Development and characterization of quinoa protein-fucoidan emulsion gels with excellent rheological properties for 3D printing and curcumin encapsulation stability.

Using of low-fat emulsion gels stabilized by quinoa protein (QP) for 3D food printing was limited by their defective rheological properties. The study was to explore the feasibility of using fucoidan (FU) to improve the printability and curcumin encapsulation stability of QP emulsion gel. The gels with 0.

Development, characterization and underling mechanism of 3D printable quinoa protein emulsion gels by incorporating of different polysaccharides for curcumin delivery.

Emulsion gels stabilized by food-grade polymers such as proteins and polysaccharides are edible 3D food printing inks with various applications in food industry. In this study, 3D printable quinoa protein emulsion gels with four polysaccharides incorporated were fabricated to delivery curcumin. The effect of inulin (INU), fucoidan (FU), dextran sulfate (DS), and sodium alginate (SA) on the microstructure, rheological properties, and 3D printing performance of quinoa protein emulsion gels were all investigated.

Low-Temperature 3D Printing Technology of Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Matrix Conductive Hydrogel Sensors with Diversified Path Structures and Good Electric Sensing Properties.

Novel and practical low-temperature 3D printing technology composed of a low-temperature 3D printing machine and optimized low-temperature 3D printing parameters was successfully developed. Under a low-temperature environment of 0--20 °C, poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix hydrogels including PVA-sodium lignosulphonate (PVA-LS) hydrogel and PVA-sodium carboxymethylcellulose (PVA-CMC) hydrogel exhibited specific low-temperature rheology properties, building theoretical low-temperature 3D printable bases. The self-made low-temperature 3D printing machine realized a machinery foundation for low-temperature 3D printing technology.

Study on Design and Preparation of Conductive Polyvinylidene Fluoride Fibrous Membrane with High Conductivity via Electrostatic Spinning.

The novel conductive polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fibrous membrane with high conductivity and sensitivity was successfully prepared via electrostatic spinning and efficient silver reduction technology. Based on the selective dissolution of porogen of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), the porous PVDF fibrous membrane with excellent adsorbability and mechanical strength was obtained, providing a structure base for the preparation of conductive PVDF fibrous membrane with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-PVDF). The Ag in the AgNO mixed solution with PVP was absorbed and maintained in the inner parts and surface of the porous structure.

New Prediction Model of Surface and Interfacial Energies Based on COSMO-UCE.

The nature and strength of intermolecular and surface forces are the key factors that influence the solvation, adhesion and wetting phenomena. The universal cohesive energy prediction equation based on conductor-like screening model (COSMO-UCE) was extended from like molecules (pure liquids) to unlike molecules (dissimilar liquids). A new molecular-thermodynamic model of interfacial tension (IFT) for liquid-liquid and solid-liquid systems was developed in this work, which can predict the surface free energy of solid materials and interfacial energy directly through cohesive energy calculations based on COSMO-UCE.

Synthesis, characterization, and flocculation performance of cationic starch nanoparticles.

A series of cationic starches with different degrees of substitution were synthesized by etherification of potato starch with 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethylammonium chloride (CTA). Cationic starch nanoparticles (CTA-StNPs) with different sizes were prepared by precipitation. Flocculation behaviors of the CTA-StNPs in simulated water sample containing kaolin were studied.

Investigation of microstructure and dissimilar materials connection patterns of mantis shrimp saddle.

The microstructure and dissimilar materials connection patterns of mantis shrimp saddle were investigated. The outer layer with layered helical structure and inner layer with slablike laminae structure constructed the microstructure characteristics of saddle. The merus and membrane were characterized by layered structure.

Simultaneous introduction of oxygen vacancies and hierarchical pores into titanium-based metal-organic framework for enhanced photocatalytic performance.

Photo-generated radicals play an important role in photocatalytic reactions, yet numerous radicals undergo self-quenching before contact with the substrate because of their ultrafast lifetimes and limited diffusion distances, which decreases the utilization of free radicals and reduces the activity of photocatalysts. Herein, both hierarchical pores and oxygen vacancies (OVs) were successfully introduced into a titanium-based metal-organic framework (MOF), namely MIL-125-NH (MIL for Materials of Institut Lavoisier), via a simple and controllable acid etching method. The generation of OVs increased the yield of photogenerated radicals, while the hierarchical pore structure conferred a pore enrichment effect, thus enhancing the utilization of photogenerated radicals.

Bionic intelligent soft actuators: high-strength gradient intelligent hydrogels with diverse controllable deformations and movements.

A series of novel nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) reinforced gradient intelligent hydrogels with high response rate, multiple response patterns and diversified self-driven functions were successfully prepared. Based on the effect of the hydroxide radical of NFC on the addition reaction, and on the dehydration synthesis, the variation of NFC significantly regulated the gradient structure of the intelligent hydrogels. In addition to the infiltration property of graphene oxide (GO), reinforcement of NFC enhanced the crosslinking density and Young's modulus, which built a relationship between material characteristics and near infrared laser response rate.

Microstructure and in-situ tensile strength of propodus of mantis shrimp.

Effects of microstructure and phase component on mechanical property of spearer propodus of mantis shrimp were investigated. The spearer propodus consisted of three layers including epicuticle (outer layer), exocuticle (middle layer), and endocuticle (inner layer). The outer layer was composed of fluorapatite, which was treated as permeability barrier to environment.

Characterization of amylose nanoparticles prepared via nanoprecipitation: Influence of chain length distribution.

The influence of chain length distribution of amylose on size and structure of the amylose nanoparticles (ANPs) prepared through nanoprecipitation was investigated. Amylose with different chain length distributions was obtained by β-amylase treating amylose paste for different times and measured by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis (FACE). ANPs prepared via precipitation were characterized by using dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Fabrication and characterization of chitin nanofibers through esterification and ultrasound treatment.

Chitin nanofibers were prepared from commercially available chitin powder via esterification modification and subsequent ultrasound treatment. The obtained chitin nanofibers were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), C CP-MAS (cross-polarization under magic-angle spinning) solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results showed that the esterification of chitin with maleic anhydride significantly improved the ultrasound disintegration of chitin fibrils into nanofibers.

High efficiency and low cost preparation of size controlled starch nanoparticles through ultrasonic treatment and precipitation.

The purpose of this work was to develop an approach to produce size controlled starch nanoparticles (SNPs), via precipitation with high efficiency and low cost. High concentration starch aqueous pastes (up to 5wt.%) were treated by ultrasound.

Effect of drying conditions on crystallinity of amylose nanoparticles prepared by nanoprecipitation.

In this study, amylose nanoparticles prepared by nanoprecipitation were dried at different conditions. The crystalline structure, crystallinity, re-dispersibility and morphological characteristic of the amylose nanoparticles after drying were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the V-type crystalline structure of the amylose nanoparticles formed in the drying process instead of the precipitation process, and drying condition significantly affects the crystallinity.

Influence of ultrasonic treatment on formation of amylose nanoparticles prepared by nanoprecipitation.

Amylose aqueous solutions (1wt%, 3wt% and 5wt%) were treated with 100W ultrasound for various periods of time and used to prepare amylose nanoparticles (ANPs) via nanoprecipitation by adding the amylose solutions drop-wise into absolute ethanol. Viscosity average molecular weight and size distribution of the ultrasonic treated amylose were determined by measuring intrinsic viscosity and using size exclusion chromatography, respectively. The ANPs were characterized using dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction.