Fluorescent naphthalimide-imidazolium hydrogels for biomedical applications

Bioimaging and in vivo imaging are cornerstone technologies in support of biomedical diagnosis. However, in some cases imaging methods have increased cancer risks for patients. Moreover, the most widely used diagnostic medical imaging technique, X-ray imaging, is the largest man-made source of radiation exposure to the general population. Thus, the research of new efficient and less invasive materials for imaging is quite urgent. Supramolecular hydrogels have recently proved to be promising biological carriers to load versatile bioimaging agents for in vitro or in vivo bioimaging, thanks to the ability to undergo reversible swelling and gel–sol transition in response to various physiological stimuli. In addition, the biodegradability and biocompatibility allowed the use of supramolecular gels also for cancer diagnosis, as they can be facilely endocytosed into cells [1]. Remembering the good biological response of some imidazolium derived hydrogels [2], fluorescent imidazolium organic salts, that should own the double function of gelator and bioimaging agent, have been synthesized. New fluorescent hydrogels with interesting physico-chemical properties (rheology, gel-sol temperature transition and optical properties) have been tested for anti-proliferative activity, in vitro bioimaging on cancer cells and controlled release of gelator in physiological medium. Results evidence how these hydrogels can be potentially investigated as new theranostic media for anticancer researc

Biomass Carbonization: Process Options and Economics for Small Scale Forestry Farms☆

Abstract Bioenergy represents a unique opportunity for forestry companies to diversify the sources of income and create new stable business opportunities: a large number of initiatives has started in the last decades especially regarding decentralized power generation; nevertheless the conversion of the farmers to energy producers is not a trivial issue. The present work has focused on a possible alternative to biopower generation for forestry farms: the biomass carbonization (i.e. biomass slow pyrolysis). Charcoal making presents good prerequisite conditions for successful biomass based systems in the forestry sector: the system results incentive-independent, the power generation represents the co-product of a different primary production (resulting a real additional income), the plant capital cost is affordable for small scale farmers, operations requires technical skills normally available in the forestry sector and the reliability of the system is proven and credible, reducing the risks contained in business plans based on "number of hours of operation over several years". Moreover charcoal is a well known product, familiar to forestry companies for a very long time, the market is well defined, the technology is known but still offers opportunities for further improvements (in terms of efficiency, costs and environmental impacts), the technology does not present major risk, the investment is well suited to small farmers and the process and technology gives a great opportunity for small scale and local supply chain development. Based on these considerations, the present work investigated the technological opportunities for small scale charcoal making systems. Various process configurations have been examined, focusing on advantages and disadvantages representative of each solution in view of small scale application suitable for the Italian case and a designed pilot plant has been proposed

Autothermal biochar production and characterization at pilot scale

The present work reports on the results from the validation campaign of an autothermal pilot carbonization unit (CarbON) and on the characterization of the produced biochar and pyrolysis vapors. The proposed pilot plant leverages the simplicity and effectiveness of autothermal operations together with open top, downdraft design, to bring to the small scale the performance of larger installations. In autothermal operation, heat for the process is internally provided by combusting part of the feedstock and evolved volatiles inside the reactor, the so called “oxidative pyrolysis”. Please click on the file below for full content of the abstract

integration of srf and carbonization plant for small forestry farms

Abstract A continuous oxidative carbonization pilot unit, with a capacity of 50 kg/h,has been developed and builtby RE-CORD; reported performance data shows that the unit can produce high quality charcoal, suitable for BBQ, metallurgy of activated-carbon manufacturing, as well as biochar. Charcoal yield in excess of 24 wt% (dry) has been achieved, with a fixed carbon content higher than 85 wt% (dry). In this work,the up-scaled 250 kg/h demo plant has been designed, and the construction, operation and maintenancecosts estimated. It was assumed to feed the plant with a dedicated SRF of either poplar or robinia, which represents a very innovative and yet unexplored value chain. Performance data are reported along with economic evaluation of the whole chain. Results shows how aland management scheme based on SRF coupled to innovative small-scale biomass carbonization technology represents an appealing opportunity for business diversification in small and medium forestry enterprises

Correlation between biochemical composition and magnetic resonance appearance of articular cartilage

AbstractObjective: The objective of this study was to find a correlation between magnetic resonance (MR) appearance and biochemical composition of the normal articular cartilage by comparing the laminar aspects with the distribution of the two principal matrix components: proteoglycans and collagen.Design: T2-weighted MR microimages of porcine cartilage-bone plugs, excised from both the habitually loaded and habitually unloaded regions of the proximal end of the humerus, were obtained using a spin-echo sequence. Proteoglycans (PGs) were monitored by histology and by measuring the uronate and the sulfur content of the tissue; a histological method and the chemical determination of hydroxyproline were used for the evaluation of the collagen content.Results: The ‘loaded’ cartilage exhibited the expected MR laminar appearance whereas the ‘unloaded’ tissue appeared to be more homogeneous. The PG content in the ‘loaded’ cartilage, was found to be 2.4 times higher than in the habitually unloaded tissue, exhibiting an increasing trend from the articular surface to the bone. In the ‘unloaded’ cartilage the uronate distribution was more uniform with a higher concentration in the intermediate zone. The mean collagen content of both cartilage regions was found to be about 39% of the tissue dry weight. Histology and hydroxyproline distribution pattern showed that collagen was particularly concentrated at the surface and in a central zone of the ‘loaded’ cartilage whereas in the ‘unloaded’ tissue collagen was evident only at the surface. In accordance with the collagen distribution, transverse relaxation (T2) times in ‘loaded’ cartilage showed a minimum value at the articular surface and another minimum in a central region. On the contrary, the average T2value of the ‘unloaded’ tissue was high at the surface and decreased rapidly in the deeper zones.Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the MR appearance of articular cartilage correlates with the collagen content, but not with that of PGs, of the different zones. Other matrix components might, however, influence the MR appearance by contributing to the macromolecular organization of the tissue

O papel do aleitamento materno no desenvolvimento de alergias respiratórias = The role of breastfeeding on the development of respiratory allergies

Objetivos: revisar a literatura que trata da relação entre aleitamento materno e asma na infância. Fonte de dados: publicações científicas recentes, selecionadas através das bases de dados Scielo, Lilacs e Pubmed. Foram escolhidas publicações nos idiomas Português, Inglês e Espanhol. Procurou-se identificar o processo das reações alérgicas e das alergias respiratórias e qual o papel do leite materno na proteção de alergias respiratórias como asma a atopia. Síntese dos dados: a síndrome alérgica respiratória é constituída por asma e rinite alérgica, com características de reação de hipersensibilidade tipo I, que resultam da interação de alérgenos ambientais com anticorpos IgE específicos. A maioria das revisões sobre fatores de risco para asma recomenda aleitamento materno exclusivo para reduzir a probabilidade do desenvolvimento de atopia e asma na infância. Embora tal visão seja amplamente aceita e difundida, os resultados da literatura são conflitantes. Conclusões: apesar das muitas pesquisas sobre o tema, não se pode concluir se o aleitamento materno ajudará a prevenir a sensibilização a alérgenos em crianças com enfermidades como asma. No entanto, por todas as suas conhecidas vantagens, o aleitamento materno exclusivo deve ser encorajado nos primeiros meses de vid

Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3 Regulates Inflammation in Human and Mouse Intestine

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