Journal of Polymers and the Environment最新文献

{"title":"Harnessing Cyanobacterial Exopolysaccharides for Metal Biosorption: Ultrastructure, Stress Responses and Extraction Approaches","authors":"Nilamjyoti Kalita,&nbsp;Priyakshi Hazarika,&nbsp;Partha Pratim Baruah","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03795-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03795-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Exopolysaccharides (EPS), an important high molecular weight polymeric substance of the microbial group having great bio prospects in uplifting a sustainable environment. Cyanobacteria is one of the potent microbial candidates that form EPS on their cell surfaces and possess numerous negatively charged proton-active functional groups such as carboxyl, hydroxyl, sulfate, phosphate having strong metal chelating properties. These members have recently emerged as viable options for long-term bioremediation due to their propensity to produce variable monosaccharide groups which directly lead to impact on biosorption efficacy. However, the sugar compositions of Fructose, Fucose, Galactose, Glucose, Mannose, Rhamnose, Ribose, Xylose, and Arabinose may vary within the species and strains, which could directly impact on the metal complexation and influence the binding stoichiometry. Transcriptome and proteome analysis combined with high-throughput screening can more accurately identify high-yielding EPS producers like <i>Synechocystis</i> sp. PCC 6803, and <i>Cyanothece</i> sp. CCY 0110. These properties can either be enhanced by adopting recent genetic engineering techniques or through growth manipulation of metallothionein protein, glycosyl transferase gene, ABC transporter and P-type ATP family can easily elevate the cellular polysaccharide ultrastructure by creating varied degrees of hostile abiotic conditions. Targeting the promoter sequence particularly arsB and nrsB could also provide some novel insight on various ecotechnological applications including heavy metal sensing and mitigation. These polymeric substances can now be utilized in the industrial sector by separating the compound from the cell surface using long-established extraction strategies like alcoholic precipitation and tangential ultrafiltration for desired polysaccharide products.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147561010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bacterial Cellulose Films Containing Polyaniline for Amine Detection in Smart Packaging","authors":"Angela M. M. Santos,&nbsp;Simone S. Simões,&nbsp;Aldebarã F. Ferreira,&nbsp;Karina C. Souza,&nbsp;Viviane F. Caetano,&nbsp;Romário J. da Silva,&nbsp;Maysa K. S. Araújo,&nbsp;Glória M. Vinhas,&nbsp;Eduardo H. L. Falcão","doi":"10.1007/s10924-025-03735-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-025-03735-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Flexible films based on bacterial cellulose (BC) and polyaniline (PAni) were developed as potential colorimetric indicators of fish freshness in smart packaging. This comparative study examines the in situ synthesis of PAni on BC substrates produced using the Hestrin-Schramm medium and a novel alternative (saline) culture medium. The structural characteristics, electrical properties, and sensitivity to ammonia vapor of the films were evaluated at different polymerization times. Films obtained with a shorter polymerization time (5 min) exhibited, after doping, higher conductivity, with values of 6.35 × 10⁻⁴ and 9.70 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ for those produced in Hestrin-Schramm and Saline media, respectively. Doping and dedoping cycles demonstrated good reversibility in both the optical and electrical properties of the films, an essential feature for reusable sensors. The BC-PAni films were further evaluated as sensors for ammonia vapor, released during fish degradation under ambient conditions. The color variation of the films was observed over a period of 6 days, changing from green (corresponding to the emeraldine salt form of PAni) to blue (emeraldine base), as the fish deteriorated. These results indicate that BC-PAni films are promising for low-cost colorimetric labels to monitor fish freshness in smart packaging.