Search Results (386)

The plastisphere critically modulates interactions among microplastics (MPs), biofilms, and trace metals under environmentally realistic conditions, governing the interfacial reactivity of plastisphere-coated microplastics. Here, we investigated cobalt (Co) adsorption onto large polypropylene (PP) primary microplastics (~4 mm) exposed for 28 days in a flow-through riverine mesocosm across a gradient of Co concentrations (0–60 µg·L⁻¹). A multi-technique analytical approach was employed, combining inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), laser ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS), quantitative PCR (qPCR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cobalt accumulation increased linearly with time, consistent with apparent first-order dependence on aqueous Co concentration under constant exposure, reaching 38 ± 3 mg·kg⁻¹ after 28 days at 60 µg·L⁻¹, with no saturation observed. The concentration-dependent Co accumulation was well described by an empirical power-law model (Q = KC₀ⁿ), with the empirical coefficient K increasing linearly over time, reflecting the progressive increase in Co accumulation at a given aqueous concentration. Microbial colonization developed rapidly on MPs, with 16S and 18S rRNA gene copy numbers stabilizing after 14 days, while surface-normalized Co signals increased sharply after day 21, indicating a time-dependent modification of biofilm properties influencing Co retention. SEM confirmed complex microbial structures, including diatom-like cells. No cobalt adsorption was observed under sterile conditions, confirming the key role of biofilm presence. These findings highlight the dynamic role of the plastisphere as a chemically and biologically active interface under environmentally realistic riverine conditions, with implications for contaminant fate, bioavailability, and risk assessment in freshwater systems affected by plastic pollution. Full article

Nanofiltration membranes have emerged as a crucial class of pressure-driven separation materials, positioned between ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis in terms of selectivity, permeance, operating pressure, and energy consumption. Their ability to remove fine contaminants—including multivalent ions, organic micropollutants, dyes, and macromolecules—has made them essential in water and wastewater treatment, pharmaceutical processing, and various industrial applications. In spite of their growing relevance, the performance of polymeric nanofiltration membranes, such as polyamide, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyvinylidene fluoride, and polyimide, is still constrained by weak hydrophilicity and a strong susceptibility to fouling, which collectively decrease permeance, increase operational costs, and shorten membrane lifespan. In recent years, substantial research efforts have focused on designing and engineering the surface chemistry and structural characteristics of nanofiltration membranes to improve water permeance, reduce foulant adhesion, and improve long-term stability. This review provides a comprehensive and comparative assessment of the most recent modification techniques applied to polymer-based nanofiltration membranes. Strategies such as polymer blending, nanoparticle incorporation, physical surface coating, plasma treatment, chemical attachment, layer-by-layer assembly, and interfacial polymerization are critically examined with respect to their effectiveness and practical limitations supported by recent research examples. Special attention is given to how these modification methods affect membrane morphology, hydrophilicity, permeance, and antifouling properties. Eventually, the review highlights emerging ideas and forward-looking design directions that may guide the next generation of nanofiltration membranes toward higher efficiency, improved durability, and broader industrial applicability. Full article

Glow-discharge plasma (GDP) poling is revisited as an electrode-free method for activating piezoelectricity in poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) films. Although this method was proposed several decades ago, its effect on the properties of PVDF films has remained poorly understood. In this work, we demonstrate that GDP enables efficient poling of oriented PVDF films without pre-deposited electrodes and investigate the relationship between plasma treatment time, structural evolution, and piezoelectric response. Commercially available 25 μm-thick oriented PVDF films (PolyK) were treated in a DC glow discharge for 15 s to 15 min and characterized using FTIR, DSC, piezoresponse force microscopy, UV–Vis–NIR spectrophotometry, quasi-static d₃₃ measurements and water contact-angle measurements. GDP poling produced a side-averaged piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ of up to ~25 pC/N within 1–5 min, with local maxima at approximately 1, 2.5, and 5 min. This behavior was accompanied by pronounced changes in the domain structure, including an increase in the ferroelectric domain size from 86 to 552 nm, while the crystallinity and electroactive phase fraction changed only moderately. Plasma treatment also increased the wettability of the plasma-facing surface, reducing the water contact angle from about 85° to 42° within 3 min. At longer treatment times (>5 min), however, the piezoelectric response decreased and the optical transparency deteriorated because of increased haze and turbidity, most likely associated with plasma-induced chemical modification of the surface layers. These results indicate that GDP poling has an effective processing window of 1–5 min. The proposed approach provides a vacuum-compatible and electrode-free route for preparing PVDF films with increased surface wettability for flexible piezoelectric sensors, wearable electronics, and integrated polymer-based devices, because it is compatible with electrode deposition on an already activated polymer surface within a single vacuum cycle. Full article

