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Microcystin has been causing serious environmental pollution; however, the recognition of such compounds is still challenging because of low abundance and coexisting interfering species. In this contribution, we develop a novel microfluidic paper-based colorimetric sensor by exploiting molecular imprinting technology and Fenton reaction for on-site microcystin-RR determination in complex water samples using a smartphone.

A modular, general method for trapping enzymes within the voids of paper, without chemical activation of cellulose, is reported. Glucose oxidase and peroxidase were crosslinked with poly(acrylic acid) via carbodiimide chemistry, producing 3-dimensional networks interlocked in cellulose fibers. Interlocking prevented enzyme activity loss and enhanced the washability and stability.

We introduce Synthetic Microfluidic Paper, a novel porous material for microfluidic applications that consists of an OSTE polymer that is photostructured in a well-controlled geometry of slanted and interlocked micropillars. We demonstrate the distinct benefits of Synthetic Microfluidic Paper over other porous microfluidic materials, such as nitrocellulose, traditional paper and straight micropillar arrays: in contrast to straight micropillar arrays, the geometry of Synthetic Microfluidic Paper was miniaturized without suffering capillary collapse during manufacturing and fluidic operation, resulting in a six-fold increased internal surface area and a three-fold increased porous fraction. Compared to commercial nitrocellulose materials for capillary assays, Synthetic Microfluidic Paper shows a wider range of capillary pumping speed and four times lower device-to-device variation. Compared to the surfaces of the other porous microfluidic materials that are modified by adsorption, Synthetic Microfluidic Paper contains free thiol groups and has been shown to be suitable for covalent surface chemistry, demonstrated here for increasing the material hydrophilicity. These results illustrate the potential of Synthetic Microfluidic Paper as a porous microfluidic material with improved performance characteristics, especially for bioassay applications such as diagnostic tests.

Given their simplicity and functionality, paper-based microfluidic systems are considered to be ideal and promising bioassay platforms for use in less developed countries or in point-of-care services. Although a series of innovative techniques have recently been demonstrated for the fabrication of such platforms, development of simple, inexpensive and versatile new strategies are still needed in order to reach their full potential. In this communication, we describe a simple yet facile approach to fabricate paper-based sensor platforms with a desired design through a vapor-phase polymer deposition technique. We also show that the fabricated platforms could be readily employed for the detection of various biological target molecules including glucose, protein, ALP, ALT, and uric acid. The limit of detection for each target molecule was calculated to be 25 mg dL(-1) for glucose, 1.04 g L(-1) for protein, 7.81 unit per L for ALP, 1.6 nmol L(-1) for ALT, and 0.13 mmol L(-1) for uric acid.

In this work, microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μ-PAD) was applied in a photoelectrochemical (PEC) method and thus a truly low-cost, simple, portable, and disposable microfluidic PEC origami device (μ-PECOD) was demonstrated. The molecular imprinting technique was introduced into microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μ-PADs) through electropolymerization of molecular imprinted polyaniline (MPANI) in a novel Au nanoparticle (AuNP)-modified paper working electrode (Au-PWE). This is fabricated through the growth of an AuNP layer on the surfaces of cellulose fibers in the PWE. Under visible light irradiation, MPANI can generate the photoelectric transition from the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), delivering the excited electrons to the AuNPs, and then to the carbon working electrode. Simultaneously, it is believed that a positively charged hole of MPANI that took part in the oxidation process was consumed by ascorbic acid (AA) to promote the amplifying photocurrent response. On the basis of this novel MPANI-Au-PWE and the principle of origami, a microfluidic molecular imprinted polymer (MIP)-based photoelectrochemical analytical origami device (μ-MPECOD), comprised of an auxiliary tab and a sample tab, is developed for the detection of heptachlor in the linear range from 0.03 nmol L(-1) to 10.0 nmol L(-1) with a low detection limit of 8.0 pmol L(-1). The selectivity, reproducibility, and stability of this μ-MPECOD are investigated. This μ-MPECOD would provide a new platform for high-throughput, sensitive, specific, and multiplex assay in public health, environmental monitoring, and the developing world.

As inspired by the Dot blot analysis, a well known technique in molecular biology and genetics for detecting biomolecules, a new paper-based platform for colorimetric detection of specific DNA sequences employing peptide nucleic acid (PNA) as a probe has been developed. In this particular study, a pyrrolidinyl PNA bearing a conformationally rigid d-prolyl-2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid backbone (acpcPNA) was used as a probe. The filter paper was modified to be positively charged with grafted polymer brushes of quaternized poly(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (QPDMAEMA) prepared by surface-initiated polymerization of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate from the filter paper via ARGET ATRP followed by quaternization with methyl iodide. Following the Dot blot format, a DNA target was first immobilized via electrostatic interactions between the positive charges of the QPDMAEMA brushes and negative charges of the phosphate backbone of DNA. Upon hybridization with the biotinylated pyrrolidinyl peptide nucleic acid (b-PNA) probe, the immobilized DNA can be detected by naked eye observation of the yellow product generated by the enzymatic reaction employing HRP-labeled streptavidin. It has been demonstrated that this newly developed assay was capable of discriminating between complementary and single base mismatch targets at a detection limit of at least 10 fmol. In addition, the QPDMAEMA-grafted filter paper exhibited a superior performance to the commercial membranes, namely Nylon 66 and nitrocellulose.

We present a novel, low-resource fabrication and assembly method for creating disposable amperometric detectors in hybrid paper-polymer devices. Currently, mere paper-based microfluidics is far from being able to achieve the same level of process control and integration as state-of-the-art microfluidic devices made of polymers. To overcome this limitation, in this work both substrate types are synergistically combined through a hybrid, multi-component/multi-material system assembly. Using established inkjet wax printing, we transform the paper into a profoundly hydrophobic substrate in order to create carbon electrodes which are simply patterned from carbon inks via custom made adhesive stencils. By virtue of the compressibility of the paper substrate, the resulting electrode-on-paper hybrids can be directly embedded in conventional, 3D polymeric devices by bonding through an adhesive layer. This manufacturing scheme can be easily recreated with readily available off-the-shelf equipment, and is extremely cost-efficient and rapid with turn-around times of only a few hours.

We developed a paper-based analytical device (μPAD) combined with self-signaling polydiacetylene (PDA) liposomes for convenient visual neomycin detection. The simple dot array type of μPAD was fabricated by the wax printing technique, and the PDA liposomes in the aqueous solution were facilely immobilized onto the hydrophilic dot region of the paper substrate. We found that, when the PDA liposomes were inserted to the paper matrix, the stability of the PDA liposomes can be significantly enhanced by adding a hydrophilic reagent such as polyvinyl alcohol and glycerol to the liposome solution. In particular, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) provides the best stabilization among the various hydrophilic reagents tested in this contribution, and the enhanced stability sharply increased the sensitivity of the PDA liposomes in the paper matrix. Based on the above results, we successfully detected neomycin through both naked-eye observation and fluorescence measurement of PDA signals. The detection limit was 1 ppm and was selective to non-aminoglycoside antibiotics.

In continuation of previously reported results, the ionic liquid 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene-1-ium acetate was also found to be a powerful non-derivatizing solvent for cellulosic waste such as paper and cardboard. The ionic liquid could dissolve all the present bio-polymers (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) in high concentrations, resulting in solutions with visco-elastic properties that were suitable for dry-jet wet fiber spinning. The cellulosic raw materials were refined gradually to identify the influence of residual components on the spinnability of the respective solution. Polymer degradation and losses in the spinning process could be avoided nearly entirely. With the exception of virtually unrefined cardboard, all the samples showed excellent spinnability, resulting in fibers with high tensile strength. Prototype textiles were produced to validate the quality of the fibers and demonstrate the possibility of using residual lignin in cardboard as a natural dye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymers and surfactants are used in many technological and industrial applications such as the manufacture of functional materials and coatings, personal care and pharmaceutical products, food science, paints, anti-icing fluids, tertiary oil recovery and the paper industry. Polymer–surfactant mixtures are particularly important in shampoos and conditioners. However, as in almost every other industry over the past five or more decades, the performance of hair care formulations has been significantly improved by the use of petrochemical-derived ingredients. As a result, cosmetic formulations, and hair care formulations in particular, have been based primarily on polymers and surfactants that are neither renewable, nor derived from environmentally friendly processes, nor have a positive environmental impact. This contrasts with the extensive use of natural and renewable products, mainly plant extracts, in cosmetics in ancient times. Therefore, the substitution of currently used ingredients with others of natural origin has been a top priority for the cosmetic industry over the last two decades, and in order to achieve greater consumer acceptance, it is crucial to maintain and, where possible, improve the technical performance of such products. This paper describes the complexities and challenges of developing greener shampoo and conditioner ingredients and formulations to meet current and future needs, and outlines a methodological approach based on model hair surfaces and a selection of appropriate experimental and numerical techniques to achieve our goals. Some encouraging technical routes using biosurfactants, biopolymers and bio-based polymers are presented, along with the significant opportunity to obtain a wide range of green ingredients through molecular design and well-controlled biotechnological processes. Similar concerns apply to other cosmetic products such as waxes, fragrances, bleaching agents, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self assembled poly diacetylene (PDA) based blue vesicles LS-Terpy, LS-DPA, LS-DP and LS-DEA with metal chelating sites have been prepared and characterized. Their response to the presence of metal cations in buffered aqueous solution has been investigated by monitoring changes of colour, UV-Vis absorption and emission. The addition of zinc, manganese, cadmium, mercury or silver salts to solutions of the vesicles induces a colour change from blue to red observable by the naked eye, while the addition of other metal salts, containing ions like Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Cr(2+), Ni(2+), Fe(2+), Co(2+), Cu(2+) or Pb(2+), failed to show any changes. The metal ion coordination selectivity of the ligands is slightly different for the vesicle surface immobilized ligands compared to the reported metal cation binding of the corresponding ligands in solution, which may be due to the special environment at the lipid-solution interface. The vesicles aggregate upon metal ion coordination to the embedded ligands as shown by dynamic light scattering (DLS) particle size analysis. The functionalized PDA vesicles retain their response to the presence of aqueous solutions of metal ions if immobilized in transparent polyvinyl alcohol films or on paper.

