Gel Materials Research Articles

Topological Data Analysis for Particulate Gels.

Soft gels, formed via the self-assembly of particulate materials, exhibit intricate multiscale structures that provide them with flexibility and resilience when subjected to external stresses. This work combines particle simulations and topological data analysis (TDA) to characterize the complex multiscale structure of soft gels. Our TDA analysis focuses on the use of the Euler characteristic, which is an interpretable and computationally scalable topological descriptor that is combined with filtration operations to obtain information on the geometric (local) and topological (global) structure of soft gels. We reduce the topological information obtained with TDA using principal component analysis (PCA) and show that this provides an informative low-dimensional representation of the gel structure. We use the proposed computational framework to investigate the influence of gel preparation (e.g., quench rate, volume fraction) on soft gel structure and to explore dynamic deformations that emerge under oscillatory shear in various response regimes (linear, nonlinear, and flow). Our analysis provides evidence of the existence of hierarchical structures in soft gels, which are not easily identifiable otherwise. Moreover, our analysis reveals direct correlations between topological changes of the gel structure under deformation and mechanical phenomena distinctive of gel materials, such as stiffening and yielding. In summary, we show that TDA facilitates the mathematical representation, quantification, and analysis of soft gel structures, extending traditional network analysis methods to capture both local and global organization.

Degradation induced by charge relaxation in silicone gels under the ultra‐fast pulsed electric field

AbstractThe insulating properties of silicone gel used for silicon carbide‐insulated gate bipolar transistors encapsulation may deteriorate seriously under ultra‐fast pulsed electric fields. The essence of insulation degradation lies in the deterioration of materials caused by dynamic phenomena at microscopic scale, such as charge trapping and detrapping. Different from the steady‐state operating condition, insulating materials exhibit a sharp decrease in their insulating properties when subjected to a rapidly changing electric field. To investigate the insulation failure of silicone gel materials under an ultra‐fast pulsed electric field, Marcus hopping mechanism for charge response is proposed. By calculating the relaxation time with different defects, we characterise the degradation of the materials. According to the force analysis of space charge, the authors establish a relationship between insulation failures and charge relaxation time. Combined with the experimental results on electrical treeing in silicone gel, the feasibility of the theory is verified. The experimental phenomenon can be well explained, that is, the initial voltage of the electrical trees decreased sharply with shortening the edge time of the pulsed electric field, especially on the nanosecond time scale.

Cellular Automata Coupled with Two‐Phase Lattice Boltzmann Model for Modeling of Kinetics of Formation and Structure of Silica‐Based Sol–Gel Materials

A numerical model describing the sol–gel process on a mesoscopic scale is presented. The model is implemented as a cellular automaton‐based system, specifically reaction‐limited aggregation merged with two‐phase lattice Boltzmann method, which allows to describe the sol–gel process together with microscopic phase separation occurring during this process. The influence of model parameters on the structural properties of the resulting gel porosity, mesoporosity, and specific surface area, as well as on the kinetics of the gelation process: the shape of the kinetics curve and the structure formation time, is examined. It is proposed to combine the model parameters with the composition of the reaction mixture (the content of individual reagents and catalysts) and the process conditions.

UV-radiation manufacturing of natural macromolecular products salecan and tannic acid-based functional gel material as superadsorbent for toluidine blue remediation

Adsorbent materials constructed from natural macromolecular products are favored because of their wide range of sources, biodegradability, and environmental friendliness. Salecan is a novel extracellular polysaccharide with ideal physicochemical and biological activities. Here, we have designed a polymer gel through UV-initiated polymerization of [2-(Methacryloyloxy) ethyl] dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide (SBMA) in the mixture of salecan and tannic acid. Photopatterned polymerization process allowed in situ formation of gel adsorbent in a mild reaction condition with energy-efficient manner. Batch experiments for toluidine blue (TB) adsorption were carried out as a function of initial dye concentration, solution pH, contact time, and gel dosage to examine the adsorption capacity, potential mechanism, and removal efficiency. Adsorption behavior exhibited a pH-dependence pattern, which was closely related to their swelling and morphological properties. Adsorption process was in conformity to pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models, unlocking a chemical adsorption behavior and monolayer-type removal. The maximum adsorption was 490.2 mg/g, which could be considered a superiorly competing value. Additionally, the UV-gel still showed desirable recyclability and maintained the adsorption effectiveness over 95 % after five regeneration cycles. This study opened up new prospects in preparing high performance adsorbent for TB decontamination and laid the foundation for polysaccharide-based adsorption material research.

