The cross-linked starch/POLYCAPROLACTONE (SPCL10) and starch/POLYCAPROLACTONE (SPCL12) blends were prepared, characterized and used as carbon source and biofilm support for biological nitrate removal. The results showed that SPCL10 and SPCL12 had similar performance on water absorption (about 21 %) and leaching capacity. FTIR spectra confirmed the cross-linking reaction between starch and PCL. SEM displayed a thermoplastic nature of SPCL10 and SPCL12. These blends could serve as solid carbon source and biofilm support for biological denitrification, and the acclimation time of microbial biofilm on the surfaces of SPCL10, SPCL12 and PCL were about 2 days, 2 days and 16 days, respectively. The average denitrification rates were 0.0216, 0.0154 and 0.0071 mg NO3-N/(g h) for SPCL10, SPCL12 and PCL, respectively, and the effluent NO2-N concentration was below 1 mg/L at all cases. The phenomenon of ammonia formation was observed, but ammonia concentration was below 0.5 mg/L.

Paclitaxel used to treat malignant tumors of cancer by controlling the release of the drug to the tumor cells at the exact time. POLYCAPROLACTONE (PCL) as a semi-crystalline polyester with a glass transition temperature and low melting point used as matrix and cellulose for fibrous layer. This polymer is easily processed at low temperatures, but due to its crystalline nature and strong hydrophobicity, the degradation of PCL is very slow. In this article, the anticancer drug is loaded into single-layer and three-layer cellulose acetate/POLYCAPROLACTONE nanofibers and the amount of drug uptake, release behavior and release kinetics of the nanofibers are investigated. The resulting nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning and freeze-drying to evaluate drug release and biocompatibility. Then, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed the approximate diameter and length of the nanofibers as 300-400 nm. Functional group and chemical bonds of nanofibers were detected by Fourier Transform InfraRed  (FT-IR) spectroscopy analysis. Results have shown that the maximum degradation for PCL/CA + 15% D/PCL scaffold is 53% and 43% for the same scaffold by electrospinning method. The percentage of inflation increases as the concentration of PCL/CA in the scaffold increases. For the 5-minute time period, the percentage of inflation ranges from 14.29% for the PCL/CA+5%/PCL sample to 29.77% for the PCL/CA+15%/PCL sample. Similarly, for the 30-minute time period, the percentage of inflation ranges from 20.51% to 34.65% for the respective samples. The obtained results show slow and continuous release of the drug in vitro at 37°C and pH = 5.8, which can be used as a drug carrier in targeted treatment systems for anticancer drugs.

Introduction: This study was conducted to compare the effect of nanofibrous POLYCAPROLACTONE (PCL) and PCL/gelatin (PCL/Gel) on limbal epithelial stem cell (LESC) and its efficiency for transplantation in animal model. Methods: PCL and PCL/Gel with a mass ratio of 70: 30 and 50: 50 was fabricated by electrospinning method. Human LESCs were cultured on PCL and PCL/Gel scaffolds and the effect of each scaffold on LESC proliferation, attachment and corneal epithelial regeneration in an animal model was evaluated, considering ease of use of scaffold and final transparency of the cornea. Results: Our data showed that PCL was more suitable than PCL/Gel for LESCs adherence, induction of epithelial morphology and proliferation. Histopathologic analysis of corneal sections from transplanted animals showed that epithelium was regenerated almost similar in PCL and PCL/Gel groups; however, vascularization and inflammation were significantly lower in the group receiving PCL. Conclusion: The represented data indicated the priority of PCL to PCL/Gel for the LESC attachment, proliferation and final outcome in an animal model of alkaline injury. This finding might be promising for cell therapy of corneal diseases.