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Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have displayed potential in regenerating organ function due to their anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative properties. However, there is a need for delivery systems to enhance MSC retention while maintaining their anti-fibrotic characteristics. This study investigates the feasibility of using alginate hydrogel microstrands as a cell delivery vehicle to maintain MSC viability and phenotype. To accommodate cell implantation needs, we invented a Syringe-in-Syringe approach to reproducibly fabricate microstrands in small numbers with a diameter of around 200 µm and a porous structure, which would allow for transporting nutrients to cells by diffusion. Using murine NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and primary embryonic 16 (E16) salivary mesenchyme cells as primary stromal cell models, we assessed cell viability, growth, and expression of mesenchymal and fibrotic markers in microstrands. Cell viability remained higher than 90% for both cell types. To determine cell number within the microstrands prior to in vivo implantation, we have further optimized the alamarBlue assay to measure viable cell growth in microstrands. We have shown the effect of initial cell seeding density and culture period on cell viability and growth to accommodate future stromal cell delivery and implantation. Additionally, we confirmed homeostatic phenotype maintenance for E16 mesenchyme cells in microstrands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics are everywhere and may be harmful to the biota environment. This study investigated microfiber contamination in giant freshwater prawn tissues, one of Thailand's economic species. The prawn samples were taken from the Trang River in southern Thailand in September 2022. Three tissue sections (head, middle, and tail) of 60 prawns were studied and the samples were digested with 10 % potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution. We utilized a stereomicroscope to study the microplastics and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) to determine the types of polymer. There were 3.50 ± 0.34 microfibers in the head per 5 g weight, 2.87 ± 0.29 per 5 g weight in the middle, and 3.10 ± 2.28 per 5 g weight in the tail. Fiber appearance is obvious, the predominant color is blue, the most common size is in the range of 101-500 µm, and the polymer type found is cotton rayon polypropylene (PP). The correlation analysis of microfiber content (in the stomach and intestine), carapace length, abdomen length, stomach weight, and body weight in giant freshwater prawns was not correlated with tissue microfiber content (p > 0.01). It was found that the number of microplastics in giant freshwater prawns was not significantly different (p > 0.05) among the 3 sections of prawn tissue (head tissue, middle tissue, and tail tissue). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The issue of cigarette butts is an environmental crisis that has affected the world. Despite their small size, CBs are one of the most common types of solid waste found in public places, particularly in coastal areas. The aim of this study was to investigate the adsorption behavior of microfibers obtained from cigarette butts on tetracycline before and after aging. 1 g of CBs was added to 50 mL of distilled water and stirred at 220 rpm for 2 h, then filtered through Whatman 0.45 µm filter paper, and the resulting MFs were dried at 60 °C for 24 h. To simulate aging, the MFs were subjected to an ultrasonic treatment at a frequency of 80 Hz and a power of 70 W for 4 h. The adsorption behavior of aged and fresh MFs was investigated using solutions containing TTC in the range of 5–20 mg/L. This study showed that ultrasonically aged MFs had a greater tendency to adsorb TTC than fresh MFs due to an increased surface area and changes in surface chemistry. It can be concluded that as the age of MFs increases, they adsorb more concentration of pollutants. This can lead to increased contamination of MFs in the presence of contaminants.