Enhancing Dental Alginate with Syzygium aromaticum, Zingiber officinale and Green Silver Nanoparticles: A Nature-Enhanced Approach for Superior Infection Control.

The study addresses the challenge of cross-infection in dentistry, focusing on improving disinfection protocols for dental hydrocolloid gel materials. This research aimed to incorporate chlorhexidine, natural plant extracts, and green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into dental alginate to enhance safety and hygiene standards in dental practices. Conventional dental alginate served as the control, with experimental groups including alginate modified with 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX-group) and alginate incorporating AgNPs synthesized from Syzygium aromaticum (SA) and Zingiber officinale (ZO) extracts (SA + AgNPs and ZO + AgNPs groups). Plant extracts were analyzed via GC/MS to confirm their composition. UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM, and EDX characterized the synthesized AgNPs. Antimicrobial efficacy against Candida albicans, Streptococcus mutans, and methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated using agar well diffusion assays. The dimensional accuracy of alginate impressions was assessed according to ISO 21563:2021 standards. Chemical analysis of SA and ZO extracts identified 60 and 43 active compounds, respectively, supporting their use in AgNP synthesis. UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM, and EDX confirmed the formation of spherical AgNPs using SA and ZO extracts. Modified groups showed inhibitory activity against Streptococcus mutans and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), in contrast to the unmodified control. Both AgNP-modified groups demonstrated efficacy comparable to the CHX-group against MRSA and MSSA, with SA + AgNP showing superior performance against C. albicans. The dimensional accuracy of all groups was within clinically acceptable ranges as reported in the literature (0.027-0.083 mm). CHX, silver nitrate, and green-synthesized AgNPs present promising options for developing self-disinfecting alginate impression materials. Utilizing plant extracts in AgNP synthesis offers a safe, efficient, and synergistic approach between metal ions and phytotherapeutic agents. This approach could potentially enhance disinfection efficacy without compromising material performance, improving dental safety and hygiene.

Nano-Structured Gel Materials for Environmental Remediation and Biomedical Applications

Nano-Structured Gel Materials for Environmental Remediation and Biomedical Applications

Gels for Water Remediation: Current Research and Perspectives.

The development of cost-effective and high-performance technologies for wastewater treatment is essential for achieving a sustainable economy. Among the various methods available for water remediation, adsorption is widely recognized as an effective and straightforward approach for removing a range of pollutants. Gel materials, particularly hydrogels and aerogels, have attracted significant research interest due to their unique properties. Hydrogels, for instance, are noted for their ability to be regenerated and reused, ease of separation and handling, and suitability for large-scale applications. Additionally, their low cost, high water absorption capacity, and contribution to environmental protection are important advantages. Aerogels, on the other hand, are distinguished by their low thermal conductivity, transparency, flexibility, high porosity, mechanical strength, light weight, large surface area, and ultralow dielectric constant. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current literature, highlighting gaps in knowledge regarding the classification, preparation, characterization, and key properties of these materials. The potential application of hydrogels and aerogels in water remediation, particularly in removing contaminants such as dyes, heavy metals, and various organic and inorganic pollutants, is also discussed.

Diverse Strategies to Develop Poly(ethylene glycol)-Polyester Thermogels for Modulating the Release of Antibodies.

In this work, we present basic research on developing thermogel carriers containing high amounts of model antibody immunoglobulin G (IgG) with potential use as injectable molecules. The quantities of IgG loaded into the gel were varied to evaluate the possibility of tuning the dose release. The gel materials were based on blends of thermoresponsive and degradable ABA-type block copolymers composed of poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA-PEG-PLGA) or poly(lactide-co-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-(lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL-PEG-PLCL). Primarily, the gels with various amounts of IgG were obtained via thermogelation, where the only factor inducing gel formation was the change in temperature. Next, to control the gels' mechanical properties, degradation rate, and the extent of antibody release, we have tested two approaches. The first one involved the synergistic physical and chemical crosslinking of the copolymers. To achieve this, the hydroxyl groups located at the ends of the PLGA-PEG-PLGA chain were modified into acrylate groups. In this case, the thermogelation was accompanied by chemical crosslinking through the Michael addition reaction. Such an approach increased the dynamic mechanical properties of the gels and simultaneously prolonged their decomposition time. An alternative solution was to suspend crosslinked PEG-polyester nanoparticles loaded with IgG in a PLGA-PEG-PLGA gelling copolymer. We observed that loading IgG into thermogels lowered the gelation temperature (TGEL) value and increased the storage modulus of the gels, as compared with gels without IgG. The prepared gel materials were able to release the IgG from 8 up to 80 days, depending on the gel formulation and on the amount of loaded IgG. The results revealed that additional, chemical crosslinking of the thermogels and also suspension of particles in the polymer matrix substantially extended the duration of IgG release. With proper matching of the gel composition, environmental conditions, and the type and amount of active substances, antibody-containing thermogels can serve as effective IgG delivery materials.