Hybrid microfluidic systems that are composed of multiple different types of substrates have been recognized as a versatile and superior platform, which can draw benefits from different substrates while avoiding their limitations. This review article introduces the recent innovations of different types of low-cost hybrid microfluidic devices, particularly focusing on cost-effective polymer- and paper-based hybrid microfluidic devices. In this article, the fabrication of these hybrid microfluidic devices is briefly described and summarized. We then highlight various hybrid microfluidic systems, including polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based, thermoplastic-based, paper/polymer hybrid systems, as well as other emerging hybrid systems (such as thread-based). The special benefits of using these hybrid systems have been summarized accordingly. A broad range of biological and biomedical applications using these hybrid microfluidic devices are discussed in detail, including nucleic acid analysis, protein analysis, cellular analysis, 3D cell culture, organ-on-a-chip, and tissue engineering. The perspective trends of hybrid microfluidic systems involving the improvement of fabrication techniques and broader applications are also discussed at the end of the review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a simple, low-cost, one-step fabrication method for microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPAD) using only polystyrene and a patterned screen. The polystyrene solution applied through the screen penetrates through the paper, forming a three-dimensional hydrophobic barrier, defining a hydrophilic analysis zone. The optimal polystyrene concentration and paper types were first investigated. Adjusting polystyrene concentration allows for various types of paper to be used for successful device fabrication. Using an optimized polystyrene concentration with Whatman#4 filter paper, a linear relationship was found to exist between the design width and the printed width. The smallest hydrophilic channel and hydrophobic barrier that can be obtained are 670 ± 50 μm and 380 ± 40 μm, respectively. High device-to-device fabrication reproducibility was achieved yielding a relative standard deviation (%RSD) in the range of 1.12–2.54% (n = 64) of the measured diameter of the well-shaped fabricated test zones with a designed diameter of 5 and 7 mm. To demonstrate the significance of the fabricated μPAD, distance-based and well-based paper devices were constructed for the analysis of H2O2 and antioxidant activity, respectively. The analysis of H2O2 in real samples using distance-based measurement with CeO2 nanoparticles as the colorimetric agent produced the same results at 95% confidence level, as those obtained using KMnO4 titration. A proof-of-concept antioxidant activity determination based on the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was also demonstrated. The results verify that the polymer screen-printing method can be used as an alternative method for μPAD fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile hydrothermal strategy to synthesize borate cross-linked reduced graphene oxide (B-RGO) sheets with good optical and electrical properties is proposed by using graphene oxide (GO) sheets, boric acid and sodium hydroxide as precursors in one pot without any polymer or surfactant. The resulting B-RGO sheets can be assembled into a highly conductive B-RGO paper by simple filtration. Moreover, the atomic percentage of boron (B) in the B-RGO sheet can be readily controlled, as when it reaches to a maximum of 3.33 at%, about 30.0 mA current passes through the resulting single-layer B-RGO sheet and B-RGO paper at an applied bias of 2.0 V. This current value is much higher than that of the annealed GO paper (∼1.2 mA) and very close to that of the single-layer graphene sheet (∼60.0 mA) synthesized by a chemical vapour deposition method under the same test conditions. The resulting highly conductive B-RGO sheet and B-RGO paper offer a promising transparent conductive material for electronic or optoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The New Journal of Chemistry, published by The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, contains a variety of articles on different topics in chemistry. The articles cover areas such as polydimethylsiloxane coatings, water oxidation, lithium-ion batteries, and photocatalytic reactions. The journal provides valuable insights for those interested in chemistry and covers a diverse range of research areas. The document is a list of research papers published in the journal Chemistry in 2024, including topics such as the electrocatalytic degradation of tetracycline, the construction of a supramolecular system for imaging nematic mesophase and nematode cells, insights into hydrogen bond strengths in microhydrated clusters, and the development of macrophage-red blood cell hybrid membranes for eliminating pathogens, endotoxins, and heavy metal ions from blood. [Extracted from the article]

We presented a benchtop technique that can fabricate reconfigurable, three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic devices made from a soft paper–polymer composite. This fabrication approach can produce microchannels at a minimal width of 100 μm and can be used to prototype 3D microfluidic devices by simple bending and stretching. The entire fabrication process can be finished in 2 hours on a laboratory bench without the need for special equipment involved in lithography. Various functional microfluidic devices (e.g., droplet generator and reconfigurable electronic circuit) were prepared using this paper–polymer hybrid microfluidic system. The developed method can be applied in a wide range of standard applications and emerging technologies such as liquid-phase electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The New Journal of Chemistry is a publication that features articles and papers on various topics in chemistry. The current issue includes papers on lithium-sulfur batteries, graphene, and carbon nanotubes, among others. The journal is published by The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. The papers provide valuable insights and findings in their respective fields of research, covering topics such as compound synthesis, crystal structures, magnetic behavior, and the development of new materials for applications like photocatalysis and electrocatalysis. The journal also offers professional recognition and development opportunities for scientists. [Extracted from the article]

This paper describes the chemistry of green materials synthesized with supercritical fluids. First, the properties and some specific features of supercritical water are summarized. Then, supercritical hydrothermal synthesis of nanoparticles is explained, and various applications of green materials are described. The surface control of nanoparticles in supercritical water is also explained. Green processes involving chemical recycling of waste polymers and a combination of hydrothermal synthesis and supercritical water oxidation are also discussed. Finally, commercialization of supercritical water processes is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on recent advancements in chemistry, highlighting the development of new materials and chemical processes. Topics include the synthesis of insensitive energetic materials with enhanced detonation performance, the use of vanadium(V) complexes for syndiospecific ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of cyclic olefins, and the exploration of metal-support interactions to enhance catalytic activity for hydrogen production.

