Macromolecular Research最新文献

In order to improve the adsorption capacity of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) for heavy metals, a new thiourea-modified poly(vinyl alcohol) adsorbent (TU-SPVA) was prepared using PVA as the raw material, glutaraldehyde as the cross-linking agent and thiourea (TU) as the modifier. The preparation conditions of TU-SPVA were optimized by one-way experiments and response surface methodology (CCD), and the adsorption mechanism was investigated using adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherm, and adsorption thermodynamics, and the results showed that the optimum conditions for the preparation of TU-SPVA were as follows: pH 6.06, m(TU):m(SPVA) = 6.1:1, and the preparation time of 2.47 h. The maximum removal rate of Cr(VI) by TU-SPVA was 99.37%. The modification reaction in the preparation of TU-SPVA mainly occurred on the hydroxyl group (-OH) of the PVA molecular structure, and the -NH₂ and -C = S functional groups, which can be coordinated with heavy metal ions, were introduced through hydroxyl aldehyde condensation and Schiff reaction. The adsorption of Cr(VI) by TU-SPVA was more consistent with the quasi-secondary kinetic equation and Langmuir model, and the adsorption is a non-spontaneous exothermic process. Combined with the results of scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy, the adsorption mechanism of TU-SPVA on Cr(VI) is mainly coordination, ion exchange and electrostatic effect, and void filling.

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The graft modification method was used to prepare TU-SPVA, and the optimum preparation conditions of TU-SPVA were investigated, TU-SPVA has a more obvious pore structure than PVA. The adsorption mechanism of TU-SPVA on Cr(VI) was analyzed using the Langmuir et al. adsorption model.

Oral administration of terbinafine hydrochloride for the treatment of superficial mycoses in the targeted skin area may require high concentrations due to first-pass metabolism and intensive plasma protein binding. To address these challenges, this study aimed to fabricate hydrogel patches for localized delivery of terbinafine hydrochloride. The patches were developed using methacrylic acid and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate monomers through a free radical polymerization technique. Infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and time-dependent swelling tests were performed to examine the physicochemical, structural, and morphological characteristics of hydrogel patches. Hydrogels exhibit interconnected highly porous structures suitable for drug loading and controlled release. Biocompatibility was assessed through in vitro cytotoxicity and comet assays, showing no significant cytotoxic or genotoxic effects on human embryonic kidney cells, even at high extract concentrations. Terbinafine was loaded into biocompatible hydrogels with different monomer ratios, and it was found that both the loading content (from 3.84 to 5.83%) and the entrapment efficiency (from 26.63 to 41.45%) increased as the methacrylic acid composition increased. These patches can release the drug at higher concentrations depending on their methacrylic acid content while retaining the drug's inhibitory action on yeast microbiological growth. These findings suggest that the developed hydrogel patches could serve as efficient platforms for topical antifungal therapy following further clinical studies.

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Hydrogel patches with antifungal activities

With increasing demand for heat-electricity energy conversion in various fields increases, materials engineering to improve the performance of thermoelectric materials has gained momentum. Here, we synthesized film-type nanocomposites (NCs) comprising one-dimensional tellurium nanowires and two-dimensional tellurium nanosheets and investigated the effects of dopants on the morphological and thermoelectric characteristics. After the NCs were subjected to either vacuum drying (NCs (V)) or freeze-drying (NCs (F)), the samples were doped with silver, copper, and indium, respectively. The characterization results indicated that Ag and Cu doping led to significant structural changes, whereas In doping had a minimal effect on the structure. The thermoelectric performance, evaluated in terms of power factor (PF), varied with the type of dopant and drying method. The highest PF values were observed in Cu-doped NCs, with Cu@NCs (V) and Cu@NCs (F) exhibiting values of 53.04 and 47.58 μW/mK², respectively, primarily due to a substantial increase in electrical conductivity. The Ag-doped NCs also exhibited improved PF values, whereas the In-doped NCs exhibited only a modest improvement in PF. These results demonstrate that the precise selection of the TE matrix, dopants, and processing conditions can effectively optimize both the conductivity and Seebeck coefficient, leading to high PF values in TE materials.

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The research demonstrates how controlled doping and varying drying conditions can significantly influence the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of the novel 1D/2D tellurium nanocrystal composites, leading to notable improvements in thermoelectric efficiency. The manuscript addresses key topics in sustainable energy materials science, such as nanomaterial compound engineering, thermoelectric performance optimization, and materials processing techniques.

