Search Results (204)

Recent years have witnessed a surge in the research of memristors as fundamental building blocks for neuromorphic computing, owing to their exceptional ability to emulate the plastic behavior of biological synapses in a high-density, low-power hardware format. These devices are increasingly recognized as the key to achieving efficient artificial neural networks. Two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) is a premier candidate for artificial synapses due to its atomic scale and tunable electronic properties. However, achieving wafer-scale MoS₂ thin films for integrated memristor systems remains a significant challenge. In this work, a scalable strategy combining cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-assisted electrochemical intercalation and oil–water interface self-assembly was developed to fabricate large-area 2H-phase MoS₂ thin films. Leveraging the amphiphilic nature of CTAB-functionalized MoS₂ nanosheets, continuous Janus-structured MoS₂ films with asymmetric wetting properties (hydrophilic vs. hydrophobic) were successfully prepared. Vertical-structured Ag/Janus-structured MoS₂/ITO memristors demonstrated robust non-volatile switching with high endurance and long-term retention. The devices successfully emulated biological synaptic behaviors, including short-term and long-term plasticity. Furthermore, the memristors exhibited distinct optoelectronic synergistic modulation under 405 nm illumination, enabling light-sensitive synaptic functions. This work offers a versatile interface engineering route for low-power integrated sensing–memory–computing hardware. Full article

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces are highly hydrophobic, and non-specific biomolecule adsorption is a well-known limitation in microfluidic PCR systems. Flow-based microfluidic PCR has been extensively studied, but the impact of surface adsorption on quantitative performance in closed-chamber digital PCR (dPCR) platforms remains poorly characterized. This adsorption may reduce the effective concentrations of key reaction components and compromise quantification accuracy. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated two approaches to prevent molecular adsorption in PDMS-based cdPCR systems: (i) the addition of chemical additives to the PCR reaction mixture and (ii) the incorporation of hydrophilizing agents into PDMS, with solution-phase additives proving more effective in this system. We investigated the effects of the reaction additives bovine serum albumin (BSA), Blocking One-P, and dextran on DNA quantification using a PDMS-based dPCR chip. A single-concentration comparison showed that 1.1% BSA produced the highest average DNA copy number (0.091 ± 0.010 copies/well), compared to the no-additive condition (0.039 ± 0.010 copies/well), corresponding to an approximately 2.3-fold increase, whereas Blocking One-P and dextran had no substantial effects. Dilution series experiments were then conducted under BSA-added and BSA-free conditions using plasmid DNA and cDNA derived from HSC4 cells as templates. In both cases, BSA improved quantitative linearity, as reflected by the increased slopes and coefficients of determination. Full article

Oral administration remains the most convenient and favored route for systemic delivery of small-molecule drugs, primarily due to patient compliance and the absence of invasive procedures. Yet, poor aqueous solubility, chemical/enzymatic instability, and limited permeability in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract often result in low bioavailability (BA) of many therapeutic agents. Polymeric micelles formed from the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers have gained considerable attention as a nanotechnology-driven solution to overcome these challenges. Their hydrophobic core–hydrophilic shell structure enables efficient encapsulation of poorly soluble small molecule drugs, providing protection from acidic or enzymatic degradation while potentially enhancing drug transport across the intestinal epithelium. This review examines the design principles, formulation strategies, and in vivo performance of polymeric micelles for oral delivery of small molecule drugs. We discuss strategies to improve micelle stability in the GI environment, including optimization of core hydrophobicity, kinetic stabilization, and corona engineering, and compare polymeric micelles with established alternatives such as self-micro emulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) and amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) across critical performance parameters. Despite decades of preclinical progress, no oral polymeric micelle formulation has reached regulatory approval, underscoring the persistent challenge of maintaining micellar structural integrity under the dynamic conditions of the GI environment. This review therefore examines not only the promise but also the structural vulnerabilities of oral micelles, proposing a stability-centered framework for interpreting micelle function under GI conditions. Finally, we discuss current translational challenges and suggest directions for future research toward clinical application of oral polymeric micelle systems. Full article

