Search Results (55,329)

Large bone defects remain difficult to treat because current bone substitutes largely restore mechanical integrity without reconstructing the periosteal microenvironment that orchestrates endogenous bone regeneration. Here, we developed a periosteum-inspired composite scaffold by integrating a regenerated cellulose nanofibrous membrane onto a compressed hydroxyapatite scaffold to simultaneously mimic the biological interface and mineralized framework of native bone. A cellulose acetate electrospun membrane was converted into regenerated cellulose through deacetylation while preserving its extracellular matrix-like fibrous architecture, providing a hydrophilic surface favorable for cell–material interactions. The periosteum-mimetic membrane supported cell attachment and increased cellular metabolic activity, demonstrating its ability to establish a regenerative microenvironment at the scaffold surface. In a critical-sized femoral defect model in SD rats, the composite scaffold markedly enhanced bone regeneration compared with the hydroxyapatite scaffold alone, leading to substantially increased newly formed bone area. Histological analysis further revealed elevated expression of the osteogenic transcription factor Osterix, indicating enhanced osteogenic commitment during bone repair. Rather than functioning solely as a structural covering, incorporation of the engineered periosteal membrane provided a cell-supportive interface associated with enhanced bone regeneration. This biomimetic strategy demonstrates that reconstructing periosteal function represents an effective approach for designing next-generation bone grafts with enhanced biological performance and regenerative capacity. Full article

Gallium is a critical metal for high-tech industries, with its global demand surging in recent years. Currently, approximately 90% of primary gallium is extracted from Bayer liquor. Chelating resins such as amidoxime sorbents are widely adopted commercial materials for this purpose. However, gallium recovery from such highly caustic media remains a formidable challenge, as gallium is present at low concentrations while aluminate ions are hundreds of times more abundant, and the medium is rich in competing vanadate ions and humic substances. These interfering components impede both adsorption and desorption cycles, leading to a progressive decline in resin performance and a subsequent increase in operational costs. In recent years, functionalized carbon-based materials have gained significant traction. This growing interest is motivated by the carbon-based materials’ exceptional chemical resilience across both acidic and alkaline environments, tunable surface chemistry, and facile re-functionalization. This mini-review synthesizes recent progress in functionalized carbon-based materials for gallium recovery, with a particular emphasis on their adsorption performance and mechanistic insights. At the end of the paper, major challenges and research gaps are identified, and future research directions are proposed. Full article

In the present work, the incorporation of Nb in the volume of weld seams during electron beam welding of Al6082-T6 plates was investigated. The Nb was introduced into the weld seam in the form of a direct current (DC) magnetron-sputtered filler. The experiments were conducted with different technical parameters where the power of the heat source was constant, but the geometry of the oscillation of the electron beam was varied. In the first case, circular oscillation was used with a radius r_osc = 0.2 mm, and in the second case, elliptical beam oscillation was used with a length l = 2 mm and a width d = 0.2 mm. The structure of the samples and some mechanical properties were investigated. A mathematical model was prepared, and the obtained results were comparable to the experimentally obtained ones. Using circular oscillation, poor miscibility of the aluminum and niobium, poor melting of the Nb filler, and a high concentration of defects were observed. No intermetallic compounds (IMCs) were detected in this case. In the case of applying elliptical beam oscillation, excellent miscibility between aluminum and niobium was achieved, and a homogeneous spread of Al₃Nb intermetallics along the entire volume of the weld seam was achieved. This increased the density of the joint by minimizing the formation of defects, such as solidification pores, and by decreasing the size of the secondary phase particles within the weld seam from 33.11–61.41 µm to 3.63–7.75 µm. This resulted in an increase in the mechanical properties, with the average hardness of the fusion zone going from 72.6 ± 3.3 HV to 83.4 ± 3.5 HV and the average tensile strength going from 225 ± 8 MPa to 275 ± 8 MPa. Full article

Electrospinning is a versatile technique for producing membranes composed of submicrometric fibers and possessing high porosity and a large surface-to-volume ratio. These properties make electrospun fiber mats attractive for many applications including filtration, biomedical materials, and sensing. While conventional set-ups readily generate randomly oriented nonwovens, many applications require precise control over fiber organization. Such control can be achieved by manipulating the charged jet and the residual charges retained by deposited fibers, both governed by the electric field that is intrinsic to the electrospinning process. This review examines strategies for electrostatic control of electrospun fiber mat morphology, organized around two principal mechanisms: control of the charged jet in-flight and control of the landing jet. Auxiliary electrode-assisted electrospinning, which aims to suppress or redirect the whipping instabilities, as well as gap-separated and structured collectors that exploit electrostatic template effects, are discussed. Particular attention is given to the underlying mechanisms. Collectively, these methods illustrate how tailoring the electric field allows for the production of membranes with complex, application-specific fiber morphologies. Full article

