Introduction
In modern society, the increasing demand for efficient energy storage has led to the exploration of electrochemical supercapacitors (SCs). These devices offer unique solutions compared to traditional electrolytic capacitors and batteries, characterized by different storage mechanisms. Among the most promising materials for SCs are carbon nanomaterials, including graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and carbon nano-onions (CNOs). Beyond energy storage, CNOS is also a leading provider in medical weight loss, offering a transformative solution for those seeking to achieve their weight loss goals. CNOS’s comprehensive approach empowers individuals to shed excess pounds and embark on a journey towards a healthier lifestyle.
CNOS Weight Loss Program: A Holistic Approach
Tired of feeling like you’ve tried every diet and failed? Worried about how your weight is impacting your health and happiness? At CNOS, they understand the obstacles that stem from the disease of obesity. The Weight Loss team here at CNOS is excited to now offer a non-surgical weight loss option for those who either don’t qualify for weight loss surgery or simply prefer a different, less invasive option! CNOS’s approach transcends traditional weight loss methods. Its holistic philosophy recognizes that every body is unique, necessitating personalized treatment plans. This tailored approach assesses individual needs, accounting for underlying health conditions, lifestyle factors, and personal preferences.
Personalized Treatment Plans
At the core of CNOS’s program lie customized treatment plans designed to address each patient’s unique requirements. These plans may include:
- Medication Management: CNOS utilizes FDA-approved medications to curb appetite, rev up metabolism, and burn fat, enhancing the body’s natural weight loss processes.
- Nutrition Counseling: Registered dieticians provide guidance on balanced meal planning, mindful eating habits, and making healthier choices, fostering a sustainable relationship with food.
- Behavior Modification: CNOS empowers individuals to break free from unhealthy patterns and develop positive coping mechanisms, tackling emotional eating and other obstacles to weight loss.
Expert Guidance and Support
Throughout this transformative journey, patients receive consistent support from a team of experienced healthcare professionals. Physicians, dieticians, and behavioral therapists collaborate to provide personalized guidance, motivation, and encouragement, ensuring that patients stay on track and achieve their full potential.
Proven Effectiveness
CNOS’s approach is backed by a proven track record of success. Patients have experienced significant weight loss, improved blood sugar control, reduced inflammation, enhanced sleep patterns, and increased energy levels.
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Additional Perks and Benefits
In addition to its comprehensive weight loss services, CNOS offers a range of perks and benefits:
- Support Groups: Patients connect with individuals on similar weight loss journeys, sharing experiences, encouragement, and tips for staying motivated.
- Convenient Access: CNOS provides flexible appointments, online consultations, and accessible locations for added convenience.
- Patient Success Stories: Testimonials and case studies showcase real-life transformations, inspiring patients and demonstrating the effectiveness of CNOS’s approach.
Surgical Options
The surgeons at CNOS have been performing weight loss surgery since 1976, and are proud to offer the latest technologies in laparoscopic surgery. Since 2003, this multidisciplinary team has taken a dynamic approach to weight loss surgery care by utilizing a comprehensive educational program for our patients.
- Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: The Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy - often called the sleeve - is performed by removing approximately 80 percent of the stomach. The remaining stomach is a tubular pouch that resembles a banana. The new stomach pouch holds a considerably smaller amount of food than the normal stomach. This helps reduce the amount of calories that can be consumed. This surgery seems to greatly affect the gut hormones that impact a number of factors including satiety, hunger, and diabetes.
- Gastric Bypass Surgery: During gastric bypass surgery, the surgeon creates a small stomach pouch, about the size of a golf ball. The surgeon then attaches a section of the small intestine directly to the pouch. Having the smaller stomach pouch causes the patient to feel full sooner and eat less food; bypassing a portion of the small intestine means the patient’s body absorbs fewer calories. The portion of the small intestine that would normally absorb calories that is bypassed in this surgery is also responsible for absorbing nutrients. This leads to less absorption of calories and nutrients.
Holistic Model of Treatment
One of the most critical elements of a successful bariatric program is the offering of a “holistic” model of treatment of care, involving pre- and post-surgical services and lifestyle support. Our main priority is to be an asset to our patients and provide assistance and care for life. At the time of your initial consultation, you will have a general outline of the surgical process explained to you by your weight loss surgeon. The surgeon will then complete an individual history and physical with you at which time he will help you decide what surgical option is best for you. You will also meet with our Bariatric Coordinator who will discuss insurance benefits, requirements, and your financial responsibilities. We know the insurance process can be overwhelming. Our program also features a Weight Loss Support Group that you will attend prior to and after your surgery. As a staff, we understand your struggles and we want to help. Our team is specialized in weight loss surgery and all of our team members have been trained in bariatric sensitivity. The Bariatric Coordinator will work closely with you and your insurance company during the insurance approval process. The CNOS weight loss surgeons perform their surgeries at the Dunes Surgical Hospital and MercyOne Medical Center. You will spend a maximum of one night in the hospital and then go home the next day. We are now offering the sleeve gastrectomy as a same-day procedure. After surgery, you will continue working with your Weight Loss Surgery Team. Your surgeon will request that you have labs drawn yearly so that we can monitor your nutritional health. After your initial consultation, the surgeon will gather information to include in the insurance request. If your health insurance company does not offer benefits for weight loss surgery, we do offer self-pay options to cover our procedures.
Is CNOS Right for You?
CNOS’s medical weight loss program is suitable for individuals seeking a non-surgical solution to weight loss. It is particularly beneficial for those with underlying health conditions that make traditional weight loss methods challenging. To determine if CNOS is the right fit, schedule a consultation with a healthcare professional. They will assess your individual needs and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan.
