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Topic Review
Synthetic Compartments for Biomedical Applications
Nano- and micrometer-sized compartments composed of synthetic polymers are designed to mimic spatial and temporal divisions found in nature. Self-assembly of polymers into compartments such as polymersomes, giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), layer-by-layer (LbL) capsules, capsosomes, or polyion complex vesicles (PICsomes) allows for the separation of defined environments from the exterior. These compartments can be further engineered through the incorporation of (bio)molecules within the lumen or into the membrane, while the membrane can be decorated with functional moieties to produce catalytic compartments with defined structures and functions. Nanometer-sized compartments are used for imaging, theranostic, and therapeutic applications as a more mechanically stable alternative to liposomes, and through the encapsulation of catalytic molecules, i.e., enzymes, catalytic compartments can localize and act in vivo. On the micrometer scale, such biohybrid systems are used to encapsulate model proteins and form multicompartmentalized structures through the combination of multiple compartments, reaching closer to the creation of artificial organelles and cells.
  • 817
  • 02 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Polymer Single-Crystal Functionalization Applications
Polymer physics has evolved significantly over the past century, transitioning from the early recognition of the chain structure of polymers to a mature field integrating principles from statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, and condensed matter physics. As an important part of polymer physics, polymer single crystals are crucial for understanding molecular structures and behaviors, enhancing material properties, and enabling precise functionalization. They offer insights into polymer crystallization kinetics, serve as templates for nanofabrication, and have applications in electronics, sensors, and biomedical fields.
  • 813
  • 06 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Applications of Polymeric Materials with Antibacterial Properties
The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in people's environment is a matter of growing concern. The issue of multidrug-resistant bacteria urged the need to elaborate the novel antipathogen agents. The polymers and copolymers modified with bioactive compounds have emerged as a group of highly effective antimicrobial agents that find usage in many fields. The natural polymers have a great advantage over the synthetic ones due to their non-toxicity, biocompatibility, non-immunogenicity, and high stability. On the other hand, they are less effective in biomedical applications in comparison to synthetic polymers. The modifications that provide the natural polymers with desirable industrial activity include chemical treatment processes such as hydroxylation, carboxylation and epoxidation, or in vitro enzyme treatment.
  • 813
  • 04 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Hierarchical Ceramide Microcapsules
As a main component of the stratum corneum, ceramides can construct protective lamellae to provide an epidermal barrier against dehydration or external microorganisms. However, as ceramide molecules can easily form the isolated crystalline phase through self-assembly due to the amphipathic nature of bioactive lipids, the effective incorporation of ceramides into liquid media is the remaining issue for controlled release. Here, we report an unprecedented effective strategy to fabricate a completely amorphous and highly sustainable hierarchical ceramide polymer microcapsule for promising epidermal barrier by using the interpenetrating and cooperative self-construction of conical amphiphiles with a different critical packing parameter. The self-constructed amorphous architecture of ceramides in polymer microcapsule is achieved by the facile doping of conical amphiphiles and subsequent in situ polymerization of shell polymer in the core-shell geometry. It is experimentally revealed that an irregular cooperative packing structure formed by adaptive hydrophobic–hydrophilic interactions of cylindrical ceramides and conical amphiphiles in the confined microcapsule geometry enables a completely amorphous morphology of ceramides to be realized during the spontaneous encapsulation process. Furthermore, this elegant approach affords a highly dispersible and uniform hierarchical amorphous ceramide microcapsule with a greatly enhanced long-term stability compared to conventional crystalline ceramides.
  • 809
  • 10 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Chiral Porous Organic Frameworks
Organocatalysis, the use of chiral organic molecules as catalysts, has emerged as a highly efficient alternative to traditional asymmetric catalysis methods. Chiral porous organic frameworks have emerged as candidates for heterogeneous asymmetric organocatalysis.
  • 809
  • 20 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Intelligent Nanomaterials for Wearable, Stretchable Strain Sensor Applications
Nanostructured materials such as nanowires (NWs), nanoparticles (NPs), nanofibers (NFs), and nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon fibers (CFs), graphite, and graphene (GE) have earned a wide focus in research due to their eminent physical, mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties. In addition, the ease in cost, synthesis of these nanostructures in different morphologies, and further fabrication of devices for an extensive range of applications have made them essential in the field of device fabrication.
  • 794
  • 20 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Functional Polymeric Plastic for Bakery Products
Polymeric materials including plastic and paper are commonly used as packaging for bakery products. The incorporation of active substances produces functional polymers that can effectively retain the quality and safety of packaged products. Polymeric materials can be used to produce a variety of package forms such as film, tray, pouch, rigid container and multilayer film. 