Despite the fact that oxygen plasma treatments are widely used to modify the surface properties of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), the long-term stability of these surface modifications has not been fully investigated. Specifically, the roles of morphological restructuring and chemical modifications at the surface remain to be understood. In this work, we treat commercial PTFE samples using O₂ plasmas at different discharge pressures to investigate their surface modifications and subsequent ageing at atmospheric pressure. We provide direct evidence that ageing behavior is governed by nanoscale and microscale restructuring of the plasma-modified interface, revealing a novel link between morphology dynamics and wettability properties. To capture this surface evolution, the modified interface was characterized using water contact angle (WCA) measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry (MS). Initial plasma treatment enhances PTFE hydrophobicity, shifting the WCA from ${\theta }_c\simeq 105°$ to a highly hydrophobic state of ${\theta }_c\simeq 135°$. By monitoring the samples in contact with air over a 67-day period a gradual transition toward hydrophilicity was revealed, with WCAs stabilizing at ${\theta }_c\simeq 70°$ after approximately 20 days. SEM observations identified time-dependent morphological degradation of plasma-induced nanostructures, while qualitative and quantitative FTIR analysis—utilizing the Specified Area Under Band (SAUB) method—confirmed corresponding shifts in carbonyl and hydrocarbon indices. These results demonstrate that ageing kinetics are a direct function of plasma pressure. The transition is further supported by a phenomenological fractal model, which confirms a morphological shift from an initial fractal surface ($d_s\simeq 2.25$) toward a standard flat geometry ($d_s=2$). Furthermore, calculations indicate a sign reversal in solid-gas interface tension parameters, reflecting the changed chemical nature of the surface. We conclude that the loss of hydrophobicity is driven by a synergistic interplay between morphological relaxation and chemical restructuring. Full article

The development of reusable nanomaterials for the extraction of trace-metals from complex matrices remains challenging because strong metal-chelating functionalities often hinder desorption and regeneration, whereas weaker binding sites compromise selectivity and enrichment efficiency. This limitation has been addressed by designing a ligand-engineered fibrous mesoporous silica nanomaterial (Van-KCC-1) via the integration of the unique structural features of KCC-1 with an o-vanillin-derived Schiff-base chelator. The material was synthesized throughout the chemical grafting of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) onto fibrous mesoporous silica KCC-1, followed by condensation with 3-methoxy-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde (o-vanillin). The successfulness of functionalization and Schiff-base formation were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The radially oriented fibrous channels of KCC-1 provide a highly accessible surface that remains available for interaction with the targeted ions even after chemical modification. This architecture facilitates rapid mass transfer and efficient utilization of binding sites, while the incorporated Schiff-base ligand introduces imine, phenolic, and methoxy donor groups capable of selectively and reversibly coordinating Ni(II) and Cd(II). The resulting balance between adsorption strength and desorption efficiency enables both effective metal capture and sorbent reusability. More importantly, the study demonstrates how KCC-1 can serve as a versatile nanosilica scaffold for the incorporation of tailored chelating ligands without sacrificing structural accessibility. The functionalized nanomaterial was evaluated as a dispersive solid-phase extraction (DSPE) sorbent coupled with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Under optimized conditions, linear ranges of 0.035–50 μg L⁻¹ for Ni(II) and 0.058–50 μg L⁻¹ for Cd(II) were obtained, with limits of detection of 0.011 and 0.019 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The method exhibited excellent precision (relative standard deviation ≤ 3.6%) and recoveries of 92.00–98.83% in certified reference materaisl (NIST CRM 1643d), mineral water, tap water and synthetic wastewater. In addition, the nanochelator has retained more than 87% of its initial sorption efficiency after six adsorption–desorption cycles and showed minimal interference from common coexisting ions. These findings establish Van-KCC-1 as an efficient, selective, and reusable DSPE sorbent in the determination of trace-metals while highlighting the broader potential of fibrous mesoporous silica KCC-1 as a platform for the rational design of next-generation chelated nanomaterials. Full article

