The commercial world has made significant progress in lithium-based battery technology over the past three decades. The history of lithium-based batteries spans a lengthy timeline of substantial innovations and setbacks, beginning with the first lithium-metal anodes and continuing to the current generation of commercial lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This review records the historical evolution of lithium-based batteries, from early lithium-metal prototypes hindered by dendrite formation and safety concerns to the commercialization of LIBs in 1991. We will also investigate the significant contribution that material science has made to the development of LIBs. Due to advances in LIB research and the numerous materials under investigation, several subfields of materials science have attracted varying degrees of research focus. Initial research into lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) mainly concentrated on solid-state physics as the primary area of interest. However, in the latter half of the 20th century, researchers focused on studying the morphological features of electrode materials. These properties included surface coating, porosity, size, and form. That helps identify the specific anode and cathode materials that will be compatible with future generations of batteries. To provide a comprehensive picture of LIB's development over history, this analysis will also offer an in-depth explanation of the circumstances that have driven the numerous technological advances.
{"title":"Historical perspective in technological advances in lithium-ion battery development","authors":"Rajasekar Krishnan , Vinitha Packirisamy , Deva Palani , Rajabhuvaneswari Ariyamuthu","doi":"10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100163","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100163","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The commercial world has made significant progress in lithium-based battery technology over the past three decades. The history of lithium-based batteries spans a lengthy timeline of substantial innovations and setbacks, beginning with the first lithium-metal anodes and continuing to the current generation of commercial lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This review records the historical evolution of lithium-based batteries, from early lithium-metal prototypes hindered by dendrite formation and safety concerns to the commercialization of LIBs in 1991. We will also investigate the significant contribution that material science has made to the development of LIBs. Due to advances in LIB research and the numerous materials under investigation, several subfields of materials science have attracted varying degrees of research focus. Initial research into lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) mainly concentrated on solid-state physics as the primary area of interest. However, in the latter half of the 20th century, researchers focused on studying the morphological features of electrode materials. These properties included surface coating, porosity, size, and form. That helps identify the specific anode and cathode materials that will be compatible with future generations of batteries. To provide a comprehensive picture of LIB's development over history, this analysis will also offer an in-depth explanation of the circumstances that have driven the numerous technological advances.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73541,"journal":{"name":"JCIS open","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100163"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145618665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100162
Joshua Lommes , Volkmar Stenzel , Andreas Hartwig
One effective strategy to improve the barrier performance of polymeric coating layers is the incorporation of layered silicate particles. This study investigates how the drying technology of silicates—specifically freeze-drying versus oven-drying—affects the permeation properties of the coatings. Modified layered silicates, prepared using both drying methods, are incorporated in varying amounts into polyimide coatings. The arrangement, orientation, and exfoliation of the particles are analysed using SEM. Results indicate that a higher proportion of layered silicates enhances the tortuosity of the diffusion pathway, thereby reducing permeability. Furthermore, permeation measurements of oxygen and water vapor, along with the calculated activation energies, reveal distinct differences in the permeation mechanisms of these gases through the coating films, highlighting the significant impact of the drying method on the barrier properties of the coatings.
