Journal articles on the topic 'Pig iron heating'

A nano-carbon and iron composite--carbon coated iron nanoparticles produced by carbon arc method can be used as a new kind of magnetic targeting and heating drug carrier for cancer therapy. It presents an special nanostructure of iron nanoparticles in inner core and nano-carbon shells outside. The nano-carbon shells have a high drug adsorption ability because of its high surface area and its inner core has great effect of targeting magnetic heating. Magnetic induction heating effect of pig liver injected mixed liquids with different concentration carbon coated iron particles in physiological saline indicates that the more quantity of nanoparticles used, the higher temperature it is. Magnetic induction heating effect of the pig liver was compared in the case of filling method and injection method (both were containing 0.3g carbon coated iron nanoparticles). The iron nanoparticle in its inner core has good effect of magnetic induction heating, the temperature can go up to 51 °C in the case that carbon coated iron nanoparticles mixed with physiological saline were distributed uniformly in pig liver. And the temperature can go up to 46°C in the case that carbon-coated iron nanoparticles was injected in a certain section of pig liver. It is obvious that injected one is much better than that of filled, but they are all enough to kill the cancer cells.

Feasibility of semisolid forging of cast iron using rapid resistance heating was experimentally investigated. Gray pig iron FC250 and spheroidal graphite cast iron FCD600, whose carbon equivalents are both 4.3% in mass, were used for the experiments. Since these cast irons have a narrow semisolid temperature range, an AC power supply with an input electric energy control function was used. In this study, the resistance heating characteristics of the cast irons were firstly examined, and then their semisolid forging experiments were conducted. In the forging experiments, the conditions of the forgings such as microstructures and hardness properties were examined, and the feasibility of the semisolid forging of cast iron using resistance heating was discussed. As a result, it was found that the method presented here is highly feasible.

Quality molten metal needed to produce thin wall ductile iron (TWDI). Pig iron, as the major base material to produce quality molten metal, due to its high price, has been change with scraps. The use of scrap as major base material associates with more cleaning and chemical composition adjustment. The ITmk3 technology in iron making has successfully produced iron nugget. Iron nugget can be use to substitute pig iron due to its quality that is comparable to pig iron but lower in price. This research conducted to see the effects of carbon content in producing iron nugget. Limonite iron ores used in this research are part of laterite rocks taken from Sebuku Island in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Variation made to weight of carbon mixed with laterite. Heating temperatures of direct reduction process are 700°C, 900°C, and 1000°C. The process times are 10, 20, and 30 minutes. XRF used in analysing Fe content in laterite and XRD is used in analysing result of direct reduction process. The result shows that increasing carbon content to certain condition will increase the rate of gasification process during direct reduction. The increase of gasification rate will result to higher Fe formation.

Blast furnace process is still an important process for producing pig iron. The process needs high grade iron ore and coke. The two materials can not be found easily. In addition blast furnace process needs cooking and sintering plant that produces polluted gases. Utilization of composite pellet for pig iron production can simplify process. The pellet is made of iron ore and coal. In addition the pellet can be made from other iron source and coal. This paper discusses the evolution of phase during reduction of composite pellet containing lateritic iron ore. Fresh iron ore and coal were ground to 140 mesh separately. They were mixed and pelletized. The quantity of coal added was varied from 0 %, 20 % and 29 % of pellet weight. Pellets were heated with 10 °C/minute to 1100 °C, 1200 °C, 1300 °C and 1350 °C in a tube furnace and temperature was held during 10 minutes. Heated pellets were analyzed with XRD equipment. XRD of reduced pellets showed that iron phase change with coal and temperature. Lack of coal during heating results the re-oxidation of iron phases. This process is due to replacement of reductive atmosphere by oxidative atmosphere.

The paper presents the studies carried out in order to reduce the consumption of the volume of coke required for the production of pig iron in the furnace. Reducing coke consumption is necessary because it is an increasingly expensive material that increases the production cost of pig iron. Internationally, for the partial replacement of coke, auxiliary fuels were generally used in the form of gas or in liquid form, and the most used turned out to be methane. This process is limited by the fact that the temperature in the furnace is difficult to ensure.The studies carried out have demonstrated that, under the given conditions, it is possible to directly introduce electricity into the crucible, the charge of the crucible presenting properties of electrical resistance that allow the application of additional electrical heating.

The article shows the results of successful modernization of heating systems for cast iron and steel still-pouring ladles of blast furnace and open-hearth production. It was implemented by Ukraine Energy Ltd. with participation of the Institute of Gas of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine. The main aim was reducing of natural gas consumption and emissions. The modernization has been completed using high-speed burners of various designs and changing heating systems to low-calorie gas. Changing of the heating system of pig-iron ladles of 100 tons from natural gas to the mixture of waste gases with natural gas has allowed to reduced the consumption of natural gas more than twofold. The use of the MSB-80 high-speed burner for drying the lining of 100 tons of iron ladles has made it possible to intensify the drying process and reduce the process time twofold as well. Natural gas saving is more than 35 %. The use of precision heating technology with GNB-1500 high-speed burners for the modernization of heating systems for steel casting 250 tons of ladles enables to increase the uniformity of heating the lining to ± 5 degrees, reduce the specific consumption of natural gas from 37 m3/t to 29.7 m3/t, and reduce the content of harmful substances in combustion products: CO ≤ 29 ppm, NOx ≤ 53 ppm. On example of changing natural gas in the heating system of cast-iron ladles with waste gases and using high-speed burners for burning natural gas is shown a real possibility to significantly reduce the consumption of natural gas, improve the quality of drying, reduce the time of processes and emissions. Bibl. 6, Fig. 9, Tab. 3.

