Biodegradation in Freshwater: Comparison Between Compostable Plastics and Their Biopolymer Matrices.

Plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems is an increasing environmental concern, prompting the search for biodegradable polymer (BP) alternatives. However, their degradation in natural aquatic environments remains poorly investigated and understood. This four-month in situ study compared the degradation in a lentic freshwater ecosystem of two compostable items, Mater-Bi shopping bag and disposable dish, with their respective pure polymer matrices, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA).

Self-Surfactant Poly-3hydroxybutyrate--3hydroxyhexanoate (PHBHHx) for the Preparation of Usnic Acid Loaded Antimicrobial Nanoparticles Using Nontoxic Chemicals.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are naturally occurring polyesters with promising drug delivery applications. Their hydrophobicity enables lipophilic drug encapsulation, enhancing bioavailability but limiting colloidal stability and physiological compatibility. Surfactants crucially improve the nanoparticle dimensional stability, dispersion, wettability of hydrophobic matrices, and cellular interaction, yet conventional surfactants require additional purification and may pose physiological risks.

Pilot-Scale Acidogenic Fermentation of Reground Pasta Byproduct for Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production with Mixed Microbial Cultures.

The production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) has been herein investigated by using an organic acid mixture originated from a pilot-scale acidogenic fermentation (AF) of reground pasta (RP) byproduct. The pilot-scale AF process was conducted either under no pH control or with the pH maintained at a value of 5.90, with the two obtained fermented mixtures termed RP-fermented 1 and RP-fermented 2, respectively.

Influence of the 3-Hydroxyvalerate Content on the Processability, Nucleating and Blending Ability of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate--3-hydroxyvalerate)-Based Materials.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--3-hydroxyvalerate (P(3HB--3HV) copolymers are an attractive class of biopolymers whose properties can be tailored by changing the 3-hydroxyvalerate monomer (3HV) concentration, offering the possibility of counteracting problems related to high crystallinity, brittleness, and processability. However, there are few studies about the effects of 3HV content on the processability of copolymers. The present study aims to provide new insights into the effect of 3HV content on the processing step including common practices like compounding, addition of nucleation agents and/or amorphous polymers as plasticizers.

Nanostructured Poly-l-lactide and Polyglycerol Adipate Carriers for the Encapsulation of Usnic Acid: A Promising Approach for Hepatoprotection.

The present study investigates the utilization of nanoparticles based on poly-l-lactide (PLLA) and polyglycerol adipate (PGA), alone and blended, for the encapsulation of usnic acid (UA), a potent natural compound with various therapeutic properties including antimicrobial and anticancer activities. The development of these carriers offers an innovative approach to overcome the challenges associated with usnic acid's limited aqueous solubility, bioavailability, and hepatotoxicity. The nanosystems were characterized according to their physicochemical properties (among others, size, zeta potential, thermal properties), apparent aqueous solubility, and in vitro cytotoxicity.

Rapid Estimation of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) Composition Using ATR-FTIR.

A great research effort is involved in polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) production and characterization since they are an attractive degradable polyester family that potentially could substitute oil-based polymers. This is due to two main key factors: their production is sustainable, being that they are produced by microorganisms possibly fed by organic waste-derived products, and they are degradable. Moreover, PHAs' thermal and mechanical properties could be tuned by varying their monomeric composition through the proper selection of microorganism feedstock and bioreactor operative conditions.

Self-Healing and Reprocessable Oleic Acid-Based Elastomer with Dynamic S-S Bonds as Solvent-Free Reusable Adhesive on Copper Surface.

In the last decade, the application of dynamic covalent chemistry in the field of polymeric materials has become the subject of an increasing number of studies, gaining applicative relevance. This is due to the fact that polymers containing dynamic functions possess a structure that affords reprocessability, recyclability and peculiar self-healing properties inconceivable for "classic" polymer networks. Consequently, the synthesis of a dynamic covalent chemistry-based polymer and its chemical, thermal, and mechanical characterizations are reported in the present research.

Exploitation of wasted bread as substrate for polyhydroxyalkanoates production through the use of and seawater.

The use of the halophile microorganism , able to synthesize poly(hydroxybutyrate-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), is considered as a promising tool for the industrial production of bioplastic through bioprocessing. A consistent supplementation of the growth substrate in carbohydrates and minerals is overall necessary to allow its PHBV production. In this work, wasted bread was used as substrate for bioplastic production by microbial fermentation.

A Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)-Biochar Reactor for the Adsorption and Biodegradation of Trichloroethylene: Design and Startup Phase.

In this work, polyhydroxy butyrate (PHB) and biochar from pine wood (PWB) are used in a mini-pilot scale biological reactor (11.3 L of geometric volume) for trichloroethylene (TCE) removal (80 mgTCE/day and 6 L/day of flow rate). The PHB-biochar reactor was realized with two sequential reactive areas to simulate a multi-reactive permeable barrier.

Ethylic Esters as Green Solvents for the Extraction of Intracellular Polyhydroxyalkanoates Produced by Mixed Microbial Culture.

Volatile fatty acids obtained from the fermentation of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste can be used as raw materials for non-toxic ethyl ester (EE) synthesis as well as feedstock for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Taking advantage of the concept of an integrated process of a bio-refinery, in the present paper, a systematic investigation on the extraction of intracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--3-hydroxyvalerate), produced by mixed microbial culture by using EEs was reported. Among the tested EEs, ethyl acetate (EA) was the best solvent, dissolving the copolymer at the lowest temperature.

Cognitive Function in Children With Idiopathic Subclinical Hypothyroidism: Effects of 2 Years of Levothyroxine Therapy.

Background: Long-term consequences of mild subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) in children are still unclear, and the need for levothyroxine (L-T4) supplementation remains controversial. We designed a 2-year, case-control, prospective study of a cohort of children with SH to evaluate the effects of L-T4 therapy on neurocognitive outcome.

Methods: Thirty-four children, age 9.

Effects of L-thyroxine treatment on early markers of atherosclerotic disease in children with subclinical hypothyroidism.

Objective: To investigate the effect of levothyroxine (L-T4) treatment on early markers of atherosclerotic disease in children with mild idiopathic subclinical hypothyroidism (SH).

Design: Two-year, open, case-control prospective study.

Methods: A total of 39 children, aged 9.

Cardiovascular risk factors in children with long-standing untreated idiopathic subclinical hypothyroidism.

Context: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SH), defined as increased TSH serum levels and normal serum free T4 concentrations, has been associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease in adults. Data in children and adolescents are scanty.

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the clinical and biochemical cardiovascular risk factors in children with mild SH (serum TSH concentrations 4.

Precocious puberty in Turner Syndrome: report of a case and review of the literature.

Introduction: Turner Syndrome (TS) is caused by monosomy or structural abnormalities of the X chromosome, with a prevalence of about 1/2000 females live birth. Most important clinical features of TS are short stature and gonadal failure. Approximately one third of girls with TS may undergo spontaneous puberty.