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The carbon nanotubes/zinc oxide (CNTs/ZnO) nanocomposites were immobilized on the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membrane for highly reutilization rate in photocatalytic degradation of RhodamineB (RhB) based on the combination of electrospinning and ultrasonication treatment. The results revealed that the CNTs are successfully compounded with ZnO, and the surface of nanofibers was uniformly covered with CNTs/ZnO nanoparticles. Under visible light irradiation, the CNTs/ZnO@PVA nanocomposites displayed excellent photocatalytic activity with 98.4% of RhB degradation rate within 3 h illumination. In comparison with pure PVA, and CNTs/ZnO with equivalent loading capacity on CNTs/ZnO@PVA film suspended in aqueous solution, the synthesized CNTs/ZnO@PVA film degrades RhB dye more efficiently. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of CNTs/ZnO@PVA nanocomposites did not change significantly even after five recycles, indicating a certain degree of reusability. The mechanism of enhanced photocatalytic activity was proposed. The as‐prepared flexible CNTs/ZnO@PVA nanocomposites could be employed as a promising material for the practical photocatalytic degradation of wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial cellulose (BC) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) stand out among biodegradable polymers to be inserted in the food packaging sector; these can have their properties enhanced when mixed with each other or with the addition of additives (antioxidants). This work initiated a study with BC/PVA blends incorporated with antioxidant food complex (EXT), using concentrations of 0, 1.08, 2.14, and 4.30 g/L of EXT in the fermentation medium. Blends produced were evaluated for water retention capacity, chemical structure, morphology, crystallinity, thermal stability, antioxidant activity, and permeability to water vapor. Pure and incorporated blends did not show a significant difference in water retention capacity and morphology. However, incorporated blends showed alteration in the infrared spectrum, decreased crystallinity, thermal stability, permeability to water vapor, and increased antioxidant activity. These results confirm the incorporation of EXT and make the blends promising against moisture and oxidative reactions in the food packaging sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the special effect of wound treatment in the field of medicine, antibacterial wound dressings preparation is one of the main challenges in successful wound healing. In this research, a starch (St)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofiberous mat modified with graphene oxide (GO)-silver nanowire (AgNW) hybrid was fabricated. Initially, silver nanowires were synthesized by the polyol method, then GO-AgNW nanoparticle was prepared as a biocompatible and antibacterial biofilm. Reducing the diameter of nanofibers due to the addition of starch and GO-AgNW nanoparticles leads to fibroblast proliferation, increased collagen secretion, reduced inflammation and wound closure. Nanofibrous mats showed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli microorganisms. The largest zone of bacterial inhibition was obtained for Starch/PVA nanofibers containing 8% GO-AgNWs hybrid (27.11 and 24.62 mm). The use of GO-AgNW nanoparticles without drugs is an important point due to the strong antibacterial property of silver nanowire. The measured contact angle of nanofibrous mats was in the range of 57.8° as a desirable level of hydrophilicity for wound dressings. The degree of swelling obtained about 491.12%, and the water vapor transmission rate of 2549 ± 36 (g/m2.day) as a proof for accelerating wound healing. Finally, the results indicated that St/PVA/GO-AgNWs composite electrospun fibers could be a suitable candidate for the treatment of infectious wounds, surgical wounds, minor burns, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Wearable strain transducers are poised to transform the field of healthcare owing to the promise of personalized devices capable of real‐time collection of human physiological health indicators. For instance, monitoring patients' progress following injury and/or surgery during physiotherapy is crucial but rarely performed outside clinics. Herein, multifunctional liquid‐free ionic elastomers are designed through the volume effect and the formation of dynamic hydrogen bond networks between polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and weak acids (phosphoric acid, phytic acid, formic acid, citric acid). An ultra‐stretchable (4600% strain), highly conducting (10 mS cm−1), self‐repairable (77% of initial strain), and adhesive ionic elastomer is obtained at high loadings of phytic acid (4:1 weight to PVA). Moreover, the elastomer displayed durable performances, with intact mechanical properties after a year of storage. The elastomer is used as a transducer to monitor human motions in a device comprising an ESP32‐based development board. The device detected walking and/or running biomechanics and communicated motion‐sensing data (i.e., amplitude, frequency) wirelessly. The reported technology can also be applied to other body parts to monitor recovery after injury and/or surgery and inform practitioners of motion biomechanics remotely and in real time to increase convalescence effectiveness, reduce clinic appointments, and prevent injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a promising energy‐saving technology, electrochromic technology has been widely investigated for practical applications. However, there is relatively few research about the applications under certain extreme climatic conditions since gel electrolytes often occur freezing and volatilizing. In this work, a poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid) (PVA/PAA) gel electrolyte with good anti‐freezing and heat‐resistance performance is developed. Utilizing hydrated tungsten oxide (WO3·xH2O) and polyaniline (PANI) as electrochromic materials and the PVA/PAA gel as electrolyte, a WO3·xH2O/PVA/PAA‐ethylene glycol (EG)‐H2O/PANI electrochromic device (WO3·xH2O/PAEH/PANI ECD) is obtained, which can work efficiently at wide operating temperatures from −20 to 60 °C. The device has multiple reversible color changes, a large optical modulation of 66.2% at 600 nm, high coloration efficiency of 386.0 cm2 C−1, fast responses (with coloration/bleaching times of 1.3/1.1 s), as well as excellent cyclic stability (82.0% of the initial optical modulation is still retained after 2100 cycles). This work reveals the potential application prospects of PAEH gel electrolyte in practical extreme operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite (IPMC) actuators have garnered significant scientific attention in robotics and artificial muscles for their ability to operate at low voltage, high strain capacity, and lightweight construction. The lack of uniform bending in IPMC actuators undermines their control precision and restricts their range of potential applications. This study utilized the unique properties of nanoscale materials and Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to develop a membrane for soft robotic bending actuation. Subsequently, a platinum coating was applied to the membrane to mitigate the limitations of IPMCs in soft robotics applications. Herein, mechanized agitation was employed during the solution-casting process to enhance platinum metal (Pt-metal) coating on zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures within a PVA- sulphonated graphene oxide nanocomposite, achieving enhanced soft robotics bending actuation capabilities. The resultant membrane composed of sulphonated-graphene oxide and polyvinyl-zinc oxide coated with pt (PsGZ-Pt) was examined by exploring advanced analytical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). Furthermore, the ionic exchange capacity (IEC), proton conductivity (PC), water uptake and water loss characteristics were evaluated to be 2.1 meq. g−1, 1.95 × 10−3 Scm−1, 59.62% at 45 °C and water loss at 9 min immersion found 38%, respectively. Electromechanical studies of the PsGZ-Pt membrane (size 30 mm length, 10 mm width, 0.07 mm thickness) showed an actuation force of 0.3253 mN and a displacement of roughly 22.8 mm at ± 3 VDC. These findings highlighted the PsGZ-Pt membrane's potential as