| 1. |
- Asem, Heba, 1987-, et al.
(författare)
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Functional nano-carriers for drug delivery by surface engineering of polymeric nanoparticles post-PISA
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Engineered polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) have been comprehensively explored as potential platforms for diagnosis and targeted therapy for several diseases including cancer. Herein, we designed functional poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly(butyl acrylate) (PAA-b-PBA) NPs using reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT)-mediated emulsion polymerization via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA). The hydrophilic PAA-macroRAFT, forming a stabilizing shell (i.e. corona), was chain-extended using the hydrophobic monomer n-butyl acrylate (n-BA), resulting in stable, monodisperse and reproducible PAA-b-PBA NPs, typically having a diameter of 130 nm. Two approaches of surface engineering of the PAA-b-PBA NPs post-PISA were explored; a two-step and a one-step approach. In the two-step approach, the hydrophilic NP-shell corona was modified with allyl-groups under mild conditions using allylamine in water which resulted in stable allyl-functional NPs (allyl-NPs) suitable for further bio-conjugation. Their versatility was investigated by the subsequent conjugation of a thiol-functional fluorescent dye (BODIPY-SH) to the allyl-groups using click chemistry, in order to mimic the attachment of a thiol-functional target ligand. The average size and size distribution of the corresponding NPs did not change after BODIPY-conjugation. Neither the NPs nor allyl-NPs showed significant cytotoxicity towards RAW264.7 or MCF-7 cell lines, which indicates their desirable safety profile. A one-step approach to concurrently conjugate allyl-groups and a fluorescent dye (FITC) to the preformed PAA-b-PBA NPs was investigated. The cellular uptake of the FITC-NPs using J774A cells in vitro was found to be time- and concentration-dependent. The anti-cancer drug, doxorubicin, was efficiently (90%) encapsulated into the PAA-b-PBA NPs during NP formation. After a small burst release during the first two hours, a controlled release pattern over 7 days was observed. The present investigation demonstrates a potential method to functionalize polymeric NPs post-PISA to produce targeted drug delivery carriers.
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| 2. |
- Gedde, Ulf W, et al.
(författare)
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Mass and charge transport in polyethylene – Structure, morphology and properties
- 2023
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Ingår i: Polymer. - : Elsevier BV. - 0032-3861 .- 1873-2291. ; 266
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Polyethylene is a model for semicrystalline polymers that provides the option to vary crystallinity within wide ranges and then to establish relationships between structure and mass and charge transport properties. Three different topics are covered: diffusion of n-hexane in polyethylene, extensive penetrant uptake kinetics, swelling and the design of a novel sensor, and finally electrical conduction in polyethylene, a field important to modern distribution of electric power (HVDC). This feature article presents past and ongoing studies at KTH Royal Institute of Technology using a variety of experimental methods and computer-aided simulation and modelling.
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| 3. |
- Mendoza, Ana, et al.
(författare)
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Image analysis of PDMS/ZnO nanocomposite surfaces for optimized superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface design
- 2023
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Ingår i: Surfaces and Interfaces. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 2468-0230. ; 37
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Optimized superhydrophobic and self-cleaning nanocomposite surfaces were obtained by spraying surface modified ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) onto PDMS, using octadecylphosphonic acid and octadecanethiol as hydrophobic modifiers. In this study, it is the first time to our knowledge that surface parameters such as topography, morphology, superhydrophobicity, and self-cleaning are correlated to particle surface distribution and agglomeration parameters obtained by image analysis. The topography, morphology, and wettability of the surfaces were analyzed using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, static contact angle (SCA), and contact angle hysteresis measurements. Image analysis was performed using the new enhanced graphical user interface of a previously self-developed Matlab® algorithm. Both hydrophobization methodologies increased the NPs’ surface coverage and the hierarchical rough structure formation on the substrates, resulting in more homogenous superhydrophobic self-cleaning surfaces. A higher coated fraction and lower degree of interconnected uncoated PDMS paths are correlated to an increase in SCA. The combination of a higher agglomerates fraction, lower agglomerate radius, and lower distance between agglomerates obtained for the surfaces with hydrophobized ZnO-NPs rendered self-cleaning surfaces. The observed correlations increase the understanding of the design and modelling of superhydrophobic self-cleaning PDMS/ZnO nanocomposite surfaces for use in high voltage outdoor insulators.
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| 4. |
- Capezza, Antonio Jose, et al.
