High‑Performance Silicon‑Rich Microparticle Anodes for Lithium‑Ion Batteries Enabled by Internal Stress Mitigation

Si is a promising anode material for Li ion batteries because of its high specific capacity,abundant reserve,and low cost.However,its rate performance and cycling stability are poor due to the severe particle pulverization during the lithiation/delithiation process.The high stress induced by the Li concentration gradient and anisotropic deformation is the main reason for the fracture of Si particles.Here we present a new stress mitigation strategy by uniformly distributing small amounts of Sn and Sb in Si micron-sized particles,which reduces the Li concentration gradient and realizes an isotropic lithiation/delithiation process.The Si8.5Sn0.5Sb microparticles(mean particle size:8.22μm)show over 6000-fold and tenfold improvements in electronic conductivity and Li diffusivity than Si particles,respectively.The discharge capacities of the Si_(8.5)Sn_(0.5)Sb microparticle anode after 100 cycles at 1.0 and 3.0 A g^(-1)are 1.62 and 1.19 Ah g^(-1),respectively,corresponding to a retention rate of 94.2%and 99.6%,respectively,relative to the capacity of the first cycle after activation.Multicomponent microparticle anodes containing Si,Sn,Sb,Ge and Ag prepared using the same method yields an ultra-low capacity decay rate of 0.02%per cycle for 1000 cycles at 1 A g^(-1),corroborating the proposed mechanism.The stress regulation mechanism enabled by the industry-compatible fabrication methods opens up enormous opportunities for low-cost and high-energy-density Li-ion batteries.

Magnetic core-shell microparticles for oil removing with thermal driving regeneration property

Here, we report the construction of magnetic core-shell microparticles for oil removal with thermal driving regeneration property. Water-in-oil-in water (W/O/W) emulsions from microfluidics are used as templates to prepare core-shell microparticles with magnetic holed poly (ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate) (PETPTA) shells each containing a thermal-sensitive poly (N-Isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) core. The microparticles could adsorb oil from water due to the special structure and be collected with a magnetic field. Then, the oil-filled microparticles would be regenerated by thermal stimulus, in which the inner PNIPAM microgels work as thermal-sensitive pistons to force out the adsorbed oil. At the same time, the adsorbed oil would be recycled by distillation. Furthermore, the adsorption capacity of the microparticles for oil keeps very stable after 1st cycle. The adsorption and regeneration performances of the microparticles are greatly affected by the size of the holes on the outer PETPTA shells, which could be precisely controlled by regulating the interfacial forces in W/O/W emulsion templates. The optimized core-shell microparticles show excellent oil adsorption and thermal driving regeneration performances nearly without secondary pollution, and would be a reliable green adsorption material for kinds of oil.

Research into Antibacterial Effects of Polysaccharide-Based Microparticles

Background: Due to worldwide increases in the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, it is necessary to develop an active drug delivery system that can enable therapeutics to reach their molecular targets. Maintaining the concentration of any drug in the blood at a certain level for a long time is critical in the practice of drug therapy. With the increased frequency of drug use, the blood concentration of drugs exceeds the therapeutic level, leading to toxicity or ineffectiveness. To solve these problems, in recent years, much attention has been given to developing micro/nano preparations by encapsulating biologically active compounds on polymeric carriers. Therefore, we aimed to extract pectin from sea buckthorn peel, prepare microcapsules containing antibiotics, and determine their physical and chemical properties. Methods: Wastes were separated from sea buckthorn under “Medical raw materials Dry fruit of Hippophae rhamnoides MNS 5225:2002”. Pectin was isolated from sea buckthorn waste according to the “method for determination of pectins MNS3080:1981” standard. The degree of esterification was determined according to ISO 7623:2016. Antibiotic encapsulation with coacervates and water-based emulsions was performed. Antibiotic sensitivity was determined by microdilution according to the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (МТ100-S27) method. The results were determined between standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and MRSA ATCC 2758 at different dilution concentrations. Result: Pectin is a brown powder with a sour taste and no odor. There was 71.4% esterification of pectin, 8.9% yield, 1.3% free carboxyl group, 3.2% methylated carboxyl group, 4.5% total carboxyl group, 3.5% ash, and 0.1% nitrogen. A study of the antibacterial activity of pectin containing doxycycline hyclate found that the inhibition of bacterial growth was 0.8 times less than that of pure pectin. It was 1 time less than that of doxycycline alone, and 33 times smaller than that of wontaxime when compared to pure pectin. Pectin containing doxycycline hyclate inhibited MRSA growth at a concentration 6 times lower than pure pectin. This was 2 times lower than doxycycline alone, and 8 times lower than wontaxime. Conclusion: Pectin yields 1.3 after 60 minutes of separation at a sediment concentration ratio of 1:1.15 and pH = 2. Pectin itself is antibacterial against MRSA.

A Novel Facial Cream Based on Skin Penetrable Hemp Oil Microparticles

Objective: Hemp seed oil is perfect for most skin types;it moisturizes skin and protects it from inflammation, oxidation, and other causes of aging. The problem is that the Hemp oil-based products do not penetrate the skin;they remain on the skin’s surface. Recently researchers have been trying to prepare nano emulsions of hemp oil to facilitate its permeation to deep skin layers. In all techniques used today, surfactants are added to the emulsification process. These surfactants may cause unwanted skin side effects. In the present study, we prepare micronized Hemp (m-Hemp) without using any surfactants in the micronization process, thus avoiding the side effects associated with surfactant addition. Methods & Results: Particles size of m-Hemp was evaluated using electron microscopy. Various sizes of m-Hemp were found, the smallest being 100 nm in diameter. The antioxidation properties of m-Hemp were measured using the Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) technique and were found to be enhanced. Skin topography and morphology following a cream containing m-Hemp treatment were visualized by Optical Profilometry and ESEM respectively. The results show a marked improvement in skin topography in all measured parameters. In addition, human keratinocytes (HaCaT) were exposed to inflammatory conditions and were then treated using Hemp. As a result, one of the key inflammatory factors (IL-2) was significantly reduced after treatment with m-Hemp (p ≤ 0.0001). The skin penetration of the cream containing m-Hemp was tested on human skin using the IMOPE (Iterative Multi-plane Optical Property Extraction) system. The results indicate that m-Hemp penetrates both the stratum corneum and the deep epidermal layers towards the dermis. Conclusion: The new cream prepared with micronized Hemp shows significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects and demonstrates the entrance of m-Hemp to the skin epidermal layer.

Study of the Effect of Preoperative Dietary Intervention on Gastrointestinal Reaction of Microparticle TACE

Objective:To evaluate the effect of preoperative dietary intervention on the gastrointestinal reaction of microparticle transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE).Methods:A total of 60 patients with primary liver cancer who were treated in our hospital from January 2018 to October 2018 were selected for this study.The random sampling method was used to divide the patients into an intervention group(30 cases)and a control group(30 cases).The control group received routine intervention,whereas the intervention group received optimized nursing intervention.The incidence of gastrointestinal reactions,the vomiting frequency,the average vomiting volume,the incidence of stomach discomfort,the quality of life,and the anxiety and depression indicators of both groups were compared.Results:The results of all indicators of the intervention group were better than those of the control group.The incidence of gastrointestinal reactions in the intervention group was 13.9%,which was lower than 43.3%of the control group.The scores of QLQ-C30 of the intervention group were higher than those of the control group;the SAS and SDS scores in the intervention group were lower than those of the control group.Conclusion:Preoperative dietary intervention can reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal reactions of microparticle TACE and improve the symptoms of gastric discomfort among patients.

