Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mary Beth Wandel, Craig A. Bell, Jiayi Yu, Maria C. Arno, Nathan Z. Dreger, Yen-Hao Hsu, Anais Pitto-Barry, Joshua C. Worch, Andrew P. Dove, Matthew L. Becker
Summary: The study reports a series of resorbable elastomer-like materials with varying ratios of cis:trans double bonds in the backbone, allowing for control over mechanical and surface eroding degradation properties. These materials can be functionalized post-polymerization with bioactive species to enhance cell adhesion, and show limited inflammation in an in vivo rat model, highlighting their potential for use in soft tissue regeneration and drug delivery. Creating biomaterials that are resorbable with biomimetic mechanical properties is crucial for successful tissue engineering.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aritra Rajak, Anindita Das
Summary: This article introduces a facile method for achieving predictable and programmable two-dimensional (2D) structures with specific functions from exclusively organic soft materials. By co-assembling two PLA stereoisomers, a thermally robust FRET process can be stimulated from the 2D array of the co-assembled dyes. The FRET response displays remarkable dependence on the intrinsic crystalline packing and can be modulated by the chirality of the co-assembling PLA chains.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Anson Kwok-Hei Chau, Franco King -Chi Leung
Summary: Soft robotic systems, featuring biomimetic nature and advanced processing technology in soft matters, are a new era of material science that is rapidly developing. However, the implementation of molecular machines into polymeric materials poses significant challenges in synchronized molecular motions, accumulation of strain, and amplification into macroscopic actuations. This review highlights the importance, key design strategies, and outlook of hierarchical supramolecular systems of molecular machines for the development of novel supramolecular-based soft robotic systems.
ADVANCES IN COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaoming Sun, Zhenmin Qi, Chengyu Miao, Jian Wang, Jiaxuan Zhang, Ming Jiang
Summary: In this study, large-scale geomechanical model experiments and numerical modeling were conducted to investigate the deformation and stress-strain characteristics of the layered soft rock tunnel surrounding rock in the Muzhailing Tunnel. The results revealed that the lateral pressure coefficient, bedding inclination, and spacing influenced the deformation of the surrounding rock. Asymmetric coupling support measures were proposed and applied in the field based on the failure law of bedded rock mass, which effectively controlled the large deformations.
BULLETIN OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dimberu G. Atinafu, Young Uk Kim, Sungeun Kim, Yujin Kang, Sumin Kim
Summary: This paper introduces the recent advances in the development of biomaterial-derived carbon materials in soft material assembly and its applications in renewable energy storage. It highlights the applications of biocarbon-based composites in areas such as thermal management, electronics, and environment, and identifies the challenges and potential opportunities.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jingqu Chen, Shuaijun Pan, Jiajing Zhou, Zhixing Lin, Yijiao Qu, Agata Glab, Yiyuan Han, Joseph J. Richardson, Frank Caruso
Summary: This study presents a metal-phenolic assembly approach for the easy assembly of diverse functional nanoparticles in water, while preserving their intrinsic activity. These nanoparticles can be applied in fields such as biomedicine and catalysis, showing great potential for various applications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Basem Moosa, Lukman O. Alimi, Weibin Lin, Aliyah Fakim, Prashant M. Bhatt, Mohamed Eddaoudi, Niveen M. Khashab
Summary: Fluorine-modified leaning pillararenes show excellent kinetic selectivity for benzene over cyclohexane, outperforming other organic molecular sieves and comparable to extended metal-organic frameworks.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Xuyang Xu, Long Li, Linfei Ye, Xiaomei Liu, Yingle Feng, Guosong Chen
Summary: This article reports two classes of stereoisomeric glycolipid amphiphiles based on d-N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), which can aggregate into ribbon-like structures in aqueous solution and obtain glycocalyx-mimicking supramolecular materials. The different molecular packing in self-assembled structures is determined by the subtle distinction in glycoside configuration of GalNAc-α-SSA and GalNAc-β-SSA. By blending the glycolipid epimers, the ribbon-like architectures transform into spherical nanostructures. The resulting spherical micelles fabricated by blending glycolipid epimers can enhance the immune responses mediated by macrophages and dendritic cells in vitro. These glycolipid epimers pave the way to create glycocalyx-mimicking immune modulators by incorporating stereochemistry into supramolecular self-assembly.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jianxing Liu, Dongjia Yan, Wenbo Pang, Yihui Zhang
Summary: Soft network materials, with well-organized microarchitectures inspired by biological tissues, offer a unique combination of properties and design flexibility for customized mechanical performance, leading to a range of promising applications in cutting-edge technologies like bio-integrated electronics and regenerative medicine. Perspectives on remaining challenges and open opportunities are also provided.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Andrew J. Bennett, Adam J. Matzger