A new and environmentally friendly technology has been used successfully to produce thermoresponsive polysulfone membranes with good performance in terms of valve mechanism in the pores, with a complete on-off control of water permeability. Membranes were prepared using a CO2-assisted phase inversion method and their pores were coated/impregnated with a thermoresponsive polymer – poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) – using a new methodology for the preparation of these type of structures. The coating/impregnation efficiency was assessed by SEM and XPS analysis that confirmed the presence of nitrogen due to the thermoresponsive hydrogel. Contact angle measurements and phosphate buffer solution permeability were determined in order to characterize the structure hydrophobicity variations with temperature. The on-off mechanism was tested using a model protein (BSA) as a proof of concept for the ability to control pore apertures by temperature stimulus. A diffusion model based on Fick's law and Langmuir adsorption was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multiplication of terrorist actions in the recent events is alarming and the detection of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) has become one of the highest research priorities in the fields of security and public health. The biomimetic properties of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) render them attractive for molecular recognition as well as sensing purposes. The degradation products of easily hydrolysable organophosphorus nerve agents such as pinacolyl methylphosphonate (PMP), a hydrolysis by-product of soman, are often used as templates in MIP synthesis. In this study, we describe the first example of PMP-imprinted polymer microspheres synthesized by precipitation polymerization. This one-step process involves methacrylic acid (MAA) as the monomer and divinylbenzene (DVB) as the cross-linker, in a toluene/acetonitrile mixture. Subsequent morphological characterizations of the PMP-imprinted particles show that they have diameters between 1 and 10 μm (as opposed to 4–5 μm for the non-imprinted microspheres), surface areas of up to 680 m2g−1and high porosities with pore sizes smaller than 2 nm. The present investigation also evidences the imprinting effect viabatch binding experiments and reports on the use of a novel fluorescence-based methodology, where 4-methylumbelliferone (4MU) is utilised as a sensing agent to determine the PMP concentration in solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact and low-power microcantilever-based sensor array has been developed and used to detect various chemical vapor analytes. In contrast to earlier micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) array sensors, this device uses the static deflection of piezoresistive cantilevers due to the swelling of glassy polyolefin coatings during sorption of chemical vapors. To maximize the sensor response to a variety of chemical analytes, the polymers are selected based on their Hildebrand solubility parameters to span a wide range of chemical properties. We utilize a novel microcontact spotting method to reproducibly coat a single side of each cantilever in the array with the polymers. To demonstrate the utility of the sensor array we have reproducibly detected 11 chemical vapors, representing a breadth of chemical properties, in real time and over a wide range of vapor concentrations. We also report the detection of the chemical warfare agents (CWAs) VX and sulfur mustard (HD), representing the first published report of CWA vapor detection by a polymer-based, cantilever sensor array. Comparisons of the theoretical polymer/vapor partition coefficient to the experimental cantilever deflection responses show that, while general trends can be reasonably predicted, a simple linear relationship does not exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flexible and robust MoS2–graphene hybrid paper with an excellent lithium storage capacity is fabricated through cross-linking by a polymer ligand, PEO, and shows potential for the development of high-performance film anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating multi-stimuli response properties in one molecule is challenging. This study presents two 2D polymers, [(Bpydp)Ln(H2O)(BDC)]·NO3·2H2O (Ln = Eu(1), Tb(2)), exhibiting rapid photo-responsiveness and the ability to detect specific small-molecule amines. In particular, complex 1 combines the functions of inkless printing, amine detection, anti-counterfeiting, and fluorescence recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel methodology to prepare transparent luminescent hybrid materials is reported. Using a calixarene ionophore as a PMMA cross-linker avoids problems, such as phase segregation, and produces a polymer monolith that can be loaded with the metal ion required for luminescence post-synthesis. This approach is versatile and will simplify the production of such materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggregated t-CuP binds to poly-l-glutamate through supramolecular interactions, revealing itself to be an extremely sensitive probe for the major conformations of the polymeric scaffold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is a contents list for the journal CrystEngComm, which focuses on the design and understanding of solid-state and crystalline materials. It includes articles on various topics such as thermodynamic stability relationships of cocrystals, molecular adducts of an anti-cancer drug, and the design of cocrystals featuring a modified isoniazid derivative. The journal also highlights industrial chemistry and material innovations. The document provides a list of papers and their authors, covering a range of topics related to crystal engineering and materials science. [Extracted from the article]

The document is a contents list for the journal CrystEngComm. It provides information about the articles and papers included in the issue, as well as details about the journal's focus on the design and understanding of solid-state and crystalline materials. The document also includes information about the editorial board and guidelines for authors. The journal aims to publish high-quality research on the investigation of molecular behavior within crystals, control of nucleation and crystal growth, engineering of crystal structures, and construction of crystalline materials with tunable properties and functions. [Extracted from the article]

Due to their high electronegativity and small atomic radius without undesirable steric hindrance, the incorporation of fluorine atoms onto a conjugated backbone has been proven to be a very effective way to tune the energy levels of organic semiconductors. In this paper, 5-fluorobenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadizole was adopted as the electron-deficient unit, thiophene and alkylthiophene as donor units, and further, thiophene and EDOT were taken as peripheral donor units, and one D–A–D and two D–π–A–π′–D fluorinated electrochromic polymer precursors were successfully synthesized via a Stille coupling reaction, namely F-BT, F-BT-Th, and F-BT-EDOT. Due to the elongation of the π-conjugated systems of precursors with the stronger electron-donating ability of the EDOT unit, the oxidation potential of the F-BT-EDOT precursor was further reduced to 0.56 V vs. Ag/AgCl accompanied by red-shifted electronic spectra. As-electropolymerized P(F-BT-EDOT) also showed favorable redox activity and excellent redox stability (<2.33% electroactivity loss after 1000 cycles). At the same time, the optical band gap of P(F-BT-EDOT) (1.37 eV) is much lower than that of P(F-BT-Th) and P(F-BT) (1.62 eV), and a stable reversible electrochromic change from dark green to dark blue was achieved with a fast response time. In the near-infrared region, P(F-BT-EDOT) shows intriguing overall electrochromic performance with a high optical contrast of up to 33% and a coloration efficiency of 196.3 cm2 C−1 at 1100 nm. It can be seen that the introduction of a strong electron-donor EDOT unit could bring about a new breakthrough in the electrochromic performance of 5-fluorobenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadizole-based fluorinated D–A polymers and enhancement in their stability, and it is expected to be applied in near-infrared electrochromic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of polymer-based dielectrics marked a significant breakthrough in dielectric materials. However, despite their many advantages, they pose serious environmental threats. Therefore, in recent years, there has been growing interest in bio-based polymers as a sustainable alternative to traditional petroleum-based polymers. Their renewable nature and reduced environmental impact can fulfil the rising demand for eco-friendly substitutes. Beyond their ecological benefits, bio-based polymers also possess distinctive electrical properties that make them extremely attractive in a variety of applications. Considering these, herein, we present recent advancements in bio-based dielectric polymers and nanocomposites. First, the fundamental concepts of dielectric and polymer-based dielectric materials are covered. Then, we will delve into the discussion of recent advancements in the dielectric properties and thermal stability of bio-based polymers, including polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polybutylene succinate, starch, cellulose, chitosan, chitins, and alginates, and their nanocomposites. Other novel bio-based dielectric polymers and their distinct dielectric characteristics have also been pointed out. In an additional section, the piezoelectric properties of these polymers and their recent biomedical applications have been highlighted and discussed thoroughly. In conclusion, this paper thoroughly discusses the recent advances in bio-based dielectric polymers and their potential to revolutionize the biomedical industry while cultivating a more sustainable and greener future.

