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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.
  • 939
  • 29 May 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.
  • 705
  • 01 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Bioactive Polymers and Cardiovascular Therapy
Coronary heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in most countries. Healthcare improvements have seen a shift in the presentation of disease with a reducing number of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs), largely due to earlier reperfusion strategies such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Stents have revolutionized the care of these patients, but the long-term effects of these devices have been brought to the fore. The conceptual and technologic evolution of these devices from bare-metal stents led to the creation and wide application of drug-eluting stents; further research introduced the idea of polymer-based resorbable stents.
  • 447
  • 17 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Bioactive Polymers via the Biginelli Reaction
Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) have been used to prepare polymers with appealing functions. The Biginelli reaction, one of the oldest and most famous MCRs, has sparked new scientific discoveries in polymer chemistry since 2013. The applications of the Biginelli reaction in developing functional polymers are mainly focusing on polymers that can be used in the biomedical area as antioxidants, anticancer agents, and bioimaging probes.
  • 490
  • 22 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Biocomposite Based on Natural Polymers
Biopolymers are materials obtained from renewable resources. Despite the exciting properties of biopolymers, such as biocompatibility and environmental sustainability, they do not present antimicrobial properties (except chitosan). However, this lack of antimicrobial properties can be solved by incorporating or encapsulating antimicrobial agents. Natural polymers possess low stability in aqueous media and limited mechanical strength, which could be improved through cross-linking strategies. Hydrogels are biocompatible materials that can be synthesized from natural polymers, forming a cross-linking material. Alginate, collagen, fibrin, chitosan, gelatin, and hyaluronic acid are some natural polymers used to synthesize hydrogels.
  • 496
  • 12 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Biodegradable Microparticles for Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine is one of the most attractive topics of research worldwide. Different strategies are proposed, and a range of materials of various forms and compositions tailored for tissue engineering are developed, but this approach just started to emerge in clinics. Biodegradable microparticles (MPs) made from degradable and biocompatible polymers, with a mean diameter of ~200 μm, are attractive not only as 3D matrices to multiply cells but also as a scaffold to support tissue rebuilding.
  • 511
  • 19 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Biodegradable Microplastics and Plants
Microplastics (MPs) pollution has emerged as one of the world’s most serious environmental issues, with harmful consequences for ecosystems and human health. One proposed solution to their accumulation in the environment is the replacement of nondegradable plastics with biodegradable ones. However, due to the lack of true biodegradability in some ecosystems, they also give rise to biodegradable microplastics (BioMPs) that negatively impact different ecosystems and living organisms. 
  • 148
  • 14 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Biodegradable Polymers
Biodegradable polymers are those which can degrade into water and carbon dioxide under normal environmental conditions through microbial action, providing compost as a simple and sustainable disposal option.
  • 867
  • 17 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Biodegradation of Plastics  by Fungal and Bacterial Communities
Biodegradation is the deformation of a substance into new compounds through biochemical reactions or the actions of microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi. It is necessary for water-soluble or water-immiscible polymers because they eventually enter streams which can neither be recycled nor incinerated. It is important to consider the microbial degradation of natural and synthetic polymers in order to understand what is necessary for biodegradation and the mechanisms involved. Low/high-density polyethylene is a vital cause of environmental pollution. It occurs by choking the sewer line through mishandling, thus posing an everlasting ecological threat. Environmental pollution due to the unscrupulous consumption of synthetic polymers derived from petroleum has an adverse impact on the environment since the majority of plastics do not degrade, and the further incineration of synthetic plastics generates CO2 and dioxin. This requires understanding the interactions between materials and microorganisms and the biochemical changes involved. Widespread studies on the biodegradation of plastics have been carried out in order to overcome the environmental problems associated with synthetic plastic waste. Awareness of the waste problem and its impact on the environment has awakened new interest in the area of degradable polymers through microbes viz., bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes. The microbial degradation of plastics is caused by certain enzymatic activities that lead to a chain cleavage of polymers into oligomers and monomers.
  • 1.5K
  • 21 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Biological Degradation of Polymers
Biodegradable plastics can make an important contribution to the struggle against increasing environmental pollution through plastics. This entry provides an overview of the main environmental conditions in which biodegradation takes place and then presents the degradability of numerous polymers. 
  • 2.4K
  • 23 Nov 2020
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