Tailored extracellular matrix-mimetic coating facilitates reendothelialization and tissue healing of cardiac occluders.

Minimally invasive transcatheter interventional therapy utilizing cardiac occluders represents the primary approach for addressing congenital heart defects and left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombosis. However, incomplete endothelialization and delayed tissue healing after occluder implantation collectively compromise clinical efficacy. In this study, we have customized a recombinant humanized collagen type I (rhCol I) and developed an rhCol I-based extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimetic coating. The innovative coating integrates metal-phenolic networks with anticoagulation and anti-inflammatory functions as a weak cross-linker, combining them with specifically engineered rhCol I that exhibits high cell adhesion activity and elicits a low inflammatory response. The amalgamation, driven by multiple forces, effectively serves to functionalize implantable materials, thereby responding positively to the microenvironment following occluder implantation. Experimental findings substantiate the coating's ability to sustain a prolonged anticoagulant effect, enhance the functionality of endothelial cells and cardiomyocyte, and modulate inflammatory responses by polarizing inflammatory cells into an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Notably, occluder implantation in a canine model confirms that the coating expedites reendothelialization process and promotes tissue healing. Collectively, this tailored ECM-mimetic coating presents a promising surface modification strategy for improving the clinical efficacy of cardiac occluders.

Effect of gelatin edible coating with Aronia melanocarpa pomace polyphenols on the cold storage of chilled pork.

In this research, the Aronia melanocarpa pomace polyphenols (AMPPs) were extracted and purified. The purified AMPPs contained the most abundant chlorogenic acid (CGA) at 36.91 mg/100 mg, followed by chrysin at 8.61 mg/100 mg. At a concentration of 60 µg/mL, the purified AMPPs exhibited stronger scavenging activity against: DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, ABTS∙+, and also showed greater Fe3+ reducing activity than the VC control group. To solve the problem of easy spoilage of chilled meat during storage, gelatin edible coatings containing Aronia melanocarpa pomace polyphenols, referred to as G/AMPPs, were investigated for their effect on the chilled storage of pork. At a 1:1 volume ratio of 1 % polyphenol solution to 3 % gelatin solution, the G/AMPPs coating effectively curbed pH, TVB-N, TVC, drip loss, and b* value increases in chilled pork, while delaying declines in hardness, adhesion, a* value and L* value; The TVB-N content and TVC values demonstrated that the G/AMPPs coating significantly extended the shelf life of chilled pork by up to 15 days. The results showed that G/AMPPs had good preservative, antibacterial and antioxidant effects on chilled pork and thus development of G/AMPPs based coating shows appeared to offer promise for meat preservation.

Enhanced surface antimicrobial, biocompatible and mechanical properties of 3D printed titanium alloys by electrophoretic deposition of chitosan/ZnO.

In this study, to address the susceptibility of 3D-printed titanium implants to bacterial infection, we propose to form a chitosan/ZnO composite coating by electrophoretic deposition to enhance its antimicrobial, biocompatible, and mechanical properties. The surface morphology of the composite coating is relatively flat, showing good hydrophilicity and coating adhesion, and the corrosion current density is significantly lower than that of the untreated titanium alloy. According to the results of the study, the composite coatings containing more than 0.1 g of ZnO (Z2, Z3, Z4 groups) showed excellent antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with antibacterial rates of more than 95 %, and the medium-concentration ZnO coatings (Z2 group) showed good cellular activity, with cell viability rates of more than 80 %. In contrast, the high-concentration ZnO coatings (Z3, Z4 groups) showed a certain degree of cytotoxicity. The inherent film-forming property of the composite coating enabled the cells to adhere well to the coating surface. It was found through SBF body fluid immersion that Zn²âº can increase the rate of hydroxyapatite precipitation and enhance bioactivity. These results emphasize the importance of precise control of the ZnO content in the improved antimicrobial and biocompatible chitosan-ZnO composite coatings to ensure excellent antimicrobial properties and necessary biocompatibility.

[Development of Solventless Pharmaceutical Technique for Manufacture of Pharmaceuticals].

The aim of our study was to develop a solventless drug pelletization and polymer coating technique for pharmaceutical manufacturing. This review describes a dry coating technique using a mechanical powder processor and a V-shaped blender to produce coated pellets or tablets by mechanically mixing polymer particles and core materials (such as drug pellets and uncoated tablets) without the need for a solvent. First, aqueous latexes comprising colloidal polymethacrylates and ethylcellulose were solidified by freeze drying to produce polymer particles for the dry coating process. These particles and the cores were then subjected to mechanical powder processing or V-shaped blending to provide coated formulations with controlled-release characteristics. Polymer coating was achieved by using agglomerates comprising assembled colloidal polymer. The agglomerated polymer was easily pulverized during the mixing treatments due to its loose structure (the lack of close contacts between the colloidal particles), and the resulting fine polymer with high adhesiveness was deposited on the cores. Colloidal polymer dispersed in aqueous latex tends to coagulate in the freeze-drying process due to condensation of the dispersion, yielding dense agglomerates with poor coating characteristics. The presence of surfactants (such as sodium lauryl sulfate) in the latex can prevent adhesion between colloidal particles in the freeze-drying process, providing loosely structured agglomerates suitable for dry coating. Dry coating with a V-shaped blender could thus be achieved with these polymer particles instead of having to use a mechanical powder processor.

Hydrodynamic frictional performance of fouled panels: a comparative study of different coating types.

This research study delves into the hydrodynamic frictional characteristics of fouled panels coated with different types of coatings, investigating how fouling coverage and surface roughness influence drag. The investigation incorporates data on the overall percentage coverage of fouling, as well as roughness measurements obtained through a 3D profilometer. Drag data collected from a flowcell simulation of real-world flow conditions complements these measurements. Notably, the determination of the level of fouling leverages the capabilities of CIE L*a*b as an image analysis method, focusing on the overall coverage rather than individual fouling species. The objective is to illustrate how fouled panels perform under varying flow and coating conditions compared to their clean counterparts. Furthermore, the paper proposes a roughness scaling approach that considers both the percentage coverage and measured areal roughness for each coating type, encompassing both fouled and unfouled areas. This approach provides valuable insights into the combined effects of fouling and surface roughness on hydrodynamic performance, enhancing our understanding of the intricate interplay between these factors.

Current Advancements on Oral Protein and Peptide Drug Delivery Approaches to Bioavailability: Extensive Review on Patents.

Protein and peptide-based drugs have greater therapeutic efficacy and potential application and lower toxicity compared to chemical entities in long-term use within optimum concentration as they are easily biodegradable due to biological origin. While oral administration is preferable, most of these substances are currently administered intravenously or subcutaneously. This is primarily due to the breakdown and poor absorption in the GI tract. Hence, ongoing research is focused on investigating absorption enhancers, enzyme inhibitors, carrier systems, and stability enhancers as potential strategies to facilitate the oral administration of proteins and peptides. Investigations have been directed towards advancing novel technologies to address gastrointestinal (GI) barriers associated with protein and peptide medications. The current review intensifies formulation and stability approaches for oral protein & peptide drug delivery systems with all significant parameters intended for patient safety. Notably, certain innovative technologies have been patented and are currently undergoing clinical trials or have already been introduced into the market. All the approaches stated for the administration of protein and peptide drugs are critically discussed, having their current status, future directions, and recent patents published in the last decades.

Constructing high-throughput and highly adsorptive lithium-sulfur battery separator coatings based on three-dimensional hexagonal star-shaped MOF derivatives.

The electrochemical performance of high-performance lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries is affected by many factors such as shuttle effect and lithium dendrites. To effectively solve this problem, a hexagonal star-shaped composite catalyst containing Co-N-C active sites (Co-NC-X) has been rationally developed under the joint action of Zn2+ and Co2+ bimetallic ions. By modifying it to the Li-S battery separator, Co-NC-X can not only act as a physical barrier to effectively prevent the diffusion of lithium polysulfide (LiPS), but also the special morphology can expose more active sites and have a strong chemisorption effect on LiPS, which effectively promotes the redox conversion of LiPS and mitigates the shuttle effect. Li-S battery with Co-NC-X exhibits excellent electrochemical performance. It has a high specific capacity and stable cycling performance, with an initial discharge capacity of 1406.9 mAh·g-1 at 0.2 C and 876.8 mAh·g-1 at 2 C, and a lower capacity decline rate of 0.093 % for 500 cycles.

Experimental investigation of a nano coating efficiency for dust mitigation on photovoltaic panels in harsh climatic conditions.

