Phase-Assisted Tailored Conductivity of Doped Ceria Electrolytes to Boost SOFC Performance.

Efforts to lower the operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells include producing electrolytes that are sufficiently conductive and stable below 600 °C. Doped ceria is one such electrolyte being considered. During this study, codoped ceria powders (Ce0.8Sm0.2-xMxO2-δ, M = Bi3+, Zn2+ and x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2) were prepared via coprecipitation by the addition of sodium carbonate and annealed at 800 and 1200 °C, respectively. Poor solubility of the codopants in the ceria was observed for samples annealed at 800 °C, resulting in a mixed-phase product including stable phases of the oxides of these codopants. A second-stage partial incorporation of these codopants into the ceria lattice was observed when the annealing temperature was increased to 1200 °C, with both codopants forming cubic-type phases of their respective oxides. Materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for structural and morphological investigations. The oxide ion conductivity was evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy between 550 and 750 °C. Fuel cell performance tests of selected samples (annealed at 1200 °C) showed remarkable improvement in peak power densities when the test temperature was increased from 500 to 600 °C (∼720 mW/cm2 for Ce0.8Sm0.15Bi0.05O2-δ and ∼1230 mW/cm2 for Ce0.8Sm0.15Zn0.05O2-δ), indicating possible contribution from the distinct cubic-type oxide phases of the codopants in performance enhancement.

Electrospinning/electrospraying coatings for metal microneedles: A design of experiments (DOE) and quality by design (QbD) approach.

The research presented here shows QbD implementation for the optimisation of the key process parameters in electrohydrodynamic atomisation (EHDA). Here, the electrosprayed nanoparticles and electrospun fibers consisting of a polymeric matrix and dye. Eight formulations were assessed consisting of 5% w/v of polycaprolactone (PCL) in dichloromethane (DCM) and 5% w/v polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in ethanol. A full factorial DOE was used to assess the various parameters (applied voltage, deposition distance, flow rate). Further particle and fiber analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), particle/fiber size distribution. In addition to this in vitro release studied were carried out using fluorescein and Rhodamine B as model dyes and in vitro permeation studies were applied. The results show a significant difference in the morphology of resultant structures as well as a more rapid release profile for the PVP particles and fibers in comparison to the sustained release profiles found with PCL. In vitro drug release studies showed 100% drug release after 7 days for PCL particles and showed 100% drug release within 120 min for PVP particles. The release kinetics and the permeation study showed that the MN successfully pierced the membrane and the electrospun MN coating released a large amount of the loaded drug within 6 h. This study has demonstrated the capability of these robust MNs to encapsulate a diverse range drugs within a polymeric matrix giving rise to the potential of developed personalised medical devices.

Application of mesoporous silica nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers for chemotherapeutic agents.

Recently, remarkable efforts have focused on research towards enhancing and delivering efficacious and advanced therapeutic agents. Even though this involves significant challenges, innovative techniques and materials have been explored to overcome these. The advantageous properties of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), such as unique morphologies and geometries, makes then favorable for use for various drug delivery targeting purposes, particularly in cancer therapy. As we discuss here, MSNs have been utilized over the past few decades to improve the efficiency of anticancer drugs by enhancing their solubility to render them suitable for application, reducing adverse effects, and improving their anticancer cytotoxic efficiency.

Pharmaceutical and biomaterial engineering via electrohydrodynamic atomization technologies.

Complex micro- and nano-structures enable crucial developments in the healthcare remit (e.g., pharmaceutical and biomaterial sciences). In recent times, several technologies have been developed and explored to address key healthcare challenges (e.g., advanced chemotherapy, biomedical diagnostics and tissue regeneration). Electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA) technologies are rapidly emerging as promising candidates to address these issues. The fundamental principle driving EHDA engineering relates to the action of an electric force (field) on flowing conducting medium (formulation) giving rise to a stable Taylor cone. Through careful optimization of process parameters, material properties and selection, nozzle and needle design, and collection substrate method, complex active micro- and nano-structures are engineered. This short review focuses on key selected recent and established advances in the field of pharmaceutical and biomaterial applications.

EHDA Spraying: A Multi-Material Nano-Engineering Route.

Electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA) enabling platform technologies have gathered significant momentum over the last two decades. Utilisation of the underpinning jetting process in tandem with desired materials (including polymers, ceramics, metals and even naturally occurring compounds such as peptides, DNA and cells) provides the basis for novel engineered therapies. Through EHDA processes, the generation of a variety of nano-meter and micro-meter scaled structures with control on surface and encapsulation features is attainable in a single step. While a host of adaptable EHDA techniques have evolved (e.g. printing and template patterning), there are two main processes that continue to dominate: electrospraying (ESy) and electrospinning (ESp). Although ESp has drawn considerable researcher interest for nanofibre applications, ESy is an important and timely process for nano- and micro-particle fabrication. Thus, an appropriate evaluation of ESy is vital. This short review focuses on key developments in the ESy field in relation to nanotechnologies with potential healthcare applications using metals, polymers and ceramics. An insight into the process of particle formation (during EHDA spraying or ESy), process parameters and materials specifications, is provided. Emerging biomedical and other healthcare research through nanotechnologies are highlighted.

New platforms for multi-functional ocular lenses: engineering double-sided functionalized nano-coatings.

A scalable platform to prepare multi-functional ocular lenses is demonstrated. Using rapidly dissolving polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the active stabilizing matrix, both sides of ocular lenses were coated using a modified scaled-up masking electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA) technique (flow rates variable between 5 and 10 µL/min, applied voltage 4-11 kV). Each side was coated (using a specially designed flip-able well) selectively with a pre-determined morphology and model drug substance. PVP nanoparticles (inner side, to be in contact with the cornea, mean size

Lipid stability and antioxidant profile of microsomal fraction of broiler meat enriched with α-lipoic acid and α-tocopherol acetate.

The importance of the linkage between nutrition and health is a hot issue. Like other food-related sectors, the meat industry is undergoing foremost transformations, driven among other things by changes in consumer requirements. The present study was designed to evaluate the lipid stability and antioxidative potential of leg and breast microsomal fraction of broiler meat fed on ALA and ATA. For the first 3 weeks of growth, broilers were fed on feed supplemented with ATA (200 mg/kg of feed) and during the last 3 weeks broilers were fed on feed supplemented with ALA (25, 75, 150 mg/kg of feed) and a constant level of ATA (200 mg/kg of feed). The body weight of the carcass was measured after every week of growth until 6 weeks. Positive correlation between the antioxidant activity and the TPC was observed. Higher values of TBARS were detected in leg muscles than in breast muscles. HPLC data revealed ALA and ATA contents were higher in T(4) (leg, 5.55 ± 0.19 and 3.87 ± 0.15 µg/mg of protein; breast, 5.63 ± 0.20 and 2.03 ± 0.10 µg/mg of protein, respectively) and lowest in T(5) (ALA, leg, 1.40 ± 0.06 µg/mg of protein; breast, 1.54 ± 0.05 µg/mg of protein; ATA, leg, 1.25 ± 0.06 µg/mg of protein; breast, 0.63 ± 0.008 µg/mg of protein), in which the only oxidized oil was used. Oxidized oil in feed reduced weight gain and increased TBARS, whereas TPC, DPPH, ALA, and ATA values decreased in both leg and breast meat.