The wire rod mill of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited produces coils, wire rods and re-bars of different sizes. Without the furnace hangers, it will be difficult for the mill to continue to operate. This paper describes the production of furnace roof hangers that are required for re-heating furnace using the spheroidal graphite iron (SGI), highlighting the sand-casting process, charge calculation, and the chemical compositions. The facilities within the foundry shop of the steel company are used to produce furnace roof hangers. The available materials used for the casting of the hangers are the pig iron, scrap ends, foundry returns and magnesium. The process of production was performed through the reheating furnace for the heating of 120 m x 120 m x 120 m billets. One ton induction furnace of low frequency was used as the melting vessel. Also, 6 kg of magnesium was introduced in the ladle before the liquid metal was teemed into it. A Spectro analytical instrument was used to determine the chemical compositions of the materials before and after the casting processes. The analysis of the chemical compositions of produced sample of SGI are presented and discussed.

From the point of metallurgical heat engineering, the Romelt process is promising for processing industrial waste, poor ores and secondary metals without their preliminary preparation and the use of coke. But one of the main disadvantages of this process is high specific consumption of oxygen and fuel for the production of 1 ton of primary metal. The peculiarity of the Romelt process is that the main amount of heat required for implementation of the technological process is supplied to the bubbling layer from the superlayer space due to afterburning of the exhaust gases with technical oxygen. Heat transfer is carried out by a radiation-convective mechanism. Any changes in the afterburning process are possible, if they do not entail an unacceptable change in temperature in combustion zone. In the work, a study was conducted to reduce the specific oxygen consumption per 1 ton of primary metal, based on the data of melting a mixture of blast furnace and converter slurries for pig iron. The authors studied the possibility of reducing the specific oxygen consumption supplied to the superlayer space of the furnace for afterburning gases leaving the bubbling layer during the Romelt process. When using blast heating supplied to the lower tuyeres and oxygen heating supplied to the afterburning zone, it is possible to reduce the specific oxygen consumption per 1 ton of cast iron by 11 % without reducing the furnace performance. In the afterburning zone, it is recommended to use oxygen heated up to 400 °C in the recuperator with simultaneous supply of a blast heated up to 600 °C to the lower tuyeres.

<span>REDUCTION AND LEACHING PROCESSES<span><strong>. </strong><span>Indonesia has a large source of iron ore <span>which is quite tempting for the purposes of exploitation in form of raw materials as well as <span>for the production of pig iron. However, not all sources of iron ore are proved useful since <span>not only because the present of deposit is scattere dinamounts of less significant but also <span>because it contains element of tin oxide compounds with iron like ilmenite or FeTiO<span>3<span>. <span>However,ilmenite can actually be used as a source of titanium metal which is much more <span>valuable than Fe it self. In order to recover the Ti from their respective compound it is <span>required the release of strong bonds between the atoms in the compound. This paper reports <span>the recovery of Ti oxide of ilmenite containing iron ore which was obtained through a <span>combination of carbon reduction and acid leaching processes. Carbon reduction of iron ore <span>was carried out through mechanical milling between iron ore and carbon with a ratio of 1:1. <span>This was successively followed by a sintering at a temperature of 1000 <span>o<span>C employing a <span>heating rate of 10 ° C/min for 0-3 hours. The reduction process has resulted in the <span>formation of 27.83wt% TiO2. In order to improve the recovery level of TiO<span>2<span>, further <span>reduction process was conducted through an HCl leaching. This successive stage produced <span>fine powders in the form of deposits. Based on our quantitative analysis, the recovery of <span>TiO<span>2 <span>increased to a level of 73.73%.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>

The synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoparticles with iron rock raw materials was carried out using a coprecipitation method. Iron rocks were taken from the Surian village, South Solok of West Sumatera. This research was conducted to utilize local materials and produce low cost, varied magnetic materials to be applied to the electric and electronics industries. Iron sand as a base material was obtained by processing the iron rocks through destruction and extraction. Iron sand that has been extracted is reacted with HCL and NH4OH. Furthermore, the PEG-2000 were added as a template to homogenize and inhibit the growth of particles. Heating temperature variation performed to see the effect of temperature on the magnetic properties of the particles. Heating temperature variations were used at 500 ̊C, 600 ̊C, and 700 ̊C. Phase composition of the samples were confirm using X-ray diffraction method. Characterization of magnetic properties carried out using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). The results of magnetic properties show that the saturation magnetization decreases with increasing heating temperature in the range of 32.6883 emu/g, 20,1632 emu/g, and 10.4734 emu/g respectively. The value of coercive force, HC obtained in the range of 13,840 A/m – 19,120 A/m. The results show that Fe3O4 can be used as a magnetic recording material.

