Distinct Core-shell Structure Research Articles

Heat-treated alginate-polycaprolactone core-shell nanofibers by emulsion electrospinning process for biomedical applications

Fabrication of Core-shell nanofibrous mat which is a promising tool for a wide range of applications in tissue engineering can be developed using water in oil (W/O) or oil in water (O/W) emulsion electrospinning. In this study, for the first time, we fabricated an O/W emulsion-based electrospun core-shell mat using polycaprolactone (PCL) as a core and the blend solution of alginate (Alg) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) as shell material. To achieve a stable core-shell mat, firstly, Alg was modified with heat treatment to decrease the molecular weight of Alg. Then, to improve the chain flexibility of Alg, PEO as a second polymer was added to facilitate its electrospinnability. The different volume ratios of O/W were then fabricated by adding PCL to the Alg-PEO solution to find an optimized emulsion solution. The morphology, swelling, and porosity of the construct were evaluated. At the same time, the mechanical characteristic of fibers was evaluated in both dry and wet conditions. This study also examined cell-scaffold interactions to address the need for a scaffolding material to be suitable for tissue engineering and biomedical applications. Finally, the result exhibited a distinct core-shell structure with better mechanical properties compared to the Alg-PEO.

Cellulose-based materials in tailoring a novel defective titanium‑carbon‑phosphorus hybrid composites for highly efficient photocatalytic activity

Until now, black titania has attracted much interest as a potential photocatalyst. In this contribution, we report the first demonstration of the effective strategy to fundamentally improve the photocatalytic performance using a novel sustainable defective titanium‑carbon-phosphorous (TCPH) hybrid nanocomposite. The prepared TCPH was used for photocatalytic degradation of the main organic pollutants, which is methyl orange (MO) dye. The physico-chemical properties of as-prepared samples were characterized by various techniques to observe the transformations after carbonization and the interaction between different composite phases. The existence of Ti+3 and oxygen vacancies at the surface, and a notable increase in surface area, are all demonstrated by TCPH, together with the distinct core-shell structure. These unique properties exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance due to the boosted charge transport and separation. The highest degradation efficiency of methyl orange (MO) was attained in the case of TCPH when compared with titanium-cellulose-phosphorous (TCeP) and titanium‑carbon-phosphorous (TCPN). Accordingly, the highest degradation efficiency was achieved by applying the optimal operational conditions of 1 g/L of TCPH catalyst, 10 mg/L of MO, pH of 7 and the temperature at 25 ± 3 °C after 3 min under LED lamp (365 nm) with light intensity 100 mW/cm2. The degradation mechanism was investigated, and the trapping tests showed the dominance of hydroxyl radicals in the degradation of MO. TCPH showed high stability under a long period of operation in five consecutive cycles, which renders the highly promising on an industrial scale. The fabrication of highly active defective titanium‑carbon-phosphorous opens new opportunities in various areas, including water splitting, and CO2 reduction.

Development and application of low-melting-point microencapsulated phase change materials for enhanced thermal stability in cementing natural gas hydrate layers

In the exploration of deep-water oil and gas resources, encountering natural gas hydrate (NGH) layers poses significant challenges, particularly during cementing operations critical for wellbore stabilization. This study proposes a strategy employing cement slurries integrated with micro-encapsulated phase change materials (MPCMs) to address the destabilization of NGH layers, a key obstacle in deep-water cementing. MPCMs containing BaCO3 shell and low-melting binary PCMs in the core were synthesized by the self-assembly method. The structure and thermal properties of MPCMs were thoroughly characterized. MPCMs exhibited a distinct core-shell structure with a hydrophilic and well-sealed shell. Their phase change temperatures were in closely matched the temperatures found in NGH formations, at 3.5 °C and 13.9 °C. A comprehensive evaluation of the fundamental properties of cement slurries containing MPCMs (CSM) was conducted, including thermal stability, setting time, pore structure, and mechanical strength. Additionally, a laboratory device was employed to simulate cementing operations, allowing for intuitive analysis of the impact of hydration heat evolution on NGH stability—a notably underexplored aspect in related literature. The results demonstrated that MPCMs effectively reduced the hydration heat generated by cement slurry within the initial 36 h. Specifically, at a 9% MPCMs dosage, the hydration heat of CSM decreased by 19.0%, resulting in the sustained stability of NGH. In contrast, the control group's cementing process directly led to the complete decomposition of NGH. Even at lower MPCMs concentrations, the decomposed NGH was more likely to recrystallize and return to a stable state due to the slower hydration heat release rate of CSM. This study not only provides evidence of the effectiveness of MPCMs as heat inhibitors in reducing the disruption of hydrate stability during well cementing but also provides theoretical guidance for the design and application of cement slurries for NGH reservoirs. By enhancing the stability of NGH layers, this work supports the safe and efficient exploitation of undersea hydrocarbon resources, contributing to shaping future global energy strategies.

