Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.124819
Liyang Zhou , Ke Li , David Julian McClements , Rongrong Ma , Xiaohua Pan , Tianyi Yang , Jinling Zhan , Chang Liu , Yaoqi Tian
{"title":"Corrigendum to “insights into the digestibility differences of thermostable starches under boiling treatment” [carbohydrate polymers 373 (2026) 124594]","authors":"Liyang Zhou , Ke Li , David Julian McClements , Rongrong Ma , Xiaohua Pan , Tianyi Yang , Jinling Zhan , Chang Liu , Yaoqi Tian","doi":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.124819","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.124819","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":261,"journal":{"name":"Carbohydrate Polymers","volume":"377 ","pages":"Article 124819"},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146073590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124973
Hao Dong , Xing Xu , Keqin Mi , Xin Peng , Frank Ratego , Liping Tong , Shifeng Hou
To ensure high-quality harvested fruits and vegetables, maintaining a stable, high relative humidity is crucial. This study concentrated on the development of an asymmetric double-layer film designed to address the limitations inherent in single-layer films. The film incorporates 2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC) as an autonomous humidity control material. HACC has a water adsorption energy of −2.03 eV, higher than polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), indicating better water absorption. The PVA/HACC film evenly distributes water molecules and has a higher adsorption capacity. HACC enhances adsorption kinetics and equilibrium through a synergistic “hydrogen bond-electrostatic” mechanism and increased free volume. Increasing the HACC concentration to 1.0% elevates the active layer's water absorption capacity to 0.43 g/g. The double-layer film exhibits a remarkably low water vapor permeability of (1.66 ± 0.03) × 10−11 g·m/(m2·s·Pa), effectively minimizing moisture exchange. When used for fresh strawberries, compared with the control group, it increased internal relative humidity by 126.54% and reduced the relative humidity variation to 1.62 × 10−2, effectively extending freshness to 7 days at room temperature. This innovative packaging solution actively regulates humidity, prolonging the freshness of fruits and vegetables. To encourage practical use, it's essential to assess the main challenges of large-scale promotion.
{"title":"Construction of bilayer asymmetric humidity-regulating packaging using 2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan for enhanced strawberry preservation","authors":"Hao Dong , Xing Xu , Keqin Mi , Xin Peng , Frank Ratego , Liping Tong , Shifeng Hou","doi":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124973","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124973","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To ensure high-quality harvested fruits and vegetables, maintaining a stable, high relative humidity is crucial. This study concentrated on the development of an asymmetric double-layer film designed to address the limitations inherent in single-layer films. The film incorporates 2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC) as an autonomous humidity control material. HACC has a water adsorption energy of −2.03 eV, higher than polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), indicating better water absorption. The PVA/HACC film evenly distributes water molecules and has a higher adsorption capacity. HACC enhances adsorption kinetics and equilibrium through a synergistic “hydrogen bond-electrostatic” mechanism and increased free volume. Increasing the HACC concentration to 1.0% elevates the active layer's water absorption capacity to 0.43 g/g. The double-layer film exhibits a remarkably low water vapor permeability of (1.66 ± 0.03) × 10<sup>−11</sup> g·m/(m<sup>2</sup>·s·Pa), effectively minimizing moisture exchange. When used for fresh strawberries, compared with the control group, it increased internal relative humidity by 126.54% and reduced the relative humidity variation to 1.62 × 10<sup>−2</sup>, effectively extending freshness to 7 days at room temperature. This innovative packaging solution actively regulates humidity, prolonging the freshness of fruits and vegetables. To encourage practical use, it's essential to assess the main challenges of large-scale promotion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":261,"journal":{"name":"Carbohydrate Polymers","volume":"380 ","pages":"Article 124973"},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146116461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cast films of partially deacetylated nanochitin exhibit structural colors originating from interference of reflected light; however, nonuniform convection during drying often induces uneven film thickness and color irregularities. In this study, the effects of additives and solvents were systematically investigated to establish a facile approach for obtaining uniform structural coloration. Chitosan, an ionic polymer with high viscosity, was employed as an additive to suppress the migration of nanochitin during solvent evaporation. Consequently, homogeneous thin films displaying vivid and uniform structural colors were obtained. UV–Vis spectroscopy, FE-SEM, and AFM analyses confirmed that the coloration originated from light interference between the upper and lower surfaces of the films, similar to soap films. The film thickness decreased with the amount of chitosan added, enabling precise control of the reflected hue. Furthermore, the influence of the solvent type was examined. The addition of alcohols such as ethanol and 2-propanol resulted in the formation of more uniform films, attributable to the generation of counterflow to the Marangoni convection caused by their lower boiling points and surface tensions compared with water. These findings demonstrate that the appropriate selection of chitosan concentration and solvent type enables both uniform structural coloration and tunable hue in nanochitin-based films.
{"title":"Effect of chitosan and alcohol solvents on uniform structural color formation in partially deacetylated nanochitin films","authors":"Dagmawi Abebe Zewude , Toshiki Nokami , Masaaki Akamatsu , Shinsuke Ifuku","doi":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124976","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124976","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cast films of partially deacetylated nanochitin exhibit structural colors originating from interference of reflected light; however, nonuniform convection during drying often induces uneven film thickness and color irregularities. In this study, the effects of additives and solvents were systematically investigated to establish a facile approach for obtaining uniform structural coloration. Chitosan, an ionic polymer with high viscosity, was employed as an additive to suppress the migration of nanochitin during solvent evaporation. Consequently, homogeneous thin films displaying vivid and uniform structural colors were obtained. UV–Vis spectroscopy, FE-SEM, and AFM analyses confirmed that the coloration originated from light interference between the upper and lower surfaces of the films, similar to soap films. The film thickness decreased with the amount of chitosan added, enabling precise control of the reflected hue. Furthermore, the influence of the solvent type was examined. The addition of alcohols such as ethanol and 2-propanol resulted in the formation of more uniform films, attributable to the generation of counterflow to the Marangoni convection caused by their lower boiling points and surface tensions compared with water. These findings demonstrate that the appropriate selection of chitosan concentration and solvent type enables both uniform structural coloration and tunable hue in nanochitin-based films.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":261,"journal":{"name":"Carbohydrate Polymers","volume":"378 ","pages":"Article 124976"},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124975
Meng Sun , Yifang Cui , Wenya Ma , Lingwen Cui , Peipei Liang , Miao Liang , Juan Song , Guangzhong Tu , Baiping Ma , Yanyan Jiang , Bin Liu
Exploring bioactive oligosaccharide fragments (the direct mediators of polysaccharide bioactivity in vivo) and elucidating their structures represent a central challenge in polysaccharide research. A bioactive oligosaccharide fragment (named BOF III) was isolated and purified from Saposhnikoviae Radix polysaccharide (SRP) by an immunoactivity-guided screening method. Its structure was characterized by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and NMR, and it was identified as an α-1,6-glycosidically linked heptaglucose, structurally defined as isomaltoheptaose. In vitro, BOF III enhanced the immune response by stimulating macrophage proliferation, phagocytosis, and the secretion of cytokines and NO. In cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice, it exerted systemic immunomodulatory effects, including restored thymus and spleen indices, improved hematological parameters. Importantly, it demonstrated intestinal barrier-protective effects by repairing mucosal morphology, increasing goblet cells, upregulating tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin), and reducing systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and diamine oxidase (DAO) leakage. Mechanistic investigations indicated that BOF III may exert its immunomodulatory effects involving the intestinal barrier, spleen, and lung, with concurrent effects manifested as intestinal barrier repair, activation of the TLR4/MyD88 pathway in splenic and pulmonary tissues, and regulation of immune-related gene expression. This study not only elucidates the structural basis for the immunomodulatory activity of SRP but also lays the foundation for BOF III transformation into novel immunomodulatory drugs or functional products. Furthermore, this study provides a valuable strategy for investigating bioactive constituents from other polysaccharide-rich herbal medicines.
