Solid-state NMR to quantify surface coverage and chain length of lactic acid modified cellulose nanocrystals, used as fillers in biodegradable composites

The surface of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) was chemically modified with polylactic acid. The modification was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, by monitoring the colloidal behavior of CNC in different solvents, and by quantitative analysis using solid-state NMR (ss-NMR). The quantitative analysis showed that grafted PLA chains on average comprised two lactic acid units attached to 48% of all available hydroxyl groups on the surface of the CNC. Both modified and unmodified CNC were incorporated as fillers in three different biodegradable materials: polylactide acid (PLA), poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). Composite films with up to 20 wt% of unmodified and modified CNC were produced via solvent casting. Compared to unmodified CNC, the modified CNC showed less aggregation in organic solvents and hydrophobic polymer materials and increased interaction was seen between the polymer and filler after surface modification. Using ss-NMR, our study shows that even as little as two units of PLA assures stabile CNC dispersions in organic solvents and distribute CNC in hydrophobic polymers

Synthesis of organic aerogels with tailorable morphology and strength by controlled solvent swelling following Hansen solubility

We introduce a generalized approach to synthesize aerogels that allows remarkable control over its mechanical properties. The Hansen solubility parameters are used to predict and regulate the swelling properties of the precursor gels and, consequently, to achieve aerogels with tailored density and mechanical properties. As a demonstration, crosslinked organogels were synthesized from cellulose esters to generate aerogels. By determination of Hansen's Relative Energy Difference, it was possible to overcome the limitations of current approaches that solely rely on the choice of precursor polymer concentration to achieve a set of aerogel properties. Hence, from a given concentration, aerogels were produced in a range of mass densities, from 25 to 113 mg/cm3. Consequently, it was possible to tailor the stiffness, toughness and compressive strength of the aerogels, in the ranges between 14-340, 4-103 and 22-373 kPa, respectively. Additionally, unidirectional freeze-drying introduced pore alignment in aerogels withhoneycomb morphologies and anisotropy. Interestingly, when the swelling of the polymeric gel was arrested in a non-equilibrium state, it was possible to gain additional control of the property space. The proposed method is a novel and generic solution to achieving full control of aerogel development, which up to now has been an intractable challenge.Peer reviewe

Impact of low dose prenatal ethanol exposure on glucose homeostasis in Sprague-Dawley rats aged up to eight months

Excessive exposure to alcohol prenatally has a myriad of detrimental effects on the health and well-being of the offspring. It is unknown whether chronic low-moderate exposure of alcohol prenatally has similar and lasting effects on the adult offspring's health. Using our recently developed Sprague-Dawley rat model of 6% chronic prenatal ethanol exposure, this study aimed to determine if this modest level of exposure adversely affects glucose homeostasis in male and female offspring aged up to eight months. Plasma glucose concentrations were measured in late fetal and postnatal life. The pancreas of 30 day old offspring was analysed for beta-cell mass. Glucose handling and insulin action was measured at four months using an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and insulin challenge, respectively. Body composition and metabolic gene expression were measured at eight months. Despite normoglycaemia in ethanol consuming dams, ethanol-exposed fetuses were hypoglycaemic at embryonic day 20. Ethanol-exposed offspring were normoglycaemic and normoinsulinaemic under basal fasting conditions and had normal pancreatic b-cell mass at postnatal day 30. However, during a glucose tolerance test, male ethanol-exposed offspring were hyperinsulinaemic with increased first phase insulin secretion. Female ethanol-exposed offspring displayed enhanced glucose clearance during an insulin challenge. Body composition and hepatic, muscle and adipose tissue metabolic gene expression levels at eight months were not altered by prenatal ethanol exposure. Low-moderate chronic prenatal ethanol exposure has subtle, sex specific effects on glucose homeostasis in the young adult rat. As aging is associated with glucose dysregulation, further studies will clarify the long lasting effects of prenatal ethanol exposure

Adolescence and the next generation

Publisher Correction: Adolescence and the next generation, in Nature, 559: 7712, p.E1 (July 2018