Fabrication of core-shell polyacrylate latex pressure sensitive adhesives modified by fluorinated monomer and film properties

In this work, a series of fluorinated core-shell polyacrylate latex pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) were successfully synthesized through monomer-starved seeded semi-continuous emulsion polymerization. Specifically, (meth)acrylate monomers were employed as the main materials, with dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA) were used as modified monomer. The impact of fluorine monomer DFMA on the resulting core-shell latex and PSA properties was thoroughly examined. FTIR analysis confirmed the successful incorporation of DFMA into the latex copolymer through emulsion polymerization. TEM images illustrated that the morphology of latex particles exhibit a distinct core-shell structure. The results also showed that with the addition of DFMA, the water absorption and water whitening of the latex films decreased, while the water contact angle and thermal stability are improved. Interestingly, the latex films with DFMA added to the shell phase exhibit a larger WCA value when compared to those with DFMA in the core phase, further confirmed by XPS results. Finally, the adhesive properties of the fluorinated core-shell acrylate PSA were evaluated. The results of shear strength and gel content demonstrate that the prepared PSA exhibits excellent cohesive properties. Thus, this work could present a feasible strategy for optimizing the comprehensive properties of acrylate latex PSAs.

In Vitro Cytotoxicity and In Vivo Antitumor Activity of Lipid Nanocapsules Loaded with Novel Pyridine Derivatives.

This study demonstrates high drug-loading of novel pyridine derivatives (S1-S4) in lipid- and polymer-based core-shell nanocapsules (LPNCs) for boosting the anticancer efficiency and alleviating toxicity of these novel pyridine derivatives. The nanocapsules were fabricated using a nanoprecipitation technique and characterized for particle size, surface morphology, and entrapment efficiency. The prepared nanocapsules exhibited a particle size ranging from 185.0 ± 17.4 to 223.0 ± 15.3 nm and a drug entrapment of >90%. The microscopic evaluation demonstrated spherical-shaped nanocapsules with distinct core-shell structures. The in vitro release study depicted a biphasic and sustained release pattern of test compounds from the nanocapsules. In addition, it was obvious from the cytotoxicity studies that the nanocapsules showed superior cytotoxicity against both MCF-7 and A549 cancer cell lines, as manifested by a significant decrease in the IC50 value compared to free test compounds. The in vivo antitumor efficacy of the optimized nanocapsule formulation (S4-loaded LPNCs) was investigated in an Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) solid tumor-bearing mice model. Interestingly, the entrapment of the test compound (S4) within LPNCs remarkably triggered superior tumor growth inhibition when compared with either free S4 or the standard anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil. Such enhanced in vivo antitumor activity was accompanied by a remarkable increase in animal life span. Furthermore, the S4-loaded LPNC formulation was tolerated well by treated animals, as evidenced by the absence of any signs of acute toxicity or alterations in biochemical markers of liver and kidney functions. Collectively, our findings clearly underscore the therapeutic potential of S4-loaded LPNCs over free S4 in conquering EAC solid tumors, presumably via granting efficient delivery of adequate concentrations of the entrapped drug to the target site.

