Concentric chiral nematic polymeric fibers from cellulose nanocrystals

A cellulose nanocrystal liquid crystalline suspension was mixed with monomers and confined to a capillary tube. After photopolymerization, a fiber with a single-domain concentric chiral nematic structure throughout the length of the fiber was obtained.

Contact crystallization of substances from solutions using evaporating refrigerants

Objectives. The aim of this study was to analyze the possibility of using contact crystallization with evaporating refrigerants for the isolation of substances from their aqueous solutions using salts [KNO3, NaI, and (NH2)2CO] as extraction examples and sucrose. Isobutane was used as a refrigerant.Methods. The analysis of the influence of the main technological parameters (i.e., solution’s cooling temperature, initial concentration, and compressed refrigerant vapor pressure) on the separation process and identification of its regularities was performed using mathematical dependencies previously developed by N.I. Gelperin and G.A. Nosov for each stage of the contact crystallization process. The authors studied the influence of these parameters on the yield of crystalline and liquid phases, refrigerant consumption, and compressor power.Results. The study showed that the use of evaporating refrigerants can significantly intensify the process of separating the mixture and spent refrigerant from the resulting crystalline suspension. This occurs owing to the evaporation of the liquid refrigerant that is in contact with the solution, which is accompanied by intense cooling. This process can be carried out at the temperature difference between the refrigerant and crystallizing mixture in the range of 0.5–1.0°C.Conclusions. Contact crystallization with evaporating refrigerants can be successfully applied to separate various substances from aqueous solutions. An important advantage of this process is the relatively low refrigerant consumption because heat removal from the solution is carried out as a result of changes in the aggregate state of the refrigerant. The use of contact crystallization can also considerably simplify the equipment.

A randomized, phase IIa study to assess the systemic exposure of triamcinolone acetonide following injection of extended-release triamcinolone acetonide or traditional triamcinolone acetonide into both knees of patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis

Background: Intra-articular corticosteroids are commonly used for pain relief in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Simultaneous intra-articular corticosteroid (CS) knee injections may be beneficial for the ~80–90% of patients who present with, or develop, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, but concurrent injections may increase systemic CS exposure and data on safety/tolerability are lacking. Triamcinolone acetonide extended release (TA-ER) has shown decreased systemic triamcinolone acetonide exposure compared with traditional triamcinolone acetonide crystalline suspension (TAcs) after a single knee injection in patients with knee osteoarthritis. This phase IIa study was designed to assess the safety and systemic triamcinolone acetonide exposure following injections of TA-ER or TAcs into each knee of patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Patients (⩾40 years) meeting American College of Rheumatology criteria for knee osteoarthritis in both knees received concurrent single intra-articular injections of TA-ER 32 mg or TAcs 40 mg into each knee (total: 64 mg and 80 mg, respectively) and were followed for 6 weeks. Safety was evaluated based on treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Blood samples for pharmacokinetic analysis were collected pre-injection, and at the following postinjection time points: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 24 h, and days 8, 15, 29, and 43. Results: Baseline characteristics were balanced between patients randomly assigned to TA-ER ( n = 12) or TAcs ( n = 12). Both treatments were well tolerated with comparable TEAE profiles. Peak plasma triamcinolone acetonide concentrations (Cmax) were lower following bilateral TA-ER injections [geometric mean, 2277.7 pg/ml (95% CI, 1602.13–3238.04)] compared with bilateral TAcs injections [7394.7 pg/ml (2201.06–24,843.43)], with median times to Cmax (Tmax) of 4.5 and 6.5 h, respectively. Conclusions: In patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis, intra-articular injection of TA-ER into both knees was well tolerated. Consistent with pharmacokinetic profiles observed after a single knee injection, plasma triamcinolone acetonide concentrations were lower after bilateral TA-ER injections compared with the higher and more variable concentrations observed after bilateral TAcs injections. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03378076

Bacteriophage nanofiber fabrication using near field electrospinning

Using liquid crystalline suspension of the phage, we successfully fabricated nano- and microscale pure phage fibers. Through a near field electrospinning process, we fabricated the desired phage fiber pattern with tunable direction and spacing.