Cellulose Acetate Blend Research Articles

Facile and controlled dual-step modification with enhanced anti-fouling performance in polyvinylidene fluoride membranes

Water scarcity and pollution pose significant challenges, necessitating advancements in water treatment technologies. Among various solutions, ultrafiltration membranes, especially those crafted from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), are favored for their mechanical robustness and chemical stability. However, their practical application is often limited by severe membrane fouling due to the inherent hydrophobicity of PVDF. This project introduces a straightforward, controlled method to enhance the anti-fouling properties of PVDF membranes, utilizing a blend of cellulose acetate (CA). The process involves a two-step modification of hydrolysis followed by quaternization, effectively increasing hydroxyl group presence and facilitating subsequent chemical reactions. The optimized membranes achieve a dynamic water contact angle of 0° within 30 s and maintain an electroneutral surface at pH 7.1. With a mean pore size reduction from 28.6 nm to 23.9 nm and an impressive drop in the irreversible fouling ratio from 36.9 % to 0.3 %, these modifications markedly improve the anti-fouling performance. This research demonstrates significant potential for enhancing the functionality of PVDF ultrafiltration membranes through post-fabrication modifications, offering significant benefits for water treatment applications.

Investigation of Thermomechanical and Dielectric Properties of PLA-CA 3D-Printed Biobased Materials

Renewable dielectric materials have attracted the attention of industries and stakeholders, but such materials possess limited properties. This research focused on studying polylactic acid (PLA)/cellulose acetate (CA) blends produced by 3D printing to facilitate their integration into the electrical insulation field. The dielectric findings showed that a blend containing 40% of CA by weight had a dielectric constant of 2.9 and an electrical conductivity of 1.26 × 10−11 S·cm−1 at 100 Hz and 20 °C while exhibiting better mechanical rigidity in the rubbery state than neat PLA. In addition, it was possible to increase the electrical insulating effect by reducing the infill ratio at the cost of reduced mechanical properties. The differential scanning calorimetry, broadband dielectric spectroscopy, and dynamic mechanical analysis results showed that the PLA plasticizer reduced the energy required for PLA relaxations. These preliminary results demonstrated the benefits of using a combination of PLA, CA, and 3D printing for electrical insulation applications.

Blend Cellulose Acetate Butyrate Membrane with Molecular Weight 12,000, 30,000 and 65,000 for CO2/N2 Separation

The demand for energy has been increasing gradually due to the rapid growth of the global economy. The emission of greenhouses gases (GHGs) especially, carbon dioxide (CO2), which is a major greenhouse gas, has contributed to the global warming issue. Therefore, to reduce emissions and eliminate the serious consequences, membrane separation technology was introduced as an alternative option that has high CO2 separation efficiency. It requires lower energy consumption, lower capital costs and it is commercial and environmentally friendly. Most importantly, it is easy to operate. In this study, the blend cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) membrane was synthesised from the CAB polymers using the wet-phase inversion method with molecular weights of 12,000:30,000:65,000 in the ratio of 1:2:2, respectively. The blend CAB membrane casted at 250 μm (M2) was the best performing membrane among all the membranes due to its relatively high CO2 gas permeance and the highest CO2/N2 selectivity, which were 7,560.80 ± 20 GPU and 1.5319 ± 0.05, respectively. The fabricated CAB membrane was then characterised by using the Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and surface contact angle. It showed strong stretching bands around 1,044.07 cm−1, 1,226.25 cm−1 and 1,744.04 cm−1, which indicated a single bond C-O and carboxyl group (C=O). The higher the hydrophobicity of the membrane, the stronger the affinity for CO2 molecules. In this case, the contact angle of the membrane casted at 150 μm (M1) was 120.460, which was the highest. This newly synthesised CAB membrane is expected to benefit major industries by its cost effective and high energy saving properties. Most importantly, the gas separation efficiencies are better than the current technologies.

