Nitrocellulose/acrylic resin coated screen-printed carbon electrode to construct a capacitive immunosensor for anti-BSA.

The capacitive immunosensor, known for its label-free simplicity, has great potential for point-of-care diagnostics. However, the interaction between insulation and recognition layers on the sensing electrode greatly affects its performance. This study introduces a pioneering dual-layer strategy, implementing a novel combination of acrylic resin (AR) and nitrocellulose (NC) coatings on screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs). This innovative approach not only enhances the dielectric properties of the capacitive sensor but also streamlines the immobilization of recognizing elements. Particularly noteworthy is the superior reliability and insulation offered by the AR coating, surpassing the limitations of traditional self-assembled monolayer (SAM) modifications. This dual-layer methodology establishes a robust foundation for constructing capacitive sensors optimized specifically for liquid medium-based biosensing applications. The NC coating in this study represents a breakthrough in effectively immobilizing BSA, unraveling the capacitive response intricately linked to the quantity of adsorbed recognizing elements. The results underscore the prowess of the proposed immunosensor, showcasing a meticulously defined linear calibration curve for anti-BSA (ranging from 0 to 25 µg/ml). Additionally, specific interactions with anti-HAS and anti-TNF-α further validate the versatility and efficacy of the developed immunosensor. This work presents a streamlined and highly efficient protocol for developing label-free immunosensors for antibody determination and introduces a paradigm shift by utilizing readily available electrodes and sensing systems. The findings are poised to catalyze a significant acceleration in the advancement of biosensor technology, opening new avenues for innovative applications in point-of-care diagnostics.

Predicting the wicking rate of nitrocellulose membranes from recipe data: a case study using ANN at a membrane manufacturing in South Korea.

Lateral flow assays have been widely used for detecting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A lateral flow assay consists of a Nitrocellulose (NC) membrane, which must have a specific lateral flow rate for the proteins to react. The wicking rate is conventionally used as a method to assess the lateral flow in membranes. We used multiple regression and artificial neural networks (ANN) to predict the wicking rate of NC membranes based on membrane recipe data. The developed ANN predicted the wicking rate with a mean square error of 0.059, whereas the multiple regression had a square error of 0.503. This research also highlighted the significant impact of the water content on the wicking rate through images obtained from scanning electron microscopy. The findings of this research can cut down the research and development costs of novel NC membranes with a specific wicking rate significantly, as the algorithm can predict the wicking rate based on the membrane recipe.

Nitrocellulose for Prolonged Permeation of Levofloxacin HCl-Salicylic Acid In Situ Gel.

Currently, the application of solvent exchange-induced in situ gel is underway for drug delivery to the body target site. Nitrocellulose was attempted in this research as the matrix-forming agent in solvent exchange-induced in situ gel for acne and periodontitis treatments. The gel incorporated a combination of 1% w/w levofloxacin HCl and 2% w/w salicylic acid as the active compounds. In order to facilitate formulation development, the study explored the matrix-forming behavior of different concentrations of nitrocellulose in N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP). Consequently, their physicochemical properties and matrix-forming behavior, as well as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities, were evaluated using the agar cup diffusion method and thermal inhibition of protein denaturation in the egg albumin technique, respectively. All prepared formulations presented as clear solutions with Newtonian flow. Their contact angles on agarose gel were higher than on a glass slide due to matrix formation upon exposure to the aqueous phase of agarose, with an angle of less than 60° indicating good spreadability. Nitrocellulose concentrations exceeding 20% initiated stable opaque matrix formation upon contact with phosphate buffer pH 6.8. The high hardness and remaining force of the transformed gel indicated their robustness after solvent exchange. Fluorescence tracking using sodium fluorescein and Nile red confirmed the retardation of NMP and water diffusion by the nitrocellulose matrix. From the Franz cell permeation study, these drugs could permeate through neonate porcine skin and tissue of porcine buccal from the nitrocellulose in situ forming gel. Their accumulation in these tissues might enable the inhibition of the invading bacterial pathogens. The developed in situ gels effectively inhibited Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Propionibacterium acnes, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Furthermore, the formulations demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect. The low viscosity of LvSa25Nc makes it appropriate for injectable treatments targeting periodontitis, while the higher viscosity of LvSa40Nc renders it appropriate for topical applications in acne treatment. Therefore, the nitrocellulose in situ gel loaded with combined levofloxacin HCl and salicylic acid emerges as a promising dosage form for treating acne and periodontitis.

