Kraft lignin/polyurethane composites with enhanced mechanical strength, bioactive functionality, and superior wet wood adhesion.

Conventional additives used in composite resins, widely employed in various industrial and domestic applications particularly in polymer composite films and wood adhesives, pose significant environmental and health concerns due to their petrochemical origins. To address this challenge, we developed a novel polyurethane (LPU) composite resin integrated with kraft lignin (KL) as a bio-based additive, exhibiting excellent multifunctional properties. The synthesis involved reacting poly(ε-caprolactone) diol and citric acid with 2,4-toluene diisocyanate, followed by the incorporation of KL and castor oil (CO) as reactive bio-additives to enhance the functionality of the LPU.

Catechin-capped silver-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticle enhanced photocatalytic toxic dye degradation.

Doping-associated surface modification is a powerful strategy to enhance the photocatalytic potential of n-type semiconductor nanomaterials. Silver (Ag) is one of the most effective dopants that can result in the retardation of the electron hole recombination-generating Schottky barrier at the TiO interface with a simultaneous extension of absorption to the visible region. This work presents a study on the effect of catechin, a bioactive principle polyphenol compound found in various plants, on the synthesis, Ag-doping and stabilization of TiO nanoparticles (TiONPs).

Ruthenium complex based nanocomposite film with enhanced and selective electrochemical sensing of bifenthrin pesticide.

Bifenthrin (BF), a widely used pyrethroid pesticide in farming, lacks highly sensitive and selective sensors despite its extensive application. Ruthenium complexes are very effective for selective sensing applications but suffer from structural instability at elevated conditions, electrochemical activity, and the use of costly electrolytes. This work improves their electrochemical activity and mechanical strength by incorporating silver nanowires and replacing the costly electrolyte with abundant KCl + PBS, resulting in enhanced signal performance.

Highly selective and flexible silver nanoparticles-based paper sensor for on-site colorimetric detection of paraquat pesticide.

Paper-based sensors or paper-based analytical devices (PADs) have recently emerged as the cost-efficient, and portable, on-site detection tools for various biological and environmental analytes. However, paper-based sensors often suffer from poor selectivity. Here, a single-step paper-based flexible sensor platform has been developed for the on-site detection of paraquat (PQ) pesticide in real samples, utilizing chitosan and citrate-capped silver nanoparticles integrated with a flexible paper.

Mechanically robust, transparent, and UV-shielding composite of Na-Alginate and maleic acid-functionalized boron nitride nanosheets with improved antioxidant property.

Maleic acid functionalized boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS-MA)/Na-Alginate composite with enhanced mechanical, UV-shielding and antioxidation properties have been fabricated for the first time by solvent evaporation from a homogeneous aqueous dispersion of BNNS-MA/Na-Alginate composite solution. The composite fabrication was driven by homogenous nano-integrations and chemistry of compatibilization of BNNS-MA with Na-Alginate through H-bonding interactions between -COOH functional group of BNNS-MA and -OH, -COONa groups of Na-Alginate. The BNNS-MA/Na-Alginate composites show significant enhancement of mechanical, UV-blocking and antioxidant properties compared to the Na-Alginate.

pH-Responsive Gallol-Functionalized Hyaluronic Acid-Based Tissue Adhesive Hydrogels for Injection and Three-Dimensional Bioprinting.

The major challenges of hyaluronic acid-based bioinks in extrusion-based three-dimensional bioprinting are poor printability and low printing accuracy. To tackle the challenges, we developed a bioink in which two components are blended: gallic acid-functionalized hyaluronic acid (HAGA) and hyaluronic acid methacrylate (HAMA). In the precursor phase, the blend's HAGA component enables pH-dependent viscosity modulation that results in improved injectability and printability at physiological temperature.

Sequential Cross-linking of Gallic Acid-Functionalized GelMA-Based Bioinks with Enhanced Printability for Extrusion-Based 3D Bioprinting.

The printability of a photocross-linkable methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) bioink with an extrusion-based 3D bioprinter is highly affected by the polymer concentration and printing temperature. In this work, we developed a gallic acid (GA)-functionalized GelMA ink to improve the printability at room and physiological temperatures and to enable tissue adhesion and antioxidant properties. We introduced a sequential cross-linking approach using catechol-Fe chelation, followed by photocross-linking.

