Photochromic properties of spirooxazine dyes in ormocer gels and coatings

The wet- and "cold"-chemical characteristic of sol-gel process makes the sol-gel derived materials offer exciting potentials as hosts for photochromic dyes. In the present work, using mixed organically modified silicon alkoxides as starting compounds a novel ORMOCER material has been prepared via the sol-gel process as a host for spirooxazines. The photochromic properties of the dyes in the ORMOCER gel and coating are compared with those in ethanol. The experimental results show that both the photochromic performance and the thermal stability of the dyes are apparently improved in the ORMOCER matrix, while the temperature dependence of the photochromic intensity at higher temperatures need further improvement

MD-IQA: Learning Multi-scale Distributed Image Quality Assessment with Semi Supervised Learning for Low Dose CT

Image quality assessment (IQA) plays a critical role in optimizing radiation dose and developing novel medical imaging techniques in computed tomography (CT). Traditional IQA methods relying on hand-crafted features have limitations in summarizing the subjective perceptual experience of image quality. Recent deep learning-based approaches have demonstrated strong modeling capabilities and potential for medical IQA, but challenges remain regarding model generalization and perceptual accuracy. In this work, we propose a multi-scale distributions regression approach to predict quality scores by constraining the output distribution, thereby improving model generalization. Furthermore, we design a dual-branch alignment network to enhance feature extraction capabilities. Additionally, semi-supervised learning is introduced by utilizing pseudo-labels for unlabeled data to guide model training. Extensive qualitative experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method for advancing the state-of-the-art in deep learning-based medical IQA. Code is available at: https://github.com/zunzhumu/MD-IQA

Enhancement of the photochromic performance of spirooxazine in sol-gel derived organic-inorganic hybrid matrices by additives

Organic-inorganic hybrid materials synthesized via sol-gel processing are excellent solid matrices for photochromic dyes like spirooxazine, and the photochromic performance can be further enhanced by introducing suitable additives. This work describes the effects of additives on the photochromic intensity (ΔA0), decolouration rate (k) and photostability of spirooxazine in sol-gel derived organic-inorganic hybrid matrices. They include fluoro-alkylsilane (FAS), bisphenol A (BPA) and methyl-imidazole (MI). FAS enhances both ΔA0 and photostability, but has little effect on k. The higher the content of BPA, the higher the ΔA0 and the higher the photostability, but the lower the k. The effect of MI on ΔA0 and k is not so considerable as that of BPA and is a little complicated, while significant improvement in photostability is achieved by the addition of MI at an optimum concentration with the presence of BPA at a higher content

Preparation and photochromic properties of dye-doped aluminosilicate ORMOCER gels and coatings

Aluminosilicate and ORMOCER gels and coatings containing photochromic dyes, 1, 3-dihydro-1, 3, 3-trimethylspiro-[2H-indole-2, 3\u27-[3H]-naphth-[2, 1-b][1, 4]-oxazine] (SO) and 1\u27, 8a\u27-dihydro-2\u27, 3\u27-dimethoxycarbonyl-spiro [fluorene-9, 1\u27-indolizine] (DHI), were prepared by the sol-gel method and the photochromic activity was monitored in the course of the sol-wetgel-xerogel transformation. The photochromic activity of the aluminosilicate gels decreases rapidly and even vanishes in the wetgel-xerogel stage while that of ORMOCER gels and coatings levels off in the early wetgel-xerogel stage at a reasonably high photochromic intensity with the colour-fading speed similar to that in ethanol and the photostability being considerably improved. The experimental results are discussed in terms of the matrix effect on photochromism of organic dyes

Towards superior biopolymer gels by enabling interpenetrating network structures:A review on types, applications, and gelation strategies

Gels derived from single networks of natural polymers (biopolymers) typically exhibit limited physical properties and thus have seen constrained applications in areas like food and medicine. In contrast, gels founded on a synergy of multiple biopolymers, specifically polysaccharides and proteins, with intricate interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) structures, represent a promising avenue for the creation of novel gel materials with significantly enhanced properties and combined advantages. This review begins with the scrutiny of newly devised IPN gels formed through a medley of polysaccharides and/or proteins, alongside an introduction of their practical applications in the realm of food, medicine, and environmentally friendly solutions. Finally, based on the fact that the IPN gelation process and mechanism are driven by different inducing factors entwined with a diverse amalgamation of polysaccharides and proteins, our survey underscores the potency of physical, chemical, and enzymatic triggers in orchestrating the construction of crosslinked networks within these biomacromolecules. In these mixed systems, each specific inducer aligns with distinct polysaccharides and proteins, culminating in the generation of semi-IPN or fully-IPN gels through the intricate interpenetration between single networks and polymer chains or between two networks, respectively. The resultant IPN gels stand as paragons of excellence, characterized by their homogeneity, dense network structures, superior textural properties (e.g., hardness, elasticity, adhesion, cohesion, and chewability), outstanding water-holding capacity, and heightened thermal stability, along with guaranteed biosafety (e.g., nontoxicity and biocompatibility) and biodegradability. Therefore, a judicious selection of polymer combinations allows for the development of IPN gels with customized functional properties, adept at meeting precise application requirements.</p

Thermal decoloration kinetics of spirooxazines in Ormocer coatings prepared via sol-gel processing

Two free and one silylated (silane-substituted) photochromic spirooxazines are doped into organically modified ceramics (Ormocer) coatings by sol-gel processing and the thermal decoloration kinetics of these coatings are investigated and compared with the corresponding ethanol solutions and PMMA coatings. The decoloration behaviour of the two free dyes (SO-1 and SO-2) in the Ormocer coatings is similar to that in ethanol solutions, obeying a first-order mechanism and possessing almost the same decoloration rates as in ethanol. This suggests that the dye molecules encapsulated within the pores of the solid matrix are as free as those in ethanol solutions. The silylated dye (SO-3) in the Ormocer coatings, however, exhibits a considerably lower decoloration rate than the corresponding free dye (SO-1) and evident deviation from the first-order mechanism. This indicates apparently that the degree of freedom of the dye molecules is reduced by the silylation. These results are discussed on the basis of solvent polarity, porous structure of the Ormocer coating, and the dye-to-matrix connectivity

Photochromic properties of a silylated spirooxazine in sol-gel coatings

For the first time a silylated spirooxazine was introduced into organically modified ceramics (Ormocer) coatings by the sol-gel method and its photochromic properties are studied and compared with the free (non-silylated) spirooxazine. The results reveal that the silylation has little influence on the spectroscopic properties and the photochromic intensity of the silylated dye in Ormocer coatings is at the same level as that of the free dye, though the decolouration rate of the dye is reduced by the silylation and the decolouration exhibits a significant deviation from first-order kinetics which the free dye obeys. This is due to the dye-to-matrix connectivity