Optical sensors based on polymeric nanofibers layers created by electrospinning

Porous materials have become ideal candidates for the creation of optical sensors that are able to reach extremely high sensitivities, due to both the possibility to infiltrate the target substances on them and to their large surface-to-volume ratio. In this work, we present a new alternative for the creation of porous optical sensors based on the use of polymeric nanofibers (NFs) layers fabricated by electrospinning. Polyamide 6 (PA6) NFs layers with average diameters lower than 30 nm and high porosities have been used for the creation of Fabry-Pérot optical sensing structures, which have shown an experimental sensitivity up to 1060 nm/RIU (refractive index unit). This high sensitivity, together with the low production cost and the possibility to be manufactured over large areas, make NFs-based structures a very promising candidate for the development of low-cost and high performance optical sensors

Enzyme-Powered Gated Mesoporous Silica Nanomotors for On-Command Intracellular Payload Delivery

[EN] The introduction of stimuli-responsive cargo release capabilities on self-propelled micro- and nano- motors holds enormous potential in a number of applications in the biomedical field. Herein, we report the preparation of mesoporous silica nano-particles gated with pH-responsive supramolecular nanovalves and equipped with urease enzymes which act as chemical engines to power the nanomotors. The nanoparticles are loaded with different cargo molecules ([Ru(bpy)(3)]Cl-2 (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) or doxorubicin), grafted with benzimidazole groups on the outer surface, and capped by the formation of inclusion complexes between benzimidazole and cyclodextrin-modified urease. The nanomotor exhibits enhanced Brownian motion in the presence of urea. Moreover, no cargo is released at neutral pH, even in the presence of the biofuel urea, due to the blockage of the pores by the bulky benzimidazole:cyclodextrin-urease caps. Cargo delivery is only triggered on-command at acidic pH due to the protonation of benzimidazole groups, the dethreading of the supramolecular nanovalves, and the subsequent uncapping of the nanoparticles. Studies with HeLa cells indicate that the presence of biofuel urea enhances nanoparticle internalization and both [Ru(bpy)(3)]Cl-2 or doxorubicin intracellular release due to the acidity of lysosomal compartments. Gated enzyme-powered nanomotors shown here display some of the requirements for ideal drug delivery carriers such as the capacity to self-propel and the ability to "sense" the environment and deliver the payload on demand in response to predefined stimuli.A.L.-L. is grateful to La Caixa Banking Foundation for his Ph.D. grant. A.G.-F. thanks the Spanish government for her FPU fellowship. The authors are grateful to the Spanish Government (MINECO Projects MAT2015-64139-C4-1, CTQ2014-58989- PCTQ2015-71936-REDT, CTQ2015-68879-R (MICRODIA) and CTQ2015-72471-EXP (Enzwim)), the BBVA foundation (MEDIROBOTS), the CERCA Programme by the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the Generalitat Valenciana (Project PROMETEO/2018/024 and PROMETEOII/2014/061) for support. T.P. thanks MINECO for the Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral fellowship and the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, under the Marie Sk¿odowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (H2020-MSCA-IF2018, DNA-bots). A.C.H. thanks MINECO for the Severo Ochoa fellowship. The authors would like to thank A. Miguel Lopez for the development of the python code for motion analysis.Llopis-Lorente, A.; García-Fernández, A.; Murillo-Cremaes, N.; Hortelao, A.; Patiño, T.; Villalonga, R.; Sancenón Galarza, F.... (2019). Enzyme-Powered Gated Mesoporous Silica Nanomotors for On-Command Intracellular Payload Delivery. ACS Nano. 13(10):12171-12183. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.9b067061217112183131

Sostenibilidad en la Ingeniería Civil. Una experiencia piloto de formación profesional y aprendizaje cooperativo

A Pilot Experience on Cooperative Learning was developed with vocational training students of Advanced Level in Building Construction and Civil Engineering of the Atenea Secondary School (Ciudad Real). The aim was to improve their professional skills in the field of sustainability and, in particular, wastewater treatment by planning, designing, projecting and building artificial wetlands; this a innovative and distinctive competence that will facilitate their employment in an environment with demand for skilled technicians in water purification systems that are more sustainable in both environmental, energy and economical terms. For this purpose, a transdisciplinary team of university professors was formed, who are specialized on building and civil engineering, environmental technology, ecology, ecological engineering, hydraulics, hydrology, geotechnics, geology, geomorphology, geography, territorial planning, teaching and pedagogy. The methodology used was Project Based Learning (PBL), that has been used for some of the team members since 1999 in the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM). Students were asked to propose, design and project an artificial wetland to treat wastewater from a rural home, museum or restaurant that they had projected earlier to rehabilitate the ruins of a 19th century water-energy-industrial foundry known as Martinete de Los Pozuelos de Calatrava (Ciudad Real). The major milestones of the pilot experience were: i) Pre-assessment of students knowledge, ii) Lectures to provide new theoretical concepts essential to develop foreseen specific, iii) Independent student work supervised by teachers from closed scripts and supply of teaching materials and literature, iv) Classroom and field workshops, v) Continuous assessment of individual work in class (interest, participation, success in the resolution of the issues raised by the teacher), final evaluation in group through oral presentation and written report, and issuing diplomas for further recognition of free credits, vi) Evaluation of the pilot experience was done by surveying students about methodology, content and development of classes, results obtained and other comments that they wished to include, vii) Dissemination by opening an account in the facebook social network, writing a press release for publication in local media, and professional editing a CD with graphic and teaching materials. The most remarkable result of the pilot is that PBL methodology is a revolution for vocational training students, used to deal with tools and practicalities commonly based on closed standards and protocols; instead, cooperative learning requires facing real limitations, such as a relative lack of information, developing the project with this uncertainty, and making decisions on the level of complexity of the solutions to adopt. This has resulted in an overall very positive experience for the students (over 95%), who were especially pleased with the results (100%) and the content and development of educational activities (more than 95%)