Design and experiment of a crawling-inchworm-type self-tuned dynamic vibration absorber based on silicone gel materials

Based on the different body configurations caused by varying head-to-tail distances exhibited by crawling inchworms during locomotion, this paper proposes a crawling-inchworm-type self-tuned dynamic vibration absorber (DVA) based on silicone gel materials for reducing low-frequency vibration. The proposed DVA was designed and developed by employing a magnetic hanging design with movable features, a span adjustment design with an embedded stepper motor, and a real-time control design using a microcontroller. First, a finite element simulation model was established to analyze the main structure of the self-tuned DVA using the finite element method. The frequency-shifting characteristics of the absorber were obtained by identifying the actuating modes that are sensitive to the hanging span. Second, based on the frequency-shifting characteristics of the self-tuned DVA, an absorber control system was designed by introducing a short-time Fourier transform and PID algorithm to achieve autonomous frequency adjustment of the DVA. Finally, the self-tuned absorption effects of the prototype self-tuned DVA were tested through a series of experiments, which confirmed its excellent self-tuned vibration absorption capability within the low-frequency range.

Preparation and Characterization of Multi-Network Crosslinked Gels for Preventing Spontaneous Combustion of Coal

ABSTRACT In order to improve the inhibition performance of a retardant in various stages of coal spontaneous combustion, this study selected guar gum (guar) mixed with sodium tetraborate to form a multi-web gel. Then, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was added for the insertion and modification to improve the physical inhibition effect. Furthermore, we compounded the composite guar/PEG with the chemical retardant 2-hydroxyphosphonoacetic acid (HPAA) to prepare a composite retardant with the effect of full-stage inhibition. Multi-web gel composite inhibitor with a full-stage inhibition effect was prepared. Response surface analysis was used to determine the optimal solution. Scanning electron microscopy tests revealed that the surface folds of PEG/guar increased and the water retention capacity was greatly enhanced. The plugging wind experiment results show that the limiting air pressure of the gel material is 249 Pa, which can match the downhole plugging wind work. Using XRD experiments, the diffraction angle of PEG/guar was narrowed from 18.20° to 17.64°, the crystal layer spacing was increased from 4.8685 nm to 5.0218 nm, and PEG was successfully intercalated into the guar. Using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, it was found that the content of free hydroxyl groups and aliphatic groups became lower, and the content of carbonyl groups and ether bonds increased, which greatly enhanced the antioxidant capacity of coal. Using thermogravimetric analysis, the characteristic temperature points of single and composite inhibitors were examined macroscopically. The results showed that the inhibition treatment could obviously chelate the transition metal ions in the coal samples, which greatly inhibited the process of coal oxidation and achieved the purpose of inhibiting the spontaneous combustion of coal.

Preparation of sp2c-COF functionalized silica gel material as chromatographic stationary phases for their high-resolution separation of geometric isomers

