Chip-scale calorimeters: Potential uses in chemical engineering

This work illustrates the potential use of chip-scale calorimeters in typical applications found in chemical engineering including thermal hazard screening, material characterization, and mixing compatibility screening. Experimental results were obtained from two liquid nanocalorimeters and one thermal conductivity sensor designed and commercialized by Xensor Integration, and from two microfabricated calorimeter prototypes developed at Texas A&M University and University of Louisiana at Lafayette.     

Toxicity screening of biodegradable polymers. II. Evaluation of cell culture test with medium extract

Cell culture testing with material extracts was applied to toxicity screening of some commercial degradable plastics: a plasticized cellulose acetate, an aliphatic polyester (Bionolle), polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (Biopol), and polycaprolactone (TONE polymer). Cell culture medium with serum was used as extraction medium. Methods for the determination of morphology and viability of cells cultured in the extract were investigated. Phase-contrast light microscopy of cells, enhanced by neutral red staining, provides high-contrast images for qualitative evaluation of cell morphology and lysis. Compared to the determination of protein using the Bradford method and of neutral red uptake, the determination of dehydrogenase activity using 3-[4,5-dimethylthia-zol-2-yl]-2,5-diephenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) is more sensitive and accurate. The relative MTT activity of cells cultured in fresh extracts indicate that TONE polymer (all shapes) and Bionolle (test bars and films) are comparable to materials currently used in the food industry (polyethylene terephthalate, atactic and isotactic polystyrene) with no toxic effects on cells.