a low-cost alternative to expensive commercial IPMC actuators based on polymers. These results presented a straightforward, low-cost approach for synthesizing PsGZ-Pt utilizing conventional technologies. The PsGZ-Pt membrane shows promise for generating low-cost, high-performance actuation materials with a wide range of industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch is considered an ideal alternative to petroleum‐based plastics. However, the application of thermoplastic starch (TPS), which produced from cassava starch plasticized with glycerol, is limited by its hydrophilic, poor mechanical properties, and inadequate processability. In this study, dialdehyde starch (DAS) is used as crosslinker to modify TPS/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and DAS crosslinked cassava starch/PVA blends are fabricated by melt mixing method. Studies on the molecular structure of DAS crosslinked cassava starch/PVA blend indicate that the addition of DAS enhances the intermolecular interactions between cassava starch and PVA, resulting in the formation of a dense internal structure. The plasticizing torque and equilibrium torque of crosslinked cassava starch/PVA blends are increased and the tensile strength reaches 3.60 MPa, an improvement of 186% compared with TPS. Additionally, the water contact angle increases from 87.8° to 119.6° after modification. Compared with other crosslinkers, DAS has obvious advantages, making the DAS crosslinked cassava starch/PVA blend a biodegradable material with excellent properties and promising application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retention of drug in the harsh environment of gastrointestinal tract is a major problem faced in oral delivery system as drugs are prone to a pre-mature release in the presence of digestive enzymes in the acidic media. This reduces the bioavailability of the drug and causes other side effects in the stomach. The composite is prepared through an economically viable and green method consisting of polymers such as guar gum, chitosan and poly(vinyl alcohol) for retention of metformin in the gastric media. Montmorillonite clay was incorporated into the composite to improve its mechanical property. Physical properties such as thickness, folding endurance, swelling capacity and transparency of the films were assessed and further characterized using techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometry, X-Ray Diffractometry, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The prepared films were thin and flexible with an average thickness of 90 μm and exhibited good UV resistance. Metformin containing formulation exhibited ≤ 12% drug release in the simulated gastric fluid (1.2 pH), which satisfied the primary aim of the work. The drug release kinetics evaluated using various mathematical models revealed that Korsemeyer-Peppas was the best fit model and showed R2 ≥ 0.986 revealing diffusion-controlled release pattern. Based on the results, the prepared composites could significantly resist early release of metformin in the stomach and improve its bioavailability in the system. This pH-sensitive composite can be anticipated as potential carrier for drugs experiencing pre-mature release in the gastric media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-lived room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) originating from thiophene boronate polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has enabled the creation of metal-ion-responsive RTP films doped with spirolactam ring-containing rhodamine 6G (1). In this study, RTP-active PVA films, namely, TDB@PVA and ATB@PVA, were prepared through boronate esterification of thiophene-2,5-diboronic acid (TDB) and 5-acetylthiophene-2-boronic acid (ATB) with the diol units of PVA. The delayed emission properties were evaluated, revealing an emission band at 477 nm with a turquoise afterglow for TDB@PVA and at 510 nm with a green afterglow for ATB@PVA after UV light irradiation ceased. The photophysical properties were assessed using TD-DFT and DFT calculations at the B3LYP/cc-pVDZ level. N-(rhodamine-6G)lactam dye with a salicylimine unit (1) was doped into the RTP-based PVA films, producing a multicolored afterglow upon the addition of metal ions. This phenomenon is explained by a triplet-tosinglet Förster-type resonance energy transfer process from the cross-linked thiophene boronate in PVA to the metal-ion-activated colored form of 1. This photophysical feature finds applicability in encryption techniques. Notably, the reversible metal-ligand coordination of 1 in the PVA system enabled a write/erase information process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating threat of bacterial infections to human health necessitates innovative antibacterial strategies and materials. Despite this need, there is still a significant demand for materials that combine high mechanical and thermal properties with biocompatibility. To address these urgent issues, our study investigates the development of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite with graphene flakes (GF) as fillers. The aim is to strengthen the unique properties of graphene to enhance antibacterial activity. Graphene oxide (GO) was used as a surfactant to achieve stable graphene dispersion in water, preserving its inherent properties while avoiding the drawbacks associated with common surfactants, such as property reduction and complex removal processes. In this study, the mechanical and thermal properties of PVA composites containing GO and GF are superior to those of pristine PVA. Especially, the PVA‐2 composite exhibited a notable enhancement in both tensile strength and elongation at break compared with the PVA composite, with increases of 7.8% and 15% respectively. Moreover, PVA‐2, 4, and 6 composites exhibit significant antibacterial efficacy, achieving 4.8 and 4.9 log CFU/cm2 for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. These results indicate that the enhanced oxidative stress induced by GO as a surfactant, combined with the physical damage caused by the increased GF nanostructures. This study highlights the potential of PVA/GF/GO composites in biomedical and tissue engineering applications, providing a promising pathway for the development of new antibacterial materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were in‐situ synthesized in silk sericin/poly(vinyl alcohol) (SS/PVA) mixtures by an easy one‐step synthesis method with the presence of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Then, the SS/PVA composite membranes containing AgNPs were obtained by solvent casting method. The chemical structures of the membranes were investigated by fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and results showed that the membranes were a mixture of silk sericin and PVA. The morphological features of the membranes were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) and it was seen that AgNPs containing membranes have heterogeneous structures. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis revealed that the membranes contain carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and silver. X‐ray diffractometer (XRD) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses also proved the presence of AgNPs in the structure of membranes. The antibacterial activities of membranes containing AgNPs were investigated on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria with disk diffusion test and liquid culture medium incubation. It was found that SS/PVA membranes containing 5 and 10 mM AgNPs have quite high antibacterial activity on both types of bacteria. The functional SS/PVA membranes have capacity to be used in biomedical applications such as wound care materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofibrous electroconductive scaffolds were designed and fabricated using electrospinning approach based on a poly(vinyl alcohol)‐grafted polyaniline (PVA‐g‐PANI) and neat PVA with various PVA‐g‐PANI content for skin tissue engineering (STE) application. At first, phenylamine‐functionalized PVA macromonomer was synthesized, and then aniline was grafted onto macromonomer by an oxidation polymerization technique. The resultant PVA‐g‐PANI with different ratios was co‐electrospun with PVA to afford PVA‐g‐PANI/PVA electrically conductive nanofibrous scaffolds. Physicochemical features