Dust accumulation on photovoltaic (PV) panels in arid regions diminishes solar energy absorption and panel efficiency. In this study, the effectiveness of a self-cleaning nano-coating thin film is evaluated in reducing dust accumulation and improving PV Panel efficiency. Surface morphology and elemental analysis of the nano-coating and dust are conducted. Continuous measurements of solar irradiances and ambient temperature have been recorded. SEM analysis of dust revealed irregularly shaped micron-sized particles with potential adhesive properties, causing shading effects on the PV panel surface. Conversely, the coating particles exhibited a uniform, spherical shape, suggesting effective prevention of dust adhesion. Solar irradiance ranged from 120 W/m² to a peak of 720 W/m² at noon. Application of the self-cleaning nano-coating thin film consistently increased short circuit current (Isc), with the coated panel averaging 2.8 A, which is 64.7% higher than the uncoated panel's 1.7 A. The power output of the coated panel ranged from 7 W to 38 W, with an average of approximately 24.75 W, whereas the uncoated panel exhibited a power output between 3 W and 23 W, averaging around 14 W. These findings highlight the substantial potential of nano-coating for effective dust mitigation, particularly in dusty environments, thus enhancing PV system reliability.

Chitosan coatings containing thyme essential oil enhance the quality of snakehead (Channa striata) during chilled storage verified by metabolomics approaches.

In the present study, we investigated the preservative effects of chitosan (CS) coatings, with and without thyme essential oil (TEO), combined with vacuum impregnation (VI) on maintaining the quality of snakehead fillets during chilled storage. The results showed that the VI treatment significantly inhibited drip loss, discoloration, microbial proliferation, and the accumulation of biogenic amines (BAs) in the sneakhead fillets. Compared to the control, the fillets treated with VI of 1% (w/w) CS and 1.5% (w/w) TEO (i.e., CSTEO) showed significant reductions in both psychrophiles and mesophiles, with a 2.66 log CFU/g decrease in total viable count (TVC) on day 3 and a 1.89 log CFU/g decline in TVC on day 9, respectively. In addition, the content of histamine and putrescine in the CSTEO groups was maintained at ∼1.14 and 3.23 mg/kg during the 12-day chilled storage, respectively. A total of 100 chemical compounds were tentatively identified using untargeted metabolomics approaches. The multivariate analysis further revealed that the combination of VI and CSTEO maintained fish quality mainly through preventing lipid oxidation and protein degradation. Overall, the VI-CSTEO treatment effectively maintained the fish quality during storage at 4°C, with minimum microbial proliferation and accumulation of BAs. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The preservative effect of chitosan coatings containing thyme essential oil combined with vacuum impregnation on snakehead quality during the 12-day chilled storage was verified, and the underlying mechanisms were deciphered through integrated metabolomics approaches. Our study could provide a promising strategy for the preservation of aquatic products.

Achieving Ultra-Long Cycle Life of Zn Anode Using ZnSn(OH)6 Coating Layer via Desolvation Effect and Uniform Zn2+ Flux.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are considered as a promising energy storage system because of good safety, low cost, abundant resources, and environmental friendliness. However, the bottlenecks including dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution, and corrosion seriously limit their practical application. Herein, a novel ZnSn(OH)6 coating layer with rich hydroxyl groups is employed to achieve highly stable Zn anode. The hydroxyl groups can feasibly interact with H2O molecules, contributing to the desolvation of hydrated Zn2+ and the inhibition of side reactions on Zn anode surface. Furthermore, according to the DFT calculation, the adsorption energy of Zn2+ among various sites on the surface of ZnSn(OH)6 coating layer is relatively large, which helps the uniform distribution of Zn2+ flux and the prevention of dendrite growth. Consequently, the ZnSn(OH)6@Zn anode delivers ultra-long cycle life (6770 h), low polarization voltage (27 mV), and high Coulombic efficiency (99.2% over 800 cycles) at 1 mA cm-2, 1 mAh cm-2. Besides, the assembled NaV3O8·xH2O//ZnSn(OH)6@Zn full cell can operate stably for 1500 cycles at 2 A g-1 with a high specific capacity of 144.9 mAh g-1, demonstrating an excellent application potential. This simple and effective coating layer with high electrochemical performance provides an appealing strategy for the development of rechargeable AZIBs.