature behavior of the ceramic material. Special attention was paid to the phase transition between the monoclinic and tetragonal phases. The values of spontaneous strain on the basis of unit cell parameter, obtained by Rietveld refinement, have been calculated as well as Landau order parameter. The thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of La_0.98Mg_0.02NbO₄ was determined to be 12×10^?6 1/K and 8×10^?6 1/K below and above 500 °C, respectively.     

Synthesis,characterization and in vitro degradation of poly(ester-anhydride)s based on succinic acid and 1,6-bis-p-carboxyphenoxyhexane

This paper describes synthesis and characteristics of functional poly(ester-anhydride)s bearing allyl pendant groups. The polymers were obtained by polycondensation of 1,6-bis-p-carboxyphenoxyhexane (CPH) and oligo(3-allyloxy-1,2-propylene succinate) terminated with carboxyl groups (OSAGE). The carboxyl groups in OSAGE and in CPH were converted to mixed anhydride groups by acetylation with acetic anhydride. After that, prepolymers thus obtained were condensed in vacuum to yield poly(ester-anhydride)s. The structure of copolymers was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. Influence of molecular weight of OSAGE as well as of the CPH and OSAGE content on selected properties of poly(ester-anhydride)s was examined. Poly(ester-anhydride)s were subjected to hydrolytic degradation at 37 °C, in aqueous phosphate buffer solution of pH 7.41 (PBS). The course of degradation was monitored by determination of weight loss of samples and ¹H NMR. Fracture surfaces of samples during degradation were examined by scanning electron microscopy.     

Shaping Luminescent Properties of Yb3+ and Ho3+ Co‐Doped Upconverting Core–Shell β‐NaYF4 Nanoparticles by Dopant Distribution and Spacing

At the core of luminescence color and lifetime tuning of rare earth doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs), is the understanding of the impact of the particle architecture for commonly used sensitizer (S) and activator (A) ions. In this respect, a series of core@shell NaYF₄ UCNPs doped with Yb³⁺ and Ho³⁺ ions are presented here, where the same dopant concentrations are distributed in different particle architectures following the scheme: YbHo core and YbHo@…, …@YbHo, Yb@Ho, Ho@Yb, YbHo@Yb, and Yb@YbHo core–shell NPs. As revealed by quantitative steady‐state and time‐resolved luminescence studies, the relative spatial distribution of the A and S ions in the UCNPs and their protection from surface quenching has a critical impact on their luminescence characteristics. Although the increased amount of Yb³⁺ ions boosts UCNP performance by amplifying the absorption, the Yb³⁺ ions can also efficiently dissipate the energy stored in the material through energy migration to the surface, thereby reducing the overall energy transfer efficiency to the activator ions. The results provide yet another proof that UC phosphor chemistry combined with materials engineering through intentional core@shell structures may help to fine‐tune the luminescence features of UCNPs for their specific future applications in biosensing, bioimaging, photovoltaics, and display technologies.     

Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Kidney Disease: The Targets for SGLT2 Inhibitors and GLP-1 Receptor Agonists

The incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been increasing worldwide, and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) remains one of the leading long-term complications of T2D. Several lines of evidence indicate that glucose-lowering agents prevent the onset and progression of DKD in its early stages but are of limited efficacy in later stages of DKD. However, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists were shown to exert nephroprotective effects in patients with established DKD, i.e., those who had a reduced glomerular filtration rate. These effects cannot be solely attributed to the improved metabolic control of diabetes. In our review, we attempted to discuss the interactions of both groups of agents with inflammation and oxidative stress—the key pathways contributing to organ damage in the course of diabetes. SGLT2i and GLP-1R agonists attenuate inflammation and oxidative stress in experimental in vitro and in vivo models of DKD in several ways. In addition, we have described experiments showing the same protective mechanisms as found in DKD in non-diabetic kidney injury models as well as in some tissues and organs other than the kidney. The interaction between both drug groups, inflammation and oxidative stress appears to have a universal mechanism of organ protection in diabetes and other diseases.