Biodegradable elastic nanofibrous platforms with integrated flexible heaters for on-demand drug delivery

Delivery of drugs with controlled temporal profiles is essential for wound treatment and regenerative medicine applications. For example, bacterial infection is a key challenge in the treatment of chronic and deep wounds. Current treatment strategies are based on systemic administration of high doses of antibiotics, which result in side effects and drug resistance. On-demand delivery of drugs with controlled temporal profile is highly desirable. Here, we have developed thermally controllable, antibiotic-releasing nanofibrous sheets. Poly(glycerol sebacate)- poly(caprolactone) (PGS-PCL) blends were electrospun to form elastic polymeric sheets with fiber diameters ranging from 350 to 1100 nm and substrates with a tensile modulus of approximately 4-8 MPa. A bioresorbable metallic heater was patterned directly on the nanofibrous substrate for applying thermal stimulation to release antibiotics on-demand. In vitro studies confirmed the platform’s biocompatibility and biodegradability. The released antibiotics were potent against tested bacterial strains. These results may pave the path toward developing electronically controllable wound dressings that can deliver drugs with desired temporal patterns

Electrodeposition and Capacitive Behavior of Films for Electrodes of Electrochemical Supercapacitors

Polypyrrole films were deposited by anodic electropolymerization on stainless steel substrates from aqueous pyrrole solutions containing sodium salicylate and tiron additives. The deposition yield was studied under galvanostatic conditions. The amount of the deposited material was varied by the variation of deposition time at a constant current density. SEM studies showed the formation of porous films with thicknesses in the range of 0–3 μm. Cyclic voltammetry data for the films tested in 0.5 M Na2SO4 solutions showed capacitive behavior and high specific capacitance (SC) in a voltage window of 0.9 V. The films prepared from pyrrole solutions containing tiron showed better capacitive behavior compared to the films prepared from the solutions containing sodium salicylate. A highest SC of 254 F g−1 was observed for the sample with a specific mass of 89 μg cm−2 at a scan rate of 2 mV s−1. The SC decreased with an increasing film thickness and scan rate. The results indicated that the polypyrrole films deposited on the stainless steel substrates by anodic electropolymerization can be used as electrodes for electrochemical supercapacitors (ES)

Capacitive energy storage from -50 to 100 °C using an ionic liquid electrolyte

Relying on redox reactions, most batteries are limited in their ability to operate at very low or very high temperatures. While performance of electrochemical capacitors is less dependent on the temperature, present-day devices still cannot cover the entire range needed for automotive and electronics applications under a variety of environmental conditions. We show that the right combination of the exohedral nanostructured carbon (nanotubes and onions) electrode and a eutectic mixture of ionic liquids can dramatically extend the temperature range of electrical energy storage, thus defying the conventional wisdom that ionic liquids can only be used as electrolytes above room temperature. We demonstrate electrical double layer capacitors able to operate from -50 to 100 °C over a wide voltage window (up to 3.7 V) and at very high charge/discharge rates of up to 20 V/s

Laser Interactions for the Synthesis and In Situ Diagnostics of Nanomaterials

Laser interactions have traditionall been at thec center of nanomaterials science, providing highly nonequilibrium growth conditions to enable the syn- thesis of novel new nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanowires with metastable phases. Simultaneously, lasers provide unique opportunities for the remote char- acterization of nanomaterial size, structure, and composition through tunable laser spectroscopy, scattering, and imaging. Pulsed lasers offer the opportunity, there- fore, to supply the required energy and excitation to both control and understand the growth processes of nanomaterials, providing valuable views of the typically nonequilibrium growth kinetics and intermediates involved. Here we illustrate the key challenges and progress in laser interactions for the synthesis and in situ diagnostics of nanomaterials through recent examples involving primarily carbon nanomaterials, including the pulsed growth of carbon nanotubes and graphene

Measurement and calculation of high energy neutron flux in aluminium, graphite, water and paraffin assembly

In the experimental section of this project, the energy spectrum of fast neutrons is measured, after being passed through large blocks, approximately lm3 each, of graphite, aluminium, water and paraffin. Neutrons were produced via 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction by bombarding a Lithium target with 25 or 30 MeV protons of the cyclotron at the Nuclear Research Centre for Agriculture and Medicine in Karaj. Measurements are done using a 76 × 76mm NE-213 scintillator detector, in two points outside the blocks, one in the direction of proton beam and the other normal to it. In analyzing the results of the experiments, SCINFUL and RESPMG computer codes are used to produce the response matrix and the response function of the detector, respectively. FORIST code was, then, used to unfold the neutron spectrum from the pulse height spectrum of proton.   In the theoretical section, the neutron energy spectrum is calculated, in Monte Carlo method, using MCNP-4C code. Finally the results from two sections are compared

