Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 577 in total

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  1. Joynal Abedin FN, Hamid HA, Alkarkhi AFM, Amr SSA, Khalil NA, Ahmad Yahaya AN, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2021 Sep 19;13(18).
    PMID: 34578081 DOI: 10.3390/polym13183180
    In this study, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)/talc/graphene oxide/SEBS-g-MAH (ABS/Talc/GO/SEBS-g-MAH) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene/graphene oxide/SEBS-g-MAH (ABS/GO/SEBS-g-MAH) composites were isolated with varying graphene oxide (0.5 to 2.0 phr) as a filler and SEBS-g-MAH as a compatibilizer (4 to 8 phr), with an ABS:talc ratio of 90:10 by percentage. The influences of graphene oxide and SEBS-g-MAH loading in ABS/talc composites were determined on the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites. It was found that the incorporation of talc reduces the stiffness of composites. The analyses of mechanical and thermal properties of composites revealed that the inclusion of graphene oxide as a filler and SEBS-g-MAH as a compatibilizer in the ABS polymer matrix significantly improved the mechanical and thermal properties. ABS/talc was prepared through melt mixing to study the fusion characteristic. The mechanical properties showed an increase of 30%, 15%, and 90% in tensile strength (TS), flexural strength (FS), and flexural modulus (FM), respectively. The impact strength (IS) resulted in comparable properties to ABS, and it was better than the ABS/talc composite due to the influence of talc in the composite that stiffens and reduces the extensibility of plastic. The incorporation of GO and SEBS-g-MA also shows a relatively higher thermal stability in both composites with and without talc. The finding of the present study reveals that the graphene oxide and SEBS-g-MAH could be utilized as a filler and a compatibilizer in ABS/talc composites to enhance the thermo-mechanical stability because of the superior interfacial adhesion between the matrix and filler.
  2. Mat Rozi N, Hamid HA, Hossain MS, Khalil NA, Ahmad Yahaya AN, Syimir Fizal AN, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2021 Sep 29;13(19).
    PMID: 34641152 DOI: 10.3390/polym13193338
    A multi-objective optimization of in situ sol-gel process was conducted in preparing oil palm fiber-reinforced polypropylene (OPF-PP) composite for an enhancement of mechanical and thermal properties. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and butylamine were used as precursors and catalysts for the sol-gel process. The face-centered central composite design (FCCD) experiments coupled with response surface methodology (RSM) has been utilized to optimize in situ silica sol-gel process. The optimization process showed that the drying time after the in-situ silica sol-gel process was the most influential factor on silica content, while the molar ratio of TEOS to water gave the most significant effect on silica residue. The maximum silica content of 34.1% and the silica residue of 35.9% were achieved under optimum conditions of 21.3 h soaking time, 50 min drying time, pH value of 9.26, and 1:4 molar ratio of TEOS to water. The untreated oil palm fiber (OPF) and silica sol-gel modified OPF (SiO2-OPF) were used as the reinforcing fibers, with PP as a matrix and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAgPP) as a compatibilizer for the fiber-reinforced PP matrix (SiO2-OPF-PP-MAgPP) composites preparation. The mechanical and thermal properties of OPF-PP, SiO2-OPF-PP, SiO2-OPF-PP-MAgPP composites, and pure PP were determined. It was found that the OPF-S-PP-MAgPP composite had the highest toughness and stiffness with values of tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation at break of 30.9 MPa, 881.8 MPa, and 15.1%, respectively. The thermal properties analyses revealed that the OPF-S-PP-MAgPP exhibited the highest thermally stable inflection point at 477 °C as compared to pure PP and other composites formulations. The finding of the present study showed that the SiO2-OPF had the potential to use as a reinforcing agent to enhance the thermal-mechanical properties of the composites.
  3. Banjar MF, Joynal Abedin FN, Fizal ANS, Muhamad Sarih N, Hossain MS, Osman H, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2023 Nov 29;15(23).
