56 research outputs found
Fluorescent naphthalimide-imidazolium hydrogels for biomedical applications
Bioimaging and in vivo imaging are cornerstone technologies in support of biomedical diagnosis. However, in some cases imaging methods have increased cancer risks for patients. Moreover, the most widely used diagnostic medical
imaging technique, X-ray imaging, is the largest man-made source of radiation exposure to the general population. Thus, the research of new efficient and less invasive materials for imaging is quite urgent. Supramolecular hydrogels have recently proved to be promising biological carriers to load versatile bioimaging agents for in vitro or in vivo bioimaging, thanks
to the ability to undergo reversible swelling and gel–sol transition in response to various physiological stimuli. In addition, the biodegradability and biocompatibility allowed the use of supramolecular gels also for cancer diagnosis, as they can be
facilely endocytosed into cells [1]. Remembering the good biological response of some imidazolium derived hydrogels [2], fluorescent imidazolium organic salts, that should own the double function of gelator and bioimaging agent, have been synthesized. New fluorescent hydrogels with interesting physico-chemical properties (rheology, gel-sol temperature transition and optical properties) have been tested for anti-proliferative activity, in vitro bioimaging on cancer cells and controlled release of gelator in physiological medium. Results evidence how these hydrogels can be potentially investigated as new theranostic media for anticancer researc
Ionic Liquids–Cobalt(II) Thermochromic Complexes: How the Structure Tunability Affects “Self-Contained” Systems
With the aim of obtaining thermochromic systems with potential
applications in solar energy storage, we evaluated the behavior of some sugar-based
ionic liquids (ILs) 12Co(NTf2)2 complexes, in IL solution, as a function of
temperature. Different structural changes on the cation, the nature of the anion,
and the nature of the IL used as the solvent were considered. The analysis of the
above factors was carried out through a combined approach of different techniques,
that is, variable temperature UV 12vis and NMR spectroscopies, conductivity, and
thermal gravimetric analysis. The thermochromic systems were analyzed both as
solutions and as thin films, and the data collected highlight the defining role played
by both the cation structure and the solvent nature in determining their performance.
Most of the investigated systems show a chromogenic transition from pink to blue,
occurring in a temperature range suitable for practical applications (40 1260 \ub0C).
Interestingly, when embedded in a polymeric matrix, thin films with high recyclability
and long life are also described
Iodine Biofortification Counters Micronutrient Deficiency and Improve Functional Quality of Open Field Grown Curly Endive
Human iodine (I) shortage disorders are documented as an imperative world-wide health
issue for a great number of people. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends I consumption
through ingestion of seafood and biofortified food such as vegetables. The current work
was carried out to appraise the effects of different I concentrations (0, 50, 250, and 500 mg L-1),
supplied via foliar spray on curly endive grown in the fall or spring–summer season. Head fresh
weight, stem diameter, head height, and soluble solid content (SSC) were negatively correlated to I
dosage. The highest head dry matter content was recorded in plants supplied with 250 mg I L-1,
both in the fall and spring–summer season, and in those cultivated in the fall season and supplied
with 50 mg I L-1. The highest ascorbic acid concentration was recorded in plants cultivated in the
spring–summer season and biofortified with the highest I dosage. The highest fructose and glucose
concentrations in leaf tissues were obtained in plants cultivated in the spring–summer season and
treated with 250 mg I L-1. Plants sprayed with 250 mg I L-1 and cultivated in the fall season had
the highest I leaf concentration. Overall, our results evidently suggested that an I application of
250 mg L-1 in both growing seasons effectively enhanced plant quality and functional parameters in
curly endive plants
Sex-related differences in risk factors, type of treatment received and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation and acute stroke: Results from the RAF-study (Early Recurrence and Cerebral Bleeding in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation)
Introduction: Atrial fibrillation is an independent risk factor of thromboembolism. Women with atrial fibrillation are at a higher overall risk for stroke compared to men with atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study was to evaluate for sex differences in patients with acute stroke and atrial fibrillation, regarding risk factors, treatments received and outcomes.
Methods Data were analyzed from the “Recurrence and Cerebral Bleeding in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation” (RAF-study), a prospective, multicenter, international study including only patients with acute stroke and atrial fibrillation. Patients were followed up for 90 days. Disability was measured by the modified Rankin Scale (0–2 favorable outcome, 3–6 unfavorable outcome).
Results: Of the 1029 patients enrolled, 561 were women (54.5%) (p < 0.001) and younger (p < 0.001) compared to men. In patients with known atrial fibrillation, women were less likely to receive oral anticoagulants before index stroke (p = 0.026) and were less likely to receive anticoagulants after stroke (71.3% versus 78.4%, p = 0.01). There was no observed sex difference regarding the time of starting anticoagulant therapy between the two groups (6.4 ± 11.7 days for men versus 6.5 ± 12.4 days for women, p = 0.902). Men presented with more severe strokes at onset (mean NIHSS 9.2 ± 6.9 versus 8.1 ± 7.5, p < 0.001). Within 90 days, 46 (8.2%) recurrent ischemic events (stroke/TIA/systemic embolism) and 19 (3.4%) symptomatic cerebral bleedings were found in women compared to 30 (6.4%) and 18 (3.8%) in men (p = 0.28 and p = 0.74). At 90 days, 57.7% of women were disabled or deceased, compared to 41.1% of the men (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis did not confirm this significance.