The issue of cigarette butts is an environmental crisis that has affected the world. Despite their small size, CBs are one of the most common types of solid waste found in public places, particularly in coastal areas. The aim of this study was to investigate the adsorption behavior of microfibers obtained from cigarette butts on tetracycline before and after aging. 1 g of CBs was added to 50 mL of distilled water and stirred at 220 rpm for 2 h, then filtered through Whatman 0.45 µm filter paper, and the resulting MFs were dried at 60 °C for 24 h. To simulate aging, the MFs were subjected to an ultrasonic treatment at a frequency of 80 Hz and a power of 70 W for 4 h. The adsorption behavior of aged and fresh MFs was investigated using solutions containing TTC in the range of 5–20 mg/L. This study showed that ultrasonically aged MFs had a greater tendency to adsorb TTC than fresh MFs due to an increased surface area and changes in surface chemistry. It can be concluded that as the age of MFs increases, they adsorb more concentration of pollutants. This can lead to increased contamination of MFs in the presence of contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper disposal of waste medical masks has become increasingly urgent in order to protect the ecosystem. Our exploratory study has proven the feasibility of producing waste mask microfibers (WMMF) and pretreating them with graphene oxide (GO) to enhance the strengths of cement composites. This study further explored the resistance of designed WMMF/GO-WMMF mortar (w/c of 0.40) to chloride migration and frost damage, to address the knowledge gap related to durability. The GO-pretreated WMMF improved the chloride migration resistance (by ∼50%) and the freeze–thaw resistance (by ∼20%), likely due to the tortuosity-increasing, hydration-accelerating, and hydrates-regulating roles of GO in the cementitious material. The microscopic investigation, including backscatter electron imaging, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis, shed light on the mechanistic roles of GO and WMMF in cement composites. In addition, the two-parameter Weibull distribution was employed to model the frost damage and compare the remaining capacity of freeze–thaw resistance of the three designed mortar samples at the same reliability level; the Bayesian method was also utilized to model the uncertainty during the cyclic freeze–thaw process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid construction of versatile perfusable vascular networks in vitro with cylindrical channels still remains challenging. Here, a microfiber-patterned method is developed to precisely fabricate versatile well-controlled perfusable vascular networks with cylindrical channels. This method uses tensile microfibers as an easy-removable template to rapidly generate cylindrical-channel chips with one-dimensional, two-dimensional, three-dimensional and multilayered structures, enabling the independent and precise control over the vascular geometry. These perfusable and cytocompatible chips have great potential to mimic vascular networks. The inner surfaces of a three-dimensional vascular network are lined with the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to imitate the endothelialization of a human blood vessel. The results show that HUVECs attach well on the inner surface of channels and form endothelial tubular lumens with great cell viability. The simple, rapid and low-cost technique for versatile perfusable vascular networks offers plenty of promising opportunities for microfluidics, tissue engineering, clinical medicine and drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of commonly used treatment chemicals on the morphology and molecular structure of microfibers (MFs) and microplastic films (MPFs) to determine whether significant changes could occur during wastewater treatment. MFs and MPFs were exposed to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2, pH 11), sodium hydroxide (NaOH, pH11), and hydrochloric acid (HCl, pH 3) at typical doses and exposure times used at wastewater treatment plants. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) were used to examine any morphological or chemical changes after the treatment. Morphological changes were observed in the form of cracks, and increased roughness was revealed in the SEM and 3-D surface images. The results showed that MFs were more resistant to surface degradation than MPFs. Moreover, intensity peaks of ATR-FTIR revealed some partial dislodgement of the bonds in both MFs and MPFs after chemical treatment, but the overall polymer structure remained intact. The changes that occur on the surface of MFs and MPFs during chemical treatment can impact their fate, removal, and transportation behavior both at the treatment plant and after discharge to the environment. HIGHLIGHTS We investigated the impact of treatment chemicals on the morphology and molecular structure of microfibers (MFs) and microplastic films (MPFs).; MFs and MPFs were exposed to NaOCl, H2O2, Ca(OH)2, NaOH and HCl.; SEM and ATR-FTIR were used to examine the changes.; Results showed some degradation of MFs and MPFs at low concentrations and exposure times, which may impact their fate, removal, and transport.;

Domestic laundry wastewater discharge contributes significantly to the presence of microfiber and surfactant pollutants in aquatic ecosystems, which have detrimental and toxic effects on humans and the environment. Investigating the efficacy of powdered activated carbon (PAC) in removing micro-/nanofibers with or without surfactant from household laundry effluent is the purpose of the current research. To simulate real-world scenarios, PAC adsorption kinetics and isotherms in laundry effluents under controlled conditions were studied. These studies showed that the kinetics obeyed a pseudo-second-order process and the isotherms varied between Langmuir and Freundlich models depending on the water types. In the results of experiments using distilled water and tap water, it was observed that the adsorption capacity was higher in tap water. When the adsorption of 0.1 μm filtered synthetic garments, detergent, and tap water was compared with the adsorption of the raw sample, it was observed that the adsorption capacity of the 0.1 μm filtered version was higher. Even though this study is preliminary, the results indicate that PAC has the capacity to serve as a viable approach for mitigating micro-/nanoplastic and surfactant contamination from laundry wastewater, thereby offering valuable guidance for advancing eco-friendly laundry techniques. HIGHLIGHTS The adsorption capacity of PAC is higher for nanofibers than microfibers.; Surfactants and microfibers can be removed with low dosages of PAC.; With PAC adsorption, more than 60% of TOC and ANS removal was obtained in the first 30 min.; The ions in the tap water play a role in increasing the adsorption capacity.;

In the context of the so-called lignocellulose bio-refinery, the coconut shell (S) and pulp (P) of Acrocomia aculeata (Arecaceae) are interesting agro-industrial wastes that can be used as feedstock for the production of high value-added products. The aim of this work was to evaluate these lignocellulosic residues S and P, to obtain the microcrystal (MCC) and microfiber (MFC) of cellulose, and to characterize them to propose possible applications. First, cellulose content in the raw materials was determined, being 39.69% and 45.42% for both (S and P)) respectively, respectively. Then, the purification of residues was carried out via alkaline and bleaching treatments. Next, in order to obtain MCC and MFC from the purified cellulose, a chemical treatment with HCl (for MCC) and a mechanical treatment with a blender (for MFC) were performed. The size and morphology were observed via MEB, and properties were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTG). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(aryl ether sulfone ketone) (PPESK) is an engineering plastic with high strength, good heat resistance, insulation, and chemical corrosion resistance. The properties of PPESK fiber prepared by centrifugal melt electrospinning can be improved, and the method is efficient and environmentally friendly. This article employs a systematic analysis to investigate the impact of process parameters on the jet formation process, jet motion, fiber diameter, fiber yield, and changes in molecular chain orientation of PPESK. The analysis uses dissipative particle dynamics simulation to reveal that PPESK fibers can attain a certain degree of refinement, and fiber yield can be increased with an appropriate increase in rotational speed, temperature, and electric field force. Moreover, for PPESK with different chain lengths, longer molecular chains impede the untwisting of the molecular chains within the fiber, weakening the fiber orientation, increasing fiber diameter, and resulting in a slower fiber yield increase. These simulation results provide theoretical guidance for preparing PPESK ultrafine fibers with the required performance, shortening the exploration process of actual spinning, and saving time and labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microfibers are a new type of pollutants that are widely distributed in water bodies. And the simultaneous removal of pollutants in water is popular research in the field of water treatment. In this study, magnesium hydroxide was used as coagulant to investigate the performance and mechanism of coagulation and removal of dyes (reactive orange) and microfibers (MFs). The presence of dyestuff in the composite system promoted the removal of microfibers, and the maximum removal efficiency of both could reach 95.55% and 95.35%. The coagulation mechanism was explored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and zeta potential. The removal of reactive orange and microfibers relied on electrical neutralization, sweep flocculation, and adsorption mechanisms. Turbidity can enhance the removal efficiency of both. Boosting the rotational speed can increase the removal efficiency of microfibers. This study provides an important theoretical support for an in-depth understanding of the characteristics and mechanisms of coagulation for the removal of complex pollutants from printing and dyeing wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the international background of energy resource shortage, the development of new energy has become a new development trend. Using triboelectricity generation and electrostatic induction.friction nanogenerator (TENG) can convert external mechanical energy into electric energy. Therefore. TENG, which is made of fiber fabric suitable for human body. has attracted wide attention. In this paper, nylon 6/ alkali-soluble polyester (PA6/COPET) nonwoollen cloth was used as substrate. By impregnating graphene/waterborne polyurethane (Gr/WPU), alkali declination and re-impregnating Gr. nano reinforced graphene/waterborne polyurethane/microfiber composite (SGWPU/MF) with bionic leather structure was prepared. TENG was constructed by composite of SGWPU/MF and PTFE membrane, SEM and ultra depth of field were used to observe the microstructure of SGWPU/MF.characterize its sanitary properties such as air permeability, water permeability, softness and roughness, and conduct finite element simulation analysis for the designed TENG. The experimental results show that: When Gr dosage was 2.0% (measured by PA6/COPET mass), SGWPU/MF tensile strength was 15. 20 MPa, elongation at break was 95. 23%, tear strength was 116.63 N/ mm, tear force was 134. 16 N. and air permeability was 4 534. 01 ml/cm²• h. The moisture permeability is 649.60 mg/10 cm²• 24 h, the softness is 7.50, and the roughness Ra is 4. 93 μm. The TENG is capable of lighting 44 LED lights and powering commercial watches and timers. The SGWPU/MF fabric TENG has the characteristics of softness and comfort, excellent mechanical properties and high self-powered output, which has broad application pros pects in bionics.clothing energy and other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a novel nanomaterial, the TiN/Ti3C2 heterojunction has been demonstrated to possess exceptional optoelectronic properties, offering significant potential for applications in fields such as communication, optical sensors, and image processing. The rapid evolution of the internet demands higher communication capacity and information processing speed. In this context, all-optical wavelength conversion, a pivotal technique in all-optical signal processing, holds paramount importance in overcoming electronic bottlenecks, enhancing wavelength utilization, resolving wavelength competition, and mitigating network congestion. Utilizing the idle light generated through the four-wave mixing (FWM) process accurately mimics the bit patterns of signal channels. This process is inherently rapid and theoretically capable of surpassing electronic bottlenecks with ease. By placing an optical filter at the fiber output end to allow idle light passage while blocking pump and signal light, the output becomes a wavelength-converted replica of the original bitstream. It has been verified that TiN/Ti3C2 heterojunction-coated microfiber (THM) exhibits outstanding third-order nonlinear coefficients. Building upon this, we achieved a THM-enhanced FWM all-optical wavelength converter, resulting in a ~4.48 dB improvement in conversion efficiency. Compared to conventional high-nonlinear fibers, this compact device significantly reduces fiber length and can be easily integrated into current high-speed optical communication networks. It demonstrates broad prospects in the realms of all-optical signal processing, robotic applications, ultra-high-speed communication, and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Advanced Textile Technology is the property of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University Magazines and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Advanced Textile Technology is the property of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University Magazines and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

An appropriate wound dressing is necessary to enhance the recovery of wounds and the restoration of tissue after the skin gets injured. In this study, a hollow porous microfiber (HPMF) scaffold composed of a combination of polylactic acid (PLA)/polybutylene adipate/butylene terephthalate (PBAT)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was developed using coaxial electrospinning for wound healing. The porous structure of PLA/PBAT HPMFs was formed by dissolving PVA in water. The results showed that when maintaining a PLA: PBAT weight ratio of 7:3, high-quality porous PLA/PBAT composites were achieved, leading to a 36.25% increase in toughness and a 4.9% increase in biodegradability compared to pure PLA. Furthermore, in vivo wound healing assays suggest that composites successfully loaded can effectively promote wound healing on the 13th day. Therefore, this work underscores the significant potential of PLA/PBAT HPMF dressing for wound repair.

