Novel transcatheter aortic heart valves exhibiting excellent hemodynamic performance and low-fouling property

Transcatheter aortic heart valves (TAHVs) have been widely used for aortic valve replacements, with less trauma and lower clinical risk compared with traditional surgical heart valve replacements. In the present study, composites of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels and anisotropic high-shrinkage polyethylene terephthalate/polyamide6 (PET-PA6) fabric (PEGDA/PET-PA6) were fabricated as artificial heart valve leaflets. Dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) indicated that PEGDA/PET-PA6 composites possessed anisotropic mechanical properties (i.e., storage moduli ～23.30 ± 1.36 MPa parallel to the aligned fabric fibers and ～9.68 ± 0.90 MPa perpendicular to the aligned fibers at 1 Hz) that were comparable to aortic valve leaflets. The PEGDA/PET-PA6 composites with smooth surfaces were highly hydrophilic (contact angle ～41.6° ± 3.8°) and had low-fouling properties without platelet adhesion, suggesting a low risk of thrombogenicity when they interacted with blood. Furthermore, transcatheter aortic heart valves were fabricated using nitinol self-expanding frames and PEGDA/PET-PA6 composites as artificial leaflets, which presented excellent hemodynamic performance with a large orifice area (1.75 cm²) and low regurgitation (3.41%), thus meeting the requirements of ISO 5840-3 standard. Therefore, PEGDA/PET-PA6 composites had suitable mechanical properties, good biocompatibility, and low-fouling properties, indicating that they might be used for TAHVs in the future.     

One-pot synthesis of gelatin-based,slow-release polymer microparticles containing silver nanoparticles and their application in anti-fouling paint

Gelatinous polymer matrix microparticles containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared by a novel method to obtain quasi non-swelling anti-fouling paint additives with slow-release characteristics. A w/o type dispersion were elaborated with the aqueous phase of gelatin, urea, silver-nitrate and formaldehyde dispersed in linseed oil. Gelatin was cross-linked by formaldehyde, together with urea for limiting the swelling of the product. Silver-nitrate was reduced with the assistance of gelatin and formaldehyde into homogenously dispersed AgNPs. The microparticles and embedded AgNPs were visualized by scanning and transmission electronmicroscopy. Encapsulated AgNPs with ∼18 nm crystallite size were identified by X-ray powder diffraction. Characterization of gelatin–urea–formaldehyde polymer matrices was carried out by attenuated total reflectance FTIR spectroscopy. Silver dissolution from microparticles and paints with AgNP-containing microparticles was measured by inductively coupled plasma spectrometer and resulted in highly sustained release, compared to unmodified gelatin microparticles and paints containing uncapsulated silver salts. A 7-month-long fouling experiment run in natural sweetwater media showed that solvent-based acrylic paint with AgNPs-containing gelatinous microparticles as additives offered resistance against biofouling at low Ag-release ratio.     

Effect of the microstructure on the properties of Ni-P deposits on heat transfer surface

In the present work Ni-P deposits with various microstructures were prepared on the low carbon steel substrate by adjusting the electroless plating processing parameters. The results of anti-fouling experiments show that Ni-P deposits can greatly inhibit the adhesion of crystallization fouling in comparison with uncoated copper, stainless steel and carbon steel surfaces. The further experiments indicated that the amount of nanocrystalline phase in the Ni-P deposit affects the surface free energy, as well as changing the anti-fouling and corrosion-resistant properties of the deposit. When the phase structure of the Ni-P deposit is almost amorphous phase, the Ni-P deposit exhibits the best anti-fouling and corrosion-resistant properties. The amorphous Ni-P deposit exhibits high corrosion resistance which is attributed to its extreme structure homogeneity without preferential corrosion paths like grain boundaries or other structural defects, and the higher corrosion resistance could ensure this deposit is not easy to form “transitional interface” connecting fouling and matrix.     

石油平台海生物污损的防治方法

开发海洋石油资源，须清除两大障碍：金属在海洋环境中的腐蚀及海洋污损生物的附着问题。为此，简要介绍了电解防污技术的原理、特点及其在海洋石油平台上的应用情况。     

改性PVDF膜抗污染性进展探究

聚偏氟乙烯以其优异的力学性质和化学性质在膜分离技术中被广泛应用,其表面的极强疏水性,导致在水处理过程中极易受到污染且恢复率很低。所以膜的改善亲水性具有十分重要的意义。根据不同的改性粒子分类,结合主要的改性方法,将国内外近几年对PVDF改性效果较好的纳米粒子和两亲性共聚物进行综述和性能对比,着重从渗透性和抗污性比较了各种粒子的改性效果。最后对PVDF膜亲水性改善进行总结和展望。     

