Colloid and Polymer Science最新文献

Designing sustainable polymers that self-assemble in water remains a major challenge for advanced functional materials. Here, three partially bio-based poly(amic acid) (PAA) derived from difurfurylamine-based diamines were synthezised and converted into their triethylammonium salts (PAAS) to enable aqueous processing and electrostatic assembly with a branched poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI). Structural and thermal analyses established the key physicochemical properties of the polymers. Systematic mapping of PAAS/PEI mixtures revealed three distinct regimes. Under PAAS rich conditions, only the difurfuryl di-methyl based PAAS (PAAS/DFDA-DM) formed stable anionic nanoparticles (NPs) (≈ 15 nm), whereas phenyl and cyclohexane derived analogues precipitated. Near charge-stoichiometry, all systems produced dense polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) aggregates. In PEI excess compositions, all PAAS yielded well dispersed, positively charged nanoparticles (10–20 nm), indicating that PEI overcharging governs colloidal stabilization. These findings show that backbone structure and charge accessibility critically determine PEC formation and highlight PAAS/DFDA-DM as the most versatile candidate for sustainable nanoparticle design.

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Environmental phenolic pollutants such as 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) require sensitive detection because of their persistence and toxicity. Herein, sonochemically synthesized NiMn(PO₄)₂ (NMPO) micro-flakes were developed as an electrochemical interface for TCP determination. The hierarchical micro-flake morphology and synergistic Ni/Mn redox centers promote TCP adsorption, interfacial electron transfer, and electrocatalytic oxidation. Compared with bare GCE, NMPO/GCE exhibited a markedly enhanced TCP oxidation response and reduced charge-transfer resistance. Under optimized conditions, differential pulse voltammetry showed two linear ranges of 0.001–0.020 µM and 0.5–12 µM, with a detection limit of 0.7 nM. The sensor demonstrated good repeatability (RSD < 2%), reproducibility (RSD = 1.4%), operational stability (97.1% signal retention), and selectivity toward TCP over common interferents. Spiked human urine analysis gave recoveries of 94–104%, confirming practical applicability. These results highlight NMPO micro-flakes as a simple and reliable platform for ultrasensitive TCP monitoring.

The poor aqueous solubility of ibuprofen remains a major challenge in drug development. Conventional formulation strategies primarily employ co-solvents or strong alkaline agents such as sodium hydroxide. Therefore, ibuprofen-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were developed using an inorganic salt-mediated in situ ionization approach to improve drug incorporation and topical application. SLNs were prepared using the hot-melt homogenization method with beeswax as the lipid matrix. Different inorganic salts (K₂CO₃, Na₂CO₃, and Na₃PO₄) were employed to induce in situ ionization during nanoparticle formation. The obtained SLNs were incorporated into hydrogel systems containing Carbopol or xanthan gum. The interactions between SLNs and hydrogels were evaluated with respect to physicochemical characteristics, rheological properties, and ex vivo skin permeation. Formulations prepared without alkaline agents or at drug-to-alkaline molar ratios exhibited phase separation and poor stability. In contrast, in situ ionization at a 1:1 molar ratio produced homogeneous SLNs with uniform nanoparticles (200 nm), zeta potential values around − 20 mV, and encapsulation efficiency of up to 70.25%. FTIR and DSC analyses confirmed the conversion of crystalline ibuprofen into a less crystalline or amorphous salt form within the lipid matrix. Na₃PO₄ produced SLNs with higher surface charge and improved physical stability, whereas K₂CO₃ and Na₂CO₃ generated smaller and more homogeneous nanoparticles. Interestingly, potassium salts demonstrated superior permeation compared to sodium salts. The obtained results demonstrate that in situ ionization is an effective strategy for developing SLN-based topical delivery systems for poorly water-soluble drugs.

