Butyrate and Propionate Restore the Cytokine and House Dust Mite Compromised Barrier Function of Human Bronchial Airway Epithelial Cells

Barrier dysfunction of airway epithelium contributes to the development of allergies, airway hyper-responsiveness and immunological respiratory diseases. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) enhance and restore the barrier function of the intestinal epithelium. This study investigated whether acetate, propionate and butyrate enhance the integrity of bronchial epithelial cells. Differentiating human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) grown on transwells were exposed to butyrate, propionate and acetate while trans-epithelial electrical resistance was monitored over time. Restorative effects of SCFA were investigated by subsequent incubation of cells with IL-4, IL-13 or house dust mite extract and SCFA. SCFA effects on IL-4-induced cytokine production and the expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signalling pathways were investigated by ELISA and Western blot assays. Propionate and butyrate enhanced the barrier function of differentiating 16HBE cells and induced complete recovery of the barrier function after exposure to the above-mentioned stimuli. Butyrate decreased IL-4-induced IL-6 production. IL-4 decreased ZO-1 protein expression and induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) in 16HBE cells, both of which could be restored by SCFA. SCFA showed prophylactic and restorative effects on airway epithelial barrier function, which might be induced by increased ZO-1 expression.     

Impact of spinel forming systems (Fe-/Mg-/Mn-Al-O) as functional coating materials for carbon-bonded alumina filters on steel melt filtration

Since solid, non-metallic inclusions influence considerably the quality of casted steel products, carbon-bonded alumina foam filters are used in secondary metallurgical treatments to remove these particles from steel melts. In order to attain a significant improvement of the filtration process, five different carbonaceous spinel compounds from the Fe-/Mg-/Mn-Al-O systems are applied on carbon-bonded alumina filters in this study and investigated with regard of their filtration efficiency. However, these spinel compounds decompose partially during sintering at 1400?°C under reducing atmosphere, wherefore the resulting coatings contain not only spinel compounds, but also oxidic and metallic components. The subsequent interaction with molten steel leads to the development of multicrystal structures on the filter surface, which stem from interfacial reactions between coating materials, molten steel, and inclusions. As a result of this procedure, a reduction of almost 60% alumina inclusions is measured with the aid of an automatic SEM, whereby spinel compounds from the Fe-Mn-Al-O system achieve highest filtration efficiencies.     

Genetically Encoded Libraries of Constrained Peptides

Many therapeutic peptides can still be improved with respect to target specificity, target affinity, resistance to peptidases/proteases, physical stability, and capacity to pass through membranes required for oral delivery. Several modifications can improve the peptides’ properties, in particular those that impose (a) conformational constraint(s). Screening of constrained peptides and the identification of hits is greatly facilitated by the generation of genetically encoded libraries. Recent breakthrough bacterial, phage, and yeast display screening systems of ribosomally synthesized post-translationally constrained peptides, particularly those of lanthipeptides, are earning special attention. Here we provide an overview of display systems for constrained, genetically encoded peptides and indicate prospects of constrained peptide-displaying phage and bacterial systems as such in vivo.     

Structural properties of nanocomposites based on resole-type phenol-formaldehyde oligomers and detonation nanodiamonds

Using the methods of infrared spectroscopy (IRS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), it was shown that short-term high-energy machining of detonation nanodiamonds (DND) leads to structural changes in the crystal structure and functional composition of the surface layer on particles. The possibility of spontaneous formation for stable colloidal systems with a narrow size distribution of mechanically activated DND in phenol-formaldehyde oligomers (PFO) was established. By molecular spectroscopy it was revealed that π → π* interactions of the aromatic rings of PFO are caused by orientational phenomena as a result of hydrogen bonds between an activated DND surface and functional groups of PFO. The effect of DND concentration on the curing reaction parameters ofpsgr the phenol-formaldehyde oligomer was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The concentration effect of mechanically activated nanodiamonds on the physical and mechanical characteristics of a composite material based on phenol-formaldehyde binder and polyamide paper (Nomex) was studied. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48582.     

Carbon nanotubes‐filled thermoplastic polyurethane–urea and carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber blend nanocomposites

This article reports the preparation and characterization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)‐filled thermoplastic polyurethane–urea (TPUU) and carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (XNBR) blend nanocomposites. The dispersion of the MWCNTs was carried out using a laboratory two roll mill. Three different loadings, that is, 1, 3, and 5 wt % of the MWCNTs were used. The electron microscopy image analysis proves that the MWCNTs are evenly dispersed along the shear flow direction. Through incorporation of the nanotubes in the blend, the tensile modulus was increased from 9.90 ± 0.5 to 45.30 ± 0.3 MPa, and the tensile strength at break was increased from 25.4 ± 2.5 to 33.0 ± 1.5 MPa. The wide angle X‐ray scattering result showed that the TPUU:XNBR blends were arranged in layered structures. These structures are formed through chemical reactions of ? NH group from urethane and urea with the carboxylic group on XNBR. Furthermore, even at a very low loading, the high degree of nanotubes dispersion results in a significant increase in the electrical percolation threshold. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40341.     