We report di- and triblock copolymers that combine hydrophilic polyethers—poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (mPEG) and polyglycidol (PGl)—with a hydrophobic, degradable polyester, poly(β-butyrolactone) (P(β-BL)). A mild hydrolysis method was developed to selectively remove acetal protecting groups from poly(ethoxy ethyl glycidyl ether) (PEEGE) without cleaving the β-butyrolactone polyester backbone, enabling the preparation of PGl-b-P(β-BL) and mPEG-b-PGl-b-P(β-BL) block copolymers. Thermal analysis revealed that the glass transition temperatures (T_g) of the copolymers could be tuned by varying block composition and length. Diblock copolymers containing the PGl segment were amorphous, with T_g values ranging from −2.7 to −19.9 °C. The presence of an mPEG segment in the triblock copolymers resulted in a further decrease in T_g, reaching values between −32.3 and −38.9 °C. Solubility and water affinity studies demonstrated that incorporation of hydrophilic polyether blocks enhances copolymer–solvent interactions, leading to increased wettability of the polymer-coated surface. The water contact angle for films formed from PGl-b-P(β-BL) decreased to 53 °C, while for mPEG-b-PGl-b-P(β-BL) copolymers, it was further reduced to 43 °C compared with the hydrophobic P(β-BL) film. Hydrolytic degradation experiments showed accelerated cleavage of the P(β-BL) segment in copolymers containing hydrophilic blocks compared to the P(β-BL) homopolymer, which is attributed to increased water accessibility and surface hydrophilicity. The most pronounced decrease in molar mass, reaching at least 50% relative to the initial non-degraded sample, was observed for the diblock copolymers, whereas the P(β-BL) sample showed only a marginal weight reduction of a few percent. Overall, this study demonstrates that the combination of hydrophilic mPEG and PGl blocks with P(β-BL) enables the design of block copolymers with tunable thermal properties, solubility, and degradation behavior, offering potential for a wide range of applications. Full article

Cotton fabrics are widely used due to their comfort and biodegradability; however, their intrinsic hydrophilicity limits their performance in advanced applications. In this work, a fluorine-free approach for imparting durable hydrophobicity to cotton was developed based on thiol-ene crosslinking of polysiloxane networks formed on the fiber surface. Two thiol-functional polysiloxanes differing in –SH group content were combined with four vinyl-functional organosilicon crosslinkers under UV (2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA)) and thermal (2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) (AIBN)) initiation. FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of siloxane structures, while SEM-EDS revealed stable silicon- and sulfur-containing layers. SEM observations showed continuous coatings without blocking the textile structure. Water contact angle (WCA) measurements demonstrated that hydrophobic performance strongly depends on thiol content and crosslinker structure, with the highest values obtained for the thiol-rich polysiloxane and tetrafunctional vinyl crosslinker. All modified fabrics exhibited high durability, with minimal changes in WCA and complete droplet stability (1800 s) after washing. In the case of the lower-functionality polysiloxane, an increase in hydrophobicity after washing was observed, attributed to the reorganization of siloxane chains. These results demonstrate that thiol-ene crosslinking provides an effective strategy for designing durable, fluorine-free hydrophobic coatings on cotton. Full article

The comparison of the ability of poly(phenylene sulfone) (PPSU), a recently introduced alternative membrane polymer, with established poly(ether sulfone) (PESU), both in combination with tailored amphiphilic block copolymer additives to improve ultrafiltration (UF) membrane separation and anti-fouling performance is the focus of this work. Different poly(alkylene oxide)-containing tri- and multiblock polymers with hydrophobic blocks analogous to the respective base polymer, PPSU or PESU, of varied length were used as additives in the casting solution. Membranes were subsequently prepared via film casting and a liquid non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) process. The rheological properties and thermodynamic stability of the casting solutions were investigated. At the same mass concentration, PPSU-based casting solutions show overall higher viscosity that is also more sensitive to the presence of additives compared with PESU-based solutions. PPSU-based casting solutions also have lower tolerance to non-solvents. By adding certain block copolymers in ratios of up 10 wt.% relative to the base polymer, it is possible to increase the UF performance of the membranes of PPSU and PESU. An increase in the block length of the hydrophobic block of PESU leads to a reduction in pure water permeance (PWP), whereas for PPSU, PWP is increased by the addition of additives. Especially additives with shorter PESU or PPSU block length, i.e., with a larger fraction of poly(ethylene oxide) blocks in the casting solution, seem to act as additional pore-forming agents. The water contact angle can be decreased for both additive systems, indicating a more hydrophilic membrane surface. Finally, using flower soil extract as a model substance for surface water, interesting candidates of additives that enable fouling reduction with competitive UF performance were identified for PESU and PPSU membranes. Full article

The development of high-performance biocomposites based on poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) and lignin is often hindered by the limited interfacial compatibility. Herein, we reporte a synchronized crosslinking strategy to seamlessly integrate lignin and PVA into a uniform and robust composite film. The vinyl groups were introduced into both lignin and PVA molecular chains, which enable the formation of dense covalent bonds through reactions between these unsaturated carbon–carbon double bonds. This dual network structure combining covalent crosslinking with hydrogen bonding effectively strengthened the interfacial compatibility between lignin and PVA, which substantially enhanced film toughness, exhibiting an elongation at break of up to 4300%. Furthermore, the prepared composite film also demonstrated outstanding UV-blocking efficiency (>90%), strong antioxidant activity (82% DPPH scavenging), enhanced hydrophobicity (water contact angle of 97.9°), and improved thermal stability. The dramatic enhancements were attributed to the homogeneous dispersion of modified lignin within the covalently bonded network, which ensured efficient stress transfer and reduced the availability of hydrophilic groups. This synchronized crosslinking approach presents a versatile and effective route for fabricating high-value lignin-based composite materials. Full article

This study reports the synthesis and catalytic evaluation of a series of imidazolium-based polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) for the cycloaddition of CO₂ to epichlorohydrin (ECH). The synthesized catalysts include homopolymers, poly(3-hydroxyethyl-1-vinylimidazole chloride) (p[HVIm][Cl]) and poly(3-carboxymethyl-1-vinylimidazole chloride) (p[CMVIm][Cl]), and their block copolymers with polystyrene, synthesized for the first time, pS-b-p[HVIm][Cl] and pS-b-p[CMVIm][Cl]. Structural characterization by NMR, IR spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography confirmed the successful synthesis. The block copolymers exhibited a low polydispersity index (PDI 1.1–1.2), which is indicative of homogeneous chain lengths and the propensity to form ordered nanostructures, whereas the homopolymers showed higher PDI (2.4–2.9). Catalytic testing at 90 °C and 1 MPa CO₂ for 4 h revealed a clear activity trend: p[CMVIm][Cl] < p[HVIm][Cl] < pS-b-p[CMVIm][Cl] < pS-b-p[HVIm][Cl], with conversions exceeding 75% for all catalysts and a maximum of 82.69% for pS-b-p[HVIm][Cl]. These results demonstrate that the catalytic performance of PILs is governed by a synergistic interplay between the local chemical functionality of the ionic moiety and the overall polymer architecture. Based on these results, the synthesized polymeric ionic liquids, particularly pS-b-p[HVIm][Cl], demonstrate strong potential for creating multifunctional materials. Their ability to self-assemble into ordered nanostructures with distinct hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains provides a foundational architecture for combined gas separation and catalysis. The observed “micellar catalytic effect”, which enhances local reagent concentration near active sites, could be leveraged in a membrane reactor to simultaneously capture and convert CO₂ directly within the membrane. This integrated “separation–reaction” approach represents a promising strategy for advancing circular carbon economy technologies. Full article

Amphiphilic dendrimers represent a promising class of nanoscale building blocks for functional materials, yet their conformational behavior, solvation, and interfacial activity remain incompletely understood. In this work, we employ atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to investigate G2–G4 carbosilane dendrimers functionalized with ethylene glycol terminal groups of two lengths—R1 (one ethylene glycol unit) and R3 (three units)—in water, toluene, and at fluid interfaces (water–toluene and water–air). Both types of dendrimers adopt compact, nearly spherical conformations in water but swell significantly (~83% in volume for G4) in toluene, a good solvent for the hydrophobic core. At the water–toluene interface, the dendrimers remain fully solvated in the toluene phase and show no surface activity. In contrast, at the water–air interface, they adsorb and adopt a mildly anisotropic, biconvex conformation, with a modest deformation. The total number of hydrogen bonds is reduced by ~50% compared to bulk water. Notably, the R3 dendrimers form more hydrogen bonds overall due to their higher oxygen content, which may contribute to the enhanced stability of their monolayers observed experimentally. These results demonstrate how dendrimer generation as well as terminal group length and hydrophilicity finely tune dendrimer conformation, hydration, and interfacial behavior, which are key factors for applications in nanocarriers, interfacial engineering, and self-assembled materials. The validated simulation protocol provides a robust foundation for future studies of multi-dendrimer systems and monolayer formation. Full article

