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Macroporous monoliths represent now widely used materials whose successful application strongly depends on their characteristics. Among those the average pore size is one of the key parameters. In this paper, we consider the applicability of theoretical calculations for the selection of appropriate porogens to generate the materials with required average pore size. A set of macroporous poly(meth)acrylate monoliths was synthesized via thermo‐ and photo‐initiated free radical polymerization and characterized in regards to their average pore size. Additionally, the difference in solubility parameters as well as Hansen's solubility parameter distance between monomers and porogens were calculated for each polymerization mixture using Hildebrand's and Hansen's solubility theories. The theoretical predications and experimental data were compared and analyzed to establish the applicability of theoretical calculations to previse average pore size for different systems. It was found that Hildebrand's theory seems to be poorly appropriate as universal tool, while Hansen's theoretical approach explained better the efficiency of solvents as porogens. The application of oligomers and polymer solutions due to the increase of viscosity as well as the variation of crosslinker amount in the monomer system can be singled out as Hansen's theory limitations at the prediction of the average pore size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

For many diabetics, daily, lifelong insulin injections are required to effectively manage blood glucose levels and the complications associated with the disease. This can be a burden and reduces patient quality of life. Our goal was to develop a more convenient oral delivery system that may be suitable for insulin and other peptides. Insulin was entrapped in 1.5-mm beads made from denatured whey protein isolate (dWPI) using gelation. Beads were then air-dried with fumed silica, Aerosil®. The encapsulation efficiency was ~61% and the insulin loading was ~25 µg/mg. Dissolution in simulated gastric-, and simulated intestinal fluids (SGF, SIF) showed that ~50% of the insulin was released from beads in SGF, followed by an additional ~10% release in SIF. The omission of Aerosil® allowed greater insulin release, suggesting that it formed a barrier on the bead surface. Circular dichroism analysis of bead-released insulin revealed an unaltered secondary structure, and insulin bioactivity was retained in HepG2 cells transfected to assess activation of the endogenous insulin receptors. Insulin-entrapped beads were found to provide partial protection against pancreatin for at least 60 min. A prototype bead construct was then synthesised using an encapsulator system and tested in vivo using a rat intestinal instillation bioassay. It was found that 50 IU/kg of entrapped insulin reduced plasma glucose levels by 55% in 60 min, similar to that induced by subcutaneously (s.c.)-administered insulin (1 IU/kg). The instilled insulin-entrapped beads produced a relative bioavailability of 2.2%. In conclusion, when optimised, dWPI-based beads may have potential as an oral peptide delivery system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The depletion of limited petroleum resources used for the fabrication of epoxy resins calls for the development of biomass-based epoxides as promising alternatives to petroleum-derived epoxides. However, it is challenging to obtain an epoxy resin with both high lignin content and excellent mechanical performance. Herein, a 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP)-lignin epoxide with a certain epoxy value and a small molecular weight is obtained by the catalysis of DMAP for the macromolecular lignin. It was discovered that compared to the prepared composite resin of benzyltriethylammonium chloride (BTEAC)-lignin epoxide, there is a better low-temperature storage modulus for the DMAP-lignin epoxide resin and its composite resins with high-biomass contents, and higher tensile strength for its composite resins. In particular, the DMAP-lignin epoxide/ bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) (DB) composite resin with DMAP-lignin epoxide replacement of 80 wt% BADGE, containing up to 58.0 wt% the lignin epoxide, exhibits the tensile strength of 76.3 ± 3.2 MPa. Its tensile strength is 110.2% of BTEAC-lignin epoxide/BADGE (BB) composite resins and is comparable to that of petroleum-based epoxy resins. There are good application prospects for the DB composite resin in the engineering plastics, functional composite, grouting, and other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

[Display omitted] Polypeptide consisting of ψ- N -isopropyl glutamine and glutamic acid (90 : 10, mol/mol) was synthesized by post- polymerization modification of poly(ψ-methyl glutamate). The obtained polypeptide exhibited thermoresponsive properties with the lowest critical solution temperature in the range of 41–54 °C depending on the medium and polymer concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...