Topic Review
Polymer Single-Crystal Functionalization Applications
Polymer physics has evolved significantly over the past century, transitioning from the early recognition of the chain structure of polymers to a mature field integrating principles from statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, and condensed matter physics. As an important part of polymer physics, polymer single crystals are crucial for understanding molecular structures and behaviors, enhancing material properties, and enabling precise functionalization. They offer insights into polymer crystallization kinetics, serve as templates for nanofabrication, and have applications in electronics, sensors, and biomedical fields.
  • 220
  • 06 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Fluorescence Imaging with Chemical Sensors in Marine Research
Fluorescence imaging in combination with optical chemical sensors has become a powerful analytical tool that enables the visualization and quantification of chemical species within a sample or on sample surfaces. By the use of fluorescent sensor parameters which exhibit no intrinsic color or fluorescence, e.g., oxygen, pH, CO2, and H2O2, various metal cations or temperature can be imaged. Imaging methods by the means of optical sensors are applied in diverse scientific areas such as medical research and diagnostics, aerodynamics, environmental analysis, or marine research.
  • 128
  • 06 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Biomedical Applications of Bimetallic Coordination Polymers
Bimetallic coordination polymers (CPs) have two different metal ions as connecting nodes in their polymer structure. The synthesis methods of bimetallic CPs are mainly categorized into the one-pot method and post-synthesis modifications according to various needs. Compared with monometallic CPs, bimetallic CPs have synergistic effects and excellent properties, such as higher gas adsorption rate, more efficient catalytic properties, stronger luminescent properties, and more stable loading platforms, which have been widely applied in the fields of gas adsorption, catalysis, energy storage as well as conversion, and biosensing.
  • 136
  • 06 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Applications of Gas Chromatography for Tricyclic Antidepressants Analysis
Tricyclic antidepressant drugs (TCAs) are a main category of antidepressants, which are widely used for the treatment of psychological disorders due to their low cost and their high efficiency. Therefore, there is a great demand for method development for the determination of TCAs in biofluids, especially for therapeutic drug monitoring. Gas chromatography (GC) was the first chromatographic technique implemented for this purpose. With the development in the field of sample preparation, many novel GC applications have been developed. 
  • 127
  • 05 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Incorporation of Inorganic Antimicrobial Agents into Nanofibers
Nanofibrous materials represent a very promising form of advanced carrier systems that can be used industrially, especially in regenerative medicine as highly functional bandages, or advanced wound dressings. By incorporation of antimicrobial additives directly into the structure of the nanofiber carrier, the functionality of the layer is upgraded, depending on the final requirement—bactericidal, bacteriostatic, antiseptic, or a generally antimicrobial effect. Such highly functional nanofibrous layers can be prepared mostly by electrospinning technology from both synthetic and natural polymers. The presence of a natural polymer in the composition is very advantageous. Especially in medical applications where, due to the presence of the material close to the human body, the healing process is more efficient and without the occurrence of an unwanted inflammatory response.
  • 108
  • 05 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Cardiomyocytes Contractile Activity on Poly(vinyl-alcohol)/Bioglass Electrospun Scaffolds
Tissue scaffolds are generally used as three-dimensional structural supports destined to mimic the morphological structure and function in regeneration processes. Still, beyond this, they are expected to perform the physiological functions for which each tissue or organ is intended. In the case of cardiac tissue, it brings oxygen through the blood to each part of the body through the contraction of the cardiac muscle cells (cardiomyocytes). This contraction is neurologically stimulated through a voltage and calcium-dependent process denominated excitation-contraction coupling, which is mediated by several factors. In this sense, the composition of the scaffold becomes relevant.
  • 131
  • 05 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Use of Phase Change Materials in Geopolymers
Phase change materials (PCM) were known already in the 1970s (similarly to geopolymers), but their development is observed today. This is related to the possibility of obtaining a stable phase as well as the possibility of optimization of construction materials concerning the construction needs. These materials can change their physical state depending on the ambient temperature. The most common method is liquid-solid conversion. In the area of application of phase change materials in the construction industry, examples of such materials include organic materials (paraffin, fatty acids), inorganic materials, and eutectics. 
  • 251
  • 04 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Copper–Sulfur Composite with Carbon-Based Materials for Supercapacitors Applications
Supercapacitors (SCs) are a novel type of energy storage device that exhibit features such as a short charging time, a long service life, excellent temperature characteristics, energy saving, and environmental protection. The capacitance of SCs depends on the electrode materials. Currently, carbon-based materials, transition metal oxides/hydroxides, and conductive polymers are widely used as electrode materials. However, the low specific capacitance of carbon-based materials, high cost of transition metal oxides/hydroxides, and poor cycling performance of conductive polymers as electrodes limit their applications. Copper–sulfur compounds used as electrode materials exhibit excellent electrical conductivity, a wide voltage range, high specific capacitance, diverse structures, and abundant copper reserves, and have been widely studied in catalysis, sensors, supercapacitors, solar cells, and other fields. 
  • 203
  • 04 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Detection of Endocrine Disruptors
Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are contaminants that may mimic or interfere with the body’s hormones, hampering the normal functions of the endocrine system in humans and animals. These substances, either natural or man-made, are involved in development, breeding, and immunity, causing a wide range of diseases and disorders. The traditional detection methods such as enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and chromatography are still the golden techniques for EDs detection due to their high sensitivity, robustness, and accuracy. Nevertheless, they have the disadvantage of being expensive and time-consuming, requiring bulky equipment or skilled personnel. On the other hand, early stage detection of EDs on-the-field requires portable devices fulfilling the Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User-friendly, Rapid and Robust, Equipment free, Deliverable to end users (ASSURED) norms. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)-based sensors can be easily implemented in fully automated, sample-to-answer devices by integrating electrodes in microfluidic chips.
  • 105
  • 04 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Signal Modulation for SPR and SPRi Sensors
Advances in near-field optics have emerged, resulting in the development of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging (SPRi) as a powerful optical, label-free monitoring tool for multiplexed detection and monitoring of biomolecular events. The microarrays design of the SPRi chips incorporating various metallic nanostructures make these optofluidic devices more suitable for diagnosis and near-patient testing than the traditional SPR sensors.
  • 139
  • 04 Mar 2024
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