The supramolecular chemistry between eastern philosophy and the complexity theory

How supramolecular chemistry interplays between the eastern philosophy and the complexity theory relationship? From which point could we start to speak about the fundamental self-organization process that seems to be "the driving force that lead up to the evolution of the biological word from the inanimate matter"? We think the best way is to focus on the core, and move around a core concept: the self-processes in Nature are the starting point for the whole organic world. Taking suggestion from the old eastern philosophy and observing the recent western theory in this paper we will evidence some analogies between the two apparent different thoughts and show that both approaches want to know more about the emerging of life from inanimate matter. In this perspective we underline that Supramolecular Chemistry, investigating the emerging behaviour or properties of the whole complex system, has a central role to understand the spontaneous evolution of Nature. If the self-organization is a conveyor belt of non-animated to animated complex matter, what are the gears of this engine of Nature able to generate Life and new living beings? We cannot provide a definitive answer to this question, however we can recall some acutely relevant research. In this paper we introduce, first, some basic principles of the ancient eastern philosophy in synergy with the modern science of the complexity. Second, the theories dealing with autopoietic systems and dissipative structures, will be presented in order to compare biological and social mechanisms with the (organic) chemistry world. Finally, we report on a few aspects of supramolecular chemistry of guanosine derivatives and their implications in material sciences, medicine and nanotechnology

PROCESSO DE DEPOSIÇÃO DE TINTA METÁLICA COLOIDAL PARA AQUECEDOR MICROFLUÍDICO, PROCESSO DE DEPOSIÇÃO DE TINTA METÁLICA COLOIDAL PARA SENSOR ELETROQUÍMICO, AQUECEDOR MICROFLUÍDICO, SENSOR ELETROQUÍMICO E USO DO AQUECEDOR MICROFLUÍDICO

A presente invenção compreende em processos de deposição em temperatura ambiente de tinta metálica coloidal dentro da estrutura biológica do bambu visando a obtenção de canais condutores ocos para fluir gases e líquidos com a aplicação na área de fabricação de aquecedores microfluídicos, sensores eletroquímicos e circuitos eletrônicos tridimensionais. O método consiste em depositar tinta metálica coloidal (2) e/ou pastas condutoras (6) à base de carbono, ao longo dos canais de estruturas ligno-celulósicas para promover a deposição de prata nas paredes (5) dos canais e/ou o empacotamento de uma pasta de carbono numa porção de microcanais (3) de uma face do bambu (1). Além disso, vale ressaltar que o método proposto possibilita depositar outros tipos de materiais condutores como Au, Pt, Cu, Zn, nanopartículas de carbono, grafenos, polímeros condutores e semi-condutores como os óxidos de metais quais ZnO, CuO, CuO2, TiO2

Processo de Corte e tratamento do bambu natural, dispositivo ligninocelulosico, processo de deposição catalitica e um microrreator catalitico lignocelulosico

A presente invenção compreende um processo de corte e tratamento do bambu natural, um dispositivo lignocelulósico (LµR) compreendendo os microcanais vasculares metaxilema (A), floema (B), protoxilema (C), esclerênquima (D) e parênquima (E) desobstruídos pelo processo de corte e tratamento do bambu natural, ditos microcanais compreendendo conformações naturais e ainda compreendendo a inserção de conectores em suas extremidades para a injeção de fluidos no interior do dispositivo. O dispositivo lignocelulósico da presente invenção funciona ainda como um micromisturador, em que os fluidos injetados em suas entradas são misturados no interior de seus microcanais. A presente invenção compreende ainda um processo de deposição de metais com propriedades catalíticas, compreendendo pelo menos uma etapa de deposição de íons metálicos, ou nanopartículas metálicas, no dispositivo lignocelulósico (Me-LµR). A presente invenção compreende ainda um microrreator catalítico lignocelulósico, compreendendo o dispositivo lignocelulósico após ser processado pelo processo de deposição de metais com atividades catalíticas

PROTOTYPING OF PHOTOCATALYTIC MICROREACTOR AND TESTING OF PHOTODEGRADATION OF ORGANIC DYE

A photocatalytic microreactor is defined as a microfluidic device, which is integrated with a photocatalytic coating of TiO2 deposited on the inner surface of microchannels. This device is capable of degradation of organic dye solution in water in a continuous flow under the action of ultraviolet light. The objectives of this work were to present a rapid and economically viable approach for the prototyping photocatalytic microfluidic devices and to evaluate their photodegradation capability for organic dyes by ultravioletvisible spectrophotometry. Prototyping of polydimethylsiloxane PDMS/TiO2/glass microreactors includes several procedures such as mold preparation, microchannel confection on PDMS surface, deposition of TiO2 on these microchannels, O-2 plasma treatment of PDMS/TiO2 and glass surface for sealing these two parts. The efficiency of the photocatalytic microreactors was evaluated by fluxing two organic dye solutions, rhodamine B and methylene blue, with different flow rates of between 2 and 4 mL h(-1). When the flow rate at 2 mL h(-1) was applied, discoloration of similar to 65% was achieved for both dye solutions, while PDMS/glass microchannels, without TiO2 film, demonstrated much lower discoloration of between 24 and 42% for rhodamine B and methylene blue, respectively. This confirmed that TiO2 was successfully deposited onto PDMS microchannels

