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International Journal of Biological... Oct 2021The development and production of thermoplastic starch (TPS) films based on blown film extrusion have been spurred by increasing interest in renewable resources and an...
The development and production of thermoplastic starch (TPS) films based on blown film extrusion have been spurred by increasing interest in renewable resources and an alternative solution to meet industrial-scale demand. The chemical structure of the plasticizer and its proportion have a significant effect on the mechanical and barrier properties of TPS films. Therefore, this research aims to evaluate the influence of plasticizer type and content on the performance of TPS blown films. TPS films were prepared by mixing cassava starch with three types of plasticizer, i.e. glycerol, glycerol/xylitol, and glycerol/sorbitol with a weight ratio of 1:1. The quantity of plasticizer varied among 38, 40, and 42 parts per hundred parts of starch. Although TPS films plasticized with the small-sized plasticizer glycerol were easily processed and extensible, the surface stickiness leading to single-wall films, low tensile strength, and poor water vapor barrier properties would limit their use. By replacing glycerol with larger-sized plasticizers such as xylitol or sorbitol, the films exhibited reduced stickiness and separable double walls and showed improved tensile strength, stiffness, and water vapor and oxygen barrier properties. The obtained TPS blown films offer potential applications as edible films for food and pharmaceutical products.
Topics: Edible Films; Glycerol; Humans; Permeability; Plasticizers; Sorbitol; Starch; Steam; Temperature; Tensile Strength
PubMed: 34375662
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.08.027 -
Zhongguo Yi Liao Qi Xie Za Zhi =... Jul 2018DEHP is largely used in soft PVC products as the plasticizer, which is also widely applied in medical devices. Due to its potential and widespread toxicity and medical... (Review)
Review
DEHP is largely used in soft PVC products as the plasticizer, which is also widely applied in medical devices. Due to its potential and widespread toxicity and medical devices' specific use, the safety of DEHP's application in medical devices has received extensive attention. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the application and potential toxicity of DEHP in PVC medical devices is made on the basis of the research results all over the world. Besides, the safety evaluation in medical devices is discussed and some possible coping strategies are explored.
Topics: Diethylhexyl Phthalate; Equipment Safety; Equipment and Supplies; Plasticizers; Polyvinyl Chloride
PubMed: 30112899
DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1671-7104.2018.04.018 -
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Nov 2022We developed a paper-based colorimetric sensor for facile and cost-effective detection of Pb in drinking and environmental water samples. The Pb ion-selective optodes...
We developed a paper-based colorimetric sensor for facile and cost-effective detection of Pb in drinking and environmental water samples. The Pb ion-selective optodes are fabricated by inkjet printing of ionophore, chromoionophore, and ion exchanger on cellulose paper. Pb in water samples induces deprotonation of the pH chromoionophore and changes the optode color, which is acquired and analyzed by a smartphone. The paper-based optode without any plasticizer or polymer has a dynamic range and selectivity comparable to those of traditional optodes using PVC polymer and/or plasticizer. Furthermore, the response time of the plasticizer/polymer-free paper-based optode is much shorter than those of plasticized PVC-based optodes on paper and glass (5 min vs. 15 and 50 min). Moreover, the plasticizer/polymer-free optode preserves the water-wicking capability of porous cellulose paper, allowing for the design of pump-free microfluidic devices. Chloramine, a widely used disinfectant in drinking water, was found to be a strong and generic interference species for heavy metal ion detection via ion-selective optodes. A fully inkjet-printed lateral-flow paper-based device consisting of a sodium thiosulfate-based chloramine elimination zone and a plasticizer/polymer-free sensing zone was designed for Pb detection in tap water disinfected by chloramine. The dynamic range of the Pb sensor may be shifted from the current 10 to 10 M to lower concentrations by using stronger ionophores, but this work lays a foundation for the design of paper-based heavy metal ion sensors without detrimental interference from disinfectants.
Topics: Chloramines; Lead; Disinfectants; Polyvinyl Chloride; Plasticizers; Drinking Water; Ionophores; Cellulose; Polymers
PubMed: 35997814
DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-04286-y -
Effects of plasticizer diisobutyl adipate on the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) endocrine system.Journal of Applied Toxicology : JAT Jul 2023Plasticizer pollution of the water environment is one of the world's most serious environmental issues. Phthalate plasticizers can disrupt endocrine function in...