Exploration and development of novel chromatographic stationary phases is an effective way to improve the separation efficiency of geometric isomers with similar physicochemical properties. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a new class of porous organic polymers that show a wide range of applications in the field of separation science due to their tunable geometries and functionalities, infinitely extended network structures, and abundant interaction sites. However, the common imine-bonded COFs are poorly resistant to hydrolysis in HPLC. In this work, 2,4,6-trimethyl-1,3,5-triazine (TMT) and 1,3,5-tris (4-formylphenyl) triazine (TFPT) were used as raw materials, a sp2 carbon-conjugated covalent organic framework (sp2c-COF) was synthesized through self-assembly monolayer-assisted surface-initiated Schiff-base-mediated hydroxyl-aldehyde condensation reaction, and loaded on the surface of silica substrate with a CN bond to obtain a new segregated material (SiO2@sp2c-COF). SiO2@sp2c-COF was used as a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) packing material for the separation of geometric isomers. Benefitting from its superb in-plane π-conjugation, highly ordered and robust framework structure, high chemical and thermal stability of sp2c-COF, and the unique hydrophilic covalent triazine groups, hydrophobic benzene rings and other groups that can provide a variety of interactions such as hydrophobicity, π-π stacking, hydrogen bonding and hydrophilicity of the prepared SiO2@sp2c-COF stationary phases, they exhibit excellent molecular shape selectivity and resolution in separating geometrical isomers. These geometric isomers include isomers such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), tocopherols, carotenoids, diethylstilbestrol, 1,4-cyclohexanediol and astaxanthin. Compared to commercial C18 columns, this column has more flexible selectivity and higher separation performance. In addition, due to the introduction of hydrophobicity, π-π stacking action and hydrophilic triazine components, the SiO2@sp2c-COF stationary phase also has RPLC/HILIC mixed mode characteristics. Baseline separations of monosubstituted benzenes, alkylbenzenes, positional isomers, sulfonamides, benzoic acid, anilines, nucleosides and nucleobases compounds were achieved on SiO2@sp2c-COF packed columns. This successful application highlights the great potential of sp2c-COF for the separation of geometrical isomers, and provides a way to overcome the stability of common imine-bonded COFs materials in HPLC, as well as to compensate for the shortcomings and deficiencies of a single chromatographic mode in the separation of complex samples. Furthermore, this is the first report of a practical separation of important geometrical isomers using sp2c-COF materials.

Fluorescence detection and effective adsorption of trace Pb(II) based on nanofibrous metal-organic gel

Water pollution has become a global environmental problem, such as that caused by Pb(II). Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop multifunctional materials for Pb(II) monitoring and removal. Yet, developing bifunctional materials for sensitive detection and efficient removal of Pb(II) remain challenging. Here, a metal-organic gel (HNU-G4) was constructed for sensible responsive detection and efficient adsorption of Pb(II). The dry gel was obtained through the freeze-dried process and can be used for the Pb(II) detection via fluorescence quenching; the lowest limit of detection for Pb(II) is 0.766 ppb. Furthermore, HNU-G4 has an effective maximum adsorption capacity of 480.00 mg·g-1 for Pb(II) in water. Additionally, the gel demonstrates excellent recoverability and interference resistance, which can be used in the detection and recovery of actual reclaimed water samples to prevent secondary contamination. This study developed a bifunctional gel material for sensitive detection and effective removal of Pb(II) from water, providing a suggested strategy to tackle the heavy metal contamination problem.

Optimize the ratio of immobilized gel materials to improve gel performance and oxygen mass transfer rate: Achieve rapid start-up and efficient and stable operation of partial nitration

A gel filler with diatomaceous earth, activated carbon, and CaCO3 compounded with polyvinyl alcohol was prepared and optimized. Rapid start-up and efficient and stable operation of partial nitrification (PN) was achieved by immobilization of conventional activated sludge. The results showed that the proper material proportion synergistically improved the performance and oxygen mass transfer rate of the gel. The continuous flow reactor was operated for 10d to successfully start PN, and the maximum ammonia oxidation rate of this filler was 58.30 mg·(L·h)−1 during the stable operation, and the nitrite accumulation rate was maintained above 90 %. However, due to the greater mass transfer resistance of unoptimized fillers, more dissolved oxygen waste and nitrogen loss were caused, resulting in delayed expression of biological activity. Based on the kinetic characterization of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) within the filler and high-throughput sequencing, it was demonstrated that the rapid start-up and efficient and stable operation of the PN system was due to the highly oxygenophilic and community-dominant position of AOB within this filler. This study provides new options and insights at the level of immobilization technology for the realization and efficient and stable operation of PN.

A simple guideline for designing droplet microfluidic chips to achieve an improved single (bio)particle encapsulation rate using a stratified flow-assisted particle ordering method

Encapsulation of a single (bio)particle into individual droplets (referred to as single encapsulation) presents tremendous potential for precise biological and chemical reactions at the single (bio)particle level. Previously demonstrated successful strategies often rely on the use of high flow rates, gel, or viscoelastic materials for initial cell ordering prior to encapsulation into droplets, which could potentially challenge the system's operation. We propose to enhance the single encapsulation rate by using a stratified flow structure to focus and pre-order the (bio)particles before encapsulation. The stratified flow structure is formed using two simple aqueous Newtonian fluids with a viscosity contrast, which together serve as the dispersed phase. The single encapsulation rate is influenced by many parameters, including fluid viscosity contrast, geometric conditions, flow conditions and flow rate ratios, and dimensionless numbers such as the capillary number. This study focuses on investigating the influences of these parameters on the focused stream of the stratified flow, which is key for single encapsulation. The results allow the proposal of a simple guideline that can be adopted to design droplet microfluidic chips with an improved single encapsulation rate demanded by a wide range of applications. The guideline was validated by performing the single encapsulation of mouse embryonic stem cells suspended in a gelatin-methacryloyl solution in individual droplets of phosphate buffer saline, achieving a single encapsulation efficiency of up to 70%.