Synthesis and properties of La-Fe-Si/La-Co magnetocaloric composites

LaFe11.8Si1.2/16wt%La65Co35 samples were prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) and subsequent annealing. The La65Co35 binder increased the desired 1:13 phase content in these samples during annealing at 1323 K. Interestingly, the α-Fe phase formed between the LaFe11.8Si1.2 particles and the La65Co35 binder and then disappeared as the annealing time extended. The sample annealed for 0.5 h had a distinct core-shell structure with Co in the shell, a desirable table-like (−∆SM)−T curve was obtained and its RC (153 J·kg−1) was 107% higher compared to the sample before annealing. The diffusion of Co from La3Co to the 1:13 phase was hampered by the growth of La5Si3 phase. Relatively large (−∆SM)max of 8.51 J·kg−1·K−1 (Δμ0H=2 T) and (σbc)max of 374 MPa for the sample annealed for 24 h were obtained. These results indicated that the method combining SPS and diffusion annealing is promising to prepare La-Fe-Si based magnetocaloric composites with good properties.

Fabrication of a Magnetic Porous Organic Polymer for α-Glucosidase Immobilization and Its Application in Inhibitor Screening

The technology based on immobilized enzymes was employed to screen the constituents inhibiting disease-related enzyme activity from traditional Chinese medicine, which is expected to become an important approach of innovative drug development. Herein, the Fe3O4@POP composite with a core-shell structure was constructed for the first time with Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles as the core, 1,3,5-tris (4-aminophenyl) benzene (TAPB) and 2,5-divinylterephthalaldehyde (DVA) as organic monomers, and used as the support for immobilizing α-glucosidase. Fe3O4@POP was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. Fe3O4@POP exhibited a distinct core-shell structure and excellent magnetic response (45.2 emu g-1). α-Glucosidase was covalently immobilized on core-shell Fe3O4@POP magnetic nanoparticles using glutaraldehyde as the cross-linking agent. The immobilized α-glucosidase possessed improved pH stability and thermal stability as well as good storage stability and reusability. More importantly, the immobilized enzyme exhibited a lower Km value and enhanced affinity for the substrate than the free one. The immobilized α-glucosidase was subsequently used for inhibitor screening from 18 traditional Chinese medicines in combination with capillary electrophoresis analysis among which Rhodiola rosea exhibited the highest enzyme inhibitory activity. These positive results demonstrated that such magnetic POP-based core-shell nanoparticles were a promising carrier for enzyme immobilization and the screening strategy based on immobilized enzyme provided an effective way to rapidly explore the targeted active compounds from medicinal plants.

Performance evaluation of polymer nanolatex particles as fluid loss control additive in water-based drilling fluids

The development of various nanoparticles and their successful application in oil and gas drilling engineering is an extremely interesting and crucial area of research, particularly in the field of drilling fluids. In this study, styrene, butyl acrylate, acrylamide, and 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid were used as the main raw materials to synthesize a polymer nanolatex (SBAA) employing a conventional emulsion polymerization approach (one-pot method). SEM, TEM, and PSD experiments demonstrated that SBAA is a nanoparticle with a particle size of around 150 nm and a distinct core-shell structure. The TGA analysis revealed that SBAA had a decomposition temperature of 296 °C. Particularly, the unique self-assembly behavior of nanolatex particles is discussed for the first time using TEM and UV–Vis experiments. Additionally, filtration and permeability plugging tests were used to evaluate the filter loss reduction and micro-pore plugging ability of the SBAA in water-based drilling fluids. The findings showed that SBAA could reduce the medium pressure filtration loss by around 33% compared with the basic bentonite fluid, and the reduction rate after aging at 200 °C is around 41%. Particularly, it can reduce the filtrate loss velocity of water-based drilling fluid in heterogeneous pores, and the effects of filtration reduction and mud cake quality enhancement outperform those of commercial nanosilica particles. This study offers a novel reference approach for developing novel nanomaterials for water-based mud to plug microscopic pores and maintain wellbore stability.