Porous microneedle arrays as promising tools for the quantification of drugs in the skin: a proof of concept study

This study aimed to demonstrate the potential of using porous microneedles (PMNs) as a promising tool for the noninvasive quantification of topically applied pharmaceutical products. We fabricated a porous microneedle (PMN) from a blend of cellulose acetate and dimethyl sulfoxide by casting and phase separation; it was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and a Texture Analyzer. An ex vivo study was conducted as a proof-of-concept study to assess whether this PMN could be used to quantify drug absorption through the skin after the topical administration of two nonequivalent products of sodium ibuprofen (gel and dissolving microneedles). Three cellulose acetate formulations (PMN1: 37.5%, PMN-2: 44.4%, and PMN-3: 50%) were used to prepare PMN patches; subsequently, these were evaluated for their morphological and insertion properties. Only PMN-2 microneedle patches were chosen to continue with the ex vivo study. The ex vivo study results demonstrated that PMNs could absorb and release sodium ibuprofen (SDIB) and differentiate between two different SDIB topical products. This can be attributed to the porous and interconnected architecture of these microneedles. This developmental study highlights the potential success of such a tool for the quantification of dermal drug concentration and supports moving to in vivo tests.

Fabrication of porous carbon nanofiber webs from polyacrylonitrile and cellulose acetate for NaCl removal from water using capacitive deionization

Abstract Capacitive deionization (CDI) has shown potential in addressing freshwater scarcity. CDI's electrode design is a key to better performance as it determines the extent of water purification. For carbon electrodes, the pore structure is an important factor influencing removal kinetics and ion storage. Herein, porous carbon nanofibers with diameters ranging from 277 to 348 nm were fabricated from blends of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and cellulose acetate (CA) through electrospinning and carbonization. Surface area and pore properties were adjusted by varying the proportions of the precursors while ensuring no adverse alteration to the products' tangible properties. Enhanced pore structure and specific surface area were evident in the blend-based carbon nanofibers. The blend ratio of 2:8 (CA:PAN) had a high specific surface area of 925.47 m2/g and a pore volume of 0.7884 cm3/g. Correspondingly, a high specific capacitance of 177.5 F/g was attained. Desalination performance was determined in batch mode using 500 mg/L NaCl solution. A salt adsorption capacity of 6.57 mg/g and charge efficiency of 0.46 was obtained for the blend that had 20% CA. The carbon nanofibers demonstrated good desalination stability when used repetitively indicating their excellent potential for practical application.

Low-cost separator with dust-free fabric composite cellulose acetate toward stable dendrite-free aqueous zinc-ion batteries

At present, the commonly used glass fiber (GF) separators in AZIBs possess many defects, such as lack zinophilic active sites, low ionic conductivity, poor mechanical strength, and high cost, which leading to the growth of dendrites and cause short circuits, thus resulting in deteriorated cyclic life. Herein, a novel CA@DF separator has been developed by coating molten blend of cellulose acetate (CA) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) on commercial dust-free fabric (DF) substrate and subsequent phase inversion. Due to the large number of active sites provided by the zinophilic –OH groups derived from CA, more the nucleation sites of Zn2+ are offered by the as-obtained CA@DF separator, which leads to an uniform deposition of Zn2+ of preferred (002) crystallographic orientation. Furthermore, as-obtained CA@DF separator demonstrate not only high tensile strength of 23.08 MPa, which is 51 times of the GF separator but also improved Zn2+ migration number (τ) (0.58 for CA@DF vs. 0.31 for GF). Moreover, the CA@DF separator has cost with only 1/221 cost of GF separator. Impressively, the symmetric cell equipped with the CA@DF separator displays an ultralong lifespan of over 2000 h at 0.5 mA cm−2 and 1000 h at 3 mA cm−2. Specifically, the CA@DF separator also improves the cycling stability of the Zn//V2O5 cell with a reversible capacity of 78 mAh g−1 at 1A g−1 after 1000 cycles. This simple, reliable, and low-cost separator provides new insights into the design and industrial production of electrochemical energy storage device separators.

How Do 3D Printing Parameters Affect the Dielectric and Mechanical Performance of Polylactic Acid–Cellulose Acetate Polymer Blends?

