Design of diversified self-assembly systems based on a natural rosin-based tertiary amine for doxorubicin delivery and excellent emulsification

Structured Emulgels by Interfacial Assembly of Terpenes and Nanochitin

Interfacial assemblies formed by colloidal complexation are effective in multiphase stabilization, as shown in structured liquids and Pickering emulgels. Herein, we demonstrate a type of biobased colloidal system that spontaneously stabilizes an organic phase in a continuous hydrogel phase. Specifically, a triterpene extracted from bark (betulin, BE) is added to an organic phase containing a coniferous resin (rosin acid, a diterpene). BE is shown to take part in strong noncovalent interactions with the nanochitin dispersed in the aqueous (hydrogel) phase, leading to a complex of high interfacial activity. The viscoelastic response of the system is rationalized by the presence of a superstable structured dual network. When used as a templating material, the emulgel develops into structured liquids and cryogels. The herein introduced all-biobased type of nanoparticle surfactant system forms a gel ("emulsion-filled" with "aggregated droplets") that features the functional benefits of both betulin and nanochitin.

Design and Properties of Natural Rosin-Based Phosphoester Functional Surfactants

As an important forestry biomass resource, rosin has a wide range of applications in medicine, adhesives, surfactants and other fields. Using natural dehydroabietic acid as a raw material, dehydroabietic acid-based phosphorus monoester (DPM) and diester (DPD) surfactants were designed and synthesized. The chemical structures and self-assembly properties were characterized by FT-IR, NMR and TEM, and the effects of pH on critical micelle concentration, γCMC, emulsifying properties, foam properties and micelle morphology were studied. The results showed that the CMC, γCMC value and aggregate morphology had certain pH responsiveness. The γCMC value under acidic conditions was smaller than γCMC under alkaline conditions, and the foaming performance and foam stability under acidic conditions were better than those under alkaline conditions. TEM micelle morphology studies have shown that DPM and DPD surfactants can self-assemble into rod-shaped and spherical micelle morphologies with a pH change in an aqueous solution. At the same pH, the foaming and emulsification properties of DPD were better than those of DPM. The best foaming and emulsification ability of DPD were 11.8 mL and 175 s, respectively. At the same time, the foaming ability of DPD is also affected by pH. DPD has excellent foaming properties in acidic conditions, but these disappeared in neutral conditions.

Molecular Design, Supramolecular Assembly, and Excellent Dye Adsorption Capacity of Natural Rigid Dehydroabietic Acid-Tailored Amide Organogelators

It is very appealing to synthesize functional soft materials from natural and abundant plant diterpenes because they have conformationally rigid and chiral properties. Herein, dehydroabietic-based monoamide (DA-1) and diamide (DA-2) were designed by introducing device interactions, π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding, with an aromatic group, C═O, and N-H. DA-1 and DA-2 can be gelled in a mixed solvent and a single solvent, respectively. Several novel supramolecular organic gels including highly entangled three-dimensional networks composed of rods or fibers were constructed. Interestingly, DA-2 forms a helical structure that is right-handed under the cooperative control of the solvent and the rigid structure of rosin. Gel formation was primarily driven by hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and van der Waals force. Combined with Gaussian calculation and X-ray diffraction (XRD), we established pack patterns for each system, revealing the roles played by rosin and amide groups. Moreover, the carbon tetrachloride gel of DA-2 can effectively remove Congo red in an aqueous solution, and the removal rate can reach 98.4%. This research explores an efficient organic gel for adsorbing Congo red dye with the secretions of pine trees.

Poloxamer: A versatile tri-block copolymer for biomedical applications

Poloxamers, also called Pluronic, belong to a unique class of synthetic tri-block copolymers containing central hydrophobic chains of poly(propylene oxide) sandwiched between two hydrophilic chains of poly(ethylene oxide). Some chemical characteristics of poloxamers such as temperature-dependent self-assembly and thermo-reversible behavior along with biocompatibility and physiochemical properties make poloxamer-based biomaterials promising candidates for biomedical application such as tissue engineering and drug delivery. The microstructure, bioactivity, and mechanical properties of poloxamers can be tailored to mimic the behavior of various types of tissues. Moreover, their amphiphilic nature and the potential to self-assemble into the micelles make them promising drug carriers with the ability to improve the drug availability to make cancer cells more vulnerable to drugs. Poloxamers are also used for the modification of hydrophobic tissue-engineered constructs. This article collects the recent advances in design and application of poloxamer-based biomaterials in tissue engineering, drug/gene delivery, theranostic devices, and bioinks for 3D printing. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Poloxamers, also called Pluronic, belong to a unique class of synthetic tri-block copolymers containing central hydrophobic chains of poly(propylene oxide) sandwiched between two hydrophilic chains of poly(ethylene oxide). The microstructure, bioactivity, and mechanical properties of poloxamers can be tailored to mimic the behavior of various types of tissues. Moreover, their amphiphilic nature and the potential to self-assemble into the micelles make them promising drug carriers with the ability to improve the drug availability to make cancer cells more vulnerable to drugs. However, no reports have systematically reviewed the critical role of poloxamer for biomedical applications. Research on poloxamers is growing today opening new scenarios that expand the potential of these biomaterials from "traditional" treatments to a new era of tissue engineering. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review article in which such issue is systematically reviewed and critically discussed in the light of the existing literature.

Characteristics and kinetics of the glycerol ester of rosinviaan oxidation process under ultraviolet irradiation

A self-designed mini gas–solid reaction device was applied as promising equipment to investigate the oxidation characteristics and kinetics of the glycerol ester of rosin (GER) under 254 nm UV irradiation in air.

Advances in Rosin-Based Chemicals: The Latest Recipes, Applications and Future Trends

A comprehensive review of the publications about rosin-based chemicals has been compiled. Rosin, or colophony, is a natural, abundant, cheap and non-toxic raw material which can be easily modified to obtain numerous useful products, which makes it an excellent subject of innovative research, attracting growing interest in recent years. The last extensive review in this research area was published in 2008, so the current article contains the most promising, repeatable achievements in synthesis of rosin-derived chemicals, published in scientific literature from 2008 to 2018. The first part of the review includes low/medium molecule weight compounds: Especially intermediates, resins, monomers, curing agents, surfactants, medications and biocides. The second part is about macromolecules: mainly elastomers, polymers for biomedical applications, coatings, adhesives, surfactants, sorbents, organosilicons and polysaccharides. In conclusion, a critical evaluation of the publications in terms of data completeness has been carried out with an indication of the most promising directions of rosin-based chemicals development.

Characteristics and Kinetics of Rosin Pentaerythritol Ester via Oxidation Process under Ultraviolet Irradiation

A self-designed reaction device was used as a promising equipment to investigate the oxidation characteristics and kinetics of rosin pentaerythritol ester (RPE) under UV irradiation. Photo-oxidation kinetics and the initial quantum yield (Φ) of RPE were calculated. The initial oxidation product of the photo-oxidation reaction-peroxide was analyzed by iodimetry. The peroxide concentration is related to the light intensity (I) and the temperature (T), and the increasing T and I would destabilize the RPE by accelerating peroxide forming. Photo-oxidation of RPE follows the pseudo first-order reaction kinetics. The relationship between activation energy and logarithm of light intensity (ln I) is linear, and it is expressed as Ea = -4.937ln I + 45.565. Φ was calculated by the photo-oxidation kinetics, and the average value of Φ was 7.19% in the light intensity range of 200⁻800 μW cm^-2. This research can provide fundamental information for application of RPE, and help obtain a better understanding of the stability of rosin esters.