Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ke Peng, Thomas Sottmann, Cosima Stubenrauch
Summary: This study successfully formulated a gelled non-toxic bicontinuous microemulsion that can solubilize a variety of drugs, with the unexpected stabilization of drug formulations observed. The drug-containing gelled microemulsion shows promise for transdermal drug delivery applications.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ke Peng, Natalie Preisig, Thomas Sottmann, Cosima Stubenrauch
Summary: This study aimed to develop gelled non-toxic microemulsions for transdermal drug delivery. By adjusting the oil-to-water ratio and utilizing a low molecular weight gelator, the researchers were able to create gels with mechanical stability. The microemulsion structure and the gelation properties of DBS are attributed to the different gel strengths observed at varying phi-ratios.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Malihe Keramat, Mohammad-Taghi Golmakani, Mehrdad Niakousari, Mohamad Reza Toorani
Summary: The antioxidant capacity of sesamol esters in gelled emulsion was compared with non-gelled emulsion, and the role of mass transfer on their antioxidant capacity was assessed. The kinetic parameters of peroxidation in the initiation and propagation phases were calculated using a sigmoidal model. Sesamol esters showed higher antioxidant activity than sesamol in both gelled and non-gelled emulsion. In gelled emulsion, sesamyl acetate, sesamyl butyrate, and sesamyl hexanoate had no synergistic effect with sesamol, while in non-gelled emulsion, sesamyl butyrate exhibited a slight synergistic effect. The antioxidant activity of sesamyl acetate and sesamyl hexanoate was higher in non-gelled emulsion, while sesamyl butyrate showed higher antioxidant activity in gelled emulsion. The cut-off effect hypothesis was observed in gelled emulsion, but not in non-gelled emulsion. Sesamol esters remained active and exhibited inhibitory effect during the propagation phase.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nianjie Kuang, Shenglai Yang, Zhongtao Yuan, Meng Wang, Zheng Zhang, Xisheng Zhang, Mengyu Wang, Yuxiang Zhang, Shuai Li, Jianbang Wu, Wenfeng Lv
Summary: This study investigates the use of oil and gas amphiphilic surfactants to improve CO2 flooding efficiency and explores the mechanism through experiments. The results show that the addition of compound systems significantly enhances oil displacement efficiency, making it an effective method to improve the geological utilization of CO2.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Michael Herbst, Max O. Dombrowski, Natalie Preisig, Sonja Dieterich, Frank Giesselmann, Philippe Mesini, Cosima Stubenrauch
Summary: Lyotropic liquid crystal gels (LLC gels) with the anisotropy of a liquid crystal and the mechanical stability of a gel were successfully prepared by gelling the rare calamitic nematic N-C phase of two different micellar LLC systems with a low molecular weight gelator (LMWG). The obtained gels exhibited optical birefringence and no macroscopic flow, and microscopic analysis confirmed the coexistence of the nematic N-C phase and the gel network. The growth of the gel network was monitored, and rheology measurements showed significant gel ageing effects. This study expands the range of surfactant-based LLC gels and paves the way for their application as stimuli-responsive actuators and sensors.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mairobi Persinal-Medina, Sara Llames, Manuel Chacon, Natalia Vazquez, Marta Pevida, Ignacio Alcalde, Sergio Alonso-Alonso, Laura Maria Martinez-Lopez, Jesus Merayo-Lloves, Alvaro Meana
Summary: This study developed a polymerizable skin hydrogel consisting of keratinocytes and fibroblast within a fibrin scaffold. The results showed that this hydrogel can effectively regenerate skin wounds, shortening the time needed for transplantation compared to other skin models. It is suggested that this polymerizable skin hydrogel is an inexpensive, easy and rapid treatment for improving the treatment of skin wounds.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vera Tchakalova, Thomas Zemb, Fabienne Testard
Summary: Swollen cubic lyotropic ternary phases with Pn3m symmetry and reduced hardness were obtained from a specific binary mixture. The incorporation of a surface-active fragrance compound induced a structural transition and formed a softer cubic phase.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Antonia Mancuso, Martine Tarsitano, Rosy Cavaliere, Massimo Fresta, Maria Chiara Cristiano, Donatella Paolino
Summary: This study improved the antioxidant activity of resveratrol by encapsulating it in nanocarriers and gelling the systems to improve contact time with the skin. Results showed that the resveratrol-loaded nanosystems had good antioxidant effects and potential for treating skin diseases.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Hong-Ying Li, Qing-Bo Xie, Hao Sun, Wei Guo, Feng Yan, Qing Miao, Chao-Fei Nie, Yu Zhuang, Qian Huang, Jin-Jun Zhang
Summary: The yielding behaviors of waxy crude oil are investigated under different applied stresses, revealing a close relationship between creep process, stress, and time. Based on fractional calculus theory and damage theory, a nonlinear creep model is proposed to accurately describe the yielding process of waxy crude oil.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liya Zhang, Aixin Song, Jingcheng Hao
Summary: A simple direct-mixing method was proposed to stabilize bicontinuous emulsion gels and tune the channel size of their spatial continuity. Solid materials with interconnected structures were obtained by polymerizing the oil phase.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Aneta Lewandowska, Piotr Gajewski, Katarzyna Szczesniak, Zbigniew Fojud, Mariola Robakowska, Andrzej Skrzypczak, Adam Voelkel, Agnieszka Marcinkowska
Summary: This work reports the synthesis of polymerizable ionic liquids (PILs) and the preparation of ionogels using thiol-ene photopolymerization. The ionogels prepared with the PILs showed excellent mechanical properties, high ionic conductivity, and thermal stability. The structure of the PILs affected the polymerization kinetics and properties of the ionogels.
