Gonçalo Marcelo

Recognition and Critical Theory today: An interview with Axel Honneth

In dialogue with his interlocutor, Axel Honneth summarizes the way his work on recognition has unfolded over the past two decades. While he has retained his principal insights, some important parts of his theory have changed. He comments that if he were to rewrite The Struggle for Recognition today, he would focus more on institutions and the historicization of recognition patterns. He clarifies his stance on some contemporary controversial issues, including the crisis of capitalism, gay marriage, and his quarrel with Peter Sloterdijk. Finally, he sheds some light on topics much discussed within Critical Theory, such as the relation between theory and praxis and the possibility of politicizing recognition, and on lesser-known aspects of his theory, namely, the relationship between his work and literature.

Development of itaconic acid-based molecular imprinted polymers using supercritical fluid technology for pH-triggered drug delivery

&NA; A novel pH‐responsive molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based on Itaconic acid:Ethylene glycol dimethacrylate was developed as a potential body‐friendly oral drug delivery system for metronidazole (MZ), a pH‐independent drug. MIP performance was evaluated in a simulated oral administration situation, at pHs 2.2 and 7.4. Itaconic acid‐based copolymers were synthesized using two different molar ratios of template:monomer:crosslinker (T:M:C), 1:5:25 and 1:5:50, in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) in high yields. Further, impregnation of MZ was performed in scCO2 environment. Morphological and chemical properties of the copolymers produced were assessed by SEM, Morphologi G3 and FTIR analyses. Non‐molecularly imprinted polymer (NIP) matrices presented swelling over time in opposition to the molecularly imprinted ones. In the scCO2‐impregnation process, MIPs showed a significant molecular recognition towards MZ, presenting higher drug uptake ability with MZ loading of 18‐61 wt% in MIPs, compared to 7–20 wt% in NIPs. In vitro drug release experiments presented different release profiles at the different pHs, where MZ‐MIPs could release higher amounts of MZ at the lowest pH than at pH 7.4.

Narrative and recognition in the flesh: An interview with Richard Kearney

In this interview, conducted by Gonçalo Marcelo, Richard Kearney recaps his intellectual trajectory, commenting on his early works on imagination and his own narrative style of doing philosophy in order then to make explicit the deep connection between the more recent developments of Carnal Hermeneutics, Reimagining the Sacred and the work done with others in the context of the Guestbook Project. Drawing on some lesser-known aspects of his work, he emphasizes the carnal dimension of recognition and discusses the pitfalls of the Age of Excarnation. Finally, and as part of his ongoing role as a public intellectual, he also comments on Europe’s social and political situation and the dangers it faces (exacerbated secularization, the threat of terrorism, Brexit) arguing for a pedagogy of narrative exchange as a means to foster hospitality and inclusion.

Toxicological Evaluation of Luminescent Silica Nanoparticles as New Drug Nanocarriers in Different Cancer Cell Lines

Luminescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles, CdTeQDs@MNs@PEG1, SiQDs@Isoc@MNs and SiQDs@Isoc@MNs@PEG2, were successfully synthetized and characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, N2 nitrogen isotherms, 1H NMR, IR, absorption, and emission spectroscopy. Cytotoxic evaluation of these nanoparticles was performed in relevant in vitro cell models, such as human hepatoma HepG2, human brain endothelial (hCMEC/D3), and human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cell lines. None of the tested nanoparticles showed significant cytotoxicity in any of the three performed assays (MTT/NR/ LDH) compared with the respective solvent and/or coating controls, excepting for CdTeQDs@MNs@PEG1 nanoparticles, where significant toxicity was noticed in hCMEC/D3 cells. The results presented reveal that SiQDs-based mesoporous silica nanoparticles are promising nanoplatforms for cancer treatment, with a pH-responsive drug release profile and the ability to load 80% of doxorubicin.