Τhe self-assembly behavior of a series of amphiphilic diblock copolymers, each consisting of a hydrophilic poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PNVP) block and a hydrophobic block derived from n-alkyl vinyl esters, namely poly(vinyl butyrate) (PVBu), poly(vinyl decanoate) (PVDc), and poly(vinyl stearate) (PVSt), in aqueous solutions was investigated. Dynamic and static light scattering (DLS and SLS) techniques were employed to monitor the micellization behavior. In addition, the self-assembled structures were observed with Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The effect of the nature of the hydrophobic block, the copolymer composition and the copolymer molecular weight on the self-assembly properties was thoroughly examined. The encapsulation of curcumin and indomethacin within the dry cores of the micellar structures was conducted in aqueous solutions for all block copolymers at various curcumin/indomethacin-to-polymer mass ratios. UV-Vis spectroscopy was used to evaluate the drug-loading capacity and efficiency (%DLC and %DLE). In several cases, the encapsulation of both hydrophobic drugs was found to be nearly quantitative. Combined with the observed stability of the micellar structures, these findings suggest that the block copolymers demonstrate significant potential as carriers for drug delivery applications. Full article

Well-killing operations in water-sensitive hydrophilic formations are often complicated by extended well clean-up periods and, in some cases, failure to restore the well’s production potential post-kill. Typical development targets exhibiting these properties include the Neocomian and Jurassic deposits of fields in Western Siberia and Western Kazakhstan. This paper proposes a well-killing method incorporating simultaneous near-wellbore treatment. In cases where heavy oil components (asphaltenes, resins, or paraffins) are deposited in the near-wellbore zone, their removal with a solvent results in post-operation flow rates that exceed pre-restoration levels. For wells not affected by asphaltene, resin, and paraffin deposits, killing is performed using a blocking pill of invert emulsion stabilized with an emulsifier and hydrophobic nanosilica. During filtration into the formation, this emulsion does not break but rather reforms according to the pore throat sizes. Flow rates in such wells typically match pre-restoration levels. The described engineering solution proves less effective when the well fluid water cut exceeds 60%. For wells exhibiting premature water breakthrough that have not yet produced their estimated oil volume, the water source is identified, and water shutoff operations are conducted. This involves polymer-gel systems crosslinked with resorcinol and paraform, reinforced with inorganic components such as chrysotile microdispersions, micro- and nanodispersions of shungite mineral, and gas black. Oscillation testing identified the optimal additive concentration range of 0.6–0.7 wt%, resulting in a complex modulus increase of up to 25.7%. The most effective polymer-inorganic composite developed by us, incorporating gas black, demonstrates high water shutoff capability (residual resistance factor ranges from 12.5 to 65.0 units within the permeability interval of 151.7 to 10.5 mD). Furthermore, the developed composites exhibit the ability to selectively reduce water permeability disproportionately more than oil permeability. Filtration tests confirmed that the residual permeability to oil after placing the blocking composition with graphene is 6.75 times higher than that to water. Consequently, such treatments reduce the well water cut. Field trials confirmed the effectiveness of the developed polymer-inorganic composite systems. Full article

Effective intracellular delivery for ovarian cancer therapy remains a significant challenge. We present chrysin-loaded p(MMA-co-DMAEMA)-b-(OEGMA-co-DMA), PMOD-Chr, a nanoparticle platform precisely engineered via RAFT polymerization for advanced therapeutic delivery. This multi-functional platform features a hydrophobic p(MMA) core encapsulating chrysin (Chr), a pH-responsive p(DMAEMA) segment for endosomal escape, and a hydrophilic OEGMA (Oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) shell functionalized for enhanced cellular affinity and systemic stability. The combination of OEGMA and DMA (Dopamine methacrylamide) block facilitates passive targeting of ovarian cancer cells, enhancing internalization. Nanoparticles prepared via the nanoprecipitation method exhibited ~220 nm, demonstrating effective size modulation along with high homogeneity and spherical morphology. In A2780 and OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells, PMOD-Chr demonstrated significantly enhanced cytotoxicity, substantially lowering the effective IC₅₀ dose of Chr. Mechanistically, PMOD-Chr induced a potent G2/M cell cycle arrest, driven by the upregulation of the CDK1/Cyclin B1 complex. Furthermore, the formulation potently triggered programmed cell death by concurrently activating both the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, evidenced by the modulation of Bax, Bcl2, and caspase 9, and the extrinsic pathway involving caspase 8. These findings emphasize that precision engineering via RAFT polymerization enables the creation of sophisticated, multi-stage nanomedicines that effectively overcome key delivery barriers, offering a highly promising targeted strategy for ovarian cancer. Full article

