F. Seniha Güner

Fatty acid-based polyurethane films for wound dressing applications

Fatty acid-based polyurethane films were prepared for use as potential wound dressing material. The polymerization reaction was carried out with or without catalyst. Polymer films were prepared by casting-evaporation technique with or without crosslink-catalyst. The film prepared from uncatalyzed reaction product with crosslink-catalyst gave slightly higher crosslink density. The mechanical tests showed that, the increase in the tensile strength and decrease in the elongation at break is due to the increase in the degree of crosslinking. All films were flexible, and resisted to acid solution. The films prepared without crosslink-catalyst were more hydrophilic, absorbed more water. The highest permeability values were generally obtained for the films prepared without crosslink catalyst. Both the direct contact method and the MMT test were applied for determination of cytotoxicity of polymer films and the polyurethane film prepared from uncatalyzed reaction product without crosslink-catalyst showed better biocompatibility property, closest to the commercial product, Opsite®.

Anchovy oil thermal polymerization kinetics

The thermal polymerization reaction kinetics of anchovy oil was investigated with and without catalyst. In order to make a comparison, linseed oil was included in the study. Reactions were carried out 260, 270, and 280°C, and a kinetic model was determined for each case. The reactions for linseed oil with and without catalyst at all temperatures followed the first-order kinetics. In the case of anchovy oil, the best-fitted straight line is obtained by plotting viscosity values against time, and the reaction proceeds in two stages at 280°C without catalyst. The use of catalyst lowered the temperature to 270°C for the appearance of two different rates. Additionally, some mathematical equations were derived between iodine value, refractive index, viscosity, and reaction time.

Castor oil dehydration kinetics

The dehydration reaction kinetics of castor oil was investigated with sodium bisulfate-sodium bisulfite mixture (SB-SB) or p-toluenesulfonic acid as catalyst. Reactions were carried out at 210, 220, and 230°C, and a kinetic model was determined for each case. The reactions with SB-SB catalyst at 210 and 220°C and with p-toluenesulfonic acid at 210°C followed second-order kinetics. A first-order rate equation showed the best fit to the experimental data for the reaction with SB-SB at 230°C. p-Toluenesulfonic acid-catalyzed reactions at 220 and 230°C were also first-order reactions. Additionally, some mathematical equations were derived between iodine value, refractive index, viscosity, and reaction time.

A comprehensive 3D analysis of polymer flow through a conical spiral extrusion die

Several restrictions which are related to extruder machinery and nature of process material exist in the design of plastic extrusion dies. To this respect, it is very important to consider design criteria and limitations in order to operate extrusion dies at desired production rate and temperature. In the current study, flow field characteristics through a conical spiral mandrel die are analysed in detail by 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The effects of operating conditions such as production rate and temperature on pressure drop through the spiral mandrel die and the occurence of melt fracture are investigated. The temperature dependent viscosity versus shear rate data for grade QB79P (CarmelTech) polypropylene (PP) melt under study are measured by use of rotational and capillary rheometers. Stress terms in the momentum equations are modeled by Generalized Newtonian Fluid (GNF) Model. For this, Bird-Carreau Model is employed as the viscosity model for the polymer melt. 3D CFD analyses provide comprehensive data and understanding with regard to flow behaviour through complex extrusion dies.

Noncovalent Pyrene-Polyethylene Glycol Coatings of Carbon Nanotubes Achieve in Vitro Biocompatibility

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have become increasingly exploited in biological applications, such as imaging and drug delivery. The application of SWNTs in biological settings requires the surface chemistry to remain through the low solubility in aqueous media. In this research, a facile approach for the preparation of a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated SWNT-based nanocarrier was reported. We focused on the effect of PEG chain length and SWNT size on the cytotoxicity of PEG-coated SWNTs as a superior drug delivery nanovector. First, all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to explore the stability and behavior of SWNT/pyrene-PEG (SWNT/Pyr-PEG) structures at a molecular level that is not attainable with experiments. The MD studies revealed that (i) π-π stacking interactions between the pyrene bearing PEG molecules and SWNTs are maintained in bulky situations, regardless of PEG molecular weight or SWNT size; (ii) pyrene molecules diffuse over the SWNT surface without detaching; and (iii) both short and long dynamic Pyr-PEG chains have the capability of effectively coating the SWNT surface. In light of the simulations, noncovalent (π-π stacking) assemblies of SWNT/Pyr-PEG with different molecular weights of PEG ( Mw = 2000, 5000, and 12000) were successfully fabricated and characterized. For longer PEG chains, more effective coating of SWNTs was obtained, resulting in more biocompatible SWNT/Pyr-PEG nanomaterials. The number of SWNTs coated by Pyr-PEG was highly dependent on the length of pyrene bearing PEG polymers. Moreover, the short SWNTs showed a higher amount of PEG coating with respect to the long SWNTs. Cell viability results demonstrated a dose-dependent cytotoxicity of coated SWNTs. Short SWNTs coated with longer PEG chains have low cytotoxicity to be used in in vivo studies.

Preparation and Determination of In Vivo and In Vitro Performance of Doxycycline Imprinted Contact Lenses for Corneal Neovascularization Treatment

The aim of this study is to develop doxycycline imprinted contact lenses that will be used in the treatment of corneal neovascularization, which can eventually cause blindness. For this purpose, doxycycline imprinted contact lenses were first prepared, and then they were loaded with doxycycline and their in vitro and in vivo performances were determined. In the synthesis of the contact lenses, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate was used as a backbone monomer. The functional monomer was selected as itaconic acid using molecular simulations. Doxycycline release profile of the lenses was determined in NaCl solution and their cytotoxic response was investigated on retinal pigment epithelium cells. In vivo experiments in rat models were performed to study the treatment patterns. The rats were sacrificed fifteen days after treatment, and clinical examination under optical microscope was performed to evaluate neovascularization, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and corneal epithelial changes. In conclusion; doxycycline imprinted contact lenses promise as an effective treatment method for corneal neovascularization.