Harnessing hyaluronic acid-based nanoparticles for combination therapy: A novel approach for suppressing systemic inflammation and to promote antitumor macrophage polarization.

Anti-inflammatory drugs such as dexamethasone (DEX) are commonly administered to cancer patients along with anticancer drugs, however, the effect of DEX on human cancers is poorly understood. In this article, we have tailored self-assembled nanoparticles derived from hyaluronic acid (HA) wherein, anti-inflammatory DEX was used as a hydrophobic moiety for inducing amphiphilicity. The HA-DEX micelles were subsequently loaded with chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin (DOX) (HA-DEX-DOX) and was utilized to deliver drug cargo to human cancer cells expressing different levels of CD44 receptors.

Photocross-linkable Methacrylated Polypeptides and Polysaccharides for Casting, Injecting, and 3D Fabrication.

For modern tissue engineering, we need not only develop new hydrogels but also suitable processing methods for them. Polypeptides and polysaccharides are potential candidates because they can be methacrylated, processed before photocross-linking, and yielded into hydrogels with given shape and form. In this study, we successfully methacrylated collagen, gelatin, hyaluronan, and alginate to 30 and 60% degree of modification.

Tissue adhesive hyaluronic acid hydrogels for sutureless stem cell delivery and regeneration of corneal epithelium and stroma.

Regeneration of a severely damaged cornea necessitates the delivery of both epithelium-renewing limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) and stroma-repairing cells, such as human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs). Currently, limited strategies exist for the delivery of these therapeutic cells with tissue-like cellular organization. With the added risks related to suturing of corneal implants, there is a pressing need to develop new tissue adhesive biomaterials for corneal regeneration.

Practical Aspects and Avoidance of Complications in Microendoscopic Spine Surgeries: A Review.

Introduction:  Although the indications for endoscopic procedures have increased in recent times, there are also some limitations. This review discusses the practical points to prevent and treat complications in microendoscopic spine surgery.

Material And Methods:  A literature search was conducted for the relevant articles after a topic search on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Medline.

Endoscopic surgery of spontaneous basal ganglionic hemorrhage.

Introduction: Although there are controversies about the optimal management of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), benefits of endoscopic procedures in ICH have been reported. This study is aimed to evaluate the result of 270 patients undergoing endoscopic treatment of ICH.

Methods: This was a retrospective study from July 2008 to June 2017.

Mediated Synthesis of Platinum and Palladium Nanoparticles for Induction of Apoptosis in Breast Cancer.

Green chemistry approaches for designing therapeutically significant nanomedicine have gained considerable attention in the past decade. Herein, we report for the first time on anticancer potential of phytogenic platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) and palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) using a medicinal plant tuber extract (GSTE). The synthesis of the nanoparticles was completed within 5 hours at 100°C which was confirmed by development of dark brown and black colour for PtNPs and PdNPs, respectively, along with enhancement of the peak intensity in the UV-visible spectra.

Endoscopic Anterior Approach for Cervical Disc Disease (Disc Preserving Surgery).

Objective: To report our experience of endoscopic disc removal by anterior approach for management of cervical myelopathy in 210 patients.

Methods: A retrospective study of 187 cases of single- and 23 cases of double-level disc disease was performed. Cases of myelopathy with or without unilateral or bilateral radiculopathy and unilateral radiculopathy with either soft or hard disc prolapse were included.

Full Endoscopic Vascular Decompression in Trigeminal Neuralgia: Experience of 230 Patients.

Background: Although most surgeons are using endoscopy as an adjunct to microscopy in microvascular decompression, a full endoscopic technique is less commonly performed. The present study is aimed to evaluate results of 230 patients of endoscopic vascular decompression.

Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital.

Endoscopic Management of Arnold-Chiari Malformation Type I with or without Syringomyelia.

Introduction:  Several different surgical techniques have been used in the treatment of patients with symptomatic Arnold-Chiari malformation type 1 (ACM-1) with or without syrinx. Endoscope-assisted decompression of the posterior fossa has been found to be safe and effective. We report our initial experience of endoscopic management of ACM-I.

Extent of Decompression of Lumbar Spinal Canal after Endoscopic Surgery.

 Endoscopic techniques are being used in lumbar disk disease and lumbar canal stenosis to decompress the spinal canal. The present study analyzed pre- and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements of the lumbar canal.  This was a prospective study of 30 lumbar levels.