Electromechanically active nano/microfibers are promising components of sensors and actuators; however, piezoelectric polymers are normally expensive. To address this issue, this study examined the geometrical and electrostatic densities of an inexpensive highly sparse as-electrospun atactic polystyrene microfiber mat. The densities of porous individual fibers and the highly sparse fiber mat were experimentally determined to be 0.88 and 0.051 g cm−3, respectively, with corresponding material filling ratios of 80 % and 4.7 %, respectively. A high theoretical surface charge density of approximately 1.4 × 10−3 C m−2 was determined for the fiber mat after excluding air spaces in both individual fibers and the mat. These findings provide a pathway to outstanding electrets that are ultra-lightweight and have high charge densities.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have displayed potential in regenerating organ function due to their anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative properties. However, there is a need for delivery systems to enhance MSC retention while maintaining their anti-fibrotic characteristics. This study investigates the feasibility of using alginate hydrogel microstrands as a cell delivery vehicle to maintain MSC viability and phenotype. To accommodate cell implantation needs, we invented a Syringe-in-Syringe approach to reproducibly fabricate microstrands in small numbers with a diameter of around 200 µm and a porous structure, which would allow for transporting nutrients to cells by diffusion. Using murine NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and primary embryonic 16 (E16) salivary mesenchyme cells as primary stromal cell models, we assessed cell viability, growth, and expression of mesenchymal and fibrotic markers in microstrands. Cell viability remained higher than 90% for both cell types. To determine cell number within the microstrands prior to in vivo implantation, we have further optimized the alamarBlue assay to measure viable cell growth in microstrands. We have shown the effect of initial cell seeding density and culture period on cell viability and growth to accommodate future stromal cell delivery and implantation. Additionally, we confirmed homeostatic phenotype maintenance for E16 mesenchyme cells in microstrands.

Poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a well-known biodegradable bio-based polymer but can be brittle. Polymer blending of PHB with polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) has been proposed to improve the mechanical properties. Compatibilizers have been considered to improve the performance of the polymer blend with PHB; however, the effect of compatibilizers on biodegradation is controversial. In the present study, the PHB polymer was blended with PP, a non-biodegradable synthetic polymer, and spun into fiber form. Furthermore, the effect of increased interaction between the polymers was investigated by increasing the miscibility with compatibilizer, maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (MAPP). The biodegradation of PHB in the blends was investigated in aquatic aerobic conditions with a closed respirometer with activated sludge as inoculum. Since PP is not a biodegradable polymer, the PHB-based biodegradation was calculated based on the ratio of oxygen consumption to the theoretical oxygen demand of PHB polymer in the blends. The fibers with a concentration of PHB below 75% showed a significant decrease in PHB biodegradation. This result confirms that non-biodegradable polymers in the blend can hinder the biodegradation of biodegradable polymers. Additionally, this blending is shown herein to have unintended consequences, creating micro and nano pollution of residual synthetic PP material. MAPP has an effect of increasing the miscibility between PP and PHB; however, this increased miscibility rendered the PHB biodegradation to be very low, less than 25%. This result suggests that even though increased miscibility can improve mechanical performance, it can decrease the biodegradation of biodegradable polymers in non-biodegradable/biodegradable polymer blends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibrous scaffolds have shown their advantages in tissue engineering, such as peripheral nerve regeneration, while most of the existing fiber‐shaped scaffolds are with simple structures, and the in vitro performance for nerve regeneration lacks systematic analysis. Here, novel nerve‐on‐a‐chip derived biomimicking microfibers for peripheral nerve regeneration are presented. The microfibers with controllable core–shell structures and functionalities are generated through capillary microfluidic devices. By integrating these microfibers into a multitrack‐architectured chip, and coculturing them with nerve cells as well as gradient bioactive elements, the nerve‐on‐a‐chip with the capabilities of systematically assessing the performances of nerve fiber formation in the hollow microfibers at in vitro level is constructed. Based on a rat sciatic nerve injury model, the rapid promotion ability is demonstrated of optimized microfibers in nerve regeneration and function recovery in vivo, which implies the credibility of the nerve‐on‐a‐chip on biomimicking microfibers evaluation for peripheral nerve regeneration. Thus, it is convinced that the organ‐on‐a‐chip will undoubtedly open up a new chapter in evaluating biological scaffolds for in vivo tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During laundering, synthetic textiles (polyester, polyamide, etc.) can release small fiber debris with a length of <5 mm. These are a type of microplastics (MPs), usually referred to as microfibers (MFs), which are considered high-concern pollutants due to their continuous and cumulative entrance into the environment. Currently, as far as we know, there are no feasible alternatives to remove them. In this work, four new and sustainable filtering systems are proposed to retain the MFs emitted from domestic washing machines. The filters contain a replaceable cartridge partially filled with recycled low-density polyethylene pellets. The four designed filtering systems of different sizes were tested in a household washing machine determining the retention efficiency of the MFs after several washing cycles. It was found that all four assessed filter arrangements have a good performance for retaining MFs from the washers' effluents. Filter F1 (diameter of 4 cm and a height of 30 cm) started retaining more than 50% of the MFs, at the 10th washing cycle, the retention climbed to 66%, while in the 20th washing cycle, its retention was greater than 80%. MFs retention was higher for filter F2 (diameter of 6.3 cm and a height of 41 cm), achieving a performance greater than 90% in the 20th washing cycle. Filter F3 was arranged by turning the F1 model flow upside down and the retention efficiency is higher compared with filter F1 values, reaching a retention efficiency of almost 100% in the 15th washing cycle. Finally, filter F4 arrangement was developed using the existing washing machine filter, obtaining better performance than the F1 and F2 filters, reaching efficiencies higher than 90% at the 20th washing cycle. In summary, depending on the arrangement, the microfiber retention efficiency was estimated between 52% and 86% in the 1st washing cycle and up to 83% to 99% in the 20th. Additionally, all arrangements demonstrated that the cartridges may last for more than 30 washing cycles before needing to be replaced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomaterials may enhance neural repair after spinal cord injury (SCI) and testing their functionality in large animals is essential to achieve successful clinical translation. This work developed a porcine contusion/compression SCI model to investigate the consequences of myelotomy and implantation of fibrin gel containing biofunctionalized carbon microfibers (MFs). Fourteen pigs were distributed in SCI, SCI/myelotomy, and SCI/myelotomy/implant groups. An automated device was used for SCI. A dorsal myelotomy was performed on the lesion site at 1 day post-injury for removing cloths and devitalized tissue. Bundles of MFs coated with a conducting polymer and cell adhesion molecules were embedded in fibrin gel and used to bridge the spinal cord cavity. Reproducible lesions of about 1 cm in length were obtained. Myelotomy and lesion debridement caused no further neural damage compared to SCI alone but had little positive effect on neural regrowth. The MFs/fibrin gel implant facilitated axonal sprouting, elongation, and alignment within the lesion. However, the implant also increased lesion volume and was ineffective in preventing fibrosis, thus precluding functional neural regeneration. Our results indicate that myelotomy and lesion debridement can be advantageously used for implanting MF-based scaffolds. However, the implants need refinement and pharmaceuticals will be necessary to limit scarring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to single functional materials, multifunctional materials with magnetism and luminescence are more attractive and promising; Thus, it has become an important subject. In our work, bifunctional Fe3O4/Tb(acac)3phen/polystyrene) microfibers with magnetic and luminescent properties (acac: acetylacetone, phen: 1,10-phenanthroline) were synthesized by simple electrospinning process. The doping of Fe3O4 and Tb(acac)3phen made the fiber diameter larger. The surface of pure polystyrene microfibers and microfibers doped only with Fe3O4 nanoparticles were chapped similar to bark, whereas the surface of the microfibers was smoother after doping with Tb(acac)3phen complexes. The luminescent properties of the composite microfibers were systematically studied in contrast to pure Tb(acac)3phen complexes, including excitation and emission spectra, fluorescence dynamics, and the temperature dependence of intensity. Compared with the pure complexes, the thermal activation energy and thermal stability of composite microfiber was significantly improved, and the luminescence of the unit mass of Tb(acac)3phen complexes in composite microfibers was stronger than that in pure Tb(acac)3phen complexes. The magnetic properties of the composite microfibers were also investigated using hysteresis loops, and an interesting experimental phenomenon was found that the saturation magnetization of the composite microfibers gradually increased with the increase in the doping proportion of terbium complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The piezoresistance of carbon nanotube (CNT)-coated microfibers is examined using diametric compression. Diverse CNT forest morphologies were studied by changing the CNT length, diameter, and areal density via synthesis time and fiber surface treatment prior to CNT synthesis. Large-diameter (30–60 nm) and relatively low-density CNTs were synthesized on as-received glass fibers. Small-diameter (5–30 nm) and-high density CNTs were synthesized on glass fibers coated with 10 nm of alumina. The CNT length was controlled by adjusting synthesis time. Electromechanical compression was performed by measuring the electrical resistance in the axial direction during diametric compression. Gauge factors exceeding three were measured for small-diameter (<25 μm) coated fibers, corresponding to as much as 35% resistance change per micrometer of compression. The gauge factor for high-density, small-diameter CNT forests was generally greater than those for low-density, large-diameter forests. A finite element simulation shows that the piezoresistive response originates from both the contact resistance and intrinsic resistance of the forest itself. The change in contact and intrinsic resistance are balanced for relatively short CNT forests, while the response is dominated by CNT electrode contact resistance for taller CNT forests. These results are expected to guide the design of piezoresistive flow and tactile sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) research still at the budding stage in Estonia. A theoretical model build on substance flow analysis principles was developed. The goal of this study is to broaden understanding of MPs-types in wastewater and their contribution from known sources, quantify their presence based on model prediction and in-situ measurements. The authors estimate MPs from laundry wash (LW) and personal care products (PCPs)) in wastewater in Estonia. We found out that total estimated MPs load per capita from PCPs and LW in Estonia were between 4.25 – 12 tons/year, 3.52 – 11.24 tons / year respectively, and estimated load ended up in wastewater were between 700 – 30,000 kg/yr. and 2 – 1500 kg/yr. in WWTPs influent and effluent stream respectively. Finally. We conducted a comparison between estimated MPs load and on-site sample analysis and observed a medium-high level of MPs being discharged into the environment annually. During quantification and chemical characterization using µFTIR analysis, we found that microfibers with a length of 0.2-0.6 mm accounted for over 75% of the total MPs load in the effluent samples collected from four coastal WWTPs in Estonia. The estimation avails us broader overview about the theoretical MPs load in wastewater and gain valuable insight into developing process methods that prevent MPs accumulation in sewage sludge for safe application in agriculture. Highlights: • Microplastics load in the influent and effluent of selected WWTPs is predicted. •Estimated microplastics load in the effluent of selected WWTPs is compared with onsite measurements. •Microfibers make up the majority of MPs found in the effluent of the studied WWTPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of all-optical networks, all-optical devices have become a research hotspot in recent years. Two-dimensional materials, represented by graphene and black phosphorus, have attracted great interest in the scientific community due to their excellent optical, electrical, magnetic, and mechanical properties. Bridging the gap between fiber optics and nanotechnology, microfibers can interact with light and matter at the micro or even nanoscale. By combining two-dimensional materials with microfibers, composite waveguides can be formed. They have the advantages of high nonlinear effect, all-fiber structure, and high damage threshold, etc. The composite waveguide can be directly applied to optical fiber communication systems, and plays an important role in the field of all-optical signal processing with a huge application prospect. In this review, the properties of typical 2D materials are first introduced. Next, the preparation methods of the relevant equipments are introduced and compared. Then, the all-optical signal processing technology based on 2D material-integrated microfiber composite waveguide is reviewed. The latest developments of all-optical modulators, all-optical wavelength converters, all-optical logic gates and all-optical thresholding devices are presented. Finally, the challenges and opportunities for the future development of 2D materials-integrated microfiber optoelectronic devices are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, micro-cellulosic fibers were isolated from the bark of Morinda tinctoria (MT) and characterized for the first time. The anatomical, physical, chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the M. tinctoria bark fiber (MTBF) were investigated. The mean diameter and density values were determined to be 32.013 ± 1.43 μm and 1.4875 g/cm³, respectively. Zeta potential analysis and particle size measurements provided the evidence of enhanced micro-particle behavior on the fiber's surface. Various structural characterizations confirmed the presence of polysaccharide structures, monosaccharide compositions, glycosidic residues (sugar linkages), and cohesive reactions of TMSA (Trimethylsilyl alditol) derivatives, indicating the fiber's potential for strong surface absorption properties. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a crystallinity index of 51 % and a crystallite size of 3.086 nm for MTBF. Fourier transform infrared analysis indicated the presence of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin constituents, along with their corresponding functional groups. The calculated values of Young's modulus and tensile strength were determined to be 75.7 GPa and 746.77 MPa, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated the thermal stability of the extracted MTBF up to 240 °C. Based on these findings, the MT microfibrils derived from the bark can be considered as potential substitutes for existing synthetic composites, offering reinforcement for novel bio composites.

