Green Composites Based on Hedysarum coronarium with Outstanding FDM Printability and Mechanical Performance

The addition of natural scraps to biodegradable polymers has gained particular interest in recent years, allowing reducing environmental pollution related to traditional plastic. In this work, new composites were fabricated by adding 10% or 20% of Hedysarum coronarium (HC) flour to Poly (lactic acid) (PLA). The two formulations were first produced by twin screw extrusion and the obtained filaments were then employed for the fabrication of composites, either for compression molding (CM) or by fused deposition modeling (FDM), and characterized from a morphological and mechanical point of view. Through FDM it was possible to achieve dense structures with good wettability of the filler that, on the contrary, cannot be obtained by CM. The results indicate that the filler effectively acts as reinforcement, especially for FDM composites. The most remarkable enhancement was found in the flexural properties (+100% of modulus and ultimate strength), followed by tensile resistance and stiffness (+60%) and impact strength (+50%), whereas a moderate loss in tensile deformability was observed, especially at the highest loading. By adding HC to the polymeric matrix, it was possible to obtain a green, high-performance, and cost-effective composite, which could find applications for the fabrication of panels for furniture or the automotive industry

Influence of Branching on the Rheology, Filmability and Mechanical and Optical Properties of a Biodegradable and Compostable Co-Polyester

Over the last years, bio-based and biodegradable alternatives have gained considerable attention both of academic and of packaging industrial communities, driven by recent legislation and increasing awareness concerning environmental issues related to traditional plastic. However, it is often observed that packaging products made from bioplastics do not exhibit comparable performance to those produced using common non-biodegradable ones. The presence of long chain branching improves the processing behavior under elongational flow and, then, the filmability of low viscosity polymers such as polyesters. In this work it has been demonstrated that the presence of long chain branching in a bio-co-polyester, induced by the use of pentaerythritol in the synthesis a of poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate), is able to dramatically change the rheological behavior of the linear chain polyester improving its filmability. The addition of branching lead to an increase of the elastic modulus and the tensile strength in branched polyester films if compared to the linear ones, while the elongation at break decreased. This is due to the answer of the branched polyester to the non-isothermal elongational flow that allows a better orientation of the macromolecules of the branched polyester. The film obtained with the branched polyester showed a decrease in clarity and a slight increase in haze if compared to linear one due to differences in the morphology of the two samples

Bacterial biofilms on biopolymeric sorbent supports for environmental bioremediation

Bioremediation encompasses a broad range of environmental biotechnology, which require multidisciplinary approaches through implementation of innovative tools to the natural biological process occurring in soil, water and air. Immobilization of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms on biodegradable sorbent supports significantly promotes bioremediation processes. Recently ecofriendly, low cost bioremediation devices based on polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) membranes hosting a biodegrading bacterial biofilms were obtained[1]. This work investigates the higher effectiveness of immobilizing hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria compared to that of planktonic cells. Soil hydrocarbon (HC) degrading Actinobacteria Nocardia cyriacigeorgica strain SoB, Gordonia amicalis strain SoCg[2], and the marine hydrocarbonoclastic Alcanivorax borkumensis strain AU3-AA-7[3] were immobilized on PLA and PCL membranes and tested on hexadecane. The capacity of adhesion and proliferation of these biodegrading biofilms within the biopolymers were evaluated at various time points (5, 10, 15, and 30 incubation days) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM images revealed that PLA and PCL nanofibers were nearly completely covered by a complex three-dimensional bacterial film for all tested strains. Quantification of total biomass (estimated as total dsDNA) confirmed biofilm growth up to 30 days of incubation. Crude oil biodegradation ability of biofilms-membranes systems, assessed by Gas Chromatography-FID analysis, demonstrated the removal of over 60% of the oil after 5 days of incubation, outperforming free-living bacteria by 24%. Viable plate counts showed that bacterial biofilms adsorbed on biopolymers were still viable after 30 days, indicating their potential for long-term applications

Elevated blood Hsp60, its structural similarities and cross-reactivity with thyroid molecules, and its presence on the plasma membrane of oncocytes point to the chaperonin as an immunopathogenic factor in Hashimoto's thyroiditis

