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A series of four drug release formulations based on 5-fluorouracil encapsulated into a chitosan-based matrix were prepared by in situ hydrogelation with 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienal. The formulations were investigated from structural and morphological aspects by FTIR spectroscopy, polarized light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It was established that 5-fluorouracil was anchored into the matrix as crystals, whose dimension varied as a function of the crosslinking density. The in vitro drug release simulated into a media mimicking the physiological environment revealed a progressive release of the 5-fluorouracil, in close interdependence with the crosslinking density. In the context of Pharmacokinetics behavioral analysis, a new mathematical procedure for describing drug release dynamics in polymer-drug complex system is proposed. Assuming that the dynamics of polymer-drug system’s structural units take place on continuous and nondifferentiable curves (multifractal curves), we show that in a one-dimensional hydrodynamic formalism of multifractal variables the drug release mechanism (Fickian diffusion, non-Fickian diffusion, etc) are given through synchronous dynamics at a differentiable and non-differentiable scale resolutions. Finally, the model is confirmed by the empirical data.

The development of 3D printing technologies has gained considerable momentum. Almost every technical-scientific field uses this technology. The technology of 3D printing thermoplastic materials (or fusible filaments - FFF), is based on the realization of the parts by depositing successive layers of extruded filament at temperatures corresponding to the viscous aggregation state. One of the research activities of the CERAS research center is the realization of collaborative drone systems, drones capable of moving in each of the three unstructured environments: aerial, terrestrial aquatic / underwater. This paper presents a study on the choice of the type of thermoplastic material, for making the structural elements (chassis) of an underwater Rover. The need for this study arose from the fact that the design and construction of underwater vehicles is generally demanding. The materials must be characterized by resistance to compression / stretching / shearing, as in underwater environments the existence of currents, pressures (with increasing depth of immersion). Also, the materials must be chemically neutral, because in aquatic environments we can find various chemicals spilled in water (intentional or not) and finally salinity.

In this study, computer-aided engineering (CAE) simulation software and the design of experiments (DOE) method were used to simulate the injection molding process in terms of the melt flow length, using a spiral part. Process parameters such as melt temperature, mold temperature, injection pressure and mold cavity thickness were considered as injection molding variables. A predictive model for the flow length was created using a three-layer artificial neural network (ANN). The ANN model was trained with both simulation and experimental data, and the predictive performances were compared in terms of correlation coefficient, root mean square error and mean relative error. The cavity thickness and melt temperature were found to be the most significant factors for both the simulation and the experiment, while the injection pressure and the mold temperature had little effect on the flow length. The ANN model trained with Moldex3D data shows a significantly higher prediction capacity than the ANN model trained with experimental data. However, the melt flow lengths predicted by the ANN model for both Moldex3D and Moldflow simulation data are statistically significant, indicating that the proposed prediction methodology, which combines the ANN model, DOE method and the CAE simulation technology, can effectively predict the flow length of injection molded parts, with a small number of data.

In this study, five ultrafiltration membranes (polysulfone, cellulose acetate and polyethe-rsulfone) were tested in the treatment of aqueous protein solutions similar to wastewater from fermentation industries. The experiments were made in tangential flow filtration. The permeate flux for the five membranes tested at the optimum pressure of 3 bar decreased due to the effect of clogging the pores by the macromolecular protein solutions. Cellulose acetate membranes showed the lowest permeate flux (Ac-Cel1=152.4 L/m2.h and Ac-Cel2=40.3 L/m2.h) which doesn’t recommend them for the ultrafiltration process of bovine serum albumin. When a polysulfone membrane was used in several cycles of protein-containing wastewater ultrafiltration, the permeate flow decreased progressively from one cycle to another due to the internal clogging of the membrane (501.6 L/m2.h up to 444.0 L/m2.h). Regarding the ultrafiltration of protein solutions with a suspended yeast content, the clogging was predominant on the membrane’s surface, which results in a decrease of the permeate flux by over 50%.

Heavy metals have a major contribution to biosphere pollution due to toxicity. The detection and monitoring of the environmental agents in soil, water and air is very important for the general health of humans and animals. It has been recently shown that electrochemical techniques such as differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) using modified electrodes are very attractive methods for detecting heavy metals. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the potential of hydrothermal process combined with electrochemical techniques to obtain modified electrodes based on functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and polyaniline (PANI) for metals detection. Commercial multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were functionalized by a mixture of HNO3/H2SO4 and further used for hydrothermal synthesis of CNT-PANI composites with different mass ratios. The resulted powders were analyzed by spectral (Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) and thermal (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) methods, and then dispersed in a surfactant/electrolyte solution for preliminary electrochemical experiments (cyclic voltammetry, CV and DPV) to obtain modified electrodes. The influence of the CNT: PANI mass ratio and the synthesis time on the formation of composites with the desired structural and electrochemical properties were studied. It was found that CNT-PANI composite powder having mass ratio 1:4 and synthesis time 3h has the best structural and thermal characteristics and formed a weakly conductive film on the surface of the glassy carbon electrode. Preliminary electrochemical tests revealed the electroactive forms of polyaniline, through the presence of characteristic oxidation peaks but also reduction peaks, corresponding to reversible redox reactions, demonstrating that glassy carbon electrode has been electrochemically modified with CNT-PANI coatings. Further studies will be conducted to test the potential application of glassy carbon electrode modified with CNT-PANI coatings as electrochemical sensor for heavy metals detection.

This research deals with the mechanical properties, microstructure, and interrelations of triple nanocomposite based on PET/EPDM/Nanoclay. These properties were examined in different percentages of PET/EPDM blend with compatibilizer (Styrene-Ethylene/Butylene-Styrene)-G-(Maleic anhydrate) (SEBS-g-MAH). Results showed that the addition of 15% SEBS-g-MAH improved the toughness and impact strength of this nanocomposite. SEM micrographs indicated the most stable fuzzy microstructure in a 50/50 mixture of scattered phases of EPDM/SEBS-g-MAH. The effects of percentages of 1, 3, 5, 7 nanoclay Cloisite 30B (C30B) on the improvement of the properties were evaluated. With the addition of nano clay, the toughness and impact strength was reduced. Thermal destruction of nanoclay in processing temperature led to the decreasing dispersion of clay plates in the matrix and a reduction in the distances of nano clay plates in the composite compared to pure nano clay. XRD and TEM analysis was used to demonstrate the results. By adding 1% of nanoclay to the optimal sample, maximum stiffness, and Impact strength, among other nanocomposites, was achieved.

The current research explored the potential of microalgal species Chlorella vulgaris and Pretreatment to remediate plastic waste. It was concluded from the results that Pretreatment had a marked effect on the cracking and alteration of plastic polymer, which helped to grow microbial species on the cracked surface as evident by Compound Microscopy (CM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. FTIR data also supported the notion that in the absence of any pretreatment, the microbial species were not able to mediate plastic biodegradation efficiently as the nature of functional groups was different in the presence and absence of Pretreatment. GCMS analysis revealed that the microbial specie could produce the biodegradation products which were likely to be found in the structure of PET, including alkanes ester, fatty acids, benzoic acid, and aromatics and the most toxic product of biodegradation is Bis (2-Ethyl hexyl phthalate), which is the biodegradation product of toxic ingredient of plastics that is phthalic acid.

Achievements in the field of biomaterials have as a basis three scientific domains: chemistry, biology and physics, then the technical application or the putting up culminating with clinical achievements. Dental prostheses, regardless of their type, replaced the lack of teeth. Although, mainly, many people that lost their teeth could continue life with the help of prostheses in a way pretty decent, dental prostheses shows some disadvantages that make them even unbearable for some people. The study aims at analyzing the biological behavior of sandwich type structures that reunite the classic acrylate and a silicone layer, namely the Flexite type elastic acrylate. We used a silicone material, RUBBER 732 RTV, which is frequently used in mucous-bone support deficits, especially in oral maxillofacial surgery post interventions. The tensile strength was tested ona TEXTENSER traction test machine, in view of establishing the chemical analysis of the 2 materials used. Regarding the maximum tensile strength for sandwich-type test samples, the flexible acrylate - silicone RUBBER 732 RTV structure broke at 1125N, while for the classic acrylate – silicone material a fracture value of 950N was recorded. The structure of the two biomaterials within the sandwich type test samples decisively influences the force and tension at which the fracture occurs, as well as the fracture route, which is linear, without the displacement of fragments, both the flexible acrylate and the silicone being affected, respectively a linear route at the level of the acrylic structure, affecting the acrylate – silicone interface for the classic acrylate – silicone test samples.

Polymer films with high refractive index are suitable for a wide range of applications, such as optical fibers, lens and other components for optoelectronic devices. In this work, polyvinyl alcohol films were prepared from aqueous solutions, which were homogenized by ultrasonication. In order to increase the refractive index, the polymer was reinforced with barium titanate nanoparticles, which are previously ultrasonicated for an adequate dispersion inside the host polymer. The dispersion of the refractive index in visible domain was analyzed as a function of filler percent introduced in polymer, showing that an increase in sample`s polarizability determined an increase in the refractive index values. The reinforcement caused a decrease of Abbe number indicating a higher light dispersion in the samples. Optical dispersion parameters were extracted from dispersion curves, revealing a reduction of band gap from 3.448 eV for pure polymer to 2.605 eV for the sample containing 2% barium titanate. Doping with the ceramic nanofiller determined a increase in optical conductivity and real part of dielectric constant as a result of appearance of new level states in the band gap. The increase of third order nonlinear optical susceptibility and nonlinear refractive index indicates the suitability of the analyzed nanocomposites for nonlinear optics applications.

Composite resin materials for posterior restorations are becoming more and more popular. According to the market, Ormocer materials are more expensive than composite resin this paper is comparing the resistance to fracture between nanohybrid composites and Ormocers under vertical forces to evaluate their cost efficiency in the dental cabinets. 20 teeth were prepared and filled with Ormocer and 20 with nanohybrid composite respectively. All the samples were sent for measuring under vertical pressure with the use of a universal testing machine. The average value of fracture for Ormocer was slightly higher (1541 N) than the average value of fracture of the nanohybrid composite (1431 N). Considering the similarity in the average values of the two materials we should look into the other properties (biocompatibility, shrinkage, aesthetics, etc) to take a final decision. Both materials can be used with the same rate of success taking in account always the protocol provided by the manufacturer.