Review
Polymer Science
Hao Hu, Binshen Wang, Bihua Chen, Xi Deng, Guohua Gao
Summary: Swellable poly(ionic liquid)s (SPILs) are ionic polymers with unique swelling ability, which depends on the compatibility of polymer chains with solvent molecules and the dissociation of ionic groups in solvents. Compared to non-swellable poly(ionic liquid)s, SPILs have good solvent affinity and distinctive physicochemical properties, making them widely applicable in catalysts, actuators, sensors, absorbents, and separation membranes, among others.
PROGRESS IN POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Philipp S. Borchers, Michael Dirauf, Maria Strumpf, Helmar Gorls, Christine Weber, Martin D. Hager, Ulrich S. Schubert
Summary: Copolymerization of a new monomer, 2-ferrocene-ethyl-2-oxazoline, with 2-alkyl-2-oxazolines allows for the synthesis of well-defined copolymers with adjustable molar masses and end-group control. UV-VIS measurements and cyclic-voltammetry confirm the redox-active properties of the resulting polymers.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Tibor Halmagyi, Jinmeng Hao, Mark A. Hempenius, Gyula Julius Vancso
Summary: Poly(ferrocenylsilane)s (PFSs) as redox-responsive organometallic polymers can directly form metal nanoparticles in hydrogels. An imbalance of stoichiometric ratios in redox reactions with transition metals was observed, with an extra-stoichiometric amount of gold nanoparticles being formed. Further analysis suggested that H2O could be a possible electron source in the reaction.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qian Yan, Renjie Ding, Haowen Zheng, Pengyang Li, Zonglin Liu, Zhong Chen, Jinhua Xiong, Fuhua Xue, Xu Zhao, Qingyu Peng, Xiaodong He
Summary: An anisotropic photo-responsive conductive hydrogel is designed by a directional freezing method, which exhibits enhanced mechanical properties and conductivity in a specific direction. With the ability to achieve rapid volume deswelling under light irradiation, the hydrogel actuator shows fast response and high driving strength, making it valuable for various applications.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Rui Huang, Zhenhua Fan, Bin Xue, Junpeng Ma, Qundong Shen
Summary: Soft biological tissues, such as sensory nerves, can transmit various sensations to the central nervous system. Drawing inspiration from animal senses, we have developed a flexible ionic hydrogel-based biologic photosensor that responds to near-infrared light and communicates with nerve cells. This photosensor offers tunable photosensitive performances, high flexibility, and low cost, making it suitable for a wide range of applications in neural prosthetics and human-machine interfacing systems.
Article
Polymer Science
Yuntao Tang, Peng Cao, Wangbo Li, Mengting He, Zhifeng Dai, Yubing Xiong
Summary: The study demonstrated that the sizes of PIL microgels could be well-tuned through the feeding ratio of IL monomers to the cross-linker; Fc-anchored PIL microgels were found to be electrochemically active and could respond reversibly to the redox stimulus; An enhanced peak current could be achieved when PIL microgel-supported Fc groups were complexed with 8-CD dimer.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jun Zhang, Zhanying Chen, Yan Zhang, Shengyi Dong, Yufang Chen, Shiguo Zhang
Summary: By introducing alkoxy moieties into poly(ionic liquid)s, highly efficient adhesives with strong hydrogen bonding interactions can be designed, exhibiting excellent adhesive properties on various substrates. Furthermore, photosensitive or electronically conductive composite adhesives can be fabricated by utilizing the compatibility between ionic liquids and carbon nanotubes or silver nanofibers.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ru Liu, Peng Xi, Ning Yang, Ying Luo, Bowen Cheng
Summary: An ideal wound dressing should have the ability to absorb wound exudate in a timely manner and possess advantages such as moisture and oxygen permeability, rapid hemostatic performance, antibacterial properties, and low toxicity, which are crucial for wound healing. However, traditional wound dressings have structural and functional defects, particularly in controlling bleeding and actively protecting the wound. Therefore, the development of new smart dressings is of great research significance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Nand Kumar, Akansha Dixit, S. Dibyendu
Summary: In this study, silver nanoparticle-embedded nanocomposite hydrogels with pH-responsive and antibacterial properties were developed by incorporating AgNPs into ionic double network hydrogels. The nanocomposite hydrogels exhibited antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, making them promising for biomedical applications. The results suggest that the incorporation of AgNPs into the polymer network can lead to decreased swelling capacity of the hydrogels.