Preparation of MoSi2@ZrO2 core-shell powders by hydrothermal-calcination and evaluation of low-temperature oxidation resistance

MoSi2 is a promising candidate for high-temperature, structural materials. However, their oxidation resistance is poor below 600 °C. To prevent MoSi2 from being oxidized at low temperatures, core-shell structured MoSi2@ZrO2 powder were prepared by hydrothermal-calcination approach. First, MoSi2@Zr(OH)4 core-shell composite powder with nano-sized Zr(OH)4 shell particles were synthesised using a hydrothermal method. Subsequently, the MoSi2@ZrO2 core-shell structured powder were obtained by calcination of the MoSi2@Zr(OH)4 powders at 900 °C for 2h. Finally, microstructure and oxidation behaviour of the MoSi2@ZrO2 powder at 400 °C–600 °C in air were investigated systematically. Microstructural analysis revealed that all samples had a distinct core-shell structure, and the ZrO2 shells coated the surface of the MoSi2 core. Oxidation behaviour studies showed that the dense ZrO2 shell layer could isolate the MoSi2 surface from oxygen, improving the low-temperature oxidation resistance and providing better low-temperature antioxidant properties than those of the MoSi2 and MoSi2@Zr(OH)4 core-shell structures.

Defect control of Yb-doped dielectric ceramics on improving the reliability for MLCC application

A fine-grained Yb-doped (Ba1-xCax)mTiO3 (BCT)-based ceramic, possessing high dielectric properties and outstanding reliability under a reducing atmosphere sintering, was synthesized by the chemical coating method. The mean grain size of the ceramics was 170 nm. A distinct core-shell structure of ceramics was observed by the TEM-EDS measurement. With increasing content of Yb, the curie temperature increased and the DC-bias capacitance change rate decreased under a DC field at 40 kV/cm. The optimal component showed a dielectric constant of 2200 and met the requirement of the X8R MLCCs application. Moreover, the outstanding highly accelerated life-time and higher grain boundary activation energy substantiated that Yb dopant prominently improved the reliability of dielectric materials of MLCCs. All these studies provide meaningful recommendations for the research on dielectric materials of high-performance, high-reliability base-metal MLCCs.

Preparation and release of novel frog egg-like microspheres by coaxial electrostatic spray technique

• novel frog egg-like microspheres were prepared by coaxial electrostatic spray process. • The microspheres have a distinct core-shell structure. • The microspheres showed porous structures on the surface and inside after drying. • The microspheres can prolong the release of ME. Novel frog egg-like microspheres, referred to as SA@Ca 2+ /PCL-ME microspheres, were created by coaxial electrostatic spray technique, applying a gel formed by cross-linking sodium alginate (SA) with calcium ions as the shell material and a mixture of methyl eugenol (ME) and polycaprolactone (PCL) solution as the core material in the current study. Using optical microscopy, a uniform spherical shape was observed in the microspheres along with a distinct core-shell structure, while its porous internal and external features were visible in SEM images after drying. Furthermore, ME was released in microspheres for more than 12 weeks due to the dual sustained release method comprising a calcium alginate gel and PCL. During 8 weeks of trapping tests, ME-loaded microspheres were shown to be consistently effective.

Facile and safety synthesis of highly loaded phase change microcapsules with paraffin/butyl stearate core and their feasible application in polymer composite

Highly paraffin/butyl stearate-loaded phase change microcapsules were synthesized by cosolvent-free interfacial polymerization using low-toxicity dicyclohexylmethane-4, 4′-diisocyanate as the shell material. The formation of the microcapsules and their distribution in the epoxy were studied by means of optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The chemical composition of microcapsules was confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. And the phase change properties, thermal stability and cyclic thermal stability of microcapsules and their thermal insulation properties and thermal response behavior in the epoxy were investigated through differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, leakage prevention test, thermal conductivity test and temperature response experiment, respectively. The synthesized spherical microcapsules have distinct core-shell structure with an average diameter of 220.6 μm. The microcapsules achieve an encapsulation rate of 78.5%, with the melting enthalpy and the crystallization enthalpy being 148.5 J/g and 159.2 J/g, respectively. They not only exhibit good thermal stability and cyclic thermal stability, but also can disperse in the epoxy uniformly and combine with the epoxy tightly. In addition, compared with the pure epoxy, the epoxy containing 15 wt% microcapsules experiences a 10.1% decreases in thermal conductivity and a 55.4% increase in delayed time of temperature rise/fall, showing an excellent temperature regulation ability. • HMDI was employed as the shell material due to low toxicity. • The microcapsules with core-shell structure achieve an encapsulation rate of 78.5%. • High enthalpy microcapsules exhibit 99.2% of heat-storage efficiency. • The microcapsules have high thermal stability, reliability and applicability. • 15 wt% microcapsules increase the time delay by 55.4% for temperature rise/fall.