Comparison of chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay based on magnetic microparticles with traditional colorimetric ELISA for the detection of serum α-fetoprotein

A chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay based on magnetic microparticles (MmPs-CLEIA) was developed to evaluate serum a-fetoprotein (AFP) in parallel with traditional colorimetric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).A systematic comparison between the MmPs-CLEIA and colorimetric ELISA concluded that the MPs-CLEIA exhibited fewer dosages of immunoreagents,less total assay time,and better linearity,recovery,precision,sensitivity and validity.AFP was detected in forty human serum samples by the proposed MPs-CLEIA and ELISA,and the results were compared with commercial electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) kit.The correlation coefficient between MPs-CLEIA and ELISA was obtained with R 2 0.6703;however,the correlation between MPs-CLEIA and ECLIA (R 2 0.9582) was obviously better than that between colorimetric ELISA and ECLIA (R 2 0.6866).

Synthesis and morphology of triangular pyramid-shaped puerarin microparticle with nanostructure

A type of triangular pyramid-shaped microparticles of puerarin was synthesized by using oil-in-oil microemulsion approach which is simple and economical under the action of copper substrate.The pyramid-shaped microparticles would be made up of deposit of nanospheres or nanorods and have two significant characters.One is its complex surface morphology like coral reef.The other is a lot of nanopores in existence in the microparticle body.Two possible formation routes were speculated.

Seasonal and Spatial Variability of Microparticles in Snowpits on the Tibetan Plateau, China

The work presents microparticle concentrations in snowpits from the East Rongbuk Glacier on Mt. Qomolangma (Everest) (ER) (28.02°N, 86.96°E, 6536 m a.s.l.), the Zhadang Glacier on Mt. Nyainqentanglha (NQ) (30.47°N, 90.65°E, 5800m a.s.l.), and the Guoqu Glacier on Mt. Geladaindong (GL) (33.95°N, 91.28°E, 5823m a.s.l.) over the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Variations of microparticle and major ions (e.g. Mg2+, Ca2+) concentrations in snowpits show that the values of the microparticles and ions in the non-monsoon seasons are much higher than those in the monsoon seasons. Annual flux of microparticle deposition at ER is lower than those at NQ and GL, which could be attributed to the long distance away from the possible dust source regions as well as the elevation for ER higher than the others. Compared with other remote areas, microparticle concentrations in the southern TP are much lower than those in the northern TP, but still much higher than those in Greenland and Antarctica. The seasonal and spatial microparticle variations are clearly related to the variations of atmospheric circulation according to the air mass 5-day backward trajectory analyses of HYSPLIT Model. Resultingly, the high microparticle values in snow are mainly attributed to the westerlies and the strong dust storm outbreaks on the TP, while the monsoon circulation brings great amount of precipitation from the Indian Ocean, thus reducing in the aerosol concentrations.

Preparation of Thermosensitive Chitosan Formulations Containing 5-Fluorouracil/Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate Microparticles Used as Injectable Drug Delivery System

The auto-gelling and drug release properties of the thermosensitive chitosan-β-glycerophosphate formulation were investigated. According to rheological study, gelation lag time of chitosan/β-glycerophosphate （GP） solutions varied from 2 to 60min with different deacetylation degree of chitosan, pH, gelation temperature, and the particles in the sol. The gelation properties were also found to influence the release profilles of a hydrophilic drug, 5-fluorouracil （5-FU）. Morphological examination by scanning electron microphotography demonstrated that large ＂pores＂ occurred during the gel-forming process, which created hydrophilic environment and led to the rapid initial release of the drug （85% in f＇LrSt 8h）. Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate （PHB）, a biodegradable material, was applied here as scaffold to capture 5-FU into microparticles with high encapsulation efficiency by solvent-nonsolvent method. Combination of these microparticles into the chitosan-β-GP formulation could drop the rapid initial release from 85% down to 29% in the optimized PHB content （75%, by mass）. The release could sustain for about 10 months. Tiffs study provided an understanding of the potential of injectable implant using thermosensitive chitosan-β-GP formulation containing PHB based particles for the water soluble drugs that need the property of long-term delivery.