Article
Polymer Science
S. Piril Ertem, E. Bryan Coughlin
Summary: This study presents a systematic exploration of the alkaline stabilities of polymerizable hexyltrimethylammonium cations, finding that the hexyl-tethered cations are more stable under strongly alkaline conditions compared to benzyltrimethylammonium (BTMA). The findings also demonstrate that ether-linked cations show comparable stability to directly carbon-carbon linked cations, with possible degradation mechanisms investigated through H-1 NMR analyses. The research highlights the importance of steric hindrance in controlling alkaline stability and expands knowledge on stable ammonium cations.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kamalakanta Behera, Farooq Ahmad Wani, Ab Raouf Bhat, Shreya Juneja, Manoj Kumar Banjare, Siddharth Pandey, Rajan Patel
Summary: ILs and IL-based microemulsions are important for various interdisciplinary research areas. The behavior of lysozyme within IL-in-water microemulsions was studied, showing significant changes in micropolarity and microviscosity. The interaction between IL and lysozyme was confirmed, leading to fluorescence quenching of lysozyme.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Szabolcs Farkas, Mate Sandor Fonyi, Gabor Hollo, Norbert Nemet, Nadia Valletti, Akos Kukovecz, Gabor Schuszter, Federico Rossi, Istvan Lagzi
Summary: Formation of periodic precipitation patterns through diffusion and reaction of transition metal cations and organic linkers was observed. The gel matrix provides optimal conditions for nucleation and crystal growth.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ganyu Chen, Peichen Shi, Longhui Zeng, Liubin Feng, Xiuxiu Wang, Xujing Lin, Yibin Sun, Hongxun Fang, Xiaoyu Cao, Xinchang Wang, Liulin Yang, Zhongqun Tian
Summary: Kinetic control over structures and functions of complex assembly systems has sparked widespread interest. In this study, the evolution mechanism of a classical self-sorting supramolecular copolymerization system was investigated using multidimensional NMR techniques and a microfluidic technique. Unexpected complex pathways and a counterintuitive polymerization process were revealed and quantitatively analyzed. Understanding the existence of transient intermediates during self-sorting can inspire the development of kinetic steady state assembly systems. The combination of a microfluidic technique and various characterization techniques provides a kinetic analysis toolkit for versatile assembly systems. The thermodynamic and kinetic analyses are essential for understanding the assembly mechanisms and engineering complex assembly systems.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Hicham Meskher, Teqwa Ragdi, AmritKumar Thakur, Sohmyung Ha, Issam Khelfaoui, Ravishankar Sathyamurthy, SwellamW. Sharshir, A. K. Pandey, Rahman Saidur, Punit Singh, Fariborz Sharifianjazi, Iseult Lynch
Summary: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are safe, biocompatible, bioactive, and biodegradable materials that have attracted significant attention due to their unique characteristics in various applications. This review focuses on the use of CNT-based nanocomposites in the production of electrochemical sensors and biosensors. It highlights the synthesis and optimization of CNT-based sensors for different applications and discusses the advantages of using CNTs for biomolecule immobilization. The use of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-CNTs in electrochemical sensor production is also addressed, along with the challenges and future perspectives in this field.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Xiaowei Li, Yiqing Chen, Shujing Zhang, Yuling Dong, Qiuxiang Pang, Iseult Lynch, Changjian Xie, Zhiling Guo, Peng Zhang
Summary: This review article examines the fate and impact of microplastics on marine and freshwater organisms, exploring their toxic mechanisms and ecological consequences. It also discusses the factors affecting their toxicity and future research trends in microplastics ecotoxicology.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Changjian Xie, Xiaowei Li, Zhiling Guo, Yuling Dong, Shujing Zhang, Ao Li, Shan Ma, Jianing Xu, Qiuxiang Pang, Willie J. G. M. Peijnenburg, Iseult Lynch, Peng Zhang
Summary: The toxicity of graphene oxide (GO) in aquatic systems was evaluated using the freshwater planarian Dugesia japonica. GO not only impaired the growth of normal worms, but also inhibited the regeneration processes of regenerating worms. High concentration of GO killed all the worms. Mechanistic analysis suggests that GO disturbed the antioxidative system and energy metabolism, causing oxidative damage and retardance of neuron regeneration.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
