Search Results (2,006)

Nanomedicine has yielded clinically useful platforms, including liposomes, albumin-bound nanoparticles, and lipid nanoparticles; yet, many systems translate poorly because of nonspecific biodistribution, limited target-site accumulation, inefficient cellular uptake and intracellular delivery, immune clearance, and off-target toxicity. These bottlenecks are often shaped at cell membrane interfaces, where therapeutic materials are recognized, retained, internalized, or cleared and may elicit unsafe responses. Here, we frame cell membrane biophysics as a therapeutic interface for nanomedicine. We examine how lipid organization and fluidity, mechanics, electrochemical state, glycocalyx architecture, and membrane protein identity shape recognition, adhesion, endocytosis, fusion, trafficking, immune responses, and drug release. We assess how disease-associated membrane remodeling can create candidate therapeutic entry points and delivery barriers across cancer, neurodegeneration, inflammation, infection, and vascular disease. We then analyze receptor-mediated targeting, lipid-domain-associated uptake, membrane-coated nanocarriers, engineered extracellular vesicles, and hybrid platforms, with explicit context-of-use definitions and design boundaries. Finally, we propose translational qualification through function-linked critical quality attributes, mechanism-relevant potency assays, context-matched models, in vivo pharmacology and immune safety, scalable manufacturing, and regulatory evaluation. Progress will depend less on descriptive membrane mimicry than on measurable, reproducible, and qualified membrane-dependent functions. Full article

Natural wood possesses a hierarchically porous and anisotropic structure, which provides a foundation for functional utilization, but its flammability and hygroscopicity limit its applications. Conventional bulk impregnation modification involves introducing functional agents throughout the entire pore system. This approach can enhance performance, but inevitably leads to lumen occlusion and increased density. To address this trade-off, researchers have recently developed micronano coating strategies based on interfacial decoration rather than bulk deposition within the lumina. These strategies confine functional components to cell wall surfaces while preserving the natural porous scaffold. Two fabrication routes have been developed, namely liquid-phase methods and gas-phase methods, which differ in coating precision, penetration depth, and interfacial bonding. In flame retardancy, interfacial coatings act as physical barriers and promote chemical charring. Inorganic layers suppress oxygen diffusion and heat transfer, while phosphorus or nitrogen components catalyze cellulose dehydration. In acoustics, conformal coatings regulate pore wall roughness and acoustic impedance, enhancing viscous and thermal dissipation without blocking channels. Challenges for practical application include mass transfer limitations in large logs, conflicts between high-precision processes and industrial economics, and interfacial durability under service conditions. This narrative review summarizes fabrication strategies, flame-retardant mechanisms, and acoustic regulation principles, providing guidance for coating strategy selection and process optimization. It is noted that this review focuses on wood species with open, permeable pore structures suitable for functional modification, rather than species whose pores are occluded by heartwood extractives. Full article

Water-cooled tungsten targets may remain in contact with stagnant deionized water during accelerator shutdown, creating a beam-off corrosion condition distinct from irradiation-assisted service. Untreated tungsten (W), laser-ablated tungsten (LA-W), and a 500 nm tantalum-coated laser-ablated tungsten surface (Ta-LA-W) were therefore immersed in deionized water for up to 28 days. Laser ablation replaced the machined surface with a hierarchical micro/nanostructure and increased the areal roughness Sa from 0.22 ± 0.01 to 1.75 ± 0.07 μm; after Ta deposition, Sa was 1.62 μm. LA-W exhibited the largest topographic attenuation and the highest dissolved W concentration, reaching 7.915 mg·L⁻¹ at 21 days. Ta-LA-W maintained Sa within the range from 1.60 ± 0.06 to 1.66 ± 0.07 μm and limited dissolved W to 1.118–1.601 mg·L⁻¹. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed increased WOx-related intensity and disappearance of the metallic-W loss feature only for untreated W. The W 4f envelopes of LA-W and Ta-LA-W remained broadly similar before and after immersion, but for different reasons: sustained W dissolution for LA-W and suppression of W oxidation and release by the Ta-containing barrier for Ta-LA-W. The dissolution-based corrosion sequence was LA-W > W > Ta-LA-W. Laser texturing therefore acted as an interfacial-engineering treatment rather than an intrinsically corrosion-resistant modification. Full article