Synthesis of Iron-containing Carbon Microparticles from Deoiled Asphalt and Ferrocene

The deoiled asphalt as the carbon source and the ferrocene as the metal source and the catalyst precursor were chosen to synthesize iron-containing carbon microparticles through co-carbonization at the temperature of about 450℃ for 3 h. The resulting products were treated at 2 000 ℃ for 2 h. All samples were examined by high resolution transmission electron microscopy （HRTEM） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The results show that the iron particles in the heat-treated material are completely coated by carbon. In addition to the fully filled carbon microparticles as well as hollow carbon ones, also form carbon fibers with hollow centers. The formation mechanism of the as-prepared products was discussed briefly.

Role of microparticles in endothelial dysfunction and arterial hypertension

Microparticles are small cell vesicles that can be released by almost all eukaryotic cells during cellular stress and cell activation. Within the last 1-2 decades it has been shown that microparticles are useful blood surrogate markers for different pathological conditions, such as vascular inflammation, coagulation and tumour diseases. Several studies have investigated the abundance of microparticles of different cellular origins in multiple cardiovascular diseases. It thereby has been shown that microparticles released by platelets, leukocytes and endothelial cells can be found in conditions of endothelial dysfunction, acute and chronic vascular inflammation and hypercoagulation. In addition to their function as surrogate markers, several studies indicate that circulating microparticles can fuse with distinct target cells, such as endothelial cells or leukocyte, and thereby deliver cellular components of their parental cells to the target cells. Hence, microparticles are a novel entity of circulating, paracrine, biological vectors which can influence the phenotype, the function and presumably even the transcriptome of their target cells.This review article aims to give a brief overview about the microparticle biology with a focus on endothelial activation and arterial hypertension. More detailed information about the role of microparticles in pathophysiology and disease can be found in already published work.

Supercritical Antisolvent Precipitation of Microparticles of Quercetin

Supercritical antisolvent (SAS) process is a recently developed technology to produce micro- and nano particles. This paper presents a continuous apparatus to conduct experiment of SAS process. With the apparatus, the effects of pressure, temperature and flow ratio of CO2 to the solution on the shape and size of particles are studied for the quercetin-ethanol-CO2 system. Spherical quercetin microparticles with diameters ranging form 1 μm to 6μm can be obtained while ethanol is used as organic solvent. The most effective fact on the shape and size of particles is pressure, the next is temperature and the last is the flow ratio of CO2 to solution.

Dynamics of circulating microparticles in chronic kidney disease and transplantation:Is it really reliable marker?

The deterioration of endothelial structure plays a very important role in the development of vascular diseases. It is believed that endothelial dysfunction starts in the early stage of kidney disease and is a risk factor of an unfavorable cardiovascular prognosis. Because a direct assessment of biological states in endothelial cells is not applicable, the measurement of endothelial microparticles(EMPs) detached from endothelium during activation or apoptosis is thought to be a marker of early vascular disease and endothelial dysfunction in children with chronic kidney disease(CKD). Few studies have shown increased circulating EMPs and its relationship with cardiovascular risk factors in patients with CKD.MPs contain membrane proteins and cytosolic material derived from the cell from which they originate. EMPs having CD144, CD 146, CD31+/CD41-, CD51 and CD105 may be used to evaluate the vascular endothelial cell damage and determine asymptomatic patients who might be at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease in CKD and renal transplant.

Microparticle Formation and Crystallization Rate of HMX with Supercritical CO_2 Antisolvent Recrystallization

Microparticle formation and crystallization rate of 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-l,3,5,7-tetraazacyclooctane (HMX) in acetone solution using supercritical carbon dioxide antisolvent (GAS) recrystallization were studied. Scanning electronic microscopy, X-ray diffraction and infrared radiation were used to examine particle size, crystallinity and chemical structure. The results show that B-HMX microparticle in different average size (2-9.5um) and with narrow size distribution were obtained by controlling the expansibility, expansion speed, initial concentration and temperature during recrystallization of HMX. The formation of nuclei may be a main cause of consumption of solute when the solution is expanded rapidly enough and the equilibrium concentration is lower, in which almost monodisperse microparticle can be obtained.

