Hard Candy Production and Quality Parameters: A review.

Hard candies are sugar confections comprising mainly water and sucrose. Corn syrup, colorants and flavors are also usually added to hard candy formulations. The production of hard candy requires heating of the ingredients to very high temperatures to reduce moisture content and subsequent cooling to obtain a solid matrix. Cooling of the mixtures achieves the final, well known glassy state of the products. In this glassy state, the system is kinetically stable and molecular mobility is restricted, providing longer shelf life to hard candies. There are, however, several factors affecting the final quality and consumer acceptance of hard candies. Production methods and parameters, initial formulations as well as storage conditions all play a crucial role in the physicochemical, textural and sensory properties of hard candies. Addition of colorants and flavors also plays a vital role in the final quality. Although hard candy production is a simple process with few production stages, even small changes in the method of production and process parameters may induce substantial changes in the final product characteristics. Additionally, storage conditions such as temperature and humidity can change the product properties leading to graining and stickiness which are the two major problems for hard candies during storage. Both production and storage conditions should therefore be carefully chosen and controlled for desirable hard candy properties. This review addresses the general production methods and considers process parameters and quality parameters of hard candy products. Moreover, a comprehensive review of the related hard candy literature is also presented. The majority of hard candy reviews focus on specific methods and processes, but this review will present a more general frame on the subject.

Mechanochemical Synthesis of Chromium(III) Complexes Containing Bidentate PN and Tridentate P-NH-P and P-NH-P' Ligands.

Chromium(III) complexes bearing bidentate {NH2(CH2)2PPh2: PN, (S,S)-[NH2(CHPh)2PPh2]: P'N} and tridentate [Ph2P(CH2)2N(H)(CH2)2PPh2: P-NH-P, (S,S)-(iPr)2PCH2CH2N(H)CH(Ph)CH(Ph)PPh2: P-NH-P'] ligands have been synthesized using a mechanochemical approach. The complexes {cis-[Cr(PN)Cl2]Cl (1), cis-[Cr(P'N)Cl2]Cl (2), mer-Cr(P-NH-P)Cl3 (3), and mer-Cr(P-NH-P')Cl3 (4)} were obtained in high yield (95-97%) via the grinding of the respective ligands andthe solid Cr(III) ion precursor [CrCl3(THF)3] with the aid of a pestle and mortar, followed by recrystallization in acetonitrile. The isolated complexes are high spin. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of 2 revealed a cationic chromium complex with two P'N ligands in a cis configuration with P' trans to P' with chloride as the counteranion. The X-ray study of 4 shows a neutral Cr(III) complex with the P-NH-P' ligand in a mer configuration. The difference in molecular structures and bulkiness of the ligands influence the electronic, magnetic, and electrochemical properties of the complexes as exhibited by the bathochromic shifts in the electronic absorption peaks of the complexes and the relative increase in the magnetic moment of 3 (4.19 µß) and 4 (4.15 µß) above the spin only value (3.88 µß) for a d3 electronic configuration. Complexes 1-4 were found to be inactive in the hydrogenation of an aldimine [(E)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-phenylmethanimine] under a variety of activating conditions. The addition of magnesium and trimethylsilyl chloride in THF did cause hydrogenation at room temperature, but this occurred even in the absence of the chromium complex. The hydrogen in the amine product came from the THF solvent in this novel reaction, as determined by deuterium incorporation into the product when deuterated THF was used.

Reactivity umpolung (reversal) of ligands in transition metal complexes.

The success and power of homogeneous catalysis derives in large part from the wide choice of transition metal ions and their ligands. This tutorial review introduces examples where the reactivity of a ligand is completely reversed (umpolung) from Lewis basic/nucleophilic to acidic/electrophilic or vice versa on changing the metal and co-ligands. Understanding this phenomenon will assist in the rational design of catalysts and the understanding of metalloenzyme mechanisms. Labelling a metal and ligand with Seebach donor and acceptor labels helps to identify whether a reaction involving the intermolecular attack on the ligand is displaying native reactivity or reactivity umpolung. This has been done for complexes of nitriles, carbonyls, isonitriles, dinitrogen, Fischer carbenes, alkenes, alkynes, hydrides, methyls, methylidenes and alkylidenes, silylenes, oxides, imides/nitrenes, alkylidynes, methylidynes, and nitrides. The electronic influence of the metal and co-ligands is discussed in terms of the energy of (HOMO) d electrons. The energy can be related to the pKLACa (LAC is ligand acidity constant) of the theoretical hydride complexes [H-[M]-L]+ formed by the protonation of pair of valence d electrons on the metal in the [M-L] complex. Preliminary findings indicate that a negative pKLACa indicates that nucleophilic attack by a carbanion or amine on the ligand will likely occur while a positive pKLACa indicates that electrophilic attack by strong acids on the ligand will usually occur when the ligand is nitrile, carbonyl, isonitrile, alkene and η6-arene.