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), as a high-performance polymer, is widely used for bone defect repair due to its homogeneous modulus of elasticity of human bone, good biocompatibility, excellent chemical stability and projectability. However, the highly hydrophobic surface of PEEK is biologically inert, which makes it difficult for cells and proteins to attach, and is accompanied by the development of infections that ultimately lead to failure of PEEK implants. In order to further enhance the potential of PEEK as an orthopedic implant, researchers have explored modification methods such as surface modification by physical and chemical means and the addition of bioactive substances to PEEK-based materials to enhance the mechanical properties, osteogenic activity and antimicrobial properties of PEEK. However, these current modification methods still have obvious shortcomings in terms of cost, maneuverability, stability and cytotoxicity, which still need to be explored by researchers. This paper reviews some of the modification methods that have been used to improve the performance of PEEK over the last three years in anticipation of the need for researchers to design PEEK orthopedic implants that better meet clinical needs.

We report a simple, low-cost and detachable microfluidic chip incorporating easily accessible paper, glass slides or other polymer films as the chip materials along with adhesive wax as the recycling bonding material. We use a laser to cut through the paper or film to form patterns and then sandwich the paper and film between glass sheets or polymer membranes. The hot-melt adhesive wax can realize bridge bonding between various materials, for example, paper, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) film, glass sheets, or metal plate. The bonding process is reversible and the wax is reusable through a melting and cooling process. With this process, a three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic chip is achievable by vacuating and venting the chip in a hot-water bath. To study the biocompatibility and applicability of the wax-based microfluidic chip, we tested the PCR compatibility with the chip materials first. Then we applied the wax-paper based microfluidic chip to HeLa cell electroporation (EP). Subsequently, a prototype of a 5-layer 3D chip was fabricated by multilayer wax bonding. To check the sealing ability and the durability of the chip, green fluorescence protein (GFP) recombinant Escherichia coli(E. coli) bacteria were cultured, with which the chemotaxis of E. coliwas studied in order to determine the influence of antibiotic ciprofloxacin concentration on the E. colimigration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White pollution substantially impairs people's quality of life nowadays. Bio-based polymers that are environmentally friendly and biodegradable have garnered interest. Among them, polylactic acid (PLA) has attracted wide attention due to its excellent biodegradability, high transparency, and easy processing. However, its inherent flammability, low toughness, and poor compatibility with flame retardants severely limit its application scope. In this paper, a phytic acid-based flame retardant glycidyl methacrylate phytate (GPA) was prepared by epoxy ring-opening and phosphate transesterification. GPA was grafted onto PLA through free radical polymerization, and the introduction of GPA improved both the mechanical properties and flame retardancy of PLA. The LOI of PLA composite rose to 28% after adding a 6 wt% GPA. A reduction of 11.7% in the total heat release of the PLA-GPAX was observed in comparison to neat PLA, demonstrating that the prepared PLA composite exhibits high flame retardancy. Due to the improved dispersion and compatibility of GPA in the matrix after grafting onto PLA, the mechanical strength of PLA increased by 19.9%. This study provides a feasible method for improving the compatibility between flame retardants and bio-based polymers, achieving a mutually beneficial situation in flame retardancy and mechanical strength, and further expanding the application range of bio-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) have emerged as a family of polymeric materials which are being increasingly investigated for interdisciplinary applications. Their high electrical conductivity, excellent thermal/mechanical stability, low vapor pressure, and easy processibility render PILs exceptionally attractive as versatile platforms for green chemistry. Recent decades have witnessed fruitful efforts devoted to the development of PIL-based green chemistry platforms, achieving significant discoveries that will unfold their uniqueness in catalysis, separation, sensors, electrolyte, and functional materials. However, few review papers offer comprehensive discussion on PILs' application in the green chemistry field. In this review, we initially introduce the structure and types of PILs, which is followed by a systematical summary of the synthesis of PILs in terms of direct polymerization of monomer, polymerization after monomer modification, and modification of polymers. Furthermore, several aspects of the application of PILs related to green chemistry are highlighted, such as sensors, separation, catalysis, electrolytes for energy storage devices, and as versatile precursors yielding functional materials. Current challenges and corresponding research directions in PILs for green chemistry are clarified, to make PILs truly green platforms for existing technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) has been considered a promising photoactive material in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting systems. However, the performance of BiVO4-based photoanodes is currently unsatisfactory, indicating the need for new architectural designs to improve their efficiency. In this paper, a porphyrin-phosphazene polymer (THPP-HCCP) was synthesized with a sizeable conjugated structure, and Ag particles were deposited on its surface as an organic–inorganic composite interface improvement layer. The deposition of the composite polymer film on BiVO4 resulted in a significant increase in photocurrent density, reaching up to 2.2 mA cm−2 (1.23 V vs. RHE), almost three times higher than pristine BiVO4, which benefits from the synergistic effect of Ag nanoparticles and porphyrin-phosphazene. Furthermore, photophysical and intensity-modulated photocurrent analysis demonstrated that the Ag–THPP-HCCP heterostructures could broaden the light-absorbing range and facilitate hole transfer to the semiconductor surface, resulting in an improved water oxidation process. The dynamic charge transport behavior of Ag–THPP-HCCP/BiVO4 was investigated using scanning photoelectrochemical microscopy, which showed that the rate constant (Keff) exhibits an almost 4-fold increase compared to pristine BiVO4, indicating a significant improvement in the transport of photogenerated holes. This experiment presents a novel strategy for designing high-efficiency polymer-based photoanodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical water splitting offers the potential for environmentally friendly hydrogen and oxygen gas generation. Here, we present the synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical analyses of four organic polymers where metalloporphyrins are the active center nodes. These materials were obtained from the polymerization reaction of poly(p-phenylene terephtalamide) (PPTA) with the respective amino-functionalized metalloporphyrins, where M = Fe, 1; Co, 2; Ni, 3; Cu, 4. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy images (SEM and TEM) show that these polymers exhibit a layer-type morphology, which is attributed to hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking between the metalloporphyrin nodes. The synthesized materials were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Among the materials studied, the cobalt-based polymer, 2, demonstrates a bifunctional electrocatalytic activity for oxygen (OER) and hydrogen (HER) evolution reactions with overpotentials (η10) of 337 mV and 435 mV, respectively. The Fe, 1, and Ni, 2, polymers are less active for HER with maximum current densities (jmax) of 12.6 and 19.1 mA cm−2 and η10 678 mV, 644 mV. Polymer 2 achieves a jmax of 37.7 mA cm−2 for HER and 133 mA cm−2 for OER. The copper-based material, 4, on the other hand, shows selectivity towards HER with an overpotential (η) of 436 mV and a maximum current density (j) of 45.5 mA cm−2. The bifunctional electrocatalytic performance was tested in the overall water-splitting setup, where polymer 2 requires a cell voltage of 1.64 V at 10 mA cm−2. This work presents a novel approach to heterogenized molecular systems, providing materials with exceptional structural characteristics and enhanced electrocatalytic capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NJC New Journal of Chemistry A journal for new directions in chemistryrsc. li/ njc ISSN 1144- 0546 PAPER Yasir Javed, Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh et al . Polymer coated magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles for enhanced wound healing Volume 48 Number 40 28 October 2024 Pages 17365– 17678 [Extracted from the article]