Synthesis and application of paraffin/silica phase change nanocapsules: Experimental and numerical approach

The present study has been focused on the synthesis of silica encapsulated paraffin phase change materials and its application in cement-based systems. One-pot in-situ hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate as silica precursor and subsequent polycondensation have successfully encapsulated the paraffin droplets into nano-sized capsules of phase change materials (PCMs). The fabricated nanoencapsulated PCMs (NEPCMs) possess distinct core-shell structures with spherical geometry. Encapsulation ratio and encapsulation efficiency have been accomplished up to 92.9 and 90.24% with the latent heats of melting and solidification of 173.79 and 158.93 J/g, respectively. Calorimetry studies of the fabricated NEPCMs with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) have demonstrated 11% temperature reduction during the evolution of the heats of hydration, with the addition of only 3% NEPCMs. The synthesized PCMs are found to perform as high thermal energy storage materials with the capability of congruent heat storage and release without affecting their structure and geometry, therefore, can be considered as reliable and durable PCMs for concrete and building materials. The use of these NEPCMs can control the maximum temperature rise due to heat of hydration and therefore reducing the defects and cracks formation inside the mass concrete structures.

Multifunctional nanoparticles for targeted delivery of apoptin plasmid in cancer treatment

Abstract The systemic toxicity and low efficacy of traditional chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) result in poor clinical outcomes. This study was designed to achieve targeted delivery of apoptin plasmid (AP) to liver tumors and killing of cancer cells using multifunctional nanoparticles (MFNPs) having sustained-release properties. The MFNPs featuring a distinct core-shell structure were prepared using poly(lactic-glycolic acid)-ε-polylysine copolymer and loaded with AP by adsorption. Specific targeting of liver tumor cells was achieved by biotinylation of the nanoparticles (NPs), while an improvement in lysosomal escape and nuclear localization enhanced the tumor cell killing capability of AP. Blank MFNPs exhibited good biocompatibility while AP-loaded NPs were found to exert strong inhibitory effects on both tumor cells in vitro and solid tumors in vivo. Taken together, these findings demonstrate a promising route for the development of tumor-targeted NPs which may lead to improved therapeutic strategies for treating HCC.

Nanofiber/hydrogel core\u2013shell scaffolds with three-dimensional multilayer patterned structure for accelerating diabetic wound healing

Impaired angiogenesis is one of the predominant reasons for non-healing diabetic wounds. Herein, a nanofiber/hydrogel core–shell scaffold with three-dimensional (3D) multilayer patterned structure (3D-PT-P/GM) was introduced for promoting diabetic wound healing with improved angiogenesis. The results showed that the 3D-PT-P/GM scaffolds possessed multilayered structure with interlayer spacing of about 15–80 μm, and the hexagonal micropatterned structures were uniformly distributed on the surface of each layer. The nanofibers in the scaffold exhibited distinct core–shell structures with Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel as the shell and Poly (d, l-lactic acid) (PDLLA) as the core. The results showed that the porosity, water retention time and water vapor permeability of the 3D-PT-P/GM scaffolds increased to 1.6 times, 21 times, and 1.9 times than that of the two-dimensional (2D) PDLLA nanofibrous scaffolds, respectively. The in vitro studies showed that the 3D-PT-P/GM scaffolds could significantly promote cell adhesion, proliferation, infiltration and migration throughout the scaffolds, and the expression of cellular communication protein-related genes, as well as angiogenesis-related genes in the same group, was remarkably upregulated. The in vivo results further demonstrated that the 3D-PT-P/GM scaffolds could not only effectively absorb exudate and provide a moist environment for the wound sites, but also significantly promote the formation of a 3D network of capillaries. As a result, the healing of diabetic wounds was accelerated with enhanced angiogenesis, granulation tissue formation, and collagen deposition. These results indicate that nanofiber/hydrogel core–shell scaffolds with 3D multilayer patterned structures could provide a new strategy for facilitating chronic wound healing.Graphical

Evaluation of the Biological Activity of Folic Acid-Modified Paclitaxel-Loaded Gold Nanoparticles.

PurposeGold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with good physical and biological properties are often used in medicine, diagnostics, food, and similar industries. This paper explored an AuNPs drug delivery system that had good target selectivity for folate-receptor overexpressing cells to induce apoptosis.MethodsA novel drug delivery system, Au@MPA-PEG-FA-PTX, was developed carrying paclitaxel (PTX) on folic acid (FA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified AuNPs. The nanomaterial was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). Also, the biological activity of the AuNPs drug delivery system was examined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in HL-7702, Hela, SMMC-7721, and HCT-116 cells. Furthermore, apoptotic activity using annexin V-FITC, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels was estimated by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.ResultsAu@MPA-PEG-FA-PTX exhibited a distinct core-shell structure with a controllable size of 28±1 nm. Also, the AuNPs maintained good dispersion and spherical shape uniformity before and after modification. The MTT assay revealed good antitumor activity of the Au@MPA-PEG-FA-PTX against the Hela, SMMC-7721, and HCT-116 cells, while Au@MPA-PEG-FA-PTX produced better pharmacological effects than PTX in isolation. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that effective internalization of AuNPs by folate-receptor overexpressing cancer cells induced cell apoptosis through excessive production of intracellular ROS.ConclusionThe AuNPs drug delivery system showed good target selectivity for folate-receptor overexpressing cancer cells to induce target cell-specific apoptosis. These AuNPs may have great potential as theranostic agents such as in cancer.

Construction of photonic crystal structural colors on white polyester fabrics

Recently, it has become a novel technology to obtain structural color on fabric and has become a research hotspot in the textile field. However, the researchers still use fabric dyed with black dye as substrates, which does not meet the requirements of clean dyeing. In this work, we aimed at changing the status quo that most structural color fabrics are designed based on black fabrics. SiO2@PDA microspheres with inorganic microspheres SiO2 as the core and black polydopamine as the shell were successfully prepared. White polyester fabrics were taken as substrates to constructing SiO2@PDA photonic crystal structural colors via vertical deposition self-assembly method (VDSM). The morphology and composition of SiO2@PDA microspheres were investigated. The morphology and optical properties of the resultant structural color fabrics were characterized by FESEM and 3D video microscope. The results showed that SiO2@PDA microspheres have good sphericity, monodispersity, exhibiting and with a distinct core-shell structure formed an ordered colloidal array with vacancies and defects on the polyester fabrics by VSDM, which appeared bright, vivid and low angle-dependent structural colors under the visible light. The different structural colors can be obtained by adjusting the size of the SiO2@PDA microspheres and viewing angle, following the Bragg diffraction law. Notably, SiO2@PDA microspheres with black polydopamine shells have the functionality of absorbing incoherently scattered light and can be used to obtain structural colors directly on white fabric substrates, which significantly simplified the preparation process of structural color fabrics.

Multifunctional Reversible Self‐Assembled Structures of Cellulose‐Derived Phase‐Change Nanocrystals

Owing to advantageous properties attributed to well-organized structures, multifunctional materials with reversible hierarchical and highly ordered arrangement in solid-state assembled structures have drawn tremendous interest. However, such materials rarely exist. Based on the reversible phase transition of phase-change materials (PCMs), phase-change nanocrystals (C18-UCNCs) are presented herein, which are capable of self-assembling into well-ordered hierarchical structures. C18-UCNCs have a core-shell structure consisting of a cellulose crystalline core that retains the basic structure and a soft shell containing octadecyl chains that allow phase transition. The distinct core-shell structure and phase transition of octadecyl chains allow C18-UCNCs to self-assemble into flaky nano/microstructures. These self-assembled C18-UCNCs exhibit efficient thermal transport and light-to-thermal energy conversion, and thus are promising for thermosensitive imaging. Specifically, flaky self-assembled nano/microstructures with manipulable surface morphology, surface wetting, and optical properties are thermoreversible and show thermally induced self-healing properties. By using phase-change nanocrystals as a novel group of PCMs, reversible self-assembled multifunctional materials can be engineered. This study proposes a promising approach for constructing self-assembled hierarchical structures by using phase-change nanocrystals and thereby significantly expands the application of PCMs.

Microporous Co1−xFex@C nanoparticles: Strong wideband microwave absorbers for reflection loss less than −20 dB

For advanced microwave absorption materials, the bandwidth of reflection loss (RL) ≤ −20 dB is becoming more and more important due to their applications under some extreme occasions where most of the electromagnetic signals must be absorbed. Herein, in-situ carbon-coated Co-Fe-Al precursor nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by hydrogen plasma metal reaction (HPMR), and then microporous Co1−xFex@C NPs with an average particle size of about 50 nm were successfully prepared by chemical dealloying. They exhibit a distinct core-shell structure with an amorphous carbon shell of approximately 3 nm and a Co1−xFex alloy core containing micropores of 1.1 nm. As the amount of Fe in the microporous Co1−xFex@C NPs increases from 2.1 wt% to 12.0 wt%, the saturation magnetization gradually enlarges from 82.6 to 92.4 emu g−1 whereas the coercive force only decreases slightly. The Co0.98Fe0.02@C sample shows the widest bandwidth (RL ≤ −10 dB) of 11.3 GHz, and surprisingly the bandwidth corresponding to the RL below −20 dB reaches 6.0 GHz, far superior to other Co-based absorbers. Meanwhile, its minimum RL (RLmin) value reaches −102.3 dB with a thickness of 1.8 mm. As the content of Fe increases to 12.0 wt%, the absorption bandwidth (RL ≤ −20 dB) of Co0.88Fe0.12@C sample decreases to 5.7 GHz while its RLmin value strengthens to −133.7 dB. Both the two samples added with Fe exhibit much wider absorption bandwidth (RL ≤ −20 dB) compared with Co@C NPs without Fe addition. The excellent absorption properties are mainly attributed to the facts that microporous morphology promotes the interfacial and dipole polarization, and Fe addition enhances the magnetic resonance. The Co1−xFex@C NPs may pave a new way for designing effective broadband absorbers for RL ≤ −20 dB to meet the high-performance requirements.

Core-Shell poly-(D,l-Lactide-co-Glycolide)-chitosan Nanospheres with simvastatin-doxycycline for periodontal and osseous repair

This study aimed to evaluated the potential of core-shell poly(D,l-lactide-co-glycolide)-chitosan (PLGA-chitosan) nanospheres encapsulating simvastatin (SIM) and doxycycline (DOX) for promoting periodontal and large-sized osseous defects. SIM, and/or DOX were encapsulated in PLGA-chitosan nanospheres using double emulsion technique and were delivered to sites of experimental periodontitis and large-sized mandibular osseous defects of rats for 1–4 weeks. The resultant nanospheres were ~ 200 nm diameter with distinct core-shell structure and released SIM and DOX sustainably for 28 days. DOX and SIM-DOX nanospheres significantly inhibited P. gingivalis and S. sanguinis. In experimental periodontitis sites, SIM-DOX nanospheres significantly down-regulated IL-1b and MMP-8 and significantly reduced bone loss. In mandibular osseous defects, VEGF was up-regulated, and osteogenesis was significantly augmented with SIM nanospheres treatment. In conclusion, core-shell PLGA-chitosan nanospheres released SIM and DOX sustainably. SIM-DOX and SIM nanospheres could be considered to promote the repair of infected periodontal sites and non-infected osseous defects respectively.