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.
  • 600
  • 16 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Biomedical Applications of Antiviral Nanohybrids
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven a global research to uncover novel, effective therapeutical and diagnosis approaches. In addition, control of spread of infection has been targeted through development of preventive tools and measures. In this regard, nanomaterials, particularly, those combining two or even several constituting materials possessing dissimilar physicochemical (or even biological) properties, i.e., nanohybrid materials play a significant role. Nanoparticulate nanohybrids have gained a widespread reputation for prevention of viral crises, thanks to their promising antimicrobial properties as well as their potential to act as a carrier for vaccines. On the other hand, they can perform well as a photo-driven killer for viruses when they release reactive oxygen species (ROS) or photothermally damage the virus membrane. The nanofibers can also play a crucial protective role when integrated into face masks and personal protective equipment, particularly as hybridized with antiviral nanoparticles.
  • 596
  • 16 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Enzyme-Catalyzed Synthesis of Polyesters
Polyester is a kind of polymer composed of ester bond-linked polybasic acids and polyol. This type of polymer has a wide range of applications in various industries, such as automotive, furniture, coatings, packaging, and biomedical. The traditional process of synthesizing polyester mainly uses metal catalyst polymerization under high-temperature. This condition may have problems with metal residue and undesired side reactions. As an alternative, enzyme-catalyzed polymerization is evolving rapidly due to the metal-free residue, satisfactory biocompatibility, and mild reaction conditions.   
  • 596
  • 20 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Polyvinyl Chloride in the Environment
Plastics have recently become an indispensable part of everyone’s daily life due to their versatility, durability, light weight, and low production costs. The increasing production and use of plastics poses great environmental problems due to their incomplete utilization, a very long period of biodegradation, and a negative impact on living organisms. Decomposing plastics lead to the formation of microplastics, which accumulate in the environment and living organisms, becoming part of the food chain. The contamination of soils and water with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) seriously threatens ecosystems around the world. Their durability and low weight make microplastic particles easily transported through water or air, ending up in the soil.
  • 595
  • 12 Jan 2024
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.
  • 594
  • 25 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Reprocessable Photodeformable Azobenzene Polymers
Photodeformable azobenzene (azo) polymers are a class of smart polymers that can efficiently convert light energy into mechanical power, holding great promise in various photoactuating applications. They are typically of crosslinked polymer networks with highly oriented azo mesogens embedded inside. Upon exposure to the light of appropriate wavelength, they experience dramatic order parameter change following the configuration change of the azo units. This could result in the generation and accumulation of the gradient microscopic photomechanical force in the crosslinked polymer networks, thus leading to their macroscopic deformation. Most of the presently developed photodeformable azo polymers have stable chemically crosslinked networks, which make their reprocessing impossible, thus limiting their large scale applications. To solve this problem, reprocessable photodeformable azo polymers have been recently developed by introducing dynamic crosslinking networks (including physically crosslinked and dynamic covalent bond-crosslinked ones) into their structures. In addition, some uncrosslinked photodeformable azo polymers have also been reported and constitute one special type of reprocessable photodeformable azo polymers, whose photodeformation behaviors are mainly induced by the selective reorientation of the azo moieties (become perpendicular to the polarization direction of the polarized light) under the irradiation of either polarized blue light or interfering polarized light.
  • 593
  • 30 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Methods of Making Lithium-Ion Batteries Membrane
Due to the growing demand for eco-friendly products, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have gained widespread attention as an energy storage solution. With the global demand for clean and sustainable energy, the social, economic, and environmental significance of LIBs is becoming more widely recognized. LIBs are composed of cathode and anode electrodes, electrolytes, and separators. Notably, the separator, a pivotal and indispensable component in LIBs that primarily consists of a porous membrane material, warrants significant research attention. 
  • 581
  • 22 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Supercritical Carbon-di-Oxide Technology for Polymeric-Particles
Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2)  based techniques can be exploited for the formulation of polymeric nanocarriers, limiting the use of toxic organic solvent. The currently approved FDA pharmaceutical polymers like PLA and PLGA particles can be obtained in the micro-and nanometer range by techniques that involve SC-CO2 as solvent (RESS, RESOLV), anti-solvent (SAS, SEDS, SAILA) or extractant (SFEE), depending on the SC-CO2 compatibility with the system materials and the final product.
  • 579
  • 27 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Carbon Nanomaterials for Electro-Active Structures
The use of electrically conductive materials to impart electrical properties to substrates for cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation, represents an important strategy in the field of tissue engineering. Carbon nanomaterials have great potential for fabricating electro-active structures due to their exceptional electrical and surface properties, opening new routes for more efficient tissue engineering approaches. The concept of electro-active structures and their roles in tissue engineering is discussed in this review, the most relevant carbon-based nanomaterials used to produce electro-active structures are presented. Particular emphasis is put on the electrically conductive property, material synthesis and their applications on tissue engineering. Different technologies, allowing the fabrication of two-dimensional and three-dimensional structures in a controlled way, are also presented. Finally, challenges for future research are highlighted. 
  • 577
  • 18 Dec 2020
Topic Review
SAPO-34 Zeolite Membranes
In the zeolite family, the silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO)-34 zeolite has a unique chemical structure, distinctive pore size, adsorption characteristics, as well as chemical and thermal stability, has attracted much research attention. Increasing global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions pose a serious environmental threat to humans, animals, plants, and the entire environment.
  • 577
  • 20 Mar 2023
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