Liver ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) may occur during hepatic surgery and is unavoidable in liver transplantation. Superoxide dismutase enzymosomes (SOD-enzymosomes), liposomes where SOD is at the liposomal surface expressing enzymatic activity in intact form without the need of liposomal disruption, were developed with the aim of having a better insight into its antioxidant therapeutic outcome in IRI. We also aimed at validating magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) at 7 T as a tool to follow IRI. SOD-enzymosomes were characterized and tested in a rat ischaemia-reperfusion model and the therapeutic outcome was compared with conventional long circulating SOD liposomes and free SOD using biochemical liver injury biomarkers, histology and MRM. MRM results correlated with those obtained using classical biochemical biomarkers of liver injury and liver histology. Moreover, MRM images suggested that the therapeutic efficacy of both SOD liposomal formulations used was related to prevention of peripheral biliary ductular damage and disrupted vascular architecture. Therefore, MRM at 7 T is a useful technique to follow IRI. SOD-enzymosomes were more effective than conventional liposomes in reducing liver ischaemia-reperfusion injury and this may be due to a short therapeutic window.

New long circulating magnetoliposomes coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG), and loaded with PEG-coated 10nm superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION), were developed. The magnetoliposomes relaxivities r1, r2 measured in a magnetic field of 7 T showed a minor effect on T1, but a major effect on T2. These nanosystems were used as a negative contrast agent for MRI in a nonclinical study to visualize, in a rat model of liver ischemia, ischemia-reperfusion injuries. Magnetic resonance micro-images (MRM) at 7 T were obtained for rat liver with and without magnetoliposomes administration and analyzed in comparison with liver biomarkers and histological results. These new long circulating magnetoliposomes enhanced the detection of lesions indicating their potential use as efficient MRI negative contrast agent for the detection of liver ischemia-reperfusion injuries. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: This paper describes the generation of PEGylated magnetoliposomes and demonstrates their feasibility as negative contrast agents in a liver ischemia-reperfusion rat model.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) strategically functionalized were used to immobilize a homogeneous polyoxomolybdate catalyst {[}PMo12O40](3-) (PMo12), active but unstable. The PMo12@TBA-MSN composite (where TBA refers to surface-tethered tributylammonium groups) conferred high stability to the polyoxomolybdate catalytic center and displayed an increase in efficiency for the oxidative desulfurization (ECODS) of a diesel simulant under sustainable conditions (using H2O2 as oxidant and an ionic liquid, {[}BMIM]PF6, as solvent). Continuous reuse of the catalyst and ionic liquid solvent in consecutive ECODS cycles was successfully performed, avoiding the production of residual wastes. The performance of the PMo12@TBA-MSN catalyst improved upon its reuse, leading to complete desulfurization of a multicomponent model diesel containing benzothiophene derivatives after just 1 h of the catalytic stage of the process. The robust nature of the supported catalyst was indicated by characterization of the recovered solid which showed retention of the structural and chemical integrities.

This work compares the stability and the catalytic efficiency of different ionic liquid phosphomolybdates ([BPy]3[PMo12O40] and [BMIM]3[PMo12O40]) with a cationic (propylpyridinium) functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticle composite (PMo12O40@PPy-MSN). These were used as solid catalysts for the oxidative desulfurization of a multicomponent model diesel using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant and a polar immiscible extraction solvent. Ionic liquid ([BMIM][PF6] was successfully used as solvent to extract sulfur compounds from model diesel. The ionic liquid phosphomolybdates showed partial solubility in the ionic liquid phase, occurring some decomposition of their Keggin structure in the soluble reaction media, probably caused by their interaction with oxidant. On the other hand, the phosphomolybdate composite PMo12O40@PPy-MSN presented high structural stability and only negligible leaching occurrence after various consecutive reaction cycles. The model diesel was near complete desulfurized after 3 h and consecutive desulfurization cycles were performed without loss of activity. Therefore, the immobilization of Keggin phosphomolybdate structure [PMo12O40]3− using cationic propylpyridinium silica nanoparticle is an assertive strategy to produce stable and active heterogeneous catalysts.

A novel composite has been prepared through the immobilization of the Keggin sandwich-type {[}Sm (PMo11O39)(2)](11-) anion (SmPOM) on large-pore silica spheres previously functionalized with trimethylammonium groups (TMA). The resulting SmPOM@TMA-LPMS material has been evaluated as heterogeneous catalyst in a biphasic desulfurization 1:1 diesel/extraction solvent system using H2O2 as oxidant. Preliminary experiments were conducted with different extraction solvents, acetonitrile and {[}BMIM]PF6 ionic liquid. The optimized extractive and catalytic oxidative desulfurization system (ECODS) with {[}BMIM]PF6 was able to reach complete sulfur removal from a model diesel containing 2100 ppm S in just 60 min (10 min of initial extraction + 50 min of catalytic step). The reutilization of catalyst and extraction phase has been successfully performed without loss of desulfurization efficiency in consecutive cycles, turning the process more sustainable and cog-effective. The remarkable results with simulated diesel have motivated the application of the catalyst in the desulfurization of untreated real diesel and 74% of efficiency was achieved after only 2 h for three consecutive cycles.

The heterogenization of the highly active monovacant polyoxotungstate ([PW11O39]7 −, abbreviated as PW11) was achieved by preparing the corresponding long chain quaternary ammonium salt (ODA7PW11, ODA = CH3(CH2)17(CH3)3N). The complete cation exchange confers total heterogeneity to the monovacant catalyst while keeping its oxidative catalytic activity. In fact, the heterogeneous catalyst allowed for the complete desulfurization of a multicomponent model diesel (2000 ppm S) after 40 min of reaction, conciliating extraction (using BMIMPF6 solvent) and oxidation (ECODS process using H2O2 oxidant). The heterogeneous catalyst has shown a superior desulfurization performance when compared with the homogeneous quaternary ammonium TBAPW11 catalyst (TBA = (C4H9)4 N). Both hybrid catalysts have been successfully reused in consecutive ECODS cycles. Additionally, the long carbon chain cations provide a protective environment around the polyoxometalate allowing for ODA7PW11 to retain its heterogeneity and structure after the ECODS process.

The relationship between linear chain (ethylene oxide units) length of polymerisable monomers with morphology, electro-optical properties and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of the corresponding polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films was investigated. The preferred liquid crystal molecule alignment and permanent memory effect of PDLC were greatly influenced by the length of the molecular chain of prepolymers to be incorporated as a polymer matrix. By increasing the number of ethylene oxide in prepolymer chain and maintaining the number of functionalities (polymerisable groups in each monomer molecule), the permanent memory effect of PDLC increased, as proved by solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy.