Article
Polymer Science
Elaine Halligan, Billy Shu Hieng Tie, Declan Mary Colbert, Mohamad Alsaadi, Shuo Zhuo, Gavin Keane, Luke M. Geever
Summary: This study presents the preparation of hydrogels based on Poly (N-vinylcaprolactam) with diethylene glycol diacrylate using the photopolymerization technique. The structure of the polymers is investigated using FTIR spectroscopy, and their characteristics are further examined using DSC and swelling analysis. The study aims to determine the properties of the polymer and its effects on the phase transition.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ali Reza Erdogan, Anna C. Whitford, Thomas R. Underwood, Catriona Sellick, Radhika Patel, Neal T. Skipper, H. Christopher Greenwell
Summary: The swelling of clay minerals in shale formations and compacted bentonite barriers presents challenges to operators. This study investigates the swelling of compacted clay mineral tablets exposed to various solvents, establishing correlations between solvent properties and observed swelling. A non-contact swelling meter is used to measure the rate of swelling, and strong correlations are found between short-term swelling rate and octanol-water partition coefficient, as well as between total linear swelling and viscosity and octanol-water partition coefficient in long term swelling.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Saba Shariati, Masoumeh Mousavi, Albert Hung, Elham H. Fini
Summary: It has been found that adding polyphosphoric acid (PPA) to bitumen modified with Montmorillonite clay (MMT) can decrease swelling and increase resistance to moisture, improving pavement distress. PPA was shown to preferentially adsorb onto MMT, blocking water from entering and improving the stability of the modified bitumen.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Qi Hu, Yuanlai Xu, Xiangyi Deng, Shimin Hu, Jiaying Xu, Fang Zhou, Ru'an Chi
Summary: This study aims to select a suitable anti-swelling solution for Hunan Jianghua ionic rare earth ore, in order to prevent natural disasters caused by clay minerals swelling with water. The composition analysis of the ore shows that 88% of Hunan Jianghua ionic rare earth ore is composed of halloysite clay mineral. Therefore, the anti-swelling behavior of halloysite clay mineral was investigated to provide a reference for future research on selecting raw ore swelling inhibitors.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Junda Shen, Peng Du, Binbin Zhou, Guobin Zhang, Xinxue Tang, Jie Pan, Bo Li, Jingyang Zhang, Jian Lu, Yang Yang Li
Summary: Mineral hydrogels with multiple functionalities have been developed as artificial skin-like materials. A novel hydrogel system that combines biominerals with a biocompatible polymer matrix is capable of delivering excellent mechanical performance, high sensitivity, and resistance to swelling and freezing, making it promising for practical applications.
Article
Polymer Science
Jinpeng Han, Dayong Yang
Summary: The study presented a dynamic tannic acid (TA)/clay hydrogel with time-dependent mechanical and adhesive properties, in which clay played a crucial role in regulating the molecular interaction evolution. Through the dynamic interactions between TA and clay, the hydrogel transitioned from reversible dynamic networks to irreversible covalent networks over time, leading to an increase in storage modulus and adhesive strength before reaching a plateau.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Xuan Yang, Lengwan Li, Yoshiharu Nishiyama, Michael S. Reid, Lars A. Berglund
Summary: A facile preparation method using low energy kitchen blenders is reported, in which the dispersion, exfoliation, and mixing of colloidal cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and clay nanoparticles are achieved in one step. The energy demand is reduced by about 97% compared to the conventional method, and the resulting composites exhibit higher strength and work to fracture. The results indicate favorable effects of hemicellulose-rich, negatively charged pulp fibers and corresponding CNFs on CNF disintegration and colloidal stability, facilitating substantial CNF/clay interfacial interaction and providing a more sustainable and industrially relevant processing concept for strong CNF/clay nanocomposites.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Daniel M. Gruber, Mark S. Ferris, Gary Zabow
Summary: Here, a new method is presented for accurate in-situ monitoring of hydrogel swelling in real-time using single-sided nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) profiling. The method reduces experimenter bias and uncertainty intrinsic to common weighing and caliper methods. NMR profiling additionally provides dynamic swelling rates over time, without needing to touch or modify the sample.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Gulben Torgut, Ferit Can Yazdic, Nedim Gurler
Summary: In this study, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was successfully graft copolymerized onto chitosan (CHI) to create antimicrobial hydrogel materials. The graft hydrogels showed higher antimicrobial activity than standard antibiotics. Among the graft materials, CHI-HEMA 1:1 exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity against multiple bacterial strains. These findings suggest the potential applications of these graft hydrogels as novel and efficient antimicrobial agents in biomedical fields.
