Role of mixing parameters in the preparation of poly(ethylene vinyl acetate) nanocomposites by melt blending

Polymer/layered‐silicate nanocomposites have gathered momentum as cost‐effective and versatile materials since the middle of the 20th century. Many publications discuss the chemistry of organomodification and properties of nanocomposites, but relatively few deal with the significance of processing conditions. This article takes into account three mixing parameters and discusses the contribution of each toward nanocomposite formation. Organomodified natural sodium‐type bentonite clay was used in this study. The nanocomposites formed were characterized by X‐ray diffraction and mechanical property tests. Response surface regression was used to optimize the tensile modulus. The analysis shows that nanocomposite formation is promoted by a diffusion mechanism and that the interactions of parameters are as important as individual parameters. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 2652–2658, 2006     

Dendrimer functionalized polysilane: An efficient and recyclable organocatalyst

Polysilane supported dendrimer was efficiently utilized as an organocatalyst for Knoevenagel condensation reaction. Polysilane support was synthesized by the polymerization of trichloromethylsilane. The polypropyleneimine (PPI) dendrimer was grafted on the polymer support by divergent method. The dendrimer was synthesized up to three generations (G3). The dendrimer functionalized polysilane (PS‐PPIG3) was found to contain high concentration of terminal amino groups. The catalytic activity of the PS‐PPIG3 dendrimer was generalized by conducting the Knoevenagel condensation reaction with diverse sets of substrates, and was found to be an efficient organocatalyst. The condensation product could be easily separated from the reaction medium because of the heterogeneous nature of the polymer support. The reaction conditions were optimized, and the catalyst was found to be reusable. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41593.     

Minocycline Loaded Hybrid Composites Nanoparticles for Mesenchymal Stem Cells Differentiation into Osteogenesis

Bone transplants are used to treat fractures and increase new tissue development in bone tissue engineering. Grafting of massive implantations showing slow curing rate and results in cell death for poor vascularization. The potentials of biocomposite scaffolds to mimic extracellular matrix (ECM) and including new biomaterials could produce a better substitute for new bone tissue formation. A purpose of this study is to analyze polycaprolactone/silk fibroin/hyaluronic acid/minocycline hydrochloride (PCL/SF/HA/MH) nanoparticles initiate human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) proliferation and differentiation into osteogenesis. Electrospraying technique was used to develop PCL, PCL/SF, PCL/SF/HA and PCL/SF/HA/MH hybrid biocomposite nanoparticles and characterization was analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), contact angle and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The obtained results proved that the particle diameter and water contact angle obtained around 0.54 ± 0.12 to 3.2 ± 0.18 µm and 43.93 ± 10.8° to 133.1 ± 12.4° respectively. The cell proliferation and cell-nanoparticle interactions analyzed using (3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium inner salt) MTS assay (Promega, Madison, WI, USA), FESEM for cell morphology and 5-Chloromethylfluorescein diacetate (CMFDA) dye for imaging live cells. Osteogenic differentiation was proved by expression of osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) and mineralization was confirmed by using alizarin red (ARS). The quantity of cells was considerably increased in PCL/SF/HA/MH nanoparticles when compare to all other biocomposite nanoparticles and the cell interaction was observed more on PCL/SF/HA/MH nanoparticles. The electrosprayed PCL/SF/HA/MH biocomposite nanoparticle significantly initiated increased cell proliferation, osteogenic differentiation and mineralization, which provide huge potential for bone tissue engineering.     

Drug‐loaded polyurethane/clay nanocomposite nanofibers for topical drug‐delivery application

In this study, polyurethane/nanoclay nanocomposite nanofibrous webs were prepared by electrospinning. An antiseptic drug, chlorhexidine acetate (CA), was loaded onto montmorillonite clay and was then incorporated into polyurethane nanofibers. For comparison, the CA drug was loaded directly into the polyurethane solution dope used to electrospin the nanofibers. The emphasis was on investigating the effect of the drug loading into the nanoclay vis‐à‐vis direct drug loading on the drug‐release behavior of nanofibrous webs. The nanofibrous webs were also evaluated for other properties, such as moisture vapor transmission, porosity determination, contact angle measurement, and antibacterial activity, which are important for topical drug‐delivery application. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40230.     