of the scaffolds, including water uptake properties, surface wettabilities, and morphologies as well as biological properties such as biodegradabilities, cytocompatibilities, cells adhesion and proliferation potentials, hemolysis rates, and protein adsorption capacities were investigated. Surface wettabilities of the scaffolds were altered from 55.7° for pure PVA up to 105.1° for the scaffold with the highest PVA‐g‐PANI content (30 wt%). It was found that the biodegradation rates of the scaffolds were decreased by increasing PVA‐g‐PANI content owing to very low biodegradation nature of PANI. Hemolysis assay revealed that all scaffolds were nonhemolytic (hemolysis rate <2%), except the scaffold that fabricated with 30 wt% of PVA‐g‐PANI. As results, the constructed scaffolds with 15 and 20 wt% of PVA‐g‐PANI (S3 and S4, respectively) exhibited higher potentials in both physicochemical and biological properties for STE application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogels have attracted extensive attention for their promising applications as flexible sensors. Developing conductive hydrogels with excellent mechanical properties still remains a significant challenge. Herein, double-network (DN) hydrogels composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(ionic liquids) (PILs) are prepared through repetitive freezing/thawing process. The hydrogels are further treated with Fe3+ ions to enhance the mechanical properties due to the complexation between carboxyl groups and Fe3+ ions. The influence of the amount of PILs and concentration of Fe3+ on mechanical properties and conductivity is investigated. The optimal DN hydrogel P(VMCA-AA)1/PVA-Fe3+4 shows excellent mechanical properties, whose tensile strength, elongation at break, and toughness are 2.2 MPa, 350%, and 3.5 MJ m−3, respectively. P(VMCA-AA)1/PVA-Fe3+4 also displays a good conductivity of 1.04 S m−1. Moreover, the hydrogel demonstrates a high sensing sensitivity with a gauge factor (GF) of 3.36, indicating its application potential as a flexible sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an unmet demand for transdermal devices that can deliver large dose of medications through the skin. Herein, nanoemulsion‐based poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) transdermal hydrogel films were developed for the high‐dose anti‐epileptic drug carbamazepine. A stable nanoemulsion was created with almond oil, Tween 60, and amphiphilic locust bean gum. The nanoemulsion had a hydrodynamic diameter of 251 nm, a polydispersity of 10.3%, and a zeta potential of −51.2 mV. Carbamazepine‐loaded nanoemulsion was blended with carbamazepine‐free PVA dispersion and casted into films. To accommodate a high dose, carbamazepine‐loaded nanoemulsion was trapped in a PVA dispersion containing carbamazepine to create transdermal films. The physicochemical characteristics and drug penetration characteristics of the produced films were compared. Both films had the uniform thickness, weight, and drug content. The folding endurance was found to be greater than 700 in both cases. Water vapor permeability decreased when carbamazepine was added to almond oil as well as polymer dispersion. FESEM pictures revealed a waxy paper‐like appearance for the PVA hydrogel film with dual drug‐reservoirs. FTIR spectra assessment revealed a hydrogen bonding interaction between PVA and carbamazepine. X‐ray diffraction examination revealed that the film contained an amorphous dispersion of carbamazepine. Dual carbamazepine reservoir‐based films outperformed single nanoemulsion drug reservoir‐based films in terms of drug flux through excised rat skin by 3.2 times. The in vitro skin permeation findings corresponded well to zero order kinetic models. Overall, this study showed that a high‐dose drug could be placed on nanoemulsion‐based transdermal PVA hydrogel films, resulting in improved skin permeability. Highlights: Nanoemulsion was stable at almond oil:Tween 60/modified gum ratio of 5:5.Loading of high dose carbamazepine in nanoemulsion‐PVA transdermal films.Film of dual carbamazepine reservoir showed low water vapor permeation, moisture retention.Flux of carbamazepine from films improved three times through excised rat skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin (CUR) bifunctional cross-linked nanocomposite hydrogels are presented as an efficient method for CUR delivery in wound healing. CUR-loaded liposomes (CUR-Ls) were optimized using the Box–Behnken design to augment particle size, size distribution, zeta potential, and CUR concentration. The antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of CUR-Ls were assessed. Hyaluronic acid (HA)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels were optimized with a central composite design; then, poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone-co-itaconic acid) (PNVP-ITA) was synthesized to enrich the properties of the hydrogels. The drug release kinetics of the CUR-L@HA/PVA/PNVP-ITA hydrogels were studied. Skin recovery was investigated in vivo on rat dorsal skin. The optimized CUR-Ls were constructed from 2.7% Tween® 20, 0.04% oleic acid, and 8.1% CUR, yielding nano-CUR-L with a narrow size distribution, negative surface charge, and CUR content of 19.92 ± 0.54 µg/mg. CUR-Ls improved the antioxidant effects of CUR. The optimized hydrogel contained 5% HA and 10% PVA. PNVP-ITA improved the properties of the hydrogels via enhanced cross-linking. CUR-Ls exhibited a more rapid release than CUR, whereas the hydrogels enhanced CUR release via a diffusion-controlled mechanism. CUR-L@HA/PVA/PNVP-ITA hydrogels improved the skin recovery rate compared to the commercial patch after 5 days. Therefore, the optimized CUR-L@HA/PVA/PNVP-ITA hydrogels facilitated skin recovery and could be a promising nanocomposite for wound dressings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite (IPMC) actuators have garnered significant scientific attention in robotics and artificial muscles for their ability to operate at low voltage, high strain capacity, and lightweight construction. The lack of uniform bending in IPMC actuators undermines their control precision and restricts their range of potential applications. This study utilized the unique properties of nanoscale materials and Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to develop a membrane for soft robotic bending actuation. Subsequently, a platinum coating was applied to the membrane to mitigate the limitations of IPMCs in soft robotics applications. Herein, mechanized agitation was employed during the solution-casting process to enhance platinum metal (Pt-metal) coating on zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures within a PVA- sulphonated graphene oxide nanocomposite, achieving enhanced soft robotics bending actuation capabilities. The resultant membrane composed of sulphonated-graphene oxide and polyvinyl-zinc oxide coated with pt (PsGZ-Pt) was examined by exploring advanced analytical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). Furthermore, the ionic exchange capacity (IEC), proton conductivity (PC), water uptake and water loss characteristics were evaluated to be 2.1 meq. g−1, 1.95 × 10−3 Scm−1, 59.62% at 45 °C and water loss at 9 min immersion found 38%, respectively. Electromechanical studies of the PsGZ-Pt membrane (size 30 mm length, 10 mm width, 0.07 mm thickness) showed an actuation force of 0.3253 mN and a displacement of roughly 22.8 mm at ± 3 VDC. These findings highlighted the PsGZ-Pt membrane’s potential as a low-cost alternative to expensive commercial IPMC actuators based on polymers. These results presented a straightforward, low-cost approach for synthesizing PsGZ-Pt utilizing conventional technologies. The PsGZ-Pt membrane shows promise for generating low-cost, high-performance actuation materials with a wide range of industrial applications.