    PMID: 38232004 DOI: 10.3390/polym15234565
    Polyaniline (PANI) is a conductive polymer easily converted into a conducting state. However, its limited mechanical properties have generated interest in fabricating PANI composites with other polymeric materials. In this study, a PANI-prevulcanized latex composite film was synthesized and fabricated in two phases following chronological steps. The first phase determined the following optimum parameters for synthesizing nanosized PANI, which were as follows: an initial molar ratio of 1, a stirring speed of 600 rpm, a synthesis temperature of 25 °C, purification via filtration, and washing using dopant acid, acetone, and distilled water. The use of a nonionic surfactant, Triton X-100, at 0.1% concentration favored PANI formation in a smaller particle size of approximately 600 nm and good dispersibility over seven days of observation compared to the use of anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) showed that the PANI synthesized using a surfactant was in the emeraldine base form, as the washing process tends to decrease the doping level in the PANI backbone. Our scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the optimized synthesis parameters produced colloidal PANI with an average particle size of 695 nm. This higher aspect ratio explained the higher conductivity of nanosized PANI compared to micron-sized PANI. Following the chronological steps to determine the optimal parameters produced a nanosized PANI powder. The nanosized PANI had higher conductivity than the micron-sized PANI because of its higher aspect ratio. When PANI is synthesized in smaller particle sizes, it has higher conductivity. Atomic force microscopy analysis showed that the current flow is higher across a 5 µm2 scanned area of nanosized PANI because it has a larger surface area. Thus, more sites for the current to flow through were present on the nanosized PANI particles.
  4. Nazrin A, Sapuan SM, Zuhri MYM
    Polymers (Basel), 2020 Sep 27;12(10).
    PMID: 32992514 DOI: 10.3390/polym12102216
    In this paper, sugar palm nanocellulose fibre-reinforced thermoplastic starch (TPS)/poly (lactic acid) (PLA) blend bionanocomposites were prepared using melt blending and compression moulding with different TPS concentrations (20%, 30%, 40%, 60%, and 80%) and constant sugar palm nanocellulose fibres (0.5%). The physical, mechanical, thermal, and water barrier properties were investigated. The SEM images indicated different TPS loading effects with the morphology of the blend bionanocomposites due to their immiscibility. A high content of TPS led to agglomeration, while a lower content resulted in the presence of cracks and voids. The 20% TPS loading reduced the tensile strength from 49.08 to 19.45 MPa and flexural strength from 79.60 to 35.38 MPa. The thermal stability of the blend bionanocomposites was reduced as the TPS loading increased. The thickness swelling, which corresponded to the water absorption, demonstrated an increasing trend with the increased addition of TPS loading.
  5. Kuan HTN, Tan MY, Hassan MZ, Zuhri MYM
    Polymers (Basel), 2022 Nov 02;14(21).
    PMID: 36365671 DOI: 10.3390/polym14214678
    The current work discusses ground coffee waste (GCW) reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composite. GCW underwent two types of treatment (oil extraction, and oil extraction followed by mercerization). The composites were prepared using stacking HDPE film and GCW, followed by hot compression molding with different GCW particle loadings (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%). Particle loadings of 5% and 10% of the treated GCW composites exhibited the optimum level for this particular type of composite, whereby their mechanical and thermal properties were improved compared to untreated GCW composite (UGC). SEM fracture analysis showed better adhesion between HDPE and treated GCW. The FTIR conducted proved the removal of unwanted impurities and reduction in water absorption after the treatment. Specific tensile modulus improved for OGC at 5 vol% particle loading. The highest impact energy absorbed was obtained by OGC with a 16% increment. This lightweight and environmentally friendly composite has potential in high-end packaging, internal automotive parts, lightweight furniture, and other composite engineering applications.
  6. Ahmad M, Ali I, Bins Safri MS, Bin Mohammad Faiz MAI, Zamir A
    Polymers (Basel), 2021 Aug 10;13(16).