Two CoII-coordination polymers were controllably obtained by the solvothermal reaction of C3 symmetric 5-bromo-1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid (Br-1,3-H2BDC), 4,4′,4′′-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3,5-triyl)tripyridine (4-TMTBT) ligand, and CoII salts. Co-CP-1 displayed a 3D net based on a mononuclear CoII center linked by Br-1,3-BDC2− and 4-TMTBT mixed ligands. Co-CP-2 featured a 3D network based on a trinuclear Co3(μ3-OH)(HCOO)(COO)4 unit and Br-1,3-BDC2− and 4-TMTBT ligands, which could be regarded as a new (3,7)-connected topology net. Interestingly, the two Co-CPs showed good catalytic activities for the alkene oxyalkylation reaction. In particular, Co-CP-2 exhibited higher catalytic performance and could be recycled at least for four cycles without loss of activity and structural integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wound healing potential is initially evaluated using a chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Alginate gel containing pristine and polymer-coated magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles (MHNPs) improves the healing response. PEGylated MHNPs have shown a rapid wound-healing process in Gallus gallus domesticus by promoting re-epithelialization as compared to pristine MHNPs. No toxicity or inflammation are observed in the blood, liver, and heart tissues during biochemistry and histopathological examination. Polymer (polyethylene glycol (PEG) and chitosan) functionalized MHNPs are synthesized using a one-step hydrothermal process. The average crystallite size determined from X-ray diffraction analysis of the pristine MHNPs is ∼31.3 nm and upon PEG and chitosan coating it reduces to 23.4 nm and 29.7 nm, respectively. FTIR confirms the presence of functional groups indicating the successful functionalization of the polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cr(III) metal centers have been successfully incorporated in the terephthalaldehyde-triaminoguanidium chloride COP, Te-TGCl. Free COP, Te-TGCl and metalated COP, Te-TG-Cr(III) were characterized with the help of various techniques, viz., FT-IR, 13C CP-MAS NMR, PXRD, XPS, FESEM, SEM-EDX, HR-TEM, TGA and BET. Due to the presence of the Lewis acidic Cr(III) center, Te-TG-Cr(III) showed superior activity (ECH, 99% conv.) compared to non-metalated COP, Te-TGCl (ECH, 75% conv.) in the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 to epoxides, which resulted in chemically valuable cyclic carbonate products. Moreover, compared to Cr(NO3)3·9H2O (ECH, 45% conv.), COP-immobilized Cr(III), Te-TG-Cr(III), shows much higher activity (ECH, 99% conv.), signifying the importance of COP in the enhancement of catalytic activity. Moreover, Te-TG-Cr(III) discriminates the substrates on the basis of the length of the epoxide side chains, showing much higher conversions for smaller substrates ECH and EBH (99% and 96% conv., respectively) compared to larger substrates BGE, AGE, PGE, EH and SO (68%, 60%, 69%, 57% and 35% conv., respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the major advances in soft lithography and polymer materials, use of microfluidic devices has attracted tremendous attention recently. A simple and fast micromachining process is highly in demand to prototype such a device efficiently and economically. In this paper, we first reported an out-of-cleanroom printing-based integrated microfabrication process, referred to as the lab-on-a-print(LOP), for rapid-prototyping three-dimensional microfluidics. Using this lab-on-a-printprocess, we demonstrated the potential to accomplish an entire design-to-fabrication cycle within an hour, including about 70 µm resolution of direct-lithography patterning, well-controlled polyimide wet etching, three-dimensional pattern alignment and multilayer wax thermal-fusion packaging. A microfluidic gradient generator was prepared and tested for validation of the lab-on-a-printmicrofabrication process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of the published bio-based benzoxazine research has focused almost exclusively on different phenolic and amine compounds, while the aldehyde portion of the oxazine ring remains the same. These materials have been labeled as fully bio-based even though only two of the three raw materials are derived from renewable resources. In this study, we synthesize a truly bio-based benzoxazine in which all three reactants necessary to synthesize a benzoxazine are from renewable sources for the first time. The bio-originated compounds sesamol, furfurylamine, and benzaldehyde are used to synthesize a truly bio-based benzoxazine by a solventless method. Unlike almost all 1,3-benzoxazine resins reported in the literature thus far, the current paper reports oxazine ring-substituted benzoxazines, further providing a great opportunity for the molecular design flexibility of benzoxazine resins over the already very rich variation of 1,3-benzoxazine compounds. The structure of the 7-(furan-2-ylmethyl)-6,8-diphenyl-7,8-dihydro-6H-[1,3]dioxolo[4′,5′:3,4]benzo[1,2-e][1,3]oxazine monomer is characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and 1D and 2D 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The polymerization behavior of the benzoxazine monomer is studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the thermal stability of the polybenzoxazine is evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The corresponding polymer has a high thermal stability with 5% and 10% weight loss temperatures of 317 and 332 °C, respectively, a char yield of 46%, and a heat release capacity of 201 J g−1 k−1. Polymers that show a high char yield, a high degradation temperature and a heat release capacity below 300 kJ g−1 are considered good anti-flammable materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unimolecular polymer nanomaterials (UPNs) have well-defined structures, desirable stability and designable functional groups, and hence exhibit great application potential in drug delivery. However, the syntheses of UPNs are generally time-consuming and tedious, which greatly limit their applications. In this paper, we present the preparation of a β-cyclodextrin-cored star-shaped polymer with 21 poly( tert -butyl acrylate) arms. This polymer was facilely synthesized by one-step atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). After cleaving the tert -butyl ester protecting groups, the abundant carboxylic acid side groups were used to incorporate doxorubicin (DOX), phenylboronic acid (PBA) groups and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to achieve drug loading and tumor drug delivery. Due to the tumor-targeting ability of the PBA groups, this UPN-based nanomedicine showed high tumor accumulation, penetration and therapeutic efficacy.