{"title":"Permeation mechanism of gas molecules through polyimide barrier coatings with freeze- and oven-dried modified layered silicates","authors":"Joshua Lommes , Volkmar Stenzel , Andreas Hartwig","doi":"10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100162","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100162","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>One effective strategy to improve the barrier performance of polymeric coating layers is the incorporation of layered silicate particles. This study investigates how the drying technology of silicates—specifically freeze-drying versus oven-drying—affects the permeation properties of the coatings. Modified layered silicates, prepared using both drying methods, are incorporated in varying amounts into polyimide coatings. The arrangement, orientation, and exfoliation of the particles are analysed using SEM. Results indicate that a higher proportion of layered silicates enhances the tortuosity of the diffusion pathway, thereby reducing permeability. Furthermore, permeation measurements of oxygen and water vapor, along with the calculated activation energies, reveal distinct differences in the permeation mechanisms of these gases through the coating films, highlighting the significant impact of the drying method on the barrier properties of the coatings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73541,"journal":{"name":"JCIS open","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100162"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145555504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100165
Yendry Regina Corrales Ureña , Ingo Lieberwirth , Paul-Ludwig Michael Noeske , Frandy Arroyo Vargas , Diego Batista Menezes , Reinaldo Pereira-Reyes , José Roberto Vega-Baudrit
Nature has evolved sophisticated surface architectures to achieve non-wettability and self-cleaning performance under challenging environmental conditions. In this study, we elucidate the multiscale chemical and structural mechanisms underlying the exceptional water-repellent and anti-adhesive properties of the velvet worm Epiperipatus biolleyi. By integrating cryo-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), confocal Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profiling, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and contact angle measurements, we reveal a synergistic system composed of hierarchical micropapillae bearing overhanging tiptop scales and surrounded by nanowrinkles. We further show that the cuticle is biomineralized with calcium–magnesium carbonate phases beneath a waxy organic layer. This multiscale architecture yields water contact angles exceeding 130° and sustains a persistent, plastron-like gas layer upon immersion. The presence of overhanging scales with re-entrant curvature (ψ ≈ 34°), together with the surrounding nanowrinkles, inhibits wetting even under pressures higher than atmospheric pressure, as supported by COMSOL Multiphysics 2D simulations. The waxy layers that coat the micro- and nanostructures—composed primarily of long-chain fatty acid amides and fatty acids—further enhance the anti-adhesive behavior. This study also provides the first evidence in Onychophora of extensive cuticular biomineralization, where carbonate dissolution can locally liberate CO2, contributing to the formation and maintenance of a protective gas plastron around the microstructures. Together, these findings demonstrate that the integration of hierarchical micro- and nanostructures, a biomineralized cuticle, and a biochemical surface coating is essential to the unique anti-adhesive properties of E. biolleyi, underscoring its potential as a model for designing biomimetic, low-adhesion surface technologies.
{"title":"Key features enabling water repellency in velvet worm skin: Overhanging scales and carbonate-wax synergy","authors":"Yendry Regina Corrales Ureña , Ingo Lieberwirth , Paul-Ludwig Michael Noeske , Frandy Arroyo Vargas , Diego Batista Menezes , Reinaldo Pereira-Reyes , José Roberto Vega-Baudrit","doi":"10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100165","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100165","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nature has evolved sophisticated surface architectures to achieve non-wettability and self-cleaning performance under challenging environmental conditions. In this study, we elucidate the multiscale chemical and structural mechanisms underlying the exceptional water-repellent and anti-adhesive properties of the velvet worm <em>Epiperipatus biolleyi</em>. By integrating cryo-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), confocal Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profiling, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and contact angle measurements, we reveal a synergistic system composed of hierarchical micropapillae bearing overhanging tiptop scales and surrounded by nanowrinkles. We further show that the cuticle is biomineralized with calcium–magnesium carbonate phases beneath a waxy organic layer. This multiscale architecture yields water contact angles exceeding 130° and sustains a persistent, plastron-like gas layer upon immersion. The presence of overhanging scales with re-entrant curvature (ψ ≈ 34°), together with the surrounding nanowrinkles, inhibits wetting even under pressures higher than atmospheric pressure, as supported by COMSOL Multiphysics 2D simulations. The waxy layers that coat the micro- and nanostructures—composed primarily of long-chain fatty acid amides and fatty acids—further enhance the anti-adhesive behavior. This study also provides the first evidence in Onychophora of extensive cuticular biomineralization, where carbonate dissolution can locally liberate CO<sub>2</sub>, contributing to the formation and maintenance of a protective gas plastron around the microstructures. Together, these findings demonstrate that the integration of hierarchical micro- and nanostructures, a biomineralized cuticle, and a biochemical surface coating is essential to the unique anti-adhesive properties of <em>E. biolleyi</em>, underscoring its potential as a model for designing biomimetic, low-adhesion surface technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73541,"journal":{"name":"JCIS open","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100165"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Polyurethanes (PUs) are versatile polymers widely used in biomedical applications due to their tunable properties. However, PU-based medical devices are susceptible to bacterial contamination, necessitating surface modifications to improve biocompatibility and reduce colonization. This study introduced amine groups (–NH2) onto PU surfaces using low-temperature ammonia plasma and evaluated effects on bacterial adhesion and biocompatibility. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy (AFM), fluorescence microscopy, and biocompatibility assays were employed. Ammonia plasma effectively introduced amine groups, confirmed by XPS. The contact angle decreased markedly (from 101.5° to 36.3°), accompanied by a pronounced increase in surface free energy (from 27.3 to 64.6 mJ/m2), indicating enhanced hydrophilicity, while AFM analysis revealed no significant changes in surface roughness (RMS). Bacterial adhesion increased for P. aeruginosa DSM 22644, S. aureus DSM 4910, and S. epidermidis DSM 28319, but was unaffected for E. coli DSM 18039. Biocompatibility tests with A549 cells showed improved adhesion, morphology, and cytoskeletal organization, with elevated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression. Ammonia plasma thus enhances PU biocompatibility while influencing bacterial adhesion.
