Search Results (96)

Industrial wastewater containing refractory organic compounds, heavy metals, and emerging contaminants poses a significant challenge to conventional treatment methods due to their high chemical stability and toxicity. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in Fenton-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for industrial wastewater treatment, with a particular focus on the paradigm shift from homogeneous to heterogeneous catalytic systems. Homogeneous Fenton processes, which rely on Fe²⁺/H₂O₂ reactions, exhibit rapid reaction kinetics but are severely limited by a narrow operational pH range (2–4) and the generation of substantial iron sludge. In contrast, heterogeneous Fenton systems employing immobilized or supported catalysts—such as iron-loaded zeolites, metal–organic frameworks, and carbon-based composites—broaden the applicable pH range to near-neutral conditions (4–8), enable catalyst recovery and reuse over multiple cycles, and enhance process sustainability by reducing iron leaching and sludge production. Integration with external energy inputs—such as photo, electricity, or ultrasound—can further promote radical generation and mass transfer, improving degradation efficiency while reducing chemical consumption. Practical applications in treating wastewater from textile, pharmaceutical, and electroplating industries have demonstrated effective contaminant removal and enhanced biodegradability. However, most current research remains at the laboratory scale, with long-term catalyst stability, operational costs, and scalability representing major barriers to large-scale implementation. Future research should focus on developing stable and regenerable catalysts, advancing pilot-scale studies of integrated systems, and conducting long-term evaluations under real wastewater conditions to promote the development of efficient, low-carbon, and sustainable solutions for industrial wastewater treatment. Full article

There is increasing interest in structured layered double hydroxide (LDH)-based catalysts because they combine tunable acid–base/redox chemistry with reactor architectures that can reduce diffusion lengths, improve heat management, and lower pressure-drop penalties. This review evaluates LDH, LDH-derived oxide (LDO/MMO), reduced metal/LDO, reconstructed hydroxide-rich, and mixed dynamic states integrated into honeycomb monoliths, open-cell foams, meshes/felts, thin films, washcoats, coated plates, microchannels, capillaries, and additively manufactured lattices. To move beyond descriptive comparison, the literature is assessed using unified evaluation dimensions: operative active state, support architecture, coating/integration route, active-phase loading, coating thickness and uniformity, reactor-volume-normalized productivity or STY, ΔP/L, axial/radial thermal gradients, time-on-stream, coating loss, regeneration recovery, and pilot-readiness. Representative benchmarks illustrate both the promise and reporting gaps of the field: NiFe-LDH-derived monoliths for CO₂ methanation have reached ~70% CO₂ conversion at 300 °C with >90% CH₄ selectivity and only 0.7% post-test mass loss; NiFe-LDH/iron-foam monoliths retained 85% ozone conversion after 168 h; high-entropy LDH-derived oxides showed T50/T90 values of 246/254 °C for toluene oxidation; and Au/LDH capillary films achieved 31.9% glycerol carbonate yield and 3.78 g h⁻¹ g⁻¹ productivity. The strongest current cases are pollution abatement and CO₂ methanation, whereas biomass upgrading, fine-chemical flow, high-entropy coatings, and photo/electrocatalytic films require deeper module-level validation. Overall, structured LDH catalysts should be treated as coupled chemistry–coating–reactor systems whose performance must be judged simultaneously by activity, accessible catalyst inventory, transport efficiency, pressure drop, thermal profile, durability, regeneration, and manufacturability. Full article