Combustion homogeneity and emission analysis during the transition from CI to HCCI for FACE I gasoline

Low temperature combustion concepts are studied recently to simultaneously reduce NOX and soot emissions. Optical studies are performed to study gasoline PPC in CI engines to investigate in-cylinder combustion and stratification. It is imperative to perform emission measurements and interpret the results with combustion images. In this work, we attempt to investigate this during the transition from CI to HCCI mode for FACE I gasoline (RON = 70) and its surrogate, PRF70. The experiments are performed in a single cylinder optical engine that runs at a speed of 1200 rpm. Considering the safety of engine, testing was done at lower IMEP (3 bar) and combustion is visualized using a high-speed camera through a window in the bottom of the bowl.From the engine experiments, it is clear that intake air temperature requirement is different at various combustion modes to maintain the same combustion phasing. While a fixed intake air temperature is required at HCCI condition, it varies at PPC and CI conditions between FACE I gasoline and PRF70. Three zones are identified 1) SOI = -180 to -80 CAD (aTDC) is HCCI zone 2) SOI = -40 to -20 CAD (aTDC) is PPC zone 3) After SOI = -15 CAD (aTDC) is CI zone. Combustion duration, ignition delay, start of combustion and CA90 (crank angle at which 90% of fuel burnt) are comparable between FACE I gasoline and PRF70. The combustion images show a prominent soot flame at CI condition, while only blue coloured premixed flames are visible at PPC condition for both the fuels. PRF70 seems to have a pronounced premixed effect when compared to FACE I gasoline at early injections, showing a decreased level of stratification. NOX emission and soot concentration decreases from CI condition and attains a constant zero value at HCCI condition for both FACE I gasoline and PRF70. CO and CO2 emissions matches between FACE I gasoline and PRF70 at PPC and CI condition, while CO emission is lower for PRF70 at HCCI condition

Fuel effect on combustion stratification in partially premixed combustion

The literature study on PPC in optical engine reveals investigations on OH chemiluminescence and combustion stratification. So far, mostly PRF fuel is studied and it is worthwhile to examine the effect of fuel properties on PPC. Therefore, in this work, fuel having different octane rating and physical properties are selected and PPC is studied in an optical engine. The fuels considered in this study are diesel, heavy naphtha, light naphtha and their corresponding surrogates such as heptane, PRF50 and PRF65 respectively. Without EGR (Intake O2 = 21%), these fuels are tested at an engine speed of 1200 rpm, fuel injection pressure of 800 bar and pressure at TDC = 35 bar. SOI is changed from late to early fuel injection timings to study PPC and the shift in combustion regime from CI to PPC is explored for all fuels. An increased understanding on the effect of fuel octane number, physical properties and chemical composition on combustion and emission formation is obtained. High-speed images of the combustion process are analyzed for each and every fuel and in-cylinder phenomenon is associated with rate of heat release and in-cylinder pressure. Based on the intensity of the images, stratification analysis is performed.The results of the analysis show that CA50 decreases for all fuels from late to early SOI wherein PPC is realized. According to the reactivity of fuels, intake air temperature is increased to comply with the combustion phasing of baseline diesel. When studying the effect of physical properties of fuels, premixed effect and lean combustion are observed for PRF0 compared to diesel. The engine emissions of THC and CO are higher for PRF0 than diesel, while soot concentration is reduced. Diesel showed more stratified combustion than PRF0 despite having same RON due to the effect of physical properties. The effect of fuel octane number on PPC is suppressed due to temperature effect; intake air temperature is increased to 140°C and 90°C for PRF65 and PRF50. PRF0 lacked LTR phase and combustion was noted to be more premixed than PRF50 and PRF65 at SOI = -10 CAD (aTDC). The intensity of the combustion images is brighter for high RON fuels than PRF0 due to physical effects, while octane number effect is not realized due to higher intake air temperature. While THC and CO emissions decreased with the increase in RON, NOX emission increased due to increased intake air temperature. When comparing real fuels, soot concentration is lower for light naphtha when compared to diesel and heavy naphtha

Combustion homogeneity and emission analysis during the transition from CI to HCCI for FACE I gasoline