Biocompatibility of Porous Spherical Calcium Carbonate Microparticles on Hela Cells

Recently there has been a wide concern on inorganic nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers. CaCO3 particles have shown promising potential for the development of carriers for drugs, but little research had been performed regarding their safe dosage for maximizing the therapeutic activity without harming biosystems. In this study, we assessed the biological safety of porous spherical CaCO3 microparticles on Hela cells. The reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), carbonyl content in proteins (CCP), DNA-protein crosslinks (DPC) and cell viability were measured. Results showed that with the exposure concentration increase, ROS and CCP in Hela cells presented a significant increase but GSH contents in Hela cells and cell viability showed a significant decrease respectively compared with the control. DPC coefficient ascended, but no statistically significant changes were observed. The results indicated that porous spherical CaCO3 microparticles may induce oxidative damage to Hela cells. But compared with other nanomaterials, porous spherical CaCO3 appeared to have good biocompatibility. The results implied that porous spherical calcium carbonate microparticles could be applied as relatively safe drug vehicles, but with the caveat that the effect of high dosages should not be ignored when attempting to maximize therapeutic activity by increasing the concentration.

Flexible Ag Microparticle/MXene-Based Film for Energy Harvesting

Ultra-thin flexible films have attracted wide attention because of their excellent ductility and potential versatility.In particular,the energy-harvesting films(EHFs)have become a research hotspot because of the indispensability of power source in various devices.However,the design and fabrication of such films that can capture or transform di erent types of energy from environments for multiple usages remains a challenge.Herein,the multifunctional flexible EHFs with e ective electro-/photo-thermal abilities are proposed by successive spraying Ag microparticles and MXene suspension between on waterborne polyurethane films,supplemented by a hot-pressing.The optimal coherent film exhibits a high electrical conductivity(1.17×10^(4)S m^(-1)),excellent Joule heating performance(121.3℃)at 2 V,and outstanding photo-thermal performance(66.2℃ within 70 s under 100 mW cm^(-1)).In addition,the EHFs-based single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerators(TENG)give short-circuit transferred charge of 38.9 nC,open circuit voltage of 114.7 V,and short circuit current of 0.82μA.More interestingly,the output voltage of TENG can be further increased via constructing the double triboelectrification layers.The comprehensive ability for harvesting various energies of the EHFs promises their potential to satisfy the corresponding requirements.

The role of a drug-loaded poly(lactic co-glycolic acid)(PLGA) copolymer stent in the treatment of ovarian cancer

Objectives:Cisplatin(CDDP)is a widely used and effective basic chemotherapeutic drug for the treatment of a variety of tumors,including ovarian cancer.However,adverse side effects and acquired drug resistance are observed in the clinical application of CDDP.Identifying a mode of administration that can alleviate side effects and reduce drug resistance has become a promising strategy to solve this problem.Methods:In this study,3 D printing technology was used to prepare a CDDP-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(CDDP-PLGA)polymer compound stent,and its physicochemical properties and cytotoxicity were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo.Results:The CDDP-PLGA stent had a significant effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis and clearly decreased the size of subcutaneous tumors in nude mice,whereas the systemic side effects were mild compared with those of intraperitoneal CDDP injection.Compared with the control group,CDDP-PLGA significantly increased the mRNA and protein levels of p-glycoprotein(P<0.01;P<0.01)and decreased vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA(P<0.05)and protein levels(P<0.01),however,CDDP-PLGA significantly decreased the mR NA and protein levels of p-glycoprotein(P<0.01;P<0.01)and vascular endothelial growth factor(P<0.01;P<0.01),which are associated with chemoresistance,in subcutaneous tumor tissue.Immunohistochemistry assay results revealed that,in the CDDP-PLGA group,the staining of the proliferation-related genes Ki67 and PCNA were lightly,and the apoptosis-related gene caspase-3 stained deeply.Conclusions:PLGA biomaterials loaded with CDDP,as compared with the same amount of free CDDP,showed good efficacy in terms of cytotoxicity,as evidenced by changes in apoptosis.Continuous local CDDP release can decrease the systemic side effects of this drug and the occurrence of drug resistance and angiogenesis,and improve the therapeutic effect.This new approach may be an effective strategy for the local treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer.