The objective of this research is the development of a copper-based optical sensor for the detection of ovarian cancer marker CA 125 synthesized using low-temperature plasma. Optical materials produced with metals show unique advantages due to their ability to interact with light. There are different methods currently used for the synthesis of optical materials that can be associated with longer processing times and low material yield. The novelty of this study is the development of copper-based optical material (CuPy) using low-temperature plasma and subsequent modification for the detection of CA 125. Introduction: Plasma consists of a mixture of fully and partially ionized gas. It comprises diverse, highly energized species of atoms, ions, electrons, excited molecules, and charged species. These energized species are used to create new materials, for surface modifications, and in medical applications. Plasma can create a controlled environment for the creation of novel materials. Using low-temperature plasma, it will be possible to have precise control of the chemical composition and structure due to the creation of excited molecules, ions, and free radicals. Method: The CuPy material was synthesized using radio-frequency-assisted low-temperature plasma. Prior to synthesis, the plasma chamber was cleaned using radio frequency (RF) plasma without any reagents or gases. RF plasma was used for the synthesis of CuPy for 10 min and subsequent hydrogen plasma (50 sccm) for another 10 min. Two types of products were extracted from the chamber (one in water and another in methanol). These two products were analyzed using UV–visible absorbance spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The methanol extracted samples were further modified with CA 125 antibody. Zeta potential measurements were performed to confirm the binding of the CA 125 antibody to the sensor. The sensing efficacy of the sensor towards CA 125 antigen was monitored using fluorescence spectroscopy. Results: The absorbance spectrum of methanol extracted CuPy shows absorbances around 251 nm, 282 nm, and 339 nm. The extracted product exhibited a red edge excitation emission in the visible region. The elemental composition and oxidation state of the sample were evaluated using XPS. CA 125 antibody conjugation with CuPy was confirmed using UV–visible absorbance spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and FTIR spectroscopy. The antibody binding resulted in the fluorescence shifts towards higher wavelengths with an increase in the emission intensity compared with CuPy. Zeta potential measurements also confirmed the binding of the CA 125 antibody to the sensor. Different concentrations of CA 125 antigen resulted in the quenching of fluorescence. This change in the fluorescence intensity was used for the detection of CA 125. Conclusions: A copper-based optical material was developed using low-temperature plasma, and it was found to be effective for the detection of CA 125 ovarian cancer marker. Full article

The chemically modified ammonium lignosulfonate (ALS) powders with carboxylic acids such as, oleic (OA) and lactic acid (LA) and γ-butyrolactone (BL) under dielectric barrier plasma discharge (DBD) have been characterized by average molecular weight and particle size determinations, morphology examination by optical and electronic microscopy (SEM), the study of the thermal properties by thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and antioxidant activity tests by DPPH method. The thermal characterization of the modified lignosulfonates reveals their improved thermal stability comparatively with ALS. It has been established that the obtained microparticles are aggregates of particles, covered by modified polymer and exhibit a particular behavior depending on the chemical structure of the used modifier, leading to multifunctional active lignin-based products with better homogeneity. By surface modification, the antioxidant capacity of modified lignosulfonate powders has been maintained. Full article

Graphene and its derivatives have attracted sustained research interest as adsorbent materials for environmental applications, driven by their large surface area, chemically tunable surface, and compatibility with a wide range of functional modifications. This review covers recent developments in the use of graphene-based materials for water, air, and soil remediation, focusing primarily on work published over the last five years. A concise overview of graphene, its derivatives, and other carbon nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes and fullerenes, is also provided. The main graphene derivatives are briefly described (graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, graphene nanoribbons, and graphene quantum dots) together with a comparative overview of the principal synthesis methods, from mechanical exfoliation and chemical vapor deposition to liquid-phase exfoliation, oxidation/reduction, and flash Joule heating. The discussion then turns to how surface functionalization and composite formation affect adsorption performance in practice. In water treatment, the results are most developed: functionalized composites have reached adsorption capacities of 484.3 mg g⁻¹ for organic dyes and 157.23 mg g⁻¹ for Cr(VI). Air purification is a smaller but growing area, with plasma-treated graphene aerogels achieving CO₂ capture capacities of 3.3 mmol g⁻¹ and retaining performance over 40 cycles. Soil remediation remains the least explored compartment, though arsenic immobilization efficiencies of up to 99.3% have been reported. Remaining challenges around scalability, behavior in real environmental matrices, and long-term ecotoxicological impact are identified and discussed. Full article

