Topic Review
Microbially-Induced Desaturation and Carbonate Precipitation
Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) has been proposed as a sustainable approach to solve various environmental, structural, geotechnical and architectural issues. In the last decade, a ubiquitous microbial metabolism, nitrate reduction (also known as denitrification) got attention in MICP research due to its unique added benefits such as simultaneous corrosion inhibition in concrete and desaturation of porous media. The latter even upgraded MICP into a more advanced concept called microbially induced desaturation and precipitation (MIDP) which is being investigated for liquefaction mitigation.
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  • 01 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Sumac as a Functional Food
Utilization of Rhus coriaria L. (sumac) is upgrading not only in their culinary use and human nutrition, but also in the pharmaceutical industry, food industry and veterinary practices. This is driven by accumulating evidence that support the ethnobotanical use of this plant; in particular, advanced knowledge of the content of nutritional, medicinal and techno-functional bioactive ingredients. Most of the antioxidant potential and therapeutic roles of sumac are increasingly attributed to its constituent tannins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Hydroxyphenyl pyranoanthocyanins and other anthocynins are responsible for the highly desired red pigments accounting for the strong pigmentation capacity and colorant ability of sumac. Certain polyphenols and the essential oil components are responsible for the peculiar flavor and antimicrobial activity of sumac. Tannin-rich sumac extracts and isolates are known to enhance the food quality and the oxidative stability of animal products such as meat and milk. In conclusion, polyphenol-rich sumac extracts and its bioactive ingredients could be exploited towards developing novel food products which do not only address the current consumers’ interests regarding organoleptic and nutritional value of food, but also meet the growing need for ‘clean label’ as well as value addition with respect to antioxidant capacity, disease prevention, and health promotion in humans.
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  • 13 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Synthesis of Conducting Polymers
Conductive polymers (CPs) are a class of organic compounds that belong to a large group of electrochemically active polymers. They have been actively studied for more than 40 years, beginning with the discovery of the conductive properties of halogen-substituted polyacetylene and the preparation of polypyrrole.
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  • 26 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Cellulose-Based Composite Membranes with Hydroxyapatite
Cellulose-based materials are a viable alternative to synthetic polymers due to their favorable physico-chemical and biological characteristics. They are also an appropriate organic matrix for the incorporation of hydroxyapatite particles, inter and intramolecular hydrogen bonds, as well as electrostatic interactions being formed between the functional groups on the polymeric chains surface and the inorganic filler. Considering the versatility of hydroxyapatite particles, the hybrid materials offer favorable prospects for applications in water purification, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and hemodialysis. The preparation technique and the chemical composition have a big influence on the final membrane properties. The well-established membrane fabrication methods such as phase inversion, electrospinning, or gradual electrostatic assembly are discussed, together with the various strategies employed to obtain a homogenous dispersion of the inorganic particles in the polymeric matrix. Finally, the main conclusions and the future directions regarding the preparation and applications of cellulose derivatives/hydroxyapatite composite membranes are presented.
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  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Nanomicelles Delivery Systems
The efficient and selective delivery of therapeutic drugs to the target site remains the main obstacle in the development of new drugs and therapeutic interventions. Up until today, nanomicelles have shown their prospective as nanocarriers for drug delivery owing to their small size, good biocompatibility, and capacity to effectively entrap lipophilic drugs in their core. Nanomicelles are formed via self-assembly in aqueous media of amphiphilic molecules into well-organized supramolecular structures.
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  • 11 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Cyclodextrins
Cyclodextrins (CDs) are a family of cyclic oligosaccharides artificially obtained from the union of glucose monomers linked by α-1,4 glycosidic bonds. They are shaped as truncated cones due to the constitutional asymmetry of the glucopyranose rings. Their central cavity of the cone is lined with the skeletal carbons and ethereal oxygen of the glucose residues, which produce a hydrophobic zone that is capable of forming inclusion complexes with a variety of molecules. For this reason, a number of CDs have become everyday commodities in separation sciences, and so chemical aspects such as their structures or their intercalation mode have been more profoundly studied. The structural aspects of CDs can enable the improvement of different chromatographic separations, the enhancement of sensitivity, and the accuracy of analytical methods. 
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  • 08 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Porous Tantalum
Porous tantalum (Ta) is a promising biomaterial and has been applied in orthopedics and dentistry for nearly two decades. The high porosity and interconnected pore structure of porous Ta promise fine bone ingrowth and new bone formation within the inner space, which further guarantee rapid osteointegration and bone–implant stability in the long term. Porous Ta has high wettability and surface energy that can facilitate adherence, proliferation and mineralization of osteoblasts. Meanwhile, the low elastic modulus and high friction coefficient of porous Ta allow it to effectively avoid the stress shield effect, minimize marginal bone loss and ensure primary stability. Accordingly, the satisfactory clinical application of porous Ta-based implants or prostheses is mainly derived from its excellent biological and mechanical properties. 
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  • 21 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Cement-Based Repair Materials with Concrete Substrates
Cement concrete is currently the most widely used civil engineering construction material worldwide and has been applied in various civil infrastructures, such as roads, bridges, ports and tunnels. Under the external loads and environmental impacts, concrete structures are prone to be damaged, such as cracking and even spalling. In addition, inappropriate selection of raw materials, incorrect mixture design and irregular construction process may also cause damages to concrete, particularly regarding the cover protecting the reinforcement bars.
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  • 13 Apr 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.
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  • 12 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Polymeric Nanoparticles in Cardiovascular Diseases
Nanoparticles, including biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles, are able to increase the efficiency and reduce the degradability of natural polyphenols, thus increasing their beneficial abilities in the target tissues. Resveratrol-, quercetin-, or curcumin-loaded polymeric nanoparticles have been shown to markedly reduce reactive oxygen species formation, the inflammatory process, apoptosis, lipid peroxidation, cardiac hypertrophy, and even to delay myocardium injury due to ischemia/reperfusion. Thus, polymeric nanoparticles represent a promising tool for the delivery of natural polyphenols to target tissues and enhance their desirable effects in the cardiovascular system.
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  • 27 Oct 2020
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