Article
Polymer Science
Namhyeon Park, Mason A. Friest, Lingling Liu
Summary: Coating is a technique that involves applying a thin layer to a substance to alter its properties. Polyvinyl alcohols (PVAs) are biodegradable plastics that have shown good performance as coating or film materials. When blended with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), PVAs exhibit enhanced properties. However, the hydrophilicity of PVA/CNC films poses challenges in moist environments. To address this, the researchers incorporated beeswax into PVA/CNC films and assessed its effects on their properties. The study found that the addition of corn stover-derived CNCs to PVA films increased tensile strength and Young's modulus, while reducing water vapor transmission rate. Further addition of beeswax improved water vapor barrier properties but decreased tensile strength. This information can guide material selection for PVA blending based on specific applications.
Article
Polymer Science
Poornima Vijay, Warren Batchelor, Kei Saito
Summary: Hydrophobically modified cellulose was prepared by conducting atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methacrylate substituted coumarin monomer on initiator grafted cellulose. The photocrosslinking of uniformly grafted coumarin on cellulose surface was applied to improve the water vapor barrier property of the film. The research showed that by increasing the amount of crosslinking within the grafted cellulose film, the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) can be reduced.
JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Paul Zahel, Uwe Beekmann, Thomas Eberlein, Michael Schmitz, Oliver Werz, Dana Kralisch
Summary: Modern wound treatment requires hydroactive dressings, and the carbohydrate polymer bacterial cellulose (BC) is a promising biomaterial that has not been sufficiently investigated for chronic wound indications. Research has shown that BC dressings have wound-cleansing properties and can promote healing.
Article
Polymer Science
Jae Hong Kim, Yu Hee Hwang, Mi Hyun Lee, Young Wook Chang, Yong Chul Song, Do Kyung Lee, Chang Jung Kim
Summary: The poor barrier property of packaging materials with regard to gas or water permeability can cause bubble generation and reduce the lifetime of electro-osmotic pumps. In this study, we performed water vapor transmission rate tests on three different polymers and found that liquid crystal polymer (LCP) showed the most pronounced barrier performance. LCP was also found to have no significant changes in microstructure, composition, crystallography, and thermal degradation after an accelerated thermal aging test. Moreover, the thermal aging characteristics of the pumps were analyzed using the Arrhenius model, revealing an increase in reaction rate constant with aging temperature.
MACROMOLECULAR RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Ma. Cristine Concepcion D. Ignacio, Dirk E. Maier, Keith L. Vorst
Summary: This study aimed to test and evaluate the hermeticity of gas barrier liners in storage bags for smallholder farmers, and it found significant differences in material properties among different brands. The study also determined the oxygen and water vapor transmission rates to ensure hermetic conditions can be achieved. Quantification of the mechanical properties of gas barrier liners ensures satisfactory performance of hermetic storage bags.
JOURNAL OF THE ASABE
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
Behnam Akhavan, Rajesh Ganesan, Stephen Bathgate, Dougal G. McCulloch, James G. Partridge, Mihail Ionsecu, Dave T. A. Mathews, Michael Stueber, Sven Ulrich, David R. McKenzie, Marcela M. M. Bilek
Summary: This study demonstrates a simple, new approach using a magnetic field with a high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) source to control the sp(3) fraction of amorphous carbon films, enhancing the deposition rate by focusing the flux and providing films with high tetrahedral bonding at the center. Resistive switching is observed in films with intermediate sp(3) fractions, allowing for the production of thin amorphous carbon films with selected properties without the need for electrical bias. The technique opens up possibilities for applications such as wear-resistant coatings on polymers and fabrication of resistive switching devices for neuromorphic technologies.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS D-APPLIED PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Wenwen Lei, Nicole W. S. Fong, Karyn Louise Jarvis, David R. McKenzie
Summary: The current methods are not sensitive enough to prevent moisture penetration, we propose using poly(ether-ether-ketone) to calibrate moisture leak rates and find that in most cases, the calibrated moisture leak rate exceeds the helium leak rate, recommending a reduction of one order of magnitude in the compliance limit for helium testing in biomedical devices.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
Hedi V. Kruse, William T. Lewin, Natalka Suchowerska, D. S. Abdullah Al Maruf, Kai Cheng, Jonathan R. Clark, David R. McKenzie
Summary: This study demonstrates that plasma immersion ion implantation enhances the adhesion of 3D printed PEEK material to bone tissue. Treated materials exhibit higher pull-off strength and torque in both in vitro and in vivo tests compared to untreated materials. The authors propose PIII-PEEK as a scaffold material with tensile properties similar to the fibrillar component of bone.
PLASMA PROCESSES AND POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
Georgio A. Katsifis, Natalka Suchowerska, David R. McKenzie
Summary: In this study, the effect of plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) treatment on the optical properties of poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) was investigated using ellipsometry. It was found that even short treatment times of PIII can significantly alter the optical properties of PEEK and induce amorphization of the initial semicrystalline structure.
