Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials最新文献

One of the limitations of current anticancer nanomedicines in clinical applications is the efficiency of drug delivery in their nanocarrier systems. Therefore, we aimed to develop a nano-delivery system loaded with a hydrophobic drug for lung cancer treatment. Nanoparticles (FA-CMC-GNA NPs) were prepared using an emulsion solvent evaporation method, with a disulfide bond-crosslinked thiolated carboxymethyl cellulose as the backbone, encapsulating the hydrophobic drug gambogenic acid. The preparation process was optimized through single-factor experiments and response surface methodology to determine the optimal preparation conditions. The characterization of the physicochemical properties of FA-CMC-GNA NPs was conducted using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, X-ray spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that the nanoparticles exhibited uniform dispersion and spherical morphology with a particle size of approximately 193.3 nm. Additionally, FA-CMC-GNA NPs demonstrated significant glutathione (GSH)-responsive release behavior in vitro. The prepared FA-CMC-GNA NPs were internalized into A549 cells via folate receptor-mediated endocytosis and released gambogenic acid in response to GSH, resulting in a significant inhibitory effect on A549 cells. In conclusion, these findings suggest that FA-CMC-GNA NPs hold the potential to enhance the clinical application value of the hydrophobic drug gambogenic acid for lung cancer therapy.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory condition that has long plagued patients. Herein, an innovative oral treatment strategy for IBD is proposed, which utilizes calcium alginate hydrogel as a carrier to deliver Co₃O₄ nanocages loaded with total glucosides of paeony (TGP) into the body. This design ingeniously exploits the protective properties of the alginate outer layer to ensure that the enzyme is not prematurely degraded when passing through acidic gastric juice. However, upon reaching the inflamed intestinal site, the overexpressed H₂O₂ there mixes with a specific solution, causing the hydrogel to degrade and release Co₃O₄@TGP. These negatively charged nanozymes can precisely recognize and accumulate in the inflamed colonic tissue, achieving targeted therapy through their unique charge characteristics. More importantly, Co₃O₄ itself possesses excellent catalytic activity, effectively consuming excess H₂O₂ at the site of inflammation and degrading into 10 nm small particles in the process, while simultaneously releasing TGP. Together, they exert dual effects of scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and anti-inflammation. Its therapeutic mechanism involves fine regulation of the expression of key proteins such as TLR7, MYD88, and GAPDH, as well as effective inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. This series of actions not only reduces the release of various pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as TNF-α, IL-18, IL-1β, IL-6, and HMGB1) but also promotes the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, thereby effectively maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier. This research achievement opens up a novel path for the treatment of colitis.

The explode development of global automation and digitization brings increasing electromagnetic radiation, threatening information security and health. Biomass wave-absorbing materials stand out among massive absorbers due to their green and environmentally friendly features, yet remains severe challenge in equilibration between impedance matching and efficient loss ability. Herein, this work innovatively used waste bark which amounts up to 400 million cubic meters generated from forest as carbon precursor. The FeCo@C nanocomposites derived from FeCo-MOF precursor are introduced on the surface of bark-derived carbon pore using vacuum impregnation and carbonization methods, and tree bark-derived porous carbon (TPC)/FeCo@C composites are successfully fabricated. The unique hierarchical structure composed of three-dimensional (3D) parallel pore structure of bark-derived carbon and yolk-shell structure of FeCo@C favors to optimizing impedance matching and prolonging attenuation paths of microwaves. Additionally, the introduction of FeCo@C can promote interface polarization loss, as well as enhance synergistic effects of dielectric-magnetic losses. Multiple synergistic effects of structural coupling and dielectric-magnetic loss endow TPC/FeCo@C composite attractive absorbing ability. The optimized TPC/FeCo@C-5 exhibits a minimum reflection loss (RL_min) of − 61.04 dB and the effective bandwidth (EAB) of 7.25 GHz at a matching thickness of 2.64 mm, which is superior to most biomass-based absorbers. Apparently, this work presents a valuable concept for the secondary utilization of discarded bark in the domain of microwave absorption, which is significant for achieving energy saving and environmental protection and addressing electromagnetic pollution.