T. Yasmin, S. Dhesi, I. Kuznetsova, R. Cooper, S. Krause, I. Lynch
Summary: This study conducted an in-depth systematic review of literature to explore the context of water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) sustainability and resilience in refugee communities. The results indicate concerns about the lengthy waiting period for refugees to achieve repatriation/integration into host communities, which is often in the Global South. It emphasizes the need to understand the specific factors and interdependencies in each refugee camp, as 'one-size-fits-all' solutions may not be suitable for different camps.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xi Wu, Xiangyu Wang, Iseult Lynch, Zhiling Guo, Peng Zhang, Lisi Wu, Youxue Deng, Yu Xie, Ping Ning, Nanqi Ren
Summary: By photocatalysis, the passivation layers of Fe-0 were activated into semiconductors and S-scheme heterojunctions were constructed with MoS2, enhancing the efficiency of visible-light degradation of tetracycline.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anna Kukkola, Stefan Krause, Yasmin Yonan, Liam Kelleher, Uwe Schneidewind, Gregory H. Sambrook Smith, Holly Nel, Iseult Lynch
Summary: This article presents a technique for setting up detection limits on any fluorescent microscope using the fluorophore Nile Red for microplastic identification. It also introduces a morphology-specific identification key to reduce subjectivity among researchers. The method establishes detection limits for nine common polymer types and five natural substrates that could result in false-positive signals when using Nile Red. It is applied to real freshwater samples and validated by micro-FTIR or Raman spectroscopy, reducing subjectivity in microplastic identification and enhancing transparency, repeatability, and harmonization in the research community.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhiling Guo, Peng Zhang, Changjian Xie, Evangelos Voyiatzis, Klaus Faserl, Andrew J. Chetwynd, Fazel Abdolahpur Monikh, Georgia Melagraki, Zhiyong Zhang, Willie J. G. M. Peijnenburg, Antreas Afantitis, Chunying Chen, Iseult Lynch
Summary: As antimicrobials, graphene materials (GMs) have potential advantages over traditional antibiotics. The antibacterial mechanism of GMs, whether it originates from parallel or perpendicular interactions or a combination of both, remains unclear. This study demonstrates that GMs with high surface oxygen content (SOC) predominantly attach in parallel to bacterial cell surfaces in suspension. The interaction mode shifts to perpendicular when the SOC reaches a threshold of around 0.3. These findings help to understand the different physical mechanisms leading to the antibacterial activity of GMs.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
G. del Giudice, A. Serra, L. A. Saarimaeki, K. Kotsis, I. Rouse, S. A. Colibaba, K. Jagiello, A. Mikolajczyk, M. Fratello, A. G. Papadiamantis, N. Sanabria, M. E. Annala, J. Morikka, P. A. S. Kinaret, E. Voyiatzis, G. Melagraki, A. Afantitis, K. Taemm, T. Puzyn, M. Gulumian, V. Lobaskin, I. Lynch, A. Federico, D. Greco
Summary: By performing a meta-analysis of various engineered nanoparticle exposure studies, the authors identify common patterns of gene regulation that impact the transcriptomic response. Deregulation of immune functions is observed as a prominent response, with binding sites for zinc finger transcription factors C2H2 identified in the promoter regions of these genes. These findings suggest that the innate immune system has a conserved response to nanomaterials, potentially influenced by evolutionary exposure to natural nano-sized matter.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Mingshu Li, Li Gao, Jason C. White, Christy L. Haynes, Tana L. O'Keefe, Yukui Rui, Sami Ullah, Zhiling Guo, Iseult Lynch, Peng Zhang
Summary: Increasing the capacity of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is an effective strategy to enhance food security and reduce the carbon and nitrogen footprint of agriculture. Nanotechnology offers several pathways to successfully enhance BNF.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Patricia V. Silva, Catia S. A. Santos, Anastasios G. Papadiamantis, Sandra F. Goncalves, Marija Prodana, Rudo A. Verweij, Iseult Lynch, Cornelis A. M. van Gestel, Susana Loureiro