  • 791
  • 28 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Furane-Based Photoinitiators of Polymerization
Photopolymerization is an active research field enabling to polymerize in greener conditions than that performed with traditional thermal polymerization. A great deal of effort is devoted to developing visible light photoinitiating systems. Indeed, the traditional UV (Ultra Violet) photoinitiating systems are currently the focus of numerous safety concerns so alternatives to UV light are being actively researched. However, visible light photons are less energetic than UV photons so the reactivity of the photoinitiating systems should be improved to address this issue. In this field, furane constitutes an interesting candidate for the design of photocatalysts of polymerization due to its low cost and its easy chemical modification.
  • 789
  • 09 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Plastic Material Tracking for Circular Economy
Plastics are very versatile materials used in many different applications in everyday life all over the world, with substantial benefits such as durability, flexibility, low weight, and lower cost compared to other alternatives. 
  • 782
  • 27 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Electrospinning of Nanofibrous Membrane
Among the different fabrication approaches of nanofibrous membrane, electrospinning is considered as the most favorable and effective due to its advantages of controllable process, high production efficiency, and low cost.
  • 781
  • 01 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Electrospinning Method for Plant Extracts
Since antiquity, humans have known about plants as a medicinal cure. Plant extracts are attracting more attention as a result of their natural origin and wide range of desirable features. Nanotechnology’s progress and innovations enable the production of novel materials with enhanced properties for a broad range of applications. Electrospinning is a cutting-edge, flexible and economical technique that allows the creation of continuous nano- and microfibrous membranes with tunable structure, characteristics and functionalities. 
  • 780
  • 25 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Applications of Polymer-Based Hydrogels in Drug Delivery Systems
Polymer-based hydrogels are a type of soft material composed of three-dimensional polymer networks that have the ability to absorb and retain large amounts of water or biological fluids while maintaining their structural integrity. Polymer-based hydrogels are hydrophilic polymer networks with crosslinks widely applied for drug delivery applications because of their ability to hold large amounts of water and biological fluids and control drug release based on their unique physicochemical properties and biocompatibility.
  • 765
  • 07 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Polysaccharide-Based Hydrogels Drug Delivery in Cancer Therapy
Hydrogels are three-dimensional crosslinked structures with physicochemical properties similar to the extracellular matrix (ECM). By changing the hydrogel’s material type, crosslinking, molecular weight, chemical surface, and functionalization, it is possible to mimic the mechanical properties of native tissues. Hydrogels are currently used in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields for drug delivery systems, wound dressings, tissue engineering, and contact lenses. Polysaccharide-based hydrogels can be used as drug delivery systems for the efficient release of various types of cancer therapeutics, enhancing the therapeutic efficacy and minimizing potential side effects.
  • 763
  • 01 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Electrospun Polymer Materials with Fungicidal Activity
There has been special interest in innovative technologies such as polymer melt or solution electrospinning, electrospraying, centrifugal electrospinning, coaxial electrospinning, and others. Applying these electrokinetic methods, micro- or nanofibrous materials with high specific surface area, high porosity, and various designs for diverse applications could be created. 
  • 762
  • 22 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Electrospun Fibrous Catalysts
TiO2NFs have important applications in different fields, including catalysis. They are used as a catalyst and a photocatalyst. Most of the TiO2NF-supported catalysts were utilized as photocatalysts in the AB reaction; hence, photocatalysis will be explained in more detail before the discussion of the electrospun photocatalysts.
  • 758
  • 20 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Flame Retarding Mechanism of P-FRs in Polyurethane Elastomer
Polyurethane elastomer (PUE) is a typical block polymer with alternately arranges soft and hard segments. Isocyanates and small molecular chain extenders constitute the hard segment, and the soft segment is composed of polyols. Most phosphorous flame retardants for PUE exhibit two flame-retardant mechanisms, including the gas phase and the condensed phase.
  • 756
  • 12 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Polymeric Nanomaterials for Efficient Delivery of Antimicrobial Agents
Polymeric nanomaterials have been widely studied as carriers for constructing antimicrobial agent delivery systems and have shown advantages including high biocompatibility, sustained release, targeting and improved bioavailability. 
  • 750
  • 20 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Liquid Phase Infiltration of Block Copolymers
Novel materials with defined composition and structures at the nanoscale are increasingly desired in several research fields spanning a wide range of applications. Self-assembling materials such as block copolymers (BCPs), in combination with liquid phase infiltration (LPI) processes, represent an ideal strategy for the synthesis of inorganic materials into even more complex and functional features.
  • 747
  • 26 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Influence of Plasticizer´s Polarity on Mechanical Stability
Compared with an styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) sample without plasticizer, the conductivity of mechanically unloaded oil-extended SBR samples decreases by an order of magnitude. The polarity of the plasticizer shows hardly any influence because the plasticizers only affect the distribution of the filler clusters. Under static load, the dielectric properties seem to be oil-dependent. 
  • 746
  • 27 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Ultraviolet-C for mask disinfection
Change in the title since the subject is more specific 
  • 741
  • 23 Jun 2021
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