Trans Ligand Determines the Stability of Paramagnetic Manganese(II) Hydrides of the Type trans-[MnH(L)(dmpe)2]+ Where L is PMe3, C2H4, or CO.

Paramagnetic metal hydride (PMH) complexes play important roles in catalytic applications and bioinorganic chemistry. 3d PMH chemistry has largely focused on Ti, Mn, Fe, and Co. Various MnII PMHs have been proposed as intermediates in catalysis, but isolated MnII PMHs are limited to dimeric high-spin MnII structures with bridging hydrides. In this paper, a series of the first low-spin monomeric MnII PMH complexes are generated by chemical oxidation of their MnI analogues. This series is of the type trans-[MnH(L)(dmpe)2]+/0 where the trans ligand L is PMe3, C2H4, or CO [dmpe is 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane], and the thermal stability of the MnII hydride complexes was found to be strongly dependent on the identity of the trans ligand. When L is PMe3, the complex is the first example of an isolated monomeric MnII hydride complex. In contrast, when L is C2H4 or CO, the complexes are only stable at low temperatures; upon warming to room temperature, the former decomposed to afford [Mn(dmpe)3]+, accompanied by ethane and ethylene, whereas the latter eliminated H2, generating [Mn(MeCN)(CO)(dmpe)2]+ or a mixture of products including [Mn(κ1-PF6)(CO)(dmpe)2], depending on the reaction conditions. All PMHs were characterized by low-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and stable [MnH(PMe3)(dmpe)2]+ was further characterized by UV-vis and IR spectroscopy, Superconducting Quantum Interference Device magnetometry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Noteworthy spectral properties are the significant EPR superhyperfine coupling to the hydride (∼85 MHz) and an increase (+33 cm-1) in the Mn-H IR stretch upon oxidation. Density functional theory calculations were also employed to gain insights into the acidity and bond strengths of the complexes. MnII-H bond dissociation free energies are estimated to decrease in the series of complexes from 60 (L = PMe3) to 47 kcal/mol (L = CO).

Triphasic 3D In Vitro Model of Bone-Tendon-Muscle Interfaces to Study Their Regeneration.

The transition areas between different tissues, known as tissue interfaces, have limited ability to regenerate after damage, which can lead to incomplete healing. Previous studies focussed on single interfaces, most commonly bone-tendon and bone-cartilage interfaces. Herein, we develop a 3D in vitro model to study the regeneration of the bone-tendon-muscle interface. The 3D model was prepared from collagen and agarose, with different concentrations of hydroxyapatite to graduate the tissues from bones to muscles, resulting in a stiffness gradient. This graduated structure was fabricated using indirect 3D printing to provide biologically relevant surface topographies. MG-63, human dermal fibroblasts, and Sket.4U cells were found suitable cell models for bones, tendons, and muscles, respectively. The biphasic and triphasic hydrogels composing the 3D model were shown to be suitable for cell growth. Cells were co-cultured on the 3D model for over 21 days before assessing cell proliferation, metabolic activity, viability, cytotoxicity, tissue-specific markers, and matrix deposition to determine interface formations. The studies were conducted in a newly developed growth chamber that allowed cell communication while the cell culture media was compartmentalised. The 3D model promoted cell viability, tissue-specific marker expression, and new matrix deposition over 21 days, thereby showing promise for the development of new interfaces.

Density Functional Theory Study on the Selective Reductive Amination of Aldehydes and Ketones over Their Reductions to Alcohols Using Sodium Triacetoxyborohydride.

Reductive amination is one of the most important methods to synthesize amines, having a wide application in the pharmaceutical, fine chemicals, and materials industries. In general, the reaction begins with dehydration between a carbonyl compound and an amine compound, forming an imine, which is then reduced to an alkylated amine product. Sodium triacetoxyborohydride (STAB) is a popular choice for the reducing agent as it shows selectivity for imines over aldehydes and ketones, which is particularly important in direct reductive amination where the imine and carbonyl compounds are present concurrently. Here, we analyze the reaction pathways of acid-catalyzed direct reductive amination in 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) with acetaldehyde and methylamine. We find that the transition states for the formation and subsequent reduction of Z-methylethylideneimine (resultant aldimine from acetaldehyde and methylamine) have lower energies than the reduction of acetaldehyde. Transition state structures for the hydride transfers are organized by the Lewis-acidic sodium ion. Additionally, reduction reactions with formaldehyde and acetone and their imine derivatives (with methylamine) are investigated, and again, the hydride transfer to the resultant aldimine or ketimine is lower in energy than that of their parent carbonyl compound.

Controlled release of carnosine from poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) beads using nanomechanical magnetic trigger towards the treatment of glioblastoma.

Nanometer scale rods of superparamagnetic iron oxide have been encapsulated, along with the anti-cancer therapeutic carnosine, inside porous poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microbeads with a uniform morphology, synthesised using microfluidic arrays. The sustained and externally triggered controlled release from these vehicles was demonstrated using a rotating Halbach magnet array, quantified via liquid chromatography, and imaged in situ using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In the absence of the external magnetic trigger, the carnosine was found to be released from the polymer in a linear profile; however, over 50% of the drug could be released within 30 minutes of exposure to the rotating magnetic field. In addition, the release of carnosine embedded on the surface of the nano-rods was delayed if it was mixed with the iron oxide nano rods before the encapsulation. These new drug delivery vesicles have the potential to pave the way towards the safe and triggered release of onsite drug delivery, as part of a theragnostic treatment for glioblastoma.

A Plausible Mechanism for the Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation of a Bulky N-Aryl Imine in the (S)-Metolachlor Process.

The hydrogenation of N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-1-methoxypropan-2-imine is the largest-scale asymmetric catalytic process for the industrial production of agrochemical (S)-metolachlor. The challenging hydrogenation across the sterically crowded carbon-nitrogen double bond was achieved using a mixture of [IrCl(COD)]2, (R,SFc)-Xyliphos, NBu4I and acetic acid. Acetic acid was critical in achieving excellent productivity and activity. Despite its industrial significance, a mechanism that explains how the sterically hindered bond in the imine is reduced has yet to be proposed. We propose a plausible proton-first, outer-sphere mechanism based on density functional theory calculations that is consistent with the experimentally observed activity and the enantioselectivity of the industrial process. Key findings include transition states involving acetate-assisted dihydrogen splitting, and a hydride transfer from a five-coordinate iridium trihydride directed by a C-H∙∙∙Ir interaction. This article was submitted to a Special Issue in honor of Professor Henri Kagan.

Electronic insights into aminoquinoline-based PNHN ligands: protonation state dictates geometry while coordination environment dictates N-H acidity and bond strength.

A variety of transition metal complexes bearing aminoquinoline PNHH'-R ligands R = Ph (L1H), Cy (L2H) and their amido analogues are reported for rhodium(I) ([Rh(L1H)(PPh3)]+1 and Rh(L1)(PPh3) 2), cobalt(II) (Co(L2)(Cl) 3), and iron(II) ([Fe(L1H)2]2+5, Fe(L1)26, and [Fe(C5Me5)(L1H)]PF67). The acid-base and redox properties of the amido complexes 2, 6, and their protio parent complexes 1, and 5 permit the determination of the pKa and bond dissociation free energy (BDFE) of their N-H bonds while the ligand scaffold is coordinated to metal centres of square planar and octahedral geometry, respectively. From relative concentrations obtained by the use of 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy, a pKaTHF value of 14 is calculated for rhodium complex 1, 6.4 for iron complex 5, and 24 for iron complex 7. These data, when combined with elecrochemical potentials obtained via cyclic voltammetry, allow the calculations of BDFE values for the N-H bond of 69 kcal mol-1 for 1, and of 55 kcal mol-1 for 5.

Synthesis and Functionalisation of Superparamagnetic Nano-Rods towards the Treatment of Glioblastoma Brain Tumours.

