{"title":"Outstanding Reviewers for RSC Applied Polymers in 2024","authors":"","doi":"10.1039/D5LP90012C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LP90012C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >We would like to take this opportunity to thank all <em>RSC Applied Polymers</em> reviewers for helping to preserve quality and integrity in chemical science literature. We would also like to highlight the Outstanding Reviewers for <em>RSC Applied Polymers</em> in 2024.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 4","pages":" 745-745"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d5lp90012c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144641110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Natalia Gonzalez-Martinez, Ruben M. F. Tomás, Akalabya Bissoyi, Agnieszka Nagorska, Alexandru Ilie and Matthew I. Gibson
{"title":"Cryopreservation and post-thaw differentiation of monocytes enabled by macromolecular cryoprotectants which restrict intracellular ice formation†","authors":"Natalia Gonzalez-Martinez, Ruben M. F. Tomás, Akalabya Bissoyi, Agnieszka Nagorska, Alexandru Ilie and Matthew I. Gibson","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00131E","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5LP00131E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >THP-1 is a monocytic cell line which can differentiate into macrophage and dendritic cells, widely used in immunology. Immune cells are particularly sensitive to cryopreservation, leading to low recovery and/or reduced differentiation capacity compared to non-frozen cells. Current cryopreservation protocols are unsuitable to cryopreserve THP-1 cells in ‘assay-ready’ format, due to the time and resource intensive culturing steps required post-thaw to recover functional cells. We report the cryopreservation of THP-1 cells in vial and multi-well plate format, with significantly enhanced recovery compared to commercial cryoprotectants. This was achieved using macromolecular cryoprotectants (polyampholytes and ice nucleators) which doubled post-thaw recovery relative to DMSO-alone and improved macrophage phenotype post-differentiation comparable to non-frozen controls. Cryo-Raman microscopy demonstrated that the polyampholytes reduced intracellular ice formation compared to DMSO-alone. These results will enable routine banking and ‘assay-ready’ THP-1 cells direct from the freezer, accelerating immunological research.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 4","pages":" 990-1001"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12147442/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144277281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Vinylene-bridged naphthalenediimide-based dual-acceptor copolymers for thin-film transistors and solar steam generation†","authors":"Chia-Yang Lin, Guan-Lin Wu, Ting-Yu Wang, Waner He, Ying-Sheng Wu, Shunsuke Imaoka, Shohei Shimizu, Wen-Chang Chen, Yoshimitsu Sagara, Chu-Chen Chueh and Tsuyoshi Michinobu","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00136F","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LP00136F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Recent studies have shown that introducing vinylene bridges into naphthalenediimide (NDI)-based dual-acceptor copolymers is an effective strategy to improve backbone coplanarity and charge transport properties in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). However, their potential as multifunctional materials for broader optoelectronic applications remains unexplored. In this study, we designed and synthesized four vinylene-bridged NDI (<strong>vNDI</strong>)-based conjugated polymers containing benzothiadiazole (<strong>S</strong>), benzotriazole (<strong>N</strong>), triazolobenzothiadiazole (<strong>NS</strong>), and benzobistriazole (<strong>NN</strong>) as second acceptors. Structural analysis revealed that the backbone conformation and electron-withdrawing ability of the acceptors significantly influence optical and electronic properties. Among them, <strong>vNDI-NS</strong> exhibited the narrowest optical bandgap (1.05 eV), while <strong>vNDI-N</strong> displayed the highest ambipolar mobility in OFETs, attributed to enhanced crystallinity and improved π–π stacking. Furthermore, these polymers were applied as photothermal membranes in solar steam generation (SSG) devices. Films based on <strong>vNDI-NS</strong> and <strong>vNDI-NN</strong> achieved solar-to-vapor conversion efficiencies of 58.3% and 56.4%, respectively, under 1 sun illumination. This study expands the applications of <strong>vNDI</strong>-based polymers beyond OFETs, providing a dual-functional platform combining electrical and photothermal performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 4","pages":" 1011-1018"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d5lp00136f?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144641109","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stavros X. Drakopoulos, Konstantinos Loukelis, Marios Triantafyllou-Rundell, Constantinos C. Stoumpos, Maria Chatzinikolaidou and Georgios C. Psarras
{"title":"Fabrication of all-organic nanodielectrics reinforced with electrospun polymer fibres for capacitive energy storage","authors":"Stavros X. Drakopoulos, Konstantinos Loukelis, Marios Triantafyllou-Rundell, Constantinos C. Stoumpos, Maria Chatzinikolaidou and Georgios C. Psarras","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00029G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LP00029G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Advancements in all-organic dielectrics are crucial for electrical energy storage devices and flexible electronics due to their low cost and easier processability compared to inorganic materials for similar applications. In the present work, epoxy-based all-organic nanodielectric materials were developed for capacitive energy storage applications. To be employed as fillers, nanofibres were developed by means of electrospinning, utilizing two polymers, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CS). Three cases were examined with nanofibers consisting of pure PVA (5% w/w in epoxy) and PVA : CS in weight ratios of 5 : 1 and 5 : 2 (both 4% w/w in epoxy). The morphological, structural, thermal and dielectric properties of the developed polymer nanodielectric materials were extensively investigated, with a clear focus on their ability to store and recover energy in a capacitor configuration. The presence of CS appeared to significantly increase the dielectric permittivity and restrict charge transport, which is beneficial for energy recovery efficiency, attributed to its strongly insulating nature.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 4","pages":" 960-972"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d5lp00029g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144641133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Meng-Chen Chiang, Carla Steppan, Ted W. Deisenroth, Rupert Konradi, Todd Emrick and Jessica D. Schiffman