The role Hsp60 might play in various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases is under investigation, but little information exists pertaining to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). With the aim to fill this gap, in the present work, we directed our attention to Hsp60 participation in HT pathogenesis. We found Hsp60 levels increased in the blood of HT patients compared to controls. The chaperonin was immunolocalized in thyroid tissue specimens from patients with HT, both in thyrocytes and oncocytes (Hurthle cells) with higher levels compared to controls (goiter). In oncocytes, we found Hsp60 not only in the cytoplasm but also on the plasma membrane, as shown by double immunofluorescence performed on fine needle aspiration cytology. By bioinformatics, we found regions in the Hsp60 molecule with remarkable structural similarity with the thyroglobulin (TG) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) molecules, which supports the notion that autoantibodies against TG and TPO are likely to recognize Hsp60 on the plasma membrane of oncocytes. This was also supported by data obtained by ELISA, showing that anti-TG and anti-TPO antibodies cross-react with human recombinant Hsp60. Antibody-antigen (Hsp60) reaction on the cell surface could very well mediate thyroid cell damage and destruction, perpetuating inflammation. Experiments with recombinant Hsp60 did not show stimulation of cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HT patients. All together, these results led us to hypothesize that Hsp60 may be an active player in HT pathogenesis via an antibody-mediated immune mechanism

Ionic tactile sensors as promising biomaterials for artificial skin: Review of latest advances and future perspectives

Ionic tactile sensors (ITS) are an emerging subfield of wearable electronics, capable of mimicking the human skin, including not only the typical anisotropic structure, mechanical behaviour, and tactile functions but even the mechanosensitive ionic channels that are crucial for the human sense of touch. With the rapid development of intelligent technology, such bioinspired materials constitute the core foundation of intelligent systems and are a candidate to be the next generation e-skins, offering a more accurate and evolved biointerface. In the latest years, a wealth of novel ultra-stretchable ITS was proposed, progressively refining the choice of soft materials, including ion gels, ionic liquids and hydrogels, and fabrication techniques. Regardless of materials and methods adopted, all these tactile sensors can feel mechanical solicitations and external stimuli, thus behaving as – or even better than – human skin. In this review, an overview of the very latest advances in high-performance ITS applied in intelligent systems is reported. First, generality of ITS will be summarized. After, ion gel, ionic liquid, hydrogel, and elastomer ITS will be discussed focusing first on composition, fabrication, type and mode of sensing and then on their characteristics and application. In this perspective, the advantages that biomimetic approaches brought in terms of sensitivity, speed of response and multimodality of sensing will be highlighted, with a particular focus on the development of electrochromic, thermochromic, self-powered and self-healing devices. In conclusion, the prospects of tactile sensors for intelligent systems in biomedicine and robotics will be discussed, along with the possible strategies to overcome the current shortcomings, in terms of biocompatibility, durability, mechanical performance, adhesion to biological substrates, which represent the future challenges

Biodegradable Membrane with High Porosity and Hollow Structure Obtained via Electrospinning for Oil Spill Clean-up Application

The use of biodegradable polymers for the production of membranes to be used in wastewater treatment has attracted increasing interest considering the possibility of reducing the risk of second pollution. In this work, porous fibrous membranes based on polylactic acid and polyethylene oxide (PEO) blends were prepared. The solutions were electrospun using two approaches: (i) conventional coaxial electrospinning followed by leaching treatment (double-step, DS); (ii) coaxial wet electrospinning with in situ leaching (single-step, SS). By varying PEO type and processing method it was possible to control membranes structure and porosity. DS leaching treatment lead to surface porosity (i.e. shell leaching), while SS allowed obtaining hollow and porous fibers (i.e. with shell and core leaching). Process, properties and structure relationships of devices were analysed trough rheological, morphological, mechanical and surface characterizations. Furthermore, the influence of the different porous structures on oil sorption capacity and reusability of the membranes was evaluated. Results reveal that different porosities lead to a variation in membranes mechanical performance, in their wettability and, consequently, in their oil spill cleanup capacity. Membranes obtained with SS displayed higher performance in oil removal if compared to the DS ones, due to their hollow structure and higher surface area

