Poly 2-hydroxyethyl Methacrylate Research Articles

Dissolvable photovoltaic cells on hydrogel

Solar energy is potentially the largest source of renewable energy for providing electrical power for human society. However, significant advances are required to make photovoltaic technologies have a low-carbon footprint in manufacture, be environmentally friendly at the end of their lives through recyclability, and be biodegradable. Here we report dissolvable organic photovoltaic devices based on poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), which show equal power conversion efficiency to their glass substrate-based counterparts. We use a novel method of including smectic liquid crystal (7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2- b][1]benzothiophene, C8-BTBT) as a crystal phase regulator in the heterojunction donor:acceptor polymer system to maintain the disposable organic solar cell efficiency without pre- or post-thermal annealing. The results show strong promise not only for more sustainable solar-cell fabrication but also as disposable and biocompatible solar cells for self-powered (energy harvesting) wearable and biomedical devices.

Elastoplastic properties of ion exchangers based on cross-linked polyelectrolytes

In this paper, we dilatometrically studied the elastoplastic properties of spherical grains of industrial weakly acidic and strongly acidic ion-exchanger in experiments with constant uniaxial compression and a subsequent unload at room temperature, depending on the ionic form and concentration of the electrolyte solution. It was found that the ionic form of polyacrylate and polymethacrylate cross-linked with triethylene glycol dimethacrylate and divinylbenzene, respectively, and the concentration of the external solution affects their elastoplastic properties. In dilute solutions of sodium chloride and calcium chloride, the gels exhibited elastic properties with close relative amplitudes of deformation. The amplitude of deformation of the grain of polymethacrylate crosslinked with divinylbenzene, in the Ni form, in a dilute nickel chloride solution was significantly lower than that of the Ca form, with significant plastic deformation. With an increasing concentration of the external solution of calcium and nickel chlorides under mechanical load on the grain of polymethacrylate cross-linked with divinylbenzene, the total deformation of the granule and the magnitude of elastic deformation decreased, while the residual (plastic) deformations increased. In concentrated solutions of CaCl2 and NiCl2, such an ion-exchanger became an inelastic rigid material. Even under increased mechanical load, the magnitude of its elastic compressive deformation was very small. The K-form of a swollen in water strongly acidic polystyrene cation-exchanger with grafted sulpho groups cross-linked with divinylbenzene is also characterized by elastic deformations, i.e. the polymer is in a highly elastic state. However, the polystyrene matrix is more rigid compared to polyacrylic and polymethacrylic cation-exchangers in the alkali metal ion form, so the amplitude of deformation is significantly smaller. For such a cation-exchanger in Ca- and Ni- forms, elastic deformations prevail even in concentrated solutions.

Evaluation of the Impact of Irradiance Lamps and Storage Media on Elution of TEGDMA from Dental Composites.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of irradiance light and storage media on the elution of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) from conventional Filtek Z350XT 3M ESPE and two bulk-fill composites Shofu Beautifil-Bulk and Filtek Bulk fill flowable 3M ESPE using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Shofu Beautifil-Bulk, Filtek Bulk fill flowable 3M ESPE, and Filtek Z350XT 3M ESPE were the three types of composites used in this study. Disk shaped samples of 4-mm thickness and 10-mm diameter were fabricated using a stainless steel mold and were polymerized using light emitting diode (LED) and quartz tungsten halogen (QTH) lamps. After polymerization, the samples were immersed in ethanol, artificial saliva with betel quid extract, and distilled water for 1, 7, and 30 days, respectively. The elution of monomer TEGDMA was evaluated using HPLC. To evaluate the mean concentration difference, mixed way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied. Between different light, materials, and within the time duration, Tukey's post hoc test was used. A p value of 0.05 was considered significant. During the first day of storage, a significant amount of monomer TEGDMA elution was seen in all the materials. The highest values observed to be in the disks cured with QTH lamp. However, the highest elution was seen when the disks were immersed in ethanol/water solution. While the most stable medium was distilled water, artificial saliva with betel nut extract also had a significant effect on the elution of TEGDMA. The highest value obtained was of Filtek Bulk fill flowable 3M ESPE after 30 days of immersion in both LED and QTH cured disks. Filtek Bulk fill flowable 3M ESPE shows better properties in relation to the release of monomer TEGDMA as it releases less amount of monomer in the storage media. The release of monomer was highest in ethanol as compared to artificial saliva and distilled water with the passage of time.