Near-infrared II (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) fluorescence imaging has the advantages of low light scattering and weak biological autofluorescence compared with conventional NIR (600-900 nm) fluorescence imaging and can obtain a high signal-to-noise ratio in deeper biological tissues, as well as micron-level high resolution. A great deal of effort has been directed toward the construction of conjugated polymers for effective NIR-triggered fluorescence imaging (FI) and photothermal therapy (PTT) combined therapy. However, NIR-II fluorescent materials are mainly nanoparticles prepared by coprecipitation methods, and water-soluble NIR-II materials need to be further developed. In this paper, we synthesized novel water-soluble squaric acid nanoparticles (SQ-POEGMA) with low toxicity and excellent photostability by attaching a water-soluble oligomer (POEGMA) to the small molecule squaric acid through a click chemistry reaction. The photothermal conversion efficiency of SQ-POEGMA is 33% in vitro , which can effectively inhibit the growth of cancer cells with 94% tumor inhibition rate in vivo under 808 nm laser irradiation, while no appreciable side effects were observed.

The current gold standard diagnostic for bacterial infections is the use of culture, which can be time consuming and can take up to five days for results to be reported. There is therefore an unmet clinical need for a rapid and label free alternative. This paper demonstrates a method of detecting the presence of amplified DNA from bacterial samples using a sterically-stabilised, cationic polymer latex and widely available equipment, providing an accessible alternative DNA detection technique. If DNA is present in a sample, successful amplification by polymerase chain-reaction (PCR) results in the amplified DNA inducing flocculation of the polymer latex followed by rapid sedimentation. This results in a visible and obvious change from a milky-white dispersion to a precipitated latex with a colourless and transparent supernatant, thus giving a clear visual indication of the presence or absence of amplified DNA. Specifically, the response of four polymer latexes with different morphologies to the addition of amplified bacterial DNA was investigated. Cationic latexes flocculated rapidly whereas non-ionic and anionic latexes did not, as judged by eye, disc centrifuge photosedimentometry (DCP), and UV-visible spectrophotometry. The stability of several cationic latexes with different morphologies in typical PCR reagents was investigated. It was found that unwanted flocculation occurred for a latex with a non-ionic core and a cationic corona (poly[2-vinyl pyridine- b -benzyl methacrylate], prepared by polymerisation-induced self-assembly) whereas a ∼700 nm PEGMA-stabilised P2VP latex (non-ionic stabiliser, cationic core), prepared by emulsion polymerisation remained stable. The sensitivity and rate of sedimentation of the PEGMA-stabilised P2VP latex was demonstrated by varying the sequence length and concentration of amplified DNA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa using universal bacterial primers. DNA concentrations as low as 0.78 ng μl -1 could readily be detected within 30 minutes from the addition of amplified DNA to the latex. Furthermore, the specificity of this method was demonstrated by showing a negative result occurs (no flocculation of the latex) when PCR product from a fungal ( Candida albicans ) sample using bacterial primers was added to the latex.

