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This work concerns the fabrication of a green, novel, and sustainable system for the efficient removal of methylene blue from aqueous solutions. The proposed system is obtained by using sodium alginate/soybean extract blend reinforced with hemp hurd from agro-waste resources and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs). The ionotropic gelation methodology, using calcium chloride as a crosslinking agent, was easily applied to obtain composite beads. The adsorption studies were carried out up to 24 h using methylene blue as model system. The effect of HNTs on adsorption capacity was investigated proving that an increase in inorganic filler determined an increase in adsorption capacity from 32 to 49 mg/g by adding 35% wt of HNTs. The experimental data were fitted through four different models, demonstrating that the adsorption phenomenon is described by second-order process. Film diffusion and pore diffusion values were evaluated to better investigate the rate controlling mechanisms. Isotherm studies were then carried out to extrapolate thermodynamic parameters. Finally, a possible mechanism of adsorption was proposed on the basis of chemisorption mechanism. Here, we demonstrate that the proposed novel, inexpensive, and sustainable composite material obtained from agro-waste resources has high efficiency in removing a cationic dye from wastewaters. KEYWORDS adsorption, biomaterials, methylene blue, polysaccharides, renewable resources, 1 | INTRODUCTION The wastewaters derived from textiles, food, papers, and many other industries are representing the main source of dye pollution. [1, 2] Due to their toxicity, dyestuffs are [...]

The electrospinning process is an effective technique for creating micro- and nanofibers from synthetic and natural polymers, with significant potential for biomedical applications and drug delivery systems due to their high drug-loading capacity, large surface area, and tunable release times. Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) stands out for its excellent thermo-mechanical properties, biodegradability, and bioabsorbability. Electrospun PLLA nanofibrous structures have been extensively investigated as wound dressings, sutures, drug delivery carriers, and tissue engineering scaffolds. This study aims to create and characterize electrospun PLLA membranes loaded with spironolactone (SP), mimicking active compounds of Ganoderma lucidum (GL), to develop a biodegradable patch for topical wound-healing applications. GL, a medicinal mushroom, enhances dermal wound healing with its bioactive compounds, such as polysaccharides and ganoderic acids. Focusing on GL extracts—obtained through green extraction methods—and innovative drug delivery, we created new fibers for wound-healing potential applications. To integrate complex mixtures of bioactive compounds into the fibers, we developed a prototype using a single pure substance representing the extract mixture. This painstaking work presents the results of the fabricating, wetting, moisture properties, material resilience, and full characterization of the product, providing a robust rationale for the fabrication of fibers imbued with more complex extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of novel block copolymers, namely poly(limonene-phthalate)-block-poly(pentadecalactone) and poly(limonene-phthalate)-block-poly(pentadecalactone) is here described. To achieve this synthesis, a bimetallic aluminum based complex (1) was used as catalyst in the combination of two distinct processes: the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of macrolactones such as ω-pentadecalactone (PDL) and ω-6-hexadecenlactone (HDL) and the ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of limonene oxide (LO) and phthalic anhydride (PA). The synthesis of di-block polyesters was performed in a one-pot procedure, where the semi-aromatic polyester block was firstly formed by ROCOP of LO and PA, followed by the polyethylene like portion produced by ROP of macrolactones (PDL or HDL). The obtained di-block semiaromatic polyesters were characterized by NMR and GPC. The structural organization was analyzed through XRD. Thermal properties were evaluated using differential thermal analysis (DSC) and thermogravimetric measurements (TGA) either in air or in nitrogen atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]