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jean-Francois Louf, Nancy B. Lu, Margaret G. O'Connell, H. Jeremy Cho, Sujit S. Datta
Summary: Hydrogels show promise in agriculture as water reservoirs in dry soil, but their ability to swell can be reduced when confined in soil due to competition between osmotic swelling force and confining force. The medium can also be restructured by hydrogel swelling, depending on the balance of forces involved. These findings offer quantitative principles to predict hydrogel behavior in confinement, potentially improving their agricultural use and informing other applications.
Article
Polymer Science
Yuancheng Zhang, Qiqian Hu, Shurui Yang, Tao Wang, Weixiang Sun, Zhen Tong
Summary: The introduction of a weak cationic monomer into the polyampholyte hydrogel system, along with copolymerization with a strong cationic monomer and strong anionic monomer, enhances the self-healing and self-reinforcement capabilities of the hydrogel. The hydrogel can fix a temporary shape in HCl solution and recover to its original shape in NaOH solution. Through alternating immersion in HCl and NaOH solutions, rapid self-healing and increased tensile strength can be achieved within a few minutes.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Siyuan Guo, Daniel Wong, Sifan Wang, Ravleen Gill, Michael J. Serpe
Summary: Stimuli-responsive hydrogel-microgel composites (HMC) were prepared by embedding microgels in a hydrogel. The release of small molecule drugs from the HMC can be controlled by the solution temperature, material dimension, and chemical composition. The HMC can also control the release rate of multiple drugs individually in a pH-dependent manner. This research is important for designing new materials with controlled and triggered release of small molecule drugs in the biomedical field.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jingjiang Wei, Fuqiang Wan, Pengchao Zhang, Zhihui Zeng, Hang Ping, Jingjing Xie, Zhaoyong Zou, Weimin Wang, Hao Xie, Zhijian Shen, Liwen Lei, Zhengyi Fu
Summary: Oyster reefs inspired the synthesis of a novel mineral hydrogel and the preparation of an ionic skin with excellent mechanosensing and thermosensing abilities. These technologies hold promising applications in fields like wearable sensors and soft intelligent robots.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Dulguun Narmandakh, Christoph Butscher, Faramarz Doulati Ardejani, Huichen Yang, Thomas Nagel, Reza Taherdangkoo
Summary: This article presents the use of neural network models to predict the swelling potential of clay soils, including both natural and artificial soils. The models were trained using the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm and validated with experimental data, showing that the feed-forward neural network trained with this algorithm is the most accurate.
COMPUTERS AND GEOTECHNICS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Vinod V. T. Padil, K. P. Akshay Kumar, Selvakumar Murugesan, Rafael Torres-Mendieta, Stanislaw Waclawek, Jun Young Cheong, Miroslav Cernik, Rajender S. Varma
Summary: Nanoclays, a type of layered nanomaterial, have gained importance due to their abundance, low cost, and diverse properties. Adding an appropriate amount of clay to polymer composites can improve their crucial properties and extend their applications. This review outlines the applications and future possibilities of nanoclays in various fields.
Article
Polymer Science
Tamas Takacs, Mohamed M. Abdelghafour, Lukasz Lamch, Imre Szenti, Daniel Sebok, Laszlo Janovak, Akos Kukovecz
Summary: Self-healing polymers, as high-performance materials with autonomous healing ability, play a significant role in materials research. This study focuses on the synthesis and modification of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a model macromolecule with hydroxyl groups. The modified PVA samples containing both aldehyde and amino groups are capable of forming self-healing polymer through Schiff base reaction. The successful modification of PVA and the self-healing ability of the polymer without external stimulus are confirmed by various measurements. The synthesized polymer not only possesses the characteristics of pristine PVA but also exhibits advantageous mechanical properties that can be tuned by varying the degree of functionalization. This research presents a simple solution for functionalization of hydroxyl group containing polymers and demonstrates the potential applications in biomedicine and structural components.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Laszlo Merai, Agota Deak, Balazs Szalai, Gergely Ferenc Samu, Gabor Katona, Laszlo Janovak
Summary: This study presents PDMS composite coatings with thermally adjustable wetting and visible-light photoreactivity. The PDMS surfaces were grafted with PNIPAAm to provide thermal responsivity and surface concentration-dependent wetting characteristics. The addition of visible light-active plasmonic nanoparticles enriched the coatings with temperature-dependent photocatalytic activity. These coatings may offer a novel route towards sophisticated liquid manipulation due to their real-time tunable wetting and photocatalytic properties.