{"title":"Exploration of a bioactive oligosaccharide fragment from Saposhnikoviae Radix polysaccharides: preparation, structural characterization, and immunomodulatory mechanism","authors":"Meng Sun , Yifang Cui , Wenya Ma , Lingwen Cui , Peipei Liang , Miao Liang , Juan Song , Guangzhong Tu , Baiping Ma , Yanyan Jiang , Bin Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124975","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124975","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Exploring bioactive oligosaccharide fragments (the direct mediators of polysaccharide bioactivity in vivo) and elucidating their structures represent a central challenge in polysaccharide research. A bioactive oligosaccharide fragment (named BOF III) was isolated and purified from Saposhnikoviae Radix polysaccharide (SRP) by an immunoactivity-guided screening method. Its structure was characterized by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and NMR, and it was identified as an <em>α</em>-1,6-glycosidically linked heptaglucose, structurally defined as isomaltoheptaose. In vitro, BOF III enhanced the immune response by stimulating macrophage proliferation, phagocytosis, and the secretion of cytokines and NO. In cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice, it exerted systemic immunomodulatory effects, including restored thymus and spleen indices, improved hematological parameters. Importantly, it demonstrated intestinal barrier-protective effects by repairing mucosal morphology, increasing goblet cells, upregulating tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin), and reducing systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and diamine oxidase (DAO) leakage. Mechanistic investigations indicated that BOF III may exert its immunomodulatory effects involving the intestinal barrier, spleen, and lung, with concurrent effects manifested as intestinal barrier repair, activation of the TLR4/MyD88 pathway in splenic and pulmonary tissues, and regulation of immune-related gene expression. This study not only elucidates the structural basis for the immunomodulatory activity of SRP but also lays the foundation for BOF III transformation into novel immunomodulatory drugs or functional products. Furthermore, this study provides a valuable strategy for investigating bioactive constituents from other polysaccharide-rich herbal medicines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":261,"journal":{"name":"Carbohydrate Polymers","volume":"378 ","pages":"Article 124975"},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-19DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124965
Xuehui Zhang , Jinming Yao , Wenjing Yan , Jing Chen , Yanru Xue , Xiaogang Wu , Weiyi Chen , Yanqin Wang , Qiang Zheng , Qiang Li
Natural trabecular bone is typically a complex 3D honeycomb-like material, which can influence the behavior of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), particularly their migration and differentiation direction. However, engineering such biomimetic hydrogels with an orthogonal anisotropic structure similar with trabecular bone via a universal and scalable manner still poses a great challenge. This study develops a cellulose nanofiber (CNF) reinforced composite hydrogel with an orthogonal anisotropic structure, which exhibits a highly aligned fibrous configuration and structural densification, endowing it with excellent mechanical properties and damage-tolerant architectures. Moreover, compared with the composite hydrogel with uniaxially anisotropic structure, this as-developed composite hydrogel with orthogonal anisotropic structure utilizes the interactions between rigid and flexible components to form an anisotropic network structure in orthogonal directions, mimicking the microscopic interactions between collagen fibers and proteoglycans in natural ECMs. It could not only facilitate the physical alignment and directional migration of BMSCs, but also enhance their proliferation and differentiation into osteoblasts. Overall, replicating the structure and properties of natural trabecular bone enhances insights into cellular mechanisms, but also improves the efficiency of bone regenerative medicine treatments.
{"title":"Cellulose nanofibers reinforced biomimetic hydrogel featuring orthogonal anisotropic architecture for guiding BMSCs directional migration and osteogenic differentiation","authors":"Xuehui Zhang , Jinming Yao , Wenjing Yan , Jing Chen , Yanru Xue , Xiaogang Wu , Weiyi Chen , Yanqin Wang , Qiang Zheng , Qiang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124965","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124965","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural trabecular bone is typically a complex 3D honeycomb-like material, which can influence the behavior of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), particularly their migration and differentiation direction. However, engineering such biomimetic hydrogels with an orthogonal anisotropic structure similar with trabecular bone via a universal and scalable manner still poses a great challenge. This study develops a cellulose nanofiber (CNF) reinforced composite hydrogel with an orthogonal anisotropic structure, which exhibits a highly aligned fibrous configuration and structural densification, endowing it with excellent mechanical properties and damage-tolerant architectures. Moreover, compared with the composite hydrogel with uniaxially anisotropic structure, this as-developed composite hydrogel with orthogonal anisotropic structure utilizes the interactions between rigid and flexible components to form an anisotropic network structure in orthogonal directions, mimicking the microscopic interactions between collagen fibers and proteoglycans in natural ECMs. It could not only facilitate the physical alignment and directional migration of BMSCs, but also enhance their proliferation and differentiation into osteoblasts. Overall, replicating the structure and properties of natural trabecular bone enhances insights into cellular mechanisms, but also improves the efficiency of bone regenerative medicine treatments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":261,"journal":{"name":"Carbohydrate Polymers","volume":"378 ","pages":"Article 124965"},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-19DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124964