Microwave-Hydrothermal Synthesis of Ni0.53Cu0.12Zn0.35Fe2O4/SiO2 Nanocomposites for MLCI

The nanocomposites of NiCuZnFe₂O₄-SiO₂ were prepared using Microwave-Hydrothermal method at 160°C/45 min.The as-synthesized powders were characterized using X-ray diffraction and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM).The average particle size of the powders were found to be ～20 nm.The powders were densified at 900°C/30 min using Microwave sintering method. The sintered composite samples were characterized using XRD and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Crystallite size of the ferrites decreases with an increase of SiO₂ content. The density of the composites varies of 93–98% of theoretical density. The densities of the present composites were increasing with the addition of SiO_2. The bulk densities of the present composites were increasing with the addition of SiO₂. The structural changes in these samples were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) in the 400–4000 cm^?1. The bands in the range of 580–880 cm^?1 show a slight increase in intensity, which could be ascribed to the enhanced interactions between the NiCuZnFe₂O₄ clusters and silica matrix. The resistivity of the sintered samples was increased with an addition of ferrite content. The real and imaginary parts of permittivity and permeability were measured in the frequency range of 1 MHz–1.8 GHz.The addition of SiO₂ alters the values of dielectric constant and permeability which is useful to the Multilayer Chip Inductors (MLCI) fabrication.     

Resistant starch from differently processed rice and ragi (finger millet)

 Resistant starch (RS) formed during parboiling, expanding, popping, flaking, roller drying, extrusion cooking, malting and autoclaving of rice and ragi was determined. The processing conditions were chosen to represent the limits that are being used commercially. RS formation was more pronounced in autoclaving and a drastic increase (∼fivefold) in its content was observed during repeated autoclaving (heating and cooling) was observed. Though processed ragi samples contained more nitrogen, protein and dietary fibre, the RS content was very low compared to rice. Hot paste viscosity studies showed the extruded and malted samples to have low peak and set-back viscosities. Determination of the percentage of starch gelatinization revealed that powdered samples showed 100% gelatinization at higher temperatures whereas malted and extruded samples showed the same at low temperatures.     

Polyphosphazenes—A Promising Candidate for Drug Delivery,Bioimaging, and Tissue Engineering: A Review

Synthetic polymer materials have been surged to the forefront of research in the fields of tissue engineering, drug delivery, and biomonitoring in recent years. Biodegradable synthetic polymers are increasingly needed as transient substrates for tissue regeneration and medicine delivery. In contrast to commonly used polymers including polyesters, polylactones, polyanhydrides, poly(propylene fumarates), polyorthoesters, and polyurethanes, biodegradable polyphosphazenes (PPZs) hold great potential for the purposes indicated above. PPZ's versatility in the synthetic process has enabled the production of a variety of polymers with various physico-chemical, and biological properties have been produced, making them appropriate for biomedical applications. Biocompatible PPZs are often used as scaffolds in the regeneration of skeleton, bones, and other tissues. PPZs have also received special attention as potential drug vehicles of high-value biopharmaceuticals such as anticancer drugs. Additionally, by incorporating fluorophores into the PPZ backbone to produce photoluminescent biodegradable PPZs, the utility of polyphosphazenes is further expanded as they are used in tracking the regeneration of the target tissue as well as the fate of PPZ based scaffolds or drug delivery vehicles. This review provides a summary of the evolution of PPZ applications in the fields of tissue engineering, drug delivery, and bioimaging in recent 5 years.     

Effect of Sm3+ on dielectric and magnetic properties of Y3Fe5O12 nanoparticles

The Sm³⁺ doped Y_3?xSm_xFe₅O₁₂ (x = 0–3) nanopowders were prepared using modified sol–gel route. The crystalline structure and morphology was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. The nanopowders were sintered at 950 °C/90 min using microwave sintering method. The lattice parameters and density of the samples were increased with an increase of Sm³⁺ concentration. The room temperature dielectric (ε′ and ε″) and magnetic (μ′ and μ″) properties were measured in the frequency range up to 20 GHz. The room temperature magnetization studies were carried out using Vibrating sample magnetometer using filed of 1.5 T. Results of VSM show that the saturation and remnant magnetization of Y_3?xSm_xFe₅O₁₂ (0–3) decreases on increasing the Sm concentration (x). The low values of magnetic (μ′ and μ″) properties makes them a good candidates for microwave devices, which can be operated in the high frequency range.     

Reflection of plane waves at the free surface of a fibre-reinforced elastic half-space

The propagation of plane waves in fibre-reinforced, anisotropic, elastic media is discussed. The expressions for the phase velocity of quasi-P (qP) and quasi-SV (qSV) waves propagating in a plane containing the reinforcement direction are obtained as functions of the angle between the propagation and reinforcement directions. Closed form expressions for the amplitude ratios for qP and qSV waves reflected at the free surface of a fibre-reinforced, anisotropic, homogeneous, elastic half-space are obtained. These expressions are used to study the variation of amplitude ratios with angle of incidence. It is found that reinforcement has a significant effect on the amplitude ratios and critical angle