Three-dimensional printing is a prototyping technique that is widely used in various fields, such as the electrical sector, to produce specific dielectric objects. Our study explores the mechanical and dielectric behavior of polylactic acid (PLA) and plasticized cellulose acetate (CA) blends manufactured via Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). A preliminary optimization of 3D printing parameters showed that a print speed of 30 mm·s−1 and a print temperature of 215 °C provided the best compromise between print quality and processing time. The dielectric properties were very sensitive to the three main parameters (CA content WCA, infill ratio, and layer thickness). A Taguchi L9 3^3 experimental design revealed that the infill ratio and WCA were the main parameters influencing dielectric properties. Increasing the infill ratio and WCA increased the dielectric constant ε′ and electrical conductivity σAC. It would, therefore, be possible to promote the integration of CA in the dielectric domain through 3D printing while counterbalancing its greater polarity by reducing the infill ratio. The dielectric findings are promising for an electrical insulation application. Furthermore, the mechanical findings obtained through dynamic mechanical analysis are discussed.

Self-cleaning cellulose acetate/crystalline nanocellulose/polyvinylidene fluoride/Mg0.975Ni0.025SiO3 membrane for removal of diclofenac sodium and methylene blue dye in water

Recalcitrant pollutants present in wastewater, without an effective treatment, have several effects on aquatic ecosystems and human health due to their chemical structure and persistence. Therefore, it is crucial the development of efficient technologies to eliminate such pollutants in water. Nano-photocatalysts are considered a promising technology for water remediation; however, one common drawback is the difficulty of recovering it after water processing. One effective strategy to overcome such problem is its immobilization into substrates such as polymeric membranes. In this study, a polymeric membrane with embedded Mg0.975Ni0.025SiO3 is proposed to remove model pollutants diclofenac sodium and methylene blue dye by synergetic adsorption and photocatalytic processes. Mg0.975Ni0.025SiO3 was synthesized by the combustion method. The matrix polymeric blend consisting of a blend of cellulose acetate, crystalline nanocellulose and polyvinylidene fluoride was obtained by the phase inversion method. The composite membranes were characterized by FTIR, x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. With pollutant solutions at pH 7, the pollutant adsorption capacity of the membranes reached up to 30% and 45% removal efficiencies for diclofenac sodium and methylene blue, respectively. Under simulated solar irradiation photocatalytic removal performances of 70% for diclofenac sodium pH 7, and of 97% for methylene blue dye at pH 13, were reached. The membrane photocatalytic activity allows the membrane to avoid pollutant accumulation on its surface, given a self-cleaning property that allows the reuse of at least three cycles under sunlight simulator irradiation. These results suggest the high potential of photocatalytic membranes using suitable and economical materials such as cellulosic compounds and magnesium silicates for water remediation.

Activities of cellulose acetate and microcrystalline cellulose on the thermal and morphomechanical performances of a biobased hybrid composite made polybutylene succinate

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC–30 wt%) was extruded with a blend of polybutylene succinate (PBS) and cellulose acetate (CADS=2.5–20 wt%) to produce two grades of binary (PBS/CA, PBS/MCC) and ternary (PBS/CA/MCC) specimens by injection into a mold previously thermostated at 22 °C and 78 °C. The structure-property relationships of neat PBS (n-PBS) and PBS-based blends were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), rheology, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry, and mechanical (tensile, bending) tests. FTIR/DRIFT outcomes revealed physical interactions between the ingredients through hydrogen bonds. Rheology and SEM evidenced the presence of entanglements and micro-voids absent in n-PBS. Non-isothermal DSC showed that 22 °C-molded formulations displayed crystalline degrees higher than 78 °C-specimens, except for PBS/MCC. DSC-isothermal analysis showed a hindrance effect of CA on PBS/CA crystallinity and a nucleating impact of MCC on PBS/MCC. Tensile and bending moduli increased for both material grades while the elongation at break decreased. Entanglements and micro-voids had detrimental effects on stress levels because the maximum tensile strength decreased when each or both biofillers were added to PBS. These structural configurations were beneficial for bending strengths since all blends' stiffness relatively increased regardless of material grade.

Dielectric and rheological performances of cellulose acetate, polylactic acid and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate biobased blends

This study presents a new approach to formulating cellulose acetate (CA), polylactic acid (PLA), and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate (PHBV) biobased blends, with a focus on their dielectric and rheological performances for an electrical insulation application. FTIR and rheological analysis showed a molecular interaction in PHBV:CA and PLA:CA blends between the carbonyl groups of PLA and PHBV, and the hydroxyl groups of CA. Dielectric study showed that temperature, frequency, and polymer nature are key parameters influencing the blends' dielectric constant (ε′) and loss factor (ε'') for room and high temperatures. Even though CA-based blends possessed the highest dielectric constants at room temperature, they showed the lowest thermal-sensitive behavior. The measured dielectric properties showed potential applications of PLA-based blends for low-temperature electrical insulation and CA-based blends for high-temperature electrical insulation.

