Topic Review
Natural Leaf Fiber
The use of natural fibres has rapidly increased due to their high availability, low density, and renewable capability over synthetic fibre. Natural leaf fibres are easy to extract from the plant (retting process is easy), which offers high stiffness, less energy consumption, less health risk, environment friendly, and better insulation property than the synthetic fibre-based composite. Natural leaf fibre composites have low machining wear with low cost and excellent performance in engineering applications, and hence established as superior reinforcing materials compared to other plant fibres. 
  • 2.1K
  • 26 Apr 2021
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.
  • 773
  • 26 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Overview of viable Bacteria Immobilisation
Bioremediation is a key process for reclaiming polluted soil and water by the use of biological agents. A commonly used approach aims to neutralise or remove harmful pollutants from contaminated areas using live microorganisms. Generally, immobilised microorganisms rather than planktonic cells have been used in bioremediation methods. Activated carbon, inorganic minerals (clays, metal oxides, zeolites), and agricultural waste products are acceptable substrates for the immobilisation of bacteria, although there are limitations with biomass loading and the issue with leaching of bacteria during the process. Various synthetic and natural polymers with different functional groups have been used successfully for the efficient immobilisation of microorganisms and cells. Promise has been shown using macroporous materials including cryogels with entrapped bacteria or cells in applications for water treatment and biotechnology. A cryogel is a macroporous polymeric gel formed at sub-zero temperatures through a process known as cryogelation. Macroporous hydrogels have been used to make scaffolds or supports for immobilising bacterial, viral, and other cells. The production of composite materials with immobilised cells possessing suitable mechanical and chemical stability, porosity, elasticity, and biocompatibility suggests that these materials are potential candidates for a range of applications within applied microbiology, biotechnology, and research. 
  • 1.2K
  • 25 Apr 2021
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.
  • 632
  • 25 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Conducting Silicone-Based Polymers
Conducting polymers (CPs) are unique due to their ease of synthesis, environmental stability, and simple doping/dedoping chemistry. Electrically conductive silicone polymers are the current state-of-the-art for, e.g., optoelectronic materials. 
  • 712
  • 23 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Eco-Friendly Emergent Structural Adhesives
Using adhesives for connection technology has many benefits. It is cost-efficient, fast, and allows homogeneous stress distribution between the bonded surfaces. 
  • 1.1K
  • 22 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Self-healing Polymeric Materials
The mechanism of self-healing, which includes the extrinsic and intrinsic approaches for each of the applications, is examined. The extrinsic mechanism involves the introduction of external healing agents such as microcapsules and vascular networks into the system. Meanwhile, the intrinsic mechanism refers to the inherent reversibility of the molecular interaction of the polymer matrix, which is triggered by the external stimuli. Both self-healing mechanisms have shown a significant impact on the cracked properties of the damaged sites.
  • 2.2K
  • 21 Apr 2021
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. 
  • 762
  • 20 Apr 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.
  • 794
  • 17 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Polylactic Acid Composites
Sustainability is the prime focus nowadays; hence researchers are keen on developing sustainable materials. Green composites are the type of the materials that are derived from natural sources that do not have any impact on the environment since its inception to the end of its life. The main objective of this paper is to given a comprehensive review of polylactic acid compoistes reinforced with natural fibers focusing on jute and flax. This article has reported the recent progress that has happend in the area of polylactic acid focuing on the improvement of interfacial adhesion between fibers and matrix which leads to the improvement of mechanical properties.
  • 1.1K
  • 16 Apr 2021
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