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Gelatin-based hydrogels with excellent mechanical properties and conductivities are desirable, but their fabrication is challenging. In this work, an innovative approach for the preparation of gelatin-based conductive hydrogels is presented that improves the mechanical and conductive properties of hydrogels by integrating Z–Gln–Gly into gelatin polymers via enzymatic crosslinking. In these hydrogels (Gel–TG–ZQG), dynamic π–π stacking interactions are created by the introduction of carbobenzoxy groups, which can increase the elasticity and toughness of the hydrogel and improve the conductivity sensitivity by forming effective electronic pathways. Moreover, the mechanical properties and conductivity of the obtained hydrogel can be controlled by tuning the molar ratio of Z–Gln–Gly to the primary amino groups in gelatin. The hydrogel with the optimal mechanical properties (Gel–TG–ZQG (0.25)) exhibits a high storage modulus, compressive strength, tensile strength, and elongation at break of 7.8 MPa at 10 °C, 0.15 MPa at 80% strain, 0.343 MPa, and 218.30%, respectively. The obtained Gel–TG–ZQG (0.25) strain sensor exhibits a short response/recovery time (260.37 ms/130.02 ms) and high sensitivity (0.138 kPa−1) in small pressure ranges (0–2.3 kPa). The Gel–TG–ZQG (0.25) hydrogel-based sensors can detect full-range human activities, such as swallowing, fist clenching, knee bending and finger pressing, with high sensitivity and stability, yielding highly reproducible and repeatable sensor responses. Additionally, the Gel–TG–ZQG hydrogels are noncytotoxic. All the results demonstrate that the Gel–TG–ZQG hydrogel has potential as a biosensor for wearable devices and health-monitoring systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present investigation, an collagen fibre (CF), abundant natural biomass, was successfully grafted by polyethyleneimine (PEI). The resultant PEI grafted collagen fibre (CF-PEI) was employed as biocompatible and high cell loading support matrix for the immobilization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. The as-prepared CF-PEI immobilized cells (CF-PEI-cell) exhibited high activity and stability for both batch and continuous fermentation. In batch fermentation, CF-PEI-cells showed enhanced stability as compared with other matrices supported cells, and produced an average ethanol concentration of 45.04 g/L with ethanol yield (YP/S) of 0.46 g/g and glucose conversion efficiency (η) of 90.4%. Continuous fermentation was operated stably in a down-flow trickling bed reactor charged with CF-PEI-cell for a total of 2 months. When the dilution rate was 0.16 1/h, the average ethanol productivity reached 7.18 g/(L h) with η of 88.94%. Further scanning electron microscopy observations confirmed that yeast cells can proliferate on the surface of CF-PEI during ethanol fermentation, which demonstrates that CF-PEI is indeed an ideal matrix for the immobilization of yeast cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of decellularization and hyaluronic acid derivative on the improvement of anticalcification of glutaraldehyde fixed bovine pericardium (GFBP) using a rat subcutaneous implantation model A cell extraction process was employed to remove the cells and cellular components from bovine pericardium (BP), leaving a framework of largely insoluble collagen. Then acellular BP was cross-linked by glutaraldehyde solution and treated with hyaluronic acid derivative (HA-ADH) which was obtained by coupling adipic dihydrazide (ADH) on-COOH of hyaluronic acid (HA). The results of in vivo calcification tests showed that the calcium content was decreased dramatically by decellularization alone (from 28.07±18.87 to 2.44±0.55μg Ca/mg dry tissue after 8 weeks' implantation), and even less concentration was shown by the combination of HA derivative treatment and decellularization (GFaBP-HA group) (0.25±0.08μg Ca/mg dry tissue after 8 weeks' implantation). In addition, GFaBP-HA group not only presented a lower degree of calcification, but also showed lower ratios of Ca/P molar, which corresponded to amorphous calcium phosphates. The obtained results indicated that GFaBP-HA was a potential candidate for the manufacture of anticalcification bioprostheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which investigated the effects of monomer feed ratio, temperature and dose of hypophosphorus acid on calcium carbonate inhibition. Particular focus is given to the synthesis of a multifunctional agent for industry circulation cooling water, maleic acid and sodium Þ-styrenesulfonate copolymer with low-phosphorus. Results of the study showed the copolymer's effectiveness in inhibiting the formation of calcium carbonate scale.