Surgical intervention is a primary treatment for osteosarcoma, often resulting in a tumorous bone defect with an irregular shape. Postoperative management is essential to minimize tumor recurrence risks and promote bone regeneration. To address these issues, we developed a multifunctional injectable, rapidly photo-curable hydrogel composed of gelatin methacryloyl/carboxymethyl chitosan/hyaluronic acid (GelMA/CMCS/HA), modified with vanadium-doped mesoporous bioactive glass (VMBG). The exceptional injectability enables seamless adaptation to irregular bone defects, offering a significant advantage over preformed implants, while the rapid photocurability of the hydrogel ensures stable fixation within minutes, thereby reducing potential risks during surgery. Furthermore, this platform exhibits dual therapeutic efficacy, characterized by antitumor activity and osteogenic induction. In vitro assessments demonstrated that V(V)/V(IV) valence cycling-driven ROS generation mediated its potent antitumor efficacy. Additionally, concurrent enhancement of alkaline phosphatase activity and osteogenic marker expression validated its osteogenic potential. The CMCS incorporation promoted healing at the defect site, while the HA addition created binding sites for cell adhesion and growth, thereby improving scaffold bioactivity. Collectively, this study presents the development and validation of a multifunctional GelMA/CMCS/HA hydrogel, highlighting its dual capability for bone regeneration and tumor suppression within tumor-associated bone microenvironments. Full article

Peripheral nerve adhesion after surgical injury severely hinders functional nerve regeneration, leading to pain and neurological dysfunction. In this study, we developed a photocrosslinkable methacrylated gelatin (GelMA)-based hydrogel membrane that locally releases dexamethasone to simultaneously prevent adhesion and suppress inflammation. GelMA, synthesized by reacting gelatin with methacrylic anhydride, formed a stable crosslinked network, as confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and rheological analysis. Cytocompatibility assays showed that both GelMA and Dexa-GelMA hydrogels were non-cytotoxic to neuronal and fibroblast cell lines. In a Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat sciatic nerve injury model, implantation of the Dexa-GelMA hydrogel significantly reduced perineural adhesion and inflammation compared with the untreated control. Western blot analysis showed an approximately 80% reduction in ED-1 expression, indicating suppression of macrophage activation. Overall, the Dexa-GelMA hydrogel provides a biocompatible, multifunctional platform that integrates physical barrier function with anti-inflammatory drug delivery, showing strong potential for preventing postoperative nerve adhesion and modulating early inflammatory responses in a peripheral nerve injury model. Full article

Resveratrone is a novel compound that was inadvertently discovered by photo-conversion of natural compound resveratrol. Although resveratrol, a representative antioxidant and anti-aging compound, is widely used to promote human health, the benefits of resveratrone have been little studied and remain largely unknown. Since resveratrone has a completely different molecular structure from resveratrol, it has a high possibility of possessing different effects to resveratrol. In this study, the various effects of resveratrone on skin health were revealed, including outstanding antioxidants, whitening, anti-wrinkle, skin regeneration, anti-acne, and so on. Moreover, resveratrone has been confirmed to be an excellent ingredient for skin health because it shows higher performance than resveratrol in most areas. Full article

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), as a biodegradable and green polymer, holds significant potential for replacing traditional petroleum-based plastics. However, its production efficiency and cost remain bottlenecks limiting large-scale application. In recent years, hybrid systems constructed from photosensitive nanomaterials and microorganisms have provided a novel pathway for enhancing PHB synthesis efficiency. These systems augment the supply of intracellular reducing power through efficient photo-generated electron injection, thereby driving microbial carbon fixation and PHB anabolic metabolism. This review systematically summarizes the mechanisms and performance of various types of photosensitive materials (including g-C₃N₄, CdS, polymer dots, etc.) in regulating PHB synthesis in microorganisms, such as Cupriavidus necator H16. It focuses on the influence of material composition, structure, energy band characteristics, and their interfacial interactions with microorganisms on electron transfer efficiency and biocompatibility. Furthermore, the article outlines the current challenges faced by these hybrid systems in key energy and mass transfer processes, including light energy conversion, transmembrane electron transport, and NADPH regeneration. It also prospects the design principles of novel bio-inspired multi-level heterojunction materials and their application potential in constructing efficient “material microbe” collaborative synthesis systems. This review aims to provide a material-level theoretical foundation and design strategies for developing high-performance and sustainable light-driven biomanufacturing technologies for PHB. Full article

Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology plays a crucial role in reducing atmospheric CO₂, but large-scale deployment faces challenges such as high energy consumption, operational costs, and slow material development. This study provides a comprehensive review of DAC principles, including chemical and solid adsorption methods, with a focus on emerging technologies like Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and graphene aerogels. MOFs have achieved adsorption capacities up to 1.5 mmol/g, while modified graphene aerogels reach 1.3 mmol/g. Other advancing approaches include DAC with Methanation (DACM), variable-humidity adsorption, photo-induced swing adsorption, and biosorption. The study also examines global industrialization trends, noting a significant rise in DAC projects since 2020, particularly in the U.S., China, and Europe. The integration of DAC with renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic/electrochemical regeneration, offers significant cost-reduction potential and can cut reliance on conventional heat by 30%. This study focuses on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for accelerating material design and system optimization. AI and Machine Learning (ML) are accelerating DAC R&D: high-throughput screening shortens material design cycles by 60%, while AI-driven control systems optimize temperature, humidity, and adsorption dynamics in real time, improving CO₂ capture efficiency by 15–20%. The study emphasizes DAC’s future role in achieving carbon neutrality through enhanced material efficiency, integration with renewable energy, and expanded CO₂ utilization pathways, providing a roadmap for scaling DAC technology in the coming years. Full article

Three-dimensional (3D) hepatic tissue engineering holds great potential for liver regeneration, disease modeling, and drug screening. These applications require densely layered hepatic tissues that mimic native 3D liver architecture. However, limited oxygen supply and reduced cell viability in densely layered hepatic constructs remain key challenges. To overcome this, this study developed a photo-crosslinkable, oxygen-releasing hydrogel composed of methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MeHA) and calcium peroxide (CPO). The MeHA/CPO hydrogel exhibited favorable rheological properties and sustained oxygen release. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocyte (iHep) sheets were cultured with or without MeHA/CPO hydrogel in single- and double-layer formats. The hydrogel enhanced structural integrity and supported the formation of a multilayer (~33 µm). Double-layered iHep sheets with MeHA/CPO showed the significantly increased expression of paracrine factors (HGF, VEGF, Alb) and improved albumin secretion without loss of hepatocyte identity (AFP, HNF4α). This oxygen-releasing system effectively alleviates hypoxic stress, supporting the structural and functional viability of multilayered iHep sheets. Our platform provides a promising approach for engineering metabolically active hepatic tissues and may serve as a foundation for 3D hepatic tissue engineering. Full article

Gellan gum (GG) is a promising biomaterial due to its biocompatibility, tunable gelation, and modifiability. This study investigates the influence of triple crosslinking mechanisms—thermal gelation, UV-induced covalent crosslinking, and ionic crosslinking—on the mechanical and physicochemical properties of GG-based hydrogels, designed to function as a neuromaterial with hierarchical neuro-architecture as a potential nerve substitute for peripheral nerve injury. Initial thermal gelation forms a physical network via double-helix junctions. Methacrylation introduces vinyl groups enabling UV crosslinking, while post-treatment with Mg²⁺ ions strengthens the network through ionic bridging with carboxylate groups. Plasticizers—glycerol and triethyl citrate—were incorporated to modulate chain mobility, network hydration, swelling behavior, and mechanical flexibility. Seven-day erosion studies showed that glycerol-containing hydrogels eroded 50–60% faster than those with triethyl citrate and up to 70% more than hydrogels without plasticizers, indicating increased hydrophilicity and matrix loosening. In contrast, triethyl citrate reduced erosion, likely due to tighter polymer chain interactions and reduced network porosity. Mechanical testing of 1% v/v methacrylated GG hydrogels revealed that 1.5% v/v triethyl citrate combined with UV curing (30–45 min) produced tensile strengths of 8.76–10.84 MPa. These findings underscore the synergistic effect of sequential crosslinking and plasticizer choice in tuning hydrogel mechanical properties for neuro application. The resulting hydrogels offer potential as a neuromaterial in peripheral nerve injury where gradient mechanical properties with hydration-responsive behavior are required. Full article

