Wetting characteristic and flow behavior of silicate binder at various sand particle-particle interfaces: Fine or coarse, circular or angular particles

This study presents an innovative investigation into the wetting characteristic and flow behavior of sand particles, which have different shapes, sizes, and textures, when they bonded with silicate binder. The results revealed that the apparent contact angles of fine and angular particles with the binder are higher than those of coarse and circular particles. In addition, after modifying the four systems with anionic surfactants, the equilibrium contact angles decreased by 42.8%, 26.7%, 26.5%, and 7%. These findings suggest that coarse and circular particles demonstrate stronger wetting properties with the binder compared to fine and angled particles. Additionally, the cohesion and internal friction angle of the wet sand mixture can be measured through the ring shear test. Moreover, the unconfined yield strength and main consolidation stress can be calculated using the Mohr Coulomb model to obtain the yield locus and quantify the flowability of the wet sand mixture. The yield trajectory of sand mixtures at specific consolidation stresses suggests that the most important factor affecting the flowability of wet sand particles is particle size distribution. Wet mixtures of coarse and circular particles exhibit lower cohesive forces, indicating higher fluidity

Eph A10-modified pH-sensitive liposomes loaded with novel triphenylphosphine–docetaxel conjugate possess hierarchical targetability and sufficient antitumor effect both in vitro and in vivo

Mitochondrial-targeting therapy was considered to be a promising approach for the efficient treatment of cancer while positive charge induced nonspecific cytotoxicity severely limits its application. To overcome this drawback, a novel mitochondria targeted conjugate triphenylphosphine-docetaxel (TD) has been synthesized successfully and incorporated it into liposomes (EPSLP/TD), which possessed excellent pH-sensitive characteristic, EphA 10 mediated active targetability as well as mitochondria-targeting capability. EPSLP/TD was characterized to have a small particle size, high-encapsulation efficiency and excellent pH-sensitive characteristic. Compared with DTX-loaded liposomes (EPSLP/DTX), EPSLP/TD possessed higher cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cell line. Mitochondrial-targeting assay demonstrated mitochondria-targeting moiety triphenylphosphine (TPP) could efficiently deliver DTX to mitochondria. Western immunoblotting assay indicated that EPSLP/TD could efficiently deliver antitumor drug to mitochondria and induce cell apoptosis via mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway. In vivo antitumor study demonstrated EPSLP/TD owed excellent in vivo antitumor activity. Histological assay demonstrated EPSLP/TD showed strongly apoptosis inducing effect, anti-proliferation effect and anti-angiogenesis effect. This work investigated the potential of hierarchical targeting pH-sensitive liposomes is a suitable carrier to activate mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway for cancer therapy

Effects of nano-SiO2 on morphology, thermal energy storage, thermal stability, and combustion properties of electrospun lauric acid/PET ultrafine composite fibers as form-stable phase change materials

The ultrafine composite fibers consisting of lauric acid (LA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and silica nanoparticles (nano-SiO2) were prepared through the materials processing technique of electrospinning as an innovative type of form-stable phase change materials (PCMs). The effects of nano-SiO2 on morphology, thermal energy storage, thermal stability, and combustion properties of electrospun LA/PET/SiO2 composite fibers were studied. SEM images revealed that the LA/PET/SiO2 composite fibers with nano-SiO2 possessed desired morphologies with reduced average fiber diameters as compared to the LA/PET fibers without nano-SiO2. DSC measurements indicated that the amount of nano-SiO2 in the fibers had an influence on the crystallization of LA, and played an important role on the heat enthalpies of the composite fibers; while it had no appreciable effect on the phase change temperatures. TGA results suggested that the incorporation of nano-SiO2 increased the onset thermal degradation temperature, maximum weight loss temperature, and charred residue at 700 °C of the composite fibers, indicating the improved thermal stability of the fibers. MCC tests showed that the heat resistance effect and/or barrier property generated by nano-SiO2 resulted in an increase of initial combustion temperature and a decrease of the heat release rate for the electrospun ultrafine composite fibers.Form-stable phase change materials Electrospinning LA/PET composite fibers Nano-SiO2 Morphology Thermal energy storage