Current Trends in Validating Antibody Specificities for ELISpot by Western Blotting.

The enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay is a highly useful and sensitive method to detect total immunoglobulin and antigen-specific antibody-secreting cells. In addition, this method can measure biological activity and immunological secretions from immune cells. In general, membrane-bound antigen allows binding of antibody secreted by B cells, or a membrane-bound analyte-specific antibody binds to the specific analyte (e.g., cytokines) elicited from cells added to the well containing the bound antibody. The response from added cells is then detected by using an anti-Ig antibody and a colorimetric substrate, while in the case of non-B cells, the elicited antigen is detected with appropriate antibodies and enzyme-conjugated antibodies. Specificity of antibodies binding the protein of interest is necessary to achieve correct results. Western blotting can be used for this with/without siRNA knockdown of proteins of interest or with the use of peptide inhibitors to inhibit the binding of specific antibodies to the target protein. Despite its general simplicity, western blotting is a powerful technique for immunodetection of proteins (notably low abundance proteins) as it provides simultaneous resolution of multiple immunogenic antigens within a sample for detection by specific antibodies. Now, we have plethora of immunoblotting methods to validate antibodies for ELISpot.

Solid Phase Oligo-DNA Extraction from Complex Medium Using an Aminated Graphene/Nitrocellulose Membrane Hybrid.

A hybrid material, consisting of commercially available nitrocellulose (NC) membrane non-covalently modified with amino-polyethylene glycol functionalized reduced graphene oxide (NH2-PEG-rGO) nanoparticles, was successfully synthesized for oligonucleotide extraction. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the modification of the NC membrane, revealing characteristic peaks of both compounds, i.e., NC and NH2-PEG-rGO. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) exhibited morphological changes in the NC/NH2-PEG-rGO hybrid membrane, marked by the introduction of NH2-PEG-rGO particles, resulting in a distinctly smothered surface compared to the porous surface of the NC control membrane. Wettability assays revealed hydrophobic behavior for the NC/NH2-PEG-rGO hybrid membrane, with a water contact angle exceeding 90°, contrasting with the hydrophilic behavior characterized by a 16.7° contact angle in the NC membrane. The performance of the NC/NH2-PEG-rGO hybrid membrane was evaluated for the extraction of ssDNA with fewer than 50 nucleotides from solutions containing various ionic species (MnCl2, MgCl2, and MnCl2/MgCl2). The NC/NH2-PEG-rGO hybrid membrane exhibited optimal performance when incubated in MgCl2, presenting the highest fluorescence emission at 525 relative fluorescence units (r.f.u.). This corresponds to the extraction of approximately 610 pg (≈13%) of the total oligo-DNA, underscoring the efficacy of the pristine material, which extracts 286 pg (≈6%) of oligo-DNA in complex solutions.

Response surface methodology for optimization of nitrocellulose preparation from nata de coco bacterial cellulose for propellant formulation.

Nitrocellulose (NC) has garnered significant interest among researchers due to its versatile applications, contingent upon the degree of nitration that modifies the cellulose structure. For instance, NC with a high nitrogen content, exceeding 12.5%, finds utility as a key ingredient in propellant formulations, while variants with lower nitrogen content prove suitable for a range of other applications, including the formulation of printing inks, varnishes, and coatings. This communication aims to present the outcomes of our efforts to optimize the nitration reaction of bacterial cellulose to produce high-nitrogen-content NC, employing the response surface methodology (RSM). Our investigation delves into the influence of the mole ratio of sulfuric and nitric acids, reaction temperature, and nitration duration on the nitrogen content of the resultant products. Utilizing a central composite design (CCD), we identified the optimal conditions for NC synthesis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) underscored the substantial impact of these reaction conditions on the percentage of nitrogen content (%N) yield. By implementing the predicted optimal conditions-namely, a H2SO4:HNO3 mole ratio of 3:1, a reaction temperature of 35 °C, and a reaction period of 22 min-we successfully produced NC with a nitrogen content of 12.64%. Characterization of these products encompassed elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM).