    PMID: 34451195 DOI: 10.3390/polym13162655
    Several borehole problems are encountered during drilling a well due to improper mud design. These problems are directly associated with the rheological and filtration properties of the fluid used during drilling. Thus, it is important to investigate the mud rheological and filtration characteristics of water-based drilling muds (WBMs). Several materials have been examined but due to the higher temperature conditions of wells, such materials have degraded and lost their primary functions. In this research, an attempt was made to prepare a water-based mud by utilizing graphene nano platelets (GNP) in addition to the native tapioca starch at different ratios. The combined effect of starch and graphene nano platelets has been investigated in terms of mud's rheological and filtration parameters, including its plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP), fluid loss volume (FLV) and filtercake thickness (FCT). The morphological changes in the filtercake have also been observed using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) micrographs. Plastic viscosity was increased from 18-35 cP, 22-31 cP and 21-28 cP for 68 °F, 250 °F and 300 °F, respectively. The yield point was also enhanced from 22-37 lb/100ft2, 26-41 lb/100ft2 and 24-31 lb/100ft2 at the studied range. The fluid loss was dramatically reduced from 14.5-6.5 mL, 17.3-7.5 mL and 36-9.5 mL at 68 °F, 250 °F and 300 °F respectively. Similarly, filtercake thickness was also reduced which was further illustrated by filtercake morphology.
  7. Vitus V, Ibrahim F, Shamsuddin SAA, Razali N, Noor Azlan NAB, Zaman WSWK
    Polymers (Basel), 2022 Dec 15;14(24).
    PMID: 36559856 DOI: 10.3390/polym14245489
    Carbon derived from biomass waste usage is rising in various fields of application due to its availability, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability, but it remains limited in tissue engineering applications. Carbon derived from human hair waste was selected to fabricate a carbon-based bioscaffold (CHAK) due to its ease of collection and inexpensive synthesis procedure. The CHAK was fabricated via gelation, rapid freezing, and ethanol immersion and characterised based on their morphology, porosity, Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR), tensile strength, swelling ability, degradability, electrical conductivity, and biocompatibility using Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs). The addition of carbon reduced the porosity of the bioscaffold. Via FTIR analysis, the combination of carbon, agar, and KGM was compatible. Among the CHAK, the 3HC bioscaffold displayed the highest tensile strength (62.35 ± 29.12 kPa). The CHAK also showed excellent swelling and water uptake capability. All bioscaffolds demonstrated a slow degradability rate (<50%) after 28 days of incubation, while the electrical conductivity analysis showed that the 3AHC bioscaffold had the highest conductivity compared to other CHAK bioscaffolds. Our findings also showed that the CHAK bioscaffolds were biocompatible with WJMSCs. These findings showed that the CHAK bioscaffolds have potential as bioscaffolds for tissue engineering applications.
  8. Zhang J, Li Y, Wu H, Wang C, Salleh KM, Li H, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2022 Oct 22;14(21).
    PMID: 36365467 DOI: 10.3390/polym14214473
    This study aimed to develop a safe and advanced antibacterial material of electrospun microfiber membranes (MFMs) for wound dressings. Combinations of several materials were investigated; thermal treatment and electrospinning techniques were used to form the best quality of MFMs to suit its end applications. By comparing the fiber morphology, diameter changes, and fracture strength, the suitable ratio of raw materials and thermal treatment were obtained before and after adding Trition X-100 as a surfactant for MFMs of sodium alginate/polyvinyl alcohol/polyethylene oxide (SA/PVA/PEO). The electrospinning solution was mixed with berberine as an antibacterial substance; meanwhile, calcium chloride (CaCl2) was used as the crosslinking agent. The antibacterial properties, water dissolution resistance, water content, and fracture strength were thoroughly investigated. The results showed that the antibacterial rates of MFMs with different mass fractions of berberine (0, 3, and 5 wt.%) to Escherichia coli (E. coli) were 14.7, 92.9, and 97.2%, respectively. The moisture content and fracture strength of MFMs containing 5 wt.% berberine were 72.0% and 7.8 MPa, respectively. In addition, the produced MFMs embodied great water dissolution resistance. Berberine-loaded SA/PVA/PEO MFMs could potentially serve as an antibacterial wound dressing substrate with low cost and small side effects.
  9. Jasmani L, Jamaluddin NAN, Rusli R, Adnan S, Zakaria S
    Polymers (Basel), 2022 Oct 28;14(21).
