Robust antimicrobial photodynamic therapy with curcumin-poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles against COVID-19: A preliminary in vitro study in Vero cell line as a model

Background: In this study, the ability of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) as a treatment approach and adjuvant therapy using curcumin-poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (Cur@PLGA-NPs) to inactivate Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in plasma was investigated. Furthermore, to verify whether the quality requirement of aPDT-treated plasma is acceptable, the differences of the levels of clotting factors, total plasma proteins, and anti-A and/or anti-B antibodies titrations in plasma of patient before and after aPDT treatment were investigated. Materials and Methods: Cur@PLGA-NPs was synthesized using Electrospinning process and characterized by different analysis including Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy assays. The presence of the SARS-CoV-2 in the plasma samples of patients suspected of having COVID-19 was confirmed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Then, the treated plasma samples with Cur@PLGA-NPs plus blue laser were exposed to Vero cells. Eventually, cell cytotoxicity and apoptotic effects of treated Vero cells were evaluated. Levels of clotting factors including prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), total plasma proteins, and anti-A and/or anti-B antibodies measurements were performed using the coagulometer, method of Bradford, and titration procedure, respectively. Results: The presence of SARS-CoV-2 was positive in 84.3 of samples. Different concentrations of Cur@PLGA-NPs (3, 5, 7, and 10 wt.), the irradiation times of blue laser (1, 3, and 5 min), and aPDT with the maximum dosed of blue laser light (522.8 J/cm2) plus 10 wt. Cur@PLGA-NPs had no cytotoxicity. Although there were significant cell degradation and apoptotic effects in treated Vero cells with treated plasma using 10 wt. Cur@PLGA-NPs, and a blue laser at an energy density of 522.8 J/cm2, no visible changes in cells and apoptosis were observed following aPDT. Total plasma protein content, PT, APTT, and anti-A and/or anti-B antibodies titers showed no significant changes (P > 0.05 for all comparisons) in treated plasma as compared to untreated plasma. Conclusion: aPDT exhibited in vitro anti-COVID-19 activities in the treated plasma containing SARS-COV-2 without Vero cell apoptosis and any adverse effects on plasma quality in aPDT-exposed plasma. © 2021 Elsevier B.V

Study of Slurry Ethylene Polymerization with Ziegler-Natta Catalysts: Kinetics and Investigation on the Rate of Monomer Consumption Equation

In the current work, ethylene polymerization was investigated from a mathematical modeling point of view. The initiation (activation), propagation, termination, and deactivation reactions were taken into account and the relevant equations used in the modeling were obtained from the elementary reactions. Some assumptions including neglecting the transfer and deactivation reactions were considered to simplify the modeling. According to the results obtained, these assumptions were only applicable to the initial stages of the polymerization reaction, namely the first 20 min of the reaction.Finally, transfer to monomer and deactivation reaction was also included in the improved version of the model and a new equation acceptably matching the experimental results was developed for the rate of the polymerization

Study of Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Styrene and Its Gel Effect by Monte Carlo Simulation Method

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene was carried out at 105°C and a Monte Carlo simulation was employed to model the system. The variations of monomer conversion, the initiator concentration, average molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution were evaluated as the reaction proceeded. According to the results obtained, for similar reaction time, monomer conversion is higher when gel effect is taken into account. Also, the concentration of initiator suddenly drops at the initial stages of polymerization, and finally reaches zero. In addition, in the presence of gel effect, bimolecular termination rate constant decreases during the polymerization. Moreover, number- and weight-average molecular weights linearly rise as the polymerization progresses; this also is a confirmation to the living nature of the polymerization. Finally, the molecular weight distribution of polymers synthesized narrows at high monomer conversion. In effect, polydispersity index decreases from about 2 (at the onset of polymerization) to around 1.3 (towards the end of polymerization)

Employing Moment Equations Model to Study the Effect of Different Active Centers on Homopolymerization Kinetics of Ethylene

Ethylene was homopolymerized over Ziegler-Natta catalyst and the homopolymerization was modeled using moment equations. Mechanism was modeled according to five different reaction centers of catalyst. For each center, there are different reaction rate coefficients; therefore the final product of each center would be expected to be different. Modeling results showed good conformity to the experimental results. According to the results obtained, the molecular weight distribution of each active center follows a Schultz-Flory distribution. However, the molecular weight distribution ofpolymer produced is much broader than a Schultz-Flory distribution. Besides, the order of polymerization with regards to monomer concentration is different for each center and it is higher than unity. Moreover, the catalyst active centers deteriorate in the presence of hydrogen and consequently catalyst yield drops. Nevertheless, polymerization kinetics is not affected much by hydrogen. Hydrogen also reduces polymer molecular weight since it is a strong transfer agent in olefin polymerizations. Notwithstanding, it does not affect polydispersity index. Finally, by increasing the cocatalyst concentration the activity of active centers is not changed, while it lessens the molecular weight as a transfer agent

Effect of Reactant Concentration Variations on the Kinetics of Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Acrylonitrile