Establishment of a postoperative bowel adhesion model in Rats

Postoperative adhesive bowel obstruction is a frequent cause of hospital admission in a surgical department. Emergency surgery is needed in a majority of patients with bowel ischemia or peritonitis; most adhesive bowel obstruction can be managed non-operatively. Many studies have investigated benefits of using oral water-soluble contrast to manage adhesive bowel obstruction. Treatment recommendations are still controversial. Intestinal adhesions commonly occur in patients after abdominal surgery, often between intestines, between intestines and the abdominal wall, or within the peritoneum. Adhesions can lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, and bloating, and may result in serious complications such as intestinal obstruction, bowel necrosis, acute peritonitis, and sepsis, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, reducing the occurrence of intestinal adhesions is crucial for abdominal surgery. To minimize adhesions, endoscopic techniques can be employed to reduce the abdominal opening area and thus decrease the probability of adhesion formation. However, this approach requires specialized equipment and surgical skills, making it somewhat challenging. Alternatively, anti-adhesion products can be used to lower the risk of adhesion formation. In this study, a murine cecal abrasion adhesion model was established and will be simulated common adhesion scenarios observed in patients after abdominal surgery. The efficacy of anti-adhesion gel materials will be then evaluated to assess their anti-adhesion properties. The record of gross adhesion severity assessment was performed. The adhesion status between the cecum and abdominal wall was observed on postoperative days 3 and 14. The results was shown that three days post-surgery operation, the group exhibited more severe adhesions upon gross examination. By day 14 post-surgery operation (at animal sacrifice), the histopathological analysis revealed that the group exhibited thicker fibrous tissue thickness, increased neovascularization, and higher collagen accumulation in the peritoneum. Therefore, based on the results of this experiment, a postoperative bowel adhesion rat is reliable and can be safely used to test the efficacy of novel anti-adhesive formulations to prevent intra-abdominal adhesions by using this model.

Experimental analysis of mechanical properties of dredged sludge solidified by carbonized under the synergistic action of magnesium oxychloride cement and lime

The environmentally friendly magnesium oxychloride cement (denoted as MOC thereinafter) shows promising application prospects. Meanwhile, more emphasis is being paid to the environmental issues created by CO2 emissions. In this paper, carbonation-composite solidification technology is adopted to introduce MOC-lime cementitious material into sludge solidification. The effects of initial water content (H2O/MgCl2 molar ratio), lime content, MgO/MgCl2 molar ratio, and carbonation time on the mechanical properties and micro-mechanisms of sludge solidification were investigated using unconfined compressive strength (UCS), pH value, carbonation depth, mass loss rate, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests. The results show that the UCS of sludge solidification decreases with an increase in H2O/MgCl2 molar ratio, and increases first and then decreases with an increase in lime content, reaching a maximum value at H2O/MgCl2 molar ratio of 24.3 and lime content of 4 %. Notably, carbonation significantly improves the UCS of the samples, and with an increase in carbonation time, the mass loss rate and carbonation depth increase, while the pH value decreases. Additionally, uncarbonated samples show an increase in compressive strength with an increase in MgO/MgCl2 molar ratio, as the hydration products gradually transform from amorphous gel to crystalline phases 3, phases 5, and brucite (Mg(OH)2). Finally, XRD and SEM results indicate that the underlying mechanism for the significant improvement in strength and microstructure of the samples after carbonation is the formation of a block-like crystalline network with good binding ability, consisting of chlorartinite, nesquehonite, calcium carbonate, and C-S-H gel. This study promotes the use of MOC-based gel materials as a green stabilizer for sludge solidification, and the carbonation technique employed can improve the mechanical properties of solidified soil and significantly reduce the curing time.

Conducting Polymer-Based Gel Materials: Synthesis, Morphology, Thermal Properties, and Applications in Supercapacitors.