Plasticizer pollution of the water environment is one of the world's most serious environmental issues. Phthalate plasticizers can disrupt endocrine function in vertebrates. Therefore, this study analyzed thyroid-related, reproduction-related, and estrogen-responsive genes in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) to determine whether non-phthalate diisobutyl adipate (DIBA) plasticizer could affect endocrine hormone activity or not. Developmental toxicity during fish embryogenesis was also evaluated. At a concentration of 11.57 mg/l, embryonic exposure to DIBA increased the mortality rate. Although abnormal development, including body curvature, edema, and lack of swim bladder inflation, was observed at 3.54 and 11.57 mg/l DIBA, growth inhibition and reduced swimming performance were also observed. In addition, DIBA exposure increased the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone beta-subunit (tshβ) and deiodinase 1 (dio1) but decreased the levels of thyroid hormone receptor alpha (trα) and beta (trβ). These results suggest that DIBA has thyroid hormone-disrupting activities in fish. However, kisspeptin (kiss1 and kiss2), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (gnrh1), follicle-stimulating hormone beta (fshβ), luteinizing hormone beta (lhβ), choriogenin H (chgH), and vitellogenin (vtg1) expression did not change dose-dependently in response to DIBA exposure, whereas gnrh2 and vtg2 expression was elevated. These results indicate that DIBA has low estrogenic activity and does not disrupt the endocrine reproduction system in fish. Overall, this is the first report indicating that non-phthalate DIBA plasticizer is embryotoxic and disrupt thyroid hormone activity in fish.
Topics: Animals; Plasticizers; Oryzias; Endocrine System; Estrogens; Adipates; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 36647207
DOI: 10.1002/jat.4437 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2022Plasticizers increase the flexibility of plastics. As environmental leachates they lead to increased water and soil pollution, as well as to serious harm to human...
Plasticizers increase the flexibility of plastics. As environmental leachates they lead to increased water and soil pollution, as well as to serious harm to human health. This study was set out to explore various web applications to predict the toxicological properties of plasticizers. Web-based tools (e.g., BOILED-Egg, LAZAR, PROTOX-II, CarcinoPred-EL) and VEGA were accessed via an 5th-10th generation computer in order to obtain toxicological predictions. Based on the LAZAR mutagenicity assessment was only bisphenol F predicted as mutagenic. The BBP and DBP in RF; DEHP in RF and XGBoost; DNOP in RF and XGBoost models were predicted as carcinogenic in the CarcinoPred-EL web application. From the bee predictive model (KNN/IRFMN) BPF, di-n-propyl phthalate, diallyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, and diisohexyl phthalate were predicted as strong bee toxicants. Acute toxicity for fish using the model Sarpy/IRFMN predicted 19 plasticizers as strong toxicants with LC50 values of less than 1 mg/L. This study also considered plasticizer effects on gastrointestinal absorption and other toxicological endpoints.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Bees; Plasticizers; Dibutyl Phthalate
PubMed: 36385271
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18327-0 -
Biomacromolecules Apr 2023Biopolymers are abundant, renewable, and biodegradable resources. However, bio-based materials often require toughening additives, like (co)polymers or small...
Biopolymers are abundant, renewable, and biodegradable resources. However, bio-based materials often require toughening additives, like (co)polymers or small plasticizing molecules. Plasticization is monitored via the glass transition temperature versus diluent content. To describe this, several thermodynamic models exist; nevertheless, most expressions are phenomenological and lead to over-parametrization. They also fail to describe the influence of sample history and the degree of miscibility via structure-property relationships. We propose a new model to deal with semi-compatible systems: the generalized mean model, which can classify diluent segregation or partitioning. When the constant is below unity, the addition of plasticizers has hardly any effect, and in some cases, even anti-plasticization is observed. On the other hand, when the is above unity, the system is highly plasticized even for a small addition of the plasticizer compound, which indicates that the plasticizer locally has a higher concentration. To showcase the model, we studied Na-alginate films with increasing sizes of sugar alcohols. Our analysis showed that blends have properties that depend on specific polymer interactions and morphological size effects. Finally, we also modeled other plasticized (bio)polymer systems from the literature, concluding that they all tend to have a heterogeneous nature.
Topics: Transition Temperature; Plasticizers; Temperature; Polymers; Biopolymers; Excipients
PubMed: 36889305
DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01356 -
Environment International Jan 2024Due to their exceptional properties and cost effectiveness, polyamides or nylons have emerged as widely used materials, revolutionizing diverse industries, including...
Due to their exceptional properties and cost effectiveness, polyamides or nylons have emerged as widely used materials, revolutionizing diverse industries, including industrial 3D printing or additive manufacturing (AM). Powder-based AM technologies employ tonnes of polyamide microplastics to produce complex components every year. However, the lack of comprehensive toxicity assessment of particulate polyamides and polyamide-associated chemicals, especially in the light of the global microplastics crisis, calls for urgent action. This study investigated the physicochemical properties of polyamide-12 microplastics used in AM, and assessed a number of toxicity endpoints focusing on inflammation, immunometabolism, genotoxicity, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation, endocrine disruption, and cell morphology. Specifically, microplastics examination by means of field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed that work flow reuse of material created a fraction of smaller particles with an average size of 1-5 µm, a size range readily available for uptake by human cells. Moreover, chemical analysis by means of gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry detected several polyamide-associated chemicals including starting material, plasticizer, thermal stabilizer/antioxidant, and migrating slip additive. Even if polyamide particles and chemicals did not induce an acute inflammatory response, repeated and prolonged exposure of human primary macrophages disclosed a steady increase in the levels of proinflammatory chemokine Interleukin-8 (IL-8/CXCL-8). Moreover, targeted metabolomics disclosed that polyamide particles modulated the kynurenine pathway and some of its key metabolites. The p53-responsive luciferase reporter gene assay showed that particles per se were able to activate p53, being indicative of a genotoxic stress. Polyamide-associated chemicals triggered moderate activation of AhR and elicited anti-androgenic activity. Finally, a high-throughput and non-targeted morphological profiling by Cell Painting assay outlined major sites of bioactivity of polyamide-associated chemicals and indicated putative mechanisms of toxicity in the cells. These findings reveal that the increasing use of polyamide microplastics may pose a potential health risk for the exposed individuals, and it merits more attention.