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) possess versatile utility in cancer theranostics, thus, they have drawn enormous interest in the cancer research field. Herein, we prepared polyethylene glycol (PEG)-conjugated and starch-coated IONPs (“PEG–starch–IONPs”), and assessed their applicability for photothermal treatment (PTT) of cancer. The prepared PEG–starch–IONPs were investigated for their physical properties by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The pharmacokinetic study results showed a significant extension in the plasma half-life by PEGylation, which led to a markedly increased (5.7-fold) tumor accumulation. When PEG–starch–IONPs were evaluated for their photothermal activity, notably, they displayed marked and reproducible heating effects selectively on the tumor site with laser irradiation. Lastly, efficacy studies demonstrated that PEG–starch–IONPs-based PTT may be a promising mode of cancer therapy.

In this study various compositions in the phosphate based glass (PBG) system of (50-x)P2O5-40Ca-(5+x)Na-5TiO2 and (50-x)P2O5-40Ca-(5+x)Na-5Fe2O3, where x= 5 and 10 were investigated for glass transition temperature (Tg) via thermo mechanical analyser (TMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The amorphous nature of the glasses was confirmed via XRD. The Tg measured via DSC was consistently higher by 19°C-29°C compared to TMA and was due to the thermal history and the heating rate of the samples. The Tg increased with increasing phosphate content in both glass systems. The Tg for Ti containing PBG was found to be in the range of 453°C-500°C whilst Tg for Fe containing PBG was in the range of 449°C-494°C. Consistently higher Tg for the Ti containing glass series compared to the Fe containing glasses may be attributed to the smaller ionic radius and therefore higher field strength of Ti4+.

Nowadays, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are an important tool for cancer treatment, such as magnetic hyperthermia. The goal is heating diseased tissue and then tumor cells are destroyed. Magnetic nanoparticles are promising mainly because they have specific ability to reduce side effects. However, forin vivoapplications, nanoparticles need to be coated by a biocompatible material. In this work, nanoparticles are coated by PEG (biocompatible polymer). Samples were produced by coprecipitation process. Information about particle size, magnetic properties and crystallinity were obtained.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have high saturation magnetization and are promising candidates for hyperthermia. They may act as magnetic heating agents when subjected to magnetic field in nano-based hyperthermia. In this work, cube-like Fe3O4 nanoparticles (labelled as cubic SPIONs) with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposites were prepared by a microwave hydrothermal method. The shape and size of magnetic nanoparticles were controlled by varying synthesis parameters, including reaction time, pressure and microwave power. This study successfully synthesized cubic SPIONs nanocomposites with an average particle size between 24–34 nm. Poly-(ethylene) glycol (PEG) was used as a coating material on SPIONs to enhance biocompatibility. The RGO sheets provided a high surface area-to-volume ratio for SPIONs to be dispersed on their surface, and hence, they prevented aggregation of the SPIONs in the nanocomposites. Magnetically induced heating studies on the optimized nanocomposite (Fe3O4/RGO/PEG) demonstrated heating capabilities for magnetic hyperthermia application with a promising specific absorption rate (SAR) value of 58.33 W/g in acidic solution. Cytotoxicity tests were also performed to ensure low nanoparticle toxicity before incorporation into the human body. The results of the standard assay for the toxicity determination of the nanocomposites revealed over 70% cell survival after 48 h, suggesting the feasibility of using the synthesized nanocomposites for magnetic hyperthermia.

This work proposes a simple method for the efficient and rapid synthesis of hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanostructures based on simple heating method under ambient conditions. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is employed as a structure directing agent in driving the morphology and phase transformation. Typically, Fe2O3 nanoparticles of size below 50 nm were synthesized at temperature around 500°C. The morphology and mechanism of formation of the nanocapsules and then aggregation of nanocapsules to form larger size nanoclusters were studied by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Interestingly, this work demonstrates the structural phase transformation of hematite (α-Fe2O3) to maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) upon addition of different amounts of PEG (say 0.066 M, 0.133 M, and 0.2 M) and then heat treating at 500°C. The prepared powders were used in nanoparticle paint preparation and applied as corrosion resistant coatings on iron samples. Polarization studies performed on the paint coatings made out of all the prepared samples showed size-dependent corrosion resistance. As the particle size decreases, the surface area increases and so the corrosion resistance also increases.

A study of the influence of polyols, with or without an additional reducing agent, on crystallites’ size and magnetic features in Fe3O4 nanoparticles and on their performance in magnetic particle hyperthermia is presented. Three different samples were synthesized by thermal decomposition of an iron precursor in the presence of NaBH4 in a polyol. So far, triethylene glycol (TrEG) and polyethylene glycol (PEG 1000 and PEG 8000) that exhibit different physical and chemical properties have been used in order to investigate the influence of the polyols on the composition and the size of the NPs. Additionally, the presence of a different reducing agent such as hydrazine, has been tested for comparison reasons in case of TrEG. Three more samples were prepared solvothermally by using the same polyols, which led to different crystallite sizes. The magnetic core of the nanoparticles was characterized, while the presence of the surfactant was studied qualitatively and quantitatively. Concerning the magnetic features, all samples present magnetic hysteresis including remanence and coercivity revealing that they are thermally blocked at room temperature. Finally, a study on the influence of the MNPs heating efficiency from their size and the field amplitude was accomplished. In our polyol process the main idea was to control the specific loss power (SLP) values by the nanoparticles’ size and consequently by the polyol itself.