Immobilization of lipases on lignocellulosic bamboo powder for biocatalytic transformations in batch and continuous flow

Lignocellulose-based bamboo powder was used as pristine support to immobilize two different biocatalysts: Candida Antarctica lipase B and Rhizomucor miehei lipase. Both, IB-CalB and IB-RM, physically absorbed on bamboo carrier presented considerable recycling efficiency, up to 10 consecutive cycles, in batch mode for the ethyl palmitate synthesis with conversion about 50 and 80 %, respectively. The kinetic resolution of racemic-1-phenylethanol mediated by IB-CalB showed a higher conversion against the IB-RM in batch mode. IB-CalB packed into a glass column reactor was used to carry on a kinetic resolution in flow mode regime with an intensification conversion up to 45 % with 99 % e.e. The easy and low-cost method of the lipase adsorption without pre-treatment of the carrier can be promising for industrial biocatalytic transformation and immobilization strategy

Synergetic antibacterial effects of silver Nanoparticles@Aloe vera prepared via a green method

Aloe Vera-conjugated Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs@AV hybrids) are synthesized in large quantities by reducing silver nitrate with Aloe Vera pulp extract at room temperature. TEM image reveals that these NPs are predominantly spherical with an average of 25 nm in diameter. The crystal structure of AgNPs@AV is determined by XRD. The cytotoxicity of AgNPs@AV hybrids is detected by carrying out the cell viability measurement on Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDF) cells, the results show that no obvious cytotoxicity is observed. Compared with Vera gel and Ag NPs (washed from Vera gel) alone, AgNPs@AV hybrids possess more excellent antibacterial activity on E. coli even at very low concentratio

Accurate and simultaneous measurement of thickness and refractive index of thermally evaporated thin organic films by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy

We demonstrate that Surface Plasmon Resonance spectroscopy can be used for the accurate and simultaneous determination of the thickness and refractive index of transparent thin thermally deposited organic films. The experimental approach is based on a two-metal deposition or a two-thickness method. These methods have been applied to an encapsulated sample containing a thin film of commercial tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) (Alq(3)). The accuracy of the measurement depends on the control of the film deposition process and suggests the use of SPR spectroscopy as inexpensive and valuable metrology tool for small molecule organic thin films. (C) 2014 Optical Society of Americ

Novel Compact Mesh Structure Micromixer with Multiple Outlets for Generation of Concentration Gradients

A novel micromixer concept for generation of concentration gradients, inspired by a Chinese design, the traditional Chinese knot which features a core mesh structure allowing for a very compact design, is presented. The new concept has been designed using modern computer-aided design (CAD) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation software and validated by performing multiple experiments. The final design is found to be significantly more compact than conventional ones and allows the use of up to 15 outlet channels

Microreactors: New opportunities in chemical synthesis

The implementation of chemical reactions in continuous mode under microfluidic conditions by the use of microreactors is a very attractive alternative to the traditional batch and semi-batch mode currently used for chemical synthesis. The fine control of the stoichiometry, kinetics and thermal exchange of the reaction, as well as the easy scale up, low physical space demand for installation/operation and the easy implementation of in-line analysis techniques for in process controls approach the laboratory development to a reproducible, robust, safe, cost-competitive and environmentally sustainable chemical process

SPR sensors for monitoring the degradation processes of Eu(dbm)(3)(phen) and Alq(3) thin films under atmospheric and UVA exposure

The degradation processes of tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) (Alq 3 ) and tris(dibenzoylmethane) mono(1,10-phenanthroline)europium(III) (Eu(dbm) 3 (phen)) thin films are investigated by the use of AFM, photoluminescence and SPR spectroscopy. The plasmonic sensors are operated both in air and nitrogen environments, where they are irradiated with controlled doses of UVA radiation. AFM results don't reveal the formation of heterogeneous phases and crystallization under air exposure. The organic thin films change their refractive index under both types of exposure and act as a protective layer against oxidation for the SiO 2 /MPTS/metal interface of the plasmonic sensors. SPR measurements reveal a strict correlation between the refractive index increase and quenching of the photoluminescence of the organic thin films. The results are promising for the development of compact plasmonic UVA dosimeters in the surface plasmon coupled emission configuration (SPCE) with lanthanide β-diketonate complex materia