Journal of Leather Science and Engineering最新文献

{"title":"Biochemical and structural insights into dehairing proteases for efficient leather processing","authors":"P. Sujitha,&nbsp;K. G. Poornima,&nbsp;C. Shanthi","doi":"10.1186/s42825-026-00250-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s42825-026-00250-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Dehairing proteases are eco-friendly alternatives to chemical dehairing process. Yet, their widespread industrial adoption requires focused research on key factors influencing their efficacy. Earlier research on two microbial proteases, SP01 (from <i>Bacillus cereus</i> VITSP01) and SP02 (from <i>Brevibacterium luteolum</i> VITSP02), revealed a correlation between substrate specificity for proteoglycans and dehairing efficacy. Herein, a comprehensive comparative analysis of their biochemical, thermodynamic, and molecular characteristics was performed to elucidate the determinants of their performance. In comparison to SP01, SP02 could cleave skin proteoglycans and dehair goat skins efficiently at lower temperatures (15 °C and 37 °C). Additionally, it exhibited thermolability, lower activation energy (Ea = 27.003 kJ mol⁻¹) and tolerance to 10% SDS, non-ionic detergents, and 20% NaCl, while Ca²⁺ had a stabilizing effect on its structure. The protease genes of SP01 and SP02 were identified to be trypsin-like peptidase domain-containing protein and S8 family peptidase, respectively. The docking and molecular dynamics simulation revealed stabler interactions between proteoglycans and SP02 compared to SP01. The penetration of SP02 was faster than that of SP01 through skin matrix, probably due to its lower molecular weight (around 30 kDa), pI (about 4.6), proteoglycan degrading property, and smaller Rg and Rh. In silico structural analyses suggested some salient structural features responsible for the cold tolerance of SP02, and the resultant structural flexibility along with a larger catalytic pocket and longer multiple substrate-interacting tunnels could enable better substrate accommodation. In conclusion, SP02 was demonstrated as a potential dehairing enzyme with cold tolerant structural features. This study revealed some key determinants influencing its efficacy and stability, thereby implying improvements for process optimization.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":640,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Leather Science and Engineering","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s42825-026-00250-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147829294","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":"A comprehensive review of life cycle assessment in the leather industry: progress toward circularity, key challenges, and future directions","authors":"Bing Li,&nbsp;Xiangxiang Wan,&nbsp;Shuo Wang,&nbsp;Xiangyu Chen,&nbsp;Wenhui Lu,&nbsp;Shan Cao,&nbsp;Deyi Zhu","doi":"10.1186/s42825-026-00246-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s42825-026-00246-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This comprehensive review examines the application of life cycle assessment (LCA) in the leather industry, emphasizing its pivotal role in advancing circular economy integration. Through literature analysis and case studies, this review demonstrates how LCA facilitates animal by-product valorization, waste minimization, and material circularity, transforming traditional leather production into a paradigm of resource efficiency. Key environmental hotspots are identified across system boundaries: animal husbandry dominates Cradle-to-Grave impacts, while chemical usage (e.g., chrome agents) and energy-intensive processes prevail in leather processing, modulated by regional energy mixes. Emerging sustainable technologies and waste valorization innovations show promise in curbing ecological footprints. However, challenges persist, including methodological inconsistencies, data shortages, and regional disparities. To overcome these challenges, the review advocates for unified sector-specific databases, multidimensional assessment frameworks, and AI-driven modeling. Ultimately, LCA emerges as an essential tool for impact quantification, circular transitions, and sustainable industry evolution.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":640,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Leather Science and Engineering","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s42825-026-00246-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796739","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":"Preparation and application of a novel sucrose-based amphoteric retanning agent for sustainable leather making","authors":"Yang Gao,&nbsp;Nan Sun,&nbsp;Xia Li,&nbsp;Xue-pin Liao","doi":"10.1186/s42825-025-00235-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s42825-025-00235-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The reliance on fossil-derived compounds in most conventional retanning agents faces a challenge to the sustainable development of the leather industry. Consequently, the development of environmentally friendly biomass-based retanning agents is urgently needed. In this research, a novel sucrose-based amphoteric retanning agent (GLS) was synthesized with a weight-average molecular weight of 3.48 × 10⁴ g/mol. The molecular structure of GLS was determined using FT-IR, ¹³C-NMR, XPS, and EA. The GLS exhibited a favorable isoelectric point (pI = 4.68) as a retanning agent. At a 10% dosage, GLS retanning of wet-blue