Summary: In contrast to neutral cocrystals, designing ionic cocrystals, especially those with an ion pair, is challenging. Previous studies that correlate specific molecular properties to cocrystal formation generally exclude ionic cocrystals, leaving few clear avenues to success for prospective ionic cocrystal engineers. In this study, ammonium nitrate was targeted for cocrystallization with a potential coformer group selected based on likely interactions with the nitrate ion. Six novel ionic cocrystals were discovered, and a high packing coefficient was found to be a consistent feature among successful coformers.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jie Cui, Xiao Yu, Yihong Shen, Binbin Sun, Wanxin Guo, Mingyue Liu, Yujie Chen, Li Wang, Xingping Zhou, Muhammad Shafiq, Xiumei Mo
Summary: Tissue engineering has gained widespread attention as a method of producing patient-specific tissue constructs for tissue repair. Different types of scaffold materials have been developed, and the choice of materials should consider their mechanical properties, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and bioresorbability. Inorganic materials, with their broad range of physico-chemical properties, can be used as scaffold fillers and offer a good alternative for tissue engineering. This review focuses on the use of inorganic components in electrospun membranes and emphasizes the biological advantages of incorporating inorganic materials in tissue repair.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Chao-Yi Wang, Chengguo Jia, Ming-Zhe Zhang, Song Yang, Jian-Chun Qin, Ying-Wei Yang
Summary: The authors constructed a smart fungicide nanoplatform that can respond to the microenvironment produced by fungal pathogens to control their growth. This platform provides new guidance for designing controlled fungicide release systems.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chao Liu, Yihe Zhang, Qi An
Summary: Discrete molecular soft cages integrate multiple functionalities in one molecule and have unique advantages in material design compared to other cavity-rich molecular structures. Increasing applications of cage molecules in material engineering have been reported in recent years.
CHEMISTRY-AN ASIAN JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xu Fang, Nengan Tian, Wenyuan Hu, Yunan Qing, Hao Wang, Xin Gao, Yanguo Qin, Junqi Sun
Summary: In this study, bio-based supramolecular plastics were fabricated by cross-linking epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and low-molecular-weight polylactic acid (PLA). The resulting plastic, named ESO-PLA, showed high tensile strength, flexibility, water resistance, and the ability to degrade in soil within 60 days. It also exhibited satisfactory biocompatibility, making it suitable for various industries such as medicine, food, and cosmetics.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zezhou Zong, Qi Zhang, Da-Hui Qu
Summary: This article summarizes the design principles of dynamic timing molecular photoluminescent systems, discusses the latest progress and fabrication strategies in this field. It also provides an outlook on the future opportunities and challenges in the rational design and potential applications of these smart emissive systems.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Xiuying Tian, Jingliang Li, Huiyan Sheng, Ting Li, Lejia Guo, Changyan Ji, Zhi Huang, Jin Wen, Xin Liu, Chunyan Li, Jing Li, Yangxi Peng
Summary: The photoluminescence and temperature sensitivities of Ca3Y2Si3O12:Pr3+ thermophosphors with silico-carnotite structure were investigated, showing promising potential in the field of optical thermometry.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mina Bayattork, Rangam Rajkhowa, Benjamin James Allardyce, Xungai Wang, Jingliang Li
Summary: This study investigates the effects of pre-freezing treatments at different temperatures (-20℃, -80℃, or -196℃) on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and secondary structure of silk scaffolds prepared from lyophilization of silk hydrogels and silk solutions. The results show that silk hydrogels produce scaffolds with more nanofibrous structures compared to silk solutions. Only silk hydrogels can produce aligned macro-channels, while both silk solutions and hydrogels pre-frozen with liquid nitrogen can generate nanofibrous scaffolds. Silk hydrogel scaffolds are dominated by β-sheets, while silk solution scaffolds are largely amorphous. These findings are important for controlling the microstructure and mechanical properties of silk scaffolds.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Zhengquan Yan, Xiaoyu Zheng, Guoqing Meng, Yulian Tang, Xuemei Zhou, Junkai Hao, Jing Feng, Naibo Lin, Lei Hu
Summary: A portable sensor for visual monitoring of Fe2+ and H2O2 was developed using nano-IrO2 modified two-dimensional Co3O4, which was further stabilized onto test strips with the help of microwave radiation. The sensor showed dual-function enzyme-like activity with low toxicity and excellent biocompatibility. The linear regression equations for Fe2+ and H2O2 were determined, and the sensor demonstrated high recoveries and low detection limits for visual monitoring of aqueous Fe2+ and intercellular H2O2.
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Hongli Su, Azadeh Nilghaz, Dan Liu, Rashid Mehmood, Charles Christopher Sorrell, Jingliang Li
Summary: This article introduces the treatment method of phenol pollutants in wastewater, focusing on the design strategies and advantages and disadvantages of persulfate-based advanced oxidation process technology, and summarizes the challenges and possible solutions in water purification.
REVIEWS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wei Chen, Changyong Wang, Wei Liu, Bicheng Zhao, Zhicheng Zeng, Fen Long, Chunlan Wang, Siwei Li, Naibo Lin, Jin Zhou
Summary: Injectable hydrogels carrying therapeutic factors show potential in MI treatment. A new hydrogel system, MPGC4, is developed to release therapeutic factors in a controlled manner. It improves cardiac function by modulating macrophage transition in a rat model of MI.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Guoqing Meng, Fen Long, Zhicheng Zeng, Lingqing Kong, Bicheng Zhao, Jiaqi Yan, Likun Yang, Yun Yang, Xiang-Yang Liu, Zhengquan Yan, Naibo Lin
Summary: In this work, a wearable electrochemical sensor using gold nanoparticles hosted into N-doped porous carbonizated silk fibroin (AuNPs@CSF) as active materials is developed. The sensor exhibits durable stability and superior sensitivity to monitor H2O2 released from cancer cell (4T1) and glucose in sweat. The detection limits for H2O2 and glucose are low and the sensor can be applied in succession within 30 days at room temperature. The present AuNPs@CSF will have a potential application in the clinical diagnosing of H2O2- or glucose-related diseases in the future.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bicheng Zhao, Jiaqi Yan, Fen Long, Wu Qiu, Guoqing Meng, Zhicheng Zeng, Hui Huang, Han Wang, Naibo Lin, Xiang-Yang Liu
Summary: Ionogels prepared from ionic liquid (IL) by impregnating IL into a safe, environmentally friendly water-based polyurethane (WPU) network mimic the ion transport channels in the phospholipid bilayer of the cell membrane. These ultradurable ionogels have suitable mechanical properties and high conductivities (>28-39 mS cm(-1)). The strain sensor based on these ionogels shows ultrahigh sensitivity (0.99-1.35) and a wide sensing range (0.1%-200%). These findings are promising for various ionotronics requiring environmental stability and high conductivity characteristics.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hongli Su, Azadeh Nilghaz, Dan Liu, Liming Dai, Bin Tang, Zhiyu Wang, Joselito M. Razal, Junfei Tian, Jingliang Li
Summary: This study demonstrates a highly efficient self-operating hydroelectric nanogenerator (HENG) that produces electricity through the absorption and evaporation of seawater. The superior performance observed for the HENG is attributable to the hydrophilicity and porosity of wool cloth which can continuously absorb seawater at a desired rate as well as the 2D structure of ketjen black and its high conductivity. This work paves the way to facilitate the development of HENGs for practical applications.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shan Du, Yunhang Wei, Yuhao Tan, Yong Li, Jingliang Li, Ting Wu, Lu Han, Ming Wang, Shaharia Ahmed, Weitao Zhou, Linqian Wu, Tianhui Zhang
Summary: Silk fibroin from Antheraea pernyi (A. pernyi), rich in Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) moiety, can self-assemble into mesoporous particles without organic solvents, showing potential for sustained drug release.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2023)
Correction
Chemistry, Applied
Akhil Gupta, Salman Ali, Mohammed A. Jameel, Richard A. Evans, Navneet Kaur, Ganesh D. Sharma, Jing-Liang Li
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Linpeng Fan, Zengxiao Cai, Jian Zhao, Xungai Wang, Jing-Liang Li
Summary: This study reports a simple strategy for the scalable manufacturing of biomimetic materials. By interpenetrating natural polymers in an aqueous solution, a nanofibrous network with collagen fiber-like hierarchical structure and multilevel pores can be formed in situ. The resulting biomimetic matrices are bioactive and have tunable mechanical properties and hydrophilicity.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Juan Du, Linpeng Fan, Joselito M. Razal, Sihao Chen, Hongmei Zhang, Hongjun Yang, Haiyan Li, Jingliang Li
Summary: Tissue engineered skin and its substitutes show potential for wound healing, but the challenge lies in enabling fast blood vessel formation. This study fabricated active mesoporous bioglass nanoparticles doped with strontium (Sr) for rapid microvascularization and wound healing. In vitro experiments showed that the Sr-ion containing bioglass nanoparticles significantly promoted fibroblast proliferation and microvascularization of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In vivo, silk fibroin sponges encapsulating the nanoparticles accelerated wound healing by promoting blood vessel and epithelium formation. This work provides a strategy for designing active biomaterials that enhance wound healing by rapid vascularization and epithelial reconstruction.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yiming Bu, Xin Li, Weiwei Lei, Hongli Su, Hongjun Yang, Weilin Xu, Jingliang Li
Summary: Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) followed by solar-driven desorption is a promising solution for global water scarcity. A sodium alginate (SA)-based SAWH hemisphere with conical channels loaded with CaCl2 crystals and a photothermal layer by chelation of tannic acid (TA) with Fe3+ was designed. This multifunctional SAWH device exhibited high water absorption and fast solar-driven water desorption, achieving an ultrahigh daily water production of 3.72 L per m2.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Chunlei Dong, Yangzhao Hu, Yuxuan Zhu, Jiale Wang, Xuerui Jia, Jianbing Chen, Jingliang Li