Subchronic Oral Toxicity of Silica Nanoparticles and Silica Microparticles in Rats

Objective To investigate the subchronic oral toxicity of silica nanoparticles（NPs） and silica microparticles（MPs） in rats and to compare the difference in toxicity between two particle sizes.Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups： the control group; the silica NPs low-, middle-, and high-dose groups; and the silica MPs low-, middle-, and high-dose groups [166.7,500, and 1,500 mg/（kg·bw·day）]. All rats were gavaged daily for 90 days, and deionized water was administered to the control group. Clinical observations were made daily, and body weights and food consumption were determined weekly. Blood samples were collected on day 91 for measurement of hematology and clinical biochemistry. Animals were euthanized for necropsy, and selected organs were weighed and fixed for histological examination. The tissue distribution of silicon in the blood, liver,kidneys, and testis were determined.Results There were no toxicologically significant changes in mortality, clinical signs, body weight,food consumption, necropsy findings, and organ weights. Differences between the silica groups and the control group in some hematological and clinical biochemical values and histopathological findings were not considered treatment related. The tissue distribution of silicon was comparable across all groups.Conclusion Our study demonstrated that neither silica NPs nor silica MPs induced toxicological effects after subchronic oral exposure in rats.

Preparation and Crystal Modification of Ibuprofen-Loaded Solid Lipid Microparticles

An emulsion-congealing technique is used to prepare solid lipid microparticles （SLM） containing ibuprofen with glyceryl behenate, tripalmitin and beewax as excipients. The difference of the solubility parameters between the excipients and ibuprofen are used to analyze their compatibility. Both the solubility parameter analysis and the experimental results show that glyceryl behenate is the best among the three excipients. The solid particles disperse well in aqueous phase when the drug loading reaches 10% （relative to lipid only）. Glycerides exhibit marked polymorphism and their rapid rates of crystallization accelerate the formation of metastable crystal modification. The metastable crystal modification characterizes high drug loading capacity but less stability. Increasing the content of lipophilic drug in a lipid matrix facilitates the transformation of excipients to more stable polymorphic forms.

Changes in the frequency of myeloid-derived suppressor cells after transarterial chemoembolization with gelatin sponge microparticles for hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose: A series of clinical studies have established the safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) with gelatin sponge microparticles(GSMs) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). HCC can lead to obvious necrosis inside tumors, especially larger ones, although it is unclear whether such necrotic tumor tissue can induce favorable immune reactions against the tumor. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells(MDSCs)have immunosuppressive functions and are currently considered a very important cell type affecting tumor immunity. This study observed changes in MDSC frequency in peripheral blood before and after GSM–TACE to evaluate the effect on the immune function of HCC patients.Methods: Eight patients diagnosed with HCC underwent GSM–TACE treatment in the Hepatobiliary Interventional Department of Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Hospital, Beijing, China;we followed up with the patients over a period of 30 days post-surgery. We used flow cytometry(FCM) to quantify the frequency of MDSCs in peripheral blood before TACE, 10 days after surgery and 30 days after surgery.Results: MDSC frequency after GSM–TACE had a significant downward trend. Pre-TACE, it was 30.73% ? 11.93%,decreasing to 18.60% ? 11.37% at 10 days after operation. This decrease was not statistically significant(P > 0.05). MDSC frequency was even lower 30 days after TACE(7.63% ? 7.32%) than at 10 days after TACE(P < 0.05), and there was a significant difference compared with pre-TACE(P < 0.001). We evaluated tumor response at 30 days after GSM–TACE according to the Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(mRECIST), and all eight patients showed partial response(PR).Conclusion: Our results confirmed that GSM–TACE was beneficial for improving anti-tumor immunity in the treatment of HCC.