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)–bentonite composite coatings combine a hydrophilic polymer with a naturally abundant clay mineral, offering potential advantages for modifying the physicochemical and film-forming characteristics of polymer–clay coatings. However, the combined influence of PVA–bentonite composition and total solids content on drying behavior and film evolution remains insufficiently explored. This study investigates the particle size, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), surface morphology, rheology, thixotropy, zeta potential, drying behavior, solvent transport, and film evolution of PVA–bentonite coatings prepared at total solids contents of 5 and 10 wt.% with different PVA to bentonite ratios. The drying profiles exhibited an initial relatively rapid solvent-removal stage followed by a slower stage associated with progressively restricted solvent transport during film consolidation. A lower total solids content (5 wt.%) generally accelerated drying but was associated with greater microcracking, whereas a higher total solids content (10 wt.%) produced more consolidated and comparatively uniform films with reduced solvent mobility. The combined physicochemical, rheological, drying, and morphological results demonstrate that both PVA–bentonite composition and total solids content substantially influence the structural organization and drying behavior of the coatings. Pure PVA formed a relatively uniform film but exhibited prolonged drying, while pure bentonite required the longest drying time (1083 min). Among the investigated formulations, the 50:50 PVA–bentonite coating demonstrated the shortest drying time, reaching equilibrium in approximately 480 min, while also exhibiting comparatively good film uniformity. During drying, its thickness decreased from approximately 1745 to 440 µm, corresponding to a reduction of about 1305 µm. Overall, under the investigated laboratory conditions, the 50:50 PVA–bentonite formulation provided the most favorable balance of drying behavior, film formation, and rheological characteristics among the compositions studied. These findings provide composition–structure–drying relationships that can guide further development of PVA–bentonite coating systems. At the same time, additional evaluation of mechanical, adhesion, barrier, durability, and economic performance is required to establish broader practical applicability. Full article

To further enhance the application effectiveness and energy efficiency of dielectric barrier discharge plasma coupled with catalytic technology, this study investigates the synergistic effect between coated catalysts and dielectric barrier discharge. A two-dimensional fluid model was established, and numerical simulations were conducted using the finite element method to evaluate NO removal from automobile exhaust gases. Results show that, compared to dielectric barrier discharge alone, the degradation efficiency of low-concentration NO increases by 6%–29% when a coated catalyst is introduced. Three coated catalysts, including Mn/TiO₂/γ-Al₂O₃, Mn/γ-Al₂O₃ and TiO₂, are compared for 1% NO treatment, whose degradation efficiencies are 63.1%, 53.7% and 40.2%, respectively. As the NO concentration increased from 1% to 3%, the degradation efficiency of all three catalysts decreased. In terms of NO₂ by-product generation, the synergistic system with Mn/TiO₂/γ-Al₂O₃ produces the least NO₂. This coupling technology effectively removes low-concentration nitrogen oxides from vehicle exhaust, enriches plasma-catalysis theory, and supports global efforts in controlling motor vehicle emissions pollution. Full article

Developing biodegradable active packaging films that combine mechanical reinforcement, barrier improvement, antibacterial activity, and controlled release of natural antimicrobials remains challenging. Here, TEMPO-oxidized bacterial cellulose (TOBC) was used to stabilize clove essential oil (CEO) Pickering emulsions, which were incorporated into sodium alginate (SA) matrices. The effects of TOBC concentration on emulsion stability and emulsion loading on film-forming solutions, film structure, mechanical performance, barrier properties, antioxidant and antibacterial activities, and CEO release were evaluated. The emulsion stabilized with 0.7 wt% TOBC showed good visual stability after 30 days and was selected for film preparation. Moderate incorporation of the TOBC-stabilized CEO Pickering emulsion improved SA film performance, with SA-E10 showing the best overall balance. SA-E10 reached a tensile strength of 38.56 ± 1.66 MPa and an elongation at break of 10.27%, while the moisture content decreased from 36.48 ± 2.32% to 27.93 ± 0.46%. The films also showed enhanced UV-shielding capacity and lower water vapor permeability. Antioxidant activity increased with emulsion loading, reaching 71.43 ± 2.55% for DPPH and 83.66 ± 1.49% for ABTS. Film-coated paper disks showed visible inhibition zones against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Compared with direct CEO incorporation, the Pickering emulsion system delayed CEO release, indicating potential for sustained-release active packaging. Full article