    PMID: 36365585 DOI: 10.3390/polym14214591
    Nanocellulose is a versatile cellulosic nanomaterial that can be used in many application areas. Applying different preparation strategies leads to different types of nanocellulose. In this study, nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) were prepared from lesser known wood species, viz., Macaranga gigantea, using sulfuric acid hydrolysis and enzymatic pretreatment with ultrafine grinding approaches, respectively. The respective nanocellulose was characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was then converted into a thin film to assess its performance which includes tensile test, transparency, air permeance, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), and water vapor permeability (WVP) properties. NCC and NFC produced from the raw material of Macaranga had average widths of 6.38 ± 3.92 nm and 13.17 ± 12.71 nm, respectively. Peaks in FTIR spectra showed the conversion of Macaranga wood to nanocellulose by the presence of cellulose fingerprint as well as absence of lignin and hemicellulose after alkaline treatment. The successful conversion was also supported by XRD analysis which displayed the increased crystallinity value from 54% to 70%. TGA decomposition pattern at 200-490 °C revealed the thermal stability of the samples. The thin film produced from nanocelluloses had WVTR values of 4.58 and 12.14 g/(day·m2) for NFC and NCC, respectively, comparable to those of films from polyester and oriented polypropylene. Nanocellulose-based thin film has the potential to be used as sustainable and biodegradable packaging.
  10. Zainul Armir NA, Zulkifli A, Gunaseelan S, Palanivelu SD, Salleh KM, Che Othman MH, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2021 Oct 18;13(20).
    PMID: 34685346 DOI: 10.3390/polym13203586
    Cellulose is one of the most abundant natural polymers with excellent biocompatibility, non-toxicity, flexibility, and renewable source. Regenerated cellulose (RC) products result from the dissolution-regeneration process risen from solvent and anti-solvent reagents, respectively. The regeneration process changes the cellulose chain conformation from cellulose I to cellulose II, leads the structure to have more amorphous regions with improved crystallinity, and inclines towards extensive modification on the RC products such as hydrogel, aerogel, cryogel, xerogel, fibers, membrane, and thin film. Recently, RC products are accentuated to be used in the agriculture field to develop future sustainable agriculture as alternatives to conventional agriculture systems. However, different solvent types and production techniques have great influences on the end properties of RC products. Besides, the fabrication of RC products from solely RC lacks excellent mechanical characteristics. Thus, the flexibility of RC has allowed it to be homogenously blended with other materials to enhance the final products' properties. This review will summarize the properties and preparation of potential RC-based products that reflect its application to replace soil the plantation medium, govern the release of the fertilizer, provide protection on crops and act as biosensors.
  11. Hussin MSF, Mohd Serah A, Azlan KA, Abdullah HZ, Idris MI, Ghazali I, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2021 Feb 22;13(4).
    PMID: 33671617 DOI: 10.3390/polym13040647
    Collecting information from previous investigations and expressing it in a scientometrics study can be a priceless guide to getting a complete overview of a specific research area. The aim of this study is to explore the interrelated connection between alginate, gelatine, and hydroxyapatite within the scope of bone tissue and scaffold. A review of traditional literature with data mining procedures using bibliometric analyses was considered to identify the evolution of the selected research area between 2009 and 2019. Bibliometric methods and knowledge visualization technologies were implemented to investigate diverse publications based on the following indicators: year of publication, document type, language, country, institution, author, journal, keyword, and number of citations. An analysis using a bibliometric study found that 7446 papers were located with the keywords "bone tissue" and "scaffold", and 1767 (alginate), 185 (gelatine), 5658 (hydroxyapatite) papers with those specific sub keywords. The number of publications that relate to "tissue engineering" and bone more than doubled between 2009 (1352) and 2019 (2839). China, the United States and India are the most productive countries, while Sichuan University and the Chinese Academy of Science from China are the most important institutions related to bone tissue scaffold. Materials Science and Engineering C is the most productive journal, followed by the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A. This paper is a starting point, providing the first bibliometric analysis study of bone tissue and scaffold considering alginate, gelatine and hydroxyapatite. A bibliometric analysis would greatly assist in giving a scientific insight to support desired future research work, not only associated with bone tissue engineering applications. It is expected that the analysis of alginate, gelatine and hydroxyapatite in terms of 3D bioprinting, clinical outcomes, scaffold architecture, and the regenerative medicine approach will enhance the research into bone tissue engineering in the near future. Continued studies into these research fields are highly recommended.
  12. Challabi AJH, Chieng BW, Ibrahim NA, Ariffin H, Zainuddin N
    Polymers (Basel), 2019 Mar 13;11(3).
