Polymers最新文献

{"title":"Experimental Study on the Degradation Mechanism of BFRP Under the Coupling Effect of Chloride Freeze-Thaw Cycles.","authors":"Zhigang Gao, Tao He, Qing Qin, Chenghua Zhang, Zhe Wang, Qi Lin, Yuhao Hei","doi":"10.3390/polym17192654","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17192654","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) is one of the new materials that can be used for making photovoltaic scaffolds, which can effectively solve the problem of the rapid deterioration of complex environmental performance and high maintenance cost of traditional scaffold materials. This paper focuses on the BFRP photovoltaic support in the cold and arid irrigation area of northwest China, carries out the durability test under the action of chloride salt, freeze-thaw cycle, and chloride salt freeze-thaw environment coupling, and it compares and analyzes the degradation law of the mechanical properties of BFRP sheets under different environmental effects. The performance degradation mechanism of BFRP materials under different environmental effects was revealed by SEM scanning electron microscopy and EDS energy spectrum analysis. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) Under the action of chloride salt, the tensile strength, elastic modulus and elongation at break of the specimen decreased by 11.46%, 7.02%, and 10.27%, respectively. Under the freeze-thaw cycle, the tensile strength and elongation at break of the specimen decreased by 9.62% and 6.85%, while the elastic modulus first increased and then decreased, with a maximum decrease of 12.95%. The degradation of mechanical properties is the most serious under the coupling effect of chloride salt and the freeze-thaw environment. The tensile strength, elastic modulus, and elongation at break of the specimens decreased by 25.73%, 9.55%, and 24.81%, respectively. (2) In the chloride environment, the distribution of elements on the surface of the specimen changed, the metal ions of the fibers precipitated, and 'black spots' and corrosion pits appeared. The resin matrix forms 'sponge-like' pores; under the freeze-thaw cycle, the fiber-resin interface cracks and fiber shedding intensifies; under the coupling effect of chloride freeze-thaw, 'black spots', pits, resin holes, and interface cracks increased, and chloride penetration corrosion accelerated.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12526973/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145302812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating the Structural, Optical, and Thermal Properties of PVC/Cr_1.4Ca_0.6O₄ Films for Potential Optoelectronic Application.","authors":"Alhulw H Alshammari","doi":"10.3390/polym17192646","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17192646","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study demonstrates the successful preparation of pristine and modified PVC polymer films with (0.7, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 wt%) Cr_1.4Ca_0.6O₄ by the solution casting method. These films were characterized using XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM, TGA, and a UV-vis spectrophotometer. The XRD confirmed the amorphous nature of PVC films and a tetragonal zircon-type structure of Cr_1.4Ca_0.6O₄ as a dopant in the PVC polymer. The XPS survey spectra of pristine Cr_1.4Ca_0.6O₄ and its composites with PVC reveal essential insights into the materials' surface composition and chemical states. The spectra clearly show peaks corresponding to O1s, Ca2p, and Cr2p, with the Cr2p signals being notably weaker than the other peaks. SEM images showed a uniform distribution of Cr_1.4Ca_0.6O₄ within the PVC polymer films despite the presence of some minor agglomerations. The TGA analysis revealed that incorporating Cr_1.4Ca_0.6O₄ enhanced the thermal stability of PVC films, particularly at a 0.7 wt% concentration of Cr_1.4Ca_0.6O₄. Moreover, incorporation of Cr_1.4Ca_0.6O₄ improved the optical parameters of PVC films, i.e., linear refractive index, nonlinear refractive index, and optical susceptibility. These findings proposed the modified PVC with Cr_1.4Ca_0.6O₄ for optoelectronic applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12526608/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145302834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydrophilization of Polypropylene by Gaseous Plasma Treatments and Hydrophobic Recovery.","authors":"Gregor Primc","doi":"10.3390/polym17192644","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17192644","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although polypropylene (PP) is among the most widely used polymers with adequate chemical and mechanical properties, its poor wettability prevents adhesive joints needed for sticking with other materials, printing, etc. Plasma treatment, an established method for increasing wettability, is presented, and relevant literature is analyzed. A comparison of different reviewed articles shows little influence of the discharge parameters on PP wettability, and that the methods for achieving a super-hydrophilic surface of this polymer have yet to be developed. The peculiarities of PP prevent stable surface functionalization, although the formation of molecular fragments is the predominant effect of plasma treatments. The key conclusion after analyzing the reviewed literature is that the washing of PP following plasma treatment will cause a low level of wettability regardless of the peculiarities of the plasmas or discharges, including the treatment time, and all authors reported a water contact angle between about 75 and 80° after washing the plasma-treated PP. The hydrophobic recovery of washed plasma-treated PP was not addressed in any reviewed article.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12526541/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145302686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Flame-Retardant Polyvinyl Alcohol Materials: Mechanisms, Design Strategies, and Multifunctional Applications.","authors":"Dehui Jia, Lulu Xu, Danni Pan, Yi Xiao, Yan Zhang, Yao Yuan, Wei Wang","doi":"10.3390/polym17192649","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17192649","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a water-soluble, biodegradable, and biocompatible polymer, has garnered significant attention in recent years for its applications such as packaging, electronics, biomedical materials, and water treatment. However, its high flammability poses a substantial limitation in fire-sensitive environments. To address this challenge, significant research efforts have been devoted to improving the flame retardancy and suppressing the smoke toxicity of PVA through various strategies. This review presents diverse modification strategies that have been developed for PVA, including physical blending with polymers and nanofillers, chemical modifications such as esterification, acetalization, and crosslinking, and advanced surface engineering techniques such as plasma treatment, layer-by-layer assembly, and surface grafting. Beyond fire safety, these modifications enable multifunctional applications, expanding PVA use in optical, energy, sensing, and biomedical fields. Finally, this review explores current challenges, environmental considerations, and future directions for the development of sustainable, high-performance flame-retardant PVA systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12526795/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145302735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multifunctional Polymer-Modified P-CaO₂@Au@OVA@Cu@DHPs Nanoparticles Enhance SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine-Induced Immunity via the cGAS-STING Signaling Pathway.","authors":"Yanle Zhi, Shengchao Wang, Haibo Zhang, Guimin Xue, Zhiqiang Zhang","doi":"10.3390/polym17192636","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17192636","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The success of mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines has been confirmed in both preclinical and clinical settings. However, the development of safe and efficient mRNA vaccine delivery platforms remains challenging. In this report, PBAE-G-B-SS-modified CaO₂ nanofibers and Au@OVA@Cu@Dendrobium huoshanense polysaccharides were employed to establish novel self-assembling polymeric micelles (CaO₂@Au@OVA@Cu@DHPs) capable of serving as both an adjuvant and a delivery system for mRNA vaccines. In vitro, CaO₂@Au@OVA@Cu@DHPs nanoparticles (NPs) were conducive to effective macrophage antigen uptake and efficient antigen processing. In vivo, P-CaO₂@Au@OVA@Cu@DHPs NP administration was associated with a reduction in the ovalbumin (OVA) release rate that was conducive to the sustained induction of long-term immunity and to the production of higher levels of different IgG subtypes, suggesting that these effects were attributable to enhanced antigen uptake by antigen-presenting cells. Overall, these present data highlight the promise of these P-CaO₂@Au@OVA@Cu@DHPs NPs as an effective and safe platform amenable to vaccine delivery through their ability to provide robust adjuvant activity and sustained antigen release capable of eliciting long-term immunological memory while potentiating humoral and cellular immune responses.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12526564/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145302816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and Characterization of Effective Hemostatic Composites Based on Polyvinyl Alcohol/Kaolinite/Chitosan.","authors":"Aruzhan Alimbek, Bayansulu Otegenova, Zhanar Bekissanova, Balzhan Savdenbekova, Nailya Ibragimova, Renata Nemkayeva, Myroslav Sprynskyy, Alyiya Ospanova","doi":"10.3390/polym17192637","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17192637","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this study, hemolytically safe and antibacterial polyvinyl alcohol/kaolinite/chitosan (PVA/KAO/CS) hydrogels were obtained using the freeze-thaw method. The structure of the chemical bonds present in the developed hydrogels was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy study results showed the morphological and structural characteristics of the hydrogels' surface. The thermal stability and phase transitions of the obtained hydrogel samples were determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Porosity, swelling, gel fractions, and mechanical properties were also examined. Biomedical properties of the samples were evaluated using in vitro and in vivo tests such as hemolytic activity, inhibition of protein denaturation, antimicrobial activity, and hemostatic activity. The obtained hydrogels demonstrated safe hemolytic activity, pronounced hemostatic activity, the ability to prevent thermal denaturation of albumin, as well as antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> ATCC BAA-39 and <i>Streptococcus pyogenes</i> ATCC 19615 and Gram-negative bacteria <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> ATCC 9027 and <i>Escherichia coli</i> ATCC 8739. All the obtained characteristics confirmed the promising biomedical applications of the obtained hydrogels.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12526749/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145302746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Directed Evolution of Xylanase from <i>Dickeya dadantii</i> DCE-01 with Improved Enzymatic Activity.","authors":"Ruijun Wang, Ke Shi, Ke Zheng, Qi Yang, Guoguo Xi, Shengwen Duan, Lifeng Cheng","doi":"10.3390/polym17192650","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17192650","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Xylanase, an essential enzyme for breaking down xylan, faces limitations in its industrial applications due to the relatively low catalytic activity of the wild type. Directed evolution was used to enhance the catalytic efficiency of xylanase that originated from the <i>Dickeya dadantii</i> DCE-01. A xylanase variant (Xyn-ep) was obtained with improved catalytic activity by random mutant library employing two rounds of error-prone PCR. The results showed that the Xyn-ep demonstrated enzyme activity 1.6 times higher than that of wild-type xylanase. Sequencing analysis pinpointed key mutation sites at S159P, K212N, and N397S, respectively. Homology modeling was used to analyze the location of the mutation sites and to investigate the mechanism of the improved catalytic performance. The mutant Xyn-ep showed improved catalytic performance by error-prone PCR. Additionally, the increased flexibility of the loop of the mutant may contribute to the enhanced activity. These findings indicate that error-prone PCR is an effective method for enhancing enzyme activity and that the mutant Xyn-ep may be a new GH30 xylanase, being a potential candidate for industrial applications such as bast fiber bio-degumming, cotton bio-refinery, paper making, and so on.