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In this study, temozolomide (TMZ), a drug used in the treatment of anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme, was incorporated in multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and hybrid carbon nanotubes with graphene (MWCNTs-G) functionalized by polyethylene glycol (PEG). The aim was to evaluate the potential of these nanocarriers for targeted delivery and sustained release of TMZ in brain tumor cells. Oxidized MWCNTs and MWCNTs-G were noncovalently functionalized with PEGs of different molecular weights and subsequently loaded with TMZ following standard procedures. Thorough physicochemical and biopharmaceutical characterization of the TMZ-loaded carbon nanocarriers pointed to high encapsulation efficacy (up to 67%) and drug loading (up to 18% out of 25% theoretical value) and homogeneous particle size distribution, with z-average (160 to 300 nm) and zeta potential (–31 to –21 mV) of the particles adequate for crossing the blood-brain-tumor-barrier (BBTB) and entering into the tumor cells. Successful functionalization and TMZ loading were confirmed by SEM and TEM images, UV-Vis absorption, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, and TGA analyses. Sustained release of TMZ from the carbon nanocarriers was observed in vitro. The presented findings form a fundamental platform for further investigation of these formulations against different types of glioma cells and in adequate animal models.

Lactobacillus casei loaded chitosan-Ca-alginate microparticles enriched with the prebiotic fructooligosaccharide were prepared using spray-drying method associated with the polymers complexation and cross-linking with calcium. The concentrations of the formulation factors of alginate, chitosan and CaCl2 were optimized using 23 full factorial design. Experiments showed that microparticles with favorable physicochemical properties and high probiotic viability during preparation and storage could be obtained when 40 mg/g sodium alginate, 5 mg/g chitosan and 50 mg/g CaCl2 is used. Stability of L. casei during microencapsulation was identified by FTIR spectroscopy. The viability of the probiotic in the optimal formulation of synbiotic microparticles remained above the therapeutic minimum during incubation of 24 hours in simulated gastrointestinal conditions (7.67±0.4 log cfu/g) as well as after 3 months of cold storage (8.1±0.6 log cfu/g). High viability of L. casei was maintained during 6 weeks of cold storage when carrot juice was enriched with encapsulated cells. The effective preservation of L. casei into synbiotic microparticles provided production of new non-dairy functional food as an alternative of the population who is at risk of lactose intolerance.

Taking in consideration a very wide application of nanoparticules in different industrial sectors due to their remarkable properties for implementation in different products, very important part for future development of nanotechology is following a histopatologycal changes provoke of this material.Silicon carbide (SiC) as ceramic material with high thermal conductivity, high stability, good wear resistance and small thermal expansion coefficient is very applied in ceramic’s industry, power electronics, biomaterials, pharmaceutics etc. Histopathological changes of SiC particles were investigate on 4 weeks old female Wistar rats divided into four groups (two control and two experimental groups), sacrificed 2, 7 and 14 days after treatment. Histopathological diagnosis was performed on heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, lung, brain, gastrointestinal tract, using standard Hematoxilin-eosin staining methods. The main toxicological influences of SiC were observed on liver, lungs and gastrointestinal tract.

Different quantitative approaches enabling the determination of the basic parameters of polymer crystallization were applied to characterize the isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization of homo- and MAH-modified PP in the presence of glass and carbon fibers. Depending on the type of surface treatment and the surface morphology, the fibers were shown to exhibit different nucleation effects, which further influenced the course of the crystallization process. The results obtained by DSC and POM were evaluated using the induction time approach, interfacial energy parameters method, as well as the method for determination of the work of heterogeneous and homogeneous nucleation in polymer systems with additives.

Crystallization and nucleation behavior in model composites based on iPP and differently sized carbon fibres have been analyzed in this work. The investigations were performed in the isothermal regime (120–127 ºC) using PLM and DSC. The results were analyzed by applying the Avrami and Muchova-Lednicky methods. It was shown that the carbon fibre surface acts as a nucleating agent during the crystallization of the iPP matrix. The highest effect was obtained with the fibres of PP-compatible size (C-T) related to unsized carbon fibres (C-U). The induction time, ti, and half-time of crystallization decreased with increasing carbon fibre content. The energy effect on the thickness of the critical nucleus decreased in the presence of C-fibres, a fact confirmed by a decrease in the nucleation parameter Q and the difference energy parameter Δδ (Q decreased from – 4.96 for iPP to –21.32 for C/iPP model composites, and Δδ decreased from 6.14x10-7 J/cm2 for iPP to 1.63x10-7 J/cm2 for model composites). The results of the model composites and their comparison with published data confirmed that the Muchova-Lednicky method could be successfully applied for the quantitative evaluation of the nucleation parameters not only in the temperature range previously suggested (130–138ºC), but also at lower crystallization temperatures (Tc=121–127ºC).

In this article, the results of the design of recycling-reuse facilities for transformation of solid-polymer composite waste into polymer mortars and concrete structures for the low-cost building industry have been presented. Thermoplastic polymer matrix composites based on polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with natural fibers (rice husks and kenaf fibers) have been recycled and reused as reinforcement. Polymer mortars with unsaturated polyester resin as a binder (commercially available orthophthalic liquid polyester with 35% monomer content) have been prepared by mixing foundry sand and milled recycled eco-composites (milled size of 0.050 mm) in mix proportions of 40/20/40 %/% wt. The obtained materials have been analyzed with standard test methods (mechanical tests, thermogravimetrical analysis (TGA), dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMTA), differential scanning calorimtery (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)). POLYM. ENG. SCI., 50:762-766, 2010. [C]2010 Society of Plastics Engineers, INTRODUCTION Polymer mortars (PMs) and concretes have become very competitive materials for many applications in the construction industry due to their versatility in formulations and processing combined with high strength [...]