Giuseppe Mele

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers: Present and Future Prospective

Molecular Imprinting Technology (MIT) is a technique to design artificial receptors with a predetermined selectivity and specificity for a given analyte, which can be used as ideal materials in various application fields. Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs), the polymeric matrices obtained using the imprinting technology, are robust molecular recognition elements able to mimic natural recognition entities, such as antibodies and biological receptors, useful to separate and analyze complicated samples such as biological fluids and environmental samples. The scope of this review is to provide a general overview on MIPs field discussing first general aspects in MIP preparation and then dealing with various application aspects. This review aims to outline the molecularly imprinted process and present a summary of principal application fields of molecularly imprinted polymers, focusing on chemical sensing, separation science, drug delivery and catalysis. Some significant aspects about preparation and application of the molecular imprinting polymers with examples taken from the recent literature will be discussed. Theoretical and experimental parameters for MIPs design in terms of the interaction between template and polymer functionalities will be considered and synthesis methods for the improvement of MIP recognition properties will also be presented.

Synthesis of a novel cardanol-based benzoxazine monomer and environmentally sustainable production of polymers and bio-composites

A novel pre-polymer deriving from cardanol—a well known renewable organic resource and harmful by-product of the cashew industry—in combination with cellulose based materials (i.e. jute fibres) has been used to produce bio-composites having a high percentage of renewable materials. Cardanol and its derivatives are considered nowadays very attractive precursors to developing new materials from renewable bio-sources to use in eco-friendly processes. This paper deals with the synthesis and characterization of a novel cardanol based benzoxazine monomer used for the preparation of new bio-composites. The new cardanol-based benzoxazine was characterised by 1H and 13C NMR, FT-IR spectroscopies and LC mass spectrometry analysis, while a differential scanning calorimeter was used to study and monitor the polymerization process. Different bio-composites have been obtained by thermal cure of jute fibres impregnated with a cardanol based benzoxazine resin.

Degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) using Fe-TiO2 as a heterogeneous photo-Fenton catalyst.

Photocatalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol was investigated using Fe-doped (1, 3, 5 and 8 wt.% Fe) TiO(2) catalysts under UV light irradiation in aqueous dispersions in the presence of H(2)O(2). Photocatalysts with the lowest Fe content (1%) showed a considerably better behavior with respect to the unloaded TiO(2) and the catalysts with higher Fe contents. Photocatalytic degradation was studied under different conditions such as amounts of 1% Fe-TiO(2) catalyst, H(2)O(2) dose and initial pH of 4-NP solution. The results indicated that about 67.53% total organic carbon of a solution containing 20 mg L(-1) 4-NP was removed at pH 6.17 by using 4.9 mM of H(2)O(2) and 0.4 g L(-1) of the catalyst in a 2-L batch photo-reactor, the complete degradation of 4-NP occurring after 60 min. It was also observed that catalytic behavior could be reproduced in consecutive experiments without a considerable decrease of the UV/Fe-TiO(2)/H(2)O(2) process efficiency.

Photocatalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol in aqueous suspension by using polycrystalline TiO2 samples impregnated with Cu(II)-phthalocyanine

In this paper, the preparation of polycrystalline TiO2 samples impregnated with a modified Cu(II)-phthalocyanine (TiO2–CuPc) is reported along with an investigation on the photocatalytic behavior of this system compared with bare TiO2 (both in the anatase and rutile form) and with TiO2 samples impregnated with not functionalized commercial phthalocyanine (TiO2–CuPc) or with metal free phthalocyanine (TiO2–Pc). The photocatalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) was studied as a probe reaction. The presence of modified CuPc showed to be beneficial only for TiO2 (anatase) while the commercial not functionalized CuPc also slightly for both TiO2 (anatase) and TiO2 (rutile). The metal free Pc did not show any beneficial influence on the photoactivity. A tentative explanation of the beneficial effect due to the presence of the Cu(II)-phthalocyanines both on the initial reaction rate and on the mineralization process is provided by taking into account intrinsic electronic and physico-chemical properties.

Safety and efficacy of bortezomib-based regimens for multiple myeloma patients with renal impairment: a retrospective study of Italian Myeloma Network GIMEMA.