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have garnered extensive attention owing to their high theoretical capacity, cost-effectiveness, and intrinsic safety. However, the practical deployment of AZIBs is severely hindered by deleterious side reactions, including surface corrosion, hydrogen evolution, and uncontrollable dendrite growth on the metallic Zn anode. In this work, we propose a simple one-step immersion strategy to in situ construct a ZnMoO₄ (ZMO) protective coating on the Zn electrode. Mechanistically, the ZMO layer with polar surfaces exhibits a preferential adsorption affinity towards water molecules and Zn²⁺ ions. This synergistic adsorption behavior serves a dual function: it effectively excludes active water from the electrode surface to suppress hydrogen evolution, and simultaneously, the strong interaction with Zn²⁺ lowers the desolvation energy barrier, facilitating rapid Zn²⁺ desolvation at the interface. Furthermore, the resulting ZMO coating promotes a homogenized surface electric field and provides abundant nucleation sites, thereby guiding uniform Zn deposition and effectively mitigating dendrite formation. Consequently, the ZMO-modified Zn anode delivers significantly enhanced electrochemical reversibility and long-term cycling stability. This work provides a cost-effective and industrially viable surface engineering strategy to tackle the fundamental challenges of Zn anodes, paving the way for the commercialization of high-performance AZIBs. Full article

Titanium alloys are widely used for implants, yet corrosion, bacterial colonization and incomplete osseointegration remain important causes of interfacial failure. This review critically analyzes major biomedical functional coating fabrication techniques employed to enhance the surface properties of titanium alloys, including micro-arc oxidation, anodic oxidation, magnetron sputtering, electrochemical deposition, electrophoretic deposition, plasma spraying, physical vapor deposition, plasma immersion ion implantation, laser surface treatment, and hybrid (composite) approaches. For each method, key operational principles, structural and functional characteristics, performance advantages and limitations, and representative application domains are critically analyzed. Across these routes, biological performance depends on coating continuity, pore or nanotube geometry, interfacial bonding, phase composition and ion release. Calcium- and phosphorus-rich oxides and hydroxyapatite deposits generally promote cell adhesion, proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, mineralization and osteogenic differentiation. Dense oxide, nitride, tantalum and carbon-based films strengthen corrosion barriers, whereas Mn, Zn, Cu and Ag containing surfaces can inhibit bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. Excessive ion release, however, may compromise cytocompatibility. Reported outcomes also vary with test medium, exposure time, bacterial strain and cell model. Standardized quantitative endpoints and longer-term corrosion, biofilm and osseointegration studies are required to guide clinically reliable multifunctional coatings. Full article

The cooling performance of turbine vanes with thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) is significantly affected by the flow distribution of internal cooling channels. To investigate the influence of channel flow distribution on the vane cooling characteristics, this study adopts the Latin hypercube sampling method to realize differentiated flow distribution of each cooling channel under a nearly constant total cooling flow rate. Numerical simulations are performed to obtain vane cooling characteristic data under various flow distribution schemes, followed by multi-condition quantitative comparison and mechanism analysis. The results show that the trailing edge channel serves as the dominant factor controlling the overall vane temperature, while the middle channels exhibit obvious cooling redundancy. Specifically, the flow rates of the leading edge arc and trailing edge dominate the peak temperature and average temperature of the suction surface, respectively. Unlike geometric optimization that alters vane internal structures, this study focuses on flow redistribution under the strict constraint of fixed total cooling air consumption. This strategy offers a zero-cost approach to cooling enhancement for in-service turbines with no structural modifications required. The cooling benefit is enhanced without additional cooling air consumption. The overall surface peak temperature is reduced by 0.4%. By region, the peak temperatures of the pressure surface and the suction surface reduced by 0.40% and 0.435% respectively, and the leading edge arc reduced by 0.20%. The overall average surface temperature has reduced by 0.117%. The research conclusions can provide a theoretical reference for the flow optimization of turbine vane cooling channels and the improvement of overall cooling uniformity, which is qualitatively beneficial to reducing the thermal failure risk of coatings. Full article