Yuxuan Yang , Sufeng Zhang , Lijing Zhang , Nan Zhang , Liwei Qian , Wenqi Song
To address the low binding-site density and mass-transfer limitations of conventional protein-molecularly imprinted polymers (P-MIPs), this study proposes a synergistic strategy combining a custom-synthesized imidazolium ionic liquid monomer, 1-vinyl-3-diacetamidoimidazolium chloride ([VDAIM]Cl), with a bacterial-cellulose@UiO-66 (BC@UiO-66) hybrid scaffold. Spectral characterization and molecular docking simulations revealed multiple strong interactions between [VDAIM]Cl and bovine serum albumin (BSA), enhancing the stability of the pre-polymer complex compared to conventional monomers. Meanwhile, benefiting from the structural advantages of BC, the template immobilization-surface imprinting strategy (TIS-co-SIT) was employed to construct a high-affinity imprinted membrane. The resulting BC@UiO-66@MIPs exhibited fast adsorption equilibrium within 50 min, a large binding capacity of 502.5 ± 27 (n = 3) mg g−1, and a high imprinting factor (IF) of 6.27 ± 0.84 (n = 3). Furthermore, BC@UiO-66@MIPs also demonstrated excellent reusability, retaining over 90% of its initial binding capacity after ten adsorption-desorption cycles. Notably, the materials exhibited outstanding selectivity, with a competitive adsorption factor (α) of 5.57 ± 0.62 (n = 3) in binary BSA/BHb mixtures, and a high permeation selectivity coefficient (β) of 6.37. The membrane successfully isolated BSA from complex calf serum, confirming its practical potential for protein purification. This study constructs an efficient molecular imprinting system by integrating rational monomer design with advanced porous supports to enhance protein recognition and purification.
{"title":"Synergistic design of ionic liquid monomers and MOF–cellulose scaffolds for selective protein recognition in molecularly imprinted materials","authors":"Yuxuan Yang , Sufeng Zhang , Lijing Zhang , Nan Zhang , Liwei Qian , Wenqi Song","doi":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124964","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124964","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To address the low binding-site density and mass-transfer limitations of conventional protein-molecularly imprinted polymers (P-MIPs), this study proposes a synergistic strategy combining a custom-synthesized imidazolium ionic liquid monomer, 1-vinyl-3-diacetamidoimidazolium chloride ([VDAIM]Cl), with a bacterial-cellulose@UiO-66 (BC@UiO-66) hybrid scaffold. Spectral characterization and molecular docking simulations revealed multiple strong interactions between [VDAIM]Cl and bovine serum albumin (BSA), enhancing the stability of the pre-polymer complex compared to conventional monomers. Meanwhile, benefiting from the structural advantages of BC, the template immobilization-surface imprinting strategy (TIS-<em>co</em>-SIT) was employed to construct a high-affinity imprinted membrane. The resulting BC@UiO-66@MIPs exhibited fast adsorption equilibrium within 50 min, a large binding capacity of 502.5 ± 27 (<em>n</em> = 3) mg g<sup>−1</sup>, and a high imprinting factor (<em>IF</em>) of 6.27 ± 0.84 (n = 3). Furthermore, BC@UiO-66@MIPs also demonstrated excellent reusability, retaining over 90% of its initial binding capacity after ten adsorption-desorption cycles. Notably, the materials exhibited outstanding selectivity, with a competitive adsorption factor (<em>α</em>) of 5.57 ± 0.62 (<em>n</em> = 3) in binary BSA/BHb mixtures, and a high permeation selectivity coefficient (<em>β</em>) of 6.37. The membrane successfully isolated BSA from complex calf serum, confirming its practical potential for protein purification. This study constructs an efficient molecular imprinting system by integrating rational monomer design with advanced porous supports to enhance protein recognition and purification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":261,"journal":{"name":"Carbohydrate Polymers","volume":"378 ","pages":"Article 124964"},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-19DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124967
Xiaoyong Zhang , Pengsi Zhang , Jiaheng Pu , Feng Liao , Guozheng Pang , Fan Li , Xianglv Hu , Yongping Bai
Hydrogel-based wearable devices often struggle to integrate strong adhesion, long-term stability, and reliable sensing within a single system. Here, we present a one-step water–oil phase separation strategy that enables the in situ self-layering of bilayer hydrogels with robust interfacial coupling. The top poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid)-gelatin-alginate (poly(AM-AA)-gelatin-alginate) network provides mechanical resilience and environmental durability, while the bottom poly(butyl acrylate-2-hydroxyethyl acrylate)-glycerol-polycaprolactone methacrylic anhydride (poly(BA-HEA)-GPCL-MA) adhesive layer ensures strong yet reversible adhesion to diverse surfaces. This integrated architecture achieves a rare balance between adhesion, water retention stability, and sensing reliability, overcoming the long-standing trade-off in hydrogel-based electronics. Deformation-induced modulation of ionic conduction pathways endows the hydrogel with sensitive electromechanical sensing, enabling precise human-motion detection and Morse-code communication via controlled finger movements. As proof-of-concept, a 4 × 4 pressure-mapping array was integrated into robotic grippers, enabling tactile feedback to distinguish soft and rigid objects such as balloons and bottles. This work highlights a versatile design strategy for multifunctional hydrogels, paving new opportunities for smart interfaces, advanced human–machine interaction, and adaptive soft robotic systems.