Chiral plasmonic nanostructures have emerged as a distinctive class of optical materials that combine nanoscale structural asymmetry with strong light–matter interactions, enabling pronounced and tunable chiroptical responses. Advances in structural engineering and plasmonic coupling have enabled diverse architectures with potential applications in enantioselective sensing, asymmetric catalysis, bioimaging, and therapeutic technologies. However, their broader development remains constrained by several key challenges, including precise control over nanoscale chirality, batch-to-batch structural reproducibility, incomplete understanding of structure–chiroptical property relationships, scalable fabrication, and stability under practical and biological conditions. This review systematically examines the major structural architectures of chiral plasmonic nanomaterials and the mechanisms responsible for chirality generation, including ligand-induced, intrinsic geometric, and assembly induced chirality. Particular emphasis is placed on correlating structural design, plasmonic coupling, and chiroptical properties with functional performance. Recent advances in enantioselective recognition and sensing, catalytic transformations, and biomedical applications are critically discussed, together with their current limitations. Finally, emerging design strategies and future opportunities for improving structural precision, reproducibility, scalability, and practical translation are highlighted, providing a framework for the rational development of next-generation chiral plasmonic nanomaterials. Full article

Gel-based novel drug delivery systems (NDDS) occupy a mechanistically distinct niche among controlled-release platforms because they decouple three design variablesnetwork cross-link density, continuous-phase polarity, and stimulus sensitivitythat in particulate carriers (liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles) are often interdependent. This critical review synthesizes 102 primary and secondary sources published predominantly between 2010 and 2026 to interrogate, rather than merely catalog, how hydrogels, organogels, aerogels, nanogels, in situ gelling systems, and hydrogel-forming microneedles have been engineered for site-specific pharmacotherapy. Beyond a taxonomic overview, the review quantitatively contrasts formulation parameters sol–gel transition temperatures (typically 32–37 °C for poloxamer 407/188 systems), swelling ratios, mesh sizes, and reported drug-release half-lives across oncology, chronic diabetic wound care, ophthalmic and nasal-to-brain delivery, musculoskeletal (intra-articular) therapy, subunit vaccine depots, periodontal pocket therapy, and glucose-responsive insulin delivery. Particular attention is paid to the mechanistic basis of burst release, the porosity–mechanical-integrity trade-off inherent to interconnected hydrogel networks, and the divergence between preclinical rodent efficacy and the comparatively sparse controlled human trial data available for most gel platforms. The review concludes that while stimuli-responsive and 3D/4D-printed gel architectures have matured substantially as engineering constructs, clinical translation remains bottlenecked less by materials science than by inconsistent characterization standards, unresolved terminal-sterilization compatibility, and a paucity of head-to-head comparative trials against existing standard-of-care formulations. Full article

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/sodium alginate (SA) dual-network hydrogels were prepared via the freeze–thaw method. Tensile testing, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and fiber-optic spectroscopy were employed for material characterization, and multiple metal ions were screened to optimize mechanical properties and ionic conductivity. The results showed that, at PVA:SA mass ratio of 2:1, the hydrogel achieved 163% elongation and 0.18 MPa tensile strength. Ca²⁺ crosslinking formed an enhanced structure with mechanical properties of 170% elongation and 0.21 MPa strength, and ionic conductivity (0.69 S/m). Combined with colloidal photonic crystal (PC) templates, the PVA/SA-PC film exhibited an inverted opal structure, showing sensitive color response (green to red) and diffraction red-shift toward Ca²⁺. The conductive film could power a small bulb, demonstrating potential for portable visual sensing applications. Full article

Sports e-textiles have emerged as a key component of wearable technology, enabling real-time physiological monitoring and enhanced athletic performance. However, the integration of conventional batteries into sportswear is constrained by their rigidity, weight, limited flexibility, and safety concerns. Textile-integrated supercapacitors have therefore attracted considerable attention as a promising energy storage solution owing to their lightweight design, rapid charge–discharge capability, long cycle life, and excellent mechanical flexibility. This review critically examines recent advances in supercapacitor-based energy storage for sports e-textiles, with emphasis on electrode materials, textile substrates, fabrication and integration strategies, electrochemical performance, and practical applications in sportswear. Particular attention is given to the effects of textile architecture, flexibility, washability, mechanical durability, sweat resistance, and long-term operational stability on device performance. The review also discusses the major challenges limiting commercial adoption, including durability, scalable manufacturing, user comfort, and environmental sustainability. Finally, future research directions are proposed to accelerate the development of high-performance, sustainable, and commercially viable textile energy storage systems for next-generation intelligent sportswear. This review provides a comprehensive reference for researchers, textile engineers, and wearable technology developers working on advanced energy storage solutions for smart sports apparel. Full article