Nucleation and growth behavior of β-nucleated iPP during shear induced crystallization investigated by in-situ synchrotron WAXS and SAXS

Polymer crystallization under flow was investigated because final properties of polymers strongly depend on the crystalline structure and morphology formed during processing. In-situ synchrotron WAXS and SAXS were used to investigate the structure formation and morphological developments during quiescent and shear-induced crystallization of iPP with 3 different concentrations (0.01, 0.03 and 0.1 wt%) of β-nucleating agent. Under quiescent conditions, a high β-content was obtained at all those concentrations indicating the high β-nucleating efficiency of the nucleating agent. After application of shear, the β-nucleating ability at small concentration was retained, while at larger concentrations it was strongly retarded. Furthermore, the addition of β-nucleating agent was beneficial for the molecular alignment during processing, the anisotropic particles of β-nucleating agent were much more effective to align the molecular chains in the flow direction compared to isotropic ones. A crystallization scheme for the iPP β-nucleating agent under shear was proposed.     

Influence of a cyclic butylene terephthalate oligomer on the processability and thermoelectric properties of polycarbonate/MWCNT nanocomposites

The thermoelectric properties of melt-processed nanocomposites consisting of a polycarbonate (PC) thermoplastic matrix filled with commercially available carboxyl (–COOH) functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were evaluated. MWCNTs carrying carboxylic acid moieties (MWCNT-COOH) were used due the p-doping that the carboxyl groups facilitate, via electron withdrawing from the electron-rich π-conjugated system. Preliminary thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of MWCNT-COOH revealed that the melt-mixing was limited at low temperatures due to thermal decomposition of the MWCNT functional groups. Therefore, PC was mixed with 2.5 wt% MWCNT-COOH (PC/MWCNT-COOH) at 240 °C and 270 °C. In order to reduce the polymer melt viscosity, a cyclic butylene terephthalate (CBT) oligomer was utilized as an additive, improving additionally the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites. The melt rheological characterization of neat PC and PC/CBT blends demonstrated a significant decrease of the complex viscosity by the addition of CBT (10 wt%). Optical and transmission electron microscopy (OM, TEM) depicted an improved MWCNT dispersion in the PC/CBT polymer blend. The electrical conductivity was remarkably higher for the PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT composites compared to the PC/MWCNT-COOH ones. Namely, the PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT processed at 270 °C exhibited the best values with electrical conductivity; σ = 0.05 S/m, Seebeck coefficient; S = 13.55 μV/K, power factor; PF = 7.60 × 10⁻⁶μW/m K⁻², and thermoelectric figure of merit; ZT = 7.94 × 10⁻⁹. The PC/MWCNT-COOH/CBT nanocomposites could be ideal candidates for large-scale thermal energy harvesting, even though the presently obtained ZT values are still too low for commercial applications.     

Mechanical, rheological, and thermal behavior assessments in HDPE/PA-6/EVOH ternary blends with variable morphology

Visco-elastic and dielectric spectra of multiwalled carbon-nanotube reinforced silicon elastomer nanocomposites were used to study relaxation behavior. SEM photomicrographs shows well dispersion of MWCNT in elastomer matrix. In visco-elastic analysis primary relaxation was studied as a function of temperature (?100 to 100 °C) at frequency 1Hz and strain 1 %. The effect of MWCNT loadings on storage modulus, loss modulus, and loss tangent has been studied. The non-linearity in loss tangent, storage modulus and loss modulus was explained on the basis of MWCNT-elastomer interaction and the inter-aggregate attraction of MWCNT. The secondary β relaxation was studied using dielectric relaxation spectra in the frequency range of 0.1 Hz to 10⁶ Hz. The effect of MWCNT loadings on the complex and real parts of impedance was distinctly visible which has been explained on the basis of interfacial polarization of fillers in a heterogeneous medium and relaxation dynamics of polymer chains in the vicinity of fillers. The dielectric formalism has been utilized to further investigate the conductivity and relaxation phenomenon. The ‘percolation limit’ of the MWCNT in the silicon elastomer was found to be in the range of 4 phr loading.     

Anticancer Potential of (Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)chloridoiridium(III) Complexes Bearing κP and κP,κS‐Coordinated Ph2PCH2CH2CH2S(O)xPh (x=0–2) Ligands

Iridium(III) complexes of the type [Ir(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)Cl₂{Ph₂PCH₂CH₂CH₂S(O)_xPh‐κP}] (x=0–2; 1 – 3 ) and [Ir(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)Cl{Ph₂PCH₂CH₂CH₂S(O)_xPh‐κP,κS}][PF₆] (x=0–1; 4 and 5 ) with 3‐(diphenylphosphino)propyl phenyl sulfide, sulfoxide, and sulfone ligands Ph₂PCH₂CH₂CH₂S(O)_xPh were designed, synthesized, and characterized fully, including X‐ray diffraction analyses for complexes 3 and 4 . In vitro studies against human thyroid carcinoma (8505C), submandibular carcinoma (A253), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF‐7), colon adenocarcinoma (SW480), and melanoma (518A2) cell lines provided evidence for the high biological potential of the neutral and cationic iridium(III) complexes. Neutral iridium(III) complex 5 proved to be the most active, with IC₅₀ values up to about 0.1 μM , representing activities of up to one order of magnitude higher than cisplatin. Using 8505C cells, apoptosis was shown to be the main mechanism through which complex 5 exerts its tumoricidal action. The described iridium(III) complexes represent potential leads in the search for novel metal‐based anticancer agents.