Renal impairment (RI) is a severe complication throughout the course of multiple myeloma (MM). Bortezomib has been shown to be highly active in MM patients with RI. We designed this retrospective analysis to investigate the safety and efficacy of bortezomib‐based therapy in 117 MM patients with RI, 14 cases required dialysis. A total of 603 cycles of bortezomib were administered (median number, five cycles/patient). Ten patients required early discontinuation of bortezomib because of WHO grade IV toxicity. The rate of bortezomib discontinuation in cases with severe, moderate and mild RI was 11%, 5% and 0%, respectively (P = NS). Overall, 91 episodes of WHO grade III/IV toxicity were observed. At least a partial response was documented in 83/113 evaluable patients (73%), including complete response (19%) and near complete response (8%). The overall response rate was similar across RI subgroups. Reversal of RI was documented in 41% of patients after a median of 2.3 months (range 0.4–7.9). In three of 14 patients on dialysis, renal replacement therapy was discontinued after 1, 1 and 4 months. The 2‐yr estimate of response duration and overall survival was 70% and 51%, respectively. In conclusion, bortezomib‐based regimens are safe and effective and should be considered as appropriate treatment options for MM patients with any degree of RI.

Study of technical CNSL and its main components as new green larvicides

Larvicidal activities against Aedes aegypti of technical cashew (Anarcadium Occidentale L.) nut shell liquid (CNSL) and its main constituents, cardanol, cardol and their products of hydrogenation were evaluated. In addition, the structure-activity relationship is also discussed.

Environmentally sustainable production of cellulose-based superabsorbent hydrogels

The development of new products and materials, especially those which are non-petrolchemical reserves and based on renewable organic resources, using innovative sustainable processes is nowadays of increasing interest and deserves the attention of both academic and industrial research. Cellulose and its derivatives, as renewable organic resources, have been used to synthesize novel superabsorbent hydrogels. Although the production of cellulose is one of the causes connected to deforestation, the production of suitably engineered cellulose superabsorbent hydrogel materials has been proposed to preserve water in typically arid areas in the world. Paradoxically, divinylsulfone (DVS), a small di-functional highly toxic molecule, was used as a crosslinker for the preparation of the hydrogel. An environmentally sustainable heterogeneous TiO2 photo-catalysed process has been performed in order to achieve the detoxification (and a possible re-use) of washing waters deriving from the purification process carried out after the synthesis of a bio-degradable cellulose based superabsorbent hydrogel. The main species present in the washing water was DVS. DVS is a well known toxic agent and it was efficiently removed along with the unreacted polymers and oligomers by irradiating the washing waters in the presence of suspended polycrystalline TiO2. The photoprocess was studied not only by monitoring the total organic carbon (TOC) present in the solution but also by following the evolution of sulfate anions.

Polycrystalline TiO2 impregnated with cardanol-based porphyrins for the photocatalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol

Hydrogenated cardanol (3-n-pentadecylphenol), a renewable organic resource obtained by vacuum distillation of roasted “cashew nut shell liquid” (CNSL), a by-product of the cashew industry, has been used to synthesize novel lipophilic porphyrins. Polycrystalline TiO2 impregnated with these novel “cardanol-based” porphyrins as sensitizers has been investigated in the photodegradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in aqueous suspension. The results indicated that the presence of the sensitizer enhances the photoactivity of polycrystalline bare TiO2 in the process. The activating effect was higher in the case of the Cu-complex.

Cashew nut oil: opportunities and challenges in the context of sustainable industrial development

The new millennium is marked by a growing search for renewable fuels and alternative raw materials from biomass in the petrochemicals industry. However, there are many challenges to overcome regarding technological and human resources aspects. In this scenario, cashew nut oil, which is rich in natural phenols, is considered to be very promising for the development of synthetic and functional products and as a feedstock for production of fine chemicals and a wide variety of new materials.

Cardanol-Based Materials as Natural Precursors for Olefin Metathesis

Cardanol is a renewable, low cost natural material, widely available as a by-product of the cashew industry. It is a mixture of 3-n-pentadecylphenol, 3-(pentadeca-8-enyl)phenol, 3-(pentadeca-8,11-dienyl)phenol and 3-(pentadeca-8,11,14-trienyl)phenol. Olefin metathesis (OM) reaction on cardanol is an important class of reactions that allows for the synthesis of new olefins that are sometime impossible to prepare via other methods. The application of this natural and renewable material to both academic and industrial research will be discussed.