Urea plays a crucial role in agricultural production; however, issues of misuse and low utilization persist. To address this, a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) modified metal–phenolic networks (MPNs) coating was developed to enable the slow release of urea. The coating formulations involved blending tannic acid (TA) and Fe3+ at different molar ratio, along with varying amount of PVA. The resulting TA‐Fe3+‐PVA coating with a 1:3 molar ratio of TA:Fe3+ and 1 mg/mL of PVA formulation exhibited stable and dense properties. Urea granules were then coated with this formulation using a fluidized bed technique, leading to reduction in nutrient release rate and increase in longevity. Especially, the nutrient release rate was approximately 10 days in soil. Pot experiments confirmed that the coated urea effectively enhanced cotton yield and quality. Therefore, the newly developed TA‐Fe3+‐PVA coated urea shows promising potential in agriculture for maintaining yield while reducing urea application amounts in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reported the production of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR)/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/graphene (rGO) composite by latex mixing method. The particle size of rGO was about 740 nm and negative charge value (−29 mV). After the incorporation of the rGO into the 80/20 ENR/PVA blend, the color turns into black. The toluene resistance was also improved owing to its chemical interaction between the ENR/PVA blend and rGO. The swelling ratio of the ENR/PVA blend was 7/7 g /g while the swelling ratio of the ENR/PVA blend containing 1% w/w rGO was 3/3 g /g. The lowest moisture content and moisture absorption were found when using 1 g /g rGO. The maximum moisture and moisture absorption were found at ENR/PVA blend without rGO. After incorporation of rGO in the composite, the mechanical strength was enhanced jumping to the enforcement filler. The maximum tensile strength of ENR/PVA/1rGO was 17 MPa. The composite exhibits good thermal stability and the retention tensile strength of ENR/PVA/1rGO composite was about 80% at 24 h. After use, it easily decomposed in nature and the percentage of biodegradation was about 60%–75%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of clay in the field of mineral materials is directly impacted by its thermal stability and changes in microstructure and properties following heat and other treatments. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate how clay's composition and structure are changed with time or how its surface characteristics are changed because of heat treatment. In the current work, the effect of heat treatment on the adsorptive property of smectite clay under various conditions like initial polymer concentration and its molar mass, pH, and temperature variation has been investigated. Various techniques like X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry, thermal analysis, X‐ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used for the phase analysis and the structural features of the heat‐treated clay analysis. It was observed that the specific surface area of smectite gradually dropped as the preheating temperature was increased, and the phase composition and structure underwent significant changes. When clay is heated over 423 K, the adsorbed gases and water are forced off the surface, increasing the amount of free active sites, and smectite's adsorption potential was increased. By raising the polymer's initial concentration and molecular mass, the extent of adsorption was increased whereas it was decreased with the increase in pH. However, in the case of temperature, the adsorption was first increased and then decreased with the increase in temperature indicating a change in the chemical composition of the clay and hence the surface area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Jarosite, an industrial waste, has the potential to be used as an alternative filler in biocomposites used as packaging material and can replace nondegradable thermoplastic. Such a novel approach of waste management strategy has not been studied till date. In this research work, different weight percentages of jarosite were mixed with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to fabricate polymer composites with better physico‐chemical, thermal, tensile, and biodegradation properties. The data indicate that a low concentration of jarosite (3 wt.%) improved the tensile strength by 198.7% and the composite showed higher thermal stability by 6.3% than that of the neat PVA. X‐ray diffractogram and transmission electron microscopic analysis revealed a strong interaction between PVA and jarosite. Interestingly, the addition of jarosite reduced the water absorption capacity and thickness swelling of the PVA composite by 58% and 54.7%, respectively. Jarosite‐incorporated composites showed lesser degradation potential (64%) than the control composites (84%) after 60 days under soil burial conditions, indicating that PVA‐jarosite composites have a higher shelf‐life, which is needed for packaging materials. These composites can also be good alternant for thermoplastic used in preparation of cuboid, sealing, and decorative materials. Also, this would be a novel sustainable approach for managing/reducing jarosite waste. Highlights Jarosite was reinforced with PVA to fabricate biocomposites. The maximum tensile strength of the composite was achieved as 45.4 MPa. The thermal stability of mechanically optimized composite is found at 320°C. After 60 days under soil burial, the composite lost 64.8% of its original weight. Developed composites can be good alternant for nondegradable thermoplastic.

Interfacial solar vapor generation (ISVG) is a promising water treatment technology because it minimizes the carbon footprint and addresses water shortages. To further improve the solar energy efficiency in carbon material-based ISVG process, graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets and poly-(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) are adopted as precursors for fabricating a three-dimensional aerogel (radial-GO/PVA) with anisotropic porous structure using an oriented freeze-casting technique. Experiments and numerical simulations reveal that benefiting from the horizontally radial struts and longitudinally lamellar struts with transversely parallel ligaments, radial-GO/PVA aerogel performs multifunctional features for ISVG, including excellent light absorption, rational water adjustment, good thermal management capability, and efficient salt rejection. A water evaporation rate of 1.58 kg·m–2·h–1 can be achieved under the standard solar irradiation (1 kW·m–2). More importantly, radial-GO/PVA aerogel exhibits a long-term stability for continuous water evaporation over 8 h in a concentrated 20 wt % NaCl solution, indicating the potential application for the desalination and purification of high concentration brine through ISVG route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has made it possible to fabricate structures with intricate morphologies and architectures, which is considered difficult to do when using other conventional techniques like electrospinning. Although the 3D printing of thermoplastics has seen a huge boom in the past few years, it has been challenging to translate this technology to cell-based printing. A major limitation in bioprinting is the lack of inks that allow for the printing of 3D structures that meet the biological requirements of a specific organ or tissue. A bioink is a viscous polymer solution that cells are incorporated into before printing. Therefore, a bioink must have specific characteristics to ensure both good printability and biocompatibility. Despite the progress that has been made in bioprinting, achieving a balance between these two properties has been difficult. In this work, we developed a multimodal bioink that serves as both a cell carrier and a free radical scavenger for treating peripheral nerve injury. This bioink comprises poly-(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and cerium oxide nanoparticles (also called nanoceria (NC)) and was developed with a dual crosslinking method that utilizes citric acid and sodium hydroxide. By employing this dual crosslinking method, good printability of the bioink and shape fidelity of the bioprinted structure were achieved. Additionally, a cell viability study demonstrated that the cells remained compatible and viable even after they underwent the printing process. The combination of this PVA/NC bioink and the dual crosslinking method proved to be effective in enhancing printability and cell biocompatibility for extrusion-based bioprinting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eutectogels, composed of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and polymeric networks, are promising as pivotal