Melittin, a cationic amphipathic 26-residue peptide from bee venom, displays broad-spectrum antibacterial, antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities, yet severe hemolysis, poor cell selectivity, rapid plasma degradation and high immunogenicity hinder its clinical translation. Structural modification is a vital strategy to overcome its druggability limitations. This review systematically summarizes three mainstream modification approaches of melittin: sequence remodeling, chemical derivatization and conjugate engineering. We illustrate how these strategies tune melittin’s conformation, charge and amphiphilicity to lower toxicity and immunogenicity, improve in vivo stability, and enable targeted stimulus-responsive delivery, while unraveling its core functional sites and mechanisms. Current research gaps and future directions including combined modification, multifunctional intelligent conjugates, preclinical safety assessment and scaled production optimization are discussed, providing theoretical support for developing safe, effective melittin-based therapeutics. Full article

To address prevalent industrial challenges, including the high cost of fabricating microstructures via photolithography and 3D printing, impurity residues easily generated by conventional physical/chemical pore-forming techniques, and the limited sensitivity of regular capacitive sensors, this paper innovatively proposes an integrated low-temperature in situ gas foaming strategy using ammonium bicarbonate for the fabrication of porous TPU-based ionic gels. Relying on the complete gaseous decomposition property of ammonium bicarbonate upon heating, a three-dimensionally interconnected continuous porous network is spontaneously constructed inside the polymer matrix. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is selected as the continuous polymer phase, and [EMIM][TFSI] imidazolium ionic liquid is blended as the ion source to synthesize composite ionic gel substrates. A PDMS composite slurry filled with graphene is employed to prepare flexible substrates, followed by low-temperature oxygen plasma surface modification to introduce polar functional groups such as hydroxyl and carboxyl onto electrode surfaces. A standard sandwich-structured ionic pressure sensor with the configuration of “top modified electrode—porous ionic gel dielectric layer—bottom modified electrode” is finally assembled. The porous framework and modified electrodes constitute a dual synergistic enhancement system: the porous structure markedly reduces the equivalent elastic modulus of the gel and improves its compressive deformation capacity; polar-modified electrodes optimize the interfacial compatibility between electrodes and gels, shorten ion migration paths and lower interfacial contact resistance. Systematic calibration of multiple batches of parallel samples reveals that the as-fabricated sensor achieves a high sensitivity of 25.3 kPa⁻¹ across the full measuring range from 0 to 1000 kPa with a linear fitting coefficient R² = 0.992. The loading response time and unloading recovery time of the device are 60 ms and 80 ms respectively, with a performance degradation of less than 3% after 1000 consecutive loading–unloading cycles, featuring low hysteresis error and excellent signal repeatability. Multi-scenario in vivo wearable tests on human subjects verify that the device can precisely capture subtle fluctuations of radial artery pulse and periodic laryngeal deformation during swallowing, distinguish characteristic waveform patterns of various English words according to differences in vocal cord vibration, and accurately detect bending motions when attached to finger joints. The entire fabrication process adopts common chemical raw materials and standard laboratory equipment without expensive micro-nano processing facilities, featuring convenient raw material procurement and high process fault tolerance, which enables large-area coating-based mass production. This work delivers a novel technical route for the low-cost large-scale production of high-performance ionic flexible sensors and bears significant industrialization reference value for applications in wearable medical monitoring, bionic robotic electronic skin, flexible human–machine interactive touch panels and other related fields. Full article

Direct current (DC) surface flashover on polystyrene (PS) remains a critical bottleneck that impedes its reliable application in high-voltage insulation apparatus. To circumvent the protracted processing durations and stringent film-forming conditions inherent in conventional surface modification techniques, this study proposes a novel “liquid-film-assisted in situ rapid plasma curing” strategy. By harnessing atmospheric-pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) technology within an argon ambient, the rapid (<6 min) and efficient deposition of a fluorosilane (FAS-13) functional coating onto the substrate was achieved. Microscopic characterizations coupled with isothermal surface potential decay (SPD) measurements reveal that this coating substantially mitigates the detrapping and surface migration of charge carriers. Macroscopic DC flashover testing corroborates that, under the optimal modification ratio, the surface breakdown voltage of PS is elevated to 14.04 kV, yielding an insulation gain of 26.94%. To elucidate the underlying physical mechanisms, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were conducted, revealing that the energy band misalignment between the wide-bandgap fluorinated layer and the substrate facilitates the construction of a high-density deep trap network (with a depth of ~0.8 eV) at the coating–substrate interface. By robustly anchoring primary electrons and inducing the formation of a homopolar space charge shielding layer, these deep traps physically arrest the evolution of the secondary electron emission avalanche (SEEA). Consequently, this work not only establishes a viable engineering framework for the rapid, large-scale surface reinforcement of DC insulation equipment but also provides profound quantum chemical insights into interfacial trap regulation within all-organic dielectrics. Full article