{"title":"Surface modification of polyurethane biomaterials by ammonia plasma: bacterial adhesion and cellular response","authors":"Kamil Drożdż , Paulina Chytrosz-Wróbel , Divya Kumar , Andrzej Kotarba , Monika Brzychczy-Włoch","doi":"10.1016/j.jciso.2026.100173","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jciso.2026.100173","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polyurethanes (PUs) are versatile polymers widely used in biomedical applications due to their tunable properties. However, PU-based medical devices are susceptible to bacterial contamination, necessitating surface modifications to improve biocompatibility and reduce colonization. This study introduced amine groups (–NH<sub>2</sub>) onto PU surfaces using low-temperature ammonia plasma and evaluated effects on bacterial adhesion and biocompatibility. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy (AFM), fluorescence microscopy, and biocompatibility assays were employed. Ammonia plasma effectively introduced amine groups, confirmed by XPS. The contact angle decreased markedly (from 101.5° to 36.3°), accompanied by a pronounced increase in surface free energy (from 27.3 to 64.6 mJ/m<sup>2</sup>), indicating enhanced hydrophilicity, while AFM analysis revealed no significant changes in surface roughness (RMS). Bacterial adhesion increased for <em>P. aeruginosa</em> DSM 22644, <em>S. aureus</em> DSM 4910, and <em>S. epidermidis</em> DSM 28319, but was unaffected for <em>E. coli</em> DSM 18039. Biocompatibility tests with A549 cells showed improved adhesion, morphology, and cytoskeletal organization, with elevated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression. Ammonia plasma thus enhances PU biocompatibility while influencing bacterial adhesion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73541,"journal":{"name":"JCIS open","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100173"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385285","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-11DOI: 10.1016/j.jciso.2026.100171
El Mahdi Elkaseh , Haytham Abuissa , Eman Fadhil , Ashraf EL-Hashani
Understanding the interaction between therapeutic agents and surfactant-based drug delivery systems is crucial for designing effective pharmaceutical formulations. This study provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of the physicochemical interactions between the anti-parkinsonian drug DL-DOPA (DOPA) and two cationic surfactants, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and benzalkonium chloride (BKC), in aqueous media. The investigation was conducted using a suite of analytical techniques, including surface tensiometry, conductometry, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry at 25 °C. The results reveal a potent synergistic interaction between DOPA and both surfactants, evidenced by a remarkable depression in the critical micelle concentration (CMC): a 70% reduction was observed for BKC, while a dramatic 98% reduction was recorded for CPC, highlighting the superior efficiency of the latter in forming mixed micelles with DOPA. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that micellization and drug-micelle binding are spontaneous processes (ΔG < 0). DOPA exhibited a significantly stronger interaction with CPC micelles compared to BKC, as evidenced by a higher binding constant (Kb = 12.64 × 104 L/mol for CPC versus 3.14 × 104 L/mol for BKC) and a more favorable partition coefficient (Kx = 27.82 × 104 L/mol for CPC versus 6.7 × 104L/mol for BKC). This enhanced interaction with CPC is attributed to a combination of hydrophobic forces and potential π-π stacking between the pyridinium head group and the aromatic ring of DOPA. The findings demonstrate that both CPC and BKC can effectively interact with and solubilize DOPA, but CPC offers a more favorable binding and partitioning environment. This detailed characterization provides fundamental insights that can guide the rational selection of cationic surfactants for the development of advanced DOPA delivery systems.