Microorganisms for the oxidation of nitrated cellulose in its effluents (review).

The processes of microbiological destruction of toxic and large-tonnage waste are the most attractive processes for protecting the environment. The review considers the results of studies of microbial decomposition of nitrate esters, including hardly decomposable nitrocellulose. The published data show that specific microorganisms are able to degrade nitrated cellulose compounds under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions. The most promising microorganisms in terms of the efficiency of the nitrocellulose degradation process are bacteria belonging to Desulfovibrio genera, fungi Fusarium solani and Sclerotium rolfsii, as well as their co-cultivation. Recently, the first information about the enzymes involved in the process of nitrocellulose degradation, possible mechanisms of reactions carried out by these enzymes, and the effect of electron donors and acceptors adding to the process have been obtained. Contamination of industrial wastewater with nitrocellulose leads to treatment necessity by using cost-effective, harmless methods. A combined aerobic-anaerobic system, including both bacteria and fungi, has shown hopeful results.

A NitroPure Nitrocellulose Membrane-Based Grapevine Virus Sampling Kit: Development and Deployment to Survey Japanese Vineyards and Nurseries.

We developed a NitroPure Nitrocellulose (NPN) membrane-based method for sampling and storing grapevine sap for grapevine virus detection. We devised an efficient nucleic acid extraction method for the NPN membrane, resulting in 100% amplification success for grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 (GLRaV2) and 3 (GLRaV3), grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (GRSPaV), grapevine virus A, grapevine virus B, and grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV). This method also allowed the storage of recoverable nucleic acid for 18 months at room temperature. We created a sampling kit to survey GLRaV2, GLRaV3, and GRBV in Japanese vineyards. We tested the kits in the field in 2018 and then conducted mail-in surveys in 2020-2021. The results showed a substantial prevalence of GLRaV3, with 48.5% of 132 sampled vines being positive. On the other hand, only 3% of samples tested positive for GLRaV2 and none for GRBV.

Protein-Based Anchoring Methods for Nucleic Acid Detection in Lateral Flow Format Assays.

The use of lateral flow assays to detect nucleic acid targets has many applications including point-of-care diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and food safety. A sandwich format, similar to that in protein immunoassays, is often used to capture the target nucleic acid sequence with an immobilized complementary strand anchored to a substrate, and then to visualize this event using a complementary label nucleic acid bound to a nanoparticle label. A critical component of high-sensitivity nucleic acid detection is to utilize high-density capture surfaces for the effective capture of target nucleic acid. Multiple methods have been reported, including the use of streptavidin-based protein anchors that can be adsorbed to the lateral flow substrate and that can utilize the high-affinity streptavidin-biotin linkage to bind biotinylated nucleic acid capture sequences for subsequent target nucleic acid binding. However, these protein anchors have not been systematically characterized for use in the context of nucleic acid detection. In this work, we characterize several protein-based anchors on nitrocellulose for (i) capturing the robustness of the attachment of the protein anchor, (ii) capturing nucleic acid density, and (iii) targeting nucleic acid capture. Further, we demonstrate the signal gains in target nucleic acid hybridization made by increasing the density of capture nucleic acid on a nitrocellulose substrate using multiple applications of protein loading onto nitrocellulose. Finally, we use our high-density capture surfaces to demonstrate high-sensitivity nucleic acid detection in a lateral flow assay (in the context of a SARS-CoV-2 sequence), achieving a LOD of approximately 0.2 nM.