Review
Polymer Science
Zexing Deng, Yi Guo, Xin Zhao, Tianming Du, Junxiong Zhu, Youlong Xie, Fashuai Wu, Yuheng Wang, Ming Guan
Summary: This paper reviews the design and applications of PNIPAM-based conductive hydrogels, and discusses their stimuli-responsive properties. PNIPAM-ECHs have a wide range of applications in human motion detection, actuators, controlled drug release, wound dressings, etc.
Article
Polymer Science
Konstantinos Safakas, Sofia-Falia Saravanou, Zacharoula Iatridi, Constantinos Tsitsilianis
Summary: In this article, polysaccharide-based graft copolymers with thermo-responsive grafting chains were designed to form thermo-responsive injectable hydrogels. The critical gelation temperature, T-gel, was controlled using an alginate-based thermo-responsive gelator with heterograft copolymer topology. Rheological investigation showed that the hydrogel exhibited temperature and shear responsiveness, making it suitable for biomedical applications.
Article
Biophysics
Zhuang Hu, Gongshu Wang, Rui Zhang, Lijuan Wang, Jiwei Wang, Jianshe Hu, Aikebaier Reheman
Summary: A series of novel poly(amino acid)s materials were designed to prepare drug-loaded nanoparticles by physical encapsulation and chemical bonding. The polymer's side chain contains a large number of amino groups, effectively increasing the loading rate of doxorubicin (DOX). The structure contains disulfide bonds that respond strongly to the redox environment, achieving targeted drug release in the tumor microenvironment. Nanoparticles exhibit spherical morphology and suitable size for systemic circulation. Cell experiments demonstrate the non-toxicity and good cellular uptake behavior of the polymers. In vivo anti-tumor experiments show that the nanoparticles can inhibit tumor growth and effectively reduce the side effects of DOX.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fuping Chen, Guoqiang Lu, Hengda Yuan, Ruiqi Li, Jun Nie, Yingying Zhao, Xin Shu, Xiaoqun Zhu
Summary: Hydrogels with LCST behavior undergo significant changes at their transition temperature, which are influenced by the hydrogen bond between the polymer and water, as well as the mobility of the polymer chains. This study discusses the changes that occurred in temperature-sensitive PHPA hydrogels and proposes a method to regulate their LCST behavior by modifying the state of water and the mobility of molecular chains through the addition of different ions, crosslinkers, and co-solvents. The resulting PHPA hydrogels exhibit a wide LCST range, adjustable transition rates, and broad transition windows, which could expand their applications and provide insights for regulating other LCST hydrogels.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
SeungHyun Park, Yong Jae Kim, Elisabeth Kostal, Volha Matylitskaya, Stefan Partel, WonHyoung Ryu
Summary: Microneedle (MN) sensing technology can rapidly absorb biomarkers in interstitial fluid (ISF) using a nanogap sensor and amplify the measurement signals through redox cycling in nanogap electrodes, overcoming the challenges of self-diagnosis such as blood sampling, handling, and measurement analysis.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xiaoqing Ming, Changgeng Zhang, Junjie Cai, He Zhu, Qi Zhang, Shiping Zhu
Summary: The research has developed a highly transparent, stretchable, and conducting ionoelastomer based on poly(ionic liquid) which solves the dilemma of simultaneous transparency and stretchability in the design of traditional conducting elastomers. This novel material possesses extremely high stretchability and good transparency, along with stable thermal, environmental, electrochemical, and mechanoelectrical properties. Applications such as underwater sensors and transparent dielectric elastomer actuators have been demonstrated using the ionoelastomer, showing great potential for next-generation soft electronics.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yamei Wang, Dongdong Xiao, Hainan Yu, Yi Zhong, Linping Zhang, Xiaofeng Sui, Bijia Wang, Xueling Feng, Hong Xu, Zhiping Mao