{"title":"Physicochemical investigation of DL-DOPA interaction with cationic surfactants: Micellization, binding thermodynamics, and solubilization","authors":"El Mahdi Elkaseh , Haytham Abuissa , Eman Fadhil , Ashraf EL-Hashani","doi":"10.1016/j.jciso.2026.100171","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jciso.2026.100171","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the interaction between therapeutic agents and surfactant-based drug delivery systems is crucial for designing effective pharmaceutical formulations. This study provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of the physicochemical interactions between the anti-parkinsonian drug DL-DOPA (DOPA) and two cationic surfactants, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and benzalkonium chloride (BKC), in aqueous media. The investigation was conducted using a suite of analytical techniques, including surface tensiometry, conductometry, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry at 25 °C. The results reveal a potent synergistic interaction between DOPA and both surfactants, evidenced by a remarkable depression in the critical micelle concentration (CMC): a 70% reduction was observed for BKC, while a dramatic 98% reduction was recorded for CPC, highlighting the superior efficiency of the latter in forming mixed micelles with DOPA. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that micellization and drug-micelle binding are spontaneous processes (ΔG < 0). DOPA exhibited a significantly stronger interaction with CPC micelles compared to BKC, as evidenced by a higher binding constant (K<sub>b</sub> = 12.64 × 10<sup>4</sup> L/mol for CPC versus 3.14 × 10<sup>4</sup> L/mol for BKC) and a more favorable partition coefficient (K<sub>x</sub> = 27.82 × 10<sup>4</sup> L/mol for CPC versus 6.7 × 10<sup>4</sup>L/mol for BKC). This enhanced interaction with CPC is attributed to a combination of hydrophobic forces and potential π-π stacking between the pyridinium head group and the aromatic ring of DOPA. The findings demonstrate that both CPC and BKC can effectively interact with and solubilize DOPA, but CPC offers a more favorable binding and partitioning environment. This detailed characterization provides fundamental insights that can guide the rational selection of cationic surfactants for the development of advanced DOPA delivery systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73541,"journal":{"name":"JCIS open","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100171"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146173392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are sustainable high-strength nanomaterials for cutting-edge biomedical 3D bioprinting and implantable devices.
Aim
This review summarizes the aspects of CNC synthesis, printing strategies, biomedical applications, challenges, and prospects.
Method
The review was carried out from the literature search of Scopus/Web of Science using keywords cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), 3D bioprinting, bioink, rheology, alignment, and hydrogel (2018-2025).
Discussion on novelty
This review condenses the mechanistic understanding of relationships between the CNC surface chemistry, aspect ratio of particulate, and flow-induced alignment of particles and their connection to bioink printability rheology and anisotropic biofunctionality. These highlights innovations targeting the methacrylation, TEMPO-mediated carboxylation, and hybrid processing, which will enable the covalent crosslinking, tunable degradation, and enhanced thermal stability. New contributions are suggestions for accessible concentration windows for printability in CNC applications; definition of the alignment thresholds in conditions of nozzle sheathing; and proposals for cohesive and standard reporting of rheological data. This also finds a gap in translational aspects of sterilization compatibility, batch reproducibility, and in vivo degradation studies that need prioritization of research and regulatory validation pathways.
Conclusion
CNC-based 3D bioprinting provides a sustainable and versatile platform for creating mechanically tough, shear-responsive, and anisotropic biomedical constructs. With the recent breakthroughs in surface modification, alignment control, and the use of hybrid bioinks, there is great potential for employing CNC-enabled systems in applications that require personalized medicine, controlled drug delivery, and next-generation tissue engineering applications.