Toxic elements such as arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) in the arsenic-alkali residue resulted from the antimony smelting industry posed a threat to the ecosystem and must be properly treated to prevent their release into the environment. The integration of stabilizers into mechano-chemical approaches has emerged as a highly promising strategy for the detoxification of non-ferrous metal smelting slags, drawing increasing research attention in recent years. Meanwhile, zero-valent iron has been widely applied owing to its low cost, ready availability, and high reactivity. In this study, modified zero-valence iron powders (ZVI) were prepared and employed to stabilize As and Sb in the arsenic-alkali residue via a mechanical ball-milling process. After modification using acetic acid, the surface properties of the iron powders were substantially altered, leading to the formation of iron oxides. The optimum operation conditions for the mechanical ball-milling process were determined as follows: a milling time of 1 h, the dosage of the detoxifier (n_As:n_Fe) of 1:1, and a ball-to-material ratio of 6:1. Under these conditions, the leaching toxicity of the As and Sb were 1.483 mg/L and 0.208 mg/L, respectively. The stabilization of As and Sb in the residue was primarily attributed to their adsorption onto the surface iron oxides and the formation of new insoluble phases during the ball-milling process. Full article

The dissimilar metal welded joints at the safe ends of nuclear primary circuits are highly susceptible to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) initiation in high-temperature, high-pressure water environments. Existing predictive models are predominantly based on homogeneous material assumptions, making it challenging to accurately evaluate the actual failure behavior of welds caused by mechanical property heterogeneity. Consequently, based on the mechanical gradient obtained from hardness tests, this study constructs a finite element model with continuously varying mechanical properties to quantitatively investigate SCC behavior under different crack characteristics. The analysis demonstrates that mechanical heterogeneity significantly influences the crack tip mechanical fields: When the crack is located proximal to the sub-interface (d = 1 mm), the severe mechanical mismatch induces a sharp increase in creep strain, resulting in a peak SCC propagation rate approximately 14.6% higher than those at d = 3 mm. Furthermore, extending the crack length at the weld center (a/W from 0.45 to 0.60) expands the plastic strain zone along the propagation direction, driving an approximately 43.6% increase in the crack growth rate. The heterogeneous model, accounting for the local mechanical gradient, can more accurately reveal the influence laws of crack position and length on SCC propagation behavior, providing theoretical support for improving life prediction accuracy and in-service inspections. Full article

This study investigates the feasibility of utilizing stone dust waste, an industrial by-product generated during ornamental-stone quarrying processing, as a raw material for 3D-printing mortar. This approach reduces waste disposal and promotes a circular economy. Several high-strength cementitious mixtures were screened and optimized by varying raw materials as a function of slump flow evolution over time, which served as indirect assessment of open time and extrudability. Following the identification of the most suitable mixture for 3D printing, one of the raw materials (an ultrafine limestone filler) was subsequently replaced on a 1:1 mass basis with stone waste, selected due to its comparable particle-size distribution, to assess its feasibility as an alternative filler. Fresh-state properties were evaluated based on flowability, with slump values ranging from 16 cm to 13 cm over time, and extrusion tests on a screw pump, used to validate extrusion stability and shape retention. Hardened-state properties were determined at different curing ages. The incorporation of Apricena stone waste resulted in similar fresh-state and extrusion behaviour of mortar, without additional changes to the mix design, and the intended 30 min qualitative extrusion window was met. At 28 days, the mixture incorporating stone dust waste achieved flexural and compressive strength of 12.51 MPa and 79.72 MPa. The incorporation of stone dust waste resulted in an extrudable mixture for 3D printing, with the intended open time and fresh-state behaviour, as well as mechanical properties complying with high-strength applications. However, the full replacement of one of the limestone fillers led to an 8% reduction in 28-day compressive strength. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the recovery of stone dust slurry as viable supplementary cementitious material for 3D-printed concrete is viable. The data support the use of this stone waste as a raw material for 3D printing, and specific mortar development and mix optimization for different applications are recommended, including the quantitative assessment of buildability, printed mechanical properties, durability, and leaching and life-cycle assessment. Full article

