Emrah Çakmakçı

Fabrication of PLGA Based Tissue Engineering Scaffolds via Photocuring and Salt Leaching Techniques

The authors aimed to prepare UV curable porous scaffolds via photo curing and salt leaching techniques. A poly (α -hydroxy ester) based urethane acrylate oligomer was synthesized and a photocurable acrylic based formulation was prepared. Salt particles were introduced to the formulation, which was then poured into cylindrical molds and cured under UV irradiation. Porous scaffolds were obtained after salt leaching. 3T3 cells seeded on the UV cured scaffolds and it was found that cells were well spread on the collagen modified scaffold surface. It can be concluded that the scaffolds provided an effective physical support that allows cell adhesion and proliferation.

Preparation, characterisation, and dielectric properties of polypyrrole-clay composites

In this study, polypyrrole-clay (PPy-clay) composites were prepared by the in situ chemical oxidative polymerisation of pyrrole in the presence of clay. The chemical structures of the composites were characterised by FTIR and XRD analysis. The thermal properties of these novel composites were analysed by TGA and DSC measurements. Glass-transition temperatures and char yields increased with the increase in clay content in the nanocomposites. The interactions between PPy and clay were mainly between polypyrrole and the layers of clay. It was observed that, as the amount of clay in the composites increased, the dielectric permittivity decreased while the dielectric conductivity of the composite materials increased.

Cell Growth on In Situ Photo-Cross-Linked Electrospun Acrylated Cellulose Acetate Butyrate

In this study, electrospinning was combined with UV curing technology for producing in situ photo cross-linked fibers from methacrylated cellulose acetate butyrate (CABIEM). ECV304 and 3T3 cells were seeded on electrospun fibrous scaffolds. Collagen modified CABIEM fibers were also prepared for improving cell adhesion and proliferation. Cross-linking and the morphology of the fibers were characterized by ATR–FTIR spectrometry and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). The cytotoxicity of the fibers was examined using the MTT cytotoxicity assay. According to the results, electrospun fibrous scaffolds are non-toxic and cell viability depends on the amount of collagen. It was found that cell adhesion and cell growth were enhanced as the collagen percentage was increased.

UV-curable fluorine-containing hybrid coatings via thiol-ene ''click'' reaction and an in situ sol-gel method

In this study, photocurable fluorine-containing coatings were prepared via thiol-ene click chemistry and an in situ sol–gel method. MPTMS was used as a coupling agent to perform both the thiol-ene click reaction and the sol–gel reactions. PFOTES was utilized for the preparation of fluorine-containing coatings. The addition of fluorine and silica showed a significant impact on the properties of the coatings. The addition of silica greatly enhanced the mechanical properties of the coatings. As the fluorine and silica contents were increased in the formulations, flame retardancy, hydrophobicity, and oleophobicity of the coatings increased. High char yields were obtained for the silica- and fluorine-containing samples. Furthermore, the effect of Al2O3 nanoparticles on the properties of the hybrid coatings was investigated.

Thioether functional chain extender for thermoplastic polyurethanes

In this study, a novel three functional chain extender (TATATRIOL) was synthesized from the reaction of 1,3,5-tri(prop-2-en-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazinane-2,4,6-trione (TATA) with 2-sulfanylethanol. Then new thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) were synthesized by a one-step bulk polymerization from the reaction of 1,1′-methanediylbis(4-isocyanatocyclohexane) (H12MDI), a poly(ethylene adipate) based polyester polyol and a chain extender. Butane-1,4-diol (BD) and the newly synthesized monomer, TATATRIOL, were used as chain extenders. The effects of TATATRIOL on the properties of the TPU were investigated and compared to those of the TPU prepared with BD. The TPUs which derived from the sulfur containing chain extender displayed lower modulus and high elongation at break values than the analogous TPUs derived from BD. Moreover sulfur containing TPUs exhibited higher thermal stability.

UV-Cured polypropylene mesh-reinforced composite polymer electrolyte membranes

Abstract In this study, a polypropylene (PP) mesh was used to prepare proton- and Li+ conducting composite membranes for fuel cells and lithium rechargeable batteries, respectively. For the preparation of Li+ conducting membrane, polypropylene mesh was first immersed in an electrolyte solution, which was composed of LiBF4 and ethylene carbonate. Then the swollen membrane was immersed in an acetone solution of polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), polyvinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoro-propylene and photoinitiator. Finally, PP fabric was taken out from the solution and exposed to UV irradiation. Furthermore, proton conducting membranes were prepared by immersing the PP mesh into a mixture of vinyl phosphonic acid, PEGDA and photoinitiator. Afterwards, samples were cured under UV light. PP-reinforced membranes designed for fuel cell applications exhibited a room temperature conductivity of 3.3×10-3 mS/cm, while UV-cured electrolyte for Li batteries showed ionic conductivities in the range of 1.61×10-3–5.4×10-3 S/cm with respect to temperature. In addition, for lithium-doped composite polymer electrolyte (CPE), the electrochemical stability window was negligible below 4.75 V vs. Li/Li+. It is concluded that lithium-doped CPE has suitable electrochemical stability to allow the use of high-voltage electrode couples.