{"title":"In situ self-layering bilayer alginate-gelatin hydrogels enabling synergistic adhesion and sensing for pressure distribution recognition","authors":"Xiaoyong Zhang , Pengsi Zhang , Jiaheng Pu , Feng Liao , Guozheng Pang , Fan Li , Xianglv Hu , Yongping Bai","doi":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124967","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124967","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydrogel-based wearable devices often struggle to integrate strong adhesion, long-term stability, and reliable sensing within a single system. Here, we present a one-step water–oil phase separation strategy that enables the in situ self-layering of bilayer hydrogels with robust interfacial coupling. The top poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid)-gelatin-alginate (poly(AM-AA)-gelatin-alginate) network provides mechanical resilience and environmental durability, while the bottom poly(butyl acrylate-2-hydroxyethyl acrylate)-glycerol-polycaprolactone methacrylic anhydride (poly(BA-HEA)-GPCL-MA) adhesive layer ensures strong yet reversible adhesion to diverse surfaces. This integrated architecture achieves a rare balance between adhesion, water retention stability, and sensing reliability, overcoming the long-standing trade-off in hydrogel-based electronics. Deformation-induced modulation of ionic conduction pathways endows the hydrogel with sensitive electromechanical sensing, enabling precise human-motion detection and Morse-code communication via controlled finger movements. As proof-of-concept, a 4 × 4 pressure-mapping array was integrated into robotic grippers, enabling tactile feedback to distinguish soft and rigid objects such as balloons and bottles. This work highlights a versatile design strategy for multifunctional hydrogels, paving new opportunities for smart interfaces, advanced human–machine interaction, and adaptive soft robotic systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":261,"journal":{"name":"Carbohydrate Polymers","volume":"378 ","pages":"Article 124967"},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-19DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124963
Yiyang Che , Chao Duan , Kang Yang , Xixi Di , Xiaoshuang Liu , Chuanyin Xiong , Mengxia Shen , Yonghao Ni
As global renewable energy demand increases, the development of advanced energy storage systems is critical. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) exhibit great potential due to their safety, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. Nonetheless, the formation and growth of zinc dendrites remain a major hurdle challenge, severely restricting the AZIBs' practical applications. This review explores the critical function of cellulose-based separators in mitigating the formation and growth of zinc dendrites. Four core mechanisms underlying the dendrite-suppressing efficacy by cellulose-based separators have been summarized: 1) Mechanical resistance: the inherent strength and flexibility of cellulose physically impede dendrite penetration; 2) zb flux homogenization: achieved via uniform pore distribution, electric field regulation, and selective ion transport; 3) Directed planar zinc deposition: guided by preferential (002) crystalline orientation of zinc to prevent vertical dendrite growth; 4) Alter in dendrite growth direction: functionalized separators promote “counter-deposition”, altering the growth pathway. Furthermore, this review consolidates recent advances in diverse cellulose-based materials, highlighting their structure-property correlations and electrochemical performance in AZIBs. Finally, existing challenges and propose future directions for the development of high-performance cellulose-based separators are discussed, aiming to pave the way for their widespread commercial adoption.
