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In the interstellar medium, diols and other prebiotic molecules adsorb onto icy mantles surrounding dust grains. Water in the ice may affect the reactivity and photoionization of these diols. Ethylene glycol (EG), 1,2-propylene glycol, and 1,3-propylene glycol clusters with water clusters were used as a proxy to study these interactions. The diol–water clusters were generated in a continuous supersonic molecular beam, photoionized by synchrotron-based vacuum ultraviolet light from the Advanced Light Source, and subsequently detected by reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The appearance energies for the detected clusters were determined from the mass spectra, collected at increasing photon energy. Clusters of both diol fragments and unfragmented diols with water were detected. The lowest energy geometry optimized conformers for the observed EG–water clusters and EG fragment–water clusters have been visualized using density functional theory (DFT), providing insight into hydrogen bonding networks and how these affect fragmentation and appearance energy. As the number of water molecules clustered around EG fragments (m/z 31 and 32) increased, the appearance energy for the cluster decreased, indicating a stabilization by water. This trend was supported by DFT calculations. Fragment clusters from 1,2-propylene glycol exhibited a similar trend, but with a smaller energy decrease, and no trend was observed from 1,3-propylene glycol. We discuss and suggest that the reactivity and photoionization of diols in the presence of water depend on the size of the diol, the location of the hydroxyl group, and the number of waters clustered around the diol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass formation and reorientational motions are widespread but often-neglected features of deep eutectic solvents although both can be relevant for the technically important ionic conductivity at room temperature. Here, we investigate these properties for two mixtures of ethylene glycol and ZnCl2, which were recently considered superior electrolyte materials for application in zinc-ion batteries. For this purpose, we employed dielectric spectroscopy performed in a broad temperature range, extending from the supercooled state at low temperatures up to the liquid phase around room temperature and beyond. We find evidence for a relaxation process arising from dipolar reorientation dynamics, which reveals the clear signatures of glassy freezing. This freezing also governs the temperature dependence of the ionic dc conductivity. We compare the obtained results with those for deep eutectic solvents that are formed by the same hydrogen-bond donor, ethylene glycol, but by two different salts, choline chloride and lithium triflate. The four materials reveal significantly different ionic and reorientational dynamics. Moreover, we find varying degrees of decoupling of rotational dipolar and translational ionic motions, which can partly be described by a fractional Debye–Stokes–Einstein relation. The typical glass-forming properties of these solvents strongly affect their room-temperature conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using deuteron spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxometry, the reorientational dynamics of ethaline (choline chloride/ethylene glycol) and reline (choline chloride/urea) are studied in a component-selective, isotope-edited manner over a wide temperature range, thereby complementing previous work on glyceline (choline chloride/glycerol). Differences in the hydrogen bond propensities effectuate that in reline and glyceline, the choline ions move faster than the hydrogen bond donors, glycerol and urea; in ethaline, the ethylene glycol molecules are reorienting faster. For glyceline and reline, the increase in the corresponding time scale ratio indicates a pronounced strengthening of the glycerol and urea networks upon cooling, while in ethaline, the time scale ratio remains essentially constant. For the three deep eutectic solvents, a comparison of the present component-selective results with the dielectric time constants shows that the latter are primarily sensitive to the dynamics of the respective hydrogen bond donors. In a Walden-type plot, the reorientation rates, selectively determined for the hydrogen bond donors and acceptors, are compared with their conductivity and fluidity, revealing that the dynamics of the choline ions relate most directly to the charge transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Porous PEDOT as the support of PdSn nanoalloy electrocatalyst. • Pd 4 Sn 6 /PEDOT is created and used for the oxidation of ethylene glycol and ethanol. • The interface electronic structure of Pd was modified by introducing Sn and PEDOT. • It shows outstanding electrocatalytic performance and poisoning-tolerance ability. Developing a novel catalyst with lower noble-metal loading and higher catalytic efficiency is significant for promoting the widespread application of direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs). In this work, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) supported the PdSn alloy (PdSn/PEDOT) were simply synthesized and their electrocatalytic performance toward the oxidation of ethylene glycol and ethanol (EGOR and EOR) were investigated in alkaline media, respectively. In comparison with other control catalysts, the optimized Pd 4 Sn 6 /PEDOT catalyst exhibits the highest mass activity (7125/4166 mA mg Pd −1) and specific activity (26/15 mA cm−2) towards EGOR/EOR. The mass activity of Pd 4 Sn 6 /PEDOT for EGOR and EOR are 11.9 and 10.9 times higher than commercial Pd/C, respectively. Moreover, chronoamperometry (CA) and successive cyclic voltammetry (CV) tests show that the CO resistance ability and durability of the Pd 4 Sn 6 /PEDOT catalyst were superior to Pd 4 Sn 6 , Pd/PEDOT and commercial Pd/C catalysts, which can be attributed to the d-band center of Pd can be effectively downshifted and the interface strain effect between electrons caused by the conjugated structure between PEDOT groups. This work provides an effective strategy for the development of highly efficient anode catalysts of DAFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elemental sulfur has shown to be a promising alternative feedstock for development of novel polymeric materials with high sulfur content. However, the utilization of inverse vulcanized polymers is restricted by the limitation of functional comonomers suitable for an inverse vulcanization. Control over properties and structure of inverse vulcanized polymers still poses a challenge to current research due to the dynamic nature of sulfur‐sulfur bonds and high temperature of inverse vulcanization reactions. In here, we report for the first time the inverse vulcanization of norbornenyl pentafluorophenyl ester (NB‐PFPE), allowing for post‐modification of inverse vulcanized polymers via amidation of reactive PFP esters to yield high sulfur content polymers under mild conditions. Amidation of the precursor material with three functional primary amines (α‐amino‐ω‐methoxy polyethylene glycol, aminopropyl trimethoxy silane, allylamine) was investigated. The resulting materials were applicable as sulfur containing poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles in aqueous environment. Cross‐linked mercury adsorbents, sulfur surface coatings, and high‐sulfur content networks with predictable thermal properties were achievable using aminopropyl trimethoxy silane and allylamine for post‐polymerization modification, respectively. With the broad range of different amines available and applicable for post‐polymerization modification, the versatility of poly(sulfur‐random‐NB‐PFPE) as a platform precursor polymer for novel specialized sulfur containing materials was showcased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of complex pre-biotic molecules using millimetre and submillimetre telescopes allows us to understand how the basic building blocks of life are formed in the universe. In the interstellar medium, ethylene glycol (⁠|$({\rm CH}_2{\rm OH})_{2}$|⁠) is the simplest sugar alcohol molecule, and it is the reduced alcohol of the simplest sugar-like molecule, glycolaldehyde (⁠|${\rm CH}_{2}{\rm OHCHO}$|⁠). We present the detection of the rotational emission lines of |$aGg^{\prime }$| conformer of ethylene glycol (⁠|$({\rm CH}_2{\rm OH})_{2}$|⁠) towards the hot molecular core G358.93–0.03 MM1 using