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Background : Division of the pulmonary ligament is standard in lower lobectomies, but its application in upper lobectomies remains controversial due to potential complications like atelectasis and bronchial kinking. This retrospective matched cohort study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ligament resection in upper lobectomies for oncological purposes. Methods : From January 2015 to December 2020, 988 patients who underwent minimally invasive upper lobectomies across multiple centers were identified. They were categorized into ligament resection and no ligament resection groups, with propensity score matching (PSM) to minimize confounding factors. Endpoints included operative time, pleural effusion, complications (frequency and Clavien-Dindo scores), chest drainage removal, length of stay, pleural space, collapse rate, and bronchial kinking. Results : Following PSM, 276 patients were included in each group, with no significant differences in baseline characteristics. Ligament resection correlated with longer operative times, increased lymphadenectomy sampling at station #9 ( p < 0.001), and a bigger change in the bronchial angle ( p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed for the other endpoints. Conclusions : Ligament resection during upper lobectomy may impact the bronchial angle without immediate postoperative outcome changes. Further research is necessary to comprehensively assess the risks and benefits of ligament resection in upper lobectomies for neoplastic disease.

Thoracotomy with rib spreading still remains the preferred approach for complex surgery. Rib fracture is considered a frequent involuntary event during this approach, but its real incidence has not been adequately investigated yet. In this study, we evaluated the incidence of rib fracture after thoracotomy, the possible risk factors and the relationship with post-operative pain and complications. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of single-institution patients submitted to lateral thoracotomy from January 2016 to June 2023. Exclusion criteria were traumatic etiology and a medical history of osteoporosis. The presence of rib fracture was retrieved by surgical reports or post-operative chest X-ray. Basal and evoked pain after surgery was assessed by Visual Analogue Scale. The considered 30-day post-operative complications were atelectasis, need of endoscopic broncho-aspiration, pneumonia and pleural effusion. A total of 367 consecutive patients underwent thoracotomy in the study period. The median age was 68 (interquartile range 60-75) years. Rib fracture was detected in 179/367 (48.8%) patients. Incidence did not significantly vary throughout years (p = 0.98). The risk of developing post-thoracotomy rib fractures was significantly associated with age greater than the median value (p = 0.003). The presence of rib fracture was related to significantly more elevated evoked pain at 48 h after surgery (p = 0.039) and a higher incidence of complications (32/179 vs 20/188; p = 0.047). Our study demonstrated that rib fracture occurs in almost half of the thoracotomies. Older patients are more likely to develop this event, which significantly correlates to increased evoked post-operative pain and higher rate of post-operative complications., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. Ethical approval and Research involving human participants and/or animals: The study, involving human participants, was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.  The retrospective study was conducted with permission from our Internal Review Board. Informed consent: Informed consent for the use of personal data for scientific reasons was obtained from all subjects involved in this study., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The need to develop synthetic bone substitutes with structures, properties, and functions similar to bone and capable of preventing microbial infections is still an ongoing challenge. This research is focused on the preparation and characterization of three-dimensional porous scaffolds based on hydroxyapatite (HA)-functionalized calcium carbonate loaded with silver nanoparticles and simvastatin (SIMV). The scaffolds were prepared using the foam replica method, with a polyurethane (PU) sponge as a template, followed by successive polymer removal and sintering. The scaffolds were then coated with poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) to improve mechanical properties and structural integrity, and loaded with silver nanoparticles and SIMV. The scaffolds were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), ATR FT-IR, and silver and SIMV loading. Moreover, the samples were analyzed by Brillouin and Raman microscopy. Finally, in vitro bioactivity, SIMV and silver release, and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were evaluated. From the Brillouin spectra, samples showed characteristics analogous to those of bone tissue. They exhibited new hydroxyapatite growth, as evidenced by SEM, and good antimicrobial activity against the tested bacteria. In conclusion, the obtained results demonstrate the potential of the scaffolds for application in bone repair.

Electroactive coatings for smart wearable textiles based on a furan bio-epoxy monomer (BOMF) crosslinked with isophorone diamine (IPD) and additivated with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are reported herein. The effect of BOMF/IPD molar ratio on the curing reaction, as well as on the properties of the crosslinked resins was first assessed, and it was found that 1.5:1 BOMF/IPD molar ratio provided higher heat of reaction, glass transition temperature, and mechanical performance. The resin was then modified with CNT to prepare electrically conductive nanocomposite films, which exhibited conductivity values increased by eight orders of magnitude upon addition of 5 phr of CNTs. The epoxy/CNT nanocomposites were finally applied as coatings onto a cotton fabric to develop electrically conductive, hydrophobic and breathable textiles. Notably, the integration of CNTs imparted efficient and reversible electrothermal behavior to the cotton fabric, showcasing its potential application in smart and comfortable wearable electronic devices., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: [Gennaro Gentile reports financial support was provided by Ministry of Education and Merit. Pierfrancesco Cerruti reports financial support was provided by Ministry of Education and Merit. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.]., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This paper focuses on the preparation and characterization of antibacterial alginate microparticles containing silver@hydroxyapatite functionalized calcium carbonate composites for tissue engineering. Microparticles were prepared by cross-linking a silver@composite sodium alginate dispersion with CaCl 2 . This method showed a very good silver efficiency loading and the presence of silver chloride nanoparticles was detected. Silver free microparticles, containing hydroxyapatite functionalized calcium carbonates and neat alginate microparticles were prepared as well. All microparticles were characterized for water absorption and for in vitro bioactivity by immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). Finally, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities as well as cytotoxicity were evaluated. Microparticles containing silver@composites exhibited good antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans, but exerted a certain cytotoxicity against the tested cell models (fibroblasts and osteoblasts). Microparticles containing hydroxyapatite functionalized calcium carbonates were found to be always less cytotoxic, also in comparison to neat alginate microparticles, proving that the presence of the inorganic matrices exerts a protective effect on microparticle cytotoxicity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has become the gold-standard approach for lung resections. Given the impossibility of digital palpation, we witnessed the progressive development of peri-centimetric and deeply located pulmonary nodule alternative detection techniques. Intra-operative lung ultrasound is an increasingly effective diagnostic method, although only a few small studies have evaluated its accuracy. This study analyzed the effectiveness and sensitivity of uniportal VATS with intra-operative lung ultrasound (ILU), in comparison to multiportal VATS, for visualizing solitary and deep-sited pulmonary nodules. Methods: Patient data from October 2021 to October 2023, from a single center, were retrospectively gathered and analyzed. In total, 31 patients who received ILU-aided uniportal VATS (Group A) were matched for localization time, operative time, sensitivity, and post-operative complications, with 33 undergoing nodule detection with conventional techniques, such as manual or instrumental palpation, in multiportal VATS (Group B). Surgeries were carried out by the same team and ILU was performed by a certified operator. Results: Group A presented a significantly shorter time for nodule detection [median (IQR): 9 (8-10) vs. 14 (12.5-15) min; p < 0.001] and operative time [median (IQR): 33 (29-38) vs. 43 (39-47) min; p < 0.001]. All nodules were correctly localized and resected in Group A (sensitivity 100%), while three were missed in Group B (sensitivity 90.9%). Two patients in Group B presented with a prolonged air leak that was conservatively managed, compared to none in Group A, resulting in a post-operative morbidity rate of 6.1% vs. 0% ( p = 0.16). Conclusions: ILU-aided uniportal VATS was faster and more effective than conventional techniques in multiportal VATS for nodule detection.

