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Grafted membranes were prepared through chemical graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto isotactic polypropylene film (IPP). The IPP films were grafted with MMA molecules resulting in IPP-g-MMA grafts using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator in an inert nitrogen atmosphere. Using this method, the degree of grafting and morphology could be controlled through the variation of reaction parameters such as initiator concentration, monomer concentration, reaction time, and the reaction temperature. Optimum conditions pertaining to maximum percentage of grafting (%G) were evaluated as a function of these parameters. Maximum percentage of grafting (50%) was obtained at  M, % V/V, and [Reaction Temperature] = in a [Reaction time] of 120 minutes. IPP-g-MMA films were investigated for their swelling behavior. Water-swelling analysis of IPP-g-MMA was carried out as a function of different percentage of grafting, temperatures, and time. Maximum swelling percentage of IPP-g-MMA (92%) was observed in 8 hours at . The evidence of grafting was carried out by Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after grafting, respectively. The swelling pattern was characterized by two distinct stages, an initial diffusion-controlled fast swelling, followed by a subsequent slower process controlled by the relaxation of polymer fragments. Swelling chrematistics of IPP-g-MMA make it a potentially useful material.

Zika Virus (ZIKV) belongs to the class of flavivirus that can be transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The number of Zika virus caused cases of acute infections, neurological disorders and congenital microcephaly are rapidly growing and therefore, in 2016, the World Health Organization declared a global “Public Health Emergency of International Concern”. Anti-ZIKV therapeutic and vaccine development strategies are growing worldwide in recent years, however, no specific and safe treatment is available till date to save the human life. Currently, development of peptide therapeutics against ZIKV has attracted rising attention on account of their high safety concern and low development cost, in comparison to small therapeutic molecules and antibody-based anti-viral drugs. In present review, an overview of ZIKV inhibition by peptide-based inhibitors including E-protein derived peptides, antimicrobial peptides, frog skin peptides and probiotic peptides has been discussed. Peptides inhibitors have also been reported to act against NS5, NS2B-NS3 protease and proteasome in order to inhibit ZIKV infection. Recent advances in peptide-based therapeutics and vaccine have been reviewed and their future promise against ZIKV infections has been explored.

The paper presents the hydrophilic modification of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes under swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiation. The research work included the irradiation of PVDF membranes of 9 μm thicknesses with 50 MeV Ni ions at fluences of 1 × 10 13 and 5 × 10 13 ion cm −2 . The pristine and irradiated membranes have been investigated by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscope and water contact angle measurement. It is observed that porosity, grain size and surface roughness of the membranes increase after ion irradiation and the water contact angle on irradiated sample decreases as compared to the pristine sample, indicating the development of a highly hydrophilic surface. The energy transferred by energetic ions to the PVDF membranes initiated the crosslinking and chain scission. The crosslinking and chain scission increase the roughness of PVDF surface which develops highly hydrophilic PVDF membranes after SHI irradiation.

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