Plant health is a critical determinant of crop quality, food security and agricultural productivity. The ability to monitor plant health in real time, supported by advanced sensor technologies that facilitate early disease detection and stress monitoring, is essential for minimizing crop loss. Biotic and abiotic stressors significantly affect plant health. Wearable sensors, designed for attachment to plant organs such as leaves or stems, provide a non-invasive means of continuously capturing and converting biological and environmental signals into electrical data for analysis. This review presents a structured overview of the current advancements in the field of wearable plant sensors, focusing on their fundamental properties, classification, sensing mechanisms, and applications. The principal categories of wearable plant sensors include piezoresistive, chemical, photodetector, and capacitive sensors, each of which contributes uniquely to monitoring plant health. These sensor technologies provide practical solutions for sustainable agriculture by enabling real-time monitoring and improving plant stress management, which improve growth conditions and enhance overall productivity. The continued development of multifunctional and resilient sensor systems exhibits great potential for revolutionizing agricultural practices.

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Wearable sensors attached to plant organs (e.g., leaves, stems) enable real-time, non-invasive monitoring of plant health, detecting biotic and abiotic stressors. These sensors, including piezoresistive, chemical, photodetector, and capacitive types, convert biological and environmental signals into electrical data, supporting early disease detection and stress management. Advancements in multifunctional and resilient sensor systems promise to enhance crop quality, food security, and agricultural productivity through improved monitoring and sustainable farming practices.

Poly(benzodifurandione) (PBFDO), a recently developed n-type conductive polymer, shows promise as an alternative material for bioelectronics, particularly in neural probes. This study systematically evaluates the electrical, mechanical, and biocompatibility properties of PBFDO and compares its performance with the widely used material for bioelectronics; poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). The intrinsic doping mechanism of PBFDO provides high electrical conductivity (up to 2000 S/cm) without requiring external dopants, enhancing its environmental stability and simplifying fabrication. Surface characterizations revealed uniform coatings and hydrophilic properties suitable for bioelectronics. Notably, PBFDO demonstrated exceptional electrical stability in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), retaining 97% of its initial conductivity after three days. Biocompatibility assays using NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells showed no cytotoxic effects, with cell proliferation rates comparable to bare glass and crosslinked PEDOT:PSS. These findings establish PBFDO as a robust and biocompatible material for next-generation bioelectronic devices, including neural probes, biosensors, and implantable electrodes.

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We highlight PBFDO as a promising biocompatible electrode material for neural probes. PBFDO demonstrates intrinsically high conductivity, exceptional stability in aqueous environments, and excellent biocompatibility, all without the need for modification or post-treatment, outperforming PEDOT:PSS. These properties make PBFDO an ideal candidate for use in neural probes, offering superior material performance.

Significant heat generation is observed in advanced miniature, thin, lightweight, and high-performance electronic devices, highlighting the importance of thermal control and thermal management technologies. To address excess heat generation, developing more efficient electronic packaging with thermal management materials that facilitate heat dissipation is critical for ensuring the durability and optimal functionality of electronic devices. Polymer composites are widely used as thermal management materials owing to their excellent adhesion, ease of fabrication, lightness, and robust mechanical properties; however, these systems typically exhibit lower thermal conductivities than metals and ceramics. Thus, several studies have attempted to improve the thermal properties of polymer composites. This review discusses various polymer composites and highlights the importance of thermal-pathway management for thermal conductivity enhancement, focusing on strategies for controlling the polymer-chain structure and interactions as well as optimizing the polymer–filler, and filler–filler interfaces in composites. This paper is expected to guide future research on high-performance polymer composites for specific thermal-management applications.

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The utilization of high thermal conductivity polymers is critical for enhancing the thermal performance of polymer composites. Polymers such as aligned semi-crystalline polymers, stretched amorphous polymers, and liquid crystalline polymers, which inherently exhibit superior thermal conductivity, significantly enhance the overall thermal conductivity of composites when used as the matrix, especially compared to those based on low thermal conductivity polymers. In this review, we highlight various approaches to enhancing thermal conductivity in polymers, including strategies such as optimizing molecular alignment, enhancing crystalline structures, and integrating highly conductive fillers.