On the Risk of Nitrosamine Contamination During Drug Product Blister Packaging.

Most N-Nitrosamine compounds are found to be genotoxic in several animal species. Some are classified as probable or possible human carcinogens and very low acceptable daily intake has been established such as 96 ng/day for N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and 26.5 ng/N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA). The pharmaceutical industry has considered all processing areas for potential formation or contamination of N-nitrosamine. One risk is the potential contamination of nitrosamine during drug product blister packaging using lidding foils containing nitrocellulose, and different approaches have been used by pharmaceutical companies to evaluate and mitigate this risk. Herein we share a perspective from IQ Consortium N-nitrosamine Working Group on some of the approaches and corresponding results. From these assessments, it was concluded that the risk of nitrosamine contamination during blister packaging is negligible. The approaches shared in this perspective can be incorporated into risk assessment for nitrosamine contamination during drug product packaging at other pharmaceutical companies.

Moxifloxacin HCl-Incorporated Aqueous-Induced Nitrocellulose-Based In Situ Gel for Periodontal Pocket Delivery.

A drug delivery system based on an aqueous-induced in situ forming gel (ISG) consists of solubilizing the drug within an organic solution of a polymer using a biocompatible organic solvent. Upon contact with an aqueous medium, the solvent diffuses out and the polymer, designed to be insoluble in water, solidifies and transforms into gel. Nitrocellulose (Nc), an aqueous insoluble nitrated ester of cellulose, should be a promising polymer for an ISG using water induction of its solution to gel state via phase inversion. The aim of this investigation was to develop and evaluate a moxifloxacin HCl (Mx)-incorporated aqueous-induced Nc-based ISG for periodontitis treatment. The effects of different solvents (N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), DMSO, 2-pyrrolidone (Py), and glycerol formal (Gf)) on the physicochemical and bioactivity properties of the ISGs were investigated. The viscosity and injection force of the ISGs varied depending on the solvent used, with Gf resulting in higher values of 4631.41 ± 52.81 cPs and 4.34 ± 0.42 N, respectively. All ISGs exhibited Newtonian flow and transformed into a gel state upon exposure to the aqueous phase. The Nc formulations in DMSO showed lower water tolerance (12.50 ± 0.72%). The developed ISGs were easily injectable and demonstrated water sensitivity of less than 15.44 ± 0.89%, forming a gel upon contact with aqueous phase. The transformed Nc gel effectively prolonged Mx release over two weeks via Fickian diffusion, with reduced initial burst release. Different solvent types influenced the sponge-like 3D structure of the dried Nc ISGs and affected mass loss during drug release. Incorporating Nc reduced both solvent and drug diffusion, resulting in a significantly narrower zone of bacterial growth inhibition (p < 0.05). The Mx-incorporated Nc-based ISGs exhibited efficient antibacterial activity against four strains of Staphylococcus aureu and against periodontitis pathogens including Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis. This study suggests that the developed Mx-incorporated Nc-based ISGs using DMSO and NMP as the solvents are the most promising formulations. They exhibited a low viscosity, ease of injection, and rapid transformation into a gel upon aqueous induction, and they enabled localized and prolonged drug release with effective antibacterial properties. Additionally, this study represents the first reported instance of utilizing Nc as the polymer for ISG. Further clinical experiments are necessary to evaluate the safety of this ISG formulation.

Utilization of Recycled Egg Carton Pulp for Nitrocellulose as an Accelerant in Briquette Production.