Herein, we report a novel therapy for prostate cancer based on systemically delivered magnetic hyperthermia. Conventional magnetic hyperthermia is a form of thermal therapy where magnetic nanoparticles delivered to cancer sites via intratumoral administration produce heat in the presence of an alternating magnetic field (AMF). To employ this therapy for prostate cancer tumors that are challenging to inject intratumorally, we designed novel nanoclusters with enhanced heating efficiency that reach prostate cancer tumors after systemic administration and generate desirable intratumoral temperatures upon exposure to an AMF. Our nanoclusters are based on hydrophobic iron oxide nanoparticles doped with zinc and manganese. To overcome the challenges associated with the poor water solubility of the synthesized nanoparticles, the solvent evaporation approach was employed to encapsulate and cluster them within the hydrophobic core of PEG-PCL (methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone))-based polymeric nanoparticles. Animal studies demonstrated that, following intravenous injection into mice bearing prostate cancer grafts, the nanoclusters efficiently accumulated in cancer tumors within several hours and increased the intratumoral temperature above 42 °C upon exposure to an AMF. Finally, the systemically delivered magnetic hyperthermia significantly inhibited prostate cancer growth and did not exhibit any signs of toxicity.

The aim of the work is synthesis and study on the properties of polyfunctional magnetosensitive nanocomposites (NC) and target-directed magnetic fluids (MF) based on physiological solution (PS), magnetite, gemcitabine (GEM) and HER2 antibodies (AB), promising for use in targeted antitumor therapy against MDA-MB-231 aggressive tumor cells of triple-negative human breast cancer (BC) with high proliferative and metastatic activity. The specific surface area (Ssp) of samples was determined by the method of thermal desorption of nitrogen using a device KELVIN 1042 of “COSTECH Instruments”. The size of nanoparticles (NP) has been estimated by the formula DBET = 6/(ρSBET), where ρ is the density of NC particle, SBET is the value of the specific surface area calculated by the polymolecular adsorption theory of Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET). The surface condition of nanodispersed samples was studied by IR spectroscopy (“Perkin Elmer” Fourier spectrometer, a model 1720X). To calculate the concentration of hydroxyl groups on the surface of nanostructures, the method of differential thermal analysis was used in combination with differential thermogravimetric analysis. The thermograms were recorded using a derivatograph Q-1500D of MOM firm (Hungary) in the temperature range of 20–1000 °C at a heating rate of 10 deg/min. X-ray phase analysis of nanostructures was performed using a diffractometer DRON-4-07 (CuKα radiation with a nickel filter in a reflected beam, the Bragg-Brentano focusing). The size and shape of NP were determined by electron microscopy (a transmission electron microscope (TEM) JEM-2100F (Japan)). The hysteresis loops of the magnetic moment of the samples were measured using a laboratory vibration magnetometer of Foner type at room temperature. Measurement of optical density, absorption spectra and GEM concentration in solutions was performed by spectrophotometric analysis (Spectrometer Lambda 35 UV/Vis Perkin Elmer Instruments). The amount of adsorbed substance on the surface of magnetite was determined using a spectrophotometer at λ = 268 nm from a calibration graph. The thickness of the adsorbed layer of GEM in the composition of Fe3O4@GEM NC was determined by magnetic granulometry. To study the direct cytotoxic/cytostatic effect of a series of experimental samples of MF based on PS, Fe3O4 NP, GEM, HER2 AB, as well as MF components in mono- or complex use, onto MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro, IC50 index was determined. MF were synthesized on the basis of single-domain Fe3O4 and PS, stabilized with sodium oleate (Ol.Na) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), containing GEM and HER2 (Fe3O4@GEM/Ol.Na/PEG/HER2+PS). The cytotoxic/cytostatic activity of MF against MDA-MB-231 cells was studied. It was found that as a result of application of synthesized MF composed of Fe3O4@GEM/Ol.Na/PEG/HER2+PS at the concentration of magnetite of 0.05 mg/mL, GEM - 0.004 mg/mL and HER2 AB - 0.013 μg/mL, a synergistic effect arose, with reduction of the amount of viable BC cells to 51 %. It has been proved that when using MF based on targeted Fe3O4/GEM/HER2 complex, the increased antitumor efficacy is observed compared to traditional use of the drug GEM, with a significant reduction (by four times) of its dose. The high cytotoxic/cytostatic activity of Fe3O4/GEM/HER2 complexes is explained by the fact that endogenous iron metabolism disorders play a significant role in the mechanisms of realization of the apoptotic program under the influence of nanocomposite. Thus, when the nanocomposite system contains Fe3O4/GEM/HER2 complexes in MDA-MB-231 cells, a significant increase is observed in the level of “free iron”, which favours formation of reactive oxygen species and causes oxidative stress (Fenton reaction). The consequences of oxidative stress are induction of apoptosis, enhancement of lipid peroxidation processes, as well as structural and functional rearrangement of biological membranes. The prospects have been shown of further studies of Fe3O4@GEM/Ol.Na/PEG/HER2+PS MF in order to create on their basis a magnetically carried remedy for use in targeted antitumor therapy.