Endoscopic Management of Spinal Intradural Extramedullary Tumors.

 Posterior midline laminectomy is associated with risks of postoperative instability, spinal deformity, extensive bilateral subperiosteal muscle stripping, partial or total facetectomy especially in foraminal tumor extension, increased cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and wound infection. Minimally invasive approaches with the help of a microscope or endoscope using hemilaminectomy have been found to be safe and effective. We report our initial experience of 18 patients using the endoscopic technique.

Microendoscopic Removal of Deep-Seated Brain Tumors Using Tubular Retraction System.

Background Retraction of the overlying brain can be difficult without causing significant trauma when using traditional brain retractors with blades. These retractors may produce focal pressure and may result in brain contusion or infarction. Tubular retractors offer the advantage of low retracting pressure that is less likely to be traumatic.

C-N Coupling of Amides with Alcohols Catalyzed by N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Phosphine Iridium Complexes.

N-Heterocyclic carbene-phosphine iridium complexes (NHC-Ir) were developed/found to be a highly reactive catalyst for N-monoalkylation of amides with alcohols via hydrogen transfer. The reaction produced the desired product in high isolated yields using a wide range of substrates with low catalyst loading and short reaction times.

Quaternary Indolizidine and Indolizidone Iminosugars as Potential Immunostimulating and Glycosidase Inhibitory Agents: Synthesis, Conformational Analysis, Biological Activity, and Molecular Docking Study.

New quaternary indolizidine iminosugars, with hydroxymethyl group at the ring junction, namely, C-8a-hydroxymethyl-1-deoxycastanospermine congeners 1a, 2a, 3a and their 3-oxo analogs 1b, 2b, and 3b were synthesized by using intramolecular reductive aminocyclization/lactamization of d-mannose/D-glucose derived C5-γ-azido esters as a key step wherein both the rings of the indolizidine skeleton were built up in one pot following the cascade reaction pathway. The conformations ((5)C8 or (8)C5) of 1-3 were assigned on the basis of the (1)H NMR studies. All compounds were found to be potent inhibitors of various glycosidase enzymes with Ki and IC50 values in the micromolar/nanomolar concentration range and further substantiated by molecular docking studies.

Avoiding Complications in Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy.

Endoscopic neurosurgical techniques hold the potential for reducing morbidity. But they are also associated with limitations such as the initial learning curve, proximal blind spot, visual obscurity, difficulty in controlling bleeding, disorientation, and loss of stereoscopic image. Although some of the surgical techniques in neuroendoscopy and microsurgery are similar, endoscopy requires additional skills.

Modified twist drill technique in the management of chronic subdural hematoma.

Aim: Burr-hole craniostomy is the most efficient and safe choice for surgical drainage of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). Although the twist-drill drainage is also relatively safe and time-saving, it carries the risk of inadequate drainage, brain penetration and hematoma formation. Our modified technique helps in avoiding bleeding and brain penetration.

Endoscopic transoral excision of odontoid process in irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation: our experience of 34 patients.

Background: The endoscopic excision of the odontoid process in irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD) can be achieved by transnasal, transoral, and transcervical approaches. Endoscopic transoral technique has been found to be effective and safe. It avoids palatal splitting or prolonged retraction.

α-Geminal dihydroxymethyl piperidine and pyrrolidine iminosugars: synthesis, conformational analysis, glycosidase inhibitory activity, and molecular docking studies.

The Jocic-Reeve and Corey-Link type reaction of dichloromethyllithium with suitably protected 5-keto-hexofuranoses followed by treatment with sodium azide and sodium borohydride reduction gave 5-azido-5-hydroxylmethyl substituted hexofuranoses 7a-c with required geminal dihydroxymethyl group. Removal of protecting groups and converting the C-1 anomeric carbon into free hemiacetal followed by intramolecular reductive aminocyclization with in situ generated C5-amino functionality afforded corresponding 5C-dihydroxymethyl piperidine iminosugars 2a-c. Alternatively, removal of protecting groups in 7b and 7c and chopping of C1-anomeric carbon gave C2-aldehyde that on intramolecular reductive aminocyclization with C5-amino gave 4C-dihydroxymethyl pyrrolidine iminosugars 1b and 1c, respectively.