Irradiation-assisted synthesis of smart hydrogels based on nanomagnetic semi-interpenetrating p(HEMA)/PVP networks for the cleaning of cultural heritage artifacts

Preservation of our cultural and historical heritage as a testimony to our shared past is a responsibility that demands significant attention. One of the most critical and delicate aspects of conserving such treasures is cleaning them safely and effectively. Chemical hydrogels specifically designed for cleaning cultural heritage artifacts allow for the containment and controlled release of water. Based on a generic approach, a smart nanomagnetic hydrogel was developed using a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) of polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (p(HEMA)) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP). Gamma irradiation was employed to perform simultaneous in-situ polymerization, crosslinking, and also immobilization of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The chemical and structural characteristics of the nanomagnetic hydrogel were investigated using gel content, equilibrium water content, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, magnetic properties, compressive strength, dehydration kinetics, and adhesion tests. The optimal formula for smart hydrogel was a ratio of monomer to polymer 50:50, a water content of 60 wt.%, a gamma radiation dose of 20 kGy, and 3 wt.% of MNP. Two cotton canvas case studies demonstrate the versatility and effectiveness of the selected hydrogel in removing dirt and confining the water-based cleaning system. It was found that no color leaching occurred during the cleaning process.

Hybrid machine learning model based predictions for properties of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-poly(vinyl alcohol) composite cryogels embedded with bacterial cellulose

Supermacroporous composite cryogels with enhanced adjustable functionality have received extensive interest in bioseparation, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. However, the variations in their components significantly impactfinal properties. This study presents a two-step hybrid machine learning approach for predicting the properties of innovative poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-poly(vinyl alcohol) composite cryogels embedded with bacterial cellulose (pHEMA-PVA-BC) based on their compositions. By considering the ratios of HEMA (1.0–22.0 wt%), PVA (0.2–4.0 wt%), poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (1.0–4.5 wt%), BC (0.1–1.5 wt%), and water (68.0–96.0 wt%) as investigational variables, overlay sampling uniform design (OSUD) was employed to construct a high-quality dataset for model development. The random forest (RF) model was used to classify the preparation conditions. Then four models of artificial neural network, RF, gradient boosted regression trees (GBRT), and XGBoost were developed to predict the basic properties of the composite cryogels. The results showed that the RF model achieved an accurate three-class classification of preparation conditions. Among the four models, the GBRT model exhibited the best predictive performance of the basic properties, with the mean absolute percentage error of 16.04 %, 0.85 %, and 2.44 % for permeability, effective porosity, and height of theoretical plate (1.0 cm/min), respectively. Characterization results of the representative pHEMA-PVA-BC composite cryogel showed an effective porosity of 81.01 %, a permeability of 1.20 × 10−12 m2, and a range of height of theoretical plate between 0.40–0.49 cm at flow velocities of 0.5–3.0 cm/min. These indicate that the pHEMA-PVA-BC cryogel was an excellent material with supermacropores, low flow resistance and high mass transfer efficiency. Furthermore, the model output demonstrates that the alteration of the proportions of PVA (0.2–3.5 wt%) and BC (0.1–1.5 wt%) components in composite cryogels resulted in significant changes in the material basic properties. This work represents an attempt to efficiently design and prepare target composite cryogels using machine learning and providing valuable insights for the efficient development of polymers.

Role of Nanotitania Ceramic Particulate Filler on Mechanical and Wear Behaviour of Dental Composite

Nanotitania is a well-acceptable material in biomedical applications due to its excellent biocompatibility. However, its other performances in terms of physical properties, mechanical properties and specific wear rate have been the keen interest of researchers. The study aims to modify dental composite formulation by adding nanotitania filler in different mass fractions and study to investigate its influence on physical and mechanical properties. A conventional monomer matrix consisting of Bisphenol A-Glycidyl methacrylate (BisGMA), Urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA), Triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), Camphor Quinone (CO), Ethyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate (EDMAB) was first added and modified with varying nanotitania filler fractions (0,0.5,1,1.5 wt. %). The performance of newly formulated composites was investigated in four major parameters like apparent porosity, hardness, compressive strength and specific wear rate. All tests are performed as per ISO4049 standard which are requirements for fabrication, characterization, direct/indirect restoration of dental composite, inlays, onlays, veneers, crowns and bridges. Specific wear rate was estimated using pin on disk tribometer under constant load of 20N. Due to its extremely hard and brittle nature, the micro-hardness and compressive strength of resin composite on adding 0.5 wt.-% of nanotitania filler fraction (DC0.5TiO2) were increased by 68% and 16% respectively. Using a pin on disc tribometer, a wear assessment has been performed and it was found that under constant wear parameters and distilled water environmental conditions, the specific wear rate was decreased by 26 % on adding 0.5 wt.-% mass fraction of nanotitania. Nanotitania indicated excellent performance based on mechanical and wear properties and hence, it can be suggested to use nanotitania as a novel filler of dental composite for the replacement of other non-biocompatible ceramic filler.

IMAC application of extracellular polymeric substances doped composite membranes for α-amylase immobilization and kinetic studies

Immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC), extensively utilized technique in affinity chromatography, has proven to be highly effective in purifying α-amylase, a crucial enzyme in industrial applications. Here, Poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) based composite membranes were fabricated using the radical copolymerization technique in a petri dish. Extracellular polymeric materials (EPS) as the metal binding agent. The attachment of Cu2+ ions to the membranes occurred through the utilization of EPSs (Cu2+-EPS). The membranes having Cu2+-EPS (Cu2+-EPS-PM) were subjected to various characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflectance-fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), swelling tests, and surface area measurements. The investigation also encompassed the examination of various factors, including pH, initial α-amylase concentration, temperature, and ionic strength, that exert an influence on the adsorption of α-amylase from an aqueous medium. The Cu2+-EPS-PMs demonstrated maximum adsorption capacity with a value of 54.2 mg/g polymer (pH 5.0 sodium acetate buffer, temperature: 25°C, initial α-amylase concentration of 2 mg/mL). Additionally, it has been observed that the enzyme is able to be used in adsorption and desorption cycles on Cu2+-EPS-PM many times. The investigation also focused on examining the impact of pH, temperature, storage, and operational stability over the activities of both free and immobilized α-amylase. The outcomes showed that immobilization had positive effects on activity.

A 4D-Printable Photocurable Resin Derived from Waste Cooking Oil with Enhanced Tensile Strength.

In pursuit of enhancing the mechanical properties, especially the tensile strength, of 4D-printable consumables derived from waste cooking oil (WCO), we initiated the production of acrylate-modified WCO, which encompasses epoxy waste oil methacrylate (EWOMA) and epoxy waste oil acrylate (EWOA). Subsequently, a series of WCO-based 4D-printable photocurable resins were obtained by introducing a suitable diacrylate molecule as the second monomer, coupled with a composite photoinitiator system comprising Irgacure 819 and p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (DMAB). These materials were amenable to molding using an LCD light-curing 3D printer. Our findings underscored the pivotal role of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) among the array of diacrylate molecules in enhancing the mechanical properties of WCO-based 4D-printable resins. Notably, the 4D-printable material, composed of EWOA and TEGDMA in an equal mass ratio, exhibited nice mechanical strength comparable to that of mainstream petroleum-based 4D-printable materials, boasting a tensile strength of 9.17 MPa and an elongation at break of 15.39%. These figures significantly outperformed the mechanical characteristics of pure EWOA or TEGDMA resins. Furthermore, the EWOA-TEGDMA resin demonstrated impressive thermally induced shape memory performance, enabling deformation and recovery at room temperature and retaining its shape at -60 °C. This resin also demonstrated favorable biodegradability, with an 8.34% weight loss after 45 days of soil degradation. As a result, this 4D-printable photocurable resin derived from WCO holds immense potential for the creation of a wide spectrum of high-performance intelligent devices, brackets, mold, folding structures, and personalized products.

Deprotection of the BOC Groups in Poly(2-(tert‑butoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl methacrylate) controlled by the incorporation of polymerizable thermally latent acids

Poly((2‑tert-butoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl methacrylate) (PBHEMA) is converted to poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) with the release of isobutene and CO2 by heating and this reaction is accelerated by an acid. The thermally latent acid catalysts (TLA) are useful for the control of a working temperature for the deprotection of the tert‑butoxycarbonyl (BOC) groups included in PBHEMA. In this study, styrene- and methacrylate-type sulfonic esters were synthesized and copolymerized with BHEMA in order to investigate the effect of the TLAs incorporated into the polymer chains. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) were carried out for the copolymers of BHEMA with the polymerizable TLAs in order to discuss the deprotection features of the BOC group in comparison with the results for the systems of PBHEMA blended