A Short Review on Nanostructured Carbon Containing Biopolymer Derived Composites for Tissue Engineering Applications

The development of new scaffolds and materials for tissue engineering is a wide and open realm of material science. Among solutions, the use of biopolymers represents a particularly interesting area of study due to their great chemical complexity that enables creation of specific molecular architectures. However, biopolymers do not exhibit the properties required for direct application in tissue repair—such as mechanical and electrical properties—but they do show very attractive chemical functionalities which are difficult to produce through in vitro synthesis. The combination of biopolymers with nanostructured carbon fillers could represent a robust solution to enhance composite properties, producing composites with new and unique features, particularly relating to electronic conduction. In this paper, we provide a review of the field of carbonaceous nanostructure-containing biopolymer composites, limiting our investigation to tissue-engineering applications, and providing a complete overview of the recent and most outstanding achievements

Biochar Emerging applications

This reference text covers the latest developments in biochar materials research, a field which is becoming increasingly popular due to the potential of biochar to replace carbon materials derived from non-renewable sources. Emerging and innovative applications of biochar materials are discussed, and all aspects of the field are covered, from production to applications, including details on the techniques used. There is a particular focus on biochar as a material for composites and sensors. This is the first book to cover emerging applications of biochar as an innovative, versatile, carbon-based renewable material, beyond its traditional uses in agriculture. It is a valuable reference for all researchers in the fields of biochar and carbon materials, including industry practitioners

A Short Review on Biomedical Applications of Nanostructured Bismuth Oxide and Related Nanomaterials

In this review, we reported the main achievements reached by using bismuth oxides and related materials for biological applications. We overviewed the complex chemical behavior of bismuth during the transformation of its compounds to oxide and bismuth oxide phase transitions. Afterward, we summarized the more relevant studies regrouped into three categories based on the use of bismuth species: (i) active drugs, (ii) diagnostic and (iii) theragnostic. We hope to provide a complete overview of the great potential of bismuth oxides in biological environments

Tuning the microwave electromagnetic properties of biochar-based composites by annealing

Abstract We report on the effects of thermal treatment of biochar embedded in epoxy-based composites on their microwave electrical properties, linking such properties to the material structure investigated by Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Annealing temperatures in the range 900–1500 °C and biochar concentrations in the epoxy matrix in the range from 5 to 25 wt.% were investigated. The microwave analysis, in the range from 250 MHz to 6 GHz, allowed us to determine the complex permittivity of composites and, through a proper deconvolution technique, to determine the contribution of biochar inclusions alone. High values of real permittivity (up to 220) and conductivity (up to 17 S/m) were evaluated for the biochar particles at 5 GHz, after the 1500 °C thermal treatment. A clear correlation between electrical properties and the biochar microstructure emerged from the dataset, with real permittivity and conductivity increasing as carbon inclusions transform from amorphous to nanocrystalline graphite. Conversely, the percentage of aromatic carbon has a weaker influence on the microwave properties. This study opens to the possibility of tailoring the high-frequency properties of biochar and biochar composites through proper thermal treatments

High-Temperature Annealed Biochar as a Conductive Filler for the Production of Piezoresistive Materials for Energy Conversion Application

In this research work, we develop a prototype that is able to convert mechanical strain into an electrical signal. To reach this scope, we evaluated the electrical properties of a thermally anneale..

Spatial pattern and habitat requirements of Galaxias maculatus in the last un-interrupted large river of Patagonia: a baseline for management

The relationship between the native Galaxias maculatus and environmental variables was studied in 52 sites located along 306 km of the main stemof the Santa Cruz River, the second largest river in Argentinean Patagonia. The abundance varied along the river, with three general sections clearly defined: upstream with minimum abundance increasing towards midstream and downstream areas. Distance to the sea and river wet width which were negatively significantly associated with abundance,and maximum depth explained the abundance in a polynomial shape - achieving a total explanation of 41.1%. The best predictive model also combined the river sinuosity. Our results suggested that the construction of two proposed hydroelectric dams will modify these variables, which might generate changes in G. maculatus distribution. The information obtainedduring the present study represents valuable information for conservation management of this species.Fil: Tagliaferro, Marina Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Quiroga, Analía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Pascual, Miguel Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentin

Biochar based silicon composites for sensors applications

Nowadays, the development of innovative sensors represents a field of great interest in the scientific community because of their ever increasing application in everyday life. Piezoresistive transducers are among the most interesting not only as sensors but also as actuators. They are of interest for a number of applicative fields ranging from pressure sensors to applications in nanomanipulation. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Bio char as cheap and environmental friendly filler able to improve polymer mechanical properties

Composites and in particular polymer matrix composites (PMCs) have a growing interest in all the applications where both lightweight and mechanical properties are requested. At the same time, environmental problems force to study the low impact materials and, in particular, recycling materials are an added value. To meet both, the ever increasing demands of the PMCs market and develop environmental compatibility, bio based fillers from natural sources have gained substantial interest to reinforce polymer matrices. In this work we study biochar derived by maple based biochar (BC) and same BC heat treated (BCHT) used as carbon filler in epoxy resin (E0). Please click on the file below for full content of the abstract

ZnCr2-xFexO4 Nanoparticles-Modified Electrochemical Sensors: A Comparative Study

This work presents the ZnCr2- x FexO4 (x = 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2) nanomaterials modified screen-printed carbon-based electrochemical sensors. The electrochemical sensor's performance was studied towards paracetamol sensing. The sensitivity and kinetic rate constant were evaluated for each sensor and compared. Found that the sensitivity and kinetic rate constant decreased as the amount of Cr decreased from x = 1 to 1.75. The best sensitivity and kinetic rate constant were observed for the pure ferrite sensor (x = 2)

First study of food webs in a large glacial river: the trophic role of invasive trout

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la estructura trófica de un gran río de la Patagonia en dos secciones (río arriba y medio) y evaluar la superposición isotópica entre especies nativas e introducidas. Utilizamos análisis de isótopos estables δ15N y δ13C y contenido estomacal. La sección río arriba tuvo una estructura de trama trófica más compleja, con mayor riqueza de macroinvertebrados y peces respecto de la sección media. Los recursos basales dominantes río arriba fueron las algas filamentosas. En esta área, la trucha de lago tuvo la posición trófica más alta entre los peces, aunque, las especies de peces más abundantes fueron las truchas arcoiris. Dependiendo del estadio, la trucha arcoiris cambió su rol de presa a competidor/depredador. En la sección media del río, la base de la trama trófica estuvo dominada por materia orgánica particulada gruesa y la trucha arcoíris adulta fue el depredador tope. Los valores isotópicos variaron entre zonas para invertebrados y peces. Las dos especies nativas e invasoras más abundantes, Puyen y trucha arcoiris, mostraron una separación isotópica en la sección media, pero no en secciones de río arriba. La presencia de peces invasores que ocupan una posición tope en los niveles tróficos puede tener un impacto significativo sobre las poblaciones de peces nativos de gran importancia ecológica en la regiónThe aim of this study was to determine the food webs structure of a large Patagonian river in two river sections (Upstream and Midstream) and to evaluate isotopic overlap between native and introduced species. We used stable isotope analyses of δ15N and δ13C and stomach content. The Upstream section had a more complex food webs structure with a greater richness of macroinvertebrates and fish species than Midstream. Upstream basal resources were dominated by filamentous algae. Lake Trout were found to have a higher trophic position than all other fish species in that area although, the most abundant fish species, were Rainbow Trout. Depending on the life stage, Rainbow Trout shifted from prey to competitor/predator. In the Midstream section, the base of the food webs was dominated by coarse particulate organic matter, and adult Rainbow Trout had the highest trophic level. Isotopic values changed among macroinvertebrates and fish for both areas. The two most abundant native and invasive species — Puyen and Rainbow Trout — showed an isotopic separation in Midstream but did not in Upstream areas. The presence of invasive fish that occupy top trophic levels can have a significant impact on native fish populations that have great ecological importance in the region.Fil: Tagliaferro, Marina Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Kelly, Sean P.. Universidad de Puerto Rico; Puerto RicoFil: Pascual, Miguel Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales; Argentin