The use of hybrid fiber reinforcement has been investigated to enhance the performance of gypsum-based materials, taking advantage of several types of fibers. This study develops hybrid fiber-reinforced gypsum composites (HFRGCs) incorporating sixteen combinations of recycled mineral wool (RMW) and polypropylene (PP) fibers, with contents ranging from 0.25 to 1.00 wt.%. The samples are mechanically characterized, and statistical analyses of the measured values are conducted. Moreover, a life cycle assessment (LCA) is also performed regarding their environmental impacts. The HFRGC containing 0.50 wt.% RMW fibers and 1.00 wt.% PP fibers exhibited the highest surface hardness, with a 5.5% increase compared with the reference. The highest flexural and compressive strengths were achieved by HFRGCs containing 0.50 wt.% PP fibers, reaching increases of 7.5% and 9.0%, respectively, with only a minor influence of RMW fibers, whose greatest contribution was reducing environmental impacts due to the low energy demand for recycling this industrial waste compared with the high emissions from PP fiber production. A statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in the mechanical properties of HFRGCs containing 0.50 and 1.00 wt.% PP fibers, suggesting that increasing the PP fiber content beyond 0.50 wt.% did not result in significant mechanical improvements. Therefore, considering both mechanical and environmental aspects, the HFRGC incorporating 1.00 wt.% RMW fiber and 0.50 wt.% PP fibers provided the most balanced overall performance. Full article

The method of extraction of edible oils from nuts significantly affects both the yield and the quality of the oil. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical and lipid composition of pecan nuts, as well as the extracted pecan oil (EPO) and mechanically pressed pecan oil (MPPO). The residual material obtained after mechanical pressing (expeller) was also examined for its oil content and fatty acid composition. The glyceride oil content of the extracted nuts with hexane is higher than that of the oil isolated by mechanical pressing (65.0 vs. 66.3%). Pecan nuts are a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids, with polyunsaturated (mainly linoleic acid) and monounsaturated (oleic acid) being predominant. The amount of linoleic acid is about 35% in EPO and MPPO, but almost three times lower in the residual pecan oil (RPO): 11.8%. The major fatty acid in all examined oils is oleic acid, which was higher in EPO and MPPO (51.4% and 53.1%) than in RPO (42.4%). The physicochemical properties of EPO and MPPO are also analyzed, and significant differences are observed in all parameters (peroxide, acid and iodine values, K₂₃₂, K₂₇₀ and relative density) excluding the refractive index. The identified bioactive compounds (sterols, tocopherols and phospholipids) are secondary substances of pecan oil, but are important for its oxidative stability, which is 15 h for EPO and 24 h for MPPO. Full article

To improve the inherently low electronic and ionic conductivity of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode materials, the synergistic modification of Al doping and carbon coating has been proven to be an effective strategy. However, the doping effects of different aluminum (Al) sources have not been systematically compared, and the mechanism of the synergistic effect between the characteristics of the Al source and the synthesis process remains poorly understood. To address this, the present study systematically investigated the effects of three Al sources on the structure and electrochemical performance of LFP/C composites under two sintering processes: static and dynamic. Phase and microstructure characterizations confirmed the successful doping of Al³⁺ and the formation of an effective carbon coating. Electrochemical tests indicated that the choice of Al source and sintering process was strongly coupled: in the dynamic fluidized-bed process, which is highly characterized by efficient mass and heat transfer, Al(OH)₃, due to its lower thermal decomposition temperature and the release of active H₂O, promoted uniform Al³⁺ doping and optimized the quality of the carbon coating, thereby achieving the best overall performance. By contrast, under the sluggish reaction kinetics of static sintering, the chemically stable Al₂O₃ achieved ordered doping through slow solid-state diffusion, demonstrating the best cycling stability. In both processes, the overly stable AlPO₄ failed to release Al³⁺ effectively, resulting in limited performance improvement. This work reveals the key principle that the intrinsic reactivity of the Al source must be matched with the kinetics of the sintering process, deepens mechanistic understanding of the doping modification, and provides clear experimental evidence for the selection of the optimal Al source under different synthesis processes. Full article

Cancer continues to pose a major global burden because of the high incidence and mortality, underscoring the urgent need for innovative and highly sensitive diagnostic technologies. Conducting polymer–nanomaterial (CP–NM) hybrid biosensors have become promising platforms for cancer biomarker detection, integrating the redox-active and biocompatible nature of conducting polymers such as polyaniline (PANI), polypyrrole (PPy), and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) with the high surface area and charge transport properties of nanomaterials, including metallic nanoparticles, metal oxides, carbon-based nanostructures, and two-dimensional materials. The synergistic interfaces in these hybrids enable efficient electron transfer, signal amplification, and stable biomolecular immobilization, facilitating ultrasensitive and multiplexed detection of proteins, nucleic acids, and metabolites associated with tumor progression. This review highlights recent advances in CP–NM hybrid biosensors for cancer diagnostics, focusing on material design strategies, sensing mechanisms, and representative applications across electrochemical, optical, and mechanical modalities. Finally, key challenges and future perspectives are discussed, emphasizing the potential of CP–NM hybrid platforms to drive next-generation approaches for early cancer detection, therapeutic monitoring, and personalized healthcare. Full article