ACS Applied Polymer Materials最新文献

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) is widely used for the analysis and purification of macromolecules, including nucleic acids and proteins. However, product recovery from conventional PAGE remains inefficient due to the densely cross-linked gel matrix. In this study, we develop a redox-responsive polyacrylamide gel by partially substituting the traditional cross-linker with a redox-cleavable alternative. The resulting gel retains separation performance comparable to standard PAGE, while exhibiting pronounced redox-triggered swelling, which facilitates the efficient release of nucleic acids under reducing conditions. Based on this strategy, DNA recovery efficiencies were increased up to ∼63%, more than 2-fold higher than traditional PAGE, with minimal residual polymer contamination. The platform also demonstrated applicability for RNA and proteins with increased recovery. These results suggest that this redox-responsive system will provide a complementary approach for macromolecular collection in chemical and biological research.

Development of advanced biocompatible nanoprobes to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) for accurate magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of gliomas is a quite challenging task. We develop here the macrophage cell membranes (MCM)-coated chitosan (CS) nanogels (NGs) loaded with ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles (USIO NPs) to cross BBB for T₁-weighted MR imaging of glioma. First, CS NGs were created using an emulsion method, covalently conjugated with USIO NPs prepared via a solvothermal method, and coated with MCM to possess an average size of 146.3 nm. The generated USIO-CS@MCM NGs display desired cytocompatibility, BBB-crossing ability, and glioma-targeting property. Notably, the r₁ relaxivity of USIO-CS@MCM NGs (3.06 mM^–1·s^–1) is 20 times larger than that of USIO NPs (0.15 mM^–1·s^–1). Meanwhile, compared to the USIO-CS NGs, the USIO-CS@MCM NGs offer superior BBB penetration capacity with the assistance of the MCM coating, thus enabling effective T₁-weighted MR imaging of orthotopic glioma. The developed USIO-CS@MCM NGs represent a promising nanoprobe for accurate MR imaging of glioma or other brain diseases.

In this work, a series of inverse vulcanized biopolymers (BP) based on elemental sulfur and soybean oil were synthesized with varying sulfur content (20–80 wt %). Also, using reactive molding films of the polymers was obtained (F-BP). The effects of the sulfur content on the mechanical and physicochemical properties of F-BP materials were systematically evaluated. Mechanical tests revealed that increasing sulfur content significantly enhanced stiffness and tensile strength, attributed to the formation of denser S–S cross-linked networks. In addition, ecofriendly biocomposite films (F-BP-C) were developed by reinforcing the polymer matrix with biochar derived from carbonized barley biomass. The incorporation of biochar improved the mechanical response, increasing both the stiffness and flexural strength. In particular, a 25% weight loading of biochar (F-BP-C25) led to improvements of up to ∼2.8 times in Young modulus and ∼4 times in flexural strength, demonstrating its function as a reinforcing material within the polymer network. Furthermore, we found that the porosity and surface friction of the materials can be adjusted based on the formulation, allowing for tailored properties depending on the application. F-BP60-C25 showed the best combination of mechanical, thermal, and surface properties among the formulations studied, positioning it as a promising candidate for use as a functional coating material with thermal insulation capabilities. This integrated mechanical–thermal response of polymeric materials highlights their strong potential for thermal insulation and surface-related applications where mechanical robustness is essential. Moreover, the development of such materials through environmentally friendly approaches, particularly by utilizing renewable and biobased resources, further enhances their value, aligning with global efforts toward sustainable materials science and reducing environmental impact.

Conventional synthetic strategies for cerium sulfide/conducting polymer hybrids often rely on energy-intensive processes involving high temperatures, prolonged reaction times, and harsh chemical oxidants, which can limit material uniformity and scalability. A sustainable liquid/liquid interface approach was developed to synthesize PEDOT/Ce₂S₃ (PCS) nanocomposites in a butanol/water system under ambient conditions. Leveraging the inherent oxidative capability of Ce⁴⁺, the method enables simultaneous EDOT polymerization and Ce₂S₃ nucleation without external oxidants or elevated temperatures, yielding uniformly integrated inorganic-polymer hybrids. Chemical nature, crystallinity, and morphology investigations confirmed the formation of orthorhombic Ce₂S₃ within a well-dispersed conductive PEDOT matrix. Complementary surface area and thermal analyses revealed increased surface area and enhanced thermal stability relative to pristine PEDOT, highlighting the composite’s improved robustness. Integration of PCS nanocomposites onto conductive carbon yarns yielded a flexible electrode platform with rapid electron-transfer kinetics, enabling highly sensitive UA detection (LOD = 83 nM) with excellent selectivity and stability in complex matrices, including human urine and blood serum. These findings affirm the practical applicability of the composite for clinical diagnostics and demonstrate the broader potential of nanoparticles of rare-earth element/polymer hybrids in advanced biosensing and other applications.

Polylactide (PLA) is a widely used biopolymer. However, it has low biodegradability in natural environments, including soil, marine, and freshwater systems. Given the severity of plastic pollution in the ocean, this study was aimed at enhancing the marine biodegradability of PLA. This was accomplished by blending with a poly(ethylene succinate) (PES)-based copolymer, referred to as PESSeb15, which was synthesized from succinic acid, ethylene glycol, and sebacic acid through melt-mixing. The addition of 30 wt % PESSeb15 significantly enhanced the marine biodegradability of PLA, as determined by biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) tests in seawater. The residues and microbial communities in the BOD test solutions were studied to elucidate the biodegradation mechanisms. The results revealed that PESSeb15 was biodegraded in the initial stages, followed by PLA. The marine biodegradability of a powder mixture of PLA and PESSeb15 was also studied. No biodegradation of PLA occurred, highlighting the significance of proximity between the PLA and PESSeb15 components in enhancing biodegradability. This research is expected to broaden the range of applications for PLA.