PLASMA PROCESSES AND POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
D. S. Abdullah Al Maruf, Krishnan Parthasarathi, Kai Cheng, Payal Mukherjee, David R. McKenzie, Jeremy M. Crook, Gordon G. Wallace, Jonathan R. Clark
Summary: This review focuses on the recent progresses in modulating the physiochemical properties and applications of biomaterials in bone tissue engineering (BTE) for mandibular segmental defect repair. BTE is an important strategy for reconstructing critical-sized bone defects and improving patients' quality of life.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POLYMERIC MATERIALS AND POLYMERIC BIOMATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Linda Joanne Rogers, Juliette Cornelia Harley, David Robert McKenzie, Natalka Suchowerska
Summary: This study investigates the effect of delivering radiation treatment in two equal parts with a time delay on cancer cell toxicity. The results show that this split dose treatment increases toxicity in cancer cells and improves the therapeutic ratio. Grid fields also enhance the toxic effect. This treatment method can improve outcomes by increasing cancer cell toxicity while preserving normal cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RADIATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
Mark A. George, Noboru Takamure, David R. McKenzie
Summary: This study investigates the radiative heat transfer in the coaxial geometry of evacuated tube solar collectors through theoretical and experimental analysis. The results suggest that the effective emissivity method is applicable in certain conditions, but the spectral distribution of the emitted radiation needs to be considered at high temperatures.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
Juliette C. Harley, Natalka Suchowerska, Linda J. Rogers, Helen Lo, Ee Siang Choong, David R. McKenzie
Summary: The study shows that plasma activated liquid can enhance the cytotoxicity of radiation on cancer cells while exhibiting an antagonistic effect on normal cells. These findings demonstrate the potential to improve cancer treatment efficacy and reduce toxicity.
PLASMA PROCESSES AND POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
Clara T. Tran, Michael Raco, Louis M. Casey, David R. McKenzie
Summary: High surface area carbon coatings are produced using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition with plasma immersion ion implantation. The microstructure of the coatings is influenced by deposition pressure, resulting in the formation of aggregated particles with voids. The presence of these aggregated particles increases the binding capacity of proteins, making these coatings potentially useful for electrodes, biosensing, and drug delivery.
PLASMA PROCESSES AND POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Alexander Ryan, Marcela Bilek, Iver H. Cairns, David R. McKenzie
Summary: In this research, specific vacuum arc discharges were simulated using VSim 11 software, covering the entire process from the generation of cathode spots to the streaming plasma discharge at a far field. The simulations were validated against experimental data and showed consistent results in the evolution of ion charge state energy distributions, electrostatic potential peak above the cathode surface, and relative energies between ion charge states.
PLASMA SOURCES SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dong Xie, Xiaoting Wang, Longjun Wei, Ran Zhang, Rajesh Ganesan, David T. A. Matthews, Yongxiang Leng
Summary: The atomic configuration, electronic structure, and work of adhesion for TiN/NiTi interfaces were investigated in this paper. The results showed that interfaces with Ti and N as terminal atoms demonstrated stronger bonding performance and a more stable structure. The bond strength in the TiN/NiTi interface was significantly affected by the NiTi substrate's martensitic transformation.
SURFACE AND INTERFACE ANALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Georgio Katsifis, Hedi Kruse, Will Lewin, Abdullah Al Maruf, Jonathan R. R. Clark, David R. McKenzie, Natalka Suchowerska
Summary: This study evaluates the osteoconduction of a 3D printed PEEK scaffold treated with plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) compared to an untreated structure using micro-CT imaging. The treated PEEK scaffold contains denser and larger amounts of bone within the interior volume, while the untreated PEEK has more bone immediately outside the scaffold boundaries. This difference is attributed to the improved hydrophilicity and protein covalent binding provided by the PIII treatment.
ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Luke A. Sylvander, Phuong Y. Le, Hiep N. Tran, Billy J. Murdoch, Enyi Guo, David R. Mckenzie, Dougal G. Mcculloch, Jim G. Partridge
Summary: In this study, polydimethyl glutarimide (PMGI) layers were modified to introduce free radical covalent binding sites. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme was successfully immobilized on the treated PMGI, and the treated PMGI was incorporated as a gate dielectric layer in a three-terminal electrolyte-gated device. The presence of HRP on the plasma-modified PMGI gate dielectric layer altered the device characteristics and allowed for readout detection.
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Brenton Cook, Philipp Reineck, Thomas Shiell, Jodie Bradby, Bryan D. Esser, Joanne Etheridge, Bianca Haberl, Reinhard Boehler, David R. Mckenzie, Dougal G. McCulloch
Summary: Diamond is a crucial material for biosensors, quantum computing, and space components due to its unique properties at the nanoscale. Researchers have successfully synthesized oriented, faceted diamond particles by flash laser heating of glassy carbon, and observed their microstructure and periodicity.
Review
Biophysics
Lou I. S. A. Gonzales, Jessica W. Qiao, Aston W. Buffier, Linda J. Rogers, Natalka Suchowerska, David R. Mckenzie, Ann H. Kwan
Summary: The use of physical plasma in cancer treatment is a growing field, and omics studies have provided insights into the molecular mechanisms behind its action. These studies have revealed how physical plasma preferentially affects critical cellular pathways in cancer cells, leading to cell death. The future outlook for omics lies in exploring its synergies and antagonisms with other cancer therapies and overcoming challenges in clinical translation.
BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS
(2023)