Summary: This study proposed a strategy of checkerboard-pattern wound dressing that combines a base fabric with hemostatic property and multifunctional hydrogels printed in a checkerboard pattern. The composite dressing maintained the advantages of hydrogels while inheriting good mechanical property, hemostatic property, and gas permeability from the base fabric.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Yamei Wang, Dongdong Xiao, Yang Tang, Yezhong Xia, Yi Zhong, Linping Zhang, Xiaofeng Sui, Bijia Wang, Xueling Feng, Hong Xu, Zhiping Mao
Summary: In this study, the solubility of melatonin was improved by introducing gamma-cyclodextrin to form the composite named MT-gamma-CD through ultrasonic process. The MT-gamma-CD showed good antioxidant property in vitro with high free radical scavenging efficiency over 90%. Moreover, an injectable self-healing hydrogel loaded with MT-gamma-CD was prepared to form a wound dressing, which could suppress the level of reactive oxygen species and accelerate wound healing of diabetic rats in vivo.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Pengxiang Yin, Yu Geng, Lunyu Zhao, Qiujie Meng, Ziyan Xin, Liushan Luo, Bijia Wang, Zhiping Mao, Xiaofeng Sui, Wei Wu, Xueling Feng
Summary: A robust, flexible and eco-friendly quasi-solid thermogalvanic cell based on natural polymer bacterial cellulose is reported, exhibiting excellent mechanical properties and anti-drying, anti-freezing capabilities. It can generate steady electricity in a wide working temperature range of -50 to 50 degrees C, adapting to different environments.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jun Gong, Zheye Zhang, Shibo Xi, Wenjun Wang, Jianmei Lu, Peng Chen
Summary: Interlayer engineering is crucial for enhancing the performance of two-dimensional materials in catalysis. In this study, GQD/Co-MoS2 was successfully synthesized and showed excellent long-term stability and catalytic performance. The outstanding performance can be attributed to the enlarged interlayer spacing and electronic coupling at the van der Waals heterojunctions between GQDs and Co-doped MoS2.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lunyu Zhao, Tong Xu, Bijia Wang, Zhiping Mao, Xiaofeng Sui, Xueling Feng
Summary: Fibrous conductors with mechanosensory functionality are highly desirable for electronics or iontronics, but existing fiber-sensors based on conductive nano-materials have limitations. This study presents a facile dynamic reactive spinning (DRS) strategy for continuous fabrication of tough ionogel fibers (IGFs) that possess high tensile strength, tunable stretchability, and excellent conductivity tolerance. These IGFs can be used as building blocks for sensors with different dimensions and mechano-sensory functionalities, delivering superior sensitivity and durability.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hongyu Zhang, Shouying Wu, Ying Zhang, Zhiping Mao, Yi Zhong, Xiaofeng Sui, Hong Xu, Linping Zhang
Summary: A simple strategy is proposed to load Fe-BTC catalyst on aramid fabrics to construct a composite material with high recyclability and degradation efficiency, which has potential applications in the efficient removal of organic contaminants in water.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Haijian Sun, Yuanzhao Zhu, Hong Xu, Yi Zhong, Linping Zhang, Yimeng Ma, Xiaofeng Sui, Bijia Wang, Xueling Feng, Zhiping Mao
Summary: By adding PZAF to PET, its flame-retardant properties can be improved, making it perform better in terms of fire safety, while also enhancing the mechanical properties of the material.