Green composites based on biodegradable polymers and anchovy (Engraulis Encrasicolus) waste suitable for 3D printing applications

Every day large amounts of fish waste are produced and grossly discarded in markets around the world causing environmental and hygiene issue. The use of these scraps for the production of materials with higher added value can definitely contributed to solve this problem. In this work, 10% and 20% of anchovy fishbone powder (EE), obtained by market waste, were microbiological and mechanical tested and subsequently added to polylactic acid (PLA) and to a commercial blend of biodegradable co-polyesters (Mater-Bi®). Rheological characterization suggests the potential printability of all prepared composites filaments. 10% EE filled composites showed outstanding printability. Morphological analysis confirmed the obtainment of good dispersion of the filler and the excellent adhesion of EE particles with the matrices in the composites filament and in 10% printed samples. The filler effectively acted as reinforcement in flexural and impact test: for MB and PLA, the addition of EE leads to an increase of flexural modulus of about 23% and 32% respectively. In tensile test both composites turn out to be influenced by the oil contained in the filler that act as plasticizer: the elongation at break of MB increased by 364% when 10% of EE was added. The experimental data obtained by tensile tests showed an opposites behavior than those predicted by Halpin–Tsai model, presumably due to the presence of residual fish oil acting as internal slipping agent

An overview of statin-induced myopathy and perspectives for the future

Introduction: Statins remain the most commonly prescribed lipid-lowering drug class for the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Their well-recognized side effects are known as statin-associated muscle symptom (SAMS). Some advances in this field have been made in recent years, but the understanding of the mechanisms has lagged. Investigating the specific role of the anti-HMGCR autoantibody, pharmacokinetic genetic variants, characterization of the known phenotypes of statin toxicity, in relation to clinical markers of disease, is of high importance. Areas covered: We summarized currently available findings (on PubMed) related to SAMS and discussed the therapeutic approaches, risk factors, drug interactions, potential novel systems, algorithms and biomarkers for SAMS detection. CoQ10 supplementation has been suggested as a complementary approach to manage SAMS, while vitamin D levels may be useful for both the diagnosis and management. Expert Opinion/Commentary: Further studies might help to understand the easiest way to diagnose SAMS, suitable prevention and an effective non-statin therapy. This review sheds new light on the future directions in both research and clinical practice, which will help with rapid risk assessment, identification of the SAMS risk factors in order to decrease the incidence of statins’ adverse effects, and the most effective therapy

Gut microbiota, obesity and bariatric surgery: Current knowledge and future perspectives

Background: There is an urgent need for a better understanding and management of obesity and obesity-associated diseases. It is known that obesity is associated with structural and functional changes in the microbiome. Methods: The purpose of this review is to present current evidence from animal and human studies, demonstrating the effects and the potential efficacy of microbiota modulation in improving obesity and associated metabolic dysfunctions. Results: This review discusses possible mechanisms linking gut microbiota dysbiosis and obesity, since there is a dual interaction between the two of them. Furthermore, comments on bariatric surgery, as a favourable model to understand the underlying metabolic and inflammatory effects, as well as its association with changes in the composition of the gut microbiota, are included. Also, a possible impact of anti-obesity drugs and the novel antidiabetic drugs on the gut microbiota has been briefly discussed. Conclusion: More research is needed to better understand here discussed the association between microbiota modulation and obesity. It is expected that research in this field, in the following years, will lead to a personalized therapeutic approach considering the patient’s microbiome, and also give rise to the discovery of new drugs and/or the combination therapies for the management of obesity and obesity-related co-morbidities

Prospective, randomized trial of sequential interleukin-3 and granulocyte- or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor after standard-dose chemotherapy in cancer patients

Several in vitro and animal studies have shown that IL-3 primes hematopoietic stem cells to become more sensitive to later acting growth factors. We wanted to compare the toxicity and the synergistic stimulatory effect of interleukin-3 (IL-3) followed by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CFS) or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on white blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts, after standard-dose chemotherapy (CT) in patients with solid tumors