During the process of oil and gas drilling, due to the existence of pores or micro-cracks, drilling fluid is prone to invade the formation. Under the action of hydration expansion of clay in the formation and liquid pressure, wellbore instability occurs. In order to reduce the wellbore instability caused by drilling fluid intrusion into the formation, this study proposed a method of forming a dynamic hydrogen bond cross-linked network weak gel structure with modified nano-silica and P(AM-AAC). The plugging performance of the drilling fluid and the performance of inhibiting the hydration of shale were evaluated through various experimental methods. The results show that the gel composite system (GCS) effectively optimizes the plugging performance of drilling fluid. The 1% GCS can reduce the linear expansion rate of cuttings to 14.8% and increase the recovery rate of cuttings to 96.7%, and its hydration inhibition effect is better than that of KCl and polyamines. The dynamic cross-linked network structure can significantly increase the viscosity of drilling fluid. Meanwhile, by taking advantage of the liquid-phase viscosity effect and the physical blocking effect, the loss of drilling fluid can be significantly reduced. Mechanism studies conducted using zeta potential measurement, SEM analysis, contact angle measurement and capillary force assessment have shown that modified nano-silica stabilizes the wellbore by physically blocking the nano-pores of shale and changing the wettability of the shale surface from hydrophilic to hydrophobic when the contact angle exceeds 60°, thereby reducing capillary force and surface free energy. Meanwhile, the dynamic cross-linked network can reduce the seepage of free water into the formation, thereby significantly lowering the fluid loss of the drilling fluid. This research provides new insights into improving the stability of the wellbore in drilling fluids. Full article

Delivering of hydrophobic drugs by polymeric nanoparticles is an intensively investigated research and development field worldwide due to the insufficient solubility of many existing and potential new drugs in aqueous media. Among polymeric nanoparticles, micelles of biocompatible amphiphilic block copolymers are among the most promising candidates for solubilization, encapsulation, and delivery of hydrophobic drugs to improve the water solubility and thus the bioavailability of such drugs. In this study, amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymers containing biocompatible hydrophilic hyperbranched (dendritic) polyglycerol (HbPG) outer and hydrophobic poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF) inner segments were synthesized using amine-telechelic PTHF as a macroinitiator for glycidol polymerization. These hyperbranched–linear–hyperbranched block copolymers form nanosized micelles with 15–20 nm diameter above the critical micelle concentration. Coagulation experiments proved high colloidal stability of the aqueous micellar solutions of these block copolymers against temperature changes. The applicability of block copolymers as drug delivery systems was investigated using curcumin, a highly hydrophobic, water-insoluble, natural anti-cancer agent. High and efficient drug solubilization up to more than 3 orders of magnitude to that of the water solubility of curcumin (>1500-fold) is achieved with the HbPG-PTHF-HbPG block copolymer nanomicelles, locating the drug in amorphous form in the inner PTHF core. Outstanding stability of and sustained curcumin release from the drug-loaded block copolymer micelles were observed. The in vitro bioactivity of the curcumin-loaded nanomicelles was investigated on U-87 glioblastoma cell line, and an optimal triblock copolymer composition was found, which showed highly effective cellular uptake and no toxicity. These findings indicate that the HbPG-PTHF-HbPG triblock copolymers are promising candidates for advanced drug solubilization and delivery systems. Full article

The inherent complexity of cancer proliferation and malignancy cannot be addressed by the conventional approach of relying on high doses of a single powerful anticancer agent, which is associated with poor efficacy, higher toxicity, and the development of drug resistance. Multiple drug therapy (MDT) rationally designed to target tumor heterogeneity, block alternative survival pathways, modulate the tumor microenvironment, and reduce toxicities would be a viable solution against cancer. Liposomes are the most suitable carrier for anticancer MDT due to their ability to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic agents, biocompatibility, and controlled release properties; however, an adequate manufacturing method is important for effective co-encapsulation. Microfluidics involves the manipulation of fluids at the microscale for the controlled synthesis of liposomes with desirable properties. This work critically reviews the use of microfluidics for the synthesis of anticancer MDT liposomes. MDT success not only relies on the identification of synergistic dose combinations of the anticancer modalities but also warrants the loading of multiple therapeutic entities within liposomes in optimal ratios, the protection of the drugs by the nanocarrier during systemic circulation, and the synchronous release at the target site in the same pattern as confirmed in preliminary efficacy studies. Prospects have been identified for the bench-to-bedside translation of anticancer MDT liposomes using microfluidics. Full article