The same elements can form different compounds with widely different physical properties. Synthesis of a single-phase material is commonly achieved by controlling experimental conditions. Synthesizing materials that incorporate multiple specific spatially distributed chemical phases is often challenging, especially if different phases must be organized into well-defined spatial patterns. Here, we present an efficient solid reaction laser annealing (SRLA) approach to directly write regions of different local chemical compositions. We demonstrate the practical utility of our approach by locally writing microscale patterns of distinct chemical phases in vanadium oxide thin films. Specifically, we achieved the controlled local recrystallization of a uniform V₂O₃ matrix into VO₂, V₃O₅, and V₄O₇ regions exhibiting sharp 1st- and 2nd-order metal–insulator phase transitions over a wide range of critical temperatures, i.e., a characteristic feature of select vanadium oxides that is extremely sensitive to even minute structural or compositional imperfections. We utilized the local chemical phase writing to pattern spiking oscillators with distinct electrical behavior directly in the thin film sample without employing elaborate lithography fabrication. Our laser tuning local chemical composition opens a pathway to synthesize a wide range of artificially micropatterned composite materials, with precision and control unattainable in conventional material synthesis methods.

Graphical Abstract

A significant breakthrough has been achieved in the ultra-fast degradation of toxic contaminants in wastewater. Novel C, N co-doped ZnO/Co₃O₄/CoFe₂O₄/Fe₃O₄ quaternary oxide was engineered using a tri-metallic zeolitic imidazolate framework (Zn/Co/Fe-ZIF). The synthesized material degraded 85% tetracycline (TC) within just 15 s of visible light illumination (and achieved a total degradation of 90.9% in 6 min). The catalyst's remarkable performance was ascribed to the synergistic effect of dual S-scheme heterojunctions at the oxide's interface and the light-independent activation of H₂O₂ by the multivalent cationic sites (Co³⁺/Co²⁺ and Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺) on the catalyst. These two mechanisms not only reduced the TC degradation time to just a few seconds, but also unlocked the degradation potential of the catalyst in the absence of light (70% TC degradation was achieved under ambient dark conditions). XPS studies showed that the ZIF-mediated synthesis introduced double or triple oxygen vacancy sites and N substitutional defects, which enhanced the catalyst’s efficiency by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species on its surface. VB-XPS and UPS analysis were performed to correctly elucidate the charge transfer mechanism in the heterostructure. The results of EPR and LC–MS studies established that the synthesized heterostructure is capable of generating abundant reactive oxygen species which are responsible for the fragmentation of TC molecules within a short period of time. Furthermore, the toxicity profile of the generated degradation products was also assessed via an in silico approach. Interestingly, despite such a short degradation timeframe, the generated degradation products had lower toxicity than TC.

Al7075 is among the strongest commercial aluminum alloys with low density, making it a standout choice for structural metals. However, the never-ending quest for higher strength and low-density materials demands structural metals stronger than Al7075. In this study, high-strength and chemically inert one-dimensional boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are used to reinforce Al7075 alloy, making ultra-high strength aluminum matrix composite. Al7075-BNNT composite is fabricated using a multi-step process involving ultrasonication, cryomilling, and spark plasma sintering (SPS). Ultra-fine grains were efficiently achieved in 2 h of milling, resulting in an impressive ultimate strength of ~ 636.8 ± 18.9 MPa and elongation up to necking of 10.1 ± 0.5% in heat-treated Al7075-BNNT composite. The obtained strength is 1.3 times higher than SPS Al7075 and 2.9 times higher than cast Al7075 alloy. The cryomilling facilitated a homogeneous dispersion of BNNTs, fostering effective interfacial bonding, albeit leading to variations in BNNT length ranging from 1–50 µm. The interplay between BNNT lengths and their impact on mechanical properties is explored, showcasing a synergistic improvement in strength and elongation. The comprehensive understanding of the resulting strengthening mechanisms encompasses Hall–Petch, Orowan, dislocation-induced strengthening, and dominant load transfer mechanisms. These findings offer valuable insights into fabricating high-performance aluminum matrix composites surpassing conventional strength. The Al7075-BNNT composite's unprecedented mechanical strength could further extend the use of aluminum alloys to more demanding aerospace applications, such as spacecraft structures and next-generation vehicles, as well as racing and automotive parts where the need for ultra-lightweight yet ultra-strong materials is paramount for fuel efficiency and performance under extreme conditions.