To enhance the performance of polyurethane materials and introduce multifunctional characteristics, thereby expanding their applications across various fields, this study conducted a series of modification experiments and performance evaluations. Initially, porous carbon material (PC) was synthesized using a carbonization-activation method, serving as a carrier for Fe₃O₄ particles. This process led to the successful creation of the Fe₃O₄/PC composite. Subsequently, this composite was used as a modifier to produce waterborne polyurethane (PC-FWPU) through in-situ polymerization. The structure and properties of the Fe₃O₄/PC composites were systematically examined, focusing on how varying the amount of Fe₃O₄/PC affected the stability of the PC-FWPU composite emulsion and the properties of the resulting film. The study’s results revealed that the porous carbon synthesized here boasts a high specific surface area of 1387.90 m²/g and a hierarchical pore structure, offering ample spatial sites and structural support for the uniform loading of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. Measurements of water contact angle, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and mechanical properties showed that incorporating Fe₃O₄/PC composites significantly enhanced the water resistance, thermal stability, and mechanical performance of the PC-FWPU films. At an optimal Fe₃O₄/PC loading of 4.0 wt%, the PC-FWPU composite film exhibited a water contact angle of 134.6°, demonstrating excellent hydrophobicity. The temperature at which 50% weight loss occurs (T_50%) increased markedly from 298.1℃ for pure waterborne polyurethane (WPU) to 388.7℃, reflecting a 30.4% enhancement. Concurrently, the tensile strength rose from 17.32 MPa to 30.97 MPa, a significant increase of 78.8%. Additionally, the introduction of Fe₃O₄/PC imparted certain magnetic and electrical conductive properties to the WPU matrix. The PC-FWPU composite film achieved a maximum saturation magnetization of 1.36 emu/g and an electrical conductivity of 3.6 × 10⁻⁶ S/cm. These findings lay the groundwork for applying these composites in advanced fields such as smart materials.

Wool is a significant natural fiber in the textile industry. However, it is easily to generate static electricity. In this paper, PANI/wool composite fibers are prepared through an in-situ adsorption polymerization. The results show that aniline can be preferentially adsorbed on the surface of wool fibers through electrostatic attraction and polymerize therein, so PANI is tightly coated on the surface of the wool fibers. The composite fibers exhibit excellent anti-static properties. Meanwhile, the PANI/wool composite fibers have good washing and abrasion resistance. The electric resistance of the PANI/wool composite fibers is 24.3 MΩ/cm after 200 times of washing and is 14.5 MΩ/cm after 600 times of rubbing, at least 6 orders of magnitude lower than that of the ordinary wool fibers (1.60 × 10⁷ MΩ/cm). In addition, the composite fibers are more comfortable to wear because PANI covers the sharp edges of wool fibers. It is worth noting that the fabrics woven from this kind of anti-static fibers are sensitive to the pH. The color changes of the clothing can be used to judge the acidity of the environment. The method is very simple and easy to mass production. The wool fibers do not need pre-treatment or modification, simplifying the processing steps and reducing the costs. It is very suitable for industrial production of antistatic wool composite fabrics.

The clinical application of trimethoprim (TMP) is limited by the low water solubility, short half-life and low oral bioavailability. Polyacrylic acid-stabilized trimethoprim amorphous solid dispersant (PAA/TMP ASD) are prepared by spray drying technology. The PAA/TMP ASD forms microspheres with diameters from hundreds of nanometers to tens of micrometers. The payload of TMP in the ASD can be regulated by adjusting the feeding ratio. During the continuous 7-day test, the variation range of particle size and Zeta potential is both less than 10%. In gastric juice, the ASD show low cumulative release (13.1% and 30.2%) with an initial explosive phase, whereas in PBS and intestinal fluid, the equilibrium release arrives to 64.3% and 41.5%. At a concentration of 0.097 mg/mL, the in vitro inhibition rate against E. coli can reach more than 98%. The inhibition rate of the biofilm formation is 82% at the concentration of 0.2 mg/mL. The TMP/PAA ASD shortens the peak time from 3.333 to 2.0 h, increases the peak concentration from 1.012 to 1.133 µg/mL, and significantly reduces the absorption half-life from 1.387 to 0.191 h. The TMP/PAA ASD formulation prolongs the elimination half-life from 26.033 to 34.699 h, along with increases AUC and MRT values, and demonstrates higher drug exposure and a longer duration of action in vivo. This work develops an important method to enhance the oral utilization rate of TMP.