the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array. The estimated column density of |$aGg^{\prime }$| - |$({\rm CH}_2{\rm OH})_{2}$| towards the G358.93–0.03 MM1 is (4.5 |$\pm 0.1)\times 10^{16}$| cm |$^{-2}$| with an excitation temperature of 155 |$\pm$| 35 K. The abundance of |$aGg^{\prime }$| - |$({\rm CH}_2{\rm OH})_{2}$| with respect to |${\rm H}_{2}$| is (1.4 |$\pm 0.5)\times 10^{-8}$|⁠. Similarly, the abundances of |$aGg^{\prime }$| - |$({\rm CH}_2{\rm OH})_{2}$| with respect to |${\rm CH}_{2}{\rm OHCHO}$| and |${\rm CH}_{3}{\rm OH}$| are 3.1 |$\pm$| 0.5 and (6.1 |$\pm 0.3)\times 10^{-3}$|⁠. We compare the estimated abundance of |$aGg^{\prime }$| - |$({\rm CH}_2{\rm OH})_{2}$| with the existing three-phase warm-up chemical model abundance of |$({\rm CH}_2{\rm OH})_{2}$|⁠ , and we notice the observed abundance and modelled abundance are nearly similar. We discuss the possible formation pathways of |$aGg^{\prime }$| - |$({\rm CH}_2{\rm OH})_{2}$| towards the hot molecular cores, and we find that |$aGg^{\prime }$| - |$({\rm CH}_2{\rm OH})_{2}$| is probably created via the recombination of two |${\rm CH}_{2}{\rm OH}$| radicals on the grain surface of G358.93–0.03 MM1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Experimental investigations on the solubility of Propylene and DME in PAG oil. • The form of NRTL and Heil interaction parameters was key to high model accuracy. • Two novel empirical correlations were proposed. • Single coefficient correlation: compact, explicit and robust to low amount of data. • DME most soluble refrigerant followed by Propylene and Propane. This work experimentally investigated the solubility of Propylene and Dimethyl Ether (DME) in polyalkylene glycol (PAG) oil. The solubility experimental data were used to fit different local composition models from the literature, the Wilson and Heil equations, and the Non-Random Two-Liquid (NRTL) model. Two new empirical correlations were proposed to decrease the deviation between experiments and the models. The first correlation used six fitting coefficients and resulted in an average deviation of 1.2 % for Propylene and 2.8 % for DME. The second empirical correlation was proposed with a single solubility coefficient (SSC) and a compact form, which allows solubility to be determined explicitly. The correlation resulted in average deviations from experimental data of 1.6 % for Propylene and 2.5 % for DME. Moreover, the SSC correlation showed performance robustness against the decrease of available data points. The correlation was used to compare the solubility of Propylene and DME with the solubility of Propane. At the same conditions, Propane showed the lowest solubility while DME resulted in the most soluble refrigerant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycarboxylate superplasticizers (PCEs) have been extensively used in the areas of construction and building; however, the application limitation of PCEs has emerged owing to their sensitivity to clay. In this work, three anticlay PCEs were synthesized by introducing acrylamide (AM), methacryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (DMC), or 3-[2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] dimethylammonio-propane-1-sulfonate (DMAPS) into the polycarboxylate copolymer of ethylene glycol monovinyl polyethylene glycol ether (EPEG) and acrylic acid (AA), denoted as A-PCE, D-PCE, and S-PCE, respectively. The structures of these superplasticizers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Compared with the common polycarboxylate superplasticizers (O-PCEs), the resultant anticlay PCEs showed better dispersion as far as the fluidity of cement paste and mortar were concerned. With the content of 0.5% per weight sodium bentonite in place of cement, these anticlay PCEs exhibited better clay resistance than O-PCE. In addition, the compressive strengths of mortar and concrete by the addition of A-PCE, D-PCE, or S-PCE were slightly higher than those of O-PCE. Total organic carbon (TOC) revealed that the sensitivity of A-PCE, D-PCE, and S-PCE to clay was lower than that of O-PCE. X-ray diffraction (XRD) proved that the layer spacing of clay increased after treatment with superplasticizer. In combination of adsorption determination with XRD analysis, a possible mechanism was proposed. Unlike the PEG side chains inserting into the clay layers for O-PCE, the cations in functional groups entered the clay layers through cation exchange for anticlay PCEs preferentially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel methodology to obtain 3D printable BiVO 4 precursor scaffolds (3DM-BiVO 4) via robocasting, showing excellent periodicity, shape retention, and mechanical stability, is disclosed for the first time. The ceramic pastes (solids at 70 wt.-%) comprised of BiVO 4 precursor, SiO 2 NPs, and a solution of deionized water: ethylene glycol (volume ratio 1:2, DI water: EG) exhibited enhanced rheology for the 3D printing of self-supported structures (3DM-BiVO 4). The thermal treatment induced a monoclinic scheelite phase, and the ethylene glycol contributed to achieving a unique square flake-like particle morphology. 3DM-BiVO 4 scaffolds were used as reusable monolithic photocatalysts, showing 72% acetaminophen mineralization at 240 min and pH = 9. This innovative approach opens avenues for designing 3D printable ceramic pastes, offering potential applications in tailoring-made monolithic photocatalyst fabrication by using SiO 2 NPs as an inorganic binder. [Display omitted] • 3D printable BiVO4 pastes by DIW using SiO2NP as a ceramic binder and DI water:ethylene glycol as solvents. • 3DM-BiVO4 scaffolds with periodicity, excellent shape retention, mechanical stability, and self-supporting were achieved. • Ethylene glycol promotes morphologies of square flake-like particles comprised of small peanut-like BiVO4 particles. • 3DM-BiVO4 exhibited good photocatalytic activity for acetaminophen mineralization. • 3DM-BiVO4 photocatalyst can be easily recovered and reused several times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inadequate ionic conductivity and freezing of the electrolyte are considered one of the main problems in low-temperature electrochemical energy storage. Mixing two or more solvents can reduce the overall freezing point of the solution and also increase the ionic conductivity at low temperatures. Therefore, using the co-solvent method to prepare electrolytes is crucial for preventing electrolyte freezing and improving ion conductivity. In this paper, ethylene glycol (EG) was used as a low-temperature co-solvent and an electrolyte with a freezing point lower than − 80 ℃ was obtained by the introduction of a volume fraction of 20% ethylene glycol in 4.5 mol L−1 LiCl aqueous solution. The resulting electrolyte exhibited high ionic conductivity (1.143 mS·cm−1) at − 60 ℃ and low viscosity (1.391 mPa·s) at 20 ℃. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and FITR results indicate that hydrogen bonds can be effectively formed between ethylene glycol and water molecules, which facilitate the electrolyte to operate at low temperatures. Additionally, the supercapacitor was able to operate better even at − 60 °C by introducing ethylene glycol into the electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The production of value‐added chemicals from pyrolysis oil or its fractions is of great significance for the valorization of biomass. Diols, including ethylene glycol (EG) and 1,2‐propylene glycol (1,2‐PG), are important bulk chemicals with widespread industrial applications. Here we investigated the production of diols from pyrolysis oil water‐soluble fraction (WS) using a hybrid catalyst (Ni + H2WO4). RESULTS: Firstly, levoglucosan, glycolaldehyde and acetol, three main components in WS, were respectively selected as the single model compound, and their respective conversions into diols were investigated at different temperatures for different reaction times. The result showed the optimum reaction temperature and time were 180 °C and 2 h respectively, under which a EG yield of 53.8% and 1,2‐PG yield of 5.2% were obtained from levoglucosan conversion, a EG yield of 98.6% was obtained from glycolaldehyde conversion, and a 1,2‐PG yield of 98.5% was obtained from acetol conversion. The reaction pathway of levoglucosan conversion was analyzed. Secondly, the model mixture of levoglucosan, glycolaldehyde and acetol was used to simulate the real WS, and their conversion was investigated at different ratios of H2WO4 to Ni. The result showed the optimum catalyst composition was 0.15 g H2WO4 and 0.3 g Ni, under which a EG yield of 76.4% and 1,2‐PG yield of 38.4% were obtained. Thirdly, the real original WS was converted under the optimum reaction conditions and the result only gave a EG yield of 19.1% and 1,2‐PG yield of 25.8% (based on the carbon moles of main substrates), which were much less than the two yields of model mixture. That was related to the presences of other types of chemicals in original WS. After the original WS being adsorbed by activated carbon, the yields of EG and 1,2‐PG could be increased to 39.2% and 37.