Recent Advances in Polyurethane/POSS Hybrids for Biomedical Applications

Advanced organic-inorganic materials-composites, nanocomposites, and hybrids with various compositions offer unique properties required for biomedical applications. One of the most promising inorganic (nano)additives are polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS); their biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and phase separation ability that modifies the material porosity are fundamental properties required in modern biomedical applications. When incorporated, chemically or physically, into polyurethane matrices, they substantially change polymer properties, including mechanical properties, surface characteristics, and bioactivity. Hence, this review is dedicated to POSS-PU composites that have recently been developed for applications in the biomedical field. First, different modes of POSS incorporation into PU structure have been presented, then recent developments of PU/POSS hybrids as bio-active composites for scaffolds, cardiovascular stents, valves, and membranes, as well as in bio-imaging and cancer treatment, have been described. Finally, characterization and methods of modification routes of polyurethane-based materials with silsesquioxanes were presented.

Study of the Water-Glass Role in the Foam Glass Synthesis Using Glycerol Foaming Agent

The article discusses the peculiarities of the "water-glass – glycerol" foaming mixture components interaction during foam glass synthesis. The important role of the foaming additive type in the foam glass porous structure formation was described, the main foaming substances were listed. The obtaining and researching technology of the samples was described, the compositions of the initial batches using the "water-glass – glycerol" mixture were developed. It was shown that a material with a highly porous structure and density below 500 kg/m3 can be obtained only with the combined introduction of water-glass and glycerol. In this case, mixtures with a predominance of water-glass in the foaming mixture possess optimal properties. Using DSC, it was shown that the addition of water-glass to the mixture completely eliminates the evaporation of glycerol at lower temperatures and intensifies its combustion at higher temperatures. Thus, the addition of water-glass to the glycerol-based foam glass batch allows glycerol to be saved up to higher temperatures that increases the resulting material porosity.

Evaluation of Sterilization/Disinfection Methods of Fibrous Polyurethane Scaffolds Designed for Tissue Engineering Applications

Sterilization of a material carries the risk of unwanted changes in physical and chemical structure. The choice of method is a challenge—the process must be efficient, without significantly changing the properties of the material. In the presented studies, we analyzed the effect of selected sterilization/disinfection techniques on the properties of nanofibrous polyurethane biomaterial. Both radiation techniques (UV, gamma, e-beam) and 20 minutes’ contact with 70% EtOH were shown not to achieve 100% sterilization efficiency. The agar diffusion test showed higher sterilization efficiency when using an antimicrobial solution (AMS). At the same time, none of the analyzed techniques significantly altered the morphology and distribution of fiber diameters. EtOH and e-beam sterilization resulted in a significant reduction in material porosity together with an increase in the Young’s modulus. Similarly, AMS sterilization increased the value of Young’s modulus. In most cases, the viability of cells cultured in contact with the sterilized materials was not affected by the sterilization process. Only for UV sterilization, cell viability was significantly lower and reached about 70% of control after 72 h of culture.

Porous Shape-Persistent Rylene Imine Cages with Tunable Optoelectronic Properties and Delayed Fluorescence

A simultaneous combination of porosity and tunable optoelectronic properties, common in covalent organic frameworks, are rare in shape-persistent organic cages. Yet, organic cages offer important molecular advantages, the solubility and modularity. Herein, we report the synthesis of a series of chiral imine organic cages with three built-in rylene units by means of dynamic imine chemistry and we investigate their textural and optoelectronic properties. Thereby we demonstrate that the synthesized rylene cages are porous, can be reversibly reduced at accessible potentials, and can absorb from UV up to green light. We also show that they preferentially adsorb CO2 over N2 and CH4 with a good selectivity. In addition, we discovered that the cage incorporating three perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) units displays a delayed fluorescence, likely as a consequence of formation of a correlated triplet pair, the multiexciton state in singlet fission. Rylene cages thus represent a unique platform to investigate the effect of electronic properties on material porosity and, at the same time, to probe excited-state phenomena in the limit of vanishing interchromophore coupling. <br>

Porous Shape-Persistent Rylene Imine Cages with Tunable Optoelectronic Properties and Delayed Fluorescence

