We report the dewetting of a thin polymer bilayer on a low surface energy topographically patterned substrate with grating geometry. The bilayer, comprising of a polystyrene (PS) top and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bottom layer was prepared by direct sequential spin coating on the patterned substrate, using mutually exclusive solvents. Depending on the coating conditions, three distinct initial morphologies of the as coated bilayer is possible: type 1, a discontinuous bottom layer under a discontinuous top layer, resulting in polymer threads confined within the substrate grooves; type 2, discontinuous threads of bottom layer polymer (PMMA) confined within the substrate grooves under a continuous top layer; type 3, continuous bottom and top layers. Our experiments reveal that the initial morphology of the film, particularly, that of the bottom layer significantly influences the final dewetted patterns. For example, in a type 1 or type 2 bilayer the morphology depends significantly on the relative widths of the PMMA threads (L T−PMMA ) and that of the substrate grooves (L P ). In case L T−PMMA < L P , the bottom PMMA layer disintegrates into isolated droplets aligned along substrate grooves, irrespective of the thickness or morphology of the top PS layer. On the other hand, the overall morphology of the dewetted film is rather strongly influenced by the thickness of the PS layer and the configuration of the bilayer. In case the PMMA threads span the entire width of the substrate grooves (L T−PMMA = L P ), the droplet formation is suppressed in favor of an intact PMMA thread, with periodic undulations, submerged under either an undulating thread or an intact layer of PS. In case of a type 3 bilayer, the continuous PMMA bottom layer in most cases ruptures over the substrate stripes, where it is thinnest. This result in the top PS layer coming in direct contact with the substrate and subsequently rupture over the same locations, resulting in core shell threads localized over the substrate grooves. In case of a type 3 bilayer with an ultrathin top film, the two layers rupture simultaneously at different locations and subsequent dewetting results in an exotic structure comprising alternating array of PS droplets and undulating PMMA threads. For a thicker bottom layer, the PMMA film is seen to remain intact, over which the PS film dewets, forming undulating threads. We also construct a morphology phase diagram that depicts the influence of the individual layers on the final dewetted morphology.

Accurate diagnosis with secure and target-specific drug delivery improves the success rate in cancer treatment and patient survival outcomes. The development of stimuli-responsive theranostic with the molecular computing ability could address all these criteria at a time. This work attempts to design a multifunctional biocomputing agent that can serve as a secure and target-specific drug carrier and simultaneously act as a molecular logic device. Hence, we developed holmium-doped carbon dot-gelatin nanoparticles (HoCDGNPs) by two-step desolvation methods and used them as fluorescence (FL) imaging and MRI contrast agents with effective pH and Cu 2+ ion sensing ability. Furthermore, Boolean algebraic operations (NOR, OR, IMP, and NIMP) are executed on the HoCDGNP system using the FL/magnetic resonance (MR) response in the presence of different inputs (H + , OH − , and Cu 2+ ions), and the results are mesmerizing. Moreover, the FL quenching phenomena of HoCDGNPs in the presence of Cu 2+ ions by cupricamine or cupric-carboxylate coordination formation are also exploited in the living HeLa cells. Finally, the resulting system is used for pH-responsive drug delivery of a model anticancer drug (5-fluorouracil), and the release profile is found selective and sustained over the pH range 6−7.4. Thus, it counters the shortcomings associated with the 5-fluorouracil drug administration (short lifetime and poor specificity at high doses). The cellular uptake and cell viability assessment are also accomplished in cancerous and noncancerous cell lines to ensure the acceptability of this multifunctional biocomputing system, and the results are pretty satisfactory.

Introduction:Cesarean delivery commonly induces moderate to severe pain lasting for 48 hours. Any form of intervention that leads to improvement in pain relief can positively impact ability to breast feed early. Infiltration of local anesthetics (LAs) into the surgical wound is a simple, safe, and low-cost technique for postoperative analgesia. Systemic side effects seen with central neural blockades are avoided. Analgesic requirements are also reduced. Risks of LA toxicity are very low or negligible. Aims and objectives: To compare the effect on postoperative analgesia of bupivacaine (BP) infiltration into the incision line vs normal saline (NS) infiltration after cesarean section (CS) by analyzing pain-free interval, pain score, and overall analgesic consumption in first 24 postoperative hours. Materials and methods: A prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital over 1 year including 130 patients undergoing cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. Before skin closure, 30 mL 0.25% BP or NS infiltration was infiltrated over incision line (10 mL in rectus sheath; 10 mL for each upper and lower subcutaneous flap). Postoperatively, the patients were evaluated at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours. Analgesic drugs were considered on pain score above 4 on visual analog scale (VAS). Diclofenac intramuscularly 75 mg was given on the first request and tramadol on second, if VAS was above 4 within 12 hours. Results: Mean time of first analgesic demand was 274.30 minutes in BP group whereas 149.15 minutes in NS group (p <0.0001). Pain scores (on VAS) were significantly reduced for up to 6 hours postoperatively in BP group as compared to NS group (at 2 hours, p = 0.000 and at 6 hours, p = 0.007). There was no statistical difference in pain scores in two groups beyond 6 hours. In BP group, 58.46% patients required only 75 mg of intramuscular diclofenac and 41.54% patients required 150 mg of diclofenac in two divided doses whereas in NS group; only 23.08% patients had pain control by 75 mg of intramuscular diclofenac and 76.92% required 150 mg (p = 0.0001). In addition to diclofenac, 26.15% patients in NS group required 100 mg of tramadol vs only 7.7% in BP group (p = 0.0101). Conclusion: Direct infiltration of 0.25% BP along incision line following cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia prolongs pain-free interval, provides adequate analgesia for 1st few postoperative hours, reducing requirement of systemic analgesic in first 24 postoperative hours with negligible side effects.

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Convalescent plasma therapy provides a useful therapeutic tool to treat infectious diseases, especially where no specific therapeutic strategies have been identified. The ongoing pandemic puts back the spotlight on this age-old method as a viable treatment option. In this review, we discuss the usage of this therapy in different diseases including COVID-19, and the possible mechanisms of action. The current review also discusses the progress of therapeutic applications of blood-derivatives, from the simple transfer of immunized animal sera, to the more target-specific intravenous administration of human immunoglobulins from a pool of convalescent individuals, in both infectious and non-infectious diseases of various etiologies.