Polymer Bulletin最新文献

{"title":"Extraction of nanochitin–glucan composite from Aspergillus niger with enhanced antibacterial activity","authors":"Wenyan Ba,&nbsp;Mingda Che,&nbsp;Mei Cui,&nbsp;Rongxin Su,&nbsp;Renliang Huang","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06692-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06692-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The conversion of fungal biomass into functional biopolymer materials offers a promising route for renewable material fabrication and sustainable waste valorization. <i>Aspergillus niger (A. niger)</i> mycelium is rich in chitin and glucan, yet its conversion into fibrous chitin-based nanomaterials remains insufficiently connected to biomass processing, nanofiber structure, and final material performance. Here, a scalable strategy is proposed for preparing partially deacetylated chitin–glucan complex nanofibers (CGCNFs) from <i>A. niger</i>. Specifically, <i>A. niger</i> was cultured in PD medium containing 12 g/L potato extract and 60 g/L glucose for 96 h. Subsequent treatments, including alkaline processing, deacetylation, and high-pressure homogenization, yielded CGCNFs with an average diameter of 9.86 ± 1.86 nm and an aspect ratio of 25. Compared with traditional methods, the proposed process achieved approximately 15–48% increase in CGCNFs yield and a 75–81% reduction in raw material costs, demonstrating markedly higher efficiency and economic feasibility. Characterization by FTIR, XRD and solid-state ¹³C NMR confirmed enhanced surface functionalization of the CGCNFs. Moreover, the CGCNFs exhibited strong antibacterial activity, inhibiting more than 99% of <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>. Notably, CGCNFs/PVA films displayed a tensile modulus of 4.2 GPa, representing a 162.5% increase relative to neat PVA films. This work provides a sustainable strategy for biomass conversion, renewable polysaccharide material fabrication, and the development of functional biopolymer films for food related applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148986900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Controlled urea release from CMC-based composites: effects of citric acid crosslinking and biochar incorporation","authors":"Amanda S. Giroto,&nbsp;Thaynara R. Prado,&nbsp;Amanda Yashima,&nbsp;Stella F. Valle,&nbsp;Bruna Lendzion Alves,&nbsp;Maraisa Gonçalves","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06685-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06685-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Improving nitrogen (N) use efficiency while reducing environmental losses remains a major challenge in agriculture. Here, we show that a single polymeric matrix based on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) can be effectively engineered to control urea release when structurally tailored with citric acid as a crosslinking agent and biochar as a physical barrier. The formulation containing 10 wt % citric acid (CMC/U/BC/CA 10) exhibited the best performance, reaching 7500% swelling and maintaining 60% of water retention after 120 h, while providing a significantly delayed release profile (~ 18% after 4 h and 80% at the end of the experiment), whereas pure urea dissolved rapidly. Higher CA levels were associated with lower swelling and greater matrix rigidity and morphological heterogeneity, which may favor preferential diffusion pathways and faster nutrient release (up to 90%). Kinetic analysis indicated that urea release involved an important diffusional contribution coupled with polymer-chain relaxation and formulation-dependent structural changes, rather than a purely Fickian transport mechanism. Under incubation conditions, the composites reduced measured N-NH₃ volatilization relative to pure urea and affected exchangeable N-NH₄⁺ dynamics. The study demonstrates that a single biodegradable polymer matrix can efficiently regulate nutrient release, providing a simple, scalable, and sustainable strategy for the development of advanced nitrogen fertilizers.