A simultaneous combination of porosity and tunable optoelectronic properties, common in covalent organic frameworks, are rare in shape-persistent organic cages. Yet, organic cages offer important molecular advantages, the solubility and modularity. Herein, we report the synthesis of a series of chiral imine organic cages with three built-in rylene units by means of dynamic imine chemistry and we investigate their textural and optoelectronic properties. Thereby we demonstrate that the synthesized rylene cages are porous, can be reversibly reduced at accessible potentials, and can absorb from UV up to green light. We also show that they preferentially adsorb CO2 over N2 and CH4 with a good selectivity. In addition, we discovered that the cage incorporating three perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) units displays a delayed fluorescence, likely as a consequence of formation of a correlated triplet pair, the multiexciton state in singlet fission. Rylene cages thus represent a unique platform to investigate the effect of electronic properties on material porosity and, at the same time, to probe excited-state phenomena in the limit of vanishing interchromophore coupling. <br>

Mechanical and Non-Destructive Testing of Plasterboards Subjected to a Hydration Process

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of plasterboards’ humidity absorption on their performance. Specimens’ hydration procedure consisted of consecutive immersing in water and subsequent drying at room temperature. Such a procedure was performed to increase the content of moisture within the material volume. The microstructural observations of five different plasterboard types were performed through optical and scanning electron microscopy. The deterioration of their properties was evaluated by using a three-point bending test and a subsequent ultrasonic (ultrasound testing (UT)) longitudinal wave velocity measurement. Depending on the material porosity, a loss of UT wave velocity from 6% to 35% and a considerable decrease in material strength from 70% to 80% were observed. Four types of approximated formulae were proposed to describe the dependence of UT wave velocity on board moisture content. It was found that the proposed UT method could be successfully used for the on-site monitoring of plasterboards’ hydration processes.

Influence of structure and stretch on air permeability of compression knits

PurposeAir permeability has a valuable role in comfort parameters. It is known that air permeability of elastomeric yarns is firmly low. Despite that, usage of elastomeric inlay-yarns is the most common and the most effective way to generate compression for knitted textile. This study aims to investigate the influence of elastomeric inlay-yarn linear density, insertion density and elongation of the sample to the air permeability of compression knitted materials.Design/methodology/approachTwo different types of knitting patterns were investigated: rib 1 × 1 pattern with different elastomeric inlay-yarn linear density (four variants) and insertion density (without inlay yarn and with inlay-yarns inserted into every single, second or fourth course) and combined laid-in jacquard pattern. The air permeability test for these structures was performed without any deformation and at 10 and 20 per cent fixed transverse elongation.FindingsAccording to the investigation, insertion density of inlay-yarns has a huge impact on air permeability; however, air permeability of knitted material is not linearly proportional to the total amount of inlay-yarns. Also, it was found that air permeability increases by increasing elongation, regardless of knitting pattern and total amount of elastomeric inlay-yarn in the knitted structure. Alteration of the loop geometry at natural state and 20 per cent fixed elongation was established, and the increase of air permeability at fixed elongation may be dependent on changes of knitted material porosity.Originality/valueAccording to the obtained results, recommendations to perform air permeability measurement at least with minimal specific wear elongation are presented.

Transformation of Amorphous Calcium Carbonate in Air - The Role of Additives and Humidity

&lt;p&gt;Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) is one of the six well-known CaCO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;.&lt;/sup&gt;nH&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O (0 &amp;#8804; n &amp;#8804; 6) solids and is of vast interest in the development of advanced materials. ACC offers enhanced performance compared to its crystalline equivalents due to its high solubility, specific surface and porosity. A large body of studies has been devoted to the applicability of ACC in pharmaceutical and industrial domains, pointing out material porosity to be a key property for its application. However, less is known about the material porosity evolution during ACC transformation into crystalline calcium carbonate (e.g. calcite or vaterite).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this study we investigate the transformation of ACC in air and the effect of three additives (magnesium chloride, activated carbon and xanthan) at distinct humidities on the properties of the final crystalline product. ACC standard material was synthesized in either pure form or together with one of the above additives, stamped into a pellet, and exposed to 40 or 75 % RH. Mineralogical characterization of the crystalline products exhibits individual quantitative polymorph distribution induced by different additives and humidities. The most prominent result of the present study is the highly dissimilar pore size distribution when the ACC pellets were exposed to different humidities. Scanning electron microscopy combined with an image analysis software revealed 75 % RH to cause an increase of pore size of the final product by a factor of 10. These findings have significant implications to tailor and improve ACC nanomaterial designs and syntheses for pharmaceutical and industrial applications.&lt;/p&gt;