Gels最新文献

A new green hydrogel consisting of cherry stone (CS) powder and sodium alginate (SA) was synthesized through physical crosslinking. The product had a mean diameter of 3.95 mm, a moisture content of 92.28%, a bulk density of 0.58 g/cm³, and a swelling ratio of 45.10%. The analyses of its morphological structure and functional groups by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed the successful entrapping of the CS in the SA polymeric matrix. The viability of the prepared hydrogel as adsorbent was tested towards Orange II (OII) anionic dye. The influence of the pH, adsorbent amount, contact time, and initial dye concentration was evaluated. Then, the impact of three accelerating factors (stirring speed, ultrasound exposure duration, and temperature) on the OII retention was investigated. The highest recorded removal efficiency and adsorption capacity were 82.20% and 6.84 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption followed Elovich and pseudo-second-order kinetics, was adequately described by Freundlich and Khan isotherms, and can be defined as spontaneous, endothermic, and random. The experiments confirmed that the obtained hydrogel can be used acceptably for at least two consecutive cycles, sustaining its effectiveness in water decontamination.

Sodium carbonate is an abundant, low-cost, and low-hazard raw material widely used as a food additive and CO₂ absorbent in the food industry. However, its application in food packaging is limited because it is used in solid form, either in sachets or as a compounding ingredient in plastics. Solid sodium carbonate requires an external moisture supply for CO₂ absorption, with its performance dependent on moisture availability. This limitation hinders its commercialization in food packaging applications. We developed a sodium carbonate-based, self-reactive CO₂ absorbent hydrogel incorporating polyacrylic acid sodium salt (PAAS). This sodium carbonate hydrogel (SCH-PAAS) exhibits self-reactivity, eliminating the need for external moisture, and demonstrates a high CO₂ absorption capacity. PAAS incorporation facilitates the formation of a porous structure during gel solidification through reactions with CO₂. Increased PAAS content accelerates CO₂ absorption rates, particularly under low-temperature conditions (10 °C and 25 °C). Notably, absorption was faster at 10 °C than at 25 °C. The proposed SCH-PAAS exhibits a significantly enhanced absorption performance at low temperatures compared to conventional sodium carbonate-based materials, which exhibit reduced efficiency under such conditions. The increased gas-liquid contact area in SCH-PAAS makes it highly suitable for fresh food packaging applications, particularly under low temperatures.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and the estimated number of new cancer cases and deaths will be ∼30.2 million and 16.3 million, respectively, by 2040. These numbers cause massive, physical, emotional, and financial burdens to society and the healthcare system that lead to further research for a better and more effective therapeutic strategy to manage cancer. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising alternative approaches for efficient drug delivery and cancer theranostics owing to their unique properties and the direct transportation of drugs into cells followed by controlled release, but they suffer from certain limitations like rigidity, poor dispersibility, fragility, aggregation probability, and limited surface accessibility. Therefore, MOFs were conjugated with polymeric hydrogels, leading to the formation of MOF-based hydrogels with abundant absorption sites, flexibility, and excellent mechanical properties. This review briefly describes the different strategies used for the synthesis and characterization of MOF-based hydrogels. Further, we place special emphasis on the recent advances in MOF-based hydrogels used to manage different cancers. Finally, we conclude the challenges and future perspectives of MOF-based hydrogels. We believe that this review will help researchers to develop more MOF-based hydrogels with augmented anticancer effects, enabling the effective management of cancer even without adverse effects.

Cellulose hydrogels derived from agave bagasse were formulated to promote the regeneration of gingival connective tissue in lagomorphs. Three treatment modalities were randomly implanted in the gingival diastema area in 16 rabbits. The general characteristics were analyzed and histopathological studies were carried out at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. A chi-squared test was performed using IBM-SPSS version 25, indicating that cellulose hydrogels implanted in lagomorph's gingival tissue showed the presence of greater angiogenesis and fibrogenesis at the four evaluation intervals during 16 consecutive weeks. The presence of inflammatory infiltrates had no significant impact. No significant changes were observed in body weight and water and food intake. This suggests that hydrogels contribute to the regeneration and/or repair of oral connective tissue, showing angiogenesis and fibrogenesis in 50 to 100% of rabbits tested with hydrogel cellulose membrane. Regarding angiogenesis, in the specimens where membranes were implanted, its presence predominated in all variants (50%), followed by diffuse angiogenesis (37.5%), and finally the absence of angiogenesis (12.5%).

To expand the applications of hydrophobic silica aerogels derived from rice husk ash (HSA) through simple traditional methods (without adding special materials or processes), this paper employs machine learning to establish mathematical models to identify optimal conditions for extracting water glass and investigates how preparation conditions and heat treatment temperatures affect properties such as the porosity and hydrophobicity of HSA. The results indicate that the decision tree regression model provides the most accurate predictions for the extraction rate and modulus of water glass. Notably, the water contact angle of HSA produced using nitric acid as a catalyst can reach as high as 159.5°, classifying it as a superhydrophobic material. Additionally, while moderately increasing the concentration of the hydrophobic modifier enhances HSA's hydrophobicity, it concurrently reduces its porosity. The HSA maintained hydrophobicity until 500 °C. The pore structure of HSA collapsed gradually with the increase in heat temperature. After treatment at 700 °C, HSA lost its hydrophobicity and the porous structure was severely damaged. Compared with silica aerogel using traditional silicon sources, the damage to pore structure and the crystallization occurred at lower temperatures, but the hydrophobicity remained at higher temperatures.