The presence of acetaminophen (ACTP) in aquatic environments has become a significant concern due to its environmental persistence and the potential formation of toxic transformation products. This study systematically compares the performance of three electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs), electro-oxidation (EO), electro-Fenton (EF), and solar photo-electro-Fenton (SPEF), for the degradation and mineralization of ACTP in aqueous media using boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. Reactions were conducted under varying operational parameters, including current densities (15–60 mA cm⁻²), initial ACTP concentrations (10–30 mg L⁻¹), and Fe²⁺ dosages. In the SPEF system, natural sunlight was utilized as the source of UV-A irradiation (30–35 W m⁻²). Among the evaluated processes, SPEF exhibited the highest degradation efficiency, achieving up to 97% ACTP removal and 78% chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction within 90 min. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis identified phenol and catechol as major intermediates, suggesting a degradation pathway involving hydroxylation, aromatic ring cleavage, and subsequent oxidation into low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids. Kinetic modeling revealed pseudo-first-order behavior, with a maximum rate constant of 0.0865 min⁻¹ under optimized conditions determined via Box–Behnken experimental design. Additionally, SPEF demonstrated enhanced energy efficiency (~0.052 kWh gCOD⁻¹) and improved oxidant regeneration under solar radiation, highlighting its potential as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment. These results support the implementation of SPEF as a sustainable strategy for mitigating the environmental impact of emerging contaminants, especially in regions with high solar availability and limited technological resources. Full article

Skin aging is characterized by compromised epidermal homeostasis and dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ) integrity, resulting in reduced stem cell potential and impaired tissue regeneration. This study investigated the effects of Andrographis paniculata extract (APE) on keratinocyte stem cells (KSCs) and DEJ composition in human skin. Using human skin explants and cell culture models, we demonstrated that APE treatment enhances DEJ composition by increasing Collagen IV and Laminin production while decreasing MMP-9 expression, without altering epidermal structure or differentiation. In the same model, APE preserved stemness potential by upregulating markers related to niche components (collagen XVII and β1-integrin), proliferation (Ki-67 and KRT15), and stem cell capacity (Survivin and LRIG1). In vitro studies revealed that APE selectively stimulated KSC proliferation without affecting transit amplifying cells and promoted Collagen IV and Laminin secretion, particularly in KSCs. Furthermore, in a co-culture model simulating a compromised DEJ (UVB-induced), APE increased Laminin production in KSCs, suggesting a protective effect against photo-damage. These findings indicate that APE enhances DEJ composition and preserves stem cell potential, highlighting its promise as a candidate for skin anti-aging strategies targeting stem cell maintenance and extracellular matrix stability to promote skin regeneration and repair. Full article

Corporate environmental claims often neglect the substantial ecological impact of land-use changes. This case study examines the spatial dimension of retail-driven land-use transformation by analyzing supermarket expansion in the Veneto region (northern Italy), with a focus on a large grocery retailer. We evaluated its corporate environmental claims by assessing land consumption patterns from 1983 to 2024 using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The GIS-based methodology involved geocoding 113 Points of Sale (POS—individual retail outlets), performing photo-interpretation of historical aerial imagery, and classifying land-cover types prior to construction. We applied spatial metrics such as total converted surface area, land-cover class frequency across eight categories (e.g., agricultural, herbaceous, arboreal), and the average linear distance between afforestation sites and POS developed on previously rural land. Our findings reveal that 65.97% of the total land converted for Points of Sale development occurred in rural areas, primarily agricultural and herbaceous lands. These landscapes play a critical role in supporting urban biodiversity and providing essential ecosystem services, which are increasingly threatened by unchecked land conversion. While the corporate sustainability reports and marketing strategies emphasize afforestation efforts under their “We Love Nature” initiative, our spatial analysis uncovers no evidence of actual land-use conversion. Additionally, reforestation activities are located an average of 40.75 km from converted sites, undermining their role as effective compensatory measures. These findings raise concerns about selective disclosure and greenwashing, driving the need for more comprehensive and transparent corporate sustainability reporting. The study argues for stronger policy frameworks to incentivize urban regeneration over greenfield development and calls for the integration of land-use data into corporate sustainability disclosures. By combining geospatial methods with content analysis, the research offers new insights into the intersection of land use, business practices, and environmental sustainability in climate-vulnerable regions. Full article

