Synthesis and Spectroscopic Analyses of New Polycarbonates Based on Bisphenol A-Free Components

This paper discusses a new synthesis of bisphenol A-free polycarbonates based on four aliphatic-aromatic systems. In the first stage, different types of monomers (with/without sulfur) derived from diphenylmethane were synthesized. Then, new polycarbonates were prepared in the reactions with diphenyl carbonate (DPC) by transesterification and polycondensation reactions. Three different catalysts (zinc acetate, 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine and benzyltriethylammonium chloride) were tested. The structures of the compounds were confirmed by Nuclear Molecular Resonance spectroscopy (NMR) in each stage. The chemical structures of the obtained polycarbonates were verified by means of Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The presence of a carbonyl group in the infrared spectrum confirmed polycarbonate formation. Thermal studies by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were carried out to determine the melting temperatures of the monomers. A gel permeation chromatography analysis (GPC) of the polycarbonates was performed in order to investigate their molar masses. Thermal analysis proved the purity of the obtained monomers; the curves showed a characteristic signal of melting. The obtained polycarbonates were characterized as having high resistance to organic solvents, including tetrahydrofuran. The GPC analysis proved their relatively large molar masses and their low dispersity.

Engineered mucoperiosteal scaffold for cleft palate regeneration towards the non-immunogenic transplantation

Cleft lip and palate (CL/P) is the most prevalent craniofacial birth defect in humans. None of the surgical procedures currently used for CL/P repair lead to definitive correction of hard palate bone interruption. Advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine aim to develop new strategies to restore palatal bone interruption by using tissue or organ-decellularized bioscaffolds seeded with host cells. Aim of this study was to set up a new natural scaffold deriving from a decellularized porcine mucoperiosteum, engineered by an innovative micro-perforation procedure based on Quantum Molecular Resonance (QMR) and then subjected to in vitro recellularization with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs). Our results demonstrated the efficiency of decellularization treatment gaining a natural, non-immunogenic scaffold with preserved collagen microenvironment that displays a favorable support to hMSC engraftment, spreading and differentiation. Ultrastructural analysis showed that the micro-perforation procedure preserved the collagen mesh, increasing the osteoinductive potential for mesenchymal precursor cells. In conclusion, we developed a novel tissue engineering protocol to obtain a non-immunogenic mucoperiosteal scaffold suitable for allogenic transplantation and CL/P repair. The innovative micro-perforation procedure improving hMSC osteogenic differentiation potentially impacts for enhanced palatal bone regeneration leading to future clinical applications in humans.

The Role of Quantic Molecular Resonance (QMR) in the Treatment of Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy (ITH): Our Experience With Long-Term Follow-Up in Allergic and Nonallergic Rhinitis Refractory to Medical Therapy. Preliminary Results

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the long-term effectiveness of quantic molecular resonance (QMR) in the treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy (ITH) in allergic and nonallergic rhinitis refractory to medical therapy. Methods: This study enrolled 281 patients, 160 males (56.9%) and 121 females (43.1%), mean age 37.8 ± 4.1 years, range 18 to 71. Fifty-four patients have been lost to follow up and have been therefore excluded from the final analysis. Based on skin prick test results, 69 patients were considered allergic (group A) and 158 nonallergic (group B). All subjects underwent before surgery (T0) and 3 (T1), 12 (T2), 24 (T3), and 36 months (T4) after QMR treatment to: 4-phase rhinomanometric examination, nasal endoscopy evaluation, and visual analogue scale to quantify the subjective feelings about nasal obstruction. Results: Subjective and objective parameters showed statistically significant improvement in both groups. Group B parameters not changed during follow-up, while group A showed significant worsening between T1 and subsequent assessments. T4 outcome indicates a better result in nonallergic patients. Conclusions: In accordance with the literature, our preliminary data validate QMR treatment as a successful therapeutic option for nasal obstruction due to ITH. Nonallergic patients had a very good T4 outcome. Allergic patients showed a worsening trend after 1 year probably due to other causes.

Power discontinuity and shift of the energy onset of a molecular de-bromination reaction induced by hot-electron tunneling

We describe the electron-induced dissociation of Br atoms in the Au(Br-MBP)2 complex, showing that the reaction onset can be shifted from 2.4 to 4.4 V while the required power drops sharply to 20% when a second molecular resonance is involved.

Novel quantum molecular resonance energy source for laparoscopic bipolar vessel sealer: An experimental study in animal model

Background: The majority of conventional bipolar energy-based vessel sealing devices utilize energy at frequencies between 300 kHz and 500 kHz. The use of such frequencies has the disadvantages including unintended damage to surrounding tissues and excessive surgical smoke production. Here, we developed an bipolar energy source using Quantum Molecular Resonance (QMR) energy of 4–64 MHz and combined this into a laparoscopic vessel sealer. We investigate the microscopic tissue effect and surgeon's experiences of laparoscopic bipolar vessel sealer using a novel QMR energy source through animal experiments. Results: In an open surgical setting, QMR energy sources showed higher sealing success rates (100% vs. 66.7%) and higher burst pressure (963 mmHg vs. 802mmHg) of the sealed vessels compared to LigaSure™. Histological analysis showed less vessel wall injury in the QMR energy source (55.0% vs. 73.9%). In the laparoscopic setting experiments, compared to LigaSure™, QMR energy sources showed statistically significantly less smoke formation (p = 0.014), less tissue carbonization (p = 0.013), and less stickiness (p = 0.044) during sealing tissues. Conclusions: Novel QMR energy source for laparoscopic bipolar vessel sealer could produce better sealing performance and less surrounding tissue damage compared to the conventional devices. Laparoscopic surgery using QMR energy sources showed better surgeon's experiences in terms of surgical smoke formation, tissue carbonization, and stickiness.