Thermo-responsive diblock copolymers composed of hydrophilic methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) and hydrophobic biodegradable polyesters were prepared for application as injectable drug delivery systems, because they show a thermo-responsive sol-to-gel transition, especially around body temperature, when dispersed in aqueous solutions. The thermogelling hydrogels formed by hydrophobic aggrega...

In regenerative medicine, stem/progenitor cells are emerging as potential candidates for the treatment of renal failure. However, the mechanism of regeneration of renal tubules from stem/progenitor cells is not well-elucidated. In this study, a new method was developed for the generation of tubules replacing coating by extracellular matrix proteins. Renal stem/progenitor cells are mounted betwe...

The potential of three types of separator materials found in conventional blood-collection tubes for interference in therapeutic drug measurements was assessed. None of the separators (based on acrylic, silicone, or polyester polymers) had any significant effect on the concentrations of seven drugs (theophylline, digoxin, phenytoin, phenobarbital, gentamicin, ethanol, and cyclosporine) in blood...

OBJECTION The aim of this study is to determine the effect of clothing and the environment on human exposure to ultraviolet light. METHODS The ultraviolet (ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B) light intensity was measured, and air quality parameters were recorded in 2014 in Beijing, China. Three types of clothing (white polyester cloth, pure cotton white T-shirt, and pure cotton black T-shirt) we...

Lignin fibers typically influence the mixture performance of stone matrix asphalt (SMA), such as strength, stability, durability, noise level, rutting resistance, fatigue life, and water sensitivity. However, limited studies were conducted to analyze the influence of fibers on the percent voids in mineral aggregate in bituminous mixture (VMA) during the mixture design. This study analyzed the e...

Over the past few years there has been a great deal of interest in reducing experimental systems to a lab-on-a-chip scale. There has been particular interest in conducting high-throughput screening studies using microscale devices, for example in stem cell research. Microwells have emerged as the structure of choice for such tests. Most manufacturing approaches for microwell fabrication are bas...

In this study, a process has been developed for durable coating of sericin on polyester. Pre modification of polyester with alkali (sodium hydroxide) has been carried out to incorporate polar entities on its inert surface. 10g/L of sericin with 30mL/L of glutaraldehyde, cured at 130°C for 2min has been optimized for its application on modified surface. Treated samples are tested for surface smo...

Two sets of segmented polyurethane (PU) elastomers were prepared from 4,4!-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI), 1,4-butanediol (BD) and a polyester or a polyether polyol, respectively. The molecular mass of both polyols was 1000 g/mol. The stoichiometric ratio of isocyanate and hydroxyl groups was 1 and the polyol/total diol ratio changed from 0 to 1 in 0.1 steps. One step bulk polymerization...

Industrial enzymes are often immobilized via chemical cross-linking onto solid supports to enhance stability and facilitate repeated use in bioreactors. For starch-degrading enzymes, immobilization usually places constraints on enzymatic conversion due to the limited diffusion of the macromolecular substrate through available supports. This study describes the one-step immobilization of a highl...