Smart superabsorbent hydrogels consisting of acrylamide/sodium alginate (AS), acrylamide/sodium alginate/2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulphonic acid (ASAx, x = amount of AMPS) were synthesized via free radical polymerization.

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Silymarin coated gold nanoparticles with a mean size of 20 nm were synthesized and functionalized in one pot using silymarin as a reducing and stabilizing agent. Conjugation of gold with silymarin was confirmed with FT-IR and UV-visible techniques. The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective and antifibrotic potential of Silymarin coated gold nanoparticles. For this purpose oxidative liver damage was induced in Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of CCl 4 dissolved in olive oil (1 : 1 v/v, 1 ml kg À1 ).Silymarin coated gold nanoparticles were administered intragastrically once per day for 14 weeks in a dose of 30 mg kg À1 of body weight. Hepatoprotective and antifibrotic activities of silymarin coated gold nanoparticles were assessed in terms of reduction in serum enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP), through histopathology and immunohistochemistry techniques. It also reduced the CCl 4 -induced damaged area as well as fibrotic area to 0% as assessed by histopathology. The Alpha SMA and Kupffer cells were also reduced in number around the portal traid area by the silymarin coated gold nanoparticles. These hepatoprotective and antifibrotic effects were better than the positive control silymarin. Our results suggest the therapeutic effect of silymarin coated gold nanoparticles in CCl 4 -induced liver injury and cirrhosis by promoting extracellular matrix degradation, hepatic stellate cells inactivation with strong enhancement of hepatic regenerative capacity. Silymarin coated gold nanoparticles could be administered for up to 14 weeks without inducing side effects or alterations of the histological structure of kidneys, heart, pancreas and lungs.

The fourth industrial revolution is the transformation of industrial manufacturing into smart manufacturing. The advancement of digital technologies that make the trend Industry 4.0 are considered as the transforming force that will enable this transformation. However, Industry 4.0 digital technologies need to be connected, integrated and used effectively to create value and to provide insightful information for data driven manufacturing. Smart manufacturing is a journey and requires a roadmap to guide manufacturing organizations for its adoption. The objective of this paper is to review different methodologies and strategies for smart manufacturing implementation to propose a simple and a holistic roadmap that will support the transition into smart factories and achieve resilience, flexibility and sustainability. A comprehensive review of academic and industrial literature was preformed based on multiple stage approach and chosen criteria to establish existing knowledge in the field and to evaluate latest trends and ideas of Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing technologies, techniques and applications in the manufacturing industry. These criteria are sub-grouped to fit within various stages of the proposed roadmap and attempts to bridge the gap between academia and industry and contributes to a new knowledge in the literature. This paper presents a conceptual approach based on six stages. In each stage, key enabling technologies and strategies are introduced, the common challenges, implementation tips and case studies of industrial applications are discussed to potentially assist in a successful adoption. The significance of the proposed roadmap serve as a strategic practical tool for rapid adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies for smart manufacturing and to bridge the gap between the advanced technologies and their application in manufacturing industry, especially for SMEs.