Summary: The treatment of textile waste has gained increasing attention worldwide. This study proposes a facile and cost-effective method to fabricate aerogel using textile waste fibers, which shows potential for building insulation and oil spill cleanup.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mina Bayattork, Juan Du, San Seint Seint Aye, Rangam Rajkhowa, Sihao Chen, Xungai Wang, Jingliang Li
Summary: The combination of silk fibroin (SF) and bioglass (BG) solutions induces instant gelation of silk, significantly enhancing the storage modulus of the hydrogel and the compressive modulus of the aerogel. The formation of a complex of SF and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) facilitates the aggregation of SF and creates active sites for the condensation of TEOS and BG formation on the surface of silk nanofibrils. The resulting hybrid gels have higher capacity for biomineralization, showing higher bioactivity compared to pristine silk gels.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yiping Yin, Zhe Wang, Hua Zou
Summary: This study presents a novel method for preparing dimpled polymer-silica nanocomposite particles using interfacial swelling-based seeded polymerization. The optimized conditions allow for a relatively high percentage of dimpled particles to be achieved.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Brenden D. Hoehn, Elizabeth A. Kellstedt, Marc A. Hillmyer
Summary: Porous materials with nanometer-scale pores have important applications as nanoporous membranes. In this study, ABA triblock copolymers were used as precursors to produce nanoporous polymeric membranes (NPMs) in thin film form by degrading the end blocks. Polycyclooctene (PCOE) NPMs with tunable pore sizes were successfully prepared using solvent casting technique. Oxygen plasma etching was employed to improve the surface porosity and hydrophilicity of the membranes. This study provides a straightforward method to produce tough NPMs with high porosity and hydrophilic surface properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vladislav S. Petrovskii, Stepan I. Zholudev, Igor I. Potemkin
Summary: This article investigates the behavior of linear and ring polypeptide chains in aqueous solution and explores the properties of the complexes formed by these chains with oppositely charged surfactants. The results demonstrate that the complexes of linear supercharged unfolded polypeptides and the corresponding surfactants exhibit impressive adhesive properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Merve Cevik, Serkan Dikici
Summary: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death globally, and vascular grafts are a promising treatment option. This study focuses on tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) using decellularized parsley stems as a potential biomaterial. The decellularized parsley stems showed suitable properties for TEVGs, providing a suitable environment for human endothelial cells to form a pseudo endothelium. This study showcases the potential of using parsley stems for TEVGs.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gustavo A. Vasquez-Montoya, Tadej Emersic, Noe Atzin, Antonio Tavera-Vazquez, Ali Mozaffari, Rui Zhang, Orlando Guzman, Alexey Snezhko, Paul F. Nealey, Juan J. de Pablo
Summary: The optical properties of liquid crystals are typically controlled by electric fields. In this study, we investigate the effects of microfluidic flows and acoustic fields on the molecular orientation and optical response of nematic liquid crystals. We identify several previously unknown structures and explain them through calculations and simulations. These findings hold promise for the development of new systems combining sound, flow, and confinement.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xinjun Wu, Xin Guan, Shushu Chen, Jiangpeng Jia, Chongyi Chen, Jiawei Zhang, Chuanzhuang Zhao
Summary: This research presents a novel shape memory hydrogel with a remodelable permanent shape and programmable cold-induced shape recovery behavior. The hydrogel is prepared using specific treatment methods to achieve shape fixation by heating and shape recovery by cooling. Additionally, deformable devices can be obtained by assembling hydrogel blocks with different concentrations.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rebecca Hengsbach, Gerhard Fink, Ulrich Simon
Summary: This study examines the properties of DNA functionalized pNipmam microgels and pure pNipmam microgels at different concentrations of sodium chloride and in PBS solutions using temperature dependent H-1-NMR measurements. The results show that DNA modification affects the volume phase transition temperature and the addition of salt and PBS further enhances this effect.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ningyi Li, Junhong Li, Lijingting Qing, Shicheng Ma, Yao Li, Baohui Li
Summary: This paper investigates the self-assembly behavior of colloids with competing interactions under spherical confinement and finds that different ordered structures can be formed under different sized spherical confinements. Moreover, more perforated structures are formed in smaller spheres.