Multicomponent solid forms for the combined delivery of antimicrobials can improve formulation performance, especially for poorly soluble drugs, by enabling the modified release of the active ingredients to better meet therapeutic needs. Chitosan microspheres incorporating ozonated sunflower oil were prepared by a spray-drying method and using azelaic acid as a biocompatible cross-linker to improve the long time frame. Two methods were used to incorporate ozonated oil into microspheres during the atomization process: one based on the use of a surfactant to emulsify the oil and another using mesoporous silica as an oil absorbent. The encapsulation efficiency of the ozonated oil was evaluated by measuring the peroxide value in the microspheres, which showed an efficiency of 75.5-82.1%. The morphological aspects; particle size distribution; zeta potential; swelling; degradation time; and thermal, crystallographic and spectroscopic properties of the microspheres were analyzed. Azelaic acid release and peroxide formation over time were followed in in vitro analyses, which showed that ozonated oil embedded within chitosan microspheres cross-linked with azelaic acid is a valid system to obtain a sustained release of antimicrobials. In vitro tests showed that the microspheres exhibit synergistic antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa , E. coli , S. aureus , C. albicans and A. brasiliensis . This makes them ideal for use in the development of biomedical devices that require broad-spectrum and prolonged antimicrobial activity.

Introduction : Robotic and thoracoscopic surgery are being increasingly adopted as minimally invasive alternatives to open sternotomy for complete thymectomy. The superior maneuverability range and three-dimensional magnified vision are potential ergonomical advantages of robotic surgery. To compare the ergonomic characteristics of robotic versus thoracoscopic thymectomy, a previously developed scoring system based on impartial findings was employed. The relationship between ergonomic scores and perioperative endpoints was also analyzed. Methods : Perioperative data of patients undergoing robotic or thoracoscopic complete thymectomy between January 2014 and December 2022 at three institutions were retrospectively retrieved. Surgical procedures were divided into four standardized surgical steps: lower-horns, upper-horns, thymic veins and peri-thymic fat dissection. Three ergonomic domains including maneuverability, exposure and instrumentation were scored as excellent(score-3), satisfactory(score-2) and unsatisfactory(score-1) by three independent reviewers. Propensity score matching (2:1) was performed, including anterior mediastinal tumors only. The primary endpoint was the total maneuverability score. Secondary endpoints included the other ergonomic domain scores, intraoperative adverse events, conversion to sternotomy, operative time, post-operative complications and residual disease. Results : A total of 68 robotic and 34 thoracoscopic thymectomies were included after propensity score matching. The robotic group had a higher total maneuverability score ( p = 0.039), particularly in the peri-thymic fat dissection ( p = 0.003) and peri-thymic fat exposure score ( p = 0.027). Moreover, the robotic group had lower intraoperative adverse events ( p = 0.02). No differences were found in residual disease. Conclusions : Robotic thymectomy has shown better ergonomic maneuverability compared to thoracoscopy, leading to fewer intraoperative adverse events and comparable early oncological results.

Mining has led to severe environmental pollution in countries with exhaustive mining production and inadequate industrial waste regulation. Microorganisms in contaminated sites, like mine tailings, have adapted to high concentrations of heavy metals, developing the capacity of reducing or removing them from these environments. Therefore, it is essential to thoroughly characterize bacteria present in these sites to find different ways of bioremediation. In this regard, in this study, an enrichment and isolation procedure were performed to isolate bacteria with lower nutritional requirements and high tolerance to Cu(II) and Fe(II) from two Sonoran River basin mining tails. Two Staphylococcus species and a Microbacterium ginsengisoli strain were isolated and identified from the San Felipe de Jesús mining tail. Also, three strains were isolated from the Nacozari de García mining tail: Burkholderia cenocepacia, Sphingomonas sp. and Staphylococcus warneri. Significant microbiological differences were found between the two sites. All these species exhibited tolerance up to 300 mg/L for Cu (II)-Fe (II) solutions, indicating their capacity to grow in these conditions. Moreover, a consortium of isolated bacteria was immobilized in two different biocomposites and the biocomposite with larger pore size achieved greater bacterial immobilization showcasing the potential of these bacteria in biotechnological applications., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Oleogels containing silica-silver-based nanomaterials were prepared to be used as potential antimicrobial treatment for preventing and curing skin infections. Fumed silica was used as a bifunctional excipient able to offer support to silver-based nanoparticle growth and act as a gelling agent for oleogel formulation. First, silica-silver composites were prepared following a sustainable method by contact of fumed silica and silver nitrate in the presence of ethanol and successive UV irradiation. The composites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ATR FT-IR spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The presence of 8-20 nm spherical nanoparticles, in addition to the silica aggregates and AgNO 3 crystals, was detected. The composites showed good antimicrobial activity against the Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis . Thus, they were formulated in an oleogel, obtained using fumed silica as a gelling agent. For comparison, oleogels containing AgNO 3 were prepared according to two different formulative techniques. The silica-silver-based oleogels showed good antimicrobial activity and did not show cytotoxic effects for fibroblasts and keratinocytes.