(författare)
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Extrusion of Porous Protein-Based Polymers and Their Liquid Absorption Characteristics
- 2020
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Ingår i: Polymers. - : MDPI. - 2073-4360. ; 12:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The production of porous wheat gluten (WG) absorbent materials by means of extrusion processing is presented for the future development of sustainable superabsorbent polymers (SAPs). Different temperatures, formulations, and WG compositions were used to determine a useful protocol that provides the best combination of porosity and water swelling properties. The most optimal formulation was based on 50 wt.% WG in water that was processed at 80 degrees C as a mixture, which provided a porous core structure with a denser outer shell. As a green foaming agent, food-grade sodium bicarbonate was added during the processing, which allowed the formation of a more open porous material. This extruded WG material was able to swell 280% in water and, due to the open-cell structure, 28% with non-polar limonene. The results are paving the way towards production of porous bio macromolecular structures with high polar/non-polar liquid uptake, using extrusion as a solvent free and energy efficient production technique without toxic reagents.
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| 5. |
- Blomfeldt, Thomas O. J., et al.
(författare)
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Novel freeze-dried foams from glutenin- and gliadin-rich fractions
- 2012
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Ingår i: RSC Advances. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 2046-2069. ; 2:16, s. 6617-6627
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This is the first study on freeze-dried foams prepared from glutenin- and gliadin-rich fractions of wheat gluten and blends thereof. It was found that the foam density and stiffness could be controlled by a suitable choice of the glutenin/gliadin ratio. The glutenin-rich samples had the highest foam densities and the density decreased with increasing gliadin content. The compression modulus also decreased with increasing gliadin content, which was explained by the decrease in foam density, a more open porosity and the more aggregated/polymerized structure in the presence of glutenin. IR and SE-HPLC revealed that the least aggregated foams were those consisting only of the gliadin-rich fraction. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed the presence of both HMW-glutenin and gliadin (to a certain extent probably resisting the ethanol extraction process) in the glutenin-rich foams. SAXS indicated that the gliadin-rich fraction contributed with weakly correlated protein aggregates with a characteristic distance of 40-43 Å.
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| 6. |
- Cho, Sung-Woo, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of glycerol content and film thickness on the properties of vital wheat gluten films cast at pH 4 and 1
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Applied Polymer Science. - : Wiley. - 0021-8995 .- 1097-4628. ; 117:6, s. 3506-3514
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study deals with the optical properties and plasticizer migration properties of vital wheat gluten (WG) films cast at pH 4 and 11. The films contained initially 8, 16, and 25 wt % glycerol and were aged at 23 degrees C and 50% relative humidity for at least 17 weeks on a paper support to simulate a situation where a paper packaging is laminated with an oxygen barrier film of WG. The films, having target thicknesses of 50 and 250 mu m, were characterized visually and with ultraviolet/visible and infrared spectroscopy; the mass loss was measured by gravimetry or by a glycerol-specific gas chromatography method. The thin films produced at pH 4 were, in general, more heterogeneous than those produced at pH 11. The thin pH 4 films consisted of transparent regions surrounding beige glycerol-rich regions, the former probably rich in gliadin and the latter rich in glutenin. This, together with less Maillard browning, meant that the thin pH 4 films, in contrast to the more homogeneous (beige) thin pH 11 films, showed good contact clarity. The variations in glycerol content did not significantly change the optical properties of the films. All the films showed a significant loss of glycerol to the paper support but, after almost 9 months, the thick pH 11 film containing initially 25 wt % glycerol was still very flexible and, despite a better contact to the paper, had a higher residual glycerol content than the pH 4 film, which was also more brittle.
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| 7. |
- Cho, Sung-Woo, et al.
(författare)
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Heat-sealing properties of compression-molded wheat gluten films
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy. - : American Scientific Publishers. - 1556-6560 .- 1556-6579. ; 1:1, s. 56-63
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The impulse heat-sealing properties of wheat gluten films were investigated. Films containing 30 wt% glycerol were compression molded at 100-130 °C and then sealed in a lap-shear or peel-test geometry at 120-175 °C. The tensile properties of the pristine films and the lap-shear and peel strength of the sealed films were evaluated and the seals were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Glycerol was added to the film surfaces prior to sealing in an attempt to enhance the seal strength. It was observed that the wheat gluten films were readily sealable. At a 120 °C sealing temperature and without glycerol as adhesive, the lap-shear strength was greater than or similar to that of polyethylene film, although the peel strength was poorer. The sealing temperature had a negligible effect on the lap-shear strength, but the peel strength increased with sealing temperature. The lap-shear strength increased with increasing mold temperature and the failure mode changed, especially in the absence of glycerol adhesive, from a cohesive (material failure) to an adhesive type. From previous results, it is known that the high-temperature (130 °C) compression-molded film was highly cross-linked and aggregated, and this prevents molecular interdiffusion and entanglement and thus leads to incomplete seal fusion and, in general, adhesive failure. The presence of glycerol adhesive had a beneficial affect on the peel strength but no, or only a minor, effect on the lap-shear strength.