Bone grafting is essential for the regeneration of bone defects where natural healing is inadequate. Octacalcium phosphate (OCP)/calcium citrate (CC)/pig gelatin (pig Gel) composites promote hydroxyapatite (HAp) formation in simulated body fluid (SBF); however, the rapid degradation of pig Gel leads to their degradation in SBF within 7 d. To address this, we developed a 35% OCP/35% CC/30% methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) composite by leveraging the tuneable photo-crosslinking ability of GelMA to enhance the initial structural stability in SBF. However, the optimal synthetic photo-crosslinking conditions and the apatite-forming abilities of the OCP/CC/GelMA composite require investigation. In this study, we employed photo-crosslinking to synthesize homogeneous OCP/CC/GelMA composites with initial structural stability in SBF and evaluated their HAp-forming ability in SBF as an indicator of osteogenic potential, in comparison with the OCP/CC/pig Gel composites. Both GelMA- and pig Gel-based composites were prepared and immersed in SBF for 7 d to assess HAp formation. Although the OCP/CC/GelMA composite showed reduced HAp nucleation compared to the OCP/CC/pig Gel composites, it exhibited enhanced initial structural stability in SBF while retaining its HAp-forming ability. These findings highlight the OCP/CC/GelMA composite as a stable and promising scaffold for bone regeneration, laying the groundwork for further research. Full article

Tropical forests face increasing threats and are often replaced by secondary forests that regenerate after disturbances. In the Atlantic Forest, this creates fragments of different successional stages. The aim of this study is to understand how soil nutrients and light availability gradients influence the species composition and structure of trees and regenerating strata in remnants of lowland rainforest. We sampled 15 plots for the tree stratum (DBH ≥ 5 cm) and 45 units for the regenerating stratum (height ≥ 50 cm, DBH < 5 cm), obtaining phytosociological, entropy and equitability data for both strata. Canopy openness was assessed with hemispherical photos and soil samples were homogenized. To analyze the interactions between the vegetation of the tree layer and the environmental variables, we carried out three principal component analyses and two redundancy analyses and applied a linear model. The young fragments showed good recovery, significant species diversity, and positive successional changes, while the older ones had higher species richness and were in an advanced stage of succession. In addition, younger forests are associated with sandy, nutrient-poor soils and greater exposure to light, while mature forests have more fertile soils, display a greater diversity of dispersal strategies, are rich in soil clay, and have less light availability. Mature forests support biodiversity and regeneration better than secondary forests, highlighting the importance of preserving mature fragments and monitoring secondary ones to sustain tropical biodiversity. Full article

High unemployment rates, inaccessible housing markets, and funding challenges create barriers to finding suitable housing for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who have less obvious support needs, also known as autistic adults. While public and community housing services in Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ) may be an option, a lack of accessible designs leaves families uncertain about future care options. This paper, part of the MBIE-funded Public Housing and Urban Regeneration: Maximising Wellbeing research programme in partnership with registered Community Housing Provider, Te Toi Mahana (TTM), takes an exploratory approach to ask how public and community housing can support and help enable semi-independent living for autistic adults. It investigates how design elements—such as dwelling layouts, material choices, colour schemes, lighting, acoustics, shared and community spaces, and external environments—impact the wellbeing of autistic adults. By extension, insights may also inform private housing design. The study focuses on autistic adults who may be considered ‘mid-to-high’ functioning or those who have been previously diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, whose housing needs are often overlooked. It develops guiding principles and detailed guidance points for public and community housing, informed by the literature, case studies, and data from a photo elicitation study and interviews undertaken with autistic adults in AoNZ. These guiding principles are tested through the speculative redesign of a large TTM site in Newtown, Wellington, AoNZ. Findings should be of interest to government agencies, housing providers, architects, stakeholders, and others involved in shaping the built environment, as well as autistic adults and their supporters, both in AoNZ and internationally. Full article