This article provides the review of the medical use of pH- and temperature-sensitive polymer hydrogels. Such polymers are characterised by their thermal and pH sensitivity in aqueous solutions at the functioning temperature of living organisms and can react to the slightest changes in environmental conditions. Due to these properties, they are called stimuli-sensitive polymers. This response to an external stimulus occurs due to the amphiphilicity (diphilicity) of these (co)polymers. The term hydrogels includes several concepts of macrogels and microgels. Microgels, unlike macrogels, are polymer particles dispersed in a liquid and are nano- or micro-objects. The review presents studies reflecting the main methods of obtainingsuch polymeric materials, including precipitation polymerisation, as the main, simplest, and most accessible method for mini-emulsion polymerisation, microfluidics, and layer-by-layer adsorption of polyelectrolytes. Such systems will undoubtedly be promising for use in biotechnology and medicine due to the fact that they are liquid-swollen particles capable of binding and carrying various low to high molecular weight substances. It is also important that slight heating and cooling or a slight change in the pH of the medium shifts the system from a homogeneous to a heterogeneous state and vice versa. This providesthe opportunity to use these polymers as a means of targeted drug delivery, thereby reducing the negative effect of toxic substances used for treatment on the entire body and directing the action to a specific point. In addition, such polymers can be used to create smart coatings of implanted materials, as well as an artificial matrix for cell and tissue regeneration, contributing to a significant increase in the survival rate and regeneration rate of cells and tissues. References 1. Gisser K. R. C., Geselbracht M. J., Cappellari A.,Hunsberger L., Ellis A. B., Perepezko J., et al. Nickeltitaniummemory metal: A "Smart" material exhibitinga solid-state phase change and superelasticity. Journalof Chemical Education. 1994;71(4): 334. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ed071p3342. Erman B., Flory P.J.. Critical phenomena andtransitions in swollen polymer networks and in linearmacromolecules. Macromolecules. 1986;19(9): 2342–2353. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ma00163a0033. Tanaka T., Fillmore D., Sun S.-T., Nishio I.,Swislow G., Shah A. Phase transitions in ionic gels.Physical Review Letters. 1980;45(20): 1636–1639. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.45.16364. Polymer Gels. DeRossi D., Kajiwara K., Osada Y.,Yamauchi A. (eds.). Boston, MA: Springer US; 1991.354 p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5892‑35. Ilmain F., Tanaka T., Kokufuta E. Volumetransition in a gel driven by hydrogen bonding. Nature.1991;349(6308): 400–401. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/349400a06. Kuhn W., Hargitay B., Katchalsky A., EisenbergH. Reversible dilation and contraction by changing thestate of ionization of high-polymer acid networks.Nature. 1950;165(4196): 514–516. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/165514a07. Steinberg I. Z., Oplatka A., Katchalsky A.Mechanochemical engines. Nature. 1966;210(5036):568-571. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/210568a08. Tian H., Tang Z., Zhuang X., Chen X., Jing X.Biodegradable synthetic polymers: Preparation,functionalization and biomedical application. Progressin Polymer Science. 2012;37(2): 237–280. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2011.06.0049. Gonçalves C., Pereira P., Gama M. Self-Assembledhydrogel nanoparticles for drug delivery applications.Materials. 2010;3(2): 1420–1460. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma302142010. Pangburn T. O., Petersen M. A., Waybrant B.,Adil M. M., Kokkoli E. Peptide- and Aptamer-functionalizednanovectors for targeted delivery of therapeutics.Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. 2009;131(7):074005. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/1.316076311. Caldorera-Moore M. E., Liechty W. B., PeppasN. A. Responsive theranostic systems: integrationof diagnostic imaging agents and responsive controlledrelease drug delivery carriers. Accounts of ChemicalResearch. 2011;44(10): 1061–1070. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ar200177712. Das M., Sanson N., Fava D., Kumacheva E.Microgels loaded with gold nanorods: photothermallytriggered volume transitions under physiologicalconditions†’. Langmuir. 2007;23(1): 196–201. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/la061596s13. Oh J. K., Lee D. I., Park J. M. Biopolymer-basedmicrogels/nanogels for drug delivery applications.Progress in Polymer Science. 2009;34(12): 1261–1282.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2009.08.00114. Oh J. K., Drumright R., Siegwart D. J.,Matyjaszewski K. The development of microgels/nanogels for drug delivery applications. Progress inPolymer Science. 2008;33(4): 448–477. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2008.01.00215. Talelli M., Hennink W. E. Thermosensitivepolymeric micelles for targeted drug delivery.Nanomedicine. 2011;6(7): 1245–1255. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2217/nnm.11.9116. Bromberg L., Temchenko M., Hatton T. A. Smartmicrogel studies. Polyelectrolyte and drug-absorbingproperties of microgels from polyether-modifiedpoly(acrylic acid). Langmuir. 2003;19(21): 8675–8684.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/la030187i17. Vinogradov S. V. Polymeric nanogel formulationsof nucleoside analogs. Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery.2007;4(1): 5–17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1517/17425247.4.1.518. Vinogradov S. V. Colloidal microgels in drugdelivery applications. Current Pharmaceutical Design.2006;12(36): 4703–4712. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/13816120677902625419. Kabanov A. V., Vinogradov S. V. Nanogels aspharmaceutical carriers: finite networks of infinitecapabilities. Angewandte Chemie International Edition.2009;48(30): 5418–5429. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.20090044120. Lee E. S., Gao Z., Bae Y. H. Recent progress intumor pH targeting nanotechnology. Journal ofControlled Release. 2008;132(3): 164–170. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2008.05.00321. Dong H., Mantha V., Matyjaszewski K.Thermally responsive PM(EO)2MA magnetic microgelsvia activators generated by electron transfer atomtransfer radical polymerization in miniemulsion.Chemistry of Materials. 2009;21(17): 3965–3972. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/cm901143e22. Nayak S., Lyon L. A. Soft nanotechnology withsoft nanoparticles. Angewandte Chemie InternationalEdition. 2005;44(47): 7686–7708. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.20050132123. Hennink W. E., van Nostrum C. F. Novelcrosslinking methods to design hydrogels. AdvancedDrug Delivery Reviews. 2012;64: 223–236. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2012.09.00924. Motornov M., Roiter Y., Tokarev I., Minko S.Stimuli-responsive nanoparticles, nanogels and capsulesfor integrated multifunctional intelligent systems.Progress in Polymer Science. 2010;35(1-2): 174–211. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2009.10.00425. Saunders B. R., Laajam N., Daly E., Teow S.,Hu X., Stepto R. Microgels: From responsive polymercolloids to biomaterials. Advances in Colloid andInterface Science. 2009;147-148: 251–262. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2008.08.00826. Landfester K. Miniemulsion polymerizationand the structure of polymer and hybrid nanoparticles.chemInform. 2009;40(33). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/chin.20093327927. Seo M., Nie Z., Xu S., Mok M., Lewis P.C.,Graham R., et al. Continuous microfluidic reactors forpolymer particles. Langmuir. 2005;21(25): 11614–11622. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/la050519e28. Nie Z., Li W., Seo M., Xu S., Kumacheva E. Janusand ternary particles generated by microfluidicsynthesis: design, synthesis, and self-assembly. Journalof the American Chemical Society. 2006;128(29): 9408–9412. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ja060882n29. Seiffert S., Thiele J., Abate A. R., Weitz D. A.Smart microgel capsules from macromolecularprecursors. Journal of the American Chemical Society.2010;132(18): 6606–6609. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ja102156h30. Rossow T., Heyman J. A., Ehrlicher A. J.,Langhoff A., Weitz D. A., Haag R., et al. Controlledsynthesis of cell-Laden Microgels by Radical-FreeGelation in Droplet Microfluidics. Journal of theAmerican Chemical Society. 2012;134(10): 4983–4989.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ja300460p31. Perry J. L., Herlihy K. P., Napier M. E.,DeSimone J. M. PRINT: A novel platform toward shapeand size specific nanoparticle theranostics. Accountsof Chemical Research. 2011;44(10): 990–998. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ar200031532. Caruso F., Sukhorukov G. Coated Colloids:Preparation, characterization, assembly and utilization.In: Decher G., Schlenoff J. B., editors. MultilayerThin Films. Weinheim, FRG: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH& Co. KGaA; 2002. p. 331-362.33. Sauzedde F., Elaïssari A., Pichot C. Hydrophilicmagnetic polymer latexes. 2. Encapsulation ofadsorbed iron oxide nanoparticles. Colloid & PolymerScience. 1999;277(11): 1041–1050. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396005048834. Sauzedde F., Elaïssari A., Pichot C. Hydrophilicmagnetic polymer latexes. 1. Adsorption of magneticiron oxide nanoparticles onto various cationic latexes.Colloid & Polymer Science. 1999;277(9): 846–855. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396005046135. Pich A., Richtering W. Microgels by PrecipitationPolymerization: Synthesis, Characterization, andFunctionalization. In: Pich A., Richtering W. (eds.)Chemical Design of Responsive Microgels. SpringerHeidelberg Dordrecht London New York; 2011. p. 1–37.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16379-136. Yamada N., Okano T., Sakai H., Karikusa F.,Sawasaki Y., Sakurai Y. Thermo-responsive polymericsurfaces; control of attachment and detachment ofcultured cells. Die Makromolekulare Chemie, RapidCommunications. 1990;11(11): 571–576. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.1990.03011110937. Kushida A., Yamato M., Konno C., Kikuchi A.,Sakurai Y., Okano T. Decrease in culture temperaturereleases monolayer endothelial cell sheets togetherwith deposited fibronectin matrix from temperatureresponsiveculture surfaces. Journal of BiomedicalMaterials Research. 1999;45(4): 355–362. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1097-4636(19990615)45:4<355::aid-jbm10>3.0.co;2-738. Sekine H., Shimizu T., Dobashi I., Matsuura K.,Hagiwara N., Takahashi M., et al. Cardiac cell sheettransplantation improves damaged heart function viasuperior cell survival in comparison with dissociatedcell injection. Tissue Engineering Part A. 2011;17(23-24): 2973–2980. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.tea.2010.065939. Nishida K., Yamato M., Hayashida Y.,Watanabe K., Yamamoto K., Adachi E., et al. Corneal reconstruction with tissue-engineered cell sheetscomposed of autologous oral mucosal epithelium. TheNew England Journal of Medicine. 2004;351(12): 1187–1196. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa04045540. Kanzaki M., Yamato M., Yang J., Sekine H.,Kohno C., Takagi R., et al. Dynamic sealing of lungair leaks by the transplantation of tissue engineeredcell sheets. Biomaterials. 2007;28(29): 4294–4302.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2007.06.00941. Iwata T., Yamato M., Tsuchioka H., Takagi R.,Mukobata S., Washio K., et al. Periodontal regenerationwith multi-layered periodontal ligament-derived cellsheets in a canine model. Biomaterials. 2009;30(14):2716–2723. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2009.01.03242. Sawa Y., Miyagawa S., Sakaguchi T., Fujita T.,Matsuyama A., Saito A., et al. Tissue engineeredmyoblast sheets improved cardiac function sufficientlyto discontinue LVAS in a patient with DCM: report ofa case. Surgery Today. 2012;42(2): 181–184. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-011-0106-443. Ohki T., Yamato M., Ota M., Takagi R.,Murakami D., Kondo M., et al. Prevention of esophagealstricture after endoscopic submucosal dissection usingtissue-engineered cell sheets. Gastroenterology.2012;143(3): 582–588. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2012.04.05044. Ebihara G., Sato M., Yamato M., Mitani G.,Kutsuna T., Nagai T., et al. Cartilage repair intransplanted scaffold-free chondrocyte sheets usinga minipig model. Biomaterials. 2012;33(15): 3846–3851. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2012.01.05645. Sato M., Yamato M., Hamahashi K., Okano T.,Mochida J. Articular cartilage regeneration using cellsheet technology. The Anatomical Record. 2014;297(1):36–43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.2282946. Kuramoto G., Takagi S., Ishitani K., Shimizu T.,Okano T., Matsui H. Preventive effect of oral mucosalepithelial cell sheets on intrauterine adhesions. HumanReproduction. 2014;30(2): 406–416. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deu32647. Yamamoto K., Yamato M., Morino T.,Sugiyama H., Takagi R., Yaguchi Y., et al. Middle earmucosal regeneration by tissue-engineered cell sheettransplantation. NPJ Regenerative Medicine. 2017;2(1):6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41536-017-0010-748. Gan D., Lyon L. A. Synthesis and Proteinadsorption resistance of PEG-modified poly(Nisopropylacrylamide) core/shell microgels.Macromolecules. 2002;35(26): 9634–9639. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ma021186k49. Veronese F. M., Mero A. The impact ofPEGylation on biological therapies. BioDrugs.2008;22(5): 315–329. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00063030-200822050-0000450. Sahay G., Alakhova D. Y., Kabanov A. V.Endocytosis of nanomedicines. Journal of ControlledRelease. 2010;145(3): 182–195. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2010.01.03651. Nolan C. M., Reyes C. D., Debord J. D.,García A. J., Lyon L. A. Phase transition behavior,protein adsorption, and cell adhesion resistance ofpoly(ethylene glycol) cross-linked microgel particles.Biomacromolecules. 2005;6(4): 2032–2039. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/bm050008752. Scott E. A., Nichols M. D., Cordova L. H., GeorgeB. J., Jun Y.-S., Elbert D. L. Protein adsorption and celladhesion on nanoscale bioactive coatings formed frompoly(ethylene glycol) and albumin microgels.Biomaterials. 2008;29(34): 4481–4493. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2008.08.00353. South A. B., Whitmire R. E., García A. J.,Lyon L. A. Centrifugal deposition of microgels for therapid assembly of nonfouling thin films. ACS AppliedMaterials & Interfaces. 2009;1(12): 2747–2754. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/am900543554. Wang Q., Uzunoglu E., Wu Y., Libera M. Selfassembledpoly(ethylene glycol)-co-acrylic acidmicrogels to inhibit bacterial colonization of syntheticsurfaces. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 2012;4(5):2498–2506. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/am300197m55. Wang Q., Libera M. Microgel-modified surfacesenhance short-term osteoblast response. Colloids andSurfaces B: Biointerfaces. 2014;118: 202–209. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2014.04.00256. Tsai H.-Y., Vats K., Yates M. Z., Benoit D. S. W.Two-dimensional patterns of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)microgels to spatially control fibroblastadhesion and temperature-responsive detachment.Langmuir. 2013;29(39): 12183–12193. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/la400971g57. Lynch I. , Miller I. , Gallagher W. M. ,Dawson K. A. Novel method to prepare morphologicallyrich polymeric surfaces for biomedical applicationsvia phase separation and arrest of microgel particles.The Journal of Physical Chemistry B. 2006;110(30):14581–14589. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jp061166a58. Li Y., Chen P., Wang Y., Yan S., Feng X., Du W.,et al. Rapid assembly of heterogeneous 3D cellmicroenvironments in a microgel array. AdvancedMaterials. 2016;28(18): 3543–3548. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.20160024759. Bridges A. W., Singh N., Burns K. L., BabenseeJ. E., Andrew Lyon L., García A. J. Reduced acuteinflammatory responses to microgel conformalcoatings. Biomaterials. 2008;29(35): 4605–4615. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2008.08.01560. Bridges A. W., Whitmire R. E., Singh N.,Templeman K. L., Babensee J. E., Lyon L. A., et al.Chronic inflammatory responses to microgel-basedimplant coatings. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A. 2010;94A(1): 252–258. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.a.3266961. Gutowski S. M., Templeman K. L., South A. B.,Gaulding J. C., Shoemaker J. T., LaPlaca M. C., et al.Host response to microgel coatings on neuralelectrodes implanted in the brain. Journal of BiomedicalMaterials Research Part A. 2014;102(5): 1486–1499.DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.a.3479962. da Silva R. M. P., Mano J. F., Reis R. L. Smartthermoresponsive coatings and surfaces for tissueengineering: switching cell-material boundaries.Trends in Biotechnology. 2007;25(12): 577–583. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2007.08.01463. Schmidt S., Zeiser M., Hellweg T., Duschl C.,Fery A., Möhwald H. Adhesion and mechanicalproperties of PNIPAM microgel films and theirpotential use as switchable cell culture substrates.Advanced Functional Materials. 2010;20(19): 3235–3243. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.20100073064. Uhlig K., Wegener T., He J., Zeiser M., BookholdJ., Dewald I., et al. Patterned thermoresponsivemicrogel coatings for noninvasive processing ofadherent cells. Biomacromolecules. 2016;17(3): 1110–1116. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.5b01728

AbstractJarosite sludge coming from the hydrometallurgical zinc production route is a hazardous material, which is currently neutralized and landfilled by the so-called Jarofix® process. The present study aims to assess the mechanical and metallurgical properties of briquettes made of jarosite powder with blast furnace sludges, acting as a reductant material, to recover the iron oxide in the form of pig iron and produce an inert slag, increasing the recovery of materials considered as wastes nowadays. Starch was used as a binder (0, 5, 10 wt%), and two different briquetting pressure levels were used (20 and 40 MPa). The results show that briquetting without a binder is not desirable, as the agglomerating forces provided by pressure only are not sufficient, as the briquettes are very fragile and not handy. The binder addition increased noticeably the briquettes resistance, however, only little distinction between the 5 and 10 wt% levels were seen. The briquetting pressure, on the other hand, showed a bigger role on the cold mechanical properties of the bound briquettes. The briquettes pressed at 40 MPa reached an average compressive strength higher than 12 MPa and good abrasion and drop resistance were seen, also showing that their production with starch as a binder is feasible. A special remark is done regarding the roasting treatment of the jarosite powder before the briquetting process, as an undesirable compound (thenardite) was formed within some briquettes due to a non-uniform heating of the powder, which hindered the briquettes mechanical properties. Metallurgical properties open the possibility to use such briquettes for iron production in cupola furnaces. Graphical Abstract