Thermo-mechanical performance of nanostructured electrospun composites produced from poly(vinyl alcohol) and cellulosic compounds for potential uses as wound dressings

The purpose of this research was to analyze the morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based electrospun mats reinforced with cellulose acetate (CA) or cellulose nanocrystalline (CNC) for potential applications in wound dressings. Bead-free and water-stable electrospun nanofibers made of blends of PVA and CA or CNC were successfully produced and crosslinked with glutaraldehyde vapor. Crosslinking slightly increased the nanofibers' diameters in order of 43 and 13% for 80/20 PVA/CA and PVA/CNC electrospun mats, respectively, while maintaining their bead-free morphology. Thermogravimetry (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) evaluations were employed to determine the miscibility and the thermal response of the uncrosslinked and crosslinked mats, reporting a reduction in mass loss upon addition of CA and CNC and upon crosslinking process. Polymers' powder and mats (before and after crosslinking) crystallinity was assessed by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Crosslinked mats experienced a slight reduction in crystallinity compared to the uncrosslinked. Static and dynamic tensile strength tests revealed that CA and CNC doped mats enhanced the Young's modulus and lowered deformation at failure compared to pristine PVA electrospun mats. Data from storage modulus (E′) demonstrated the strength of the physical interactions formed between PVA and the cellulosic derivatives (either before and after crosslinking), highlighting the stiffness of CA (231.58 MPa for the 80/20 mat) and, particularly, CNC (742.04 MPa for the 80/20 mat). This research uncovered important information concerning the chemical and physical relation between polymeric matrices and additives, essential for the proper selection of materials for wound dressings production.

Capacitive properties of carbon nanofibers derived from blends of cellulose acetate and polyacrylonitrile

In this study, porous carbon nanofibers were producedviathe one-step carbonization and activation of cellulose acetate/polyacrylonitrile (CA/PAN) hybrid nanofibers using electrospinning.

Development of TiO2/polyvinyl alcohol-cellulose acetate nanocomposite reverse osmosis membrane for groundwater-surface water interfaces purification

The conventional water treatment processes have limits to overcome the gap between available water sources and the water demand. So desalination is required to face this challenge. In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blended cellulose acetate (CA) membranes incorporated nano-rods TiO2 (NRTiO2) using various concentrations from 0.1 to 0.7 wt%. Membrane hydrophilicity increased as NRTiO2 loading increased, whereas tiny additions of NRTiO2 0.5 wt% resulted in higher tensile strength (8.7 MPa) and tensile modulus (67 MPa). A 10,000 mg/L NaCl solution was used to evaluate fabricated membranes, optimized membrane performance was achieved with 0.5 wt% NRTiO2, with a salt rejection (Rs) 99.52 % and a flux increase of 34.2 %. As a result, adding (NRTiO2) to the polymer solution creates water paths that make water flow easier. Furthermore, the PVA-CA-NRTiO2 membranes had a significant salt rejection due to the (NRTiO2) irregular's crystal shape, the size exclusion principle, and the ion exchange mechanism. NRTiO2membrane was applied for surface water treatment and was recommended for this water source. This membrane reached the highest removal percent with 100 % for COD and BOD5. In addition the dissolved solids and chlorides were exceeding 90 %. As well as this membrane will be promising for groundwater-surface water interfaces.

Enhanced hydrophobic paper-sheet derived from Miscanthus × giganteus cellulose fibers coated with esterified lignin and cellulose acetate blend

Biobased packaging materials derived from carbon-neutral feedstocks are sustainable alternatives to conventional fossil-based polymers. In this study, a method was developed to prepare paper-sheets derived from Miscanthus × giganteus cellulose fibers for potential food contact applications. The papers were hydrophobized with modified lignin from Miscanthus × giganteus biomass and commercial Kraft alkali lignin through hydroxyethylation with ethylene carbonate, followed by esterification with propionic acid. The esterified lignin (10 % w/w) and cellulose acetate (5 % w/w, based on lignin content) were dissolved in acetone and applied as a coating on the miscanthus paper sheets. The esterified lignins were characterized using FTIR, NMR, DSC, TGA, and elemental analyses. The uncoated and coated paper-sheets had contact angle values 52.4° and >130°, respectively, indicating an increased surface hydrophobicity of the coated paper samples. The water vapor transmission rate decreased significantly from 213.7 (uncoated paper-sheet) to 63.3 g/m2.d (coated paper-sheet). The tensile strength of the coated paper (64.6 MPa) was higher than the uncoated counterpart (57.1 MPa). Results from this study suggest that the esterified lignin coated miscanthus paper is a promising hydrophobic food packaging material alternative to conventional fossil-based thermoplastics.

Kiwi extract-incorporated poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/cellulose acetate blend nanofibers for healing acceleration of burn wounds

Kiwi extract (KE) including different components such as quercetin, vitamins C and E, and actinides has been known as a debridement agent for burn wounds. In this study, electrospun poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/cellulose acetate blend nanofibers incorporating KE (PCL/CA/KE) were prepared and their performance was evaluated for healing acceleration of burn wounds. The physicochemical characterization of PCL/CA/KE nanofibers showed an average diameter of ∼420 nm, porosity of 70%, water contact angle of 61°, and water uptake of ∼220%. Moreover, the continuous release trend of KE from PCL/CA blend nanofibers happened during 24 h and the release mechanism was governed by the Fickian diffusion. Besides the cytocompatibility of PCL/CA/KE nanofibers, their in vivo experiments revealed that the bioactive wound dressing based on the sample has higher wound closure compared to KE after 21 days. Histopathology of wounds dressed by PCL/CA/KE nanofibers indicated epidermal formation along with a fully extended layer. Eventually, the obtained results confirmed that the PCL/CA/KE nanofibrous sample was a promising wound dressing for burn wound healing.

On polymer-polymer miscibility and cellulose ester blends: A case study

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and micro-Raman Spectroscopy were used to study blends of cellulose acetate (CA) with cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) prepared by solution blending. It is shown that these blends combine two characteristics: (a) values of enthalpy of mixing (ΔHmix) and Gibbs free energy of mixing (ΔGmix) close to zero, due to similar molecular interactions and (b) multiple, more or less equivalent, minimum values of ΔGmix leading to non-equilibrium structures, mainly due to the inherent microheterogeneity of pure polymers. New interpretations are provided for the observed thermal behavior (e.g. existence of multiple thermal transitions) of the blends. None of the terms miscible, partially miscible or immiscible is truly appropriate to characterize these blends. The thermal behavior of pure polymers, blends and chemically synthesized copolymers of similar degree of substitution is pretty much alike, thus, development of copolymers by physical blending of cellulose esters seems to be feasible.

Fabricating porous ceramic materials via phase separations in blends of cellulose acetate and ceramic nanoparticles

AbstractAs applications of porous ceramic materials have gradually expanded, the novel technologies for the fabrication of porous ceramic materials with a delicate and controllable structure are still attractive. In this work, three types of porous monolithic ceramic materials, including Al2O3–SiO2, TiO2, and SiC, have been fabricated by thermally impacted and non‐solvent‐induced phase separations in blends of cellulose acetate and ceramic nanoparticles. These materials possessed three‐dimensional interconnected porous structures with low densities, high porosities, and hierarchical pores ranging from 5 nm to 6 μm. The relationships between microstructures and phase separations were systematically investigated. Furthermore, electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of 20 dB from 5 to 18 GHz in porous SiC materials has been achieved, revealing that those materials have potential applications in the electromagnetic shielding. This work provides a powerful and general approach to fabricate porous monolithic ceramic materials with a wide range of various ceramic nanoparticles.

Development and Investigation of Zein and Cellulose Acetate Polymer Blends Incorporated with Garlic Essential Oil and β-Cyclodextrin for Potential Food Packaging Application

The obtainment of new materials with distinct properties by mixing two or more polymers is a potential strategy in sustainable packaging research. In the present work, a blend of cellulose acetate (CA) and zein (60:40 wt/wt CA:zein) was manufactured by adding glycerol or tributyrin as plasticizers (30% wt/wt), and garlic essential oil (GEO), complexed (IC) or not with β-cyclodextrin (βCD), to produce active packaging. Blends plasticized with tributyrin exhibited a more homogeneous surface than those containing glycerol, which showed major defects. The blends underperformed compared with the CA films regarding mechanical properties and water vapor permeability. The presence of IC also impaired the films’ performance. However, the blends were more flexible than zein brittle films. The films added with GEO presented in vitro activity against Listeria innocua and Staphylococcus aureus. The IC addition into films, however, did not ensure antibacterial action, albeit that IC, when tested alone, showed activity against both bacteria. These findings suggest that the mixture of CA and plasticizers could increase the range of application of zein as a sustainable packaging component, while essential oils act as a natural bioactive to produce active packaging.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Textile Dye on Blended Cellulose Acetate Membranes.

This work aimed to investigate the degradation performance of natural cellulose acetate (CA) membranes filled with ZnO nanostructures. Photocatalytic degradation of reactive toxic dye methylene blue (MB) was studied as a model reaction using UV light. A CA membrane was previously casted and fabricated through the phase inversion processes and laboratory-synthesized ZnO microparticles as filler. The prepared membrane was characterized for pore size, ultrafiltration (UF) performance, porosity, morphology using scanning electron micrographs (SEM), water contact angle and catalytic degradation of MB. The prepared membrane shows a significant amount of photocatalytic oxidation under UV. The photocatalytic results under UV-light radiation in CA filled with ZnO nanoparticles (CA/ZnO) demonstrated faster and more efficient MB degradation, resulting in more than 30% of initial concentration. The results also revealed how the CA/ZnO combination effectively improves the membrane’s photocatalytic activity toward methylene blue (MB), showing that the degradation process of dye solutions to UV light is chemically and physically stable and cost-effective. This photocatalytic activity toward MB of the cellulose acetate membranes has the potential to make these membranes serious competitors for removing textile dye and other pollutants from aqueous solutions. Hence, polymer–ZnO composite membranes were considered a valuable and attractive topic in membrane technology.

Nanomicelles-in-coaxial nanofibers with exit channels as a transdermal delivery platform for smoking cessation.

Smoking is a life-threatening habit; that is why many nicotine-replacement therapies (NRTs), which include chewing gums, nicotine patches, lozenges, mouth sprays, inhalers and nasal sprays that are usually administered for 8-12 weeks, have been reported for smoking cessation. We report the fabrication of patches comprising nanomicelles-in-coaxial nanofibers (NFs) for the transdermal delivery of varenicline (VAR) tartrate, a partial agonist of the α4β2 receptor subtype, for smoking cessation. The cores of the fabricated coaxial NF structures are composed of polyethylene oxide, VAR-loaded Pluronic F127 nanomicelles (NPs) and free VAR, while the shell consists of a blend of cellulose acetate (CA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) in a ratio of 1 : 9 (w/w) that incorporates 50% (wt%) free VAR. The morphology and the coaxial structure of the NFs were investigated using TEM, SEM and fluorescent microscopy. The physicochemical and mechanical properties of the scaffolds were analyzed using FTIR, DSC, DLS, TGA and a universal testing machine. SEM micrographs depict NFs with a size ranging from 793.7 ± 518.9 to 324.5 ± 144.1 nm. In vitro release of VAR reaches almost 100% after 3, 9 and 28 days for free VAR, VAR-loaded NPs and the NPs-in-NFs patches, respectively, while the ex vivo release tested using albino rat skin, over a period of 60 days, showed up to 94% sustained release of VAR. Besides, skin permeation, in vivo release and plasma concentrations of VAR from the NF transdermal patches were monitored via cyclic voltammetric measurements during the course of treatment. DFT calculations as well as mathematical release kinetic models were performed in order to study the release mechanism. The cell viability of human skin fibroblast (HSF) cells in the case of plain and VAR-loaded NFs was 75.09 and 32.11%, respectively. The in vivo results showed that VAR was being continuously released from the transdermal patch over a period of 14 days. Besides, the treatment with VAR-loaded patches did not cause any severe conditions in the studied animal model. The new fabricated NPs-in-NFs transdermal patch for VAR tartrate delivery is considered as an effective, economic, safe and long-acting NRT for smoking cessation.