Microplastics residues in natural waters can adsorb organic contaminants owing to their rough surface morphology and high specific surface area, potentially harming human health when ingested. Although humans inevitably ingest microplastics, the bioaccessibility of microplastic-associated chemicals in the human gastric and intestinal fluids remains unresolved. This study investigated the mechanism and primary factor controlling the bioaccessibility of polypropylene (PP) microplastic fiber-associated tetracycline (TC) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) in simulated human gastrointestinal fluids. After mixing 0.1 g of PP microfiber with 10 mg/L of TC (or CIP) for 96 h and exposure to simulated human gastrointestinal fluids, the TC concentrations were 0.440, 0.678, and 1.840 mg/L and the CIP concentrations were 0.700, 1.367, and 3.281 mg/L CIP in the simulated human saliva, gastric, and intestinal fluids after incubation for 60 s, 4 h, and 8 h, respectively. This indicated that the antibiotics TC and CIP adsorbed onto microfiber surface are readily released into human gastrointestinal fluids upon ingestion. Gastric and intestinal fluids showed enhanced bioaccessibility to TC/CIP adhered to PP microfiber. The primary factors affecting the bioaccessibility to TC/CIP adhered to PP microfiber surfaces were found to be pepsin in human gastric fluid and trypsin in human intestinal fluid. Molecular docking and simulated molecular dynamic analyses results showed that pepsin and trypsin stablish connections with TC via hydrogen bonds (reaction sites: pepsin TC: T139, T136, S97, D94, D277 and Y251; trypsin TC: S257, H120, K235, G274, and G276) and CIP via hydrophobic interactions (reaction sites: pepsin CIP: Y137, T136, T139, F173, I362, V353, and I275; trypsin CIP: W273, I161, C253, and C277). Our findings highlight that microplastic ingestion increases the risk of microplastics and the co-contaminants adsorbed to human health; thus, these findings are helpful to assess the risk of microplastics and co-contaminants to human health.

Exploring metallic microfibers with an excellent combination of high strength and ductility is a challenge for structural applications under extreme conditions. In this work, a heterogeneous gradient structure was introduced into CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) microfibers via thermomechanical processing. The annealed CoCrFeNi microfiber displays an ultrahigh yield strength of ∼ 1 GPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 1.45 GPa, and an outstanding uniform elongation of 75% at 150 K. These excellent properties originate from the ultrafine grains and heterogeneous gradient structure, as well as the activation of multiple deformation mechanisms including deformation twins, dense dislocations, stacking faults, Lomer-Cottrell locks, phase transformation and 9R phase. Our work not only suggests that HEA microfibers have great potential for structural applications in cryogenic environments, but also sheds light on the design of advanced multi-component metallic microfibers with superior mechanical properties.

Long-range peripheral nerve defect is a severe and worldwide disease. With the increasing development of tissue engineering, the excellent ability of nerve extracellular matrix (ECM) in peripheral nerve injury (PNI) has been widely studied and verified. Here, we present a novel microtube that contains gradient decellularized porcine sciatic nerve ECM hydrogel (pDScNM-gel) from microfluidics for sciatic nerve regeneration. The pDScNM is confirmed to enhance cell proliferation and migration, and improve the axon growth of primary dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) in a concentration-related manner. These behaviors were also achieved when cells were co-cultured in a gradient pDScNM microtube. The in vivo sciatic nerve regeneration and functional recovery were also demonstrated by assembling the gradient pDScNM microtubes with a medical silicon tube. These results indicated that the microtubes with gradient pDScNM could act as a promising alternative for repairing peripheral nerve defects and showed great potential in clinical use.