Nitrocellulose (NC) is a conservative material that is used in a variety of applications, such as coating agents, biodegradable plastics, and propellant main charge. Nitrocellulose raw materials are easily obtained from lignocellulose sources, most notably cotton and wood pulp. The egg carton, a recycled paper waste designed for packaging and transporting eggs, is used in this study to make nitrocellulose in pulp form. The effects of different nitration durations (40, 50, and 60 min) from egg carton pulp bleached with various KOH concentrations (0.6 M, 1.0 M, and 1.5 M) on NC properties were evaluated. The accelerant properties of the NC of nitration time in 50 min were studied in a rice husk charcoal briquette. Rice husk charcoal briquettes are made in various ratios with nitrocellulose as an accelerant (97:3, 96:4, and 95:5). The NC was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (IR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. 1.0 M of bleached egg carton pulp has the highest cellulose content (86.94%) with the presence of crystalline structure of cellulose at peak 1430 cm-1 after the bleaching process. Meanwhile, different nitration times revealed that 50 min had the highest nitrogen content (7.97%) with a 1.23 degree of substitution (DS) value. Based on its TG analysis, NC 50 has met the requirements for use as an accelerant for briquettes, with an onset temperature of 91.60 °C and a weight loss of 62.60%. Infrared at peak 1640 cm-1 confirmed the presence of NO2 groups in nitrocellulose successfully formed by nitration. After the addition of nitrocellulose, the calorific value of the briquette increased from 13.54% to 15.47%. Fixed carbon and volatile matter showed the same pattern. The combustion of nitrocellulose-briquette has also been demonstrated by Td10% of degradation, which degraded between 310 and 345 °C.

Graphene Oxide/Nitrocellulose Non-Covalent Hybrid as Solid Phase for Oligo-DNA Extraction from Complex Medium.

A nitrocellulose-graphene oxide hybrid that consists of a commercially nitrocellulose (NC) membrane non-covalently modified with graphene oxide (GO) microparticles was successfully prepared for oligonucleotide extraction. The modification of NC membrane was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), which highlighted the principal absorption bands of both the NC membrane at 1641, 1276, and 835 cm-1 (NO2) and of GO in the range of 3450 cm-1 (CH2-OH). The SEM analysis underlined the well-dispersed and uniform coverage of NC membrane with GO, which displayed thin spider web morphology. The wettability assay indicated that the NC-GO hybrid membrane exhibited slightly lower hydrophilic behavior, with a water contact angle of 26.7°, compared to the 15° contact angle of the NC control membrane. The NC-GO hybrid membranes were used to separate oligonucleotides that had fewer than 50 nucleotides (nt) from complex solutions. The features of the NC-GO hybrid membranes were tested for extraction periods of 30, 45, and 60 min in three different complex solutions, i.e., an aqueous medium, an α-Minimum Essential Medium (αMEM), and an αMEM supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS). The oligonucleotides were desorbed from the surface of the NC-GO hybrid membrane using Tris-HCl buffer with a pH of 8.0. Out of the three media utilized, the best results were achieved after 60 min incubation of the NC-GO membranes in αMEM, as evidenced by the highest fluorescence emission of 294 relative fluorescence units (r.f.u.). This value corresponded to the extraction of approximately 330-370 pg (≈7%) of the total oligo-DNA. This method is an efficient and effortless way to purify short oligonucleotides from complex solutions.

A nitrocellulose/cotton fiber hybrid composite membrane for paper-based biosensor.

Nitrocellulose (NC) membrane was fabricated and tested for its potential use in various paper-based biosensors for use in point-of-care testing. However, contemporary technologies are complex, expensive, non-scalable, limited by conditions, and beset with potentially adverse effects on the environment. Herein, we proposed a simple, cost-effective, scalable technology to prepare nitrocellulose/cotton fiber (NC/CF) composite membranes. The NC/CF composite membranes with a diameter of 20 cm were fabricated in 15 min using papermaking technology, which contributes to scalability in the large-scale production of these composites. Compared with existing commercial NC membranes, the NC/CF composite membrane is characterized by small pore size (3.59 ± 0.19 µm), low flow rate (156 ± 55 s/40 mm), high dry strength (up to 4.04 MPa), and wet strength (up to 0.13 MPa), adjustable hydrophilic-hydrophobic (contact angles ranged from 29 ± 4.6 to 82.8 ± 2.4°), the good adsorption capacity of protein (up to 91.92 ± 0.07 µg). After lateral flow assays (LFAs) detection, the limit of detection is 1 nM, which is similar to commercial NC membrane (Sartorius CN 140). We envision the NC/CF composite membrane as a promising material for paper-based biosensors of point-of-care testing applications.