Preparation, characterization, and in vitro evaluation of isoniazid and rifampicin‐loaded archaeosomes

The ability of Archaea to adapt their membrane lipid compositions to extreme environments has brought in archaeosomes into consideration for the development of drug delivery systems overcoming the physical, biological blockades that the body exhibits against drug therapies. In this study, we prepared unilamellar archaeosomes, from the polar lipid fraction extracted from Haloarcula 2TK2 strain, and explored its potential as a drug delivery vehicle. Rifampicin and isoniazid which are conventional drugs in tuberculosis medication were loaded separately and together in the same archaeosome formulation for the benefits of the combined therapy. Particle size and zeta potential of archaeosomes were measured by photon correlation spectroscopy, and the morphology was assessed by with an atomic force microscope. Encapsulation efficiency and loading capacities of the drugs were determined, and in vitro drug releases were monitored spectrophotometrically. Our study demonstrates that rifampicin and isoniazid could be successfully loaded separately and together in archaeosomes with reasonable drug‐loading and desired vesicle‐specific characters. Both of the drugs had greater affinity for archaeosomes than a conventional liposome formulation. The results imply that archaeosomes prepared from extremely halophilic archaeon were compatible with the liposomes for the development of stable and sustained release of antituberculosis drugs.

HPLC-DAD analysis of Thymus serpyllum based natural pigments and investigation of their antimicrobial properties

Purpose – In this study, it was aimed to investigate the antibacterial properties of natural pigments prepared from Thymus serpyllum. Design/methodology/approach – Al (III), Fe (II), Sn (II) and Cu (II) complexed natural pigments were obtained by using a precipitation method and the main constituents in the pigments were identified with HPLC-DAD. Also FTIR analysis was performed for further structural characterization. Moreover, the thermal stability and thermal degradation properties of the pigments were analyzed by thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). The antimicrobial activity of the thyme plant-extracted pigments was evaluated by measuring the minimal inhibitory concentration. Findings – Apigenin and luteolin flavones were detected as the main components of the natural dyes. Thermal degradation behaviour of the pigments was determined by means of TGA. All pigments showed high char yields and it was attributed to the high complexation between the metal and the ligand species. The antimicrobial activity of...

HDI trimer based fluorine containing urethane methacrylates for hydrophobic photocured coatings

ABSTRACT In this work, hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) trimer based two urethane methacrylates were synthesized by reacting 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and a fluoroalcohol with HDI trimer. Due to the high viscosity of the fluorinated methacrylates, they were applied onto glass substrates after mixing with tripropylene glycol diacrylate (TPGDA). The performance of the fluorinated resins were compared to a fluorine free HDI trimer based trimethacrylate. The TPGDA diluted formulations were better in terms of surface wettability than the neat resins. TPGDA diluted fluorinated resins exhibited a water contact angle of 109°± 2. All coatings exhibited high surface hardness (4H and 5H) and good adhesion. Graphical Abstract

Amine functional magnetic nanoparticles via waterborne thiol–ene suspension photopolymerization for antibody immobilization

The modification of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) via different routes for biomolecule binding is an attractive area of research. Waterborne thiol-ene suspension photopolymerization (TESP) can be a useful method for preparing functional MNPs. In this study, for the very first time waterborne TESP was performed in the presence of MNPs. Neat MNPs were coated and in situ functionalized with amine groups by using thiol-ene chemistry. Engrailed-2 (EN2) protein, a potential biomarker for various cancers such as prostate cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer, is known to be a strong binder to a specific DNA sequence (50-TAATTA-30) to regulate transcription. Anti-EN2 antibodies were immobilized onto these MNPs by physical adsorption and covalent bonding methods, respectively. The amount of the physically immobilized antibodies (0.54 mg/g) were found to be lower than the loading of the covalently bonded antibodies (1.775 mg/g). The biomarker level in the artificial solutions prepared was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Coated MNPs were characterized by FTIR, TGA, SEM and STEM. After TESP, the average diameter of the neat magnetite nanoparticles increased from ∼15 nm to ∼32 nm.