Summary: This study investigated the toxicokinetics of engineered nanoparticles in Chironomus riparius, showing that absorption of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was higher in the simulating aged form (Ag2S NPs) compared to pristine Ag NPs and AgNO3. Water uptake was the main route of Ag accumulation, and chironomid larvae exhibited a strong ability to accumulate Ag. This is the first study on the toxicokinetics of nanoparticles in Chironomus, providing important insights into their exposure and interactions in the environment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Patricia V. Silva, Ana Rita R. Silva, Nathaniel J. Clark, Joanne Vassallo, Marta Baccaro, Neja Medve Scek, Magdalena Grgi, Abel Ferreira, Marti Busquets-Fite, Kerstin Jurkschat, Anastasios G. Papadiamantis, Victor Puntes, Iseult Lynch, Claus Svendsen, Nico W. van den Brink, Richard D. Handy, Cornelis A. M. van Gestel, Susana Loureiro
Summary: Mesocosms are useful for simulating realistic scenarios of organism exposure to nanoparticles. An indoor mesocosm experiment was conducted to assess the toxicokinetics and bioaccumulation of silver sulfide nanoparticles (Ag2S NPs) and AgNO3 in freshwater invertebrates. The study found that single-species tests could not reliably predict bioaccumulation in the more complex mesocosm scenario.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiangyu Wang, Min Jiang, Iseult Lynch, Zhiling Guo, Peng Zhang, Lisi Wu, Jun Ma
Summary: In this study, a highly efficient composite Fe/Fe2O3@UiO-66 material was constructed by employing an urchin-like core-shell structure of Fe/Fe2O3 onto UiO-66 through a facile ion exchange precipitation method. The urchin-like core-shell configuration extended the life span of Fe0 and produced more active sites, while the addition of Fe2O3 broadened the absorption spectrum and achieved high-efficiency separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs with the load of Fe/Fe2O3. The findings of this research provide a promising method for promoting the catalytic properties of MOF-based materials and Fe/Fe2O3.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Review
Toxicology
Katie Reilly, Laura-Jayne A. Ellis, Hossein Hayat Davoudi, Suffeiya Supian, Marcella T. T. Maia, Gabriela H. H. Silva, Zhiling Guo, Diego Stefani T. Martinez, Iseult Lynch
Summary: The importance of Daphnia as a model organism for ecotoxicity testing has been established since the 1980s. The mapping of the genomes of Daphnia in recent years has further solidified their utility for ecotoxicity testing. However, the emergence of nanomaterials (NMs) has posed challenges to standard toxicity tests. Nonetheless, NM safety assessments have also driven innovations in toxicity testing approaches, including establishing more realistic environmental exposures and developing mechanistic insights.
FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Tahmina Yasmin, Megan A. Farrelly, Briony C. Rogers, Stefan Krause, Iseult Lynch
Summary: The paper discusses the growing call for adaptive governance approaches in urban water management systems and highlights the focus on evidence-based research in the Global North, while evidence from the Global South remains limited. The research conducted in two cities in Bangladesh examines how adaptive governance operates in different local contexts, and reveals that the larger urban system of Dhaka is currently experiencing lock-in due to various factors, while the smaller urban system of Mymensingh showcases enabling factors for sustainable growth. The study sheds light on the role of adaptive governance in relation to system scales, capacity, and key enabling attributes.
ECOLOGY AND SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhiling Guo, Peng Zhang, Changjian Xie, Evangelos Voyiatzis, Klaus Faserl, Andrew J. Chetwynd, Fazel Abdolahpur Monikh, Georgia Melagraki, Zhiyong Zhang, Willie J. G. M. Peijnenburg, Antreas Afantitis, Chunying Chen, Iseult Lynch
Summary: As antimicrobials, graphene materials (GMs) have potential advantages over traditional antibiotics due to their physical mechanisms of action, which reduce the chance of microbial resistance. This study shows that GMs with high surface oxygen content (SOC) primarily attach in parallel to the bacterial cell surface, while the interaction mode shifts to perpendicular when the SOC reaches a certain threshold. The rigidity of GMs is closely related to these distinct interaction modes. By understanding the interaction mode of GMs with bacteria, the antibacterial activity of GMs can be better understood.