components in flexible energy storage, soft robotics, wearable electronic devices, etc. However, an inherent trade‐off between ionic conductivity and mechanical properties, which stems from the antagonism between the DES and polymeric networks, restricts the advancement of eutectogels. Herein, a sequentially enhanced strategy via freeze‐casting, solvent exchanges, and wet annealing to construct supramolecular poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) eutectogels with ultratough mechanical properties and high ionic conductivity is proposed. The trade‐off is reconciled by building aligned through‐pores to facilitate efficient ion transport and by further rationally regulating the aggregation structures of PVA chains to reinforce the supporting networks. Consequently, the resulting supramolecular PVA eutectogels demonstrate state‐of‐the‐art mechanical‐conductive comprehensive performances among existing eutectogels with an elongation of 3281%, a toughness of 196 MJ m−3, a fatigue threshold of 1100 J m−2, and ionic conductivity of 5.2 mS cm−1. These appealing characteristics are highly desirable for advanced soft conductors. This study will provide insights into designing next‐generation high‐performance supramolecular materials for flexible electronics is believed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanostructured porous materials are desirable sorbents for separating and removing oil spills from water. This work examines the performance of the prepared efficient sorbents in the oil sorption process. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers served as the skeleton matrix, while glutaraldehyde and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) served as cross-linking agents. The prepared polymer sorbents showed high adsorption capacity (12.47 g/g), porosity (95.41%) and low density (0.069 g/cm3). The incorporation of carbon nanostructures (nanotubes or graphene oxide) in the sorbent increased the adsorption capacity to 14.85 g/g. The hydrophobic nature of carbon nanotubes significantly increases the contact angle of water with the surface of the nanocomposite absorber and reaches 137.5 degrees. The obtained sorbents showed good reusability in the adsorption process and maintained an adsorption capacity of about 10 g/g after 5 cycles. The optimal temperature range for using nanocomposite sorbents was 25°C to 35°C. The combination of high sorption capacity, low porosity and density in modified polyacrylonitrile, along with its reusability, makes this designed sorbent highly suitable for efficient removal of oil spills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogel films with a polymer base of corn starch and poly(vinyl alcohol) (50:50 wt%), citric acid as a crosslinking agent, and glycerin as a plasticizer were synthesized. Their physical and mechanical characteristics corresponded to the performance level of commercial wound dressings of the same type. The degree of swelling increased by ~30%, whereas the elastic modulus and water-vapor permeability decreased by ~60% when ethonium was introduced into the polymer matrix (from 1 to 5 wt% of the polymer weight). Drug release from the polymer matrix occurred within 90-105 min at drug contents of 2.5-5 wt%. The developed films inhibited the growth of the microorganisms E. coli and P. aeruginosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancement of implantable biomedical devices (IMDs) hinges on the development of biocompatible solid-state electrolytes with outstanding electrochemical performance, safety, and reliability for flexible solid-state supercapacitors. This study focuses on the development of gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and potassium chloride (KCl). The GPEs obtained were subjected to comprehensive characterization using a diverse range of techniques to evaluate their spectral features, morphological properties, thermal and mechanical performance, biocompatibility, ionic conductivity, and cyclic stability. What distinguishes our research is its comprehensive exploration of the profound impact of varying PVA molecular weights and PVA/KCl weight ratios on the ionic conductivity and thermal characteristics of these gels. Notably, we observed a decrease in ionic conductivity with increasing PVA molecular weight, whereas an increase in salt concentration under the same molecular weight led to higher ionic conductivity. In particular, the optimal gel electrolyte with a molecular weight (Mw) of 195,000 g/mol and a PVA/KCl weight ratio of 1/2 demonstrated a promising ionic conductivity of 3.48 ± 0.25 mS/cm. Even after 5000 cycles, it retained 88% of its initial specific capacitance. Our findings reveal that the GPEs exhibit remarkable mechanical robustness alongside unparalleled ionic conductivity, characterized by minimal interfacial resistance. Moreover, these gel electrolytes exhibit remarkable biocompatibility, evident in a cell viability test where 72.3% of cells remained unaffected after a 72-h exposure to PVA/KCl. These findings present a promising avenue towards the fabrication of stable and high-performance biocompatible gel polymer electrolytes which can be used in solid-state supercapacitors, thereby laying the foundation for their integration into flexible, safer, and wearable bio-electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan is a good adsorbent but has poor effectiveness against some dyes. Therefore, in this study, we synthesized composite materials of prepared crab shell chitosan with ZnO and PVA to improve adsorption efficiency. The ZnO/CTS and ZnO/PVA/CTS composites were synthesized by dissolving the components into a solution with the help of ultrasound and hydrothermally neutralizing it for 3 h. The obtained composites and crab shell chitosan were characterized by methods such as GPC, FTIR, XRD, and SEM. Adsorption experiments were conducted in batch form and only sampled once under each condition. The results showed the molecular weight of crab shell chitosan is around 105 g/mol and quite homogenous in size, and the embedded nanorod-like ZnO in the composite is around 200 nm in sizes. The adsorption of the dyes Indigo Carmine (IC), Alizarin Yellow (AY), and Thymol Blue (TB) onto the composites was highest compared to the single adsorbent and ranked in descending order: ZnO/CTS+AY > ZnO/PVA/CTS+IC > ZnO/CTS+IC > ZnO/PVA/CTS+AY > ZnO/CTS+TB > ZnO/PVA/CTS+TB, which corresponds to qmax of 285.7 mg/g, 227.3 mg/g, 208.3 mg/g, 188.7 mg/g, 60.6 mg/g, and 50.3 mg/g, respectively. In addition, the adsorption kinetics of all cases followed the pseudo-second-order adsorption model, it implies that the rate of adsorption is proportional to the square of the number of unoccupied sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increasing prevalence of articular cartilage diseases and limitations faced by current therapeutic methodologies, there is an unmet need for new materials to replace damaged cartilage. In this work, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels were reinforced with different amounts of Nomex® (known for its high mechanical toughness, flexibility, and resilience) and sterilized by gamma irradiation. Samples were studied concerning morphology, chemical structure, thermal behavior, water content, wettability, mechanical properties, and rheological and tribological behavior. Overall, it was found that the incorporation of aramid nanostructures improved the hydrogel's mechanical performance, likely due to the reinforcement's intrinsic strength and hydrogen bonding to PVA chains. Additionally, the sterilization of the materials also led to superior mechanical properties, possibly related to the increased crosslinking density through the hydrogen bonding caused by the irradiation. The water content, wettability, and tribological performance of PVA hydrogels were not compromised by either the reinforcement or the sterilization process. The best-performing composite, containing 1.5% wt. of Nomex®, did not induce cytotoxicity in human chondrocytes. Plugs of this hydrogel were inserted in porcine femoral heads and tested in an anatomical hip simulator. No significant changes were observed in the hydrogel or cartilage, demonstrating the material's potential to be used in cartilage replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conductive hydrogels are becoming one of the most important