EXPRESS POLYMER LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Anita Bogdanov, Laszlo Janovak, Jasmina Vranes, Tomislav Mestrovic, Suncanica Ljubin-Sternak, Zsuzsanna Cseh, Valeria Endresz, Katalin Burian, Zeljka Vanic, Dezso P. Virok
Summary: Encapsulation of azithromycin (AZT) in surface-charged elastic liposomes enhances its antibacterial action against Chlamydia trachomatis, with lower minimal inhibitory concentrations and minimal bactericidal concentrations than free AZT. This has the potential to prevent treatment failures and improve the effectiveness of AZT.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lilla Balassa, Aron Agoston, Zsolt Kasa, Viktoria Hornok, Laszlo Janovak
Summary: This study reported the facile preparation of surface-modified TiO2 photocatalyst with improved visible light activity and organic degradation. The prepared photocatalyst thin film showed efficient degradation performance in simulated water.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Laszlo Merai, Agota Deak, Mohamed A. Harech, Mohamed M. Abdelghafour, Daniel Sebok, Aron Agoston, Szabolcs P. Tallosy, Tamas Szabo, Younes Abouliatim, Mohamed Mesnaoui, Lahbib Nibou, Akos Kukovecz, Laszlo Janovak
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of air sterilization and disinfection. A new porous air filter ceramic composite material has been developed to effectively eliminate airborne microorganisms. The antimicrobial activity of the ceramic foam is attributed to a thin chitosan biopolymer layer immobilized on its surface.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Agota Deak, Laszlo Janovak, Szabolcs Peter Tallosy, Karmen Godic-Torkar, Anze Abram, Imre Dekany, Daniel Sebok, Klemen Bohinc
Summary: Layered double oxide (LDO) photocatalyst microparticles with special radial lamellar orientation were synthesized, and a composite layer with dual superhydrophobic and photocatalytic properties was formed by incorporating the LDO particles in a fluoropolymer solution. Increasing the LDO content in the composite layers enhanced bacterial adhesion through electrostatic interactions. The structure and properties of the LDO and LDO/fluoropolymer composites were characterized. The study demonstrated the potential of the LDO/fluoropolymer composite layers for high bacterial adhesion and inactivation.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Tamas Kiss, Rita Ambrus, Mohamed M. Abdelghafour, Scarlett Zeiringer, Atida Selmani, Eva Roblegg, Maria Budai-Szucs, Laszlo Janovak, Balint Lorinczi, Agota Deak, Andreas Bernkop-Schnurch, Gabor Katona
Summary: A chitosan-cysteine (chit-cyst) conjugate with enhanced mucoadhesive properties was synthesized and characterized. The conjugate showed improved mucoadhesion compared to chitosan, and no residual L-cysteine was detected. Cytotoxicity studies confirmed the safety of the conjugate for nasal application. The prepared nasal powder formulations were found to be suitable for reducing the off periods of Parkinson's disease based on in vitro studies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Aron Agoston, Adam Balog, Sarunas Narbutas, Imre Dekany, Laszlo Janovak
Summary: The development of catalysts still plays a significant role in scientific research, especially in the efficient degradation of pollutants. In this study, a facile method of surface modification of SrTiO3 photocatalyst using plasmonic copper deposition was reported. The copper-modified samples showed higher photooxidation activity for phenol degradation compared to bare SrTiO3, although the activity was not linearly related to the copper content. This enhanced activity was attributed to the plasmonic effect of copper, which increased the recombination time of charge separation and facilitated the degradation of phenol.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adam Kerek, Matyas Sasvari, Akos Jerzsele, Zoltan Somogyi, Laszlo Janovak, Zsolt Abonyi-Toth, Imre Dekany
Summary: This study demonstrates the significant antibacterial effect of a polymer-based composite layer containing titanium dioxide and zinc oxide against animal-origin Escherichia coli. The efficacy of the coating was not affected by different light intensities and distances. However, the presence of organic contaminants reduced the antibacterial potential of the coating.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Aron Agoston, Lilla Balassa, Agota Deak, Gergely Ferenc Samu, Szabolcs Peter Tallosy, Gyongyi Gombar, Laszlo Janovak
Summary: Facile sulfation of TiO2 semiconductor photocatalyst was achieved using elemental sulfur from desulfurization of petroleum through a simple grinding and calcination method. The successful sulfation of the prepared visible-light-active photocatalyst was confirmed by infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Photocatalytic tests demonstrated that the most efficient member of the series exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than TiO2 for the photodegradation of formic acid under both UV and visible-light activation. Additionally, the sulfur-modified photocatalyst exhibited improved electrokinetic and water dispersibility behaviors, enabling the preparation of polyacrylate-based photoreactive thin films with enhanced photocatalytic activity, strong antimicrobial properties, and improved mechanical behavior.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Aron agoston, Laszlo Janovak