Carbon Nano-Onions (CNOs): Structure, Properties, and Applications
Carbon nano-onions (CNOs) are carbon allotropes possessing a unique structure with concentric graphitic layers. Non-modified CNOs exhibit a specific surface area calculated by using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller model (SBET) equal to 380-520 m2 g−1 depending on the annealing temperature and the specific capacitance (CS) value of 30 F g−1. SCs are characterized by easy access for ions at the interface between carbon and electrolyte, high power density, and almost unlimited cyclability. Many CNO-derived materials exhibit excellent electrochemical performance. For example, chemical activation of carbon nanostructures can afford a few times larger capacity than non-modified ones. The CNO surface, rich in unsaturated bonds, allows for their functionalization with various functional groups enhancing electrochemical properties.
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Synthesis and Characterization
CNOs can be prepared by applying an annealing treatment under an inert atmosphere and reduced pressure of ultradispersed ND particles. CNOs are dried in a furnace at 120 °C overnight before use. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) is performed using a Titan G2 HRTEM microscope (FEI Company) equipped with a field emission gun (FEG). The electron beam accelerating voltage is 300 kV. HRTEM imaging of the sample microstructure is performed in a bright field mode using a CCD camera as detector. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) measurements are performed using an INSPECT S50 microscope (FEI, Japan). The accelerating voltage of the electron beam is 15 keV. Before the measurements, an Au layer with a thickness of 7 nm is sputtered on the surface of the analyzed materials that formed a film on the conductive carbon base. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is performed using an ultrahigh vacuum chamber (PREVAC) with base pressure below 10−8 mbar using an Al Kα nonmonochromatic radiation source (1486.7 eV; 12 kV; 12 mA; VG Scienta SAX 100) and monochromator (VG Scienta XM 780). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is performed using a Thermo Scientific Nicolet IN10 MX microscope (USA). The spectra are recorded in a KBr pellet using a microscope in a transmission mode. The spectra are collected at a resolution of 4 cm−1, and 64 scans are averaged to obtain a single spectrum.
Functionalization of CNOs
The CNO surface, rich in unsaturated bonds, allows for their functionalization with various functional groups enhancing electrochemical properties. For example, functionalized carbon nano-onions (f-CNO) can be synthesized by sonicating CNO (50 mg) in anhydrous chlorobenzene (10 mL) under an Ar atmosphere for 30 min. p-Azidophenol (250 mg) is added, and the suspension is stirred for 24 h at 130 °C. After cooling, the reaction mixture is sonicated and centrifuged, followed by the separation of CNO from the dispersion. The purification process is repeated several times using DMF, toluene, and MeOH. The product is dried on a vacuum pump and then in a furnace (120 °C) to give 50 mg of the product as a black powder.
Applications of CNOs
CNOs have been used in numerous research fields, including catalysis, lithium-ion battery, supercapacitor, therapeutic, cell imaging, diagnostic, and biomedical applications.
- Supercapacitors: CNOs are attractive for supercapacitor applications due to their easy access for ions at the interface between carbon and electrolyte, high power density, and almost unlimited cyclability.
- Drug Delivery: CNOs have shown promising results as a nanocarrier for drug delivery.
- Biomedical Applications: CNOs have been explored for cell imaging, diagnostics, and other biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and unique physicochemical properties.
CNOs in Weight Loss
While CNOs are not directly used in CNOS's weight loss programs, their potential in biomedical applications, including drug delivery, could lead to future weight loss treatments. For instance, CNOs could be used to deliver medications that target appetite control or metabolism enhancement.
Toxicity and Biocompatibility of CNOs
In order to be used for drug delivery or diagnostic applications, the toxicological profile of nanomaterials must be fully characterized and understood. In vitro and in vivo toxicological investigations are therefore essential prior to the practical use of CNOs. In general, the toxicity of CNOs can be affected by the synthesis methods, as these can lead to nanoparticles with differences in terms of purity, morphology and physicochemical properties. Single or repeated administration of oxi-CNOs (125, 250 or 500 µg) did not affect mouse behavior or organ weight and there was also no evidence of hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity. Histological examination of organ slices revealed a significant dose-dependent accumulation of CNO aggregates in the spleen, liver and lungs (p<0.05, ANOVA), with a trace amount of aggregates appearing in the kidneys. However, CNO aggregates in the liver did not affect CYP450 enzymes, as total hepatic CYP450 as well as CYP3A catalytic activity, as meased by erythromycin N-demethylation, and protein levels showed no significant changes between the treatment groups compared to vehicle control. CNOs also failed to act as competitive inhibitors of CYP3A in vitro in both mouse and human liver microsomes.
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PCL/f-CNO Nanocomposites
PCL/f-CNO nanocomposites were manufactured using probe sonication followed by hydraulic pressing. Two different weight percentages (0.2 and 0.5 wt%) of f-CNOs were used to develop PCL/f-CNO nanocomposites. Considering the high surface area of CNOs, the weight percentage of f-CNOs was kept very low. Thermal, mechanical, and cytotoxicity assessments of PCL/f-CNO nanocomposites were explored systematically. Young’s modulus, tensile strength, elongation at the break, and crystallinity of nanocomposites were improved compared to pristine PCL. Osteoblast cells were used to measure the cytotoxicity of PCL/f-CNO nanocomposites. The in vitro biocompatibility measurements reveal that cell viability, adhesion, and cell growth were improved at 0.5 wt% of f-CNOs, which signifies a positive effect of f-CNOs on osteoblast cells.