Despite the numerous ongoing research studies in the area of conducting polymer-based electrode materials for supercapacitors, the implementation has been inadequate for commercialization. Further understanding is required for the design and synthesis of suitable materials like conducting polymer-based gels as electrode materials for supercapacitor applications. Among the polymers, conductive polymer gels (CPGs) have generated great curiosity for their use as supercapacitors, owing to their attractive qualities like integrated 3D porous nanostructures, softness features, very good conductivity, greater pseudo capacitance, and environmental friendliness. In this review, we describe the current progress on the synthesis of CPGs for supercapacitor applications along with their morphological behaviors and thermal properties. We clearly explain the synthesis approaches and related phenomena, including electrochemical approaches for supercapacitors, especially their potential applications as supercapacitors based on these materials. Focus is also given to the recent advances of CPG-based electrodes for supercapacitors, and the electrochemical performances of CP-based promising composites with CNT, graphene oxides, and metal oxides is discussed. This review may provide an extensive reference for forthcoming insights into CPG-based supercapacitors for large-scale applications.

Facile preparation of self-healing, adhesive and patterned gels via frontal polymerization for wearable sensing and actuating applications

Flexible intelligent gel has garnered great research attention for its potential artificial intelligence applications. Herein, a facile method is provided for fabricating patterned gel materials with self-healing, adhesive, and responsive properties via frontal polymerization within 10 min. The resulting gels are able to self-repair spontaneously after damaged, and exhibit the highest self-healing efficiency (∼99 %) benefiting from the synergistic effect of hydrogen-bond and host–guest assemblies. Moreover, the adhesive gels display satisfactory mechanical properties with great stretchability (524 %), tensile strength (200 kPa) and flexibility. With these features, the gels are served as flexible wearable sensors which can detect a series of movements such as stretch, bend and touch. Furthermore, the dual-component gels are prepared by the metal–ligand interaction (Fe3+-carboxyl group) on the one side of the gel films. The gradient structure and swelling ability endow the gel with actuating behaviors. This research explores a convenient approach to construct functional patterned gels towards significant applications in the wearable sensor and actuator fields.

Cholic Acid/Glutathione-Assembled Nanofibrils for Stabilizing Pickering Emulsion Biogels.

Achieving the delicate balance required for both emulsion and gel characteristics, while also imparting biological functionality in gelled emulsions, poses a significant challenge. Herein, Pickering emulsion biogels stabilized is reported by novel biological nanofibrils assembled from natural glutathione (GSH) and a tripod cholic acid derivative (TCA) via electrostatic interactions. GSH, composed of tripeptides with carboxyl groups, facilitates the protonation and dissolution of TCA compounds in water and the electrostatic interactions between GSH and TCA trigger nanofibrillar assembly. Fibrous nuclei initially emerge, and the formed mature nanofibrils can generate a stable hydrogel at a low solid concentration. These nanofibrils exhibit efficient emulsifying capability, enabling the preparation of stable Pickering oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion gels with adjustable phase volume ratios. The entangled nanofibrils adsorbed at the oil-water interface restrict droplet movement, imparting viscoelasticity and injectability to the emulsions. Remarkably, the biocompatible nanofibrils and stabilized emulsion gels demonstrate promising scavenging properties against reactive oxygen species (ROS). This strategy may open new scenarios for the design of advanced emulsion gel materials using natural precursors and affordable building blocks for biomedical applications.

Optimising corn (Zea mays) cob powder as an effective sorbent for diverse gel matrices: exploring particle size and powder concentration effects

SummaryThis study aims to valorise a plant waste, corn cobs (Zea mays) enriched with fibres (cellulose of 19.09–19.18% and hemicellulose of 34.04–60.13%), to create gel‐like sorbents. Corn cobs (CB) were dried, grounded and sieved to obtain 500, 250 and 125 μm powder size fractions. Various CB powder concentrations (10–40% w/w) were mixed with distilled water and rice bran oil for 2 min at ambient temperature to form hydrogel‐like and oleogel‐like sorbents, respectively. Visual appearance indicated that selected gels formed by 250 and 125 μm CB powders were self‐sustained right after mixing, while the largest particles (500 μm) could not fabricate gels at the CB concentrations studied. FTIR results suggested that the gelation process was primarily attributed to physical absorption rather than chemical binding. Comprehensive analyses of microstructure, physicochemical properties and rheological behaviour indicated that gelation was due to fibre–fibre interaction (125 μm) and oil/water–fibre interaction (250 μm). An increase in CB powder concentration enhanced the microstructural density and hardness of gels. Thus, 250 μm particles and higher absorbent concentrations resulted in brittle sorbents characterised by high hardness but low cohesiveness. The 250 μm particles also exhibit a superior antioxidant profile and lower oil/water loss than the 125 μm CB particles due to effective intra‐particle trapping mechanisms.