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The presences of certain other types of chemicals (such as acids, furans, phenolics and cyclopentanones) in original WS inhibited the production of diols. The activated carbon adsorption could efficiently remove most of furans, phenolics and cyclopentanones in original WS and increased significantly the diols yields. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karl Fischer titration (KF) measures the water content in organic and inorganic compounds. Water reacts with a titrant solution containing iodine and a sulphurous monoalkyl ester to produce a monoalkyl sulphate ester and HI. In volumetric titrators, a burette injects the titrant directly into a cell while coulometric titrators generate titrant in situ. Regardless of the volume of the sample, volumetric titration is limited to 100 mg, while coulometric titration is best suited for >2mg. KF is fast (<2min), considered accurate (±5%), and precise (<1%). However, factors such as humidity, non‐standard analytes (hexane, isopropanol, ethylene glycol), tritrant composition, and temperature compromise its repeatability: the % sample standard deviation, s (n=4), varied from 2% to 60% (s¯=22%,nconditions=19). This high variability is, in part, due to the experimental design that included samples and conditions ill‐suited for the technique. However, even for the tests for which KF is suitable, s¯>10%. Certain compounds react with the titrant, which increases the variability. The main sources of error affecting the analysis are ambient moisture, pH, solvent, sample handling, and titration speed. As of 2023, the Web of Science has indexed 1332 articles with Karl Fischer as a key word (Topic), but more than 3600 mentioning the technique (All fields). A bibliometric analysis classifies these contributions into five clusters: spectroscopy, stability, temperature, solubility, and mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this study, a series of submicron‐sized functional polymer particles poly(Sty‐co‐MAA) with variable methacrylic acid (MAA) content were prepared by soap‐free emulsion polymerization of styrene (Sty), methacrylic acid (MAA), and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). The number‐average diameters of polymer particles (Dn) were in the range of 0.11 to 0.19 μm. A decrease in particle size was observed with increasing the molar ratio of MAA comonomer in the recipe. ZnO/poly(Sty‐co‐MAA) hybrid polymer particles were prepared by seeded emulsion copolymerization in presence of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) as seed particles synthesized using Citrus lemon aqueous leaf extract. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microsphere (TEM), X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transformed infra‐red (FT‐IR) analysis were performed to characterize polymer particles. The crystalline size of ZnO NPs and ZnO/poly(Sty‐co‐MAA) hybrid polymer particles calculated from XRD analysis were 20.75 and 29.85 nm, respectively. These hybrid polymer particles were applied as photocatalyst in the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under UV irradiation, which showed high catalytic activity with degradation efficiency of 85.70 % at room temperature compared to bare ZnO NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green solvent processing of perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) is a necessity for their future commercialization. However, the almost insoluble nature of perovskites in most green solvents strongly impedes the progress of green solvent‐processed PeLEDs. Here, a novel green solvent triethylene glycol (TEG) is used as the processing solvent for perovskites. TEG has better solubility for perovskite precursors than most reported green solvents. Moreover, it is found that the low vapor pressure of TEG solvent and stable precursor solution render a much wider time window for the so‐called antisolvent treatment than that of perovskite precursor solution in commonly dimethyl sulfoxide. High‐quality perovskite film can be readily synthesized with the antisolvent treatment at a time window of 70–100 s, and the resultant green PeLEDs demonstrate nearly identical light‐emitting efficiencies. Together with further interface modification, the optimized green PeLEDs processed with TEG exhibit an external quantum efficiency of 20.4% and a maximal luminance over 38000 cd m−2. It is the first successful attempt to fabricate high‐efficiency PeLEDs utilizing green solvent and is enlightening for the development of high‐performance PeLEDs prepared with eco‐friendly solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are gaining rapid prominence in numerous biocatalysis processes due to their green characteristics, biodegradability, low cost, and simple preparation compared to harsh organic solvents and toxic ionic liquids. However, natural enzymes tend to show activity reduction, even inactivation in the presence of many DESs. Here, we present the first rational design approach to achieve enzymes resistant to both DESs and high temperatures. Using the interaction pattern between DESs and BSLA (Bacillus subtilis lipase A, our model enzyme) derived from all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we formulated a solvation-guided engineering strategy. This was established after assessing 33 structural, solvation, and energy observables. We rationally designed and experimentally tested 36 single substitutions, of which 28 (a 77.78% success rate) exhibited improvements in at least two DES cosolvents: choline chloride (ChCl) : acetamide, tetrabutylphosphonium bromide (TBPB) : ethylene glycol (EG), and ChCl : EG. Additionally, through stepwise recombination, we identified two robust BSLA variants, D64H/R107L/E171Y and D64H/R142L, showing stability improvements of up to 4.4-fold and 3.2-fold in three DESs and at 50 °C, respectively. Further MD studies demonstrated that (i) the restricted overall structure but fine-tuned local flexibility and (ii) increased water but decreased DES molecules at substituted sites are two main factors contributing to the enhanced multiple DES resistance. Overall, solvation-guided engineering offers an efficient and rational approach for designing lipases tolerant to DES cosolvents and elevated temperatures, with a considerable potential for adaptation to other enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self‐assembly and dynamics of amphiphilic diblock copolymers composed of densely grafted poly(oligo ethylene glycol methacrylate) (POEGMA) and poly(lauryl methacrylate) (PLMA) by means of calorimetry, small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), and dielectric spectroscopy are investigated. It is reported that the inherent immiscibility between the parent homopolymers, combined with the increased molar mass, results in strong segregation, maintained up to elevated temperatures (i.e., T = 423 K). SAXS reveals that well‐separated POEGMA and PLMA domains self‐assemble into spheres with bicontinuous cubic packing and in lamellar nanostructure in copolymers with respective compositions of 16 and 52 wt.