The inherent brittleness of epoxy resin (EP) caused by its highly cross-linked structure severely limits its application in advanced fields such as aerospace. Here, we innovatively synthesized PCL–PES-PCL (PCEC) triblock copolymer by grafting polycaprolactone (PCL) onto both ends of polyether sulfone (PES) to enhance the toughness of EP. The fracture toughness and impact strength of the PCEC/EP castings reached 3.16 MPa·m^1/2 and 3.83 kJ/m², respectively, representing improvements of 209.80 and 224.58% compared to pure EP, mainly contributed by the excellent compatibility between PCL block and EP increased debonding energy. The unique island and bicontinuous phase structures formed by PCEC prolonged crack propagation path and dissipated fracture energy. Furthermore, the flexural and tensile strengths of the EP remain unaffected even with adjustments in PCEC content. Our research highlights the promising potential of EP for applications in aerospace industries.

This study investigates the long-term failure mechanism of an iodine-doped poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) polarizer film under accelerated aging conditions of 85 °C and 85% relative humidity. The polarizer consists of seven layers: iodine-doped PVA sandwiched by triacetate cellulose (TAC) films as protective layers, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films as release layers, and pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) layers between TAC and PET. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM) reveal that failure initiates with air bubble growth at the film edges, propagating inward and causing PSA delamination. Optical measurements show a marked decrease in polarizing efficiency and color shifts linked to iodine species degradation, with Raman and UV–vis spectroscopy confirming a 2.8% reduction in I₅^– species. Structural changes were characterized by two-dimensional (2D) wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), showing a decrease in PVA crystallinity from 25% to 18% and a slight increase in the lamellar orientation factor. Low-field NMR indicates no significant change in chain mobility, while high-resolution solid-state NMR detects PSA hydrolysis through the appearance of methylene carbon. These findings emphasize the critical role of PSA degradation in polarizer failure and provide insight into the interplay among crystallinity, iodine stability, and adhesive integrity under harsh environmental aging.

The escalating contamination of water resources by oil spills and pollutants (e.g., heavy metal ions and antibiotics) poses a critical threat to ecological security and human health. To address this dual challenge, we have developed a superhydrophobic biomass-derived aerogel by modifying sepiolite/chitosan composites with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), denoted as Sep/CS@PDMS. This aerogel exhibits remarkable capability in oil–water separation. It integrates a hierarchically porous structure with water contact angles exceeding 150°, enabling efficient oil–water separation via peristaltic pump-assisted processes. Notably, it maintains a separation efficiency of over 92% after 10 cyclic operations and demonstrates exceptional self-cleaning capabilities to resist fouling. Beyond its separation performance, the Sep/CS aerogel shows multifunctional adsorption capacities for pollutants such as Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl), achieving removal efficiencies exceeding 85% within 60 min. This work provides a sustainable strategy for managing oily wastewater and complex emerging contaminants, offering significant potential for scalable water remediation applications.

Open cellular polymer foams are characterized by three-dimensional connected pore structures, and they are widely applied in various fields. In this study, the polylactic acid/polybutylene adipate (PLA/PBAT) composite foams with excellent open cellular structures were successfully fabricated via a nucleating agent TMC-assisted supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) batch foaming process. The introduction of PBAT and TMC effectively improved the crystallization behavior of systems and enhanced their melt strengths, optimizing the foaming properties of the materials. The distributions of the soft and hard phases within the systems played important roles in preparing open cellular foam materials, which were controlled by adjusting the nucleating agent in combination with the holding time. Notably, the L/B/0.1T-5 foam with a volume expansion ratio (VER) of 61.8 presented outstanding interconnected structures, which also exhibited superior hydrophobic capabilities (water contact angle reaching 143.61°), remarkable adsorption capacity (the maximum adsorption capacity of CCl₄ approaching 48.4 g/g), excellent reusability, and improved compressive properties. Generally, this study could put forward an effective strategy to develop biodegradable open cellular foam with a high VER and exceptional performances.

The global shift toward renewable energy sources has heightened the need for energy storage systems that are not only efficient but also safe, scalable, and economically viable. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have gained attention as a promising candidate due to their low cost, nontoxicity, and operational safety. Nevertheless, the advancement of AZIB technology is hindered by the limited availability of robust cathode materials. This research presents a straightforward and scalable electrodeposition technique to develop a composite cathode consisting of polyaniline coated onto a stainless-steel mesh (PANI/SSM). The stainless-steel substrate enhances structural integrity and electrical conductivity, while the PANI layer facilitates redox activity and improves ion transport. Characterization techniques confirmed uniform PANI deposition and strong interfacial adhesion. Electrochemical evaluations revealed a specific capacity of 103 mAh/g at 0.2 A/g, with 70% capacity retention over 200 charge–discharge cycles, and favorable performance at various current rates. Impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry suggested efficient charge transfer and diffusion-governed kinetics. Additionally, density functional theory analysis highlighted the advantageous electronic features of PANI, underscoring its role in enhancing charge mobility. Overall, the PANI/SSM configuration presents a promising direction for the development of effective AZIB cathodes and supports future applications in eco-friendly energy storage solutions.