Vernonia anthelmintica (L.) Willd. is a traditional medicinal herb in Chinese medicine, extensively used by various ethnic groups due to the numerous advantages derived from its total flavonoids. These benefits encompass anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and the promotion of melanin production, showcasing its significant efficacy in addressing vitiligo. To improve transdermal absorption and enhance the antioxidant effectiveness of the treatment, ethosome containing total flavonoids were prepared utilizing the ultrasound injection technique. The resulting ethosome was then carefully mixed with 0.7% Carbomer 934 gel in equal parts, yielding a gel concentration of 0.302 mg/g. This formulation produced small, consistent ethosome that exhibited high encapsulation efficiency and notable stability. In vitro analyses demonstrated sustained release characteristics of the gel and considerable therapeutic effectiveness against vitiligo resulting from hydroquinone exposure. Histological examinations performed through hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of mouse skin revealed increased melanin production and increased activities of tyrosinase (TYR), cholinesterase (CHE), and mouse monoamine oxidase (MAO), while levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were reduced. These findings underscore the promising effectiveness of this treatment strategy and validate the efficacy of the dosage form.

Skin cancer is the world's fifth most diagnosed malignancy and is increasingly occurring in young adults. The elevated morbidity and mortality of skin cancer are known to be highly correlated with its frequent recurrence after tumor excision. Although regimens such as chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy are often administered following surgical treatments, the patients may suffer from severe side effects, drug resistance, and/or high cost during treatments, indicating that the development of an effective and safe modality for skin cancer after surgery is still highly demanded nowadays. In this study, an injectable and thermoresponsive hyaluronic acid/hexamethylene diisocyanate-Pluronic F127 block copolymer crosslinking composite hydrogel loaded with indocyanine green (ICG) and camptothecin (CPT), called ICHHPG, was developed for photochemotherapy of skin cancer after surgery. ICHHPG can be self-gelationed at 37 °C and stabilizes ICG in the gel matrix. Upon NIR exposure, ICHHPG can generate hyperthermia and consequently provide photothermal therapy when the ICG dosage is >5 μM. Furthermore, ICHHPG may provide a remarkably enhanced cancericidal effect compared to the equal concentration of free ICG (≤10 μM) or CPT (≤1000 μM) alone, and more than 95% of cancer cells can be destroyed as the intra-gel doses of ICG/CPT were elevated to 10/800 μM. Given the confirmed cytotoxicity together with its fluidic and thermoresponsive characteristics which are foreseeably favorable for wound coverage, the developed ICHHPG is highly applicable for use in skin cancer treatment after surgical excision.

Oleogels have been a revolutionary innovation in food science in terms of their health benefits and unique structural properties. They provide a healthier alternative to traditional solid or animal fats. They have improved oxidative stability and nutritional value to maintain the desirable sensory qualities of lipid-based foods. Moreover, oleogels offer an ideal carrier for poorly water-soluble bioactive compounds. The three-dimensional structure of oleogels can protect and deliver bioactive compounds in functional food products. Bioactive compounds also affect the crystalline behavior of oleogelators, the physical properties of oleogels, and storage stability. Generally, different incorporation techniques are applied to entrap bioactive compounds in the oleogel matrix depending on their characteristics. These approaches enhance the bioavailability, controlled release, stability of bioactive compounds, and the shelf life of oleogels. The multifunctionality of oleogels extends their applications beyond fat replacements, e.g., food preservation, nutraceutical delivery, and even novel innovations like 3D food printing. Despite their potential, challenges such as large-scale production, cost efficiency, and consumer acceptance remain areas for further exploration. This review emphasizes the understanding of the relationship between the structure of oleogels and their functional properties to optimize their design in different food applications. It also highlights the latest advancements in bioactive oleogels, focusing on how they incorporate bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, essential oils, and flavonoids into oleogels. The impact of these compounds on the gelation process, storage stability, and overall functionality of oleogels is also critically examined.

Stimulus-responsive hydrogels have emerged as versatile materials for environmental and wastewater treatment applications due to their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. This review highlights recent advances in the design, synthesis, and functionalization of such hydrogels, focusing on their environmental applications. Various synthesis techniques, including radical polymerization, grafting, and copolymerization, enable the development of hydrogels with tailored properties such as enhanced adsorption capacity, selectivity, and reusability. The incorporation of nanoparticles and bio-based polymers further improves their structural integrity and pollutant removal efficiency. Key mechanisms such as adsorption, ion exchange, and photodegradation are discussed, emphasizing their roles in removing heavy metals, dyes, and organic pollutants from wastewater. Additionally, this review presents the potential of hydrogels for oil-water separation, pathogen control, and future sustainability through integration into circular economy frameworks. The adaptability, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness of these hydrogels make them promising candidates for large-scale environmental remediation.

The escalating global climate crisis and energy challenges have made the development of efficient radiative cooling materials increasingly urgent. This study presents a machine-learning-based model for predicting the performance of radiative cooling aerogels (RCAs). The model integrated multiple parameters, including the material composition (matrix material type and proportions), modification design (modifier type and content), optical properties (solar reflectance and infrared emissivity), and environmental factors (solar irradiance and ambient temperature) to achieve accurate cooling performance predictions. A comparative analysis of various machine learning algorithms revealed that an optimized XGBoost model demonstrated superior predictive performance, achieving an R² value of 0.943 and an RMSE of 1.423 for the test dataset. An interpretability analysis using Shapley additive explanations (SHAPs) identified a ZnO modifier (SHAP value, 1.523) and environmental parameters (ambient temperature, 1.299; solar irradiance, 0.979) as the most significant determinants of cooling performance. A feature interaction analysis further elucidated the complex interplay between the material composition and environmental conditions, providing theoretical guidance for material optimization.