Summary: The development of catalysts has a significant impact on science as they can effectively eliminate contaminants. This study focuses on the creation of SrTiO3-based photocatalysts, which lacks comprehensive literature. Here, we report the easy preparation of a structure-modified SrTiO3 photocatalyst by incorporating CuWO4. The CuWO4-modified samples showed over two times higher photo-oxidation of phenol compared to pure SrTiO3, and the highest activity was observed in the CWS2.5 sample due to increased charge separation recombination time.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mohamed M. Abdelghafour, Agota Deak, Tamas Kiss, Gabor Katona, Rita Ambrus, Aniko Keller-Pinter, Istvan Szatmari, Diana Szabo, Laszlo Rovo, Laszlo Janovak, Maria Budai-Szfics, Mint Lorinczi
Summary: A two-component injectable hydrogel was developed for the encapsulation and prolonged release of an antimuscular atrophy drug. The hydrogel exhibited controlled release characteristics and increased adhesion properties, making it a potential candidate for drug delivery systems.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura Fekete, Akos Ferenc Fazekas, Cecilia Hodur, Zsuzsanna Laszlo, Aron Agoston, Laszlo Janovak, Tamas Gyulavari, Zsolt Pap, Klara Hernadi, Gabor Vereb
Summary: Membrane filtration is an effective technique for separating micro- and nano-sized oil droplets from oil-contaminated waters. The flux reduction is a challenge for its extensive application, thus the development of antifouling membranes is necessary. The modification of PVDF membranes with TiO2/CNT nanocomposites (2% CNT) showed the highest reduction in filtration resistance and the highest fluxes compared to unmodified membranes, resulting in improved flux recovery ratio and purification efficiency.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Keristina Wagdi K. Amin, Mohamed M. Abdelghafour, Viktoria Hornok, Tamas Kiss, Diana Szabo, Laszlo Rovo, Laszlo Janovak
Summary: In this study, a stable and targeted polymeric drug delivery system with good magnetic response was developed. The system can encapsulate therapeutic agents with hydroxyl and/or amino functional groups. The release experiments showed that the free drug had a rapid release profile, while the conjugated drug had a prolonged release profile. The use of magnetic nanoparticles and PVA-SA can enable precise targeting and control of release rate, reducing unwanted side effects.
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Michael Emmanuel, Paszkal Papp, Gabor Schuszter, Agota Deak, Laszlo Janovak, Agota Toth, Dezso Horvath
Summary: This article provides insights into the kinetics of lithium phosphate precipitation in a supersaturated solution through experimental data analysis and reaction kinetic model construction. It explains the mechanism of nucleation in detail and compares it with classical nucleation theory.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nadine J. Kanik, Artur Kuligiewicz, Jeffrey T. Cullen
Summary: This study examined the effects of different pre-treatments on the structural H-isotope composition of clay minerals. The results showed that different pre-treatments had varied impacts on different clay minerals, and the choice of pre-treatment should be based on the specific properties and mineralogy of the samples.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lorenzo Lisuzzo, Giuseppe Cavallaro, Stefana Milioto, Giuseppe Lazzara
Summary: This study proposes Pickering emulsions based on wax and halloysite clay nanotubes for coating silk sutures to increase their loading capacity towards eosin. The presence of halloysite/wax microspheres on the surface of silk sutures has also been explored for controlled release of hydrophobic drugs. The influence of the coating on the thermal and mechanical properties of the sutures has been studied using various techniques. In conclusion, the wax/halloysite Pickering emulsions can successfully generate hydrophobic microdomains on the surface of silk sutures, leading to enhanced flexibility and improved loading capacity towards eosin.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Bruna F. Alves, Rita C. P. Nunes, Luiz C. Bertolino, Elizabete F. Lucas
Summary: Operational problems in the oil industry caused by the precipitation of paraffins can be prevented by using polymeric additives. This article evaluates the use of polymeric nanocomposites as pour point reducers in different types of crude oil and finds that they are more efficient than pure poly(ethylene-covinyl acetate) (EVA) in reducing the pour point. The nanocomposites also modify the wax crystals and reduce the viscosity of the oil samples.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
K. A. Daniels, C. C. Graham, A. C. Wiseall, J. F. Harrington, P. Sellin
Summary: Geological storage with clay buffer is widely preferred for removing hazardous radioactive waste. The impact of fluid salinity and void space on the swelling behavior of barrier bentonites was examined through experiments. The findings suggest that clay swelling is suppressed at higher salinities, which affects the void-filling process.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
N. Werling, A. Kuligiewicz, A. Steudel, R. Schuhmann, F. Dehn, K. Emmerich
Summary: Thermal treatment of clay minerals can be used to produce building materials and environmentally friendly binders. This process involves dehydration, dehydroxylation, breakdown of structure, and recrystallization of high temperature phases. Rehydration and rehydroxylation are important factors to consider for geopolymers and SCM.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xuan Wang, Hao Ding, Zhuoqun Xu, Jianmeng Zhang, Yanbin Yao
Summary: Rutile nano-TiO2 was loaded onto the surface of sericite to prepare sericite-rutile composite particles, which were then modified with HDTMS and sprayed onto the substrates to form sericite-rutile/HDTMS composite coatings with UV shielding and superhydrophobic self-cleaning properties. The coating exhibited good UV shielding rate and remained superhydrophobic after UV irradiation. The hierarchical structure of the sericite-rutile composite and the low surface energy of HDTMS contributed to the superhydrophobicity and UV shielding effect of the coating.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kailang Sun, Taojun Zhang, Jie Zhou, Yonghong Liu, Minfeng Zeng, Zhen Yang, Ruokun Feng, Xiaorong Ren, Peng Zhang, Baoyi Wang, Xingzhong Cao
Summary: Chitosan-Pd0 nano particles encapsulated in Al, Co-pillared montmorillonite nanocomposites were successfully synthesized using a facile one-pot heat treatment method. The Al, Co pillaring effectively expanded the surface area and generated numerous mesopores in the interlayer space of the MMt. The resultant nanocomposite exhibited similar high comprehensive catalytic performances as the one prepared by the regular divided-multistep method. The encapsulation of CS chains and doping of Co in the Al pillaring also contributed to the improved catalytic performance.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nathalie Fagel, Isabel Israde-Alcantara, Reza Safaierad, Marttiina Rantala, Sabine Schmidt, Gilles Lepoint, Pierre Pellenard, Nadine Mattielli, Sarah Metcalfe
Summary: Environmental conditions significantly influence clay minerals, and studying clay sediments in tropical lakes can provide valuable insights into past environmental conditions. In this study, multiproxy records from sediment cores of three crater lakes in central Mexico were analyzed. The results showed that disordered kaolinite, formed through hydrolysis and hydrothermal alteration, was the predominant mineral in the sediments. The abundance of kaolinite varied in relation to organic carbon and organic matter-related elements, and showed opposite trends with lithogenic elements. Geochemical data suggested that the increase in kaolinite abundance is linked to the formation of organo-mineral aggregates and lake level changes in closed basins.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
M. J. Martin-Alfonso, A. Mejia, F. J. Martinez-Boza, P. Partal
Summary: The drilling industry is facing new challenges to develop eco-friendlier drilling fluids. Organic modified sepiolite dispersed in oil can be an excellent additive with suitable rheological properties. This study investigated the effect of alkyl ammonium modifiers on the microstructure and rheological properties of sepiolite-vegetable oil dispersions under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Weiquan Zhan, Siyuan Yang, Shenxu Bao, Liuyi Ren, Cheng Liu
Summary: The interaction between talc and the depressor CMC was investigated through molecular dynamics simulation and density functional theory calculation. It was found that CMC showed stronger adsorption on the edge plane of talc due to enhanced interactions with polar groups and water molecules. The study also revealed specific interactions between H atoms in CMC and O atoms in the edge plane, as well as between O atoms in CMC and Si, Mg atoms in the edge plane. Hydration shells on the basal and edge planes of talc were examined to explain the phenomenon.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Pierre Dramou, Yiyang Sun, Xu Ni, Fangqi Wang, Hua He
Summary: In this study, a magnetic nanocomposite was prepared and used for the separation of rutin from real samples through magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE). The nanocomposite exhibited high specific surface area, chemical and thermal stability, water solubility, and easy separation in aqueous solution. Characterization and experiments confirmed the successful synthesis and efficient enrichment ability of the nanocomposite.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2024)