resulted in a 14.42% thickness increase, substantially greater than that achieved with commercial amino resin (CML, 6.77%) and acrylic resin (LP, 10.8%) retanning agents. GLS also exhibited superior absorption (87.13%) compared to CML (75.27%) and absorption comparable to LP (89.2%). Notably, GLS improved the uptake of subsequent anionic fatliquoring agents compared to CML and LP. Moreover, GLS-retanned leather displayed good thermal stability and commendable physical and mechanical properties. The BOD₅/COD value of the GLS retanning wastewater was 0.48, indicating its excellent biodegradability. Life cycle assessment further highlighted the environmental benefits of GLS compared to LP and CML. These findings position GLS as a promising biomass-derived amphoteric retanning agent with the potential to displace conventional fossil-derived alternatives.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":640,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Leather Science and Engineering","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s42825-025-00235-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796659","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":"Bridging the gap in pre-market immunological evaluation: a progressive strategy for recombinant collagen medical devices","authors":"Can Huang,&nbsp;Zhihui Li,&nbsp;Shuang Wu,&nbsp;Peiliang Shi,&nbsp;Zhengzhong Wu,&nbsp;Xiaoju Fan,&nbsp;Jie Li,&nbsp;Yuanxin Zhai,&nbsp;Yun Chu,&nbsp;Xinhui Wang,&nbsp;Hao Le,&nbsp;Huimin Wang,&nbsp;Huilin Sun,&nbsp;Jinyu Lv,&nbsp;Longyang Wu,&nbsp;Yujiang Fan,&nbsp;Haihang Li,&nbsp;Tun Yuan","doi":"10.1186/s42825-026-00239-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s42825-026-00239-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Conventional immunotoxicological approaches are often insufficient to comprehensively elucidate the complex immune responses that may arise during the degradation, metabolite generation, and tissue integration of protein-based medical devices. To address this limitation, we established and applied a six-tiered, stepwise immunological evaluation framework in an appropriate murine model, aiming to systematically characterize the immunological risks of proteinaceous biomaterials. This framework sequentially incorporates baseline immune screening, marketed product comparison, interspecies differentiation, dose–response validation, temporal dynamics assessment, and delayed response detection. By integrating multiple dimensions of readouts, including antibody levels (IgG, IgM, IgA), cytokine profiles (IL-2, IL-6, IL-12p70, IFN-γ, TNF-α), complement activation (C3, C4, C5), immune cell phenotyping, and splenic lymphocyte functionality, the framework establishes a structured, quantifiable, and scalable evaluation pathway. Using recombinant human collagen for injectable fillers as a model material, we demonstrated that this strategy effectively distinguishes diverse immune response types and differentiates material-intrinsic effects from interspecies artifacts, thereby confirming its applicability and interpretive strength in immunological safety assessment of protein-based biomaterials. Collectively, the proposed six-tiered evaluation strategy not only overcomes the limitations of traditional single-parameter or short-term assessments, but also provides a scientifically rigorous and systematic methodology that can serve as a versatile tool for both immunological evaluation and design validation of protein-based and other complex biomacromaterials.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":640,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Leather Science and Engineering","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s42825-026-00239-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796658","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":"Improved mechanical performance and enzymatic stability of crosslinked dry amniotic membrane by spraying","authors":"Yue’e Wang,&nbsp;Liyang Cao,&nbsp;Haina He,&nbsp;Arooj Khabbir,&nbsp;Chun Hu,&nbsp;Renping Liu,&nbsp;Yang Lei","doi":"10.1186/s42825-026-00241-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s42825-026-00241-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Human amniotic membrane (AM), a valuable natural biomaterial, is increasingly used in clinical applications. However, its limited mechanical strength and rapid degradation restrict broader use. To address these limitations, we developed a spray-applied crosslinking method for dry AM. A spray delivery of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), combined with a hydrogen-bond-supplementing solution (oxygen-containing compounds), produced a crosslinked dry AM with improved mechanical strength and enhanced resistance to enzymatic degradation in vitro. The EDC/NHS chemistry promoted the formation of covalent bonds within the collagen network, increasing tensile strength and enzymatic stability, while the hydrogen-bond supplement preserved the membrane’s native flexibility after rehydration. The maximum uniaxial tensile fracture stress of the crosslinked AM increased by 156.1%, and the weight loss ratio of enzymatic degradation decreased from 100% to 63.6%. These results indicated that the spray crosslinking protocol yielde a mechanically robust, enzymatically stabilized AM without compromising flexibility, and might expand the membrane’s clinical applicability.