The complete removal of glioblastoma brain tumours is impossible to achieve by surgery alone due to the complex finger-like tentacle structure of the tumour cells and their migration away from the bulk of the tumour at the time of surgery; furthermore, despite aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments following surgery, tumour cells continue to grow, leading to the death of patients within 15 months after diagnosis. The naturally occurring carnosine dipeptide has previously demonstrated activity against in vitro cultured glioblastoma cells; however, at natural physiological concentrations, its activity is too low to have a significant effect. Towards realising the full oncological potential of carnosine, the dipeptide was embedded within an externally triggered carrier, comprising a novel nano rod-shaped superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (ca. 86 × 19 × 11 nm) capped with a branched polyethyleneimine, which released the therapeutic agent in the presence of an external magnetic field. The new nano-carrier was characterized using electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, elemental analysis, and magnetic resonance imaging techniques. In addition to cytotoxicity studies, the carnosine carrier's effectiveness as a treatment for glioblastoma was screened in vitro using the U87 human glioblastoma astrocytoma cell line. The labile carnosine (100 mM) suppresses both the U87 cells' proliferation and mobility over 48 h, resulting in significant reduction in migration and potential metastasis. Carnosine was found to be fully released from the carrier using only mild hyperthermia conditions (40 °C), facilitating an achievable clinical application of the slow, sustained-release treatment of glioblastoma brain tumours that demonstrates potential to inhibit post-surgery metastasis with the added benefit of non-invasive monitoring via MRI.

Trans Element-Hydrogen Bonds: A Distinctive Difference Between Transition Metals and Main Group Elements.

The change in sign of the interaction force constant between element-hydrogen stretching modes of trans-dihydrides of the d block and p block elements is analyzed for the first time. As the transition metal M approaches group 12, the higher energy symmetric trans-H-M-H vibration νsym approaches the energy of the antisymmetric vibration νasym. Crossing to group 13 elements E, the trans-H-E-H vibration νsym increasingly drops below νasym. This reversal is attributed to the d orbital that participates in the H-M-H bonding but is nonbonding in the H-E-H compounds. DFT calculations are used to probe the energetics of isoelectronic triatomic [H-M-H]n+ and [H-E-H]n- to reveal this trend and also to demonstrate that the magnitude of these interactions (νgap) increases down groups 11, 12, and 14 but remains fairly constant for group 13. They are also used to show that this reversal is seen in the transition state for hydride transfer to CO2 from the model compounds trans-NiH2(porphyrin) and trans-EH2(porphyrin), E = Si and Ge in their singlet states.

Atrophy Resistant vs. Atrophy Susceptible Skeletal Muscles: "aRaS" as a Novel Experimental Paradigm to Study the Mechanisms of Human Disuse Atrophy.

OBJECTIVE: Disuse atrophy (DA) describes inactivity-induced skeletal muscle loss, through incompletely defined mechanisms. An intriguing observation is that individual muscles exhibit differing degrees of atrophy, despite exhibiting similar anatomical function/locations. We aimed to develop an innovative experimental paradigm to investigate Atrophy Resistant tibialis anterior (TA) and Atrophy Susceptible medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles (aRaS) with a future view of uncovering central mechanisms. METHOD: Seven healthy young men (22 ± 1 year) underwent 15 days unilateral leg immobilisation (ULI). Participants had a single leg immobilised using a knee brace and air-boot to fix the leg (75° knee flexion) and ankle in place. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), MRI and ultrasound scans of the lower leg were taken before and after the immobilisation period to determine changes in muscle mass. Techniques were developed for conchotome and microneedle TA/MG muscle biopsies following immobilisation (both limbs), and preliminary fibre typing analyses was conducted. RESULTS: TA/MG muscles displayed comparable fibre type distribution of predominantly type I fibres (TA 67 ± 7%, MG 63 ± 5%). Following 15 days immobilisation, MG muscle volume (-2.8 ± 1.4%, p < 0.05) and muscle thickness decreased (-12.9 ± 1.6%, p < 0.01), with a positive correlation between changes in muscle volume and thickness (R2 = 0.31, p = 0.038). Importantly, both TA muscle volume and thickness remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: The use of this unique "aRaS" paradigm provides an effective and convenient means by which to study the mechanistic basis of divergent DA susceptibility in humans, which may facilitate new mechanistic insights, and by extension, mitigation of skeletal muscle atrophy during human DA.