{"title":"Cellulose-based separators in aqueous zinc-ion batteries: Mechanistic strategies for dendrite suppression and performance enhancement","authors":"Yiyang Che , Chao Duan , Kang Yang , Xixi Di , Xiaoshuang Liu , Chuanyin Xiong , Mengxia Shen , Yonghao Ni","doi":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124963","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124963","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As global renewable energy demand increases, the development of advanced energy storage systems is critical. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) exhibit great potential due to their safety, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. Nonetheless, the formation and growth of zinc dendrites remain a major hurdle challenge, severely restricting the AZIBs' practical applications. This review explores the critical function of cellulose-based separators in mitigating the formation and growth of zinc dendrites. Four core mechanisms underlying the dendrite-suppressing efficacy by cellulose-based separators have been summarized: 1) Mechanical resistance: the inherent strength and flexibility of cellulose physically impede dendrite penetration; 2) zb flux homogenization: achieved via uniform pore distribution, electric field regulation, and selective ion transport; 3) Directed planar zinc deposition: guided by preferential (002) crystalline orientation of zinc to prevent vertical dendrite growth; 4) Alter in dendrite growth direction: functionalized separators promote “counter-deposition”, altering the growth pathway. Furthermore, this review consolidates recent advances in diverse cellulose-based materials, highlighting their structure-property correlations and electrochemical performance in AZIBs. Finally, existing challenges and propose future directions for the development of high-performance cellulose-based separators are discussed, aiming to pave the way for their widespread commercial adoption.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":261,"journal":{"name":"Carbohydrate Polymers","volume":"378 ","pages":"Article 124963"},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-19DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124966
Zhaodi Zheng , Ran Wu , Qi Li , Xiaowei Wu , Dan Qiu , Zhanghui Wang , Hongzhi Liu
Water sensitivity and brittleness have limited significantly the practical application of cellulose nanofibril (CNF) films. Herein, butane tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) was integrated into CNF film to construct advanced material. Structurally, the multiple carboxylic acid groups in BTCA were able to form robust ionic bonding with quaternized CNF to improve the water stability. The optimal film, prepared by cross-linking with 0.1 mol L−1 of BTCA solution at pH 8.0, exhibited dramatically reduced water uptake, two orders of magnitude lower than that of the pristine film. After conditioned at 50% RH and 25 °C, the film showed a roughly doubled strain-at-break with only a negligible decline in tensile strength. Under wet conditions, this film demonstrated an ultrahigh strain-at-break of 26.5%, almost comparable to a stiff hard rubber (20%–50%), while the pristine film became too swollen and fragile to handle. Notably, the film retained its optical transparency, exhibiting optimal transmittance of 87.0% at 600 nm. Moreover, it displayed an exceptionally low oxygen permeability of 1.5 mL μm m−2 day−1 kPa−1 even at 90% RH, outperforming other recently reported nanocellulose-based films (3–60 mL μm m−2 day−1 kPa−1). The multifunctional CNF film is a promising alternative to petroleum-based materials for visible packaging, flexible electronics and biomedical materials.
水敏性和脆性极大地限制了纤维素纳米纤维(CNF)薄膜的实际应用。本文将丁烷四羧酸(BTCA)集成到CNF薄膜中,构建先进的材料。在结构上,BTCA中的多个羧基能与季铵化CNF形成坚固的离子键,提高了水稳定性。用0.1 mol L−1的BTCA溶液在pH 8.0下交联制备的最佳膜的吸水率显著降低,比原始膜低两个数量级。在50% RH和25°C条件下,薄膜显示出大约两倍的断裂应变,而拉伸强度的下降可以忽略不计。在潮湿条件下,这种薄膜显示出26.5%的超高断裂应变,几乎与硬橡胶(20%-50%)相当,而原始薄膜变得过于膨胀和脆弱而无法处理。值得注意的是,该薄膜保持了其光学透明度,在600 nm处透光率达到87.0%。此外,即使在90%相对湿度下,它也表现出1.5 mL μm−2 day - 1 kPa−1的极低氧渗透率,优于最近报道的其他纳米纤维素基薄膜(3-60 mL μm−2 day - 1 kPa−1)。多功能CNF薄膜是一种有前途的替代石油基材料,用于可见包装,柔性电子和生物医学材料。
{"title":"Water-resistant, flexible and transparent cellulose nanofibril film for exceptional oxygen-barrier performance under high humidity","authors":"Zhaodi Zheng , Ran Wu , Qi Li , Xiaowei Wu , Dan Qiu , Zhanghui Wang , Hongzhi Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124966","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124966","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Water sensitivity and brittleness have limited significantly the practical application of cellulose nanofibril (CNF) films. Herein, butane tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) was integrated into CNF film to construct advanced material. Structurally, the multiple carboxylic acid groups in BTCA were able to form robust ionic bonding with quaternized CNF to improve the water stability. The optimal film, prepared by cross-linking with 