纤维素纳米晶体(cnc)是用于尖端生物医学3D生物打印和植入式设备的可持续高强度纳米材料。目的综述了CNC合成、打印策略、生物医学应用、面临的挑战和前景。方法通过检索Scopus/Web of Science中纤维素纳米晶体(CNC)、3D生物打印、生物墨水、流变学、取向学和水凝胶(2018-2025)的相关文献进行综述。本文综述了CNC表面化学、颗粒长宽比和颗粒流动诱导排列之间关系的机理理解,以及它们与生物墨水可打印性、流变性和各向异性生物功能的联系。这些突出了针对甲基丙烯酸基化,tempo介导的羧化和混合处理的创新,这将使共价交联,可调降解和增强热稳定性成为可能。新的贡献是CNC应用中可访问的可打印性集中窗口的建议;喷嘴护套条件下对准阈值的定义并对流变数据的统一和规范报告提出了建议。这也发现了灭菌兼容性、批量可重复性和体内降解研究的翻译方面的差距,这些研究和监管验证途径需要优先考虑。结论基于cnc的生物3D打印技术为构建具有机械韧性、剪切响应性和各向异性的生物医学结构提供了一个可持续的、通用的平台。随着最近在表面修饰、对准控制和混合生物墨水使用方面的突破,在需要个性化医疗、控制药物输送和下一代组织工程应用的应用中,采用cnc支持的系统具有巨大的潜力。
{"title":"Bio-printed cellulose nanocrystal: Processing, fabrication, and biomedical applications","authors":"Deepak Kumar , Md Azhar , Sathvik Belagodu Sridhar , Javedh Shareef , Tarun Wadhwa , Rishabha Malviya","doi":"10.1016/j.jciso.2026.100172","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jciso.2026.100172","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are sustainable high-strength nanomaterials for cutting-edge biomedical 3D bioprinting and implantable devices.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This review summarizes the aspects of CNC synthesis, printing strategies, biomedical applications, challenges, and prospects.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>The review was carried out from the literature search of Scopus/Web of Science using keywords cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), 3D bioprinting, bioink, rheology, alignment, and hydrogel (2018-2025).</div></div><div><h3>Discussion on novelty</h3><div>This review condenses the mechanistic understanding of relationships between the CNC surface chemistry, aspect ratio of particulate, and flow-induced alignment of particles and their connection to bioink printability rheology and anisotropic biofunctionality. These highlights innovations targeting the methacrylation, TEMPO-mediated carboxylation, and hybrid processing, which will enable the covalent crosslinking, tunable degradation, and enhanced thermal stability. New contributions are suggestions for accessible concentration windows for printability in CNC applications; definition of the alignment thresholds in conditions of nozzle sheathing; and proposals for cohesive and standard reporting of rheological data. This also finds a gap in translational aspects of sterilization compatibility, batch reproducibility, and <em>in vivo</em> degradation studies that need prioritization of research and regulatory validation pathways.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>CNC-based 3D bioprinting provides a sustainable and versatile platform for creating mechanically tough, shear-responsive, and anisotropic biomedical constructs. With the recent breakthroughs in surface modification, alignment control, and the use of hybrid bioinks, there is great potential for employing CNC-enabled systems in applications that require personalized medicine, controlled drug delivery, and next-generation tissue engineering applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73541,"journal":{"name":"JCIS open","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100172"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146173391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-12-23DOI: 10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100168
Mehmet Melikoglu
Biosurfactants, microbial-derived surface-active molecules, present a sustainable and effective alternative to synthetic chemicals in the petroleum industry. This review examines their multifaceted roles in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and bioremediation of environments contaminated by crude oil and its refined fractions. In EOR, biosurfactants significantly reduce interfacial tension and alter wettability, enhancing oil mobilization as demonstrated by laboratory-scale core flooding (e.g., 31–44 % additional oil recovery) and micromodel studies. Their integration with nanoparticles and polymers further boosts recovery efficiency, with peak performance reaching up to 95.1 % oil recovery. For bioremediation, biosurfactants increase hydrocarbon bioavailability, accelerating the degradation of various petroleum compounds in soil and water. Research shows impressive biodegradation rates, with some consortia achieving over 95 % crude oil degradation, resulting in a reliable mean degradation/removal rate of 92.3 % across reported studies analyzed in this study. Production advancements focus on cost-effective, sustainable feedstocks like agricultural and industrial wastes, optimizing fermentation processes, and developing efficient downstream recovery methods. Detailed characterization efforts, supported by advanced analytical and computational tools (e.g., molecular dynamics simulations), are deepening the understanding of biosurfactant properties, stability under harsh conditions, and precise mechanisms of action. Despite significant progress, future research must address scaling up production for industrial application, validating performance in complex, real-world reservoir and environmental settings, and thoroughly elucidating molecular-level structure-function relationships for rational design. Integrating biosurfactant technology into holistic, circular economy models for pollution management represents a crucial step towards a more sustainable petroleum sector.