% PLMA. This strong segregation enables the weak crystallization/melting of the short ethylene glycol chains. Additionally, molecular dynamics are investigated through isothermal dielectric and calorimetry measurements. The segmental dynamics (i.e., Tg‐related) of POEGMA and PLMA closely resemble that found in respective homopolymers, implying heterogeneous dynamics. In the glassy state, the local motions of the POEGMA side chains predominantly govern the observed secondary processes in the copolymers. The results on the heterogeneous dynamics in the current amphiphilic diblock copolymers with the densely grafted architecture are compared and contrasted with copolymers having a bottle–brush architecture lacking the amphiphilic nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer networks with controlled ratios of neutral and ionic dynamic crosslink points were prepared from ethylene glycol, boric acid, and lithium hydroxide. Both neutral and ionic sites led to the emergence of distinct damping modes separate from the glass transition. This work highlights the potential of polymer networks for multimodal damping spectra through dynamic bond selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biocompatible, sustainable, and conductive inks are of special interest and are highly valued in the printable bioelectronics. However, the conventional inks, which increase electrical conductivity by mixing metal particles or graphene, can cause long‐term damage when applied to the body and environment. Herein, a method for creating a stable matrix based on a UV‐cross‐linkable polymer to which a conductive polymer can be grafted is investigated to solve the above problems by recycling biomass. Through this, it is possible to achieve high conductivity using only biocompatible and sustainable polymers. Here, conductive inks for printable bioelectronics are developed by grafting polypyrrole on methacrylate‐modified sericin and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA). The highest electrical conductivity is achieved by adjusting the ratio of the pyrrole monomers polymerized on each polymer until the conductivity is optimized. Owing to the photoreactive nature of PEGDA, the prepared conductive inks are cross‐linked by UV light, thus giving them easy‐printing properties. The biodegradability, biocompatibility, and electrical properties of the printed patterns are systematically analyzed. This study has significant implications in the field of sustainable and printable bioelectronics as it has developed of a conductive ink with the biocompatibility, biodegradability, and high conductivity that is safer and simpler than conventional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water‐dispersible fluorescent nano‐/microspheres have been widely used as fluorescent probes in many fields. In this paper, aldehyde‐functionalized fluorescent micelles are synthesized by self‐assembly of end‐modified hyperbranched poly(m‐phenyleneethynylene‐alter‐p‐phenyleneethynylene)(hb‐PMPE). First, hb‐PMPE with ‐Br end‐groups(hb‐PMPE‐Br) is obtained by the polymerization of AB2 monomer PhBr2–C≡C–Ph–C≡CH, then the reaction of hb‐PMPE‐Br with 4‐ethynylbenzaldehyde (EBA) gives end aldehyde‐functionalized hyperbranched polymer hb‐PMPE‐CHO. Hence, hb‐PMPE‐CHO is reacted with aminooxy methoxypolyethylene glycol‐2000 (NH2O‐MPEG2000) to link poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains to the ends of hb‐PMPE‐CHO with partial residual aldehyde end‐groups, resulting in aldehyde‐functionalized amphiphilic polymer hb‐PMPE‐PEG. Fluorescent micelles with aldehyde‐containing fluorescent hb‐PMPE core and PEG shell are obtained by self‐assembling hb‐PMPE‐PEG in water. The micelle diameter is determined by the PEG content in hb‐PMPE‐PEG, which can be controlled by the reaction weight ratio of NH2O‐MPEG2000/hb‐PMPE‐CHO. When the ratio of NH2O‐MPEG2000/hb‐PMPE‐CHO > 0.75/1, micelles with a diameter < 50 nm are obtained. The water dispersion of hb‐PMPE‐PEG‐1/2 micelles (28.9 nm) emits bright green fluorescence with λmax ≈ 490 nm under UV irradiation, and the emission intensity increases with increasing concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural rigidity of thiourea (TU) motifs has made them useful in supramolecular (bio)materials. However, the role of the TU motif in a single system endowing dual noncovalent interactions, i.e., Hydrogen‐bonding (H‐bonding) association and metal‐coordination interaction, to afford nanomedicine is still unexplored. Herein a smart supramolecular polymeric nanomedicine constructed via TU motifs privileged dual noncovalent interactions, toward synergistic chemo/chemodynamic (CT/CDT) cancer therapy is reported. The study first synthesized a six‐arm star‐shaped amphiphilic polymer vehicle containing pendant TU motifs, poly(acylthiourea‐co‐oligo(ethylene glycol) ethyl acrylate)6 (P(TU‐co‐OEGEA)6), followed by addressing both H‐bonding association and metal‐coordination to fabricate supramolecular nanomedicine (e.g., Dox/Cu@P(TU‐co‐OEGEA)6). Structural privilege and functional diversity of TU motifs constitute an outstanding scaffold, not only offering an H‐bonding site to associate doxorubicin (Dox) but also acting as a ligand to coordinate copper (Cu). Thereby, one TU motif can enable dual noncovalent binding modes, triggering multiple curative outcomes. TU/Dox and TU/Cu noncovalent interactions can induce intermolecular configuration, yielding prompted cargo loading and in vivo stability. Moreover, benefiting from pH‐responsive Dox release and Fenton‐like copper redox chemistry, accompanied by Dox‐induced intratumoral H2O2 elevation and prompted •OH generation, synergistic CT/CDT with extraordinary anti‐tumor efficacy is indeed accomplished. This work provides a new paradigm using TU motifs regulated dual supramolecular forces to meet therapeutic goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the intrinsically high safety, low cost, natural abundance, and high energy density of Zn metal, aqueous Zn ion batteries (AZIBs) have become a promising candidate for large‐scale energy conversion and storage. However, the practical application of AZIBs is hampered by the severe Zn dendrites growth and the poor low‐temperature performance due to the elevated freezing point of aqueous electrolyte. Herein, the study proposes a new kind of room‐temperature liquid Zn salt, which is called Zn coordinated ionic liquid (i.e., (EMIM)5Zn(OTF)7), for all‐temperature AZIBs. The aqueous electrolyte containing 0.261 mol kg−1 (EMIM)5Zn(OTF)7 in Ethylene Glycol (EG) / H2O (6:4) exhibits ultralow freezing point below −100 °C. The liquid Zn salt and EG molecules not only modulate the solvation structure of Zn2+ ion, reducing the coordinated H2O in the first solvation sheath, but also suppresses the parasitic side reaction. As a proof of concept, Zn || Zn symmetric cells and Zn || PANI full cells with the designed electrolyte achieve improved cycling stability and can operate under wide temperature (from −40 to 60 °C). Even with high Zn utilization ratio of 40%, long cycle life over 70 times with capacity retention of 80% is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visualizing the network of a solvent‐swollen polymer gel remains problematic. To address this challenge, open transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was applied to thin gel films permeated by a nonvolatile ionic liquid. The targeted physical gels were prepared by cooling concentrated solutions of poly(ethylene glycol) in 1‐ethyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium ethyl sulfate [EMIM][EtSO4]. During the cooling, gelation occurred by a frustrated crystallization of the dissolved polymer, leading to a percolated, solvent‐permeated semicrystalline network in which nanoscale polymer crystals acted as crosslinks. Crystalline features ranging from ~5 to ~200 nm were observed, with the visible network strands dominantly consisting of long curvilinear crystallites of ~15–20 nm diameter. Nascent spherulites irregularly decorated the network, creating a complex structural hierarchy that complicated analyses. Lacking diffraction contrast, TEM did not visualize the many disordered, fully solvated PEG chains present in the voids between crystals. Recognizing that a network's three dimensionality is ambiguous when assessed through two‐dimensional microscopy projections, a small gel region was studied by TEM tomography, revealing a nearly isotropic three‐dimensional arrangement of the curvilinear crystallites, which displayed remarkably uniform cylindrical cross sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling the extensional rheological properties of solutions is of great interest for a number of applications, such as printing and coatings, as polymeric additives can modify a fluid's droplet size, formation, and breakup. We have measured the extensional flows of polyacrylamide graft poly(ethylene glycol) amine (PAM‐g‐PEGa) solutions as a function of grafting density. PAM‐g‐PEGa is synthesized with grafting densities of 2.5%, 5.5%, 8%, and 30% and extensional flow was analyzed with drop‐on‐substrate rheology. Flow time scales and profiles are then compared to understand the effects of backbone extension from the addition of side chains. At low grafting densities, the viscous friction from the added side chains is comparable