0.1 mol L<sup>−1</sup> of BTCA solution at pH 8.0, exhibited dramatically reduced water uptake, two orders of magnitude lower than that of the pristine film. After conditioned at 50% RH and 25 °C, the film showed a roughly doubled strain-at-break with only a negligible decline in tensile strength. Under wet conditions, this film demonstrated an ultrahigh strain-at-break of 26.5%, almost comparable to a stiff hard rubber (20%–50%), while the pristine film became too swollen and fragile to handle. Notably, the film retained its optical transparency, exhibiting optimal transmittance of 87.0% at 600 nm. Moreover, it displayed an exceptionally low oxygen permeability of 1.5 mL μm m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> kPa<sup>−1</sup> even at 90% RH, outperforming other recently reported nanocellulose-based films (3–60 mL μm m<sup>−2</sup> day<sup>−1</sup> kPa<sup>−1</sup>). The multifunctional CNF film is a promising alternative to petroleum-based materials for visible packaging, flexible electronics and biomedical materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":261,"journal":{"name":"Carbohydrate Polymers","volume":"378 ","pages":"Article 124966"},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024203","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-18DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124959
Yishuai Huang , Wangcheng Liu , Hang Liu
Cellulose-based conductive fibers are promising eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic fibers in smart textiles. Although cellulose offers good thermal stability and mechanical strength for daily use, its performance falls short for high-performance apparel. Moreover, it is flammable, and the high hygroscopicity affects the conductivity of cellulose conductive fibers. To address these limitations, this study employed liquid metal (LM) as a multifunctional component to fabricate cellulose/LM composite fibers. Different from blending, a novel wet spinning technique was utilized to produce biphasic side-by-side (SBS) fibers, positioning cellulose and LM on opposite sides, enabling both materials to fully realize their functionalities while complementing each other. The cellulose/LM SBS fibers exhibited excellent tensile strength and elongation at break (up to 225.1 MPa and 12.7%, respectively), outperforming neat cellulose and conventional blend fibers. Individual SBS fibers exhibited conductivity suitable for low-power electronics and maintained conductivity and structural integrity under bending, folding, and humid conditions. Notably, SBS fibers exhibited superior thermal resistance, retaining full tensile strength after 10 min at 200 °C, and 33% at 400 °C while preserving structural integrity. These combined properties underscore the strong potential of cellulose/LM SBS fibers as conductive components in smart sensing applications under extreme environments, such as firefighter gear.
{"title":"Multifunctional cellulose/liquid metal conductive fibers with integrated mechanical, thermal, and conductive properties for smart wearables","authors":"Yishuai Huang , Wangcheng Liu , Hang Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124959","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.carbpol.2026.124959","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cellulose-based conductive fibers are promising eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic fibers in smart textiles. Although cellulose offers good thermal stability and mechanical strength for daily use, its performance falls short for high-performance apparel. Moreover, it is flammable, and the high hygroscopicity affects the conductivity of cellulose conductive fibers. To address these limitations, this study employed liquid metal (LM) as a multifunctional component to fabricate cellulose/LM composite fibers. Different from blending, a novel wet spinning technique was utilized to produce biphasic side-by-side (SBS) fibers, positioning cellulose and LM on opposite sides, enabling both materials to fully realize their functionalities while complementing each other. The cellulose/LM SBS fibers exhibited excellent tensile strength and elongation at break (up to 225.1 MPa and 12.7%, respectively), outperforming neat cellulose and conventional blend fibers. Individual SBS fibers exhibited conductivity suitable for low-power electronics and maintained conductivity and structural integrity under bending, folding, and humid conditions. Notably, SBS fibers exhibited superior thermal resistance, retaining full tensile strength after 10 min at 200 °C, and 33% at 400 °C while preserving structural integrity. These combined properties underscore the strong potential of cellulose/LM SBS fibers as conductive components in smart sensing applications under extreme environments, such as firefighter gear.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":261,"journal":{"name":"Carbohydrate Polymers","volume":"378 ","pages":"Article 124959"},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}