This study developed surface-functionalized polylactic acid (PLA) films by depositing electrospun gelatin/chitosan (GE/CH) nanofibrous coatings formulated with and without bioactive phenolic compounds (curcumin and anthocyanin). Evaluating various polymer blending ratios and operational parameters revealed that a GE:CH ratio of 7:3 (v/v), processed at an applied voltage of 25 kV and a collector speed of 300 rpm, provided the most stable electrospinning behavior among those tested, yielding a uniform nanoscale fibrillar network. The deposition of this selected GE/CH layer onto the PLA substrate significantly improved the composite bilayer film’s tensile strength and oxygen barrier properties, although it increased macroscopic opacity. Furthermore, active coatings containing 0.25% and 0.50% (w/w) curcumin or anthocyanin were successfully processed. This 0.50% level was the maximum concentration quantitatively evaluated in the present study, as preliminary observations suggested poorer processability at higher concentrations, which induced premature gelation and needle clogging. While interactions (mostly non-covalent physical interactions) associated with the phenolic compounds synergistically reinforced the mechanical rigidity and reduced the water vapor permeability of the bilayer films, the macroscopic bioactive functionality was limited. The low loading concentrations, coupled with severe optical masking and restricted aqueous extraction, resulted in moderate antioxidant activity (10.31–30.46% DPPH radical inhibition) and no visually detectable halochromic (pH-responsive) color changes. Overall, these findings highlight a significant functional trade-off in the design of active coatings, where structural and mass transport barrier enhancements are achieved, but macroscopic bioactive functionality is constrained, underscoring the necessity for advanced encapsulation strategies in future developments. Full article

Pure Fe soft magnetic composites (SMCs) hold a prominent position in cost-sensitive 10–100 kHz medium-to-low-frequency power devices owing to their low raw-material expenditure and high saturation magnetisation. Nevertheless, the inherently poor interparticle electrical resistivity permits the formation of contiguous conduction paths under alternating magnetic fields, giving rise to marked eddy-current dissipation and localised thermal accumulation. To surmount this limitation, the present work introduces γ-mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane (KH580)-functionalised silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) nanosheets as a multifunctional interfacial regulating layer that simultaneously establishes an electrically insulating barrier and a thermally conductive network on the surface of Fe particles. The structural integrity, surface chemical speciation and deposition behaviour of Si₃N₄-s nanosheets on Fe particles were systematically examined, and correlations among lamellar coverage completeness, interfacial bonding robustness and the coupled electrical–magnetic–thermal response were elucidated. The findings reveal that KH580 silanisation introduces a surface functional layer while preserving the parent α-Si₃N₄ crystal structure, and XPS analysis suggests possible local N–Fe and Fe–S interfacial interactions between Si₃N₄-s and the Fe surface. At a loading of 4 wt.% Si₃N₄-s, a comparatively continuous and uniform lamellar coating develops on the Fe particle surfaces. The corresponding Fe/Si₃N₄ SMCs exhibit the highest volume resistivity and a peak thermal conductivity of approximately 12.1 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹, while maintaining a core loss of approximately 600.2 kW·m⁻³ at 50 mT and 100 kHz. These results indicate that the 4 wt.% specimen provides the most favourable overall balance among electrical insulation, magnetic response, core-loss suppression and thermal transport within the investigated composition range, furnishing a functionalised lamellar interfacial engineering strategy for performance advancement of low-cost Fe-based SMCs. Full article

Hydrogen permeation barriers (HPBs) are essential to the development of both hydrogen and nuclear fusion energy. However, their structural stability and barrier efficiency under extreme conditions are scarcely reported, despite their significant importance to practical applications. Here, we experimentally investigated the effect of Li₄SiO₄ corrosion and deuterium aging on the structure and performance of an α-Al₂O₃ composite hydrogen permeation barrier coating under simulated fusion conditions. The results demonstrate that this coating could retain its dense and defect-free structure after corrosion with Li₄SiO₄ powders at 550 °C for 2 days, exhibiting good tritium breeder compatibility. Moreover, after the deuterium aging test for 6 months, its phase composition and microstructure show no significant changes, maintaining a compact and crack-free matrix strongly bonded to the substrate. After 6-month aging, the hydrogen permeation resistance of the α-Al₂O₃ composite coating at 500 °C is still 1450 times higher than that of the steel substrate without any aging. This work provides critical insights into designing highly reliable hydrogen permeation barrier coatings and understanding their performance evolution under harsh fusion environments. Full article

Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thermal barrier coatings suffer from t′ phase destabilization and insufficient thermal insulation above 1200 °C. In this work, YbO_1.5-stabilized ZrO₂ powders (xYbSZ, x = 4–12 mol% YbO_1.5 on a cation basis, equivalent to 2–6 mol% Yb₂O₃) were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation, consolidated by spark plasma sintering, and evaluated at 1300 °C in terms of phase stability, sintering behavior, thermal conductivity, and fracture toughness. A common compositional boundary near 8 mol% YbO_1.5 was identified across all four responses. 8YbSZ retained the metastable t′ phase with a monoclinic content below 10 mol% after 300 h at 1300 °C, whereas grain coarsening accelerated markedly and the thermal conductivity reduction efficiency per unit doping at 1000 °C was approximately halved beyond this composition, with κ decreasing from 2.41 to 1.96 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ across the series. The toughness gain produced by thermal treatment fell from 34% (4YbSZ) to about 10% (10–12YbSZ) as the dominant toughening mechanism shifted from transformation and microcrack toughening (4–6 mol%) to ferroelastic domain switching (8 mol%), with both being lost in the compositions in which the cubic phase predominated. These results identify 8 mol% YbO_1.5 as the optimal composition balancing phase stability, sintering resistance, thermal insulation, and mechanical integrity for TBC applications at 1300 °C. Full article

Aiming at the rapid corrosion of degradable magnesium alloys in physiological environments and the insufficient long-term protection of single plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings, Mg-Mn-Fe layered double hydroxide (LDH) and baicalin (BA)-loaded LDH/BA composite coatings were prepared in situ on PEO-pretreated ZE21C magnesium alloy substrates. BA was stably anchored on the LDH surface via coordination bonds between its oxygen-containing functional groups and laminate metal sites. Benefiting from the physical barrier of the LDH lamellar structure and the corrosion inhibition effect of baicalin, the LDH/BA coating significantly improved the corrosion resistance of the magnesium alloy matrix. The composite coating exhibited peroxidase-like catalytic activity for reactive oxygen species generation, which could be enhanced by near-infrared irradiation. It also possessed stable photothermal conversion performance and pH-responsive drug release behavior under acidic conditions. Biological characterization demonstrated that BA-loaded LDH composite coatings exert potent inhibitory effects on 143B cell proliferation. This work integrates long-term corrosion resistance, controlled drug release, and photoresponsive catalytic functions onto magnesium alloy surfaces, providing an effective strategy for developing high-performance biodegradable magnesium alloys. Full article

Fresh-peeled garlic cloves are a very convenient ready-to-cook product; however, their high perishability requires packaging systems that maintain the quality of the garlic while addressing the need for more sustainable materials. This study evaluated the quality evolution of peeled garlic cloves during refrigerated storage (5 °C) in microperforated modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) systems consisting of trays sealed with egg white protein (EWP)-based films, either uncoated (EWP-U) or coated with beeswax (EWP-BW). Their performance was compared with commercial polylactic acid (PLA) and oriented polypropylene (OPP) films. The EWP-based packages generated an internal atmosphere of approximately 7% O₂ and 15% CO₂, under which peeled garlic cloves showed delayed fungal decay, reduced yeast and mold growth, and mitigated surface discoloration compared with other packaging systems, whose atmospheres remained closer to air. However, weight loss was promoted in the garlic cloves packaged with EWP-U films. The hydrophobic coating applied in EWP-BW films improved the water vapor barrier properties compared with EWP films, thus reducing the weight loss observed in the garlic cloves, but increasing fungal decay. These results suggest that an optimized packaging system should combine the lower water vapor transmission rate provided by EWP-BW films with the internal gas composition achieved in EWP-U packages. Accordingly, EWP-BW films represent a promising bio-based alternative for preserving the quality of peeled garlic cloves, provided that the effective O₂ and CO₂ transmission rates through the package are appropriately adjusted to generate a more favorable modified atmosphere. Full article