Since the beginning of human life, clothing accompanies him and clings to him as a part of him, and this layer has the ability to protect the person from any external factors that may harm him. In recent years, there has been a significant of synthetic fibers, Microfibers have contributed to this major shift in both excellent endurance properties and desirable texture. The research aims to study the specifications of summer clothing fabrics Where 20 samples were produced, one warp was used for all samples 120/2 cotton, the number of warp threads 56, the fabric structure 1/1. the research samples were prepared according to the variables set to test their effect on the properties of the produced samples, which first the difference in the weft material (cotton, polyester micro fiber, cotton & polyester micro fiber second the difference of weft thickness third the number of weft threads After testing the physical and mechanical properties on the executed samples to determine the extent of their ability to achieve the most appropriate performance (thickness, weight, water & moisture absorption, air permeability, elongation, tensile strength & elongation for fabric, fabric stiffness, crease recovery, drying rate, fabric pilling fabric abrasion resistance) . Then the results were discussed and statistically analyzed to identify the sample that gives the best level of functional performance in the samples , it turns out that the sample number 8 (42 weft threads. weft thickness 80/1) gave the best results & made from 100% polyester microfiber.

The current focus in the elastomer industry is to look for biobased or natural filler for various compounds. The reinforcing effect of waste drumstick‐derived cellulose micro and nanofiber in styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) was investigated for the very first time. Cellulose microfibers and nanofibers were isolated from the drumstick fruit peel and characterized using different techniques such as x‐ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The filler‐polymer interaction in the composites was studied using the bound rubber measurements, which showed that the bound rubber content of the composite increased from 0.5% to 8.1% at 5 phr cellulose nanofiber loading. The tensile strength and modulus of the modified cellulose microfiber‐containing composite were higher than both the unfilled SBR and the raw fiber‐SBR composites. The addition of 5 phr nanofiber to SBR showed a 46% increment of the tensile strength than the control compound. The die swell index of the cellulose fiber reinforced composites came down attesting the better processability of the extrudates. The addition of cellulose fiber also improved the wet skid resistance of the composites as seen from dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Hence, this work confirms the application of modified drumstick microfibers and nanofibers as sustainable fillers for high‐performance elastomers composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A good vascular graft should have a biomimetic integrated layered structure and simultaneously facilitate the formation of endothelial cell monolayer and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Herein, we report an integrated bilayered small-diameter vascular graft consisting of a dense inner layer of bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibers and saponified cellulose acetate (SCA) microfibers and a macroporous outer layer of BC. The integrated bilayered graft is fabricated by a combined method of electrospinning, in situ biosynthesis, and laser ablation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirms that the BC nanofibers run through the inner and outer layers, leading to an integrated bilayered graft, and average pore size in the outer layer is 225.4 μm. In case of the integrated structure, the bilayered graft shows the suture retention of 0.68 N and 0.54 N in the dried and wet states, respectively. In vitro hemocompatibility experiments show that the BC/SCA inner layer exhibits good hemocompatibility. Furthermore, the compact micro-nano-fibrous inner layer favors endothelialization, while the macroporous outer layer promotes growth and proliferation of SMCs, thus achieving control over specific cellular behavior in respective layers. The unique integrated bilayered vascular graft exhibits the required mechanics, good hemocompatibility and biocompatibility and thus holds great promise for use as a blood vessel substitute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Based on microfibers with sol–gel film, this study focuses on developing an organic contaminant sensing device to monitor airborne organic contamination in high-power laser facilities.Methods: The device heightened the sensitivity to the external environment with the nano-structure of sol–gel on the microfiber surface. The relationship between the additional laser transmission power loss caused by contaminants and the filling rate of the porosity of the film was discussed. In addition, we obtained the relationship between the additional loss and the refractive index of the microstructure.Results: The experimental results indicated that employing microfibers with microstructure coating could significantly improve sensing sensitivity to airborne organic contaminants. The precision of sensing surface contaminants can reach ng/cm2. When the concentration of organic contaminants is lower than 7.5%, the adsorption process of the microstructure coating is dominated by single-molecule adsorption, and the additional loss increases exponentially with increasing concentration, while the sensing limit is 70 ppm. When the concentration of organic contaminants exceeds 7.5%, the adsorption process of the surface microstructure coating is dominated by multimolecular adsorption. Therefore, the additional loss is exponentially related to the concentration of airborne organic contaminants, while the sensing limit is 10 ppm.Discussion: The study explored the adsorption mechanism of the sol–gel film to airborne organic contaminants at different concentrations. The Langmuir monolayer adsorption isotherm model and the Freundlich multi-molecular layer adsorption isotherm model was adopted to analyze and verify the experimental results, which suggested that the experimental results agree well with the simulation results. This work can be considered for in situ monitoring of airborne concentration contaminants and the transmittance of optics with the sol–gel film, and it also provides a new research method for in situ monitoring of airborne organic contaminants in the vacuum environment.