Characterization of Ethyl Acetate and Trichloromethane Extracts from Phoebe zhennan Wood Residues and Application on the Preparation of UV Shielding Films

In this work, ethyl acetate (EA) and trichloromethane (TR) extracts were extracted from Phoebe zhennan wood residues and the extracts were then applied to the preparation of UV shielding films (UV-SF). The results revealed that substances including olefins, phenols and alcohols were found in both EA and TR extracts, accounting for about 45% of all the detected substances. The two extracts had similar thermal stability and both had strong UV shielding ability. When the relative percentage of the extract is 1 wt% in solution, the extract solution almost blocked 100% of the UV-B (280–315 nm), and UV-A (315–400 nm). Two kinds of UV-SF were successfully prepared by adding the two extracts into polylactic acid (PLA) matrix. The UV-SF with the addition of 24 wt% of the extractive blocked 100% of the UV-B (280–315 nm) and more than 80% of the UV-A (315–400 nm). Moreover, the UV shielding performance of the UV-SF was still stable even after strong UV irradiation. Though the addition of extracts could somewhat decrease the thermal stability of the film, its effect on the end-use of the film was ignorable. EA extracts had less effect on the tensile properties of the films than TR extracts as the content of the extract reached 18%. The results of this study could provide fundamental information on the potential utilization of the extracts from Phoebe zhennan wood residues on the preparation of biobased UV shielding materials

Synthetic Polymeric Mixed Micelles Targeting Lymph Nodes Trigger Enhanced Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses

It has been widely accepted that lymph nodes (LNs) are critical targets of cancer vaccines because antigen presentation and initiation of T-cell-mediated immune responses occur primarily at these locations. In this study, amphiphilic diblock copolymer poly­(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-poly­(d,l-lactide) (PEOz-PLA) combined with carboxylterminated-Pluronic F127 was used to construct mixed micelles [carboxylated-nanoparticles (NPs)] for codelivery of antigen ovalbumin (OVA) and Toll-like receptor-7 agonist CL264 (carboxylated-NPs/OVA/CL264) to the LN-resident dendritic cells (DCs). The results showed that the small, sub-60 nm size of the self-assembled mixed micelles enables them to rapidly penetrate into lymphatic vessels and reach draining lymph nodes after subcutaneous injection. Furthermore, the surface modification with carboxylic groups imparted the carboxylated-NPs with endocytic receptor-targeting ability, allowing for DC internalization of carboxylated-NPs/OVA/CL264 via the scavenger receptor-mediated pathway. Because stimulation of CL264 in early endosomes will lead to a more effective immune response than that in late endo/lysosomes, the mass ratio of PEOz-PLA to carboxylated-Pluronic F127 in the mixed micelles was adjusted to release the encapsulated CL264 to the early endosome, resulting in increased expression of costimulatory molecules and secretion of stimulated cytokines by DCs. Moreover, the incorporation of PEOz outside the micellar shell effectively augmented MHC I antigen presentation through facilitating endosome escape and cytosolic release of antigens. This in turn evoked potent immune responses in vivo, including activation of antigen-specific T-cell responses, production of antigen-specific IgG antibodies, and generation of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses. Finally, immunization with the codelivery system in E.G7-OVA tumor-bearing mice could not only significantly inhibit tumor growth but also markedly prolong the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Taken together, carboxylated-NPs/OVA/CL264 have demonstrated great potential for clinical applications as an effective antitumor vaccine for further immunotherapy

Nature-Inspired Bioorthogonal Reaction: Development of β‑Caryophyllene as a Chemical Reporter in Tetrazine Ligation

A nature-inspired bioorthogonal reaction has been developed, hinging on an inverse-electron-demand Diels–Alder reaction of tetrazine with β-caryophyllene. Readily accessible from the cheap starting material through a scalable synthesis, the newly developed β-caryophyllene chemical reporter displays appealing reaction kinetics and excellent biocompatibility, which renders it applicable to both in vitro protein labeling and live cell imaging. Moreover, it can be used orthogonally to the strain-promoted alkyne–azide cycloaddition for dual protein labeling. This work not only provides an alternative to the existing bioorthogonal reaction toolbox, but also opens a new avenue to utilize naturally occurring scaffolds as bioorthogonal chemical reporters