Carrillorichter4143

A carbohydrate-based fullerene derivative (AcMal7-C61) is designed, synthesized and applied to a lamellar-forming high-χ block copolymer system, poly(3-hexylthiophene)-block-peracetylated maltoheptaose (P3HT-b-AcMal7), to actualize an ordered donor/acceptor (D/A) network. A well-defined D/A lamellar structure of the P3HT-b-AcMal7AcMal7-C61 blend with sub-10 nm domain features is achieved upon thermal annealing. The AcMal7-C61 molecules are localized in the phase-separated AcMal7 nanodomains without causing the formation of fullerene crystals while maintaining the lamellar morphology up to 10.5 (DA) blending ratio. The cross-sectional TEM observation and GISAXS measurement reveals that the P3HT-b-AcMal7 tends to spontaneously organize into lamellar structures oriented perpendicular to the film surface at the air/film interface while the domain orientation at the bottom interface depends on the nature of the substrate.In this work deep eutectic solvent (DES), based on the mixture of choline chloride and lactic acid, were suggested as chitosan films plasticizers. The molecular structure and properties of films obtained using chitosan, with different degree of deacetylation and 0-80 wt.% DES content (ωDES), were studied by means of FTIR spectroscopy, SEM and AFM microscopy (films' surface properties) together with optical characteristics, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), water vapor permeability (WVP), tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (Eb). Scanning electron micrographs revealed that all chitosan-DES films were smooth and uniform. DES significantly improves the film flexibility (Eb increases of ca. 160 % after incorporation of 80 wt.% DES), slightly decreases tensile strength and also improves antioxidative properties while simultaneously, increasing water vapor permeability (WVP). Films prepared in this study exhibit characteristics that qualify them for potential use as an active packaging material.Biopolymers mixtures appear as a strategy to improve sensorial/technological characteristics of gel-like products. Thus, self-sustaining starch (S100/C0) hydrogels were prepared with a partial replacement of the gelling agent by 5.0 % (S95/C5), 7.5 % (S92.5/C7.5), or 10.0 % chitosan (S90/C10), and containing yellow sunset (INS 110). Major visual changes or significant differences on L*a*b* parameters were not observed for starch/chitosan hydrogels. Creep-recovery data was modeled using the simulated annealing algorithm, and relative recovery results showed an increase for S95/C5 (82.6 %), when compared to S100/C0 (72.9 %). After 312 h, chitosan strongly reduced the INS 110 release from hydrogels to an ethanolic solution (3.1∙10-4 and 4.1∙10-3 g/100 mL for S95/C5 and S100/C0, respectively) or to a sucrose solution (1.1∙10-3 and 6.5∙10-3 g/100 mL for S95/C5 and S100/C0, respectively). Such results highlighted that chitosan not only presented a techno-functionality on starch hydrogels by improving their elasticity but also by hindering the release of yellow sunset.Long-lasting and reusable adhesive hydrogels are highly desirable in biomedical and relevant applications, however, its design still remains challenge. Here, a series of plant-inspired adhesive hydrogels were prepared based on Ag/Tannic acid-Cellulose nanofibers (Ag/TA-CNF) triggered reversible quinone/catechol chemistry, which mimicked the long-lasting reductive/oxidative balance in mussels. The dynamic redox system generated catechol groups inner the hydrogel continuously, imparting hydrogels with high and repeatable adhesiveness. Besides, the hydrogel still maintained its high adhesiveness after storing at extreme temperatures for 30 days. Furthermore, to broaden the biomedical applications of the hydrogels, the pre-gel solution with optimal composition was cast onto the surface of vaccarin-loaded electrospun nanofibers to form the bilayer nanocomposite hydrogel (NF@HG) in situ. The NF@HG with the intrinsic properties of the hydrogel layer (e.g. stretchable, adhesive, antioxidant, antifreezing, antidrying, photothermal and antibacterial) exhibited enhanced mechanical properties, sustained drug release and good cytocompatibility, which could be an attractive candidate for wound healing material. Taken together, this study may inspire new aspects for designing reusable and long-lasting adhesive hydrogels according to dynamic catechol chemistry.To determine the internal structure of barley starch without amylopectin isolation, whole starch was hydrolyzed using β-amylase to remove the linear amylose and obtain β-limit dextrins (β-LDs). The β-LDs were treated with extensive α-amylase to prepare α-limit dextrins (α-LDs), and the α-LDs were further hydrolyzed with β-amylase into building blocks. The chain-length distribution of β-LD and building block composition were analyzed by size-exclusion chromatography and anion-exchange chromatography. The internal structure of the barley whole starches had similar pattern to barley amylopectins analyzed by conventional methods. The starch of barley amo1-mutated varieties contained more short internal B-chains and less long internal B-chains than that of other varieties. The starch from amo1-mutated varieties had more large building blocks than that from waxy varieties. The simplified method presented in this study can effectively characterize starch internal structure that relates to physicochemical properties of starch, although some details of amylopectin structure are not assessable.Agrocybe cylindracea is a common source of active polysaccharides, but their fine structures are not clearly elucidated. In the present study, four fractions were purified from the alkaline extract of A. cylindracea (JACP), and their chemical components and structures were compared by HPAEC-PAD, methylation combined with GC-MS, and 1D/2D NMR analysis. Selleck NB 598 Results showed the purified fractions' physicochemical properties, including monosaccharide compositions, molecular weights, viscosities and surface morphology considerably varied. JACP-30 was identified as a fucoglucogalactan with a α-(1 → 6)-galactopyranosyl as main chain. JACP-50p and JACP-80r were characterized as β-(1 → 6)-glucans with side chains composed of terminal and 3-substituted β-glucopyranosyl residues attached at O-3 for every three residues. Similarly, the backbone of JACP-80 was β-(1 → 6)-linked glucopyranosyl and β-(1 → 3,6)-linked glucopyranosyl residues at a ratio of 41. This work provides more information to the understanding of polysaccharides from A.