to, and in some cases, counteracts the losses in extensibility to the graft polymer's backbone, leading to increases in the relaxation time of the polymer. At higher grafting densities, the extension of the backbone reduces the relaxation time. By characterizing the effects of the graft density architecture on extensional flows, we are able to fine‐tune and control the breakup dynamics of elastic solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcuminoid boron difluoride dyes have garnered significant attention in the realm of bioimaging, primarily owing to their excellent photophysicochemical properties. However, the strong hydrophobicity limits their optimal near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence emission, and the synthesis process is complicated. In this study, Curc-TPA, a curcuminoid boron difluoride derivative with a high fluorescence quantum yield, was facilely synthesized and surprisingly exhibited aggregation-induced NIR emission in a dimethyl sulfoxide/water mixture. The compound self-assembled into stable and homogeneous nanoparticles through hydrophobic interaction with the amphiphilic polymer 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-poly(ethylene glycol), which showed enhanced aggregation-induced emission (AIE) capacity in the NIR region. The nanoparticles specifically enriched at the tumor site due to the enhanced penetration and retention effect and exhibited bright fluorescence in vitro and in vivo. Notably, they showed satisfactory hematological compatibility and unobservable cellular and histological toxicity. Therefore, they are of promising clinical significance in the AIE-enhanced NIR fluorescence imaging-visualized precise diagnosis of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Lanthanide-doped up-converting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have emerged as promising biomedical tools in recent years. Most research efforts were devoted to the synthesis of inorganic cores with the optimal physicochemical properties. However, the careful design of UCNPs with the adequate surface coating to optimize their biological performance still remains a significant challenge. Here, we propose the functionalization of UCNPs with four distinct types of surface coatings, which were compared in terms of the provided colloidal stability and resistance to degradation in different biological-relevant media, including commonly avoided analysis in acidic lysosomal-mimicking fluids. Moreover, the influence of the type of particle surface coating on cell cytotoxicity and endocytosis/exocytosis was also evaluated. The obtained results demonstrated that the functionalization of UCNPs with poly(isobutylene- alt -maleic anhydride) grafted with dodecylamine (PMA- g -dodecyl) constitutes an outstanding strategy for their subsequent biomedical application, whereas poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) coating, although suitable for colloidal stability purposes, hinders extensive cell internalization. Conversely, surface coating with small ligand were found not to be suitable, leading to large degradation degrees of UCNPs. The analysis of particle' behavior in different biological media and in vitro conditions here performed pretends to help researchers to improve the design and implementation of UCNPs as theranostic nanotools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UV‐curable oligomers were synthesized by the reaction of ethylene glycol (EG) or 1,4‐butanediol (BDO) with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), and then terminated with hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA). The chemical structures and molecular weight of the two oligomers were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR and 13C NMR) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The obtained UV‐curable oligomers were separately mixed with bisphenol A‐type epoxy acrylate (EA) in different mass ratios. The resulting mixture was then mixed with the active diluent tetrahydrofuran acrylate (THFA) and the photoinitiator ethyl 2,4,6‐trimethylbenzoylphosphonate (TPO‐L) for UV curing. The curing reactions were performed at UV light intensity of 120 mW/cm2. The unsaturation conversion was monitored by real‐time infrared spectroscopy (real‐time FT‐IR). The mechanical properties and coating properties of the UV‐cured products were analyzed. The results showed that the synthesized UV‐curable oligomers had good toughening effect on EA, and the tensile strength of EA was also improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vat photopolymerization 3D printing has proven very successful for the rapid additive manufacturing (AM) of polymeric parts at high resolution. However, the range of materials that can be printed and their resulting properties remains narrow. Herein, we report the successful AM of a series of poly(carbonate‐b‐ester‐b‐carbonate) elastomers, derived from carbon dioxide and bio‐derived ϵ‐decalactone. By employing a highly active and selective Co(II)Mg(II) polymerization catalyst, an ABA triblock copolymer (Mn=6.3 kg mol−1, ÐM=1.26) was synthesized, formulated into resins which were 3D printed using digital light processing (DLP) and a thiol‐ene‐based crosslinking system. A series of elastomeric and degradable thermosets were produced, with varying thiol cross‐linker length and poly(ethylene glycol) content, to produce complex triply periodic geometries at high resolution. Thermomechanical characterization of the materials reveals printing‐induced microphase separation and tunable hydrophilicity. These findings highlight how utilizing DLP can produce sustainable materials from low molar mass polyols quickly and at high resolution. The 3D printing of these functional materials may help to expedite the production of sustainable plastics and elastomers with potential to replace conventional petrochemical‐based options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by phase-separated biopolymers with enzymatic activity, we developed an amphiphilic catalyst consisting of alternating hydrophilic oligo(ethylene glycol) and hydrophobic aromatic units bearing a Hoveyda–Grubbs catalyst center (MAHGII). MAHGII served as both a droplet-forming scaffold and a catalyst for ring-closing metathesis reactions, providing a new biomimetic system that promotes organic reactions in an aqueous environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient extraction of lignin from intricate lignocellulose is a challenge for the high-value utilization of lignocellulosic biomass in sustainable biorefinery. In this work, a p-toluene sulfonic acid-coupling ethylene glycol (PTSA/EG) pretreatment was developed to extract lignin from cornstalks. The results showed that the synergistic effect between p-toluene sulfonic acid and ethylene glycol resulted in an increase in the delignification ratio from 43.43 to 85.37% compared with PTSA aqueous pretreatment. When the concentration of PTSA was 5 wt.%, the delignification ratio reached 85.37% at 383.15 K under the PTSA/EG pretreatment. Moreover, the lignin fractions obtained by water precipitation have high purity (>90%) and a low molecular weight (1777~2271 Da). The fractionated lignin was depolymerized with Ru/C catalyst and methanol at 508.15 K for 3 h. When the pretreatment temperature is 368.15 K, the fractionated lignin has a good depolymerization performance, and the detected monomers yield reaches 17.46%. Overall, pretreatment using PTSA and EG could realize the disruption of the degradation barrier of lignocellulose and fractionate lignin with specific structures by adjusting the pretreatment conditions, which was conducive to commercial applications in biomass refining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart polymers undergo significant physical or chemical changes in response to stimuli like temperature and pH. Achieving a narrow molecular weight distribution is crucial for their sensitivity. Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) in ionic liquids is an effective method for synthesizing such polymers due to its favorable kinetics and environmental benefits. Most studies use imidazolium ionic liquids, while pyridinium ionic liquids are less common despite their easy synthesis. This study reports the first successful RAFT copolymerization of di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (DEGMEMA) and methyl methacrylate in N‐hexylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate ([HPY][PF6]). Both linear and hyperbranched copolymers (Mn > 25,000) with narrow molecular weight distribution were synthesized, showing observable temperature responses and biocompatibility. The linear copolymers had a desirable dispersity (Ð) of less than 1.10, while the hyperbranched copolymer had a Ð of 2.034. The lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) of the copolymers were close to or below the LCST of PDEGMEMA (26°C). This study indicates that pyridinium ionic liquids can be explored as a suitable solvent for synthesizing methacrylate‐based smart polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently reported direct growth of highly crystalline centimetre-sized black phosphorus (BP) thin films on mica substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) has attracted considerable research interest. However, an effective and general transfer method to incorporate them into (opto-)electronic devices is still missing. Here, we show a wet transfer method utilizing ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and an ethylene glycol (EG) solution to transfer high-crystalline large-area PLD-BP films onto SiO2/Si substrates. The transferred films were used to fabricate BP-based bottom-gate field-effect transistor (FET) arrays exhibiting good uniformity and continuity, with carrier mobility and current switching ratios comparable to those obtained in as-grown BP films on mica substrates. Our work presents a promising transfer strategy for scalable integration of on-substrate grown 2D BP into devices with more complex structures and further investigation of material properties. Black phosphorus (BP) is a 2D semiconductor with potential for (opto-)electronic applications, but its large-scale integration with Si substrates is challenging. Here, the authors report a method to transfer cm-scale BP films onto SiO2/Si substrates retaining their uniformity and electrical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to altered gravity influences cellular behaviour in cell cultures. Hydrogels are amongst the most common materials used to produce tissue-engineering scaffolds, and their mechanical properties play a crucial role in cell-matrix interaction. However, little is known about the influence of altered gravity on hydrogel properties. Here we study the mechanical properties of Poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and PEGDA incorporated with graphene oxide (GO) by performing tensile tests in micro and hypergravity during a Parabolic flight campaign, and by comparing them to the same tests performed in Earth gravity. We show that gravity levels do not result in a statistically significant difference in Young's modulus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urolithiasis is a painful condition and current treatment doesn't assure the prevention of recurrence. This research aims to demonstrate the scientific reliability of Chloroform leaf extract of Flemingia Strobilifera R.Br. (CEFS) for antiurolithiatic activity using ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis model. Results: Ethylene glycol (EG) was used to induce hyperoxaluria in male Wistar rats. The rats were grouped into 7-groups containing six each. Group I and II served as negative and positive control, group III received standard treatment, whereas Group IV to VII served as testing groups. CEFS of 30 mg/kg body-weight and 60 mg/kg body-weight was used as a preventive and curative regimen. The urine biochemistry was analysed for the presence of calcium, magnesium, phosphate, and oxalate. The rats were sacrificed for histopathological examination and LDH detection. The 24-hours urine volume was increased in both EG-treated groups as well as CEFS-treated groups, indicating the diuretic activity of plant. CEFS dose-dependently inhibited urine excretion of phosphate, calcium, and oxalate compared to the positive-control group. The histopathological examination of CEFS-treated rats' kidneys had reduced loss of renal structure and lessened deposition of calcium oxalate crystals. Conclusion: CEFS exhibited significant antiurolithiatic activity by reducing supersaturation of urine and excretion of stone forming components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are of great interest in low‐power bioelectronics and neuromorphic computing, as they utilize organic mixed ionic‐electronic conductors (OMIECs) to transduce ionic signals into electrical signals. However, the poor environmental stability of OMIEC materials significantly restricts the practical application of OECTs. Therefore, the non‐fused planar naphthalenediimide (NDI)‐dialkoxybithiazole (2Tz) copolymers are fine‐tuned through varying ethylene glycol (EG) side chain lengths from tri(ethylene glycol) to hexa(ethylene glycol) (namely P‐XO, X = 3–6) to achieve OECTs with high‐stability and low threshold voltage. As a result, the NDI‐2Tz copolymers exhibit ambipolarity, rapid response (<10 ms), and ultra‐high n‐type stability. Notably, the P‐6O copolymers display a threshold voltage as low as 0.27 V. They can operate in n‐type mode in an aqueous solution for over 60 h, maintaining an on‐off ratio of over 105. This work sheds light on the design of exceptional n‐type/ambipolar materials for OECTs. It demonstrates the potential of incorporating these ambipolar polymers into water‐operational integrated circuits for long‐term biosensing systems and energy‐efficient brain‐inspired computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ideonella sakaiensis is a bacterium that can degrade and consume polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a plastic material that was previously considered non‐biodegradable. The degradation of PET requires two enzymes, namely poly (ethylene terephthalate) hydrolase (PETase) and mono (2‐hydroxyethyl) terephthalate hydrolase (MHETase), which break down PET into terephthalate (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG), which serve as carbon sources for the bacterium. Previous studies have focused on the enzymatic properties, structure, and mechanism of action of PETase and MHETase. However, the regulation of PETase and MHETase gene expression has not been investigated. This study identified a protein that binds to the MHETase promoter DNA, MHETase gene‐regulating protein (MRP) in I. sakaiensis. PET or TPA induced the expression of PETase and MHETase genes. Furthermore, the induction of the MHETase gene was abolished by the deletion of the mrp gene, while the expression of the PETase gene was maintained. In addition, the genes involved in TPA metabolism were not induced in the mrp mutant. Furthermore, the growth of the PET and TPA deteriorated due to mrp mutation. Also, MRP binds to the promoter regions of the MHETase gene and TPA metabolizing genes, but not to the PETase gene promoter. These results suggest that MRP is a transcription factor that activates MHETase and TPA‐metabolizing genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient and selective oxidation of ethylene glycol is challenging due to uncontrollable C–C bond cleavage. We propose an electrochemical strategy for the selective electrooxidation of ethylene glycol to sythesise lactic acid on a Ni-based electrocatalyst by controlling the pH value of the electrolyte solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining the potency of non-covalent halogen bonding (XB) with metal ion coordination, the synthesis and characterisation of a series of hydrophilic XB tripodal Cu(II) metallo-receptors, strategically designed for tetrahedral anion guest binding and sensing in aqueous media is described. The reported metallo-hosts contain a tripodal C3-symmetric tris-iodotriazole XB donor anion recognition motif terminally functionalised with tri(ethylene glycol) and permethylated β-cyclodextrin functionalities to impart aqueous solubility. Optical UV-vis anion binding studies in combination with unprecedented quantitative EPR anion titration investigations reveal the XB Cu(II) metallo-receptors exhibit strong and selective phosphate recognition over a range of other monocharged anionic species in competitive aqueous solution containing 40% water, notably outperforming a hydrogen bonding (HB) Cu(II) metallo-receptor counterpart. Electrochemical studies demonstrate further the capability of the metallo-receptors to sense anions via significant cathodic perturbations of the respective Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox couple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the controllable transformation of C3–6 diols in ethylene glycol (EG), a H-Beta zeolite catalyst was modified with NH3via incomplete desorption. 