Constructing highly stretchable and sensitive flexible strain sensors is significant for applications in human–computer interaction, wearable devices, and electronic skins. However, integrating high stretchability and sensitivity into a single system is challenging. In this study, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was interpenetrated into an acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AAc), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gel matrix to form a three-dimensional structure. Through simple coordination with polyaniline (PANI) and zinc chloride (ZnCl₂), a high-performance hydrogel, PANI/PVA/CMC-Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (P(AM-co-AA))-Zn²⁺ hydrogel, was prepared as the base material. The tensile strength, elongation at break, and elastic modulus of the base hydrogel were 421 kPa, 246%, and 80 kPa, respectively, when the amount of AAc was introduced at 6 mL. To further improve its antifreeze and moisture-preserving properties, the base hydrogel was immersed in a mixed solvent of ethylene glycol (EG) and water, resulting in the optimized PANI/PVA/CMC-P(AM-co-AA)-Zn²⁺/EG hydrogel. The optimized hydrogel exhibited significantly enhanced mechanical properties, including a fracture tensile strength of 838 kPa, a strain of 330%, and an elastic modulus of 302 kPa, when the volume ratio of EG to water reached 1:3. The formation of numerous hydrogen bonds between EG and water molecules prevented ice crystal formation and hindered water evaporation. As a result, the hydrogel exhibited excellent freezing tolerance (-41.6 ℃) and long-lasting moisture (83.7% weight retention after 7 days), maintaining stable mechanical flexibility over a wide temperature range. Due to the presence of conductive polymers and ions, the optimized hydrogel demonstrated high sensitivity (GF = 2.94 for a tensile strain range of 0%-200%) and was able to monitor body movements such as elbow, finger, wrist, and leg bending. These features, combined with its responsiveness to changes in temperature, sweat, and pH, make the optimized hydrogel a promising material for multifunctional sensor applications.

Graphical Abstract

PVA-based hydrogels offer high performance in flexible sensors.

Advancements in electronic devices have driven the fabrication of flexible supercapacitors (SCs) to power electronic devices in twisted or bent states. In this regard, we report the fabrication of nanoflower-like arrays of cobalt molybdenum sulfide (Co_xMo_3-xS₃) on flexible and conductive carbon cloth via a facile single-step electrodeposition technique as a positive electrode. The morphological, physiochemical, and electrochemical characteristics of the corresponding electrodes are evaluated. For optimization, the Co_xMo_3-xS₃ electrodes with various stoichiometric ratios of Co/Mo in the precursor solution are fabricated. The optimized Co_xMo_3-xS electrode shows a maximum areal capacitance value of 1008.7 mF cm⁻² at 2 mA cm⁻² and an excellent life duration with areal capacitance retention value of ~ 100% over 10,000 galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) cycles. Furthermore, Te-infused carbon derived from radish is explored as a green negative electrode. A flexible hybrid SC (FHSC) device is fabricated using optimized Co_xMo_3-xS₃ and Te-infused radish-derived bio-carbon as the positive and negative electrodes, respectively. The corresponding FHSC device exhibits excellent electrochemical properties with power and energy density values of 7500 W kg⁻¹ and 19.2 Wh kg⁻¹, respectively, followed by outstanding long-term durability with a specific capacitance retention value of ~ 100% over 10,000 GCD cycles. Finally, the FHSC device successfully powers various electronic gadgets in contorted states, thereby demonstrating its practical feasibility. The ecoflex-packaged FHSC device is also employed to power temperature and humidity sensors in the wearable condition for wireless internet of things applications.

Zn-Mn alloys are particularly promising biodegradable implant materials, but they are plagued by poor mechanical performance. In this work, a Zn-Mn alloy with ultrahigh strength and excellent ductility was achieved through addition of trace Mg (0.1 wt%) and equal channel angular pressing (ECAP). Specifically, the ECAP processed Zn-0.5Mn-0.1 Mg alloy exhibits an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 428 MPa, which is highest ever achieved in Zn-Mn-based alloys, along with a good elongation (EL) of 39%. In addition, the alloy exhibits excellent antibacterial performance against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Trace Mg addition results in the formation of Mg₂Zn₁₁ and MgZn₂ nano-precipitates in the alloy, which effectively pins grain growth during dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and postpones the inverse Hall–Petch relation. Consequently, the alloy possesses quite fine grains of an average grain size (AGS) of 0.71 μm, much smaller than that of its counterpart without Mg (AGS = 2.54 μm). The ultrahigh strength of the alloy is mainly ascribed to grain boundary strengthening and precipitation strengthening. The remarkable ductility of the alloy is related to deformation twinning suppression, pyramidal < c + a > slip activation, and low dislocation density.