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00289-026-06685-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148986490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of starch–alginate–PVA hydrogel beads for encapsulation and sustained delivery of Trichoderma longibrachiatum in Capsicum annuum","authors":"Bandana Padhan,&nbsp;Joyjyoti Das,&nbsp;Parswati Sen,&nbsp;Kartik Charan Lenka","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06690-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06690-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Sustainable microbial delivery systems can improve the stability and effectiveness of bioinoculants in agriculture. In this study, a starch–alginate–PVA hydrogel was developed to encapsulate <i>Trichoderma longibrachiatum</i> by ionic gelation. The beads showed uniform spherical morphology, high moisture retention (86.17 ± 1.8%), swelling capacity (233 ± 5.4%), and encapsulation efficiency (87.0 ± 2.0%). Scanning electron microscopy revealed a porous, interconnected structure, while FTIR and XRD confirmed polymer interactions and a predominantly amorphous matrix. The encapsulated formulation maintained 8.0 × 10⁷ CFU g⁻¹ bead after 45 days of storage and provided sustained availability of viable propagules in soil. Its plant growth-promoting performance was evaluated in <i>Capsicum annuum</i> under pot conditions and compared with <i>Trichoderma</i> slurry and untreated controls. At 30 days, encapsulated treatment increased plant height, leaf number, leaf area, and dry biomass to 72.3 ± 3.0 cm, 98.4 ± 3.4, 56.8 ± 2.7 cm², and 18.9 ± 0.5 g, respectively. It also improved chlorophyll and carotenoid contents and enhanced antioxidant defense. At 10 days, SOD, APX, GPX, and CAT activities increased by 36.4%, 73.0%, 72.2%, and 54.9%, respectively, relative to the untreated control, while APX showed a 149.5% increase at 30 days. Overall, the hydrogel supported fungal survival and sustained delivery while promoting plant growth and reducing oxidative stress, demonstrating its potential as an eco-friendly delivery platform for <i>Trichoderma</i>-based bioinoculants in sustainable agriculture.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148986492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High-performance core-shell designed molecularly imprinted polymer solid-phase extraction for ultrasensitive spectrophotometric monitoring of bisphenol-A","authors":"Muhammad Saqaf Jagirani,&nbsp;Aamna Balouch,&nbsp;Ikramullah Jagirani,&nbsp;Aftab Hussain Khuhawar","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06686-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06686-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study reports a facile co-precipitation polymerization procedure for the design of a core-shell molecularly imprinted polymeric material for solid-phase extraction coupled with spectrophotometry for the detection of bisphenol-A (BPA) in real environmental samples. The prepared molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were analyzed using modern analytical techniques, including FT-IR, FESEM, and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The resultant polymeric material was used as an adsorbent for solid-phase extraction (SPE) of BPA. Various factors have been studied to achieve the maximum adsorption capacity, including pH, adsorption time, adsorbent dose, and shaking speed. The optimized results show that the designed method best suits the Langmuir isotherm model and follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Good linearity was achieved in the 2–10 µg/L range. The designed experiment’s detection and quantification limits were up to 0.98 and 329.5 ng/L, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity was 112.35 mg/g at pH 6. The relative selectivity factor of BPA with other coexisting molecules is less than one. The selectivity results justify that the BPA-MIP polymeric material is highly selective toward the BPA molecule. The proposed technique was successfully used to analyze real environmental samples.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div><div><p>Preparation and leaching, and adsorption and desorption of BPA-MIP</p></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148986493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Propylene–ethylene copolymerization over titanium–magnesium catalysts: the effect of the composition of an internal stereoregulating electron donor on the molecular structure of the copolymer","authors":"Arina S. Garkul,&nbsp;Artem A. Barabanov,&nbsp;Vladimir A. Zakharov,&nbsp;Mikhail A. Matsko","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06688-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06688-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The data on the molecular structure of random propylene–ethylene copolymers containing 4–5 mol% ethylene, produced over supported titanium–magnesium catalysts (TMCs) with internal stereoregulating electron donors of different composition (di-<i>n</i>-butyl phthalate, 2-isopropyl-2-isopentyl 1,3-dimethoxypropane, and diethyl 2,3-diisobutyl succinate), are reported. Five fractions differing by molecular weight and isotacticity were isolated for these copolymers by preparative temperature rising elution fractionation procedure. The data on the composition