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":640,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Leather Science and Engineering","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s42825-026-00241-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737713","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":"ACE inhibitory and DPP-IV inhibitory activity of collagen peptides derived from the snapper salmon (Otolithes ruber) skin collagen via papain and pepsin-trypsin hydrolysis","authors":"Cherise Elisha,&nbsp;Prashant Bhagwat,&nbsp;Ayodeji Amobonye,&nbsp;Santhosh Pillai","doi":"10.1186/s42825-026-00248-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s42825-026-00248-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Fish-based collagen supplements have potential health benefits, including antioxidant, ACE inhibitory, and DPP-IV inhibitory properties, which are expressed upon their digestion in the gastrointestinal system, thus releasing bioactive peptides (BPs). This study evaluated the pre-digestion of fish collagen using papain as a pre-digestive enzyme, which has broad specificity to enhance collagen breakdown and BPs release. Fish skin collagen was extracted via acid solubilisation, confirmed as type-I, and subsequently hydrolysed using two methods: pepsin-trypsin digestion (PTD) and pre-digestion with papain followed by PTD (PDPTD). The PDPTD–fish collagen hydrolysates (FCH) exhibited IC50 values (mg/mL) of 0.088 for ACE, 1.67 for DPP-IV, as well as 2.38 and 0.026 for antioxidant activities including DPPH and ABTS radicals scavenging, respectively, which were significantly lower than that of PTD-FCH. The FCH (PTD and PDPTD) were identified using LC-MS/MS analysis, and molecular docking studies showed lower binding energies for PDPTD–FCH peptides, particularly IGFPGFPG, against ACE (-11.2 kcal/mol) and DPP-IV (-9.1 kcal/mol), suggesting better inhibitory ability exhibited by BPs. This study highlighted fish collagen as a valuable source of BPs with enhanced bioactivity when pre-digested with papain, indicating its potential for functional foods and nutraceutical industries.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":640,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Leather Science and Engineering","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s42825-026-00248-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737487","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":"Tissue-specific regulation of cellular senescence on elastic hydrogels via the integrin α1-mediated mechanotransduction","authors":"Limin Song,&nbsp;Xinying Wang,&nbsp;Yiyao Pu,&nbsp;Xueyi Hu,&nbsp;Jing He,&nbsp;Rongrong Jin,&nbsp;Yu Nie","doi":"10.1186/s42825-026-00237-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s42825-026-00237-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cellular senescence significantly impairs tissue repair through disrupting tissue homeostasis and limiting regenerative capacity. Biomaterial based microenvironment modulation has emerged as a promising strategy to counteract senescence and promote tissue regeneration. While mechanical properties such as matrix stiffness are known to influence cell fate, whether different tissue-derived cells exhibit distinct mechanical requirements for senescence resistance remains poorly understood. Here, we used stiffness-tunable polyacrylamide hydrogels spanning physiologically relevant elastic moduli and systematically evaluated senescence responses in neuronal (SH-SY5Y), dermal fibroblast (NIH3T3), and osteoblast precursor (MC3T3-E1) cells. Our results revealed tissue-specific stiffness windows that maximally suppressed senescence, with optimal senescence resistance responses observed at 1 kPa, 10 kPa, and 250 kPa for SH-SY5Y, NIH3T3, and MC3T3-E1 cells, respectively. Mechanistically, integrin α1, a collagen-binding integrin, was identified as a key mechanosensor mediating these effects. Optimal stiffness conditions enhanced integrin α1-mediated mechanotransduction, cytoskeletal remodeling, and activation of PI3K–Akt and YAP signaling pathways, leading to the downregulation of senescence markers (p16, p21) and upregulation of proliferation related genes. These findings provide a mechanistic framework for the design of stiffness-matched biomaterials to counteract senescence and enhance tissue regeneration.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":640,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Leather Science and Engineering","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s42825-026-00237-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147606918","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":"Inter-fiber spacer-aided rawhide drying for skin-like and eco-friendly wearable platform of e-skin","authors":"Haoliang Pu,&nbsp;Hanzhong Xiao,&nbsp;Yujia Wang,&nbsp;Xin Huang,&nbsp;Bi Shi","doi":"10.1186/s42825-025-00233-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s42825-025-00233-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The next-generation on-skin devices are expected to provide identical textural characteristics to skin for accomplishing comfortable long-term wearability. Cattle hide is mainly consisted of type I collagen, which is therefore an ideal collagenous-matrix platform for developing skin-like on-skin devices. However, the raw cattle hide has a high water content that leads to poor wearability. Herein, we developed the skin-like wearable (SW) platform via a brand-new inter-fiber spacer-aided (IFS-aided) drying of cattle hide, where an amphiphilic nonionic surfactant that was capable of thoroughly infiltrating into the 3D hierarchical network of collagen fibers (CFs) was employed to work as the inter-fiber spacer to avoid the sticking of CFs during drying. Moreover, the inter-fiber spacer was easily eluted after drying for obtaining the collagenous matrix with highly dispersed fiber structure. The as-developed SW-platform exhibited ideal wearability by exhibiting full-protein nature, outstanding softness (6.808 mm), exceptional water-vapor permeability (5950 g·m^-2·d^-1) and high thermal stability. The hierarchical fiber structure with sufficient inter-fiber space endowed the SW-platform with reversible cross-scale deformations of CFs at both the nanoscale and microscale, which demonstrated its promising application in developing the skin-like and eco-friendly e-skins with outstanding sensing capability and flexible display function.