{"title":"Touch transfer of microorganisms on polymer surfaces†","authors":"Meng-Chen Chiang, Carla Steppan, Ted W. Deisenroth, Rupert Konradi, Todd Emrick and Jessica D. Schiffman","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00110B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LP00110B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The transfer of bacteria between dry, high-touch surfaces in healthcare settings is a key contributor to hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). In this study, we systematically investigated the relationship between the chemistry of polymer surfaces and the corresponding touch-transfer of microorganisms. The polymers investigated included polymer zwitterions, PEGylated polymers, poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (<strong>PTFE</strong>), and polystyrene (<strong>PS</strong>). Water contact angle measurements confirmed the breadth of surface energies of these polymers, ranging from <25° (polymer zwitterion) to >100° (<strong>PTFE</strong>). A touch transfer model was developed to study bacteria transfer by “finger touches” on an agar plate. The amount of <em>Escherichia coli</em> (<em>E. coli</em>) or <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> (<em>S. aureus</em>) transferred after each touch was quantified <em>via</em> plate counting. For <em>E. coli</em>, the transfer rate was ∼29% on zwitterionic copolymer surfaces, whereas <strong>PS</strong> exhibited a much higher rate of ∼67%. For <em>S. aureus</em>, the transfer rate was ∼17% for the polymer zwitterion and ∼100% for <strong>PS</strong>. The low transfer rates from the polymer zwitterion were comparable to those of <strong>PTFE</strong> (∼19% for <em>E. coli</em> and ∼17% for <em>S. aureus</em>). These findings demonstrate the role of polymer composition and surface chemistry in bacterial transfer and provide insights for designing materials that effectively minimize microbial transmission in healthcare environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 4","pages":" 1002-1010"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d5lp00110b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144641108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xu Liu, Bailin Feng, Stefano Tagliaferri, Anna P. Constantinou, Alexandra E. Porter, Cecilia Mattevi and Theoni K. Georgiou
{"title":"Graphene inks for printing based on thermoresponsive ABC triblock terpolymer gels†","authors":"Xu Liu, Bailin Feng, Stefano Tagliaferri, Anna P. Constantinou, Alexandra E. Porter, Cecilia Mattevi and Theoni K. Georgiou","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00071H","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5LP00071H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Additive manufacturing has revolutionized the fabrication of complex 3D materials. Hydrogels are commonly used as “inks” in 3D printing and offer easy mixing and processing of many materials. Here, the synthesis and characterization of a new library of thermoresponsive ABC triblock copolymers based on oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA, Molar Mass, MM = 300 g mol<small><sup>−1</sup></small>, A block), 2-phenylethyl methacrylate (PhEMA, B block) and di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (DEGMA, C block) is reported. Polymers of different comonomer compositions were fabricated and investigated in terms of their aqueous solution properties and their ability to form thermogels. The most promising polymer was then used to fabricate a graphene-containing ink, and graphene constructs were successfully printed and characterized in terms of the electrical conductivity properties.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 4","pages":" 973-989"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12142586/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144251690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Multifunctional soft actuator hybrids: a review","authors":"Ji Eun Lee, Yu-Chen Sun and Hani E. Naguib","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00022J","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LP00022J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Stimuli material-based soft actuators is an ever-growing field, offering innovative solutions to the complex challenges of the modern world. Evolving from traditional single stimuli-responsive materials, multifunctional soft actuator hybrids have overcome previous limitations, exhibiting new potential in numerous applications and fields. This review provides initial insights into the recent developments and system integrations of stimuli-responsive polymeric soft actuators from the aspects of material development, mechanism design, and specific applications. It is elucidated that multifunctional soft actuators have versatile activation and can successfully demonstrate unrestricted movements, self-sensing, self-healing, electrochromism, and enhanced mechanical properties. Notably, from rehabilitation and surgical tools in the medical field to improvements in disaster rescue efforts, soft actuators are universally utilized and will be continuously expanding their applicability as research develops.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 4","pages":" 767-792"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d5lp00022j?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144641112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Daniel A. Paterson, Aggie Lawer, Jared Davidson, Sarah Hook and Allan B. Gamble