Starches from various botanical sources are extensively utilized across food applications due to their functional and technological properties. However, native starches exhibit limitations under processing conditions involving heat, pH shifts, or mechanical stress, which restrict their application. In response, the demand for “clean-label” products has driven interest in sustainable and non-chemical modification strategies. This review aims to provide a critical overview of the effects of unconventional technologies—including ozone, ultrasound, high-pressure processing, high-pressure homogenization, pulsed electric fields, and cold plasma—on starch granule structure and the resulting pasting properties. A bibliometric analysis based on 1679 documents from Scopus and Web of Science^® highlighted a lack of previous studies integrating quantitative trends with in-depth technical discussion. The selected technologies demonstrate potential to enhance starch functionality through distinct modification mechanisms, although their effects are highly dependent on starch source, structure, and processing parameters. Despite promising advances, most applications remain restricted to laboratory scale, and further research is required to optimize conditions and promote industrial feasibility. Full article

The effects of RF plasma treatments using different gases (Ar, O₂, and N₂) and processing parameters on the surface wettability of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films were systematically investigated. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X–ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to characterize the evolution of surface topography and chemical composition. While all treatments enhanced hydrophilicity, the magnitude of improvement and the governing mechanisms were gas-dependent. Among them, O₂ plasma treatment exhibited the most pronounced effect: under optimal conditions (20 W, 80 s), the water contact angle (WCA) was reduced to 3.7°, indicating a superhydrophilic surface. This enhancement was primarily attributed to a substantial increase in surface oxygen content (O/C ratio) and the incorporation of strongly polar oxygen-containing functional groups, such as C=O and COOH. N₂ plasma offered moderate improvement via nitrogen-containing groups, while non-reactive Ar plasma relied primarily on physical etching, yielding the smallest enhancement. Analysis revealed that wettability evolution was dominated by increased polar surface energy from chemical functionalization, with surface roughness playing a synergistic role. These results demonstrate that optimizing plasma gas and parameters effectively controls PET wettability through the coupled regulation of surface chemistry and topography. Full article

The development of fusion technology requires materials that can withstand heat, erosion, and activation at the edge of fusion plasma. Thanks to its high melting point, superior thermal conductivity, and excellent resistance to sputtering and retention, tungsten (W) has been regarded as the leading candidate for the plasma-facing materials (PFMs) of the main chambers and divertors in controlled thermonuclear fusion reactors. Nevertheless, W-PFMs are prone to complex severe surface deterioration under extreme service conditions during operation in fusion reactors. This includes physical/chemical sputtering, which results in material loss and plasma contamination; He-induced blistering and fuzz formation, which reduce thermal conductivity by several orders of magnitude; thermal fatigue cracking caused by transient loads; and neutron irradiation embrittlement, which leads to hardening, swelling, and loss of ductility. To overcome these issues while maintaining core thermophysical properties, protective surface layers have been fabricated primarily via chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), and spray and plasma-based surface modification technologies. This review assesses the recent progress in the fabrication of protective surface layers on W for PFM application in fusion reactors from a technical perspective, thereby offering new insights that advance the feasibility of fusion reactors and accelerating the practical realization of sustainable fusion energy systems. Full article

Biomaterials play a central role in tissue engineering and regeneration by providing scaffolds that support cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation while modulating the surrounding microenvironment. They represent promising alternatives to traditional surgical approaches that may lead to complications or tissue damage, and their performance is influenced by chemical composition, mechanical behavior, architecture and interfacial properties, all of which can be precisely tuned through advanced fabrication and surface modification strategies. This review synthesizes evidence from a comprehensive literature search across major scientific databases, focusing on highly cited studies and available clinical data, and examines natural and synthetic biomaterials, their biological responses, functional characteristics, and surface modification methods. Emphasis is placed on Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP), which selectively modifies the outermost nanolayer of materials, enhancing hydrophilicity, functional group density, protein adsorption and overall cell–material interactions, as well as improving drug loading capacity. The review also considers stem cell interactions with biomaterials and emerging applications of artificial intelligence (AI) for predicting performance and guiding material optimization. Overall, the analysis highlights that natural matrices provide intrinsic bioactivity, synthetic polymers offer tunable mechanics and degradation profiles, and composite systems integrate these advantages. Advances in technologies such as electrospinning and 3D/4D printing enable precise control over architecture, supporting cell colonization and vascularization. Collectively, developments in CAP treatments and AI-driven design strategies are strengthening the regenerative potential of biomaterials and advancing their clinical translation. Full article