Conclusions: Women with atrial fibrillation were less likely to receive oral anticoagulants prior to and after stroke compared to men with atrial fibrillation, and when stroke occurred, regardless of the fact that in our study women were younger and with less severe stroke, outcomes did not differ between the sexes
Prediction of early recurrent thromboembolic event and major bleeding in patients with acute stroke and atrial fibrillation by a risk stratification schema: the ALESSA score study
Background and Purposes—This study was designed to derive and validate a score to predict early ischemic events and major bleedings after an acute ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Methods—The derivation cohort consisted of 854 patients with acute ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation included in prospective series between January 2012 and March 2014. Older age (hazard ratio 1.06 for each additional year; 95% confidence interval, 1.00–1.11) and severe atrial enlargement (hazard ratio, 2.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.08–2.87) were predictors for ischemic outcome events (stroke, transient ischemic attack, and systemic embolism) at 90 days from acute stroke. Small lesions (≤1.5 cm) were inversely correlated with both major bleeding (hazard ratio, 0.39; P=0.03) and ischemic outcome events (hazard ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.30–1.00). We assigned to age ≥80 years 2 points and between 70 and 79 years 1 point; ischemic index lesion >1.5 cm, 1 point; severe atrial enlargement, 1 point (ALESSA score). A logistic regression with the receiver-operating characteristic graph procedure (C statistic) showed an area under the curve of 0.697 (0.632–0.763; P=0.0001) for ischemic outcome events and 0.585 (0.493–0.678; P=0.10) for major bleedings.
Results—The validation cohort consisted of 994 patients included in prospective series between April 2014 and June 2016. Logistic regression with the receiver-operating characteristic graph procedure showed an area under the curve of 0.646 (0.529–0.763; P=0.009) for ischemic outcome events and 0.407 (0.275–0.540; P=0.14) for hemorrhagic outcome events.
Conclusions—In acute stroke patients with atrial fibrillation, high ALESSA scores were associated with a high risk of ischemic events but not of major bleedings
How Ionic Liquid Gels Work on the Removal of Bisphenol A from Wastewater
The occurrence of emerging pollutants in water bodies
is a pressing
issue of modern society and identifying materials to remove them is
the main target of current research. In this work, we prepared and
characterized supramolecular gels of 1,3:2,4-dibenzylidene-d-sorbitol (DBS) in ionic liquids differing for the anion and the
aliphatic or aromatic nature of the cation. We characterized our gels
for their thermal stability and mechanical properties. We also found
that all gels self-heal in 24 h after being cut by a razor blade.
We then used our gels as sorbents to remove bisphenol A, an endocrine
disruptor compound, from aqueous solutions. All gels adsorb BPA with
high removal efficiencies, and those obtained in aliphatic ionic liquids
act faster than their aromatic counterparts. The highest observed
adsorption capacity was 314 mg/g. Gels were reused without loss in
performance and need for intermediate washing, and the gel obtained
in [bmpip][NTf2] could be reused 37 times, maintaining
a removal efficiency higher than 96%. It was loaded in a sequential
system of syringes to treat flowing aqueous phases, removing 60% of
BPA in 30 min. We also embedded the gel in the dialysis membrane and
observed a removal efficiency of 85% after 48 h
Carbon Nanomaterial Doped Ionic Liquid Gels for the Removal of Pharmaceutically Active Compounds from Water
Due to large drug consumption, pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) can be found as water contaminants. The removal of PhACs is a significant issue, as they can easily overtake traditional purification methods. Because of their surface properties, carbon nanomaterials are among the most efficient materials able to adsorb PhACs. However, their limitation is their recovery after use and their possible leakage into the aquatic system. Consequently, new hybrid supramolecular ionic liquid gels (HILGs) have been designed for the adsorption of some antibiotic drugs (ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid) from water. The chemical–physical properties of gels, such as the temperature of the gel–sol transition, morphology, and rheology, have been studied for their use as sorbents. These properties influence the gel removal efficiency of PhAC, i.e., the best system is the gel that presents weaker colloidal forces. A fast removal (RE = 51%) is obtained in 3 h for ciprofloxacin, while a slower adsorption process is observed for nalidixic acid (RE = 88% in 24 h). HILGs can be recycled up to seven cycles and regenerated. In addition, they can be used with higher concentrations or volumes of PhAC and in a realistic apparatus like dialysis membranes. These peculiarities suggest that HILGs can be competitive with more complex sorbent systems
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