Addressing the limitations of conventional mask materials in thermal comfort, antibacterial performance, and environmental sustainability, this study developed multifunctional PLA-BKC/PEG (P-B/P) composite nanofibers for mask filter applications. Utilizing coaxial electrospinning, polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution served as the inner layer, and a mixed solution of polylactic acid (PLA) and benzalkonium chloride (BKC) formed the outer layer. The P-B/P nanofibers achieved an average diameter as low as 420 nm, exhibiting superior mechanical and thermal stability, evidenced by a Young’s modulus of up to 176.5 MPa and negligible mass loss below 200 °C. Notably, P-B/P demonstrated excellent thermal hysteresis, showing a significant temperature lag of 5.6 °C during heating and 4.1 °C during cooling compared to pure PLA. Furthermore, P-B/P exhibited potent antibacterial performance, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus, with an inhibition zone diameter reaching 10 mm. The nanofibers also achieved excellent air filtration performance, with an efficiency of up to 98.9%. By integrating the developed P-B/P with PLA melt-blown and spunbond nonwoven fabrics into a three-layer filter material, an enhanced filtration efficiency of 99.2% was achieved. This comprehensive study, encompassing material preparation, performance characterization, and functional evaluation, unequivocally demonstrates the significant potential of P-B/P in advanced mask applications, offering a valuable blueprint for the design of next-generation multifunctional and environmentally sustainable mask materials.

The design and preparation of environmentally-friendly and efficient adsorbents are of crucial importance in the treatment of dyes-containing wastewater. In this study, to improve the water stability of alginate (SA) aerogel, the multi-crosslinking strategy was put forward, where Ca²⁺, polyaniline (PANI) and chitosan (CTS) acted as the “crosslinkers” to connect, reinforce and stabilize the network of the adsorbents through multiple interactions. And then metal organic framework (MOF) material MOF-199 was in-situ grown onto the aerogel adsorbents by the layer-by-layer method to solve the problems of MOF material applied alone in the adsorption field of dispersion and collection after use. The prepared aerogel adsorbents were characterized and applied to enrich cationic dye methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. The results showed that the adsorption process conformed to pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm. The aerogel adsorbents could selectively enrich cationic dyes like MB in the presence of anionic dyes, and adsorption efficiencies all remained above 94% after five adsorption-desorption cycles. Adsorption mechanism included electrostatic attraction, π-π stacking, p-π coordination and hydrogen bonding in the adsorption process, which were characterized by FTIR and XPS spectra before and after adsorption. The aerogel adsorbents with special properties of facile preparation, excellent regeneration ability, high adsorption efficiency and adsorption selectivity for cationic dye, offered a valuable reference for the efficient removal of cationic dyes from wastewater.

AuNPs are produced safely and sustainably using green synthesis techniques, which substitute natural metabolites for hazardous chemicals. The physicochemical, antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic characteristics of AuNPs were compared after they were produced chemically (CS-AuNPs) and environmentally (GS-AuNPs) utilizing Zingiber officinale extract. The successful synthesis of spherical structures with sizes ranging from 5 to 50 nm was demonstrated by TEM micrographs. The zeta potentials (–26.4 mV and − 17.3 mV for CS-AuNP and GS-AuNP, respectively) explained the high stability. The FT-IR measurements indicated that the AgNPs were coated and stabilized by bioactive chemicals derived from the extract. Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were both tested for antibacterial effectiveness. Antioxidant activities were assessed by a free radical scavenging assay. GS-Au NPs at 8x dilution had an 88% DPPH decreasing capacity, while CS-Au NPs at 8x dilution had 73%. The CS-AuNPs and GS-AuNPs displayed a target-oriented effect on MCF7 at lower IC₅₀ concentrations of 100% concentrated and 2-fold diluted compared to the L929 (IC₅₀ value is much more above of 100% concentration for both types of AuNPs). Overall, in comparison to CS-AuNPs, the phytosynthesized GS-AuNPs exhibit broad activities that allow for their usage in a variety of biological and biotechnological applications.