    PMID: 30960466 DOI: 10.3390/polym11030482
    The effectiveness of superheated steam (SHS) as an alternative, eco-friendly treatment method to modify the surface of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) for biocomposite applications was investigated. The aim of this treatment was to improve the interfacial adhesion between the fiber and the polymer. The treatment was carried out in an SHS oven for different temperatures (190⁻230 °C) and times (30⁻120 min). Biocomposites fabricated from SHS-treated PALFs and polylactic acid (PLA) at a weight ratio of 30:70 were prepared via melt-blending techniques. The mechanical properties, dimensional stability, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) for the biocomposites were evaluated. Results showed that treatment at temperature of 220 °C for 60 min gave the optimum tensile properties compared to other treatment temperatures. The tensile, flexural, and impact properties as well as the dimensional stability of the biocomposites were enhanced by the presence of SHS-treated PALF. The SEM analysis showed improvement in the interfacial adhesion between PLA and SHS-treated PALF. XRD analysis showed an increase in the crystallinity with the addition of SHS-PALF. The results suggest that SHS can be used as an environmentally friendly treatment method for the modification of PALF in biocomposite production.
    Matched MeSH terms: Polymers
  13. Keirudin AA, Zainuddin N, Yusof NA
    Polymers (Basel), 2020 Oct 24;12(11).
    PMID: 33114335 DOI: 10.3390/polym12112465
    In the present study, CMSS (carboxymethyl sago starch)-based hydrogel was synthesized by crosslinking with citric acid via esterification and then applied as a metal sorbent to overcome excessive heavy metal pollution. The CMSS/CA (carboxymethyl sago starch/citric acid) hydrogel was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The absorption band at 1726 cm-1 was observed in the FT-IR spectrum of CMSS/CA hydrogel and indicated ester bonds formed. Further findings show that the cross-linkages in the CMSS/CA hydrogel increased the thermal stability of CMSS and various sizes of pores were also shown in the SEM micrograph. Conversely, the removal of heavy metals was analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optic Emission Spectra (ICP-OES). The effects of the pH of the metal solution, contact time, initial concentration of the metal ions and temperature on the sorption capacity were investigated. Under optimum condition, the sorption capacity of Pb2+, Cu2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ onto CMSS/CA hydrogel were 64.48, 36.56, 16.21, 18.45 mg/g, respectively. The experiments demonstrated that CMSS/CA hydrogel has high selectivity towards Pb2+ in both non-competitive and competitive conditions. In conclusion, the CMSS/CA hydrogel as a natural based heavy metal sorption material exhibited a promising performance, especially in the sorption of Pb2+ for wastewater treatment.
  14. Daniyal WMEMM, Fen YW, Saleviter S, Chanlek N, Nakajima H, Abdullah J, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2021 Feb 02;13(3).
    PMID: 33540931 DOI: 10.3390/polym13030478
    In this study, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to study chitosan-graphene oxide (chitosan-GO) incorporated with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR) and cadmium sulfide quantum dot (CdS QD) composite thin films for the potential optical sensing of cobalt ions (Co2+). From the XPS results, it was confirmed that carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen elements existed on the PAR-chitosan-GO thin film, while for CdS QD-chitosan-GO, the existence of carbon, oxygen, cadmium, nitrogen, and sulfur were confirmed. Further deconvolution of each element using the Gaussian-Lorentzian curve fitting program revealed the sub-peak component of each element and hence the corresponding functional group was identified. Next, investigation using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) optical sensor proved that both chitosan-GO-based thin films were able to detect Co2+ as low as 0.01 ppm for both composite thin films, while the PAR had the higher binding affinity. The interaction of the Co2+ with the thin films was characterized again using XPS to confirm the functional group involved during the reaction. The XPS results proved that primary amino in the PAR-chitosan-GO thin film contributed more important role for the reaction with Co2+, as in agreement with the SPR results.
  15. Lim KY, Yasim-Anuar TAT, Sharip NS, Ujang FA, Husin H, Ariffin H, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2023 Mar 01;15(5).