Polyacrylontrile synthesis, via atom transfer radical polymerization, is studied in various initiator concentrations, transitional metal catalyst and different concentrations of CuBr2. The variations of monomer conversion and the lin-earity of semi-logarithmic kinetic profile which is the evidence of living polymerization and constant radical concentration in the reaction medium, were revealed by gas chromatography technique (GC). Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) studies revealed that, the number average molecular weight increases linearly against monomer conversion, an indicative of living nature of the polymerization process. Additionally, the conversion, apparent rate constant and number average molecular weight increased with increased initiator concentration as well as the transitional metal complex concentration. However, addition of CuBr2 lowered conversion, kapp, and the number average molecular weight of polyacrylonitrile. Molecular weight distribution of synthesized polymers broadened with increased initiator concentration and also transitional metal complex concentration. However, addition of CuBr2 has resulted in narrower molecular weight distribution polyacrylonitrile. Moreover, all the samples experienced a drop in PDI value from nearly 2 to almost 1.1 as the reaction progressed

A Comparative Study between FRP and ATRP of Styrene by Monte Carlo Simulation: Effect of Free Radical Mobility

Styrene polymerization through FRP and ATRP methods was carried out at 110oC, while in-depth studies were performed by Monte Carlo simulation.The changes in monomer conversion, initiator concentration, average molecular weight, and polydispersity index were computed over the course of the polymerization. As the results indicate, compared to ATRP, the FRP reaches higher conversion in a similar reaction time. In addition, the concentration of initiator suddenly drops at the early stages of the ATRP and eventually amounts to zero; chain-length dependent termination rate constant also decreases as the polymerization progresses. However, in case of FRP, the concentration of initiator exponentially falls and termination rate constant rises during the reaction. Furthermore, the average molecular weight increases linearly in the course of ATRP, which testifies the living dynamism of the reaction. Finally, the molecular weight distribution of chains obtained byATRP process is much narrower

Preparation of Polystyrene Nanocomposite by In Situ Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization: Study of Polymerization Kinetics in the Presence of Clay

Styrene nanocomposites were synthesized by in-situ atom transfer radical polymerization at 110oC. The variations of monomer conversion and the linearity of semilogarithmic kinetic plot, some signs of living polymerizationand constant radical concentration in the reaction medium, were revealed by gas chromatography technique (GC). According to the gel permeation chromatography (GPC) results, the number average molecular weight increased linearly against the monomer conversion indicating the living nature of the polymerization. Weight average molecular weight and polydispersity of nanocomposites were also derived from GPC data. In addition, the PDI value was wider for polymers extracted from nanocomposite samples, and still widened as the clay content increased. Moreover, all the samples experienced a fall in PDI value from nearly 2 to almost 1.1 as the reaction progressed. FTIR results are indications of some interactions between clay surface and monomer, which may be attributed to higher rated in polymerization kinetics. XRD displayed no peak in in-situ synthesized nanocomposites indicating an exfoliated structure in the prepared nanocomposites; conversely, a solution blending technique resulted in an intercalated structure. AFM phase images well displayed the dispersion of nanoclay in the polymeric matrix. The delamination of clay platelets in the polymer matrix of in-situ prepared nanocomposite is demonstrated by TEM images; on the other hand, TEM results revealed the intercalated structure of nanocomposites prepared by solution blending technique

Effects of Temperature and Cocatalyst Concentration on the Number of Active Sites in a TiCl4/Mg(OEt)2 Catalyst for Ethylene Polymerization

The slurry polymerization of ethylene was studied by employing a (TiCl4/Mg(OEt)2/TEA) catalyst system in hexane. The effects of triethylaluminum concentration and temperature on polymer yield and polymer viscosity average molecular weight, Mv, were investigated. The maximum polymer yield was obtained at an Al/Ti molar ratio of 124. The highest yield and Mv were achieved at 60 °C. The concentration of active sites of the obtained catalyst system for ethylene polymerization was evaluated as a function of Al/Ti molar ratio and polymerization temperature. Increasing Al/Ti molar ratio from 62 to 124 raised the active site concentration of catalyst, [C*], from 0.0003 to 0.0017, whereas a further increase in Al/Ti molar ratio from 124 to 231 reduced [C*] from 0.0017 to 0.0013. Similarly, increasing the temperature from 40 °C to 60 °C increased the [C*] from 0.0002 to 0.0017, but when temperature was increased above the optimum value, [C*] decreased

Intermediate Radical Termination Theory in Elucidation of RAFT Kinetics and Comparison to Experimental Data

In current work a comprehensive mechanism based on intermediate radical termination theory is assumed for RAFT polymerization of styrene over cumyl dithiobenzoate as RAFT agent. Rate constants for addition (ka) and fragmentation reactions (kf) are set to 6×106 and 5×104 respectively, which lead to an equilibrium constant value of K = ka/kf = 1.2 x 102. Moment equations method was used to model this mechanism and the results were compared to experimental data to verify modeling. The effects of changing RAFT agent concentration on conversion, molecular weight and polydispersity index of the final product were investigated through the modeling. According to the results, the likelihood of living polymerization increases with raising RAFT agent concentration which leads to linearity of conversion and molecular weight curves and therefore lowering the polydispersity index and narrowing the molecular weight distribution

Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Gaseous Benzene and Toluene over Novel Hybrid PIL@TiO2/m-GO Composites

10.3390/catal11010126Catalysts1111-2