Hydrogel scaffolds blends to host Spheroids from human adipose stem cells

INTRODUCTION Adipose stem cells represent a reliable source of stem cells for their widely demonstrated potential in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications. New recent insights show that 3D models may properly mimic the native tissue properties; in fact Spheroids from Adipose derived Stem Cells (S-ASCs) displayed enhanced regenerative abilities if compared to 2D models. Stem cell therapy success is determined by "cell-quality" thus the involvement of stress signals and cellular aging need to be deeply investigated. The development of 3D cell-laden hydrogels has enabled to mimic the peculiar scenario of a native tissue. We studied SASCs-cell quality and tested their viabil…

PLANT FOR WASTE DISPOSAL AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

Described herein is a plant for the disposal of wastes including: a supercritical water oxidation reactor (SCWO), a supercritical water gassification reactor (SCWG), a feeding system configured for feeding at least two organic currents of wastes to said SCWO and SCWG and configured for feeding at least one aqueous flow within said plant, wherein said feeding system is configured for feeding said at least one aqueous current with a series flow throw said SCWO and SCWG and wherein said feeding system is furthermore configured for feeding said at least two organic currents of wastes with a parallel flow through said SCWO and SCWG and so as to selectively feed each of said organic currents of w…

Hydrogel scaffolds based on k-Carrageenan/xyloglucan blends to host spheroids from human adipose stem cells

Hydrogels are water-swollen networks of hydrophilic polymer. They can be fabricated in various shapes and swell in water or aqueous solutions maintaining their original shape or undergo progressive erosion; can exibit large volume phase transitions with the change of one environmental parameter (stimuli-responsivness), shock absorption and low sliding friction properties (1). The morphology and mechanical properties of hydrogels are strongly affected by the network composition, the nature and degree of crosslinking and the degree of swelling. Indeed, when hydrogels are designed as scaffolds for human tissues remodeling, they must have sufficient mechanical integrity to provide support to th…

Idrogeli a base di xiloglucano e k-carragene con sferoidi di cellule staminali adipose umane come scaffolds per la medicina rigenerativa

Con l’obiettivo di sviluppare scaffold per la rigenerazione dei tessuti umani con sferoidi di cellule staminali adipose (S-ASC), questo lavoro indaga le proprietà degli idrogeli formati da dei polisaccaridi che subiscono transizioni sol-gel indotte dalla temperatura e le loro miscele: k-carragene (k-C) e xiloglucano parzialmente degalattosilato (Deg-XG). Gli idrogeli sono network polimerici idrofili rigonfiati dall'acqua. La morfologia e le proprietà meccaniche degli idrogeli sono fortemente influenzate dalla loro composizione, grado di reticolazione e di rigonfiamento. Quando sono progettati come scaffold, devono avere sufficiente integrità meccanica per fornire supporto alle cellule, dall…

Morpho-physiologic traits in two sage taxa grown under different irrigation regime

Sage is an important aromatic crop, extensively cultivated worldwide. Drought stress affects yield and composition of secondary metabolites such as fatty acids, essential oils, antioxidants, changing the essential oil composition profile with respect to the ISO 9909 standard. Drought tolerance may differ among genotypes, so we compared the response of Salvia officinalis L. and S. officinalis cv. ‘Maxima’ grown under two different irrigation regimes to highlight differences in leaf growth, water potential, gas exchange and essential oil composition. Potted plants were grown in the greenhouse at 100% or 50% of field water capacity for three months. Monthly measurements of 3rd node leaf length…

Growing microalgae in a “quasi-isoactinic” photobioreactor

The aim of this work is setting up the conditions of an “iso-actinic” photobioreactor that is a photoreactor for the cultivation of microalgae in which the local volumetric rate of photon absorption (LVRPA), can be considered uniform to a good extent. We describe the composition of this cheap photoreactor and how we made it. The system is driven by an Arduino platform that makes it possible to control light intensity as well as light-dark cycles. Preliminary results obtained by growing Nannochloropsis gaditana, a microalga famous for its fat content, in this innovative reactor are presented. We finally observed how microalgae responds to flashing light irradiation.