Topics: Humans; Nylons; Microplastics; Plastics; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Plasticizers; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 38183898
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108412 -
The Science of the Total Environment Mar 2023Environmental harmful pollutants microplastics (MPs) and di (2-ethyl) hexyl phthalate (DEHP) are widely residual in the environment, which may cause lesion to multiple...
Environmental harmful pollutants microplastics (MPs) and di (2-ethyl) hexyl phthalate (DEHP) are widely residual in the environment, which may cause lesion to multiple apparatus by inducing oxidative stress, threatening the health of human and animals. Neutrophil extracellular traps (Nets) are involved in skin wound healing. Most studies focused on the individual effects of different poisons on animals and ecosystems, but there are few studies on the accumulation and interaction of multiple poisons. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of DEHP and MPs co-exposure on skin wound healing and the formation of Nets. For this purpose, we detected this hypothesis by replicating the DEHP and MPs-exposed skin wound model in mice, as well as the co-culture system of neutrophil and fibroblast. The results displayed that MPs and DEHP exposure delayed skin healing, which was more pronounced in the combined exposure group. In vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that compared with the DEHP or MPs group, the DEHP+MPs group had more significant oxidative stress, increased Nets release and inflammatory factors, and inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and fibrosis-related factors. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) attenuated these phenomena. Through the co-culture system, we confirmed that the overproduction of Nets induced fibroblasts to exacerbate inflammatory responses and inhibit Wnt pathway and fibrosis. Overall, DEHP and MPs can produce synergistic toxic injury in mice skin wounds, and the excessive activation of ROS/Nets can aggravate inflammatory and inhibit fibrosis, resulting in delayed wound healing.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Diethylhexyl Phthalate; Ecosystem; Extracellular Traps; Fibrosis; Microplastics; Plasticizers; Plastics; Wound Healing
PubMed: 36526177
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160861 -
International Journal of Biological... Feb 2024Chitosan-based bioplastics are attractive biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-derived plastics. However, optimizing the properties of chitosan materials to fit a...
Chitosan-based bioplastics are attractive biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-derived plastics. However, optimizing the properties of chitosan materials to fit a particular application or obtain a desired property is not a trivial feat. Here, we report the tunability of glycerol-plasticized chitosan films with the addition of boric acid. In combination, glycerol and boric acid form neutral complexes that alter the hydrogen-bonding face of the plasticizer and ultimately limit glycerol's ability to plasticize chitosan. Thus, we found that chitosan films containing glycerol-boric acid complexes were less flexible, had increased thermal transition temperatures, and showed more uniform morphologies. Structural, thermal, mechanical and morphological characterization was performed using ATR-FTIR, TGA and DSC, DMA, and SEM respectively. Molecular-level interactions of the neutral boron complexes and D-glucosamine, the repeat unit of chitosan, were also investigated used NMR and ATR-FTIR. The results of this work demonstrate the necessity of specific hydrogen-bonding interactions between the plasticizer and the polymer for effective plasticization, an important insight into the plasticization mechanism of chitosan films. Furthermore, the formation of complexes with glycerol is a novel and convenient method for tuning the physical properties of chitosan films.
Topics: Chitosan; Plasticizers; Glycerol; Hydrogen; Boric Acids
PubMed: 38262823
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129304 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jan 2024Measures to endorse the adoption of eco-friendly biodegradable plastics as a response to the scale of plastic pollution has created a demand for innovative products from... (Review)
Review
Measures to endorse the adoption of eco-friendly biodegradable plastics as a response to the scale of plastic pollution has created a demand for innovative products from materials from Nature. Ionic liquids (ILs) have the ability to disrupt the hydrogen bonding network of biopolymers, increase the mobility of biopolymer chains, reduce friction, and produce materials with various morphologies and mechanical properties. Due to these qualities, ILs are considered ideal for plasticizing biopolymers, enabling them to meet a wide range of specifications for biopolymeric materials. This mini-review discusses the effect of different IL-plasticizers on the processing, tensile strength, and elasticity of materials made from various biopolymers (e.g., starch, chitosan, alginate, cellulose), and specifically covers IL-plasticized packaging materials and materials for biomedical and electrochemical applications. Furthermore, challenges (cost, scale, and eco-friendliness) and future research directions in IL-based plasticizers for biopolymers are discussed.
Topics: Ionic Liquids; Plasticizers; Cellulose; Biopolymers; Chitosan
PubMed: 38338998
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031720