Exploring active catalyst components is very important to develop high-performance and highly stable ORR electrocatalysts to replace costly Pt-based catalysts, though it remains an ongoing challenge. In this paper, three ORR catalysts with different active components were obtained by calcination of different proportions of mixed precursors simply and delicately. Among them, precursor 1 (bimetallic polymer Fe/Zn-ZIFs@ZnCO3) played the role of a self-sacrificing template, while precursor 2 (an N, P-co-doped polymer) played the role of a volatile atmosphere. Precursor 2 also embedded N and P heteroatoms into the carbon framework during high-temperature volatilization, which resulted in subtle changes in the active catalyst components. Finally, a hybrid of metal Fe and α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles embedded in N, P-codoped carbon nanotubes with many separated gullies (named α-Fe2O3/Fe@NPC) exhibited excellent ORR catalytic activity in an alkaline solution as compared to commercial Pt/C. This work provides a new strategy for designing controllable active components using volatile precursors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycidyl azide polymers (GAP) are one of the most important energetic polymers, but it is still a challenge to elucidate their structures using mass spectrometry due to their fragility upon ionization. Herein we developed a soft metal salt assisted electrospray ionization (MSAESI) to characterize directly GAP polymers using mass spectrometry. This technique combines paper spray ionization and the complexing effect of anions from metal salts with GAP in the negative ion mode to softly ionize GAP polymers prior to mass spectrometry analysis. The effects of experimental parameters (e.g., ion mode, applied voltage, and type and concentration of metal salts) have been investigated in detail. In contrast to the positive ion mode, a softer ionization was observed for GAP polymers when the negative ion mode was applied. The radius and average charge of cations and anions in metal salts were found to play crucial roles in determining the performance of the MSAESI analysis of GAP. For a given charge number, a smaller radius of cations favored the soft ionization of GAP polymers (e.g., Na+ > K+ > Rb+), whereas a larger radius of anions led to a preferred performance (e.g., F− < Cl− < Br− < I−) due to variation in dissolution ability. For anions with multiple charges, the ones with fewer charges gave a more favorable ionization to the GAP sample because of their better complexing to GAP molecules than those with more charges in the structure of anions (e.g., NO3− > SO42− > PO43−). According to the experimental observation and evidence from mass spectrometry, we proposed the plausible electrospray mechanisms of MSAESI for GAP analysis with the involvement of metal salts. Moreover, the developed protocol has been applied successfully to the analysis of various GAP samples, and works for other types of sources such as nanoelectrospray ionization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, considerable attention has been paid to European eggs that were found to contain the poisonous insecticide fipronil. Excessive consumption of fipronil can harm the human body, in particular, the liver, thyroid, nervous system and kidneys. As a consequence, there is an urgent need to develop a method to detect fipronil. In this work, a lanthanide coordination polymer [Eu(SIP)(H2O)4]n (1) (NaH2SIP = 5-sulfoisophthalic acid monosodium salt) was synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, elemental analysis, infrared spectrum and powder X-ray diffractions. The X-ray studies show that 1 is a two-dimensional layered structure, which is constructed of fused {[Eu(H2O)4]3(SIP)3} pseudo-hexagonal grids. The luminescence properties of 1 exhibit effective recognition for fipronil in methanol solution. Furthermore, a wide linear range (10−6–10−4 M), a low detection limit of 0.8 μM, high selectivity and excellent recyclability, reveal that 1 can potentially act as a luminescence-based sensor for quantitative and highly sensitive detection of fipronil. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that a metal–organic coordination polymer, as a fluorescent-based probe, has been used for the detection of fipronil. Moreover, fluorescent-based test papers of 1 have also been prepared, which can be regarded as a simple and practical method for detecting fipronil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global production of synthetic polyamides (PA), or nylons, is increasing while recycling rates are currently below 5% contributing to the global plastics crisis. Enzymatic depolymerization is a powerful strategy to overcome the drawbacks of mechanical and chemical recycling and has the potential to increase PA recycling rates. However, enzymatic depolymerization of PA is currently limited to a small group of nylonases (NylC) that exhibit low activities making them unsuitable for efficient enzymatic recycling. In this study, we extend the diversity of nylonases, namely NylC1, NylC2, and NylC3 by library screenings and in silico analysis. Three novel nylonases were identified that showed varying sequence identities ranging from 84 to 32% compared to the previously characterized NylCp2 from Paenarthrobacter ureafaciens. Activity of these nylonase candidates towards cyclic PA-oligomers was confirmed via the detection of soluble degradation products. These nylonases were also active on synthesized poly(ester amides) (PEA), and this activity was synergistically increased by combination with the leaf and branch compost cutinase LCC resulting in the hydrolysis of approximately 1% of the total polymer. Overall, our discoveries greatly increase the sequence space of NylC enzymes for future enzyme engineering strategies to boost their activities, and they show the potential of PEA for tuning the biodegradability of performance polymers. Thereby, this study leads the path for developing efficient enzymatic PA and PEA depolymerization processes, revealing significant insights into combining the contrary parameters of performance and biodegradability of polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]