    PMID: 36904501 DOI: 10.3390/polym15051258
    Lignin is a natural biopolymer with a complex three-dimensional network and it is rich in phenol, making it a good candidate for the production of bio-based polyphenol material. This study attempts to characterize the properties of green phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins produced through phenol substitution by the phenolated lignin (PL) and bio-oil (BO), extracted from oil palm empty fruit bunch black liquor. Mixtures of PF with varied substitution rates of PL and BO were prepared by heating a mixture of phenol-phenol substitute with 30 wt.% NaOH and 80% formaldehyde solution at 94 °C for 15 min. After that, the temperature was reduced to 80 °C before the remaining 20% formaldehyde solution was added. The reaction was carried out by heating the mixture to 94 °C once more, holding it for 25 min, and then rapidly lowering the temperature to 60 °C, to produce the PL-PF or BO-PF resins. The modified resins were then tested for pH, viscosity, solid content, FTIR, and TGA. Results revealed that the substitution of 5% PL into PF resins is enough to improve its physical properties. The PL-PF resin production process was also deemed environmentally beneficial, as it met 7 of the 8 Green Chemistry Principle evaluation criteria.
  16. Jumaidin R, Diah NA, Ilyas RA, Alamjuri RH, Yusof FAM
    Polymers (Basel), 2021 Apr 28;13(9).
    PMID: 33924842 DOI: 10.3390/polym13091420
    Increasing environmental concerns have led to greater attention to the development of biodegradable materials. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of banana leaf fibre (BLF) on the thermal and mechanical properties of thermoplastic cassava starch (TPCS). The biocomposites were prepared by incorporating 10 to 50 wt.% BLF into the TPCS matrix. The samples were characterised for their thermal and mechanical properties. The results showed that there were significant increments in the tensile and flexural properties of the materials, with the highest strength and modulus values obtained at 40 wt.% BLF content. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the addition of BLF had increased the thermal stability of the material, indicated by higher-onset decomposition temperature and ash content. Morphological studies through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) exhibited a homogenous distribution of fibres and matrix with good adhesion, which is crucial in improving the mechanical properties of biocomposites. This was also attributed to the strong interaction of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between TPCS and fibre, proven by the FT-IR test that observed the presence of O-H bonding in the biocomposite.
  17. Arif MMA, Fauzi MB, Nordin A, Hiraoka Y, Tabata Y, Yunus MHM
    Polymers (Basel), 2020 Nov 13;12(11).
    PMID: 33202700 DOI: 10.3390/polym12112678
    Gelatin possesses biological properties that resemble native skin and can potentially be fabricated as a skin substitute for full-thickness wound treatment. The native property of gelatin, whereby it is easily melted and degraded at body temperature, could prevent its biofunctionality for various applications. This study aimed to fabricate and characterise buffalo gelatin (Infanca halal certified) crosslinked with chemical type crosslinker (genipin and genipin fortified with EDC) and physicaly crosslink using the dihydrothermal (DHT) method. A porous gelatin sponge (GS) was fabricated by a freeze-drying process followed by a complete crosslinking via chemical-natural and synthetic-or physical intervention using genipin (GNP), 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) (EDC) and dihydrothermal (DHT) methods, respectively. The physicochemical, biomechanical, cellular biocompatibility and cell-biomaterial interaction of GS towards human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK) and dermal fibroblasts (HDF) were evaluated. Results showed that GS had a uniform porous structure with pore size ranging between 60 and 200 µm with high porosity (>78.6 ± 4.1%), high wettability (<72.2 ± 7.0°), high tensile strain (>13.65 ± 1.10%) and 14 h of degradation rate. An increase in the concentration and double-crosslinking approach demonstrated an increment in the crosslinking degree, enzymatic hydrolysis resistance, thermal stability, porosity, wettability and mechanical strength. The GS can be tuned differently from the control by approaching the GS via a different crosslinking strategy. However, a decreasing trend was observed in the pore size, water retention and water absorption ability. Crosslinking with DHT resulted in large pore sizes (85-300 µm) and low water retention (236.9 ± 18.7 g/m2·day) and a comparable swelling ratio with the control (89.6 ± 7.1%). Moreover no changes in the chemical content and amorphous phase identification were observed. The HEK and HDF revealed slight toxicity with double crosslinking. HEK and HDF attachment and proliferation remain similar to each crosslinking approach. Immunogenicity was observed to be higher in the double-crosslinking compared to the single-crosslinking intervention. The fabricated GS demonstrated a dynamic potential to be tailored according to wound types by manipulating the crosslinking intervention.