milestones for the development of new scaffolds, biosensors, supercapacitors, and green electronics within the field of biomedicine. In this work, we study the effect of different types of electroactive additives such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), tannic acid, and carbon quantum dots (CQDs), to form different poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based hydrogels with enhanced electrochemical properties. Different physicochemical tests are carried out to characterize the different PVA-based hybrid hydrogels and the rates of their degradation and loss of electroactivity throughout an eight-week biodegradation process. This work shows the individual and synergistic effects of the additives on various mechanical properties, including storage modulus and swelling ratio, and electrochemical properties of the PVA hydrogel. The additives have proven to enhance the electroactivity of the PVA-based hydrogels but as well their degradation. Finally, the use of the new hydrogel as a pressure sensor is also investigated. The study provides an insight on the potential use of CQDs, in synergy with other electroactivity enhancers, in the fabrication of novel hybrid conducting hydrogels in green electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospinning is a widely employed manufacturing platform for tissue engineering applications because it produces structures that closely mimic the extracellular matrix. Herein, we demonstrate the potential of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) electrospun nanofibers as scaffolds for tissue engineering. Nanofibers were created by needleless direct current electrospinning from PVA with two different degrees of hydrolysis (DH), namely 98% and 99% and subsequently heat treated at 180 °C for up to 16 h to render them insoluble in aqueous environments without the use of toxic cross-linking agents. Despite the small differences in the PVA chemical structure, the changes in the material properties were substantial. The higher degree of hydrolysis resulted in non-woven supports with thinner fibres (285 ± 81 nm c.f. 399 ± 153 nm) that were mechanically stronger by 62% (±11%) and almost twice as more crystalline than those from 98% hydrolysed PVA. Although prolonged heat treatment (16 h) did not influence fibre morphology, it reduced the crystallinity and tensile strength for both sets of materials. All samples demonstrated a lack or very low degree of haemolysis (<5%), and there were no notable changes in their anticoagulant activity (≤3%). Thrombus formation, on the other hand, increased by 82% (±18%) for the 98% hydrolysed samples and by 71% (±10%) for the 99% hydrolysed samples, with heat treatment up to 16 h, as a direct consequence of the preservation of the fibrous morphology. 3T3 mouse fibroblasts showed the best proliferation on scaffolds that were thermally stabilised for 4 and 8 h. Overall these scaffolds show potential as 'greener' alternatives to other electrospun tissue engineering materials, especially in cases where they may be used as delivery vectors for heat tolerant additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a versatile synthetic polymer, used for the design of hydrogels, porous membranes and films. Its solubility in water, film- and hydrogel-forming capabilities, non-toxicity, crystallinity and excellent mechanical properties, chemical inertness and stability towards biological fluids, superior oxygen and gas barrier properties, good printability and availability (relatively low production cost) are the main aspects that make PVA suitable for a variety of applications, from biomedical and pharmaceutical uses to sensing devices, packaging materials or wastewater treatment. However, pure PVA materials present low stability in water, limited flexibility and poor biocompatibility and biodegradability, which restrict its use alone in various applications. PVA mixed with other synthetic polymers or biomolecules (polysaccharides, proteins, peptides, amino acids etc.), as well as with inorganic/organic compounds, generates a wide variety of materials in which PVA's shortcomings are considerably improved, and new functionalities are obtained. Also, PVA's chemical transformation brings new features and opens the door for new and unexpected uses. The present review is focused on recent advances in PVA-based hydrogels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the method for the fabrication of nanofibers based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with controlled characteristics and surface morphology from binary solvent systems has been developed. Based on the Hildebrand–Scatchard theory of solubility, the calculated Teas diagrams, which take into account intermolecular interactions, made it possible to predict the formation of low-defect nanofibers based on PVA in systems of binary solvents with a higher proportion of hydrogen bonds. As a result of the findings, ethanol was determined to be a "inappropriate" solvent for the electrospinning PVA solution, whereas water and acetic acid displayed the properties of a "appropriate" solvent. The decrease in the volume of the unit cell with a slight decrease in the overall degree of crystallinity of the substance demonstrated the dependence of the change in the crystallization mechanism during the formation of PVA nanofibers on the transition from an individual aqueous polymer solution to the water/acetic acid binary solvent system. Compared with the results obtained during the PVA nanofibers fabrication from aqueous solution, the addition of 35% by weight of acetic acid to the aqueous solution of 8 wt% PVA allowed to lower the voltage from 30 to 26 kV and to increase the fiber fabrication yield by the increase in the flow rate from 0.2 to 0.3 mL/h. We confirmed that acetic acid has no effect on the chemical properties of PVA nanofibers however did change their lattice structure and reduce crystallinity of nanofibers. Such safe systems with controlled properties are suitable ones for biological active compounds encapsulation for drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed analysis of the previously discovered effect of the concentration of phosphotungstic acid (PTA) on its reduction within nanocomposite films with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) induced by gamma radiation indicated that the molar absorption coefficient of the maximum of the PTA band due to intervalence charge transfer in reduced PTA heteropolyanions at low PTA concentrations is eight times higher than at high concentrations. Only 20% of this increase is attributed to the predominance of two- and one-electron-reduced heteropolyanions at low and high concentrations, respectively. We concluded that the main reason for the concentration effect is associated with a decrease in the size the PTA nanoparticles with decreasing PTA concentration in the films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PROTACs, proteolysis targeting chimeras, are bifunctional molecules inducing protein degradation through a unique proximity-based mode of action. While offering several advantages unachievable by classical drugs, PROTACs have unfavorable physicochemical properties that pose challenges in application and formulation. In this study, we show the solubility enhancement of two PROTACs, ARV-110 and SelDeg51, using Poly(vinyl alcohol). Hereby, we apply a three-fluid nozzle spray drying set-up to generate an amorphous solid dispersion with a 30% w/w drug loading with the respective PROTACs and the hydrophilic polymer. Dissolution enhancement was achieved and demonstrated for t = 0 and t = 4 weeks at 5 °C using a phosphate buffer with a pH of 6.8. A pH shift study on ARV-110-PVA is shown, covering transfer from simulated gastric fluid (SGF) at pH 2.0 to fasted-state simulated intestinal fluid (FaSSIF) at pH 6.5. Additionally, activity studies and binding assays of the pure SelDeg51 versus the spray-dried SelDeg51-PVA indicate no difference between both samples. Our results show how modern enabling formulation technologies can partially alleviate challenging physicochemical properties, such as the poor solubility of increasingly large 'small' molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, synthetic plastics have posed a significant environmental threat due to their non-biodegradability. Research is being carried out to find