Low temperature combustion concepts are studied recently to simultaneously reduce NOX and soot emissions. Optical studies are performed to study gasoline PPC in CI engines to investigate in-cylinder combustion and stratification. It is imperative to perform emission measurements and interpret the results with combustion images. In this work, we attempt to investigate this during the transition from CI to HCCI mode for FACE I gasoline (RON = 70) and its surrogate, PRF70. The experiments are performed in a single cylinder optical engine that runs at a speed of 1200 rpm. Considering the safety of engine, testing was done at lower IMEP (3 bar) and combustion is visualized using a high-speed camera through a window in the bottom of the bowl.From the engine experiments, it is clear that intake air temperature requirement is different at various combustion modes to maintain the same combustion phasing. While a fixed intake air temperature is required at HCCI condition, it varies at PPC and CI conditions between FACE I gasoline and PRF70. Three zones are identified 1) SOI = -180 to -80 CAD (aTDC) is HCCI zone 2) SOI = -40 to -20 CAD (aTDC) is PPC zone 3) After SOI = -15 CAD (aTDC) is CI zone. Combustion duration, ignition delay, start of combustion and CA90 (crank angle at which 90% of fuel burnt) are comparable between FACE I gasoline and PRF70. The combustion images show a prominent soot flame at CI condition, while only blue coloured premixed flames are visible at PPC condition for both the fuels. PRF70 seems to have a pronounced premixed effect when compared to FACE I gasoline at early injections, showing a decreased level of stratification. NOX emission and soot concentration decreases from CI condition and attains a constant zero value at HCCI condition for both FACE I gasoline and PRF70. CO and CO2 emissions matches between FACE I gasoline and PRF70 at PPC and CI condition, while CO emission is lower for PRF70 at HCCI condition.\u3cbr/\u3

Combustion stratification for naphtha from CI combustion to PPC

This study demonstrated the change in combustion homogeneity from conventional diesel combustion via partially premixed combustion towards HCCI. Experiments are performed in an optical diesel engine at a speed of 1200 rpm with diesel fuel. Single injection strategy is employed and the fuel is injected at a pressure of 800 bar. The cylinder pressure at TDC is maintained at 35 bar and a high-speed video of the combustion process is captured through optical piston. The high speed video is processed to study the combustion homogeneity based on an algorithm reported in previous studies. Starting from late fuel injection timings, the combustion homogeneity is investigated by advancing to early fuel injection timings. For late fuel injection timings, a direct link between fuel injection timing and combustion phasing is noticed. At advanced fuel injection timings, the start of combustion is independent of fuel injection timing. The combustion homogeneity for the transition from CI via PPC towards HCCI is also investigated for various levels of dilution by displacing oxygen with nitrogen in the inlet. The start of combustion was retarded with the increase in dilution, while the mixture homogeneity is enhanced due to longer ignition delay. To compensate for the retarded combustion phasing with dilution, the inlet air temperature is increased. The experimental results show that the high speed image is initially blue and then turned yellow, indicating soot oxidation. The images are processed to generate the level of stratification based on the image intensity. This study shows better combustion homogeneity for early fuel injection timing and higher level of dilution and temperature in the inlet

Compression ignition of light naphtha and its multicomponent surrogate under partially premixed conditions

Light naphtha is the light distillate from crude oil and can be used in compression ignition (CI) engines; its low boiling point and octane rating (RON = 64.5) enable adequate premixing. This study investigates the combustion characteristics of light naphtha (LN) and its multicomponent surrogate under various start of injection (SOI) conditions. LN and a five-component surrogate for LN, comprised of 43% n-pentane, 12% n-heptane, 10% 2-methylhexane, 25% iso-pentane and 10% cyclo-pentane, has been tested in a single cylinder optical diesel engine. The transition in combustion homogeneity from CI combustion to homogenized charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion was then compared between LN and its surrogate.The engine experimental results showed good agreement in combustion phasing, ignition delay, start of combustion, in-cylinder pressure and rate of heat release between LN and its surrogate. The low temperature reaction (LTR) phase exhibited by LN and its surrogate were comparable, while ignition delay was prolonged as SOI is advanced from CI to HCCI combustion. Combustion images for LN and its surrogate were nearly similar, showing equal behaviour in both fuels. The level of stratification estimated from the intensity of the images was comparable between LN and its surrogate at various SOI. Stratification analysis showed stratified combustion, and the decay of stratification was slower under PPC conditions than under CI conditions. Emissions such as nitrogen oxide (NOX), carbon monoxide (CO) and soot concentration were comparable for the real and surrogate fuels. Overall, this study demonstrates that the surrogate resembles its real fuel (LN) under the current set of engine test conditions