HIGH PERFORMANCE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yunbo Chen, Guowei Yang, Luying Chen, Bijia Wang, Xueling Feng, Zhiping Mao, Xiaofeng Sui, Hong Xu
Summary: Microencapsulated phase change materials with a polyurea shell embedded with graphene nanoplates (GNPs) and n-docosane (C-22) as the core material were prepared using Pickering emulsion polymerization. The combination of GNPs and regenerated nanochitin acted as Pickering emulsifiers to enhance stability through hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. The microcapsules containing 10 wt% GNPs (GNPs10/PU@C-22) exhibited a high melting enthalpy of 185.5 J/g and a high thermal conductivity of 0.65 W/m·K. GNPs10/PU@C-22 was also used to prepare composite films, showing great potential in thermal management of mobile phone devices.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Fengchao Sun, Dongdong Xiao, Hui Su, Zhiliang Chen, Bijia Wang, Xueling Feng, Zhiping Mao, Xiaofeng Sui
Summary: Silk fibroin can be dissolved in phosphoric acid and regenerated in ammonium sulfate solution to obtain highly stretchable films with nano-pores. These films can support cell proliferation and accelerate wound healing, making them potential candidates for wound dressing in clinical settings.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jianfei Tie, Zhiping Mao, Linping Zhang, Yi Zhong, Xiaofeng Sui, Hong Xu
Summary: In recent years, skin-like ionic sensors have gained significant attention for their excellent performance, feasibility, and biocompatibility. However, developing a multifunctional, stable, durable, and highly sensitive skin-like ionic sensor is a challenge. In this study, a composite ionogel with good durability, environmental tolerance, ionic conductivity, self-healing capability, high adhesion, and stretchability was fabricated, which could be easily assembled into strain, pressure, and temperature sensors for detecting changes in the external environment.
SCIENCE CHINA-MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Dan Dan Zhu, Yu Rong Tan, Le Wen Zheng, Jia Zheng Lao, Ji Yang Liu, Jing Yu, Peng Chen
Summary: This contribution presents a flexible microneedle patch coupled electrode array (MNP-EA) for in situ multiplexed detection of ion species in tissue interstitial fluid. The microneedles are mechanically robust and highly swellable, allowing for quick extraction of sufficient fluid onto the ion-selective electrodes. The in vivo experiments on mice, humans, and plants demonstrate the feasibility of MNP-EA for timely and convenient diagnosis of ion imbalances with minimal invasiveness. This transdermal sensing platform is important for home-based diagnosis and health monitoring of chronic diseases, and also holds promise for smart agriculture and plant biology research.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yifei Luo, Mohammad Reza Abidian, Jong-Hyun Ahn, Deji Akinwande, Anne M. Andrews, Markus Antonietti, Zhenan Bao, Magnus Berggren, Christopher A. Berkey, Christopher John Bettinger, Jun Chen, Peng Chen, Wenlong Cheng, Xu Cheng, Seon-Jin Choi, Alex Chortos, Canan Dagdeviren, Reinhold H. Dauskardt, Chong-an Di, Michael D. Dickey, Xiangfeng Duan, Antonio Facchetti, Zhiyong Fan, Yin Fang, Jianyou Feng, Xue Feng, Huajian Gao, Wei Gao, Xiwen Gong, Chuan Fei Guo, Xiaojun Guo, Martin C. Hartel, Zihan He, John S. Ho, Youfan Hu, Qiyao Huang, Yu Huang, Fengwei Huo, Muhammad M. Hussain, Ali Javey, Unyong Jeong, Chen Jiang, Xingyu Jiang, Jiheong Kang, Daniil Karnaushenko, Ali Khademhosseini, Dae-Hyeong Kim, Il-Doo Kim, Dmitry Kireev, Lingxuan Kong, Chengkuo Lee, Nae-Eung Lee, Pooi See Lee, Tae-Woo