Nanocomposite Polymer Colloids Prepared via Emulsion Polymerization and Stabilized Using Polydopamine-Coated Silica Particles.

Polymer/inorganic colloidal nanocomposites can be prepared via Pickering emulsion polymerization (PEP); however, this process usually requires the use of surfactants, auxiliary comonomers, and volatile organic compounds. Herein, we report a versatile and efficient method for synthesizing stable monodisperse polymer/silica colloidal nanocomposite particles via PEP. First, silica nanoparticles were modified by depositing a multifunctional polydopamine (PDA) film.

Durable Antibacterial Cotton Fabrics Based on Natural Borneol-Derived Anti-MRSA Agents.

Borneol, a natural extract with unique bicyclic monoterpene structure, has attracted increasing attention due to its broad-spectrum antibacterial properties via membrane disruption mechanism. However, the negligible water solubility of borneol limits its antibacterial efficiency. Herein, borneol-based water-soluble antibacterial agents are designed and synthesized to combat multi-drug resistant bacteria.

On-Demand Oil-Water Separation by Environmentally Responsive Cotton Fabrics.

Environmentally responsive cotton fabrics were fabricated by dip-coating ABC miktoarm star terpolymers, which contain reactive poly(3-triisopropyloxysilylpropyl methacrylate) blocks, hydrophobic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) blocks, and hydrophilic poly(,-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) blocks. The functionalized cotton fabrics with perfectly alternating PDMS and PDMAEMA blocks show underoil superhydrophobicity and underwater superoleophobicity. The wettability and permeability of the functionalized fabrics can be readily adjusted by the contacting medium.