Eco-friendly approach and potential biodegradable polymer matrix for WPC composite materials in outdoor application

Blends based on high density polyethylene (HDPE) and poly(lactic) acid (PLA) with different ratios of both polymers were produced: a blend with equal amounts of HDPE and PLA, hence 50 wt.% each, proved to be a useful compromise, allowing a high amount of bio-derived charge without this being too detrimental for mechanical properties and considering its possibility to biodegradation behaviour in outdoor application. In this way, an optimal blend suitable to produce a composite with cellulosic fillers is proposed. In the selected polymer blend, wood flour (WF) was added as natural filler in the proportion of 20, 30 and 40 wt.%, considering as 100 the weight of the polymer blend matrix. Two compatibilizers to modify both HDPE-PLA blend and wood-flour/polymer interfaces i.e. polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride and a random copolymer of ethylene and glycidyl methacrylate. The most suitable percentage of compatibilizer for HDPE-PLA blends appears to be 3 wt.%, which was selected also for use with wood flour. In order to evaluate properties of blends and composites tensile tests, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermo-gravimetric analyses and infrared spectroscopy have been performed. Wood flour seems to affect heavy blend behaviour in process production of material suggesting that future studies are needed to reduce defectiveness

Eco-design, circular economy & social responsibility

Our lifestyle, associated with consumption of large amounts of resources, implies to integrate eco-design in our innovations. In particular, recycling and circular economy have to be facilitated, when designing a product. Life Cycle Analyses (LCA) enable to identify the most impacting stages for environment. They often demonstrate the positive effects of recycling that i) limitates the depletion of natural resources, ii) enables energy savings, iii) lowers dissemination of pollutants, etc. Courses as well as collective projects aim at bringing to light environmental issues of eco-design and circular economy, as well as the resulting questions for engineers & researchers. Social responsibility is also identified as key for circular economy and how to train for social responsibility is discussed. Invited speakers from academia as well as industry provide complementary answers to academic ones

Transdisciplinarity in a bio-engineering course

In order to face environmental issues related to resource management and the protection of our ecosystems, future engineers must be aware of the need to develop new sustainable technologies. Our multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary course aims at sensitizing students to the major challenges related to the environment and resources. In particular, bio-engineering for the production of biosourced and biodegradable polymer materials, waste treatment and recovery, as well as ecosystems remediation are addressed. The aim of the lectures, in the first part of the course, is to introduce notions of ecology, biotechnology, polymer materials and process engineering, in order to prepare the project part which allows students to develop achievements on bio-based materials. The students choose from four project areas: the design and construction of a biodegradation reactor, the production of enzymes by genetic modification of bacterial strains, the implementation and optimization of biodegradation processes, the development and transformation of polymer materials, in particular bio-based and biodegradable materials. Finally, students are invited to consider the importance of interactions between complementary disciplines for the success of sustainable and responsible complex projects such as those in the field of bio-engineering

Editorial: Alternative building blocks and new recycling routes for polymers: Challenges for circular economy and triggers for innovations

International audienc

Biobased additive plasticizing Polylactic acid (PLA)

Polylactic acid (PLA) is an attractive candidate for replacing petrochemical polymers because it is from renewable resources. In this study, a specific PLA 2002D was melt-mixed with two plasticizers: triethyl citrate (TEC) and acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC). The plasticized PLA with various concentrations were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), melt flow index (MFI), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Visible spectroscopy and plasticizer migration test. Differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated that the addition of TEC and ATBC resulted in a decrease in glass transition temperature (Tg), and the reduction was the largest with the plasticizer having the lowest molecular weight (TEC). Plasticizing effect was also shown by decrease in the dynamic storage modulus and viscosity of plasticized mixtures compared to the treated PLA. The TGA results indicated that ATBC and TEC promoted a decrease in thermal stability of the PLA. The X-ray diffraction showed that the PLA have not polymorphic crystalline transition. Analysis by UV-Visible spectroscopy showed that the two plasticizers: ATBC and TEC have no effect on the color change of the films. The weight loss plasticizer with heating time and at 100°C is lesser than at 135 °C. Migration of TEC and ATBC results in cracks and changed color of material. We have concluded that the higher molecular weight of citrate in the studied exhibited a greater plasticizing effect to the PLA

