Optimization of Contact Pad Design for Silver Nanowire-Based Transparent Heater to Improve Heating Characteristics.

Transparent heaters are gaining significant attention for applications such as antifog glass, smart windows, and smart farm greenhouses. A transparent heater basically consists of transparent conducting materials that serve as a heating area and contact pad electrode to apply power. To fabricate a transparent heater, materials with excellent light transmittance and low sheet resistance are required.

Heat's Role in Solution Electrospinning: A Novel Approach to Nanofiber Structure Optimization.

In this study, we explored an innovative application of heat-assisted solution electrospinning, a technique that significantly advances the control of phase separation in polystyrene (PS) fibers. Our experimental approach involved the use of direct heating and a convection air sheath applied through a coaxial needle, focusing on solvents with varying vapor pressures. This method enabled a detailed investigation into how solvent evaporation rates affect the morphology of the electrospun fibers.

Exploring temperature-responsive drug delivery with biocompatible fatty acids as phase change materials in ethyl cellulose nanofibers.

This study introduces a novel temperature-responsive drug delivery system using ethyl cellulose (EC) nanofibers encapsulating a eutectic mixture of lauric acid/stearic acid (LA/SA) as phase change materials (PCMs) and Rhodamine B (RhB) as a model drug. Employing blend electrospinning, the nanofibers achieved controlled drug release responsive to temperature changes. The peak shift of the carbonyl group in FTIR analysis confirmed drug-polymer compatibility, while the absence of RhB peaks in the XRD and DSC assessments revealed RhB's amorphous distribution within the fibers.

Contact Lens with pH Sensitivity for On-Demand Drug Release in Wearing Situation.

Drug-releasing contact lenses are emerging therapeutic systems for treating ocular diseases. However, their applicability is limited by the burst release of drugs during lens wear and premature drug leakage during packaging, rendering the precise control of release duration or dose difficult. Here, we introduce a pH-sensitive contact lens exhibiting on-demand drug release only during lens wear and negligible premature drug leakage during packaging and transportation, which is accomplished by incorporating drug-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) coated with a pH-sensitive polymer into the contact lens.

Comprehensive constitutive modeling and analysis of multi-elastic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for wearable device simulations.

Within the field of wearable devices, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has long been one of the most prominent materials utilized. It is therefore unsurprising that demands for its usage has now extended beyond experimental works into computational simulations, particularly those involving finite element method (FEM). To replicate the mechanical properties of PDMS in FEM, an accurate constitutive model is required, preferably one that encompasses wide ranges of PDMS elasticity.

Single-Crystal Ferroelectric-Based (K,Na)NbO Microcuboid/CuO Nanodot Heterostructures with Enhanced Photo-Piezocatalytic Activity.

Developing single-crystal-based heterostructured ferroelectrics with high-performance photo-piezocatalytic activity is highly desirable to utilize large piezopotentials and more reactive charges that can trigger the desired redox reactions. To that end, a single-crystal-based (K,Na)NbO (KNN) microcuboid/CuO nanodot heterostructure with enhanced photo-piezocataytic activity, prepared using a facile strategy that leveraged the synergy between heterojunction formation and an intense single-crystal-based piezoelectric effect, is reported herein. The catalytic rhodamine B degrading activity of KNN/CuO is investigated under light irradiation, ultrasonication, or co-excitation with both stimulations.

Efficient and Secure Encapsulation of a Natural Phase Change Material in Nanofibers Using Coaxial Electrospinning for Sustainable Thermal Energy Storage.

In this study, we present an ecofriendly technique for encapsulating lauric acid (LA), a natural phase change material, within polystyrene (PS) nanofibers through coaxial electrospinning. The resulting LAPS core-sheath nanofibers exhibited a melting enthalpy of up to 136.6 J/g, representing 75.

Advancing Nanofiber Research: Assessing Nonsolvent Contributions to Structure Using Coaxial Electrospinning.

In this study, we explored the influence of molecular interactions and solvent evaporation kinetics on the formation of porous structures in electrospun nanofibers, utilizing polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and polystyrene (PS) as model polymers. The coaxial electrospinning technique was employed to control the injection of water and ethylene glycol (EG) as nonsolvents into polymer jets, demonstrating its potential as a powerful tool for manipulating phase separation processes and fabricating nanofibers with tailored properties. Our findings highlighted the critical role of intermolecular interactions between nonsolvents and polymers in governing phase separation and porous structure formation.

