This work focuses on the synergetic effect obtained by immobilization of Rhamnus frangula L. (RfL) phytoextract in layered double hydroxides (LDHs) matrixes and their subsequent encapsulation into biocompatible hydrogels (HG). In this respect, the LDHs were used as hosts for the immobilization of the phytoextract by a reconstruction method, after which the LDHsRfL were embedded into biocompatible hydrogel (HG) matrixes, based on polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), by a radical polymerization reaction. The resulted biocompatible hydrogel composites were characterized by modern methods, while the swelling and rheology measurements revealed that the HG composites steadily improved as the content of RfL phytoextract immobilized on LDHs (LDHsRfL) increased. The following in vitro sustained release of the RfL phytoextract was highlighted by measurements at pH 6.8, in which case the composite HGs with LDHsRfL presented an improved release behavior over the LDHsRfL, thus, underlining the synergistic effect of PEGDA network and LDH particles on the slow-release behavior. The kinetic models used in the RfL release from composite HGs clearly indicate that the release is diffusion controlled in all the cases. The final composite HGs described here may find applications in the pharmaceutical field as devices for the controlled release of drugs.

In this study, ligand-free nanogels (LFNGs) as potential antivenom mimics were developed with the aim of preventing hypersensitivity and other side effects following massive bee attacks. For this purpose, poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate was chosen as a main synthetic biocompatible matrix to prepare the experimental LFNGs. The overall concept uses inverse mini-emulsion polymerization as the main route to deliver nanogel caps with complementary cavities for phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from bee venom, created artificially with the use of molecular imprinting (MI) technologies. The morphology and the hydrodynamic features of the nanogels were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. The following rebinding experiments evidenced the specificity of molecularly imprinted LFNG for PLA2, with rebinding capacities up to 8-fold higher compared to the reference non-imprinted nanogel, while the in vitro binding assays of PLA2 from commercial bee venom indicated that such synthetic nanogels are able to recognize and retain the targeted PLA2 enzyme. The results were finally collaborated with in vitro cell-viability experiments and resulted in a strong belief that such LFNG may actually be used for future therapies against bee envenomation.

The global food system is under increasing pressure

The study depicts the synthesis and potential application of composite materials based on natural polymers (such as chitosan, alginate) with incorporated inorganic substance in their matrix (zeolites, TiO₂, CNT) to adsorb heavy metals ions from contaminated aqueous sources.

We face significant environmental pollution problems due to various industries, such as the aluminum industry, which generates large amounts of red mud (RM) waste, or agriculture, in which case the use of pesticides creates huge water pollution problems. In this context, the present study offers a better perspective to originally solve both environmental issues. Thus, the main target of the study referred to using RM waste as a filler for preparing composite copolymer beads. Thereafter, this can achieve significant removal of water pollutants due to their adsorption/oxidation characteristics. As evidenced by the changes in chemical structure and composition, thermal stability, morphology, and porosity, RM was homogenously incorporated in poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) beads prepared by wet phase inversion. The final assessment for the removal of pesticides by adsorption and oxidation processes was proven successful. In this regard, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid was chosen as a model pollutant, for which an adsorption capacity of 16.08 mg/g composite beads was achieved.

This work presents the efficiency of interpenetrated chitosan-based hydrogels (IPNs) in the treatment of WW in a laboratory micro-pilot device which allowed both the use of a larger volume of compounds and an improved stirring of the samples throughout the test period.