{"title":"Biosurfactants for enhanced oil recovery and bioremediation in the modern petroleum industry: A global review","authors":"Mehmet Melikoglu","doi":"10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100168","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100168","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biosurfactants, microbial-derived surface-active molecules, present a sustainable and effective alternative to synthetic chemicals in the petroleum industry. This review examines their multifaceted roles in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and bioremediation of environments contaminated by crude oil and its refined fractions. In EOR, biosurfactants significantly reduce interfacial tension and alter wettability, enhancing oil mobilization as demonstrated by laboratory-scale core flooding (e.g., 31–44 % additional oil recovery) and micromodel studies. Their integration with nanoparticles and polymers further boosts recovery efficiency, with peak performance reaching up to 95.1 % oil recovery. For bioremediation, biosurfactants increase hydrocarbon bioavailability, accelerating the degradation of various petroleum compounds in soil and water. Research shows impressive biodegradation rates, with some consortia achieving over 95 % crude oil degradation, resulting in a reliable mean degradation/removal rate of 92.3 % across reported studies analyzed in this study. Production advancements focus on cost-effective, sustainable feedstocks like agricultural and industrial wastes, optimizing fermentation processes, and developing efficient downstream recovery methods. Detailed characterization efforts, supported by advanced analytical and computational tools (e.g., molecular dynamics simulations), are deepening the understanding of biosurfactant properties, stability under harsh conditions, and precise mechanisms of action. Despite significant progress, future research must address scaling up production for industrial application, validating performance in complex, real-world reservoir and environmental settings, and thoroughly elucidating molecular-level structure-function relationships for rational design. Integrating biosurfactant technology into holistic, circular economy models for pollution management represents a crucial step towards a more sustainable petroleum sector.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73541,"journal":{"name":"JCIS open","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100168"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-11-17DOI: 10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100161
Sohyun Ahn , Siddhi Kulkarni , Suvarna Patil , Urs A. Peuker , Martin Rudolph
As green hydrogen production via proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMELs) continues to scale up, the development of effective recycling processes for end-of-life components is becoming increasingly important. In PEMELs, ultrafine catalyst particles exhibit significant differences in hydrophobicity, which serve as a basis for selective separation. In this study, two separation techniques based on hydrophobicity differences (liquid–liquid particle separation and emulsion-based froth flotation) were proposed for particle recovery. Since catalyst inks contain amphiphilic ionomers as binders in addition to the particles, their influence on wettability-based separation was investigated. To clarify this effect, we investigated the physicochemical characteristics of ionomer-coated particles. Key parameters such as particle size, surface area (BET), and zeta potential were measured, and their impact on wettability was assessed. The results show that ionomer adsorption leads to a notable reduction in the hydrophobicity contrast, thereby hindering their selective separation. To address this issue, a dispersant was introduced to both separation processes. This addition improved the recovery performance, under conditions where the hydrophobicity difference was reduced (LLPS: recovery increased from 10 % to 70 %, froth flotation: approx. 15 % improvement). Although the addition of dispersants improved the recovery performance, the separation efficiency remained lower than that observed under ionomer-free conditions (over 95 % of recoveries in both processes). The findings highlight the complex interactions between particles, ionomers, and reagents in dispersion systems. Further investigation into these interactions is necessary to develop more robust and scalable recycling strategies. A deeper understanding of the physicochemical mechanisms will provide valuable insight into the design of selective separation processes for catalyst recovery in PEMEL systems.