ABSTRACTA thermally-activated micelle consisting of a crystallizable poly(caprolactone), PCL, core and a poly(ethylene glycol), PEG, corona was developed to contain magnetic nanoparticles and anti-cancer agent doxorubicin as well as display a targeting RGD peptide. This system has the potential to target cancer cells, deliver combination hyperthermia and chemotherapy, and offer magnetic resonance imaging contrast. The micelles self-assemble in aqueous solutions and form a crystalline core with a melting transition ranging from 40 to 50 °C, depending on the length of the PCL blocks, with dynamic light scattering showing micelle sizes typically ranging from 20 to 100 nm, depending on block lengths and added drug or nanoparticles. The micelles become unstable as they are heated above their melting point, creating a thermally-activated drug release mechanism. By adding magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles into the PCL core, the micelles can be heated using an externally applied AC magnetic field to induce hyperthermia in combination with the thermally-activated drug release. The polymers and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized and characterized in our laboratories. The melting transitions of the PCL micelle cores were investigated using microcalorimetry. The heating of nanoparticles and magnetomicelles was conducted using a custom-built hyperthermia coil capable of generating fields of several hundred Oersteds at frequencies ranging from 50 to 450 kHz. Heating of MNPs was maximized at high field intensities. RGD peptides were attached to the PEG corona using maleimide chemistry, and the ability of the RGD-derivatized micelles to target integrin-expressing cells was investigated using fluorescent dye PKH26 to identify the localization of micelles in cultured human kidney (293) cells in vitro. The crystallizable (and meltable) cores in these micelles were designed to overcome drug leakage common in liposome systems and release the drug on demand after a period of time for localization to integrin receptors.

AbstractHighly crystalline superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated by poly-vinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were prepared by simultaneous thermal decomposition of ferrous and ferric inorganic salts in polyethylene glycol (PEG) with molecular weight 200. The magnetic particles have a diameter in the range of 8-15 nm, and after exchange with citric acid diammonium salt, they transform into very stable super hydrophilic colloidal solutions. The presence of magnetite phase was confirmed using powder X-rays diffraction (XRD) and Mössbauer spectroscopy, while thermogravimetric analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of PVP or citrate anions on the nanoparticles surface. The magnetic properties revealed superparamagnetic behavior, with the composite material showing a saturation magnetization up to 57 emu/g. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles prepared by this modified polyol process are suitable for biomedical applications because of the biocompatibility of citrate anions. Magnetic hyperthermia experiments in neutral water solutions shows that the particles induce fast heating rates with specific absorption rate (SAR) values which reached 57.53 W/gFe, when the concentration of iron is 11.2 mgFe/ml.