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":640,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Leather Science and Engineering","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s42825-025-00233-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147606734","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":"Sprayable supramolecular hydrogel with minimalism for wilderness first aid: integration of mechanical performance and biofunctionality","authors":"Xiaoming Li,&nbsp;Siqi Liu,&nbsp;Jiahui Zhou,&nbsp;Jiyang Li,&nbsp;Shuo Yang,&nbsp;Jimin Guo,&nbsp;Jianjun Zhang","doi":"10.1186/s42825-026-00242-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s42825-026-00242-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The ideal wound care materials for wilderness first aid should be convenient for storage, easy to use, adhesive, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic, wound-closure promoting, and simple for clinical translation. To meet all requirements, we developed a supramolecular FPC hydrogel by simply co-assembling 2-amino-2′-fluoro-2′-deoxyadenosine (FA), polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN), and collagen III (COL-III)-fully active pharmaceutical ingredients. Based on the abundant hydrogen bonding interactions among FA, PDRN, and COL-III, this hydrogel exhibited sprayability, tissue adhesiveness, and superior biological performance. In vivo studies showed that due to synergistic effects among FA, PDRN, and COL-III, FPC hydrogels offered significant anti-inflammatory benefits and angiogenic capabilities, which promoted granulation tissue formation, collagen deposition, wound tissue epithelialization, and effectively sped up wound healing. Furthermore, the FPC hydrogel could be conveniently stored in a bottle and sterilized through boiling, making it well-suited for wilderness first aid applications. This hydrogel has the potential to transform wound care by offering a versatile solution for both outdoor and everyday wound management needs.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":640,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Leather Science and Engineering","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s42825-026-00242-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147606997","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":"Leather waste-derived carbon quantum dot-embedded hydrogels with bioinspired hair-like architectures: multifunctional integration for mechanosensing, pH monitoring, and antimicrobial/antioxidant applications","authors":"Peng Zhang,&nbsp;Chongyuan Ma,&nbsp;Ming Teng,&nbsp;Kun Jiang,&nbsp;Liuying Li,&nbsp;Wenjing Wang,&nbsp;Wenqing Wang,&nbsp;Jianyan Feng,&nbsp;Xinhua Liu,&nbsp;Xiaomin Luo","doi":"10.1186/s42825-026-00243-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s42825-026-00243-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Conventional leather manufacturing converts only ~ 20% of raw animal hides into finished products, leaving the majority underutilized and generating substantial waste. To improve resource valorization and realize the high-value potential of leather waste, we propose an innovative \"waste upgrading-function integration\" strategy, transforming discarded leather into high-value carbon dots via a one-pot hydrothermal process. The resulting waste leather-based carbon quantum dots (W-CQDs) exhibited uniform particle size (~ 8.26 nm), high fluorescence quantum yield (66.3%), semiconductor-like behavior (band gap: 4.25 eV), and a positively charged surface (ζ-potential: +16.6 mV). These physicochemical properties endowed W-CQDs with remarkable antibacterial activity (most effective against <i>E. coli</i> and <i>S. aureus</i> at 6 mg/mL), strong antioxidant capability, and low biotoxicity. By integrating W-CQDs into a polyacrylamide (PAM) network and engineering a biomimetic hair-like microstructure, we developed a W-CQDs/PAM hydrogel sensor with excellent mechanosensitivity (gauge factor: 2.67), rapid response (468–476 ms), and long-term stability (&gt; 1000 cycles). Furthermore, the W-CQDs/PAM hydrogel exhibited pH-responsive fluorescence (pH 3 ~ 11) through intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) mechanisms. Incorporation of LiBr further enhanced water retention and antifreeze performance, significantly expanding its potential for real-world sensing applications.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":640,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Leather Science and Engineering","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s42825-026-00243-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147559668","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}