{"title":"Wettability based separation of ionomer-containing ultrafine particles for PEM water electrolyzer recycling","authors":"Sohyun Ahn , Siddhi Kulkarni , Suvarna Patil , Urs A. Peuker , Martin Rudolph","doi":"10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100161","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100161","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As green hydrogen production via proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMELs) continues to scale up, the development of effective recycling processes for end-of-life components is becoming increasingly important. In PEMELs, ultrafine catalyst particles exhibit significant differences in hydrophobicity, which serve as a basis for selective separation. In this study, two separation techniques based on hydrophobicity differences (liquid–liquid particle separation and emulsion-based froth flotation) were proposed for particle recovery. Since catalyst inks contain amphiphilic ionomers as binders in addition to the particles, their influence on wettability-based separation was investigated. To clarify this effect, we investigated the physicochemical characteristics of ionomer-coated particles. Key parameters such as particle size, surface area (BET), and zeta potential were measured, and their impact on wettability was assessed. The results show that ionomer adsorption leads to a notable reduction in the hydrophobicity contrast, thereby hindering their selective separation. To address this issue, a dispersant was introduced to both separation processes. This addition improved the recovery performance, under conditions where the hydrophobicity difference was reduced (LLPS: recovery increased from 10 % to 70 %, froth flotation: approx. 15 % improvement). Although the addition of dispersants improved the recovery performance, the separation efficiency remained lower than that observed under ionomer-free conditions (over 95 % of recoveries in both processes). The findings highlight the complex interactions between particles, ionomers, and reagents in dispersion systems. Further investigation into these interactions is necessary to develop more robust and scalable recycling strategies. A deeper understanding of the physicochemical mechanisms will provide valuable insight into the design of selective separation processes for catalyst recovery in PEMEL systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73541,"journal":{"name":"JCIS open","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100161"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145555505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-11-30DOI: 10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100166
Ivon Y. Calibio Giraldo , Fiorela Ghilini , Eduardo Prieto , Carolina Díaz , Patricia L. Schilardi
Protein self-assembly at interfaces provides a versatile strategy to engineer functional coatings with applications spanning nanomedicine and advanced materials. Medical tubing-associated infections remain a critical healthcare challenge, driven by biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance. We present a simple and scalable strategy to address this problem using bovine serum albumin (BSA) amyloid-like coatings applied to polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a widely used biomaterial and glass, as model surface. The coatings were formed by controlled disulfide reduction with dithiothreitol (DTT), yielding robust, adherent films stable under aqueous and mechanical stress. In contrast to earlier syntheses with tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP), the DTT-based method provides a safer, low-cost route that preserves the physicochemical and anti-biofouling properties of the coatings.
Physicochemical characterization revealed that the coatings altered wettability, nanoscale roughness, and interfacial chemistry, resulting in strong suppression of both bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus) and mammalian cell adhesion. Importantly, the anti-adhesive properties originated from the chemical nature of the amyloid aggregates rather than topography alone, emphasizing the role of molecular interactions in modulating cell–surface behavior. While coatings alone suppressed bacterial colonization, residual loads approached infection-risk thresholds; combining the coatings with vancomycin at one-eigth the minimum inhibitory concentration achieved complete eradication of sessile and planktonic bacteria. The observed synergy illustrates that functional protein films serve as interfacial coadjuvants, enhancing antibiotic action while minimizing dosage, thereby limiting the development of resistance. Consequently, amyloid aggregates represent a class of self-assembled nanostructures that connect fundamental colloid and interface science with practical biomedical applications.
{"title":"Functional protein films as interfacial coadjuvants: A synergistic strategy to enhance antibiotic efficacy and suppress biofilms","authors":"Ivon Y. Calibio Giraldo , Fiorela Ghilini , Eduardo Prieto , Carolina Díaz , Patricia L. Schilardi","doi":"10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100166","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jciso.2025.100166","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Protein self-assembly at interfaces provides a versatile strategy to engineer functional coatings with applications spanning nanomedicine and advanced materials. Medical tubing-associated infections remain a critical healthcare challenge, driven by biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance. We present a simple and scalable strategy to address this problem using bovine serum albumin (BSA) amyloid-like coatings applied to polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a widely used biomaterial and glass, as model surface. The coatings were formed by controlled disulfide reduction with dithiothreitol (DTT), yielding robust, adherent films stable under aqueous and mechanical stress. In contrast to earlier syntheses with tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP), the DTT-based method provides a safer, low-cost route that preserves the physicochemical and anti-biofouling properties of the coatings.</div><div>Physicochemical characterization revealed that the coatings altered wettability, nanoscale roughness, and interfacial chemistry, resulting in strong suppression of both bacterial (<em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>) and mammalian cell adhesion. Importantly, the anti-adhesive properties originated from the chemical nature of the amyloid aggregates rather than topography alone, emphasizing the role of molecular interactions in modulating cell–surface behavior. While coatings alone suppressed bacterial colonization, residual loads approached infection-risk thresholds; combining the coatings with vancomycin at one-eigth the minimum inhibitory concentration achieved complete eradication of sessile and planktonic bacteria. The observed synergy illustrates that functional protein films serve as interfacial coadjuvants, enhancing antibiotic action while minimizing dosage, thereby limiting the development of resistance. Consequently, amyloid aggregates represent a class of self-assembled nanostructures that connect fundamental colloid and interface science with practical biomedical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73541,"journal":{"name":"JCIS open","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100166"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145684812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}