60.8% of acid sites on the zeolite were deactivated, but the ratio of strong acid sites was obviously increased. With 1,2-pentanediol (PDO) as a representative large-carbon-number diol, the undesirable acetalization and oligomerization reactions of EG were suppressed in the EG-PDO reaction system over the modified catalyst due to their dependency on total acid sites. NH3-TPD and FTIR results proved that Lewis acid sites on the modified zeolite were eliminated after modification, resulting in the suppression of acetalization and oligomerization reactions. In contrast, a portion of strong Brønsted acid sites still remained, ensuring the catalytic transformation of PDO. Only 8.2% of EG was consumed after 8 h reaction, and the conversion of PDO could reach 84.3%. The loading of NH3 on the surface of zeolite pores led to diffusion resistance, slightly decreasing the reaction rate of PDO without affecting the reaction selectivity. The catalytic reactions of other C3–6 diols in EG followed similar principles, and the selectivity to aldehydes or ketone was improved over this modified catalyst. Non-diol biomass hydrogenation products such as glycerol had a negative influence on the selectivity, so these components should be isolated before the reactions. This catalyst could be reused at least 5 times, and the conversion of PDO slightly decreased. This work sheds light on the relationships between the acid properties of the catalyst and different reactions of diols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a two-step reduction process, Ni-based alloy nanocatalysts (Ni-ANCs) made of nickel-iron-cobalt with a carbon support (Ni–Fe–Co/C) were produced in various molar proportions. A comprehensive structural characterization of the morphology and composition of Ni-ANCs was evaluated using XRD, TEM and EDX analyses. The XRD results from Ni-ANCs indicated a diffraction pattern that was caused by only one face-centered cubic (FCC) phase, indicating that the ternary metals Instead of a phase-separated structure, a well-mixed solid solution structure was created. TEM images showed that Ni-ANCs have a particle size of between 13 and 30 nm uniform dispersivity on the carbon support. At the same time, the electrochemical activities of Ni-ANCs were evaluated by means of CV, LSV and CA investigate for the Induction of electrooxidation in ethylene glycol at room temperature. Experimental results reveal that Ni 60 Co 40 /C and Ni 60 Fe 30 Co 10 /C are substantially more potent than Ni 60 Fe 40 /C and Ni 100 /C respectively, when using Co-containing alloy nanocatalysts. Specifically, the ternary Ni 60 Fe 30 Co 10 /C catalyst has a higher electrochemical activity than its binary counterpart, which can be attributed to the conductivity and deformation effects. This is noteworthy because it demonstrates that Co accelerates the oxidation of Ni to a more active NiOOH at a lower overpotential level, enabling otherwise inactive Fe sites within the Ni (OH) 2 phase to become active. A Micro flow channel with distinct zones and its structure and cross-section for the MLEGFC [Display omitted] • The structural characterization of the morphology and composition of Ni-ANCs was evaluated using XRD, TEM and EDX analyses. • TEM images showed that Ni-ANCs have a particle size of between 13 and 30 nm. • A greater activity of Ni 60 Fe 30 Co 10 /C can be observed than Ni 60 Co 40 /C and Ni 60 Fe 40 /C, however, Ni 100 /C is lower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The delivery of human adipose-derived stromal cells (hASCs) to ischemic tissues represents a promising strategy to promote vascular regeneration for patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Building on previous work, this study focused on the in vivo characterization of a hydrogel cell delivery platform for hASCs composed of peptide-functionalized methacrylated glycol chitosan and a terminally acrylated triblock copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(trimethylene carbonate) [PEG(PTMC-A)2] in athymic nu/nu mice with femoral artery ligation-induced CLI (FAL-CLI). This immunodeficient mouse strain was selected to enable human cell transplantation in a model with conserved monocyte/macrophage function, recognizing that macrophages are key regulators of the biomaterial implant response, as well as vascular repair and regeneration. The hASCs were engineered to coexpress tdTomato and firefly luciferase to enable longitudinal cell tracking using bioluminescence imaging. Interestingly, the hASCs were better retained following delivery in saline compared with hydrogel delivery. However, laser Doppler perfusion imaging analysis indicated that the restoration of hindlimb perfusion was similar between the two cell treatment groups. Critically, delivery of the hASCs within the hydrogels was associated with adverse outcomes only observed within this treatment group, including severe swelling, discoloration, and necrosis, which necessitated early euthanasia of some mice. CD45 staining supported that the combination of the cells and hydrogels induced an inflammatory host response. These findings contrast with previous positive results when the platform was tested for hASC delivery in more severely immunocompromised NOD/SCID mice with FAL-CLI, as well as allogeneic rat ASC delivery in a healthy immunocompetent rat model. Overall, this study emphasizes the potential importance of testing cell delivery platforms in preclinical disease models that have retained host immune cell function, especially for immunomodulatory cell populations such as ASCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe-MOFs of mixed valence was synthesized by a solvothermal method via the in-situ reduction of ethylene glycol (EG) pre-coordination with the proper ratio of Fe2+/Fe3+ between 0.83 and 2.46. Synchronously with copper introduction, the Fe/Cu MOFs of mixed valence (Fe/Cu-MVMOFs) was then one pot acquired to remarkably improve the affinity of Fe2+ and Cu+ to H2O2 and promote the conversion efficiency of Fe2+/Fe3+ via the electron transfer among Fe-Cu bimetal clusters (XPS and XRD). Hence, the maximum reaction rate of H2O2 with Fe/Cu-MVMOFs reached 16.65 M·s−1, along with Km as low as 0.0479 mM. H2O2 and glutathione (GSH) were efficiently detected, ranging from 0.25 to 60 µM and from 0.2 to 40 µM, respectively. The investigation of catalyzation selectivity and practical serum detection by Fe/Cu-MVMOFs illustrated the efficacy and efficiency, denoting Fe/Cu-MVMOFs as the promising peroxidase candidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their strong antibacterial activity and nanometric size, nanoparticles have become a feasible option for a range of medical treatments. The purpose of the research is to prepare a nanocomposite of four materials, and to study the effect of the content of silicon dioxide (SiO2) / cobalt oxide (CO2O3) NPs on the PVA–PEG mixture. In this paper, samples of polymer nanocomposite were created by solution casting. The test specimens were made of an organic host matrix consisting of poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) polymer mixture. Different concentrations of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and cobalt oxide (CO2O3) were introduced to specimens at different weight percentages (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%). The present research tested the optical, structural, morphological, and antibacterial characteristics of (PVA–PEG-SiO2–CO2O3) NCs. The blended homogenous nanoparticle distribution, which forms a unified network across the polymer matrix, is shown in the optical microscope photos. The outcomes of field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) investigations show that the surface morphology is sufficiently homogenous and distributed. The blend consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and (polyethylene glycol) (PEG) was discovered to be amorphous by X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigation. Furthermore, peaks of other nanomaterials appeared at all nanocomposites sample concentrations, and we compared them with the reference code PDF. For both allowed and forbidden transitions, the energy gap shrinks from (4.23 to 3.22) eV and (3.9 to 2.59) eV, respectively. The outcomes indicate an upward trend between the measured absorbance values, absorption coefficient (α), refractive index (n), real and imaginary dielectric constants, and optical conductivity (σop) with riesing