{"title":"Stimuli-responsive thiocarbamate-based polymeric particles for hydrogen sulfide generation†","authors":"Daniel A. Paterson, Aggie Lawer, Jared Davidson, Sarah Hook and Allan B. Gamble","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00040H","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LP00040H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Hydrogen sulfide (H<small><sub>2</sub></small>S) imbalance has been implicated in pathologies, and reinstating H<small><sub>2</sub></small>S homeostasis could be a useful therapeutic strategy. However, delivery of H<small><sub>2</sub></small>S to the disease site remains a challenge. Functionalised nanoformulations could be used as a strategy to deliver high concentrations of H<small><sub>2</sub></small>S in a targeted manner. Use of a disease-associated trigger that activates and releases H<small><sub>2</sub></small>S would provide therapeutic selectivity. As proof-of-concept, synthesis and formulation of block co-polymers bearing a thiocarbamate bond, a carbonyl sulfide (COS) precursor, is described. Activation by hydrogen peroxide (H<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>2</sub></small>), and a subsequent 1,6-self-immolation process leads to release of COS, which in the presence of carbonic anhydrase is hydrolysed to H<small><sub>2</sub></small>S. H<small><sub>2</sub></small>S generation was exemplified by reduction of an azido-pro-fluorophore. Formulation of the polymer resulted in compound vesicles that were able to encapsulate a model drug and could be useful in future biological studies exploring delivery of H<small><sub>2</sub></small>S as a therapeutic, or to activate azido-masked prodrug/pro-fluorophore in areas of high reactive oxygen species (ROS).</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 4","pages":" 926-933"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d5lp00040h?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144641127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Harnessing near-infrared light for advanced 3D printing","authors":"Patrick Imrie and Jianyong Jin","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00101C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LP00101C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Light drives the curing process in many 3D printing strategies. To broaden the horizons of 3D printing, there is an ongoing push toward longer wavelengths for more effective, gentle, and precise layer photocuring of materials containing fillers or biological substances. Harvesting near-infrared (NIR) light (750–2500 nm) is at the forefront of this endeavour. Multiphoton lithography makes use of infrared light and is an established 3D printing technology, but it does require femtosecond pulse lasers. On the other hand, affordable NIR light sources can be used to 3D print objects with high precision, cytocompatibility, greater functionality, and from a wide range of polymers, but their implementation is not straightforward. In this review, recent studies are presented that advance the field of 3D printing with NIR light. Several cutting-edge technologies are identified, including support-free direct-ink-writing, <em>in vivo</em> bioprinting, and volumetric multimaterial modification, with a final perspective offered on volumetric projection printing toward high-throughput production.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 4","pages":" 793-810"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d5lp00101c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144646763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sierra F. Yost, Jordan C. Smith, Christian W. Pester and Bryan D. Vogt
{"title":"Physical aging and evolution of mechanical properties of additively manufactured polyethylene terephthalate glycol†","authors":"Sierra F. Yost, Jordan C. Smith, Christian W. Pester and Bryan D. Vogt","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00045A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LP00045A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Near net shape manufacture <em>via</em> material extrusion (MEX) of thermoplastics tends to rely on glassy amorphous polymers to avoid stresses generated from crystallization. Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) has emerged as a high performance, low-cost feedstock for MEX. Crystallization in PETG is suppressed by the inclusion of cyclohexane dimethanol (CHDM) as a comonomer, but CHDM increases the segmental flexibility that can accelerate physical aging. Repeated thermal cycling during MEX printing can accelerate physical aging. Here, we investigate the aging of three commercial PETG filaments with different CHDM content. Thermal analysis demonstrated increased aging as the CHDM content in the PETG increased. Aging of additively manufactured PETG demonstrated that the process path during printing leads to a distribution of aging behavior. The thermal history is spatially dependent, leading to differences in how the PETG ages between layers and location within a printed layer. Additionally, this aging in the MEX printed PETG induced changes to the ultimate tensile stress and elongation at break that are dependent on the filament source. Accelerated aging based on time–temperature superposition demonstrated embrittlement of the printed PETG after the equivalent of 1 year of aging at 25 °C in all cases. However, an unusual increase in both strength and ductility after aging for the equivalent of 30 days of aging at 25 °C was observed with some PETG. Although print conditions are commonly optimized for mechanical performance, long-term aging behavior needs to be understood to ensure reliability of additively manufactured durable goods through their expected lifetime.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 4","pages":" 934-947"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d5lp00045a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144641128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}