of these fractions (ethylene content), their molecular weight, melting temperatures, and crystallinity were obtained. Ethylene content was found to be close for the three copolymer fractions characterized by high molecular weight (M_w = 210–660 kg/mol) and higher isotacticity and these data are independent of composition of the internal donor. Ethylene content increased abruptly in the case of the two lower-molecular-weight fractions (M_w = 90–180 kg/mol). The ¹³C NMR data on the content of ethylene monomeric units EEE and PEE ethylene segments for the low-molecular-weight copolymer fractions are reported. The composition of the internal donor has a noticeable effect on the proportion of EEE and PEE ethylene segments and isolated PEP ethylene segments in these low-molecular-weight copolymer fractions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148986491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"(Machine learning-assisted optimization of multifunctional Epoxy/MWCNT–nanoclay nanocomposites for fire-safe, self-sensing coatings)","authors":"Tuan Anh Nguyen,&nbsp;Huu Trung Dang,&nbsp;Van Hoan Nguyen","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06687-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06687-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study develops a validated machine learning-assisted design framework for multifunctional epoxy/MWCNT/nanoclay hybrid coatings integrating fire safety, mechanical robustness, electrical conductivity, UV shielding, and self-sensing capability. A four-factor Box–Behnken design was coupled with response surface methodology (RSM), Random Forest (RF) modeling, SHAP interpretability, and multi-objective desirability optimization to identify a balanced formulation window rather than optimizing individual properties separately. Compared with RSM, the RF model provided substantially improved predictive accuracy, achieving R² values of 0.986, 0.995, and 0.998 for LOI, tensile strength, and log₁₀(electrical conductivity), respectively. The optimized hybrid coating exhibited LOI of 28.0 ± 0.2%, reduced pHRR of 720 ± 9 kW m⁻², tensile strength of 80.0 ± 1.4 MPa, flexural modulus of 2.80 ± 0.14 GPa, electrical conductivity of ~1.0 × 10⁻⁴ S m⁻¹, thermal sensing response of 8.0 ± 0.5%, and NH₃ response of 12.0 ± 0.9%, with prediction errors generally below 5%. The machine learning-assisted workflow reduced the experimental effort by approximately 50–65% compared with full-factorial exploration while maintaining experimental reliability through repeated cross-validation and independent validation. Structural analyses confirmed that intercalated/exfoliated nanoclay domains, CNT conductive pathways, and strengthened epoxy–filler interfaces jointly govern the multifunctional performance. This work demonstrates a reproducible data-driven strategy for designing fire-safe, durable, and self-sensing epoxy nanocomposite coatings.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148986494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High performance PDMS nanocomposite films with poly(Ani-co-Cz)@GO–Fe₃O₄ toward enhanced EMI shielding, mechanical integrity, and magnetic functionality","authors":"Mobina Fallah,&nbsp;Moslem Mansour Lakouraj,&nbsp;Rafieh-Sadat Norouzian","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06684-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06684-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>PDMS-based nanocomposite films, incorporating poly(aniline-co-carbazole)@graphene oxide-Fe₃O₄ (poly(Ani-co-Cz)@GO-Fe₃O₄) nanocomposite with electric and magnetic properties, were synthesized and extensively characterized to investigate their structural, mechanical, electrical, magnetic, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties. Comprehensive characterization by FTIR, XPS, UV–Vis, XRD, SEM, EDX, AFM, and VSM confirmed successful integration and uniform dispersion of the nanocomposite within the PDMS matrix, preserving polymer integrity while imparting superparamagnetic behavior. Electrical conductivity was preserved with nanocomposite loading, enhancing EMI shielding performance in the X-band (8–12.4 GHz) region. Mechanical tests revealed significant improvements in tensile strength and modulus due to strong interfacial interactions and restricted polymer chain mobility, though these enhancements reduced film flexibility. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis showed tunable viscoelastic behavior and glass transition shifts attributed to hydrogen bonding within the nanocomposite. EMI shielding assessments demonstrated synergistic reflection and absorption mechanisms, with dielectric loss dominating over magnetic loss, resulting in a maximum shielding effectiveness of 1.2 dB at 40 wt% loading. These multifunctional PDMS/poly(Ani-co-Cz)@GO-Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite films exhibit a promising combination of mechanical robustness, magnetic responsiveness, enhanced electrical conductivity, and efficient EMI shielding, making them promising candidates for flexible electronics, wearable electromagnetic shielding materials, and advanced protective coatings in communication devices. The DC and AC conductivity of the fabricated composite increased upon loading poly(Ani-co-Cz)@GO-Fe₃O₄ in the polymer composite.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div><p>Synthesis and shielding property of PDMS/poly(Ani-co-Cz)@GO-Fe₃O₄ composite elastomer films.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148927050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physicomechanical properties of Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium biocomposites from agroforestry residues for sustainable packaging","authors":"Diana S. Ocegueda-Vega,&nbsp;Nelly Flores-Ramirez,&nbsp;Salomon R. Vasquez-Garcia,&nbsp;Héctor E. Martínez-Flores,&nbsp;Crisanto Velazquez-Becerra,&nbsp;Alejandro Meza-de Luna","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06683-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06683-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) offer a bio-based route for valorizing lignocellulosic residues as lightweight packaging materials; however, the combined effects of substrate composition and particle architecture on their moisture response and mechanical performance remains insufficiently understood. This study evaluated five <i>Pleurotus ostreatus</i>-based composites produced from <i>Quercus castanea</i> Neé wood chips, sawdust, and corn cob. The composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, apparent density, static water contact angle, water absorption, Shore D surface hardness, compression, and three-point bending. Formulation effects were evaluated using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD test, complemented by Dunnett-adjusted comparisons of S1–S4 against the 100 wt% corn-cob reference formulation S5. SEM observations suggested that particle geometry influenced hyphal organization and matrix consolidation. The sawdust-based formulation S3 exhibited the highest apparent density (178.0 kg m⁻³) and compressive strength (0.63 MPa), whereas the coarse wood-chip formulation S1 showed a more open structure and lower mechanical performance. Initial contact angles ranged from 107.7° to 110.7° and did not differ significantly among formulations, whereas water absorption after 24 h differed significantly and ranged from 30.6% to 46.6%: Dunnett’s test showed lower absorption for S1 and higher absorption for S3 relative to S5. Shore D hardness ranged from 27.6 to 37.7, with S1 and S2 exhibiting significantly lower values than S5, whereas S3 and S4 were statistically comparable to the reference. Flexural strength ranged from 0.07 to 0.10 MPa, with no differences detected by Tukey’s all-pairwise comparison, while S4 and S5 exhibited the highest mean compressive and flexural moduli. Overall, substrate formulation was associated with property-dependent differences in density, moisture response, surface hardness, and mechanical performance. The composites show potential as low-load protective packaging components when shielded from direct or prolonged moisture exposure.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148927101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Retraction Note: Designing gelatin-based swellable hydrogels system for controlled delivery of salbutamol sulphate: characterization and toxicity evaluation","authors":"Naila Rafique,&nbsp;Mahmood Ahmad,&nbsp;Muhammad Usman Minhas,&nbsp;Syed Faisal Badshah,&nbsp;Nadia Shamshad Malik,&nbsp;Kifayat Ullah Khan","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06682-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06682-1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148926911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial Expression of Concern (EEoC): Pectin-based hydrogels with adjustable properties for controlled delivery of nifedipine: development and optimization","authors":"Nyla Ajaz,&nbsp;Ikrima Khalid,&nbsp;Muhammad Usman Minhas,&nbsp;Kashif Barkat,&nbsp;Ikram Ullah Khan,&nbsp;Haroon Khaild Syed,&nbsp;Sajid Asghar,&nbsp;Rabia Munir,&nbsp;Fahmida Aslam","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06680-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06680-3","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148926967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}