The ocean continues to be a sink for microparticle (MP) pollution, which includes microplastics and other anthropogenic debris. While documentation of MP in marine systems is now common, we lack information on rates of MP ingestion by baleen whales and their prey. We collected and assessed MP loads in zooplankton prey and fecal samples of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) feeding in coastal Oregon, USA and produced the first estimates of baleen whale MP consumption rates from empirical data of zooplankton MP loads (i.e., not modeled). All zooplankton species examined were documented gray whale prey items (Atylus tridens, Holmesimysis sculpta, Neomysis rayii) and contained an average of 4 MP per gram of tissue, mostly of the microfiber morphotype. We extrapolated MP loads in zooplankton prey to estimate the daily MP consumption rates of pregnant and lactating gray whales, which ranged between 6.5 and 21 million MP/day. However, these estimates do not account for MP ingested from ambient water or benthic sediments, which may be high for gray whales given their benthic foraging strategy. We also assessed MP loads in fecal samples from gray whales feeding in the same spatio-temporal area and detected MP in all samples examined, which included microfibers and significantly larger morphotypes than in the zooplankton. We theorize that gray whales ingest MP via both indirect trophic transfer from their zooplankton prey and directly through indiscriminate consumption of ambient MPs when foraging benthically where they consume larger MP morphotypes that have sunk and accumulated on the seafloor. Hence, our estimated daily MP consumption rates for gray whales are likely conservative because they are only based on indirect MP ingestion via prey. Our results improve the understanding of MP loads in marine ecosystems and highlight the need to assess the health impacts of MP consumption on zooplankton and baleen whales, particularly due to the predominance of microfibers in samples, which may be more toxic and difficult to excrete than other MP types. Furthermore, the high estimated rates of MP consumption by gray whales highlights the need to assess health consequences to individuals and subsequent scaled-up effects on population vital rates.

Textile wastewater is polluted by inorganic/organic substances, polymers, dyes, and microfibers (MFs), which are microplastics (MPs) and natural fibers. This work is aimed at the preliminary investigation of MFs and MPs in textile industrial wastewater, and at evaluating the removal efficiency of an on-site wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Ten samples of inflows and outflows of the WWTP of a textile company (applying a physic-chemical process) have been analyzed. Firstly, the samples underwent a pretreatment with 15% hydrogen peroxide at 25 °C for 5 days to remove organic compounds. Secondly, the MFs were recovered from the aqueous phase by pre-screening centrifugation, density separation, and filtration as alternative options. Filtration obtained the best performances, compared to the other recovery processes. Thirdly, the MFs were counted through optical microscopy and the MPs were identified through micro-FTIR. The MFs amount in the inflow samples was in the range of 893–4452 MFs/L. The outflow samples (310–2404 MFs/L) exhibited a 38–65% reduction compared to the inflows, demonstrating that up to 62% of residual MFs can enter the sewer network or the receiving water body. Cotton and wool, and numerous MPs (acrylic, polyester, polypropylene, polyamide, and viscose/rayon) were identified in the inflow and outflow samples (with the only exception of “dense” viscose (rayon), not detected in the outflows, and probably retained by the WWTP with the sludge). This study, even if just preliminary, offers interesting hints for future research on MFs/MPs detection in textile wastewater, and on the performance of a full-scale WWT process for their removal.

As a novel nanomaterial, the TiN/Ti3C2 heterojunction has been demonstrated to possess exceptional optoelectronic properties, offering significant potential for applications in fields such as communication, optical sensors, and image processing. The rapid evolution of the internet demands higher communication capacity and information processing speed. In this context, all-optical wavelength conversion, a pivotal technique in all-optical signal processing, holds paramount importance in overcoming electronic bottlenecks, enhancing wavelength utilization, resolving wavelength competition, and mitigating network congestion. Utilizing the idle light generated through the four-wave mixing (FWM) process accurately mimics the bit patterns of signal channels. This process is inherently rapid and theoretically capable of surpassing electronic bottlenecks with ease. By placing an optical filter at the fiber output end to allow idle light passage while blocking pump and signal light, the output becomes a wavelength-converted replica of the original bitstream. It has been verified that TiN/Ti3C2 heterojunction-coated microfiber (THM) exhibits outstanding third-order nonlinear coefficients. Building upon this, we achieved a THM-enhanced FWM all-optical wavelength converter, resulting in a ~4.48 dB improvement in conversion efficiency. Compared to conventional high-nonlinear fibers, this compact device significantly reduces fiber length and can be easily integrated into current high-speed optical communication networks. It demonstrates broad prospects in the realms of all-optical signal processing, robotic applications, ultra-high-speed communication, and beyond.

In this study, a 3 × 3 microfiber coupler sensing structure is fabricated by the fusion taper technology, and the mode coupling distribution of its light energy is numerically simulated by the beam propagation method. Results confirmed that the sensing structure produces regular and stable mode coupling within an 11–25 µm effective coupling region. The 3 × 3 microfiber coupler is used as a light splitter. In addition, it can also perform refractive index (RI) sensing. The RI characteristics of the proposed sensor are further verified experimentally. Experimental findings reveal that the RI sensitivity is inversely proportional to the effective coupling region diameter, and the sensitivity is 5223.83 nm/RIU when the effective coupling region diameter is 11 µm.