This study presents a comprehensive investigation into hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) with tunable bandgap properties, advancing the field of optoelectronic devices. Unlike previous works that often lacked reproducibility or focused solely on material-level optimizations, we demonstrate precise bandgap control ranging from 1.55 eV to 2.10 eV using a novel layer-by-layer sequential deposition technique. This approach ensures consistent material quality with high crystallinity, confirmed by XRD and SEM analyses, and uniform grain sizes of 200 nm, leading to enhanced charge transport efficiency. In addition, we integrate these optimized perovskites into functional devices, including solar cells, LEDs, and photodetectors, achieving a charge transport efficiency retention of 90% after 72 h and 85% device performance retention after 1000 h under environmental stress. Dual characterization methods, utilizing UV–visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL), provide a robust assessment of bandgap tunability and optical properties. Our encapsulation techniques significantly improve environmental stability, addressing a critical limitation of previous works. The study also demonstrates the scalability of the synthesis process, enabling versatile applications in energy conversion and light-emitting technologies. These contributions establish a pathway for developing highly efficient, durable, and cost-effective optoelectronic devices, paving the way for next-generation perovskite-based applications.

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Layer-by-layer fabrication of hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites with tunable bandgaps for high-efficiency, stable optoelectronic devices

This study designs and synthesizes two new curcumin–pyrimidine derivatives, which are encapsulated in four polymers, to obtain eight types of micelles. We tested the UV and fluorescence spectra of compounds P-1 and P-2 in different solvents and measured the UV and fluorescence spectra of 8 types of micelles in different pH environments. The release experiments of the simulated drugs in the gastrointestinal environment revealed that the release effects of PC-1 and PC-2 were greater for the 8 micelles. The encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of the PC-1 and PC-2 micelles were tested. TEM was conducted on PC-1 and PC-2, and the drug was evenly distributed on the carrier material, with PC-2 showing a regular spherical shape. The infrared spectra of polymer-C, P-1, P-2, PC-1, and PC-2 indicate that P-1 and P-2 are successfully encapsulated in the micelles. The AFM results indicate that PC-1 and PC-2 have an appropriate roughness, with PC-2 having a lower roughness than PC-1. The zeta-potential test results revealed its specific positive stability. Cell imaging experiments were conducted on PC-1 and PC-2 at different pH values, and the results revealed good biocompatibility. The calculation of Pearson's coefficient indicates that some complexes can enter the nucleus. HeLa cells, MGC cells, and L-02 cells were selected for cell proliferation experiments. The experimental results showed that the two micelles exhibited good biological activity on MGC and HeLa cells. Molecule docking was performed between P-1, P-2, and DYRK2, with binding energies of − 8.9 and − 9.7 kcal/mol, respectively, indicating that P-1 and P-2 have good binding ability with DYRK2.

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The two new curcumin-pyrimidine derivatives were encapsulated in four polymers and studied through simulated sustained release in gastrointestinal tract, fluorescence imaging, and bioactivity evaluation.

Polymer technology has significantly transformed modern society and is a foundation for the global economy. However, the pervasive issue of plastic waste pollution has cast a negative light on the industry. As the world aims for a carbon–neutral future by 2050, a paradigm shift from fossil-based to sustainable polymeric materials is imperative. While biopolymers derived from renewable sources offer promising potential to mitigate plastic pollution and reduce carbon emissions, their current performance and cost disadvantages compared to conventional petrochemical-based polymers hinder their widespread adoption. As a global leader, the Korean plastics industry faces increasing competitive pressures and growing environmental concerns. To address these challenges, the Eco-materials Division of the Polymer Society of Korea (PSK) was established in 2023 to promote collaboration among academia, industry, and research institutions. This review consolidates the PSK's multidisciplinary research efforts, outlines key challenges, and proposes a roadmap for future research directions in sustainable polymer technologies. Key focus areas include mechanochemical plastic upcycling, biomass-derived smart materials, renewable gas barrier films for food packaging, microbial plastic degradation, biomass content analysis, bio-based membranes, self-healing materials, melt compounding, and biodegradable polymer synthesis. By sharing expertise and fostering collaborative partnerships, this roadmap aims to accelerate innovation in the sustainable polymer industry and create a unified vision among stakeholders.

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Research roadmap of the Polymer Society of Korea (PSK) for sustainable polymeric materials.