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10924-025-03735-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147561012","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":"Nanoporous Membrane Made of Chain-Extended Poly(Butylene Adipate-co-Terephthalate)/Polylactic Acid as High-Performance Separator for Lithium-Ion Battery Using Gravure Printing Method","authors":"Maryam Arshadi,&nbsp;Amirreza Zabihi,&nbsp;Sajad Rasouli,&nbsp;Maryam Ataeefard","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03787-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03787-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this work, the gravure printing method is regarded as a promising technique for the production of novel thin lithium-ion battery (LIB) separators based on poly(butylene adipate-<i>co</i>-terephthalate)/polylactic acid (CE-PBAT/PLA) with high flexibility and processability. CE-PBAT is used as the primary polymeric matrix, while PLA is incorporated to tune porosity, wettability, and microstructure for the LIB separators. The applied preparation technique based on the wet method using dioctyl phthalate formed a nanoporous separator with well-dispersed cavities smaller than 70 nm, a porosity of <span>(:sim)</span>43%, and a cavity number density of 16–17 μm⁻². When PLA was introduced into the CE-PBAT matrix at 50 <i>wt</i>%, the overall porosity decreased by 18% while the cavity size increased by 86%. However, beyond the CE-PBAT/PLA ratio of 1:1, phase separation between the polymers became pronounced, leading to a 66% decrease in porosity. The presence of PLA in the formulation enhanced both surface (quantified by contact angle-time measurements) and bulk wettability (quantified by electrolyte absorption) by 34% and 11%, respectively. Among all formulations, the membrane containing 50 <i>wt</i>% CE-PBAT exhibited a balanced combination of morphology, wettability, and ionic performance. The ionic conductivity achieved for the LIB assembled with the optimum separator was 2.31 mS/cm, representing a 43% increase compared to PLA-based membranes. Future studies may focus on evaluating the thermal and dimensional stability, long-term cycling performance, scalability of the gravure printing process, and biodegradability of the optimum separator.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147561011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antimicrobial Fabrics Loaded with Chitosan/Selenium Nanocomposite Biosynthesized with Red Dragon Fruit Mucilage to Suppress Resistant Skin Pathogens","authors":"Asmaa Abdella,&nbsp;Mohamed E. El-Hefnawy,&nbsp;Mohammed I. Orif,&nbsp;Mohamed A. Ghandourah,&nbsp;Mohsen M. El-Sherbiny,&nbsp;Haddad A. El Rabey,&nbsp;Ahmed A. Tayel","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03778-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03778-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Nanobiotechnology seems to offer practical approaches for tackling antimicrobial resistant pathogens. This particular study looks at the biosynthesis of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) using red dragon fruit (<i>Hylocereus polyrhizus</i>) <i>mucilage</i> and its integration into chitosan (Cts) nanoparticles to form effective antimicrobial nanocomposites (Cts/DrF/SeNPs). Characterization of the materials was conducted using spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and some physicochemical analysis (e.g. FTIR and DLS). The infrared analyses revealed the involvement of biochemical groups in nanomaterial biosynthesis and interactions. The DrF/SeNPs exhibit semi-spherical morphology, a smooth surface, a narrow size distribution, and their poly-dispersion index was low. The measured particle sizes mean (Ps) of CtsNPs, DrF/SeNPs, and Cts/DrF/SeNPs were 128.22 nm, 12.36 nm, and 159.73 nm, respectively. The recorded zeta potential was + 36.68 mV for CtsNPs, -26.77 mV for DrF/SeNPs, and + 30.89 mV for the Cts/DrF/SeNPs, respectively. Cts, DrF/SeNPs, and Cts/DrF/SeNPs, were tested for antibacterial and antifungal activities against <i>S. aureus</i> and <i>C. albicans</i> using qualitative, quantitative, and ultrastructural imaging techniques. MIC were (50.0, 47.5, and 27.5 µg/mL) against <i>S. aureus</i> for Cts, DrF/SeNPs, and Cts/DrF/SeNPs, respectively. MIC were (47.5, 55.0 and 32.5 µg/mL) against <i>C. albicans</i> for Cts, DrF/SeNPs, and Cts/DrF/SeNPs, respectively. The Cts/DrF/SeNPs-treated fabrics showed the maximum antimicrobial effects compared to those treated with DrF or DrF/SeNPs alone against both <i>S. aureus</i> and <i>C. albicans</i>. This provides new insight into the use of Cts/DrF/SeNPs as green antimicrobial agents in resistant skin infections treatment, thus helping develop new approaches to tackle resistant infections.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147560672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Self-Adhesive, Conformable Polyhydroxyurethane-Tannic Acid Wound Dressings with Antioxidant and Photothermally Induced Antibacterial Activities","authors":"Parsa Mousavi,&nbsp;Hamid Yeganeh,&nbsp;Masoud Babaahmadi","doi":"10.1007/s10924-025-03713-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-025-03713-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This work introduces a multifunctional wound dressing based on a polyhydroxyurethane (PHU) network primarily crosslinked with oxidized tannic acid (OTA). To tailor its properties, gelatin (GE) was added at different concentrations to improve biocompatibility and exudate management. A secondary crosslinking step, using either Fe(III) coordination or glutaraldehyde vapor, was then applied to enhance the mechanical strength in wet conditions while keeping flexibility. This approach produced two different dressing platforms: glutaraldehyde-crosslinked (GPHU/OTA/GE) and Fe(III)-crosslinked (FePHU/OTA/GE). The resulting materials combined features essential for advanced wound care. The dressings reached tensile strengths of up to ~ 4 MPa and adhered strongly to skin, even on highly mobile joints. The very good adhesion strength of about 15 kPa to tissue imitating substrate (gelatin sheet) was recorded for both categories of these dressings. They could handle fluids at capacities of 2.5–3.6 g/10 cm²/day and had a water vapor transmission rate of 1881–3137 g/m²/day, suitable for low-to-moderate exuding wounds. The OTA crosslinker provided a strong photothermal effect, reaching surface temperatures of &gt; 50 °C under NIR irradiation to kill Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, along with excellent natural antioxidant activity. Cytocompatibility tests confirmed safety, with fibroblast viability exceeding 100% in MTT assays and over 90% wound closure within 24 h in scratch assays. Based on performance evaluations, FePHU/TA/GE series is advised for wounds with moderate exudate levels owing to its excellent mechanical strength and integrity, whereas GPHU/TA/GE series is the optimal choice for low-exudate infected wounds because of its outstanding antibacterial efficacy.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147441258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Heavy Metal Sequestration of Pb²⁺, Cr6+, and Cu²⁺ by Cerium–Samarium Bimetallic RE-Tetrazole MOF/Alginate Beads (Ce–Sm–Tz@Alginate Beads): A Multivariate and Explainable AI Framework Using PCA and LIME","authors":"M. G. Darsana,&nbsp;D. G. Arya,&nbsp;V. S. Dhanya,&nbsp;Lincy S. Baby,&nbsp;B. R. Bijini","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03777-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03777-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Heavy metal contamination of aquatic systems is a long-standing threat to both the environment and human health. This issue requires the development of effective, reusable, and clear adsorbents. In this study, we created a rare-earth bimetallic metal-organic framework-hydrogel composite called Ce-Sm-Tz@Alginate Beads. We synthesized it using in situ alginate gelation, followed by the solvothermal incorporation of a nitrogen-rich tetrazole ligand. The hybrid beads combine the structural stability of sodium alginate with the strong binding and adjustable chemistry of cerium and samarium centers. We confirmed the successful formation of a Ce-Sm-tetrazole coordination network embedded in the alginate matrix through comprehensive characterization using FTIR, XPS, SEM-EDAX, and PXRD. Batch adsorption experiments showed that the beads efficiently removed Pb(II), Cu(II), and Cr(VI) ions across various conditions. The maximum adsorption capacities were 2993.82 mg·g⁻¹ for Pb(II), 895.20 mg·g⁻¹ for Cu(II), and 1587.90 mg·g⁻¹ for Cr(VI) under optimized conditions. Kinetic analysis indicated that adsorption followed pseudo-second-order behavior. This means that the uptake was controlled by site availability on a varied surface rather than by strong chemical bonding. Isotherm modeling showed that the Freundlich, Sips, and Hill models best described the adsorption behavior, while Dubinin-Radushkevich energies (less than 0.4 kJ·mol⁻¹) indicated that physisorption was the main mechanism. The thermodynamic parameters suggested a spontaneous and endothermic process, with Pb(II) and Cr(VI) adsorption mainly driven by physical interactions, while Cu(II) showed some stronger interactions. To better understand the factors driving adsorption, we used explainable artificial intelligence techniques, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations (LIME). PCA identified the initial metal concentration and adsorption capacity as the main contributors, while LIME analysis showed that the sensitivities to contact time and adsorbent dosage varied by metal. Reusability studies demonstrated excellent stability for Pb(II) and moderate retention for Cr(VI), emphasizing the practical use of the composite beads. Overall, this work presents a scalable, clear, and sustainable rare-earth MOF-hydrogel system for multi-metal wastewater treatment. </p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147441259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"On the Structure of Poly(Lactic Acid) (PLA)/Poly(Ethylene 2,5-Furandicarboxylate) (PEF) Blends Processed in No-Shearing Conditions of Rotational Molding Technology","authors":"Mateusz Barczewski,&nbsp;Joanna Aniśko-Michalak,&nbsp;Izabela Irska,&nbsp;Adam Piasecki,&nbsp;Paweł Figiel,&nbsp;Jacek Andrzejewski,&nbsp;Aleksander Hejna,&nbsp;Beata Dudziec,&nbsp;Sandra Paszkiewicz","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03799-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03799-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Understanding the physical behavior of polymers during processing is crucial for developing new materials suitable for emerging technologies. Rotational molding (RM), a low-shear manufacturing method, requires a distinct approach to material characterization, as polymer behavior under these conditions differs from that observed in conventional melt mixing and laboratory-scale molding techniques. This study investigated the miscibility of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF) blends. The RM processability of bio-polymeric blends was evaluated using dry-blending and melt-mixing procedures. The influence of the multi-stage preparation procedure for PLA-PEF blends on melt-mixed RM was verified. The blends containing up to 50 wt% PEF exhibited good RM-processability, and the introduction of 25 wt% PEF enabled the manufacture of a product with a uniform RM-part wall structure. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the fine, dispersed structure of the pre-extruded blends could be preserved despite partial coalescence and structural relaxation of the polymers during cryogenic grinding and the subsequent long-duration RM process. Correlated rheological, structural, thermal, and thermomechanical analyses enabled a comprehensive description of the phenomena and limitations, providing support for the further upscaling of novel thermoplastic bio-polyester blends. This work addresses the knowledge gap on forming polymeric blends under shaping conditions in RM technology based on polymer sintering, with almost complete exclusion of shear forces during processing.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147441118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functionality of Soy Protein Concentrate as Excipient in FDM 3D Printed Solid Dosage Forms","authors":"Jelena Čanji Panić,&nbsp;Nemanja Todorović,&nbsp;Senka Popović,&nbsp;Ivan Ristić,&nbsp;Nataša Milošević,&nbsp;Boris Milijašević,&nbsp;Dejan Movrin,&nbsp;Mladena Lalić-Popović","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03803-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03803-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a versatile and cost-effective technique for producing personalized pharmaceutical dosage forms. Advancing this approach requires the development of novel excipients to overcome the limitations of conventional drug formulation additives. Naturally derived excipients, valued for their biocompatibility, are increasingly explored in drug design, with soy protein products emerging as promising candidates due to their low cost and availability. This study investigated the possibility of incorporation of soy protein concentrate (SPC) into filaments prepared via hot-melt extrusion (HME) for FDM 3D printing of ketoprofen tablets. Additionally, the effects of SPC content, sodium starch glycolate (SSG) content and tablet geometry on ketoprofen release rate were evaluated. SPC was successfully incorporated at 10% w/w and demonstrated greater potential as a release-rate enhancer compared to the traditional superdisintegrant SSG, in both pH = 1.2 and pH = 6.8 dissolution media. Drug release kinetics were influenced by both formulation composition and dosage form geometry, highlighting the complex interplay between material properties and printing design. FTIR and DSC analyses suggested the formation of a solid dispersion of ketoprofen within the hydroxypropyl cellulose polymer matrix, with no evidence of chemical interactions with any of the excipients. These results confirm the successful processability of SPC by both HME and FDM 3D printing and emphasize the value of a holistic approach in designing 3D-printed pharmaceutical dosage forms, integrating excipient selection, formulation composition, and printing parameters to optimize drug release performance and enable the production of tailored, effective therapies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147441108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Kinetics of Sunflower Oil Epoxidation with Lactic Acid–Derived Perlactic Acid","authors":"Mohammad Aathif Addli,&nbsp;Mohd Jumain Jalil,&nbsp;Nursyalily Razali,&nbsp;Aishath Shaira,&nbsp;Intan Suhada Azmi","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03801-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03801-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigates the epoxidation of sunflower oil using lactic acid as an oxygen carrier, with emphasis on reaction kinetics under varying conditions of temperature, hydrogen peroxide-to-oil molar ratio, and stirring speed. The reaction progress was monitored through oxirane oxygen content (OOC) measurements and analyzed using pseudo-first-order and consecutive first-order kinetic models, with MATLAB R2023A employed for parameter estimation. The results showed that the highest relative conversion to oxirane (RCO) was achieved at the most intense conditions tested. The maximum relative conversion of oxirane (RCO) reached about 27%, with an apparent pseudo-first-order rate constant of 6.8 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹ and consecutive model rate constants of k₁ = 0.0307 min⁻¹ (epoxy formation) and k₂ = 0.0351 min⁻¹ (epoxy degradation).These findings confirm that increasing temperature, oxidant loading, and agitation enhances both the epoxidation rate and peak oxirane yield. However, the accelerated degradation of oxirane groups at these extreme conditions also highlights the trade-off between rapid conversion and product stability. Overall, the study demonstrates that lactic acid can serve as an effective and safer oxygen carrier for epoxidation, with kinetic modeling providing valuable insights into the design of optimized green processes for producing epoxidized oils and polyols.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147363027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tumour-Targeted Delivery of Capecitabine Exploiting Alginate-g-P(NIPAAm-co-NVP): A Stimuli-Responsive Smart Carrier System","authors":"Sunil M. Gurav,&nbsp;Archana S. Patil,&nbsp;Yadishma A. Gaude,&nbsp;Gandla Kumaraswamy,&nbsp;Rohini Kavalapure,&nbsp;Kaushik Pal","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03797-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03797-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to rank among the most prevalent and clinically significant malignancies on a global scale. Traditional chemotherapy often leads to systemic drug dispersion, culminating in deleterious off-target effects on healthy, non-malignant tissues. This highlights the critical need for designing targeted drug delivery platforms that improve therapeutic accuracy by limiting off-target exposure. In this context, a temperature and pH responsive co-polymer, Alg-g-P(NIPAAm-co-NVP), was fabricated and evaluated for its potential to deliver Capecitabine specifically to colorectal tumour sites. Alg-g-P(NIPAAm-co-NVP) co-polymers were synthesized and 2² factorial design was employed to optimize sodium alginate and NVP concentrations to achieve tumour-specific responsiveness for co-polymer. Capecitabine was loaded into the optimized formulation and assessed for release behaviour, cytotoxicity and stability studies. Drug release studies revealed significantly enhanced release under tumour-like pH and temperature conditions (~ 82.62%) compared to physiological conditions (~ 38.24%), with MTT assay results corroborating increased drug release in the tumour microenvironment as CAP-loaded nanoparticles exhibited lower cytotoxicity than free Capecitabine (IC₅₀; 30 ± 1.2 µg /mL), under physiological conditions (IC₅₀; 27 ± 1.4 µg/mL), but higher cytotoxicity in the tumour-like environment (IC₅₀;23 ± 2.1 µg/mL). The biocompatibility of the co-polymer and Capecitabine-loaded nanoformulation was validated via MTT assay using human fibroblast (NIH) cell lines. Stability studies indicated that the optimized formulation exhibits excellent stability when stored at 4–8 ± 2 °C. The developed Alg-g-P(NIPAAm-co-NVP) nanoparticles exhibit considerable potential for Capecitabine to achieve tumour specific targeting, offering an innovative strategy for controlled and site-specific delivery in oncology.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147362726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}