Two-stage revision for prosthetic joint infection: predictors of outcome and the role of reimplantation microbiology

We describe rates of success for two-stage revision of prosthetic joint infection (PJI), including data on reimplantation microbiology. Methods: We retrospectively collected data from all the cases of PJI that were managed with two-stage revision over a 4 year period. Patients were managed with an antibiotic-free period before reimplantation, in order to confirm, clinically and microbiologically, that infection was successfully treated. Results: One hundred and fifty-two cases were identified. The overall success rate (i.e. retention of the prosthesis over 5.75 years of follow-up) was 83%, but was 89 % for first revisions and 73 % for re-revisions [hazard ratio2.9, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.2–7.4, P0.023]. Reimplantation microbiology was frequently positive (14%), but did not predict outcome (hazard ratio1.3, 95 % CI 0.4–3.7, P0.6). Furthermore, most unplanned debridements following the first stage were carried out before antibiotics were stopped (25 versus 2 debridements). Conclusions: We did not identify evidence supporting the use of an antibiotic-free period before reimplantation and routine reimplantation microbiology. Re-revision was associated with a significantly worse outcome

The ethics of synthetic biology research and development:a principlist approach

A principlist approach is adopted to analyse the ethical status of synthetic biology (synbio) research and development. The principle of nonmaleficence generates precaution-driven conclusions that are excessively restrictive to the field of synbio. The principle of beneficence is best served by permitting synbio research to flourish and not have it treated as a special case warranting the imposition of a high degree of external and self-regulation. Synbio may offend the principle of justice in certain circumstances; however, such issues are largely restricted to the initial stages of synbio innovation, whilst in the longer term the development of the field can be expected to promote just ends. The principle of respect for autonomy entails that scientists ought to be afforded a broad scope to freely pursue synbio research and development in a curiosity-driven fashion. In balancing the various conclusions under the four principles, the author concludes that society has an ethical obligation to support the development of synbio research and development and not restrict this important nascent field by the imposition of stern regulation

Polypyrrole-Fe2O3 nanohybrid materials for electrochemical storage

We report on the synthesis and electrochemical characterization of nanohybrid polypyrrole (PPy) (PPy/Fe2O3) materials for electrochemical storage applications. We have shown that the incorporation of nanoparticles inside the PPy notably increases the charge storage capability in comparison to the “pure” conducting polymer. Incorporation of large anions, i.e., paratoluenesulfonate, allows a further improvement in the capacity. These charge storage modifications have been attributed to the morphology of the composite in which the particle sizes and the specific surface area are modified with the incorporation of nanoparticles. High capacity and stability have been obtained in PC/NEt4BF4 (at 20 mV/s), i.e., 47 mAh/g, with only a 3% charge loss after one thousand cyles. The kinetics of charge–discharge is also improved by the hybrid nanocomposite morphology modifications, which increase the rate of insertion–expulsion of counter anions in the bulk of the film. A room temperature ionic liquid such as imidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonimide seems to be a promising electrolyte because it further increases the capacity up to 53 mAh/g with a high stability during charge–discharge processes

Drosophila Insulin Pathway Mutants Affect Visual Physiology and Brain Function Besides Growth, Lipid, and Carbohydrate Metabolism

OBJECTIVE—Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes worldwide. Some of its complications, such as retinop-athy and neuropathy, are long-term and protracted, with an un-clear etiology. Given this problem, genetic model systems, such as in flies where type 2 diabetes can be modeled and studied, offer distinct advantages. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We used individual flies, control, and mutant individuals with partial loss-of-function insulin pathway genes. We measured wing size and tested body weight for growth phenotypes, the latter by means of a microbal-ance. We studied total lipid and carbohydrate content, lipids by a reaction in single fly homogenates with vanillin-phosphoric acid, and carbohydrates with an anthrone-sulfuric acid reaction. Cholinesterase activity was measured using the Ellman method in head homogenates from pooled fly heads, and electroretinogram