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Topic Review
Filled Polymers and DMA
Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) provides reliable information about the viscoelastic behavior of neat and filled polymers. The properties of filled polymers are relevant to different industries as protective organic coatings, composites etc. Interfacial interactions in filled polymers play an important role in determining their bulk properties and performance during service life. In this entry, studies which used DMA to characterize the interfacial interactions in filled polymers have been reviewed.
  • 1.3K
  • 26 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Bio-Vitrimers for Sustainable Circular Bio-Economy
The traditional polymer circular economy (CE) continues to be challenging due to its reprocessing/recycle ability; also, at the same time, newly developed substitute materials have not expressed similar performance to conventional materials involved in contemporary applications. Hence, linear approaches such as “take-make-use-waste” have severely affected sustainability modules where non-renewable resources have been used at maximum levels. In addition, sustainability is termed along with the circular economy paradigm in recent times, although material sustainability differs from CE material. The circular economy mainly focuses on the economic, environmental and social impacts, whereas sustainability is more about an ecological importance. Globally, frameworks have been formed to enhance the sustainable environment. The United Nations (UN) has designed 17 sustainable development goals to be enforced in all countries in order to reach the goal of a sustainable society by 2030.
  • 1.3K
  • 01 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Carbon Dioxide Capture By Biopolymer-Derived Porous Materials
Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere is responsible for global warming which in turn causes abrupt climate change and consequently poses a threat to the living organisms in the coming years. CO2 capture and separation are crucial to reduce the CO2 content in the atmosphere. Post-combustion capture is one of the most useful techniques for capturing CO2 due to its practicality and ease of use. For adsorption-driven post-combustion CO2 capture, sorbents with large surface area, high volume, and narrow pores are highly effective. Natural polymers, such as polysaccharides, are less expensive, more plentiful, and can be modified by a variety of methods to produce porous materials and thus can be effectively utilized for CO2 capture. A significant amount of research activities has already been established in this field, especially in the last ten years and are still in progress. In this review, we have introduced the latest developments to the readers about synthetic techniques, post-synthetic modifications and CO2 capture capacities of various biopolymer-based materials published in the last five years (2018–2022).
  • 1.3K
  • 21 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Polymer Electrolyte Membranes Fuel Cell
The development of sulfonated hydrocarbon polymer (SHP)-based polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) has been pursued in order to overcome drawbacks of the perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer-based PEMs in fuel cell applications. To improve the proton conductivity of SHP-based PEMs without deterioration in physicochemical stability, control of polymeric architecture is necessary to form distinct phase-separated structures between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains. By pursuing rational design strategies for the copolymer architectures, it will be possible to develop high-performance SHP-based PEMs in fuel cell applications. This study focused on the synthetic procedures which underlie structure-engineered copolymers and their PEM properties.
  • 1.3K
  • 22 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Topical Insulin Delivery
Insulin is one of the cheapest growth factors in the market able to accelerate the re-epithelialization and stimulate angiogenesis and cell migration. However, the effectiveness of topical insulin in wound healing is hampered by the proteases in the wound bed. The encapsulation into nanoparticles improves its stability in the wound, providing adhesion to the mucosal surface and allowing its sustained release. 
  • 1.3K
  • 13 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Composition and Preparation of Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials
Phase change materials (PCMs) have been extensively utilized in latent thermal energy storage (TES) and thermal management systems to bridge the gap between thermal energy supply and demand in time and space, which have received unprecedented attention in the past few years. To effectively address the undesirable inherent defects of pristine PCMs such as leakage, low thermal conductivity, supercooling, and corrosion, enormous efforts have been dedicated to developing various advanced microencapsulated PCMs (MEPCMs). 
  • 1.3K
  • 17 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Additive Manufacturing for Antimicrobial Materials
3D Printing, also known as fused filament fabrication (FFF), continues to open new routes to the production of high-performance and complex structures with enhanced properties and dynamic shapes that are unattainable via conventional fabrication methods. 
  • 1.3K
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Miscanthus-Based Polymers
Carbon neutrality is a requisite for industrial development in modern times. The most efficient source of biomass is energy crops, and Miscanthus has been globally recognized as one of the most significant among them. Miscanthus is basically utilized for the production of heat and electric power, and it is actively displacing wood in papermaking and natural cellulose isolation technologies. However, the range of potential applications of Miscanthus is much broader.
  • 1.3K
  • 16 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Collagen Type I Biomaterials
Collagen type I is the main organic constituent of the bone extracellular matrix and has been used for decades as scaffolding material in bone tissue engineering approaches when autografts are not feasible. Polymeric collagen can be easily isolated from various animal sources and can be processed in a great number of ways to manufacture biomaterials in the form of sponges, particles, or hydrogels, among others, for different applications. Despite its great biocompatibility and osteoconductivity, collagen type I also has some drawbacks, such as its high biodegradability, low mechanical strength, and lack of osteoinductive activity. Therefore, many attempts have been made to improve the collagen type I-based implants for bone tissue engineering. 