the concentrations of (SiO2–CO2O3) nanoparticles, especially in the UV and visible areas. It appeared clearly at the highest amount of nanoparticles at a certain wavelength (390 nm), and the results indicated that they could be attractive materials for nano-oriented optoelectronic devices. The antibacterial properties of the (PVA–PEG-SiO2–CO2O3) nanocomposites were finally studied. As the ratio of SiO2–CO2O3 nanoparticles to PVA-PEG grew, so did the antibacterial activity of S. aureus and E. coli, yielding inhibition region values of (20 and 21) mm, respectively. Accordingly, this study's results show how useful and viable nanocomposites are for use in the optical electronics, and medical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unexplained acute kidney injury (AKI) in children owing to diethylene glycol (DEG) contamination during drug production has gained attention in recent years. This qualitative study investigated the effects of DEG exposure on the incidence of unknown AKIin children. A systematic review following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) guidelines was proposed to search for studies using predefined search terms in the PubMed, EBSCO, and Web of Science databases without publication date restrictions. The inclusion criteria are observational study, case study, case report, and case series design; and having provided accurate data for DEG poisoning and AKI diagnosis in children. All authors performed the study screening, data extraction, and data synthesis processes. Consensus was reached by mutual agreement. The data synthesis was conducted according to the DEG and unexplained AKI in children by examining the statistical data using Microsoft Excel 2017 and storing the data using the cloud service of Universitas Islam Indonesia. Of the 115 included studies, 21 met the inclusion criteria, including 2 case-control studies, 1 cross-sectional study, 4 case studies, and 14 case reports. DEG-contaminated paracetamol caused unexplained AKI in children. Other drugs including cough expectorants, antihistamines, and sedatives were administered. Chemicals other than DEG, such as propylene glycol and ethylene glycol, also induce AKI owing to overprescription and unintentional exposure. A recent epidemic of unexplained AKI showed contaminated paracetamol as the poisoning agent regardless offormula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of molecular self‐assembly, the core of an assembly is always made up of hydrophobic moiety like a long alkyl chain, whereas the outer part has always been a hydrophilic moiety such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), or charged species. Hence, reversing the trend to manifest self‐assembled structures with a PEG core and a surface consisting of alkyl chains in aqueous system is incredibly challenging. Herein, we architected a unique class of cationic bolaamphiphiles containing low molecular weight PEG and alkyl chains of different lengths. The bolaamphiphiles spontaneously form vesicles without external stimuli. These vesicles are unprecedented because PEG makes up the vesicle core, while the alkyl chains appear on the vesicles′ exterior. Hence, this particular design reverses the usual trend of self‐assembly formation. The vesicle size increases with the increase in alkyl chain‐length. To our great surprise, we obtained large micelles for longest alkyl‐chain amphiphile, which in turn act as a gemini amphiphile. The shift from a particular bolaamphiphile to gemini amphiphile with the variation of alkyl chain is also unexplored. Therefore, this specific class of self‐assembled structure would compound a new paradigm in molecular self‐assembly and supramolecular chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the synthesis and performance of novel copolyesters containing 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) as a biobased secondary diol. This presents an opportunity for improving their thermal properties and reducing crystallinity, while also being more sustainable. It is, however, a challenge to synthesize copolyesters of sufficient molecular weight that also have high 2,3-BDO content, due to the reduced reactivity of secondary diols compared to primary diols. Terephthalate-based polyesters were synthesized in combination with different ratios of 2,3-BDO and ethylene glycol (EG). With a 2,3-BDO to EG ratio of 28:72, an Mn of 31.5 kDa was reached with a Tg of 88 °C. The Mn dropped with increasing 2,3-BDO content to 18.1 kDa for a 2,3-BDO to EG ratio of 78:22 (Tg = 104 °C) and further to 9.8 kDa (Tg = 104 °C) for the homopolyester of 2,3-BDO and terephthalate. The water and oxygen permeability both increased significantly with increasing 2,3-BDO content and even the lowest content of 2,3-BDO (28% of total diol) performed significantly worse than PET. The incorporation of 2,3-BDO had little effect on the tensile properties of the polyesters, which were similar to PET. The results suggest that 2,3-BDO can be potentially applied for polyesters requiring higher Tg and lower crystallinity than existing materials (mainly PET). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomedicine is a discipline of medicine that applies all aspects of nanotechnology strategies and concepts for treatment and screening possibilities. Synthetic polymer nanostructures are among the many nanomedicine formulations frequently studied for their potential as vectors. Bioimaging is a valuable diagnostic tool, thus, there is always a demand for new excipients/nanocarriers. In this study, hydrophobic hyperbranched poly(lauryl methacrylate) (PLMA) homopolymers comprised of highly hydrophobic LMA moieties with –COOH polar end groups were synthesized by employing reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) was utilized as the branching agent. End groups are incorporated through the RAFT agent utilized. The resulting amphiphilic hyperbranched polymer was molecularly characterized by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR), and 1H–NMR spectroscopy. Pyrene, curcumin, and IR-1048 dye were hydrophobic payload molecules successfully encapsulated to show how adaptable these homopolymer nanoparticles (prepared by nanoprecipitation in water) are as dye nanocarriers. This study demonstrates a simple way of producing excipients by generating polymeric nanoparticles from an amphiphilic, hyperbranched, hydrophobic homopolymer, with a low fraction of polar end groups, for bioimaging purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the crosslinking dynamics and swelling properties of pH-responsive poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels. These hydrogels feature denser crosslinked networks compared to PEG single network (SN) hydrogels. Fabrication involved a two-step UV curing process: First, forming PEG-SN hydrogels using poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) through UV-induced free radical polymerization and crosslinking reactions, then immersing them in PAA solutions with two different molar ratios of acrylic acid (AA) monomer and poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) crosslinker. A subsequent UV curing step created PAA networks within the pre-fabricated PEG hydrogels. The incorporation of AA with ionizable functional groups imparted pH sensitivity to the hydrogels, allowing the swelling ratio to respond to environmental pH changes. Rheological analysis showed that PEG/PAA IPN hydrogels had a higher storage modulus (G′) than PEG-SN hydrogels, with PEG/PAA-IPN5 exhibiting the highest modulus. Thermal analysis via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated increased thermal stability for PEG/PAA-IPN5 compared to PEG/PAA-IPN1, due to higher crosslinking density from increased PEGDMA content. Consistent with the storage modulus trend, PEG/PAA-IPN hydrogels demonstrated superior mechanical properties compared to PEG-SN hydrogels. The tighter network structure led to reduced water uptake and a higher gel modulus in swollen IPN hydrogels, attributed to the increased density of active network strands. Below the pKa (4.3) of acrylic acid, hydrogen bonds between PEG and PAA chains caused the IPN hydrogels to contract. Above the pKa, ionization of PAA chains induced electrostatic repulsion and osmotic forces, increasing water absorption. Adjusting the crosslinking density of the PAA network enabled fine-tuning of the IPN hydrogels' properties, allowing comprehensive comparison of single network and IPN characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]