Electro-oxidation of chlorophenols on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulphonate) composite electrode

The electrochemical behaviour of chlorinated phenols on Pt/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy)thiophene,LiClO₄ and on Pt/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy)thiophene,poly(sodium-4-styrenesulphonate) electrodes has been investigated in phosphate buffer solution. Poly(sodium-4-styrenesulphonate) exerts remarkable effect against the electrode fouling induced by oxidation of chlorophenols, allowing us to record the relevant anodic response even after repeated potential cycles. Hypotheses about the role exerted by poly(sodium 4-styrenesulphonate) are made, on the basis of evidences provided by several techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, electrochemical microgravimetry and atomic force microscopy. Thanks to the fact that different chlorophenols show differences in the voltammetric responses, depending on number and position of the chloro substituents on the aromatic ring, applications of the modified electrode in the analysis of mixtures of chlorinated phenols are possible.     

Wetting and anti-fouling properties of groove-like microstructured surfaces for architectural ceramics

Contaminants on architectural ceramics have become a major problem in people's lives. Interestingly, superhydrophobic surfaces offer a new avenue for anti-fouling applications. In this work, a UV-laser process for constructing groove-like microstructures on architectural ceramics and subsequent fluoridation treatment were used to create superhydrophobic surfaces. After laser processing, nanoporous structures were generated inside the grooves, while the cracked layer was deposited on the non-irradiated area, building up a micro/nanoscale morphology on the ceramic surface. Moreover, the effects of groove pitch and laser scanning cycle on surface morphology and wettability were investigated. Results indicate that the fluoridated groove-like microstructured surface showed good superhydrophobicity based on the Cassie-Baxter model. Dynamic behavior of water droplets impacting on the as-prepared superhydrophobic surface was studied to verify its low adhesion. Additionally, the superhydrophobic surface exhibited remarkable repellency to various stain liquids and outstanding self-cleaning properties. These findings may contribute to developing anti-fouling applications for the architectural ceramics industry.     

铜阳极活性区溶解机制的电化学研究

用电化学方法研究了铜在３％ＮａＣｌ溶液中活性区的溶解机制。铜在活性区是以ＣｕＣｌ２＾－形式溶解的,并受它的扩散过程控制。文中提出了溶解的动力学机制。恒电流实验表明,在实际电解过程中铜是以亚铜离子的形式到达被保护表面的。     

Comparison of toxicity and release rates of Cu and Zn from anti-fouling paints leached in natural and artificial brackish seawater

Biocide-containing anti-fouling paints are regulated and approved according to the added active ingredients, such as Cu. Biocide-free paints are considered to be less environmentally damaging and do not need an approval. Zn, a common ingredient in paints with the potential of causing adverse effects has received only minor attention. Laboratory experiments were conducted in artificial brackish seawater (ASW) and natural brackish seawater (NSW) to quantify release rates of Cu and Zn from biocide-containing and biocide-free labeled eroding anti-fouling paints used on commercial vessels as well as leisure boats. In addition, organisms from three trophic levels, the crustacean Nitocra spinipes, the macroalga Ceramium tenuicorne and the bacteria Vibrio fischeri, were exposed to Cu and Zn to determine the toxicity of these metals. The release rate of Cu in NSW was higher from the paints for professional use (3.2-3.6 µg cm⁻² d^− 1) than from the biocide leaching leisure boat paint (1.1 µg cm⁻² d^− 1). Biocide-free paints did leach considerably more Zn (4.4-8.2 µg cm⁻² d^− 1) than biocide-containing leisure boat paint (3.0 µg cm⁻² d^− 1) and ship paints (0.7-2.0 µg cm⁻² d^− 1). In ASW the release rates of both metals were notably higher than in NSW for most tested paints. The macroalga was the most sensitive species to both Cu (EC₅₀ = 6.4 µg l^− 1) and Zn (EC₅₀ = 25 µg l^− 1) compared to the crustacean (Cu, LC₅₀ = 2000 µg l^− 1 Zn, LC₅₀ = 890 µg l^− 1), and the bacteria (Cu, EC₅₀ = 800 µg l^− 1 and Zn, EC₅₀ = 2000 µg l^− 1). The results suggest that the amounts of Zn and Cu leached from anti-fouling paints may attain toxic concentrations in areas with high boat density. To fully account for potential ecological risk associated with anti-fouling paints, Zn as well as active ingredients should be considered in the regulatory process.     

电解海水制氯的应用对周边海域环境的影响

本文详细介绍了电解海水制氯系统的工作流程,以及在华能日照电厂的成功应用经验。重点介绍了电解海水制氯系统的应用后,对电厂冷却水排放口处周边海域的影响。