alternative biodegradable sources similar to petroleum plastics but with a lower environmental impact than petroleum plastics. Solution casting was utilized to fabricate the blended films of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/cellulose acetate(CA)/starch with varying ratios with subsequent testing of their biodegradability using amylase and cellulase enzymes. Before and after enzymatic biodegradability testing, SEM, FTIR, tensile strength, elongation percentage, and swelling of (PVA/CA):(Starch) blended films were investigated. The optimized mechanical properties tensile strength appear at the ratio of (PVA/CA):(Starch) 1:1 was 37.17 ± 1.04 MPa. Using both amylase and cellulase enzymes at the same blend of the polymer best biodegradability that resulted in releasing 131.5 mg/dl of glucose units. The results suggest that (PVA/CA):(Starch) films blended in a ratio of 1:1 can replace petroleum-based plastics and become a green alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jarosite, an industrial waste, has the potential to be used as an alternative filler in biocomposites used as packaging material and can replace nondegradable thermoplastic. Such a novel approach of waste management strategy has not been studied till date. In this research work, different weight percentages of jarosite were mixed with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to fabricate polymer composites with better physico‐chemical, thermal, tensile, and biodegradation properties. The data indicate that a low concentration of jarosite (3 wt.%) improved the tensile strength by 198.7% and the composite showed higher thermal stability by 6.3% than that of the neat PVA. X‐ray diffractogram and transmission electron microscopic analysis revealed a strong interaction between PVA and jarosite. Interestingly, the addition of jarosite reduced the water absorption capacity and thickness swelling of the PVA composite by 58% and 54.7%, respectively. Jarosite‐incorporated composites showed lesser degradation potential (64%) than the control composites (84%) after 60 days under soil burial conditions, indicating that PVA‐jarosite composites have a higher shelf‐life, which is needed for packaging materials. These composites can also be good alternant for thermoplastic used in preparation of cuboid, sealing, and decorative materials. Also, this would be a novel sustainable approach for managing/reducing jarosite waste. Highlights: Jarosite was reinforced with PVA to fabricate biocomposites.The maximum tensile strength of the composite was achieved as 45.4 MPa.The thermal stability of mechanically optimized composite is found at 320°C.After 60 days under soil burial, the composite lost 64.8% of its original weight.Developed composites can be good alternant for nondegradable thermoplastic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In the current research, 6-gingerol (GA)-loaded nanofiber drug delivery system were developed, and their potential usage in wound healing was evaluated. Significance: This study investigates the effectiveness of nanofibrous membranes composed of sodium alginate (SA), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and 6-gingerol (GA) as delivery systems for anti-inflammatory agents in the context of wound dressings. Methods: GA-loaded SA/PVA nanofiber was prepared using electrospinning. In vitro characterization of this nanofiber included the examination of comprehensive in vitro characterization, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, cytotoxicity, a scratch tes and in vivo skin test. Results: GA was extracted from Zingiber officinale, and its successful isolation was confirmed through analyses such as H-NMR, C-NMR. Then GA was electrospuned into the SA/PVA nanofibers, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging revealed that the fiber diameters of the formulations ranged between 148 nm and 176 nm. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant studies demonstrated that the effectiveness of GA increased with higher doses; however, this increase was accompanied by decreased cell viability. In vitro release studies revealed that GA exhibited a burst release within the first 8 h, followed by a controlled release, reaching completion within 24 h. Within the scope of in vitro release kinetics, release data are mathematically compatible with the Weibull model with high correlation. The scratch test results indicated that TB2 (%1 GA) promoted epithelialization. Furthermore, it was determined that TB2 (%1 GA) did not cause any irritation. Conclusions: As a result, TB2 shows promise as a formulation for wound dressings, offering potential benefits in the field of wound care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bio‐based plasticizers‐glycerol and lactic acid were used to plasticize and compatibilize PVA/PLA blends during melt blending process. It was confirmed that lactic acid significantly improved the compatibility between glycerol‐plasticized PVA and PLA. Compared with pure PVA, the melting and crystallization temperatures and crystallinities decreased but the crystal form of PVA in the blends was not changed. The thermal stabilities of PVA/glycerol (G)/lactic acid (L)/PLA blends were better than PVA/G/PLA blends. Compared to PVA/G/PLA blends, the tensile and tear strength of PVA/G/L/PLA blends were improved, however, elongation at break decreased. The water absorptions and water vapor permeances of the blends decreased with the addition of hydrophobic PLA, but they increased by incorporation of hygroscopic lactic acid. The surface resistivities of the blends augmented in combination with PLA but declined by adding lactic acid. The melt flow rates of PVA/G/PLA blends were better than PVA/G/L/PLA blends because lactic acid enhanced the interactions among the components. After the addition of lactic acid, the transmittances of the blends increased due to the refined dispersed phases by the compatibilization. The compatibility between the components was predicated by Hansen solubility parameters. These blends showed potential as a novel barrier material for food and medicine packages. Highlights: PVA, glycerol, and PLA blends were compatibilized by lactic acid.The melting temperatures decreased with addition of glycerol and lactic acid.The tensile and tear strengths were enhanced with addition of PLA and lactic acid.The hydrophobicity, melt fluidity, and surface resistivity were improved by PLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Screw pine root fibers are engineering fibers that have yet to be explored in terms of its chemistry with bio‐resin in biodegradable composites to replace nonbiodegradable thermoplastics used in packaging, automobiles, furniture, and industrial sectors. Screw pine root fibers are reinforced with soy, poly(vinyl alcohol), and soy‐poly(vinyl alcohol) resin systems in this work to create a variety of composites. Composites demonstrated highest amount of tensile strength at around 39.7 MPa, 37.6 MPa of flexural property, along with an impact strength around 12.4 kJ/m2. The thermal solidity of the optimized material was determined to be 235°C. After 24 hours of immersion, the composite had the lowest water absorption of 18.4%. All composites were shown to be biodegradable, losing about 54.2%–72.9% of their original mass after 60 days in soil burial. Unique characteristics such as the use of low‐cost agricultural materials, water‐based resin, stable composite, and properties such as moderately strong, safe disposal after service periods make these manufactured composites market feasible as consumer‐friendly/ecofriendly green products. Highlights: Screw pine root fibers were extracted from waste roots and used as reinforcement.The tensile strength of the composite was achieved as 39.7 MPa.The water absorption of hybrid composite was found 30.8% after 24 h.After 60 days under soil burial, composite lost 67.5% of its original weightDeveloped composites can be good alternant for nondegradable thermoplastic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, seawater bittern, a by-product of sea salt production containing a concentrated inorganic substance, was used to recover magnesium in the form of nanostructured magnesium hydroxide/oxide. Mg(OH)2/MgO nanostructures from seawater bittern were synthesized by a precipitation method with different addition of PVA