Heat-induced antigen retrieval utilizing modified Tris-EDTA buffer for reprobing of Western blots on nitrocellulose paper.

The development of heat-induced antigen retrieval technologies with Tris-EDTA buffer has dramatically improved immunostaining of specific antigens for routine immunohistochemical detection (Krenacs et al., 2010) [1]. However, little evidence exists on whether heat-Induced antigen retrieval utilizing Tris-EDTA buffer can strip western blot (WB) membranes and allow sequential reprobing. Here, we serendipitously discover that ∼95 °C Tris-EDTA buffer with 0.01% Tween 20 could repeatedly strip the Nitrocellulose membranes (NC). After electroblotting, NC blots were soaked into Tris-EDTA stripping buffer (∼95 °C, 10-25min) and we could perform at least five rounds (the following antibodies used: Vinculin, Atg7, Caspase-3, UBA5, JNK and ERK1/2) stripping in sequential chemiluminescent detections. The NC membranes also show clear western signals and background without losing transferred proteins during the reprobing process of WB. Hence, this study report additional new roles of the heat-Induced antigen retrieval Tris-EDTA buffer with 0.01% Tween 20. The method is simpler, more affordable and harmless for the nitrocellulose paper, which will be helpful for effective reprobing in western blotting applications.

Development and Characterization of New Energetic Composites Based on HNTO/AN Co-Crystal and Nitro-Cellulosic Materials.

To develop advanced cellulose-based energetic composites, new types of high-energy-density formulations containing hydrazine 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (HNTO)/ammonium nitrate (AN) cocrystals combined with nitrocellulose or nanostructured cellulose nitrate (NC and NMCC) were experimentally characterized. The prepared energetic formulations were analyzed in terms of their physicochemical properties, mechanical sensitivities, structural features, and thermal behavior. Their heats of combustion and theoretical energetic performance were assessed as well. Experimental results exhibited the inherent characteristics of the designed NC@HNTO/AN and NMCC@HNTO/AN, including improved density, specific impulse, and impact sensitivity compared to their raw compounds. Besides that, thermo-kinetic findings revealed that the as-prepared insensitive and high-energy-density composites undergo two exothermic decomposition processes, and that NC@HNTO/AN has higher thermal activity. The present study demonstrated the outstanding characteristics of the new composites and could serve as a reference for developing more advanced cellulose-based energetic formulations.

Thermal Behaviors and Interaction Mechanism of Ammonium Dinitramide with Nitrocellulose.

The initial interaction mechanism is very important for the design and safety of nano-scale composite energetic materials composed of ammonium dinitramide (ADN) and nitrocellulose (NC). The thermal behaviors of ADN, NC and an NC/ADN mixture under different conditions were studied by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) with sealed crucibles, an accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC), a self-developed gas pressure measurement instrument and a DSC-thermogravimetry (TG)-quadrupole mass spectroscopy (MS)-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) combined technique. The results show that the exothermic peak temperature of the NC/ADN mixture shifted forward greatly in both open and closed circumstances compared to those of NC or ADN. After 585.5 min under quasi-adiabatic conditions, the NC/ADN mixture stepped into the self-heating stage at 106.4 °C, which was much less than the initial temperatures of NC or ADN. The significant reduction in net pressure increment of NC, ADN and the NC/ADN mixture under vacuum indicates that ADN initiated the interaction of NC with ADN. Compared to gas products of NC or ADN, two new kinds of oxidative gases O2 and HNO2 appeared for the NC/ADN mixture, while NH3 and aldehyde disappeared. The mixing of NC with ADN did not change the initial decomposition pathway of either, but NC made ADN more inclined to decompose into N2O, which resulted in the formation of oxidative gases O2 and HNO2. The thermal decomposition of ADN dominated the initial thermal decomposition stage of the NC/ADN mixture, followed by the oxidation of NC and the cation of ADN.