New Autonomous Water-Enabled Self-Healing Coating Material with Antibacterial-Agent-Releasing Properties.

A new autonomous water-enabled self-healing coating with antibacterial-agent-releasing capability was developed for the first time by precipitating an aqueous solution of hydrogen-bonded tannic acid (TA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) (TA: 5 mg/mL; PEG: 5 mg/mL with M = 100 kDa) to form a smooth, uniform coating layer with an average roughness of 0.688 nm and thickness of 22.3 μm on a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) substrate after 10 min of incubation.

Magnetic polymer bowl for enhanced catalytic activity and recyclability.

This work introduces the fabrication of a magnetic polymer bowl for enhanced catalytic activity and recyclability, which involves the synthesis of silica-coated FeO magnetic clusters, seeded dispersion polymerization using the magnetic clusters, and transformation into a bowl-like structure a phase separation route. The additional treatment with tannic acid (TA) on the bowls allows the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on their surfaces. The openness and larger surface area of the bowls, as compared with those of other structured particles, such as spheres and flowers, enable a considerably higher immobilization of AgNPs, thus leading to an excellent catalytic reduction for 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), methylene blue (MB), and rhodamine B.

Characterization of optical manipulation using microlens arrays depending on the materials and sizes in organic photovoltaics.

Various physical structures have improved light-harvesting and power-conversion efficiency in organic photovoltaic devices, and optical simulations have supported the improvement of device characteristics. Herein, we experimentally investigated how microlens arrays manipulate light propagation in microlens films and material stacks for organic photovoltaics to understand the influence of the constituent materials and sizes of the microlens. As materials to fabricate a microlens array, poly(dimethylsiloxane) and Norland Optical Adhesive 63 were adopted.

Characterization of Silver Nanowire-Based Transparent Electrodes Obtained Using Different Drying Methods.

Metal-based transparent top electrodes allow electronic devices to achieve transparency, thereby expanding their application range. Silver nanowire (AgNW)-based transparent electrodes can function as transparent top electrodes, owing to their excellent conductivity and transmittance. However, they require a high-temperature drying process, which damages the bottom functional layers.

Enhancing the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS films for biomedical applications via hydrothermal treatment.

This paper reports a new biocompatible conductivity enhancement of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) films for biomedical applications. Conductivity of PEDOT:PSS layer was reproducibly from 0.495 to 125.

Antibacterial Drug-Release Polydimethylsiloxane Coating for 3D-Printing Dental Polymer: Surface Alterations and Antimicrobial Effects.

Polymers are the most commonly used material for three-dimensional (3D) printing in dentistry; however, the high porosity and water absorptiveness of the material adversely influence biofilm formation on the surface of the 3D-printed dental prostheses. This study evaluated the effects of a newly developed chlorhexidine (CHX)-loaded polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based coating material on the surface microstructure, surface wettability and antibacterial activity of 3D-printing dental polymer. First, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) were used to encapsulate CHX, and the combination was added to PDMS to synthesize the antibacterial agent-releasing coating substance.

Effect of Low-Pressure Plasma Treatment Parameters on Wrinkle Features.

Wrinkles attract significant attention due to their ability to enhance the mechanical and optical characteristics of various optoelectronic devices. We report the effect of the plasma gas type, power, flow rate, and treatment time on the wrinkle features. When an optical adhesive was treated using a low-pressure plasma of oxygen, argon, and nitrogen, the oxygen and argon plasma generated wrinkles with the lowest and highest wavelengths, respectively.

A New Antibacterial Agent-Releasing Polydimethylsiloxane Coating for Polymethyl Methacrylate Dental Restorations.

Chlorhexidine (CHX) has been incorporated into the composition of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) dental restorations to enhance their antimicrobial performance. However, the controlled delivery of CHX remains a challenge. Although previous findings with pure silica or polymer coatings demonstrated the resistance to bacterial adhesion, they did not provide antibacterial activity beyond the coated surface.

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) Hollow Nanoparticles with Surface Sealability and On-Demand Pore Generability for Easy Loading and NIR Light-Triggered Release of Drug.

