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Topic Review
Biography
Topic Review
Biomedical Applications of Metal Organic Frameworks
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) , or metal-organic frameworks, are a new form of a porous coordination polymer. Novel materials have been developed because of technological advancements combined with material research. MOFs technology has been investigated for biomedical applications in this line.
1.0K
14 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Mixed-Matrix Membranes for Gas Separation
Nanocomposite membranes, obtained by dispersing solid particles within a polymeric matrix, are referred to as mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) and are potentially capable to exceed the trade-off restrictions between membrane permeability and selectivity, that is an intrinsic trait for polymeric membranes applied to gas separation. Making the most appropriate combination of filler and polymer is an exciting challenge for materials scientists.
1.0K
28 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Natural-Drugs-Based Low-Molecular-Weight Supramolecular Gels
The utilization of paclitaxel, camptothecin, rhein, curcumin, and other natural small molecular drugs with unique rigid backbone structures and modifiable multiple sites as building blocks to form gels by self-assembly has attracted widespread attention. The obtained low-molecular-weight supramolecular gel not only retains the general characteristics of the gel but also overcomes the shortcomings of natural drugs, such as poor water solubility and low bioavailability.
1.0K
12 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Application of Sol–Gels for Treatment of Gynaecological Conditions
Approaches for effective and sustained drug delivery to the female reproductive tract (FRT) for treating a range of gynaecological conditions remain limited. The development of versatile delivery platforms, such as soluble gels (sol–gels) coupled with applicators/devices, holds considerable therapeutic potential for gynaecological conditions. Sol–gel systems, which undergo solution-to-gel transition, triggered by physiological conditions such as changes in temperature, pH, or ion composition, offer advantages of both solution- and gel-based drug formulations. Furthermore, they have potential to be used as a suitable drug delivery vehicle for other novel drug formulations, including micro- and nano-particulate systems, enabling the delivery of drug molecules of diverse physicochemical character. Hence, such systems are are of profound significance in delivering the drugs to various parts of FRT for optimal treatment of various gynecological conditions which was not achievable using conventional drug delivery technologies.
1.0K
24 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Supercritical CO
2
Foaming Technologies
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) foaming is divided into physical foaming and chemical foaming; in contrast with the latter, the use of a physical foaming agent for PLA foaming has the characteristic of being green and non-polluting in line with the current carbon-neutral development plan. At the same time, the foam obtained by physical foaming has the properties of lightweight, low density, and more stable. Common physical blowing agents are CO2 and N2. Due to the plasticizing effect of CO2, and its high solubility in PLA, which can promote the crystallization of PLA, the current research on the supercritical foaming of PLA, especially intermittent foaming, mainly uses CO2 as the preferred foaming agent. However, due to the fast diffusion rate of N2, smaller bubbles can be obtained in microcellular injection foaming using N2. Therefore, N2 is commonly used as a blowing agent in the microcellular injection foaming process. In the supercritical foaming process, foaming parameters, such as saturation temperature, saturation pressure, and saturation time have a great influence on the structure and properties of the bubble pores. The cell diameter, cell density, and foam volume expansion ratio are three fundamental parameters for characterizing the cell structure. The variation in the three parameters has a great influence on the cell structure and the performance of the foam. Cell diameter generally refers to the average diameter of at least 100 cell units in the foaming image obtained from electron microscopy. Cell density refers to the number of cells per cubic centimeter of the foamed sample. Volume expansion ratio refers to the density ratio of the unfoamed sample to the foamed sample.
1.0K
14 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Bio-Inspired Hierarchical Fibres
Several naturally occurring biological systems, such as bones, nacre or wood, display hierarchical architectures with a central role of the nanostructuration that allows reaching amazing properties such as high strength and toughness. Developing such architectures in man-made materials is highly challenging, and recent research relies on this concept of hierarchical structures to design high-performance composite materials. This review deals more specifically with the development of hierarchical fibres by the deposition of nano-objects at their surface to tailor the fibre/matrix interphase in (bio)composites. Fully synthetic hierarchical fibre reinforced composites are described, and the potential of hierarchical fibres is discussed for the development of sustainable biocomposite materials with enhanced structural performance. Based on various surface, microstructural and mechanical characterizations, this review highlights that nano-objects coated on natural fibres (carbonnanotubes, ZnO nanowires, nanocelluloses) can improve the load transfer and interfacial adhesion between the matrix and the fibres, and the resulting mechanical performances of biocomposites. Indeed, the surface topography of the fibres is modified with higher roughness and specific surface area, implying increased mechanical interlocking with the matrix. As a result, the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between fibres and polymer matrices is enhanced, and failure mechanisms can bemodified with a crack propagation occurring through a zig-zag path along interphases.
1.0K
29 May 2021
Topic Review
Organosolv Lignin-Based Polyurethane
Polyurethanes (PUs) present an important class of polymers due to outstanding mechanical, chemical and physical properties. Thus, they find application in many industrial sectors in the form of flexible or rigid foams, coatings, adhesives, elastomers, thermoplasts or thermosets. Modern PU coating applications include self-healing coating films that can also be applied to rather rough surfaces, such as wood.
1.0K
22 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Conductive Polymers and Their Properties for Flexible Devices
Flexible sensing devices have attracted significant attention for various applications, such as medical devices, environmental monitoring, and healthcare. Numerous materials have been used to fabricate flexible sensing devices and improve their sensing performance in terms of their electrical and mechanical properties. Among the studied materials, conductive polymers are promising candidates for next-generation flexible, stretchable, and wearable electronic devices because of their outstanding characteristics, such as flexibility, light weight, and non-toxicity.
1.0K
23 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Agricultural Applications of Superabsorbent Polymer Hydrogels
Although natural polymers, such as various polysaccharides, have undoubted advantages related to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low cost, they are inferior to synthetic polymers in terms of water absorption and water retention properties. In this regard, the most promising are semi-synthetic polymeric superabsorbents based on natural polymers modified with additives or grafted chains of synthetic polymers, which can combine the advantages of natural and synthetic polymeric hydrogels without their disadvantages. Such semi-synthetic polymers are of great interest for agricultural applications, especially in dry regions, also because they can be used to create systems for the slow release of nutrients into the soil, which are necessary to increase crop yields using environmentally friendly technologies.
997
02 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Magnetic Polymers for Microfluidic Sorting
Magnetophoresis offers many advantages for manipulating magnetic targets in microsystems. The integration of micro-flux concentrators and micro-magnets allows achieving large field gradients and therefore large reachable magnetic forces. However, the associated fabrication techniques are often complex and costly, and besides, they put specific constraints on the geometries. Magnetic composite polymers provide a promising alternative in terms of simplicity and fabrication costs, and they open new perspectives for the microstructuring, design, and integration of magnetic functions.
995
30 Jul 2021
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