Conversion of light into electricity in a semi-synthetic system based on photosynthetic bacterial chromatophores.

Chromatophores (Chr) from photosynthetic nonsulfur purple bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides immobilized onto a Millipore membrane filter (MF) and sandwiched between two semiconductor indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes (termed ITO|Chr - MF|ITO) have been used to measure voltage (ΔV) induced by continuous illumination. The maximum ΔV was detected in the presence of ascorbate / N,N,N'N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine couple, coenzyme UQ0, disaccaride trehalose and antimycin A, an inhibitor of cytochrome bc1 complex. In doing so, the light-induced electron transfer in the reaction centers was the major source of photovoltages. The stability of the voltage signal upon prolonged irradiation (>1 h) may be due to the maintenance of a conformation that is optimal for the functioning of integral protein complexes and stabilization of lipid bilayer membranes in the presence of trehalose. Retaining ∼70 % of the original photovoltage performance on the 30th day of storage at 23 °C in the dark under air was achieved after re-injection of fresh buffer (∼40 µL) containing redox mediators into the ITO|Chr - MF|ITO system. The approach we use is easy and can be extended to other biological intact systems (cells, thylakoid membranes) capable of converting energy of light.

Characterization of Electrospinning Prepared Nitrocellulose (NC)-Ammonium Dinitramide (ADN)-Based Composite Fibers.

Nanoscale composite energetic materials (CEMs) based on oxidizer and fuel have potential advantages in energy adjustment and regulation through oxygen balance (OB) change. The micro- and nanosized fibers based on nano nitrocellulose (NC)-ammonium dinitramide (ADN) were prepared by the electrospinning technique, and the morphology, thermal stability, combustion behaviors, and mechanical sensitivity of the fibers were characterized by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), gas pressure measurement of thermostatic decomposition, laser ignition, and sensitivity tests. The results showed that the prepared fibers with fluffy 3D macrostructure were constructed by the overlap of micro/nanofibers with the energetic particles embedded in the NC matrix. The first exothermic peak temperature (Tp) of the samples containing ADN decreased by 10.1 °C at most compared to that of ADN, and the pressure rise time of all the samples containing ADN moved forward compared to that of the sample containing NC only. Furthermore, ADN can decrease the ignition delay time of NC-based fibers under atmosphere at room temperature from 33 ms to 9 ms and can enhance the burning intensity of NC-based fibers under normal pressure. In addition, compared to the single high explosive CL-20 or RDX, the mechanical sensitivities of the composite materials containing high explosive CL-20 or RDX were much decreased. The positive oxygen balance of ADN and the intensive interactions between ADN and NC can reduce the ignition delay time and promote the burning reaction intensity of NC-based composite fibers, while the mechanical sensitivities of composite fibers could be improved.

Nitrocellulose Based Film-Forming Gels with Cinnamon Essential Oil for Covering Surface Wounds.

Acute and chronic wounds caused by assorted reasons impact patient's quality of life. Films are one of the main types of moisture retentive dressings for wounds. To improve the healing of the wound, films must ensure there is no microorganism contamination, protect from negative environmental effects, and support optimal moisture content. The aim of this study was to formulate optimal film-forming gel compositions that would have good physico-chemical properties and be suitable for wound treatment. Nitrocellulose, castor oil, ethanol (96%), ethyl acetate, and cinnamon leaf essential oil were used to create formulations. During the study, the drying rate, adhesion, flexibility, tensile strength, cohesiveness, swelling, water vapor penetration, pH value, and morphology properties of films were examined. Results showed that optimal concentrations of nitrocellulose for film-forming gel production were 13.4% and 15%. The concentrations of nitrocellulose and cinnamon leaf essential oil impacted the films' physicochemical properties (drying rate, swelling, adhesion, flexibility, etc.). The swelling test showed that films of formulations could absorb significant amounts of simulant wound exudate. Film-forming gels and films showed no microbial contamination and were stable three months after production.