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| 8. |
- Cho, Sung-Woo, et al.
(författare)
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Properties of Wheat Gluten/Poly(lactic acid) Laminates
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0021-8561 .- 1520-5118. ; 58:12, s. 7344-7350
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Laminates of compression-molded glycerol-plasticized wheat gluten (WG) films surrounded and supported by poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films have been produced and characterized. The objective was to obtain a fully renewable high gas barrier film with sufficient mechanical integrity to function in, for example, extrusion-coating paper/board applications. It was shown that the lamination made it possible to make films with a broad range of glycerol contents (0-30 wt %) with greater strength than single unsupported WG films. The low plasticizer contents yielded laminates with very good oxygen barrier properties. In addition, whereas the unsupported WO films had an immeasurably high water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), the laminate showed values that were finite and surprisingly, in several cases, also lower than that of PLA. Besides being a mechanical support (as evidenced by bending and tensile data) and a shield between the WG and surrounding moisture, the PLA layer also prevented the loss of the glycerol plasticizer from the WG layer. This was observed after the laminate had been aged on an "absorbing" blotting paper for up to 17 weeks. The interlayer adhesion (peel strength) decreased with decreasing glycerol content and increasing WG film molding temperature (130 degrees C instead of 110 degrees C). The latter effect was probably due to a higher protein aggregation, as revealed by infrared spectroscopy. The lamination temperature (110-140 degrees C) did not, however, have a major effect on the final peel strength.
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| 9. |
- Cho, Sung-Woo, et al.
(författare)
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Wheat Gluten-Laminated Paperboard with Improved Moisture Barrier Properties : A New Concept Using a Plasticizer (Glycerol) Containing a Hydrophobic Component (Oleic Acid)
- 2012
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Ingår i: International Journal of Polymer Science. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1687-9422 .- 1687-9430. ; , s. 454359-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents a novel approach to reduce the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and water absorbance of wheat gluten/paperboard laminates by introducing a hydrophobic component (oleic acid (OA)) into the hydrophilic plasticizer (glycerol). Whereas the paperboard showed immeasurably high WVTR, the laminate with gluten/glycerol yielded finite values. More importantly, by incorporating 75wt.% OA into the plasticizer, the WVTR and water absorbance were reduced by, respectively, a factor of three and 1.5-2. Of particular interest was that the mechanical properties were not changing dramatically between 0 and 50 wt.% OA. The results showed clear benefits of combining a gluten film with paperboard. Whereas the paperboard provided toughness, the WG layer contributed with improved moisture barrier properties. In addition, WVTR indicated that the paperboard reduced the swelling of the outer gluten/glycerol layer in moist conditions; a free standing gluten/glycerol film would yield infinite, rather than finite, WVTR values.
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| 10. |
- Ekelund, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term performance of poly(vinyl chloride) cables, Part 2 : Migration of plasticizer
- 2008
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Ingår i: Polymer degradation and stability. - : Elsevier BV. - 0141-3910 .- 1873-2321. ; 93:9, s. 1704-1710
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cable samples with plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) insulations were aged in air at temperatures between 80 and 155 degrees C. The concentrations of the plasticizer (di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, DEHP) in the insulations of the aged cables were determined by extraction of samples in tetrahydrofuran followed by analysis of the extract by liquid chromatography. The plasticizer concentration data for different ageing times were analysed by numerical methods, fitting Fick's second law with a concentration-dependent diffusivity. The analysis showed that the transport of the plasticizer to the surrounding air phase was controlled by diffusion at 120 and 155 degrees C with an activation energy of 89 kJ mol(-1). The evaporation of the plasticizer from the outer boundary was rate controlling at lower temperatures (<= 100 degrees C), The rate of evaporation was initially constant and independent of the plasticizer concentration at both 80 and 100 degrees C. The activation energy for the initial DEHP loss rate from PVC at these temperatures was the same as that obtained for evaporation of pure DEHP on a glass plate at 60-100 degrees C measured by thermogravimetry, 98 2 kJ mol-1. Furthermore, the evaporation rate of pure DEHP on a glass plate was also of the same order of magnitude as the rate of plasticizer loss from the cable insulation. Extrapolation of the plasticizer loss rate data (from the cable at 80 degrees C and from pure liquid DEHP at temperatures between 60 and 100 IQ to 25 degrees C predicted a maximum loss of plasticizer of 1% over 25 years. This is in accordance with earlier presented data and with the data presented in this report.
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