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12526747/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145302865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ascertaining the Anatomical Parameters and Chemical Composition of <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> Cellulosic Fibers for Their Plausibility in Pulp and Paper Production.","authors":"Balasubramanian NagarajaGanesh, Balasubramanian Rekha, Manoharan Gopi Krishna, Syed Ibrahim Shaik Mohamed Ferozdheen","doi":"10.3390/polym17192643","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17192643","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This research is mainly intended to assess the likelihood of producing pulp and paper from the cellulosic fibers of matured <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> fruit. The cellulose fibers were extracted and subjected to chemical composition studies and FTIR spectroscopic analysis. The chemical composition studies revealed that these fibers contain 82.4% holocellulose, 11.2% lignin, and 0.63% ash. Functional groups that represent the presence of the biopolymers were confirmed in the FTIR analysis. These fibers were observed through a light microscope, and important fiber parameters, such as the fiber diameter, fiber lumen, and cell wall thickness, were measured. Statistical analysis showed that the fiber dimensions follow a normal distribution. Based on the observed values, the derived indices that determine the fibers' suitability to produce paper were calculated. The evaluated derived indices showed that the fibers possess a Runkel index of 59.67%, a slenderness ratio of 61.04%, a coefficient of rigidity of 63.7%, and a flexibility coefficient of 0.19. The Luce shape factor and Solids factor of the fibers were found to be 0.42 and 157.36 × 10³ μm³, respectively. This study proved that the morphology, derived indices, and chemical composition of the fibers are in par with other fiber sources that are used for pulp and paper production.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12526746/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145302822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Its-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Loaded into Injectable Genipin-Crosslinked Gelatin Hydrogel on Vocal Fold Fibroblast.","authors":"Zarqa Iffah Zamlus, Mawaddah Azman, Yogeswaran Lokanathan, Mh Busra Fauzi, Marina Mat Baki","doi":"10.3390/polym17192653","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17192653","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Glottic insufficiency, often caused by laryngeal nerve injury, impairs voice quality and breathing. Current treatments, such as hyaluronic acid injection, require frequent reapplication every 3-6 months. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) derived from Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs) incorporated into genipin-crosslinked gelatin hydrogels (GCGHs) for promoting vocal fold fibroblast (VFFs) regeneration in vitro. WJMSCs were isolated from umbilical cords, expanded to passage 4, and used for sEV isolation via tangential flow filtration (TFF). The sEVs (585.89 ± 298.93 µg/mL) were characterized using bicinchoninic acid assay (BCA), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Western blot. Seven concentrations of sEVs were tested on VFFs to evaluate cytotoxicity and proliferation, identifying 75 µg/mL as the optimal dose. GCGHs were then combined with WJMSCs and sEVs and evaluated for physicochemical properties, degradation, biocompatibility, and immune response. The hydrogels were injectable within 20 min and degraded in approximately 42 ± 0.72 days. The optimal sEV concentration significantly enhanced VFFs proliferation (166.59% ± 28.11) and cell viability (86.16% ± 8.55, <i>p</i> < 0.05). GCGH-MSCs showed the highest VFFs viability (82.04% ± 10.51) and matrix contraction (85.98% ± 1.25) compared to other groups. All hydrogel variants demonstrated minimal immune response when co-cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). GCGH is a promising scaffold for delivering WJMSCs and sEVs to support VFF regeneration, with demonstrated biocompatibility and regenerative potential. Further in vivo studies are warranted to validate these findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12527029/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145302837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Obtaining Poly(3-Hexylthiophene) (P3HT) by Electropolymerization as an Alternative for the Substitution of Initiators with Free Radicals.","authors":"Christopher Uriel Landa Valdivia, Román Cabrera Sierra, Jesús Israel Guzmán Castañeda, Karla Jenny Lozano Rojas, José Antonio Barraza Madrigal","doi":"10.3390/polym17192656","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17192656","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this work the production of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) by electropolymerization using different materials as working electrodes is reported. Initially, the tests were carried out under atmospheric conditions with all the electrodes, and subsequently those that showed the best performance were selected to repeat the experiments in an inert atmosphere. The formation of the polymer film on the electrode surface was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) in the mid-infrared region (4000-400 cm^-1). This technique allowed the evaluation of the transmittance of P3HT deposited on the electrode surface. The presence of the polymer was confirmed by the appearance of characteristic absorption bands at 2920 cm^-1, 2850 cm^-1, 850 cm^-1 and 730 cm^-1. The absorption peaks found at 2920 cm^-1, 2850 cm^-1 and 850 cm^-1 show the presence of the typical functional groups of P3HT. These results suggest that the proposed method could represent a viable alternative for obtaining semiconductor polymers, avoiding the use of initiators with free radicals potentially harmful to human health.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12526833/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145302921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}