surfactants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of PVA surfactant on the morpho-structural properties and thermal behavior of MgO nanostructures. Simple control of the morphology and particle size of MgO nanostructures obtained by the addition of PVA was performed during synthesis. XRD structural analysis showed that the synthesized MgO samples have good crystalline nature. The average crystallite size of the samples is 26 nm, 26 nm, 23 nm, 24 nm, 23 nm and 23 nm, respectively, which decreases with increasing PVA content. Based on the average particle size, the optimum addition of poly(vinyl alcohol) is at a mass ratio of 1:1.5, since the smallest particles are obtained and have a uniform distribution. The SEM and TEM observations show an improvement in the agglomeration behavior of MgO nanoparticles by increasing the PVA content. The constituents of the samples were confirmed by XRF and EDS analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meeting the demands of complex and advanced applications requires the development of high-performance hybrid materials with unique properties. However, the integration of polymeric frameworks with MgO/WO3 composite layers faces challenges due to the lack of understanding of the formation mechanism and the challenge of determining the impact of self-assembled architecture on anticorrosive properties. In this study, we aimed to enhance the corrosion resistance of the MgO layer produced by plasma electrolysis (PE) of AZ31 Mg alloy by incorporating WO3 with partially phosphorated poly(vinyl alcohol) (PPVA). Two types of porous MgO layers were produced using the PE process with an alkaline-phosphate electrolyte, one with and one without WO3 nanoparticles, which were subsequently immersed in an aqueous solution of PPVA. Incorporating PPVA into the WO3-MgO layer resulted in hybrids being deposited in a fragmented manner, creating a ``laminar reef-like structure'' that sealed most of the structural defects in the layer. The PPVA-sealed WO3-based coating exhibited superior corrosion resistance compared to the other samples. Computational analyses were employed to explore the mechanism underlying the formation of PPVA/WO3 hybrids on the MgO layer. These findings suggest that PPVA-WO3-MgO hybrid coatings can potentially improve corrosion resistance in various fields.

This paper presents and explains the principle behind anelectrochemical method to enhance the antimicrobial action of plasma‐activated hydrogel therapy (PAHT) in the context of wound decontamination. The process involves grounding and hydratingpoly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel films during treatment with a helium (He) plasma jet. This electrochemically enhances production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is amajor antibacterial agent produced in the PVA hydrogel. Production of H2O2 is shownto be electrically enhanced through electron dissociation reactions, and through reactions associated with excited state species, metastables and ultra‐violet (UV) photolysis. H2O2 production is chemically enhanced through the He flow of the plasma jet dehydrating the PVA hydrogel, which fuels the electrochemical dependent reactions associated with H2O2 production. The electrochemical process produces an unprecedented 3.4 mM of H2O2 in the PVA hydrogel. Production of other molecules such as reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are also enhanced by the same method. The electrochemically enhanced PAHT is highly effective ateradicating common wound pathogens Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and mildly effective against Staphylococcus aureus. Overall, this study shows that the new PAHT dressing offers a promising alternative to antibiotics and silver‐based dressings for controlling infection and stimulating healing in wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite films were synergistically modified by adding corn starch (CS) and peach gum (PG). The effects of PVA molecular weight, different CS addition, and the PG incorporation with the same CS addition on the moisture and heat resistance of PVA/CS/PG composite film were investigated. The results show that the hydroxyl groups of CS and PG interact with PVA chains by hydrogen bonding. The crystal size of PVA in the PVA/CS/PG composite film decreases, while the crosslinking density increases. At the same time, with the increase of CS and PG content, the network mesh size of the composite film gradually decreases, and the thermal stability can be improved. The water vapor permeability test shows that as w(CS)=2% and w(PG)=2%, the water content of PG/CS/PVA composite film increases by 11.5%, while the water vapor permeability decreases by 43%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of a novel total meniscal implant in promoting meniscal regeneration and protecting articular cartilage in a rabbit model for 3 and 6 months. Methods: Thirty‐six New Zealand rabbits were selected and divided into poly(ɛ‐caprolactone) (PG‐Pg) scaffold group, meniscectomy group and sham group. In this study, it was investigated whether PG‐Pg scaffold can prevent articular cartilage degeneration and promote tissue degeneration, and its mechanical properties at 3 and 6 months after surgery were also explored. Result: The degree of articular cartilage degeneration was significantly lower in the PG‐Pg scaffold group than in the meniscectomy group. The number of chondrocytes increased in the PG‐Pg scaffold at 3 and 6 months, while a gradual increase in the mechanical properties of the PG‐Pg stent was observed from 6 months. Conclusion: The PG‐Pg scaffold slows down the degeneration of articular cartilage, promotes tissue regeneration and improves biomechanical properties after meniscectomy. This novel meniscus scaffold holds promise for enhancing surgical strategies and delivering superior long‐term results for individuals with severe meniscus tears. Level of Evidence: NA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-coordinated hydrogels are becoming increasingly popular in the biomedical field due to their unique properties. However, the mechanism behind gel forming involving metal ions is not yet fully understood. In this work, terahertz spectroscopy was used to investigate the role of interfacial water in the gelation process of copper ion-coordinated poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels. The results showed that the binding of copper ions could alter the interfacial hydration dynamics of the poly(vinyl alcohol) polymers. Combined with the results of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), we propose a possible hydration layer-mediated mechanism for the formation of cooper ion-coordinated hydrogel during the freeze–thaw cycle. These results highlight the value of terahertz spectroscopy as a sensor for studying the hydration process in hydrogels and provide an important clue for understanding the mechanism of hydrogelation in ion-coordinated hydrogels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition from fossil fuels is in part limited by our inability to store energy at different scales. Batteries are therefore in high demand, and we need them to store more energy, be more reliable, durable and have less social and environmental impact. Silica-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite aerogels doped with sodium perchlorate were synthesized as novel electrolytes for potential application in solid-state sodium batteries. The aerogels, synthesized by one-pot synthesis, are light (up to 214 kg m−3), porous (~85%), exhibit reduced shrinkage on drying (up to 12%) and a typical silica aerogel microstructure. The formation of a silica network and the presence of PVA and sodium perchlorate in the composite were confirmed by FTIR and TGA. The XRD analysis also shows that a predominantly amorphous structure is obtained, as crystalline phases of polymer and salt are present in a very reduced amount. The effects of increasing polymer and sodium salt concentrations on the ionic conductivity, assessed via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, were studied. At a PVA concentration of 15% (w/w silica precursors), the sodium conduction improved significantly up to (1.1 ± 0.3) × 10−5 S cm−1. Thus, this novel material has promising properties for the envisaged application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]