Injectable and degradable hydrogels are very interesting networks for drug delivery and cell transplantation applications since they can be administered in the human body in a minimally invasive way. In most cases, the crosslinking reaction occurs by photopolymerisation or free radical polymerisation; however, the use of chemical initiators may promote cell death. In the current work, injectable and degradable dextran-based hydrogels were prepared without the use of initiators. Dextran, a natural glucose-containing polysaccharide, was oxidized with sodium periodate (dexOx) and the derivatives characterized by NMR and FTIR spectroscopy's as well as by colorimetric techniques. The oxidized derivatives were crosslinked with adipic acid dihydrazide (AAD), forming a gel within 2-4 min. The obtained hydrogels were characterized by their mechanical properties, swelling and degradation behavior under physiologic conditions. In addition, the hydrogel interior morphology as well as porous structure was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). MIP analysis showed that dexOx hydrogels crosslinked with 10% of AAD were macroporous with pore sizes ranging from 0.32 to 0.08 mm. As expected, the average pore size increased during hydrogel degradation as confirmed by SEM and MIP studies.

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The polymerization mechanism of methylol-functional benzoxazine monomers is reported using a series of monofunctional benzoxazine monomers synthesized via a condensation reaction of ortho-, meta-, or para-methylol–phenol, aniline, and paraformaldehyde following the traditional route of benzoxazine synthesis. A phenol/aniline-type monofunctional benzoxazine monomer has been synthesized as a control. The structures of the synthesized monomers have been confirmed by 1H NMR and FT-IR. The polymerization behavior of methylol monomers is studied by DSC and shows an exothermic peak associated with condensation reaction of methylol groups and ring-opening polymerization of benzoxazine at a lower temperature range than the control monomer. The presence of methylol group accelerates the ring-opening polymerization to give the ascending order of para-, meta-, and ortho-positions in comparison to the unfunctionalized monomer. Furthermore, rheological measurements show that the position of methylol group relative to benzoxazine structure plays a significant role in accelerating the polymerization.

Herein, we report the use of retinoic acid-loaded polymeric nanoparticles as a potent tool to induce the neuronal differentiation of subventricular zone neural stem cells. The intracellular delivery of retinoic acid by the nanoparticles activated nuclear retinoic acid receptors, decreased stemness, and increased proneurogenic gene expression. Importantly, this work reports for the first time a nanoparticle formulation able to modulate in vivo the subventricular zone neurogenic niche. The work further compares the dynamics of initial stages of differentiation between SVZ cells treated with retinoic acid-loaded polymeric nanoparticles and solubilized retinoic acid. The nanoparticle formulation developed here may ultimately offer new perspectives to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

a b s t r a c tThe rheological behaviour, under steady and dynamic shear and extensional conditions, of two nonconventional galactomannans isolated from Gleditsia triacanthos and Sophora japonica is determined and compared to those of locust bean gum and guar gum.The studied galactomannans exhibit shear-thinning behaviour in the range of concentrations and shear rates evaluated. For similar concentrations and shear rates, the guar gum exhibits the highest viscosities. Experimental data in steady shear was correlated with the Cross model, which provided a good description of viscosity shear rate data. Under oscillatory shear, all gum solutions exhibited a behaviour typical of random-coil polysaccharide solutions.The extensional rheology experiments showed that by increasing the polymer concentration and decreasing the temperature, the relaxation times, elastic moduli and rupture times increase.These findings lead to the conclusion that G. triacanthos and S. japonica galactomannans can be used as efficient thickening hydrocolloids as alternative to conventional galactomannans.