E26The effects of LIPUS on ctDNA release in the medium of NSCLC cell lines

Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS) application has been shown to have an encouraging effect in inducing a transient pore formation through cellular membranes. This permeability condition has been demonstrated to be useful in enhancing gene and drug delivery. Nowadays, in the management of NSCLC patients, the use of liquid biopsy has entered the clinical practice. One of the main limits in the analysis of circulating tumor DNA is the low concentration rate of nucleic acids in body fluids. Ultrasound stimulation (US) has been recently demonstrated to be effective for the release of specific circulating tumor biomarkers in many mouse models. We demonstrated the role of US in inducing the …

Apparatus for synthesizing and separating synthesis products e.g. gaseous and liquid phases on bed, maintains heavier liquid phase at lower portion of first meatus due to gravity and lighter liquid phase at upper portion of meatus

NOVELTY - The apparatus has header that is set to make the heavier and lighter liquid phases flow along outer side surface of a third tube (8) as far as first closure element (13). The third tube is provided with second side openings for directly connecting the first and second meatus. The heavier liquid phase is maintained at lower portion of the first meatus due to gravity and lighter liquid phase is maintained at upper portion of the first meatus until the liquid phases fall into a fourth tube (9). The heavier liquid phase is collectible through a collection hole (12). USE - Apparatus e.g. reactor/separator for synthesizing and separating synthesis products e.g. gaseous phase and heavier…

Lab-scale investigation of a pressure retarded osmosis module fed by "non-conventional" salinity gradient

Aim of this work has been to investigate the feasibility of PRO technology for power generation from saline streams originated by different water treatments plants, namely brine from a thermal desalination plant and fresh water from a sewage treatment plant.

Effetti dell'applicazione fogliare di glicinbetaina e chitosano su Puccinellia distans (Jacq.) Parl. sottoposta a stress salino

Residence Time Distribution of Solid Particles in a High-Aspect Ratio Multiple-Impeller Stirred Vessel

Despite its importance, experimental information on the Residence Time Distribution (RTD) of solid particles in continuous-flow stirred vessels is still scant. In this work, experimental data on particle RTD in a high-aspect-ratio vessel stirred by three equally-spaced Rushton turbines, was obtained by means of a special technique named Twin System Approach (TSA). Quite surprisingly, results indicate that, among the various possibilities that could have been devised (e.g. 6, or 3, or 1 ideal tanks in series), the flow model closest to reality for the particle phase, at least in the experimental range here investigated, is that of a single perfectly stirred vessel.

Valorization of waste solvents through supercritical water gasification

The supercritical water gasification of various organic species belonging to the groups of organic acids, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols and phenols, has been studied as a possible waste disposal method for polluted water stream produced in industries and laboratories. Gasification has been investigated using a 200 cm3 down flow reactor working continuously at 24 MPa and 660 °C. Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) is effective for the syngas production at very high conversion rate for all the species investigates, but phenol. Phenol, when mixed with other species, has an inhibitory effect of the radical chain gasification mechanism that dramatically reduced the gasification performance. …

High temperature solid-catalized transesterification for biodiesel production

Biodiesel has become more attractive recently because of its environmental benefits and the fact that it is made from renewable resources. Biodiesel is a mixture of monoalkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable feed stock like vegetable oils and animal fats, mainly made of fatty acid glycerides. It is produced by transesterification processes in which oil or fat are reacted with a monohydric alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. The transesterification process is affected by reaction conditions, alcohol to oil molar ratio, type of alcohol, type and amount of catalysts, temperature and purity of reactants. Heterogeneous acid catalysts are quite efficient in promoting the…

Free vortex shape in Uncovered Unbaffled Stirred Tanks (UUST) agitated by Rushton turbines

The main feature of unbaffled stirred tanks is the highly swirling liquid motion, which leads to the formation of a central vortex on the liquid free surface, when the vessel is operated without top-cover (Uncovered Unbaffled Stirred Tanks, UUST). In this work, original data on fluid dynamics characteristics of (UUST) agitated by a Rushton turbine are presented. In particular, digital image analysis is employed to accurately assess vortex shape and validate an original model for its description. The model describes vortex shape in the case of sub-critical systems (when vortex bottom is placed above the impeller plane) as well as in the case of super-critical systems (when vortex bottom fall…

CFD Simulation of Dense Cloud Dispersion in Urban Areas