  18. Othman SH, Othman NFL, Shapi'i RA, Ariffin SH, Yunos KFM
    Polymers (Basel), 2021 Jan 27;13(3).
    PMID: 33513664 DOI: 10.3390/polym13030390
    This work aims to develop corn starch/chitosan nanoparticles/thymol (CS/CNP/Thy) bio-nanocomposite films as potential food packaging materials that can enhance the shelf life of food. CS/CNP/Thy bio-nanocomposite films were prepared by the addition of different concentrations of thymol (0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 w/w%) using a solvent casting method. The resulting films were characterized in terms of optical, mechanical, and water vapor permeability (WVP) properties. The addition of thymol was found to reduce the tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (EAB), and Young's modulus (YM) of the films. Generally, the increment in the concentration of thymol did not significantly affect the TS, EAB, and YM values. The addition of 1.5 w/w% thymol increased the WVP of the films but the WVP reduced with the increase in thymol concentrations. CS/CNP/Thy-3% bio-nanocomposite films demonstrated the potential to lengthen the shelf life of cherry tomatoes packed with the films, whereby the cherry tomatoes exhibited no significant changes in firmness and the lowest weight loss. In addition, no mold growth was observed on the sliced cherry tomatoes that were in direct contact with the films during 7 days of storage, proving the promising application of the films as active food packaging materials.
  19. Raub AAM, Hamidah I, Nandiyanto ABD, Ridwan J, Mohamed MA, Buyong MR, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2023 Mar 31;15(7).
    PMID: 37050362 DOI: 10.3390/polym15071749
    This paper reports the development of ZnO NRs/rGO-based photocatalysts integrated into a tree-branched polymer-based microfluidic reactor for efficient photodegradation of water contaminants. The reactor system includes a photocatalytic reactor, tree-branched microfluidic channels, and ZnO nanorods (NRs) coated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on a glass substrate within an area of 0.6 × 0.6 cm2. The ZnO NRs/rGO acts as a photocatalyst layer grown hydrothermally and then spray-coated with rGO. The microfluidic system is made of PDMS and fabricated using soft lithography (micro molding using SU-8 master mold patterned on a silicon wafer). The device geometry is designed using AutoCAD software and the flow properties of the microfluidics are simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics. The microfluidic platform's photocatalytic process aims to bring the nanostructured photocatalyst into very close proximity to the water flow channel, reducing the interaction time and providing effective purification performance. Our functionality test showed that a degradation efficiency of 23.12 %, within the effective residence time of less than 3 s was obtained.
  20. Pandey M, Choudhury H, Binti Abd Aziz A, Bhattamisra SK, Gorain B, Su JST, et al.
    Polymers (Basel), 2021 Apr 20;13(8).
    PMID: 33923900 DOI: 10.3390/polym13081340
    Eyesight is one of the most well-deserved blessings, amid all the five senses in the human body. It captures the raw signals from the outside world to create detailed visual images, granting the ability to witness and gain knowledge about the world. Eyes are exposed directly to the external environment; they are susceptible to the vicissitudes of diseases. The World Health Organization has predicted that the number of individuals affected by eye diseases will rise enormously in the next decades. However, the physical barriers of the eyes and the problems associated with conventional ocular formulations are significant challenges in ophthalmic drug development. This has generated the demand for a sustained ocular drug delivery system, which serves to deliver effective drug concentration at a reduced frequency for consistent therapeutic effect and better patient treatment adherence. Recent advancement in pharmaceutical dosage design has demonstrated that a stimuli-responsive in situ gel system exhibits the favorable characteristics for providing sustained ocular drug delivery and enhanced ocular bioavailability. Stimuli-responsive in situ gels undergo a phase transition (solution-gelation) in response to the ocular environmental temperature, pH, and ions. These stimuli transform the formulation into a gel at the cul de sac to overcome the shortcomings of conventional eye drops, such as rapid nasolacrimal drainage and short contact time with the ocular surface This review highlights the recent successful research outcomes of stimuli-responsive in situ gelling systems in treating in vivo models with glaucoma and various ocular infections. Additionally, it also presents the mechanism, recent development, and safety considerations of stimuli-sensitive in situ gel as the potential sustained ocular delivery system for treating common eye disorders.
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