Lee, Fengyu Li, Jinxing Li, Cuiyuan Liang, Chwee Teck Lim, Yuanjing Lin, Darren J. Lipomi, Jia Liu, Kai Liu, Nan Liu, Ren Liu, Yuxin Liu, Yuxuan Liu, Zhiyuan Liu, Zhuangjian Liu, Xian Jun Loh, Nanshu Lu, Zhisheng Lv, Shlomo Magdassi, George G. Malliaras, Naoji Matsuhisa, Arokia Nathan, Simiao Niu, Jieming Pan, Changhyun Pang, Qibing Pei, Huisheng Peng, Dianpeng Qi, Huaying Ren, John A. Rogers, Aaron Rowe, Oliver G. Schmidt, Tsuyoshi Sekitani, Dae-Gyo Seo, Guozhen Shen, Xing Sheng, Qiongfeng Shi, Takao Someya, Yanlin Song, Eleni Stavrinidou, Meng Su, Xuemei Sun, Kuniharu Takei, Xiao-Ming Tao, Benjamin C. K. Tee, Aaron Voon-Yew Thean, Tran Quang Trung, Changjin Wan, Huiliang Wang, Joseph Wang, Ming Wang, Sihong Wang, Ting Wang, Zhong Lin Wang, Paul S. Weiss, Hanqi Wen, Sheng Xu, Tailin Xu, Hongping Yan, Xuzhou Yan, Hui Yang, Le Yang, Shuaijian Yang, Lan Yin, Cunjiang Yu, Guihua Yu, Jing Yu, Shu-Hong Yu, Xinge Yu, Evgeny Zamburg, Haixia Zhang, Xiangyu Zhang, Xiaosheng Zhang, Xueji Zhang, Yihui Zhang, Yu Zhang, Siyuan Zhao, Xuanhe Zhao, Yuanjin Zheng, Yu-Qing Zheng, Zijian Zheng, Tao Zhou, Bowen Zhu, Ming Zhu, Rong Zhu, Yangzhi Zhu, Yong Zhu, Guijin Zou, Xiaodong Chen
Summary: Humans are increasingly relying on flexible sensors to address challenges and improve quality of life in the digital and big data era. However, the market adoption of flexible sensors is still limited despite advancements in research. In this paper, we identify the bottlenecks hindering the maturation of flexible sensors and propose potential solutions to expedite their deployment and commercialization.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhong Li, Xinglin Zhang, Zheye Zhang, Peng Chen, Yizhou Zhang, Xiaochen Dong
Summary: A self-supported heterojunction catalyst, NiCo-OH@NixFeyO4 on Fe foam (FF), is in situ synthesized using two-step corrosion engineering, which can drive the current density of 1000 mA cm-2 with low overpotential of 275 mV and good long-term stability. The performance is attributed to electron transfer and weakened adsorption energy, promoting O2 release and reducing free energy barriers for the reaction. The study demonstrates the potential of the water splitting cell with NiCo-OH@NixFeyO4/FF as anode and CoP@FeP/FF as cathode for industrial applications, and presents a general strategy for in situ synthesis of heterojunction catalysts on metal foams.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Lingxuan Kong, Hanqi Wen, Yifei Luo, Xiaodong Chen, Xing Sheng, Yuxin Liu, Peng Chen
Summary: This paper introduces a dual-conductive and stiffness-morphing microneedle patch (DSMNP) for high-fidelity electrophysiological recordings with reduced tissue damage. The DSMNP can absorb electrolyte and provide a stable interface, and has been proven to have various applications in plant physiology research and smart agriculture.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jiahao Li, Zhengzheng Hao, Bijia Wang, Xueling Feng, Zhiping Mao, Xiaofeng Sui
Summary: The abuse of non-renewable fossil resources and plastic pollution have caused significant environmental burdens. Renewable bio-macromolecules, like chitin, have shown potential to replace synthetic plastics in various fields. However, the poor processability of chitin due to the lack of suitable solvent has limited its applications. In this study, a method was developed to fabricate high-strength chitin films using concentrated chitin solutions in cryogenic phosphoric acid. The films exhibited enhanced mechanical properties through the reassembly of chitin molecules and uniaxial orientation.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