A new system for the easy loading and NIR light-triggered release of drugs is introduced. It consists of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) hollow nanoparticles with surface openings containing a biodegradable fatty acid with phase-change ability and a biocompatible photothermal agent. These openings, which can enhance the connectivity between the interior and the exterior, enable the easy loading of drug molecules into the interior voids, and their successive sealing ensures a stable encapsulation of the drug.

Gold Nanocage-Incorporated Poly(ε-Caprolactone) (PCL) Fibers for Chemophotothermal Synergistic Cancer Therapy.

This paper introduces a new fibrous system for synergistic cancer therapy, which consists of gold nanocage (AuNC)-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) fibers with encapsulation of a chemotherapeutic anticancer drug in their core and loading of a phase-changeable fatty acid in their sheath. Under on⁻off switching of near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation, the excellent photothermal ability and photostability of AuNCs allows repeated, significant heating of the fibers to a temperature available to hyperthermia. Simultaneously, the NIR light-induced heat generation enables the melting out of the loaded fatty acid, leading to a rapid release of the drug molecules from the fibers.

Poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) hollow fiber with segmental switchability of its chains sensitive to NIR light for synergistic cancer therapy.

This work introduces a new fibrous system for synergistic cancer therapy. The system consists of poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) fibers with a core encapsulating an anticancer drug and a shell entrapping gold nanorods (AuNRs) as a photothermal agent. On exposure to NIR light, the photothermal agent generates heat to raise the local temperature of the fibers.

A Polymeric Bowl for Multi-Agent Delivery.

This paper describes a simple system for multi-agent delivery. The system consists of a biodegradable polymer particle with a hollow interior, together with a hole on its surface that can be completely or partially sealed via thermal annealing. A hydrophobic dye, Nile-red, entrapped within the shell of hollow particles presents a sustained release behavior while methylene blue, a hydrophilic model agent, encapsulated in the hollow interior shows a fast release manner.

Engineered nanoparticles for drug delivery in cancer therapy.

In medicine, nanotechnology has sparked a rapidly growing interest as it promises to solve a number of issues associated with conventional therapeutic agents, including their poor water solubility (at least, for most anticancer drugs), lack of targeting capability, nonspecific distribution, systemic toxicity, and low therapeutic index. Over the past several decades, remarkable progress has been made in the development and application of engineered nanoparticles to treat cancer more effectively. For example, therapeutic agents have been integrated with nanoparticles engineered with optimal sizes, shapes, and surface properties to increase their solubility, prolong their circulation half-life, improve their biodistribution, and reduce their immunogenicity.

Protein capsules with cross-linked, semipermeable, and enzyme-degradable surface barriers for controlled release.

This paper describes a method for fabricating protein-based capsules with semipermeable and enzyme-degradable surface barriers. It involves the use of a simple fluidic device to generate water-in-oil emulsion droplets, followed by cross-linking of proteins at the water-oil interface to generate a semipermeable surface barrier. The capsules can be readily fabricated with uniform and controllable sizes and, more importantly, show selective permeability toward molecules with different molecular weights: small molecules like fluorescein sodium salt can freely diffuse through the surface barrier while macromolecules such as proteins can not.

Emerging applications of phase-change materials (PCMs): teaching an old dog new tricks.

The nebulous term phase-change material (PCM) simply refers to any substance that has a large heat of fusion and a sharp melting point. PCMs have been used for many years in commercial applications, mainly for heat management purposes. However, these fascinating materials have recently been rediscovered and applied to a broad range of technologies, such as smart drug delivery, information storage, barcoding, and detection.

Microscale polymer bottles corked with a phase-change material for temperature-controlled release.

Keep your wine chilled! Microscale polystyrene (PS) bottles are loaded with dye molecules and then corked with a phase-change material (PCM). When the temperature is raised beyond its melting point, the PCM quickly melts and triggers an instant release of the encapsulated dye. The release profiles can be manipulated by using a binary mixture of PCMs with different melting points.

Continuous production of functionalized polymer particles employing the phase separation in polymer blend films.

This study reports a continuous prepartion of spherical or hemispherical polymer particles simply utilizing the phase separation in polymer blend films during the coating process. We took an advantage of the strong phase separation between a water-soluble crystalline polymer as a matrix and hydrophobic polymers as minor components. We demonstrated the prepartion of water-soluble polystyrene (PS) particles, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)-functionalized PS particles for protein separation, and semiconducting poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) particles.