Patent foramen ovale closure in stroke patients with migraine in the CLOSE trial. The CLOSE-MIG study

International audienceBackground and purpose The efficacy of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks remains controversial. Methods This was a planned sub-study in migraine patients enrolled in a randomized, clinical trial designed to assess the superiority of PFO closure plus antiplatelet therapy over antiplatelet therapy alone to prevent stroke recurrence in patients younger than 60 years with a PFO-associated cryptogenic ischaemic stroke. The main outcome was the mean annual number of migraine attacks in migraine patients with aura and in those without aura, as recorded at each follow-up visit by study neurologists. Results Of 473 patients randomized to PFO closure or antiplatelet therapy, 145 (mean age 41.9 years; women 58.6%) had migraine (75 with aura and 70 without aura). Sixty-seven patients were randomized to PFO closure and 78 to antiplatelet therapy. During a mean follow-up of about 5 years, there were no differences between antiplatelet-only and PFO closure groups in the mean annual number of migraine attacks, both in migraine patients with aura (9.2 [11.9] vs. 12.0 [19.1], p = 0.81) and in those without aura (12.1 [16.1] vs. 11.8 [18.4], p > 0.999). There were no differences between treatment groups regarding cessation of migraine attacks, migraine-related disability at 2 years and use of migraine-preventive drugs during follow-up. Conclusions In young and middle-aged adults with PFO-associated cryptogenic stroke and migraine, PFO closure plus antiplatelet therapy did not reduce the mean annual number of migraine attacks compared to antiplatelet therapy alone, in migraine patients both with and without aura

Atypical thrombosis associated with VaxZevria (R) (AstraZeneca) vaccine: Data from the French Network of Regional Pharmacovigilance Centres

International audienceNo abstract availabl

Rilpivirine in HIV-1-positive women initiating pregnancy: to switch or not to switch?

International audienceBackgroundSafety data about rilpivirine use during pregnancy remain scarce, and rilpivirine plasma concentrations are reduced during second/third trimesters, with a potential risk of viral breakthroughs. Thus, French guidelines recommend switching to rilpivirine-free combinations (RFCs) during pregnancy.ObjectivesTo describe the characteristics of women initiating pregnancy while on rilpivirine and to compare the outcomes for virologically suppressed subjects continuing rilpivirine until delivery versus switching to an RFC.MethodsIn the ANRS-EPF French Perinatal cohort, we included women on rilpivirine at conception in 2010–18. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between patients continuing versus interrupting rilpivirine. In women with documented viral suppression (<50 copies/mL) before 14 weeks of gestation (WG) while on rilpivirine, we compared the probability of viral rebound (≥50 copies/mL) during pregnancy between subjects continuing rilpivirine versus those switching to RFC.ResultsAmong 247 women included, 88.7% had viral suppression at the beginning of pregnancy. Overall, 184 women (74.5%) switched to an RFC (mostly PI/ritonavir-based regimens) at a median gestational age of 8.0 WG. Plasma HIV-1 RNA nearest delivery was <50 copies/mL in 95.6% of women. Among 69 women with documented viral suppression before 14 WG, the risk of viral rebound was higher when switching to RFCs than when continuing rilpivirine (20.0% versus 0.0%, P = 0.046). Delivery outcomes were similar between groups (overall birth defects, 3.8/100 live births; pregnancy losses, 2.0%; preterm deliveries, 10.6%). No HIV transmission occurred.ConclusionsIn virologically suppressed women initiating pregnancy, continuing rilpivirine was associated with better virological outcome than changing regimen. We did not observe a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes