Conductive Composite Fiber with Optimized Alignment Guides Neural Regeneration under Electrical Stimulation.

Conductivity and alignment of scaffolds are two primary factors influencing the efficacy of nerve repair. Herein, conductive composite fibers composed of poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with different orientation degrees are prepared by electrospinning at various rotational speeds (0, 500, 1000, and 2000 rpm), and meanwhile the synergistic promotion mechanism of aligned topography and electrical stimulation on neural regeneration is fully demonstrated. Under an optimized rotational speed of 1000 rpm, the electrospun PCL fiber exhibits orientated structure at macroscopic (mean deviation angle = 2.

Functionalizing Double-Network Hydrogels for Applications in Remote Actuation and in Low-Temperature Strain Sensing.

Multifunctional hydrogels have important applications in various fields such as artificial muscles, wearable devices, soft robotics, and tissue engineering, especially for those with favorable mechanical properties, good low-temperature resistance, and stimuli-responsive capabilities. In the current study, a type of polyacrylamide/sodium alginate/carbon nanotube (PAAm/SA/CNT) double-network (DN) hydrogel was fabricated, which exhibited a high tensile strength of 271.68 ± 6.

Fabrication of Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers with Diverse Morphologies.

Fiber structures with nanoscale diameters offer many fascinating features, such as excellent mechanical properties and high specific surface areas, making them attractive for many applications. Among a variety of technologies for preparing nanofibers, electrospinning is rapidly evolving into a simple process, which is capable of forming diverse morphologies due to its flexibility, functionality, and simplicity. In such review, more emphasis is put on the construction of polymer nanofiber structures and their potential applications.