In the modern era when screening and early surveillance of pulmonary nodules are increasing in importance, the management of the pulmonary nodule represents a different challenge to thoracic surgeons. The difficulty lies in the merging of sound surgical and oncological principles with more minimally invasive and appropriate lung-sparing surgery. The success rates of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) resection for smaller as well as subsolid nodules have increased as a result of radiologists' preoperative localization tools. Fast tracking in thoracic surgery is promoted by proper postoperative care for patients having lobectomies in combination with the VATS technique. Image-guided surgery refers to the application of a real-time correlation of the surgical field to preoperative imaging data collection that reflects the precise placement of a chosen surgical instrument in the adjacent anatomic structures. Among the cross-sectional digital imaging techniques the most widely utilized imaging modalities for image-guided therapy are computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Additionally, surgical navigation devices, tracking tools, integration software, ultrasound, and angiography are used to support these procedures. For people who are thinking about implementing or optimizing a nodule localization program in view of workflow patterns, surgeon preferences, and institutional resources in a certain facility, this review provides in-depth, unbiased evaluation and offers useful information., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Polish Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons (Polskie Towarzystwo KardioTorakochirurgów) and the editors of the Polish Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (Kardiochirurgia i Torakochirurgia Polska).)

Background: Despite notable advances made in preoperative staging, unexpected nodal metastases after surgery are still significantly detected. In this study we aim to analyze the upstaging rate in patients with clinical stage I NSCLC without evidence of nodal disease in the preoperative staging who underwent lobectomy and radical lymphadenectomy., Methods: Patients who underwent lobectomy and systematic lymphadenectomy for clinical stage I NSCLC were evaluated. Exclusion criteria included the neoadjuvant treatment, incomplete resection and no adherence to preoperative guidelines., Results: A total of 297 patients were included in the study. 159 patients were female, and the median age was 68 (61 - 73). The variables that showed a significant correlation with the upstaging rate at the univariate analysis were the number of resected lymph nodes and micropapillar/solid adenocar-cinoma subtype. This result was confirmed in the multivariate analysis with a OR= 2.545 (95%CI 1.136-5.701; p=0.02) for the number of resected lymph nodes and a OR=2.717 (95%CI 1.256-5.875; p=0.01) for the high-grade pattern of adenocarcinoma., Conclusion: Our results showed that in a homogeneous cohort of patients with clinical stage I NSCLC, the number of resected lymph nodes and the histological subtype of adenocarcinoma can significantly be associated with nodal metastasis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Gallina, Marinelli, Tajè, Forcella, Alessandrini, Cecere, Fusco, Visca, Sperduti, Ambrogi, Cappuzzo, Melis and Facciolo.)

The primary objectives of the study were to analyse the robotic approach and ultrasound-guided paravertebral block compared to thoracoscopic intercostal nerve block after robotic pulmonary lobectomy on postoperative pain and opioids use. The secondary objectives were to analyse and compare patients' necessity of additional antalgic drugs and patients' performance during respiratory therapy, following robotic surgery and in the two groups. Consecutively, 52 patients undergoing robotic pulmonary lobectomies were treated either with ropivacaine-based intercostal nerve block or paravertebral block from February 2022 to October 2022. When necessary, morphine was administered at day 1. Acetaminophen was administered as an additional antalgic drug on demand up to 3 g per day. Pain was measured 1 h after the end of the surgical procedure and daily through the pain numeric rating scale (NRS). Morphine administration rate and per day and total additional administrations of acetaminophen were recorded. Pain and opioids administration was measured 1 month after the procedure. Data were analysed in the overall population and in the intercostal nerve block group VS paravertebral block group. Overall, 34.6% of the patients required morphine administration and 51.7% of the patients required at least daily acetaminophen administration up to discharge. At 1 month postoperatively, four patients presented with chronic pain and one still was under opioid medication. At intergroup analysis, the paravertebral block group demonstrated lower NRS at fixed time points (p < 0.0001) and lower morphine consumption (45.7%VS11.8%; p = 0.02). Acetaminophen rescue administration at fixed time points was lower in the paravertebral block group (p < 0.0001) and mobility and dynamic pain resulted in better results (p = 0.03; p = 0.04). At 1 month, no differences were found between study groups. Similarly to other minimally invasive techniques, postoperative pain may arise after robotic pulmonary lobectomy. Paravertebral bloc can help to reduce postoperative pain as well as morphine and antalgic drugs administration and improve early mobilization., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Unexpected spread to regional lymph nodes can be found in up to 10% of patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), thereby affecting both prognosis and treatment. Given the known relation between systemic inflammation and tumor progression, we sought to evaluate whether blood-derived systemic inflammation markers might help to the predict nodal outcome in patients with stage Ia NSCLC., Methods: Preoperative levels of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic inflammation score (SII, platelets × NLR) were collected from 368 patients who underwent curative lung resection for NSCLC. After categorization, inflammatory markers were subjected to logistic regression and time-event analysis in order to find associations with occult nodal spread and postoperative nodal recurrence., Results: No inflammation marker was associated with the risk of occult nodal spread. SII showed a marginal effect on early nodal recurrence at a quasi-significant level ( p = 0.065). However, patients with T1c tumors and elevated PLR and/or SII had significantly shorter times to nodal recurrence compared to T1a/T1b patients ( p = 0.001), while patients with T1c and normal PLR/SII did not ( p = 0.128)., Conclusions: blood-derived inflammation markers had no value in the preoperative prediction of nodal status. Nevertheless, our results might suggest a modulating effect of platelet-derived inflammation markers on nodal progression after the resection of tumors larger than 2 cm.

Objectives: Uniportal incision located at 4th or 5th intercostal space represents a problem for the correct drainage of distal areas of pleural cavity. The T-shaped tube can drain both the extremities of pleural space. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of T-chest tube compared to classic chest tube after uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery., Methods: We compared the effectiveness of T-tube and classic 28 CH chest drainage after different surgical procedures in uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery: lobectomies, wedge resections and pleural and mediastinal biopsies. As primary end points, drained effusion and evidence of pneumothorax at postoperative day 1, subcutaneous emphysema, tube kinking, obstruction and necessity of repositioning or postoperative thoracentesis were considered. Pain at 6 and 24 h after surgery, pain at tube removal and mean hospitalization were analysed as secondary end points., Results: A total of 109 patients were selected for the study, 51 included to the T-tube group while the other 58 ones to the control group with classic drainage. Patients with T-tube showed a significantly lower rate of pneumothorax (29.4% vs 63.8%; P < 0.001), tube kinking (5.9% vs 27.6%; P = 0.003) and need of repositioning (2.0% vs 12.1%; P = 0.043). No significant results were obtained in subcutaneous emphysema (P = 0.26), tube obstruction (P = 0.32), drained effusion (P = 0.11) and need of postoperative thoracentesis (P = 0.18). Patients with T-tube complained of <6 h after surgery (P < 0.001). Conversely, T-tube removal was reported to be more painful (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Chest T-tube can achieve significantly lower rate of postoperative pneumothorax, kinking and repositioning with less pain 6 hours after surgery compared to classic tube., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.)

Background: The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer defined types of surgical resection and considered the positivity of the highest mediastinal lymph node resected a parameter of "uncertain resection" (R-u). We investigated the metastases in the highest mediastinal lymph node, defined as the lowest numerically numbered station among those resected. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of R-u compared with R0., Materials and Methods: We selected 550 patients with non-small cell lung cancer at clinical Stage I, IIA, IIB (T3N0M0), or IIIA (T4N0M0) undergoing lobectomy and systematic lymphadenectomy between 2015 and 2020. The R-u group included patients with positive highest mediastinal resected lymph node., Results: In the groups of patients with mediastinal lymph node metastasis, we defined 31 as R-u (45.6%, 31/68). The incidence of metastases in the highest lymph node was related to the pN2 subgroups ( p  < 0.001) and the type of lymphadenectomy performed ( p  < 0.001). The survival analysis compared R0 and R-u: 3-year disease-free survival was 69.0% and 20.0%, respectively, and 3-year overall survival was 78.0% and 40.0%, respectively. The recurrence rate was 29.7% in R0 and 71.0% in R-u ( p -value < 0.001), and the mortality rate was 18.9% and 51.6%, respectively ( p -value < 0.001). R-u variable showed a tendency to be a significant prognostic factor for disease-free survival and overall survival (hazard ratio: 4.6 and 4.5, respectively, p -value < 0.001)., Conclusions: The presence of metastasis in the highest mediastinal lymph node removed seems to be an independent prognostic factor for mortality and recurrence. The finding of these metastases represents the margin of cancer dissemination at the time of surgery, so it could imply metastasis into the N3 node or distant metastasis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2023 Marziali, Frasca, Ambrogi, Patirelis, Longo and Crucitti.)

Biodegradable metal alloys may be successfully used to support bone repair, avoiding second surgery commonly needed when inert metal alloys are used. Combining a biodegradable metal alloy with a suitable pain relief agent could improve patient quality of life. AZ31 alloy was coated using a poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) polymer loaded with ketorolac tromethamine using the solvent casting method. The ketorolac release profile from the polymeric film and the coated AZ31 samples, the PLGA mass loss of polymeric film, and the cytotoxicity of the optimized coated alloy were assessed. The coated sample showed a ketorolac release that was prolonged for two weeks, which was slower than that of just the polymeric film, in simulated body fluid. PLGA mass loss was complete after a 45-day immersion in simulated body fluid. The PLGA coating was able to lower AZ31 and ketorolac tromethamine cytotoxicity observed in human osteoblasts. PLGA coating also prevents AZ31 cytotoxicity, which was identified in human fibroblasts. Therefore, PLGA was able to control ketorolac release and protect AZ31 from premature corrosion. These characteristics allow us to hypothesize that the use of ketorolac tromethamine-loaded PLGA coating on AZ31 in the management of bone fractures can favor osteosynthesis and relief pain.

Different amounts of sodium-alendronate (ALN) were loaded into layered zirconium phosphates of alpha and gamma type (αZP and γZP) by means of topotactic exchange reactions of phosphate with ALN. In order to extend the exchange process to the less accessible interlayer regions, ALN solutions were contacted with colloidal dispersions of the layered solids previously exfoliated in single sheets by means of intercalation reaction of propylamine (for αZP) or acetone (for γZP). The ALN loading degree was determined by liquid P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and it was reported as ALN/Zr molar ratios (Rs). The maximum R obtained for γZP was 0.34, while αZP was able to load a higher amount of ALN, reaching Rs equal to 1. The synthesized compounds were characterized by X-ray powder diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), solid-state NMR, and infrared spectroscopy. The way the grafted organo-phosphonate groups were bonded to the layers of the host structure was suggested. The effect of ZP derivatives was assessed on cell proliferation, and the results showed that after 7 days of incubation, none of the samples showed a decrease in cell proliferation.

Silver nanoparticles are usually prepared by the reduction of silver cations through chemical and non-sustainable procedures that involve the use of reducing chemical agents. Therefore, many efforts have been made in the search for sustainable alternative methods. Among them, an ultrasound-assisted procedure could be a suitable and sustainable method to afford well-dispersed and nanometric silver particles. This paper describes a sustainable, ultrasound-assisted method using citrate as a reducing agent to prepare silver@hydroxyapatite functionalized calcium carbonate composites. For comparison, an ultrasound-assisted reduction was performed in the presence of NaBH 4 . The composites obtained in the presence of these two different reducing agents were compared in terms of nanoparticle nature, antimicrobial activity, and cytotoxic activity. The nanoparticle nature was investigated by several techniques, including X-ray powder diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopic measurements, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Nanoparticles with a predominance of Ag or Ag 3 PO 4 were obtained according to the type of reducing agent used. All composites were tested for antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative ( Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , respectively) bacteria and for cytotoxicity towards human skin keratinocytes and human fibroblasts. The nature of the nanoparticles, Ag or Ag 3 PO 4 , and their predominance seemed to affect the in vitro silver release and the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities. The composites obtained by the citrate-assisted reduction gave rise to the best results.

Recently, silver-based nanoparticles have been proposed as components of wound dressings due to their antimicrobial activity. Unfortunately, they are cytotoxic for keratinocytes and fibroblasts, and this limits their use. Less consideration has been given to the use of AgCl nanoparticles in wound dressings. In this paper, a sustainable preparation of alginate AgCl nanoparticles composite films by simultaneous alginate gelation and AgCl nanoparticle formation in the presence of CaCl 2 solution is proposed with the aim of obtaining films with antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities and low cytotoxicity. First, AgNO 3 alginate films were prepared, and then, gelation and nanoparticle formation were induced by film immersion in CaCl 2 solution. Films characterization revealed the presence of both AgCl and metallic silver nanoparticles, which resulted as quite homogeneously distributed, and good hydration properties. Finally, films were tested for their antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15692), and the yeast Candida albicans . Composite films showed antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against the tested bacteria and resulted as less active towards Candida albicans . Film cytotoxicity was investigated towards human dermis fibroblasts (HuDe) and human skin keratinocytes (NCTC2544). Composite films showed low cytotoxicity, especially towards fibroblasts. Thus, the proposed sustainable approach allows to obtain composite films of Ag/AgCl alginate nanoparticles capable of preventing the onset of infections without showing high cytotoxicity for tissue cells.

Calcium carbonate is an excipient traditionally used in solid dosage forms with several functions such as a diluent, a quick dissolution agent, a buffer and an opacifier. Recently, many other challenges have arisen for calcium carbonate and, among them, the possibility of using it as an excipient for improving the dissolution rate of poorly soluble drugs. As a consequence of their poor solubility in biological fluids, many active ingredients suffer from low and erratic bioavailability when administered by the oral route and thus, many formulation strategies and excipients have been proposed to overcome this problem. Among them, calcium carbonate has been proposed as an excipient for improving dissolution rates. Calcium carbonate has many interesting characteristics, in fact it dissolves quickly in gastric fluid, is inexpensive and is safe. It exists in different polymorphic forms and in porous morphology and recently a porous functionalized calcium carbonate has been proposed as a new excipient. This review is the first overview on the use of calcium carbonate as an excipient for improving drug dissolution rates. The drug loading procedure, the physical characterization of the drug/CaCO 3 samples and their dissolution profiles will be described. Moreover, the possible mechanisms of dissolution improvement, such as the presence of the drug in amorphous or polymorphic forms, in small crystals, and the effects of CaCO 3 dissolution in acidic medium will be discussed. Different polymorphic forms of calcium carbonate and the presence of porosity and functionalization will be analyzed as well and their effects on dissolution rates will be discussed.

Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are non-digestible oligosaccharides characterized by a mix of structures that vary in their degree of polymerization (DP) and glycosidic linkage between the galactose moieties or between galactose and glucose. They have enjoyed extensive scientific scrutiny, and their health-promoting effects are supported by a large number of scientific and clinical studies. A variety of GOS-associated health-promoting effects have been reported, such as growth promotion of beneficial bacteria, in particular bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, inhibition of pathogen adhesion and improvement of gut barrier function. GOS have attracted significant interest from food industries for their versatility as a bioactive ingredient and in particular as a functional component of infant formulations. These oligosaccharides are produced in a kinetically-controlled reaction involving lactose transgalactosylation, being catalyzed by particular β-galactosidases of bacterial or fungal origin. Despite the well-established technology applied for GOS production, this process may still meet with technological challenges when employed at an industrial scale. The current review will cover relevant scientific literature on the beneficial physiological properties of GOS as a prebiotic for the infant gut microbiota, details of GOS structures, the associated reaction mechanism of β-galactosidase, and its (large-scale) production.

Objectives: Non-small cell lung cancer can spread into lobe specific stations and non-lobe-specific mediastinal lymph nodes. We evaluated frequency and features of non-lobe specific nodal metastases, focusing especially on the prognostic value of only non-lobe specific N2-metastases after lobectomy., Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 550 patients with non-small cell lung cancer with clinical N0, undergoing lobectomy and systematic or lobe specific node dissection. We evaluated disease free and overall survival rates using Kaplan-Meier method and significance was tested by log-rank test., Result: Occult N2 disease was detected in 68 patients (8.1%), 26 of them (38.2%) had metastases in non-lobe specific stations. Comparing patients with lobe and non-lobe specific lymph node metastases, 3-years DFS rate was 44.4% vs. 20.0% (p-value = 0.009), while 3-years OS rate was 87.3% vs . 26.7% (p-value <0.001). Among patients with non-lobe specific metastases 16 of them (61.5%) had only non-lobe specific metastases, the remaining 10 patients (38.5%) had metastatic lymph node at the same time in non-lobe specific station but also in lobe-specific stations. Comparing post-operative survival between patients with only non-lobe specific metastases and synchronous lobe and non-lobe specific metastases, 3-years DFS rate was 12.5% vs. 41.3% respectively (p-value = 0.03), and 3-years OS rate was 12.5% vs 76.7% (p-value = 0.002)., Conclusion: In patients with occult N2 disease, the finding of a metastatic lymph node in a non-lobe specific station relates with significant lower survival rate. The subset of patients who presented only non-lobe specific node metastases showed a significant lower survival rate compared to the remaining occult N2., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

The use of lignocellulose-rich biowaste as reinforcing filler in biodegradable polymers represents a sustainable option to obtain cost-effective bio-based materials to be used for several applications. In addition, the scarce polymer-biofiller interaction can be improved by reactive functionalization of the matrix. However, the obtained biocomposites might show high thermal deformability and possibly a slow biodegradation rate. In this work, polylactic acid (PLA) was first chemically modified with itaconic anhydride, and then biocomposites containing 50 wt.% of pecan ( Carya illinoinensis ) nutshell (PNS) biowaste were prepared and characterized. Their physical and morphological properties were determined, along with their biodegradation behavior in soil. Moreover, the effects of two environmentally friendly physical treatments, namely ball-milling of the filler and thermal annealing on biocomposites, were assessed. Grafting increased PLA thermal-oxidative stability and crystallinity. The latter was further enhanced by the presence of PNS, achieving a 30% overall increase compared to the plain matrix. Accordingly, the biocomposites displayed mechanical properties comparable to those of the plain matrix. Thermal annealing dramatically increased the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of all materials, and the heat deflection temperature of the biocomposites dramatically increased up to 60 °C with respect to the non-annealed samples. Finally, PNS promoted PLA biodegradation, triggering the swelling of the composites under soil burial, and accelerating the removal of the polymer amorphous phase. These results highlight the potential of combining natural fillers and environmentally benign physicochemical treatments to tailor the properties of PLA biocomposites. The high biofiller content used in this work, in conjunction with the chemical and physico-mechanical treatments applied, increased the thermal, mechanical, and thermomechanical performance of PLA biocomposites while improving their biodegradation behavior. These outcomes allow for widening the application field of PLA biocomposites in those areas requiring a stiff and lightweight material with low deformability and faster biodegradability.

Due to a very low mixing entropy, most of the polymer pairs are immiscible. As a result, mixing polymers of different natures in a typical mechanical recycling process leads to materials with multiple interfaces and scarce interfacial adhesion and, consequently, with unacceptably low mechanical properties. Adding nanoparticles to multiphase polymeric matrices represents a viable route to mitigate this drawback of recycled plastics. Here, we use low amounts of organo-modified clay (Cloisite® 15A) to improve the performance of a ternary blend made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephtalate (PET). Rather than looking for the inherent reinforcing action of the nanofiller, this goal is pursued by using nanoparticles as a clever means to manipulate the micro-scale arrangement of the polymer phases. Starting from theoretical calculations, we obtained a radical change in the blend microstructure upon the addition of only 2-wt.% of nanoclay, with the obtaining of a finer morphology with an intimate interpenetration of the polymeric phases. Rather than on flexural and impact properties, this microstructure, deliberately promoted by nanoparticles, led to a substantial increase (>50 °C) of a softening temperature conventionally defined from dynamic-mechanical measurements.

Background: Existing devices detect main breathing data and none is aimed to monitor biomechanics of ventilation motions with small wearable device., Methods: The used device has been designed for noninvasive wearing to detect main motion parameters of a rib during ventilation in an experimental campaign with 218 subjects. Experimental activity is carried out by testing in vivo with human volunteers for an experimental characterization of ventilation motions as related to normal breathing, maximal breathing and coughing., Findings: Findings can be summarized from a numerical analysis of experimental results in terms of statistical values of ventilation motion parameters in rotation and acceleration as function of age and sex of the tested subjects. The discussed campaign reporting results on healthy patients was carried out with the aim to build a reference database of normal conditions against which the status of patients with both thoracic and ventilation problems can then be judged. Females showed significantly larger lateral-to-lateral movements during basal breathing and lateral-to-lateral Z-axis movements during maximal breathing and cough. Males demonstrated wider antero-posterior Y-axis and cranio-caudal X-axis movements during maximal breathing, while antero-posterior movements prevailed during cough. Older participants demonstrated larger lateral-to-lateral Z-axis and antero-posterior Y-axis movements during basal breathing. Young participants showed more significant increments along antero-posterior Y-axis from basal to maximal breathing and basal to cough, demonstrating a more efficient muscular activity., Interpretation: The ventilation motion during ventilation act is useful to detect the status of ventilation and can give indications for diagnostics and medical solutions even in thoracic surgery., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors deaclare no conflict of intersts regarding the content of the paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Wounds represent a major global health challenge. Acute and chronic wounds are sensitive to bacterial infection. The wound environment facilitates the development of microbial biofilms, delays healing, and promotes chronic inflammation processes. The aim of the present work is the development of chitosan films embedded with bud poplar extract (BPE) to be used as wound dressing for avoiding biofilm formation and healing delay. Chitosan is a polymer with antimicrobial and hydrating properties used in wound dressing, while BPE has antibacterial, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties. Chitosan-BPE films showed good antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties against Gram-positive bacteria and the yeast Candida albicans . BPE extract induced an immunomodulatory effect on human macrophages, increasing CD36 expression and TGFβ production during M1/M2 polarization, as observed by means of cytofluorimetric analysis and ELISA assay. Significant antioxidant activity was revealed in a cell-free test and in a human neutrophil assay. Moreover, the chitosan-BPE films induced a good regenerative effect in human fibroblasts by in vitro cell migration assay. Our results suggest that chitosan-BPE films could be considered a valid plant-based antimicrobial material for advanced dressings focused on the acceleration of wound repair., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Mesothelioma has a scant prognosis and a great impact on symptoms and the quality of life. Pleurectomy/decortication and extrapleural pneumonectomy are the two cytoreductive surgical strategies, with different invasiveness, but achieving similar oncological results. Hereafter, the two surgical procedures effects on symptoms and the quality of life are compared in a high symptom-burden population. Between 2003 and 2017, 55 consecutive patients underwent pleurectomy/decortication ( n = 26) or extrapleural pneumonectomy ( n = 29), both followed by adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy. Cardio-pulmonary function, symptoms and the quality of life (Short-Form-36 and St.George's questionnaires) were evaluated pre- and 3-, 6-, 12- and 24-months postoperatively. Extrapleural pneumonectomy demonstrated lower pain at 12 months but a higher decrement of forced vital capacity at 24 months than pleurectomy/decortication. Both procedures revealed a 3-months improvement of many symptoms and the quality of life determinants. Improvement in physical, social and pain-related measured parameters lasted for a longer time-spawn in the extrapleural pneumonectomy group. No differences were found in chemotherapy compliance and survival between groups. Age-at-presentation ( p = 0.02) and non-epitheliod histology ( p = 0.10) were the only significant prognosticators. Surgery, despite poor survival results, improved symptoms and the quality of life in patients with mesothelioma with high symptom-burden at diagnosis. Therefore, extrapleural pneumonectomy demonstrated the most durable effects.

Objectives: Thymomectomy is gaining consensus over complete thymectomy in early-stage thymoma without myasthenia gravis. This is due both to the difficulty of establishing prospective and randomized controlled studies and to the lack of well-defined selection criteria. This bicentric, retrospective propensity score-matched study aims at comparing oncological outcomes, measured in terms of overall survival and thymoma-related survival, in patients undergoing either thymomectomy or complete thymectomy., Methods: We retrospectively analysed medical records of patients with clinical early-stage (I and II) thymoma undergoing thymomectomy or complete thymectomy. Exclusion criteria were the presence of myasthenia gravis, clinical advanced tumours and thymic carcinoma. A propensity score-matching analysis was applied to reduce potential preoperative selection biases such as comorbidity (Charlson score), tumour maximal diameter and surgical approach (open versus minimal). All variables were dichotomized., Results: A total of 255 patients were enrolled from 2 different Hospitals, 126 underwent complete thymectomy and 129 a thymomectomy. Disease-free and thymoma-related survivals showed a 5-year rate of 87.7% and 96.0% and a 10-year rate of 82.2% and 91.9%, respectively. Propensity score-matching analysis selected a total of 176 patients equally divided between the 2 groups. No difference was found for both disease-free (P = 0.11) and thymoma-related (P = 0.37) survival in the 2 groups of resection. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that histology (P < 0.001), residual disease (P < 0.001) and adjuvant chemotherapy (P < 0.001) were the only predictors of shorter disease-free survival. Whereas there was no evidence to confirm that disease-free and thymoma-related survivals were influenced by resection extent., Conclusions: Thymomectomy is an adequate surgical resection for non-myasthenic thymoma, achieving disease-free and thymoma-related survivals comparable to those after complete thymectomy., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.)

The feasibility of performing pulmonary resections of peripheral lung nodules has been one of the main objectives of non-intubated thoracic surgery. The aim was to obtain histological characterization and extend a radical intended treatment to oncological patients unfit for general anesthesia or anatomic pulmonary resections. There is mounting evidence for the role of wedge resection in early-stage lung cancer treatment, especially for frail patients unfit for general anesthesia and anatomic resections with nodules, demonstrating a non-aggressive biological behavior. General anesthesia with single lung ventilation has been associated with a higher risk of ventilator-induced barotrauma and volotrauma as well as atelectasis in both the dependent and non-dependent lungs. Nonetheless, general anesthesia has been shown to impair the host immune system, eventually favoring both tumoral relapses and post-operative complications. Thus, non-intubated wedge resection seems to definitely balance tolerability with oncological radicality in highly selected patients. Nonetheless, differently from other non-surgical techniques, non-intubated wedge resection allows for histological characterization and possible oncological targeted treatment. For these reasons, non-intubated wedge resection is a fundamental skill in the core training of a thoracic surgeon. Main indications, surgical tips, and post-operative management strategies are hereafter presented. Non-intubated wedge resection is one of the new frontiers in minimal invasive management of patients with lung cancer and may become a standard in the armamentarium of a thoracic surgeon. Appropriate patient selection and VATS expertise are crucial to obtaining good results., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ambrogi, Patirelis and Tajè.)

Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) have emerged as an important class of functional materials that are suitable for a wide range of applications, such as sensors, actuators, and soft robotics. The unique properties of LCEs originate from the combination between liquid crystal and elastomeric network. The control of macroscopic liquid crystalline orientation and network structure is crucial to realizing the useful functionalities of LCEs. A variety of chemistries have been developed to fabricate LCEs, including hydrosilylation, free radical polymerization of acrylate, and polyaddition of epoxy and carboxylic acid. Over the past few years, the use of click chemistry has become a more robust and energy-efficient way to construct LCEs with desired structures. This article provides an overview of emerging LCEs based on click chemistries, including aza-Michael addition between amine and acrylate, radical-mediated thiol-ene and thiol-yne reactions, base-catalyzed thiol-acrylate and thiol-epoxy reactions, copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition, and Diels-Alder cycloaddition. The similarities and differences of these reactions are discussed, with particular attention focused on the strengths and limitations of each reaction for the preparation of LCEs with controlled structures and orientations. The compatibility of these reactions with the traditional and emerging processing techniques, such as surface alignment and additive manufacturing, are surveyed. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of using click chemistry for the design of LCEs with advanced functionalities and applications are discussed.

Background: Different video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) approaches can be adopted to perform lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer. Given the hypothetical link existing between postoperative inflammation and long-term outcomes, we compared the dynamics of systemic inflammation markers after VATS lobectomy performed with uniportal access (UNIVATS), multiportal access (MVATS), or hybrid approach (minimally invasive hybrid open surgery, MIHOS)., Methods: Peripheral blood-derived inflammation markers (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte [NTL] ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte [PTL] ratio, and systemic immune-inflammation index [SII]) were measured preoperatively and until postoperative day 5 in 109 patients undergoing UNIVATS, MVATS, or MIHOS lobectomy. Differences were compared through repeated-measure analysis of variance, before and after 1:1:1 propensity score matching. Time-to-event analysis was also done by measuring time to NTL normalization, based on the reliability change index for each patient., Results: After UNIVATS, there was a faster decrease in NTL ratio ( p  = 0.015) and SII ( p  = 0.019) compared with other approaches. MVATS exhibited more pronounced PTL rebound ( p  = 0.011). However, all these differences disappeared in matched analysis. After MIHOS, NTL ratio normalization took longer (mean difference: 0.7 ± 0.2 days, p  = 0.047), yet MIHOS was not independently associated with slower normalization at Cox's regression analysis ( p  = 0.255, odds ratio: 1.6, confidence interval: 0.7-4.0). Furthermore, surgical access was not associated with cumulative postoperative morbidity, nor was it with incidence of postoperative pneumonia., Conclusion: In this study, different VATS approaches resulted into unsubstantial differences in postoperative systemic inflammatory response, after adjusting for confounders. The majority of patients returned back to preoperative values by postoperative day 5 independently on the adopted surgical access. Further studies are needed to elaborate whether these small differences may still be relevant to patient management., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background : Persistent air leak is a common complication after lung resection causing prolonged length of stay and increased healthcare costs. Surgical intervention can be an option, but other more conservative approaches should be considered first. Here, we describe the use of flexible bronchoscopy to apply fibrin glue and autologous blood sequentially to the damaged lung. We named the technique "flexible thoracoscopy"., Methods: Medical records from patients with persistent air leaks after lung resection were collected retrospectively. Depending on the type of aerostasis that was performed, two groups were created: flexible thoracoscopy and surgery (thoracotomy). Flexible thoracoscopy was introduced at our institution in 2013. We entered the pleural space with a bronchoscope following the same surgical pathway that was used for tube thoracostomy. Perioperative characteristics and outcomes were analyzed using R software (ver. 3.4.4)., Results: From 1997 to 2021, a total of 23 patients required an intervention for persistent air leaks. Aerostasis was performed via flexible thoracoscopy in seventeen patients (69%) and via thoracotomy in six patients (31%). The median age was 70 years (22-82). Twenty patients were males (87%). There was no difference in age, sex distribution, BMI, comorbidities and FEV1%. An ASA score of 3 was more represented in the flexible thoracoscopy group; however, no evidence of a difference was found when compared to the thoracotomy group ( p = 0.124). Length of in-hospital stay and chest tube duration was also similar between groups ( p = 1 and p = 0.68, respectively)., Conclusions: Aerostasis achieved either by flexible thoracoscopy or by thoracotomy showed similar results. We believe that flexible thoracoscopy could be a valid alternative to facilitate minimally invasive treatments for persistent air leaks. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.

Biodegradable polymer composites reinforced with agri-food lignocellulosic biowaste represent cost-effective and sustainable materials potentially able to replace traditional composites for structural, household, and packaging applications. Herein, the preparation of polylactic acid (PLA)/pecan (Carya illinoinensis) nutshell (PNS) biocomposites at high filler loading (50 wt%) is reported, alongside the effect of two environmentally friendly physical treatments, namely ball-milling of the filler and thermal annealing on biocomposites. PNS enhanced the thermal stability, the viscoelastic response, and the crystallinity of the polymer. Furthermore, filler ball-milling also increased the melt fluidity of the biocomposites, potentially improving melt processing. Finally, the presence of PNS remarkably enhanced the effect of thermal annealing in the compounds. In particular, heat deflection temperature of the biocomposites dramatically increased, up to 60 °C with respect to the non-annealed samples. Overall, these results emphasize the potential of combining natural fillers and environmentally benign physical treatments to tailor the properties of PLA biocomposites, especially for those applications which require a stiff and lightweight material with low deformability., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The paper examines the problem of respiration monitoring with easily wearable instrumentation by using a smart device that is properly designed and implemented with small and light components. The practical implementation is presented both in practical aspects and from experimental results by following a properly defined method with a medical-like protocol and specific procedure of testing. The results of a statistically significant campaign of experimental tests are reported with the characteristic data from the angles and acceleration components of a sensed rib both to validate the smart device and the procedure for respiration monitoring.

The efficiency of photomobile polymers (PMP) in the conversion of light into mechanical work plays a fundamental role in achieving cutting-edge innovation in the development of novel applications ranging from energy harvesting to sensor approaches. Because of their photochromic properties, azobenzene monomers have been shown to be an efficient material for the preparation of PMPs with appropriate photoresponsivity. Upon integration of the azobenzene molecules as moieties into a polymer, they act as an engine, allowing fast movements of up to 50 Hz. In this work we show a promising approach for integrating ZnO nanoparticles into a liquid crystalline polymer network. The addition of such nanoparticles allows the trapping of incoming light, which acts as diffusive points in the polymer matrix. We characterized the achieved nanocomposite material in terms of thermomechanical and optical properties and finally demonstrated that the doped PMP was better performing that the undoped PMP film.