  • 1.3K
  • 20 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Blood–Brain Barrier Penetrating Nanoplatforms
The current knowledge and advancements on various nanoplatforms (NF) and the use of nanoparticles for successful cross of BBB to treat the brain-related disorders such as brain tumors, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke. 
  • 1.2K
  • 12 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Rechargeable Lithium Battery
Electrochemical behaviors, advantages, and disadvantages of existing electrospun nanofiber anode materials were thoroughly reviewed by classifying into four groups according to the lithium storage principles.
  • 1.2K
  • 17 Sep 2020
Topic Review
PIL-Based SPEs
Poly(ionic liquide)s (PILs) can be used as solid polymer electrolytes because they have high thermal and electrochemical stabilities. This review is focused on the influence of macromolecular architecture on the ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability of PILs based electrolytes. Imidazolium based PILs are discussed as an example in the review. It is found that the electrolytes with a network structure exhibit better ionic conductivity and mechanical strength.
  • 1.2K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Polyaryletherketone Based Blends
Polyaryletherketone-based thermoplastic blends (PAEK) are high-performance copolymers able to replace metals in many applications including those related to the environmental and energy transition. PAEK lead to the extension of high-performance multifunctional materials to target embedded electronics, robotics, aerospace, medical devices and prostheses. Blending PAEK with other thermostable thermoplastic polymers is a viable option to obtain materials with new affordable properties.
  • 1.2K
  • 24 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Nitric Oxide for Dermal Application
Nitric oxide (NO•) is a free radical gas, produced in the human body to regulate physiological processes, including skin health. The lack of NO• is known to cause or worsen skin conditions, so an exogenous delivery through NO-donors can compensate its deficiency. This has been incorporated into natural, synthetic and semisynthetic polymeric matrices that have been evaluated for antimicrobial, wound healing and circulatory dermal applications.
  • 1.2K
  • 25 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Pectin in Semi-Solid and Fluid Foods
Pectin is a versatile polysaccharide produced mainly from natural food sources and agro-industrial wastes, adding value to these by-products. For food applications, it is necessary that pectin first interacts with water for technical purposes. As a food additive, pectin acts as a solution thickener and gelling agent for food formulation, even in concentrations of less than 1 (g/100 mL or g/100 g), and it is sufficient to influence food products’ stability, rheology, texture, and sensory properties.
  • 1.2K
  • 29 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Types of Membranes for CO2 Capture and Utilization
Membranes are a promising technology platform for CO2 capture because they are modular, scalable, and compact. This makes them desirable for process intensification and reducing energy costs. Biocatalytic membranes encompass many different types of materials and functionality.
  • 1.2K
  • 25 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Polymeric Wastewater Purification Membranes
Over the past few years, polymeric membranes are widely used for applications in separation technologies. They show better flexibility, pore formation mechanism, thermal and chemical stability, and demand less area for installation. Wastewater purification is among the most desirable application of these membranes. In comparison to conventional separation materials, membranes offer economical and efficient treatment. The polymers employed in the synthesis of each membrane are selectively chosen to enhance the optimal performance in wastewater purification.
  • 1.2K
  • 09 Jul 2021
Topic Review
3D Printed Silicone Meniscus Implants
Osteoarthritis of the knee with meniscal pathologies is a severe meniscal pathology suffered by the aging population worldwide. However, conventional meniscal substitutes are not 3D-printable and lack the customizability of 3D printed implants and are not mechanically robust enough for human implantation. Similarly, 3D printed hydrogel scaffolds suffer from drawbacks of being mechanically weak and as a result patients are unable to execute immediate post-surgical weight-bearing ambulation and rehabilitation. To solve this problem, we have developed a 3D silicone meniscus implant which is (1) cytocompatible, (2) resistant to cyclic loading and mechanically similar to native meniscus, and (3) directly 3D printable. The main focus of this study is to determine whether the purity, composition, structure, dimensions and mechanical properties of silicone implants are affected by the use of a custom-made in-house 3D-printer. We have used the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) absorption test, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, surface profilometry, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to effectively assess and compare material properties between molded and 3D printed silicone samples.
  • 1.2K
  • 17 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Adsorption Properties of Polysaccharide-Based Natural Polymer Hydrogels
The pollution and scarcity of freshwater resources are global problems that have a significant influence on human life. It is very important to remove harmful substances in the water to realize the recycling of water resources. Hydrogels have recently attracted attention due to their special three-dimensional network structure, large surface area, and pores, which show great potential for the removal of pollutants in water. In their preparation, natural polymers are one of the preferred materials because of their wide availability, low cost, and easy thermal degradation. However, when it is directly used for adsorption, its performance is unsatisfactory, so it usually needs to be modified in the preparation process. 
  • 1.2K
  • 24 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Polymeric Structures
Certain natural and synthetic polymers are versatile materials that have already proved themselves to be highly suitable for the development of the next-generation of antimicrobial systems that can efficiently prevent and kill microbes in various environments.
  • 1.2K
  • 28 May 2021
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