Current Advances on the Regeneration of Musculoskeletal Interfaces.

The regeneration of the musculoskeletal system has been widely investigated. There is now detailed knowledge about the organs composing this system. Research has also investigated the zones between individual tissues where physical, mechanical, and biochemical properties transition. However, the understanding of the regeneration of musculoskeletal interfaces is still lacking behind. Numerous disorders and injuries can degrade or damage tissue interfaces. Their inability to regenerate can delay the tissue repair and regeneration process, leading to graft instability, high morbidity, and pain. Moreover, the knowledge of the mechanism of tissue interface development is not complete. This review presents an overview of the most recent approaches of the regeneration of musculoskeletal interfaces, including the latest in vitro, preclinical, and clinical studies. Impact statement Interfaces between soft and hard tissues are ubiquitous within the body. These transition zones are crucial for joint motion, stabilisation and load transfer between tissues, but do not seem to regenerate well after injury or deterioration. The knowledge about their biology is vast, but little is known about their development. Various musculoskeletal disorders in combination with risk factors including aging and unhealthy lifestyle, can lead to local imbalances, misalignments, inflammation, pain and restricted mobility. Our manuscript reviews the current approaches taken to promote the regeneration of musculoskeletal interfaces through in vitro, pre-clinical and clinical studies.

Crystal structure of bis-[(R,R)-1,2-(bi-naph-thyl-phospho-nito)ethane]-dichlorido-iron(II) di-chloro-methane disolvate.

In the title compound (systematic name: bis-{1,2-bis[12,14-dioxa-13-phospha-penta-cyclo-[13.8.0.02,11.03,8.018,23]tricosa-1(15),2(11),3(8),4,6,9,16,18(23),19,21-deca-en-13-yl]ethane}-dichlorido-iron(II) di-chloro-methane disolvate), [FeCl2(C42H28O4P2)2]·2CH2Cl2, the FeII ion lies on a crystallographic twofold rotation axis and is coordinated by four P atoms from two (R,R)-1,2-bis-(bi-naphthyl-phospho-n-ito)ethane (BPE) ligands and two Cl ligands in a distorted cis-FeCl2P4 octa-hedral coordination geometry. In the crystal, weak C-H⋯O and C-H⋯π inter-actions link the mol-ecules into layers lying parallel to (001). A weak intra-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bond is also observed. The asymmetric unit contains one CH2Cl2 solvent mol-ecule, which is disordered over two sets of site with refined occupancies in the ratio 0.700 (6):0.300 (6).

Systematic Trends in the Electrochemical Properties of Transition Metal Hydride Complexes Discovered by Using the Ligand Acidity Constant Equation.

Understanding the thermodynamics of paramagnetic transition metal hydride complexes, especially of the abundant 3d metals, is important in the design of electrocatalysts and organometallic catalysts. The pKaMeCN([MHLn]+/[MLn) of paramagnetic hydrides in MeCN are estimated for the first time using the ligand acidity constant (LAC) equation where contributions to the pKaMeCN from each ligand are simply added together, with the sum corrected for effects of charge and 5d metals. The pKaLAC-MeCN([MHLn]+/MLn) of over 200 hydride complexes MHLn are used, along with their electrochemical potentials from the literature, in an uncommonly applied thermochemical cycle in order to reveal systematic trends in the redox couples MIII/II and MV/IV (M = Cr, Mo, W), MnII/I, ReVI/V and ReIV/III, MIII/II and MIV/III (M = Fe, Ru, Os), and MIII/II and MII/I (M = Co, Rh, and Ir) and allow the estimation of the bond dissociation free energies BDFE(MH) of the unoxidized hydrides MHLn and the prediction of the electrochemical potential for their oxidation. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used to validate the pKaLAC-MeCN values of hydrides of WIII, MnII, FeIII, RuIII, CoII, and NiIII. When a pKaLAC-MeCN is less than zero for a given complex [MHLn]+, the oxidation of MHLn is irreversible due to proton loss from the oxidized complex to the solvent. When pKaLAC-MeCN ≫ 0, the oxidation is reversible when there is no gross change in the coordination geometry upon a change in the redox state. Twenty paramagnetic hydrides prepared in bulk all have pKaLAC-MeCN > 8.

Using nature's blueprint to expand catalysis with Earth-abundant metals.

Numerous redox transformations that are essential to life are catalyzed by metalloenzymes that feature Earth-abundant metals. In contrast, platinum-group metals have been the cornerstone of many industrial catalytic reactions for decades, providing high activity, thermal stability, and tolerance to chemical poisons. We assert that nature's blueprint provides the fundamental principles for vastly expanding the use of abundant metals in catalysis. We highlight the key physical properties of abundant metals that distinguish them from precious metals, and we look to nature to understand how the inherent attributes of abundant metals can be embraced to produce highly efficient catalysts for reactions crucial to the sustainable production and transformation of fuels and chemicals.

A One-Step Preparation of Tetradentate Ligands with Nitrogen and Phosphorus Donors by Reductive Amination and Representative Iron Complexes.

The synthesis and use of the first examples of unsymmetrical, mixed phosphine donor tripodal NPP2' ligands N(CH2CH2PR2)2(CH2CH2PPh2) are presented. The ligands are synthesized via a convenient, one pot reductive amination using 2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylamine and various substituted phosphonium dimers in order to introduce mixed phosphine donors substituted with P/P', those being Ph/Cy (2), Ph/iPr (3), Ph/iBu (4), Ph/o-Tol (5), and Ph/p-Tol (6). Additionally, we have developed the first known synthesis of a symmetrical tripodal NP3 ligand N(CH2CH2PiBu2)3 using bench safe ammonium acetate as the lone nitrogen source (7). This new protocol eliminates the use of extremely dangerous nitrogen mustard reagents typically required to synthesize NP3 ligands. Some of these tetradentate ligands and also P2NN' ligands N(CH2-o-C5H4N)(CH2CH2PR2)2 (P2NN'-Cy, R = Cy; P2NN'-Ph, R = Ph) prepared by reductive amination using 2-picolylamine are used in the synthesis and reactions of iron complexes. FeCl2(P2NN'-Cy) (8) undergoes single halide abstraction with NaBPh4 to give the trigonal bipyramidal complex [FeCl(P2NN'-Cy)][BPh4] (9). Upon exposure to CO(g), complex 9 readily coordinates CO giving [FeCl(P2NN'-Cy)(CO)][BPh4] (10), and further treatment with an excess of NaBH4 results in formation of the hydride complex [Fe(H)(P2NN'-Cy)(CO)][BPh4] (11). Our previously reported complex FeCl2(P2NN'-Ph) undergoes double halide abstraction with NaBPh4 in the presence of the coordinating solvent to give [Fe(NCMe)2(P2NN'-Ph)][BPh4]2 (12). Ligand 3 can be coordinated to FeCl2, and upon sequential halide abstraction, treatment with NaBH4, and exposure to an atmosphere of dinitrogen, the dinitrogen hydride complex [Fe(H)(NPP2'-iPr)(N2)][BPh4] (13) is isolated. Our symmetrical NP3 ligand 7 can also be coordinated to FeCl2 and, upon exposure to an atmosphere of CO(g), selectively forms [FeCl(NP3)(CO)][BPh4] (14) after salt metathesis with NaBPh4. Complex 14 can be treated with an excess of NaBH4 to give the hydride complex [Fe(H)(NP3)(CO)][BPh4] (15), which can further be deprotonated/reduced to the Fe(0) complex Fe(NP3)(CO) (16) upon treatment with an excess of KH.

Woven Natural Fibre Reinforced Composite Materials for Medical Imaging.

Repeatable patient positioning is key to minimising the burden on planning radiotherapy treatment. There are very few materials commercially available which are suitable for use in all common imaging and treatment modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-Ray computed tomography (CT) and radiotherapy. In this article, we present several such materials based on woven natural fibres embedded in a range of different resin materials which are suitable for such applications. By investigating a range of resins and natural fibre materials in combination and evaluating their performance in terms of MRI and X-Ray imaging, we show that a woven cotton material impregnated with a two-part epoxy resin provides a 15% improvement in passage of X-Rays and has no impact on the MRI signal (unlike the 40% MRI signal attenuation from carbon fibre), whilst also retaining a flexural modulus up to 71% of that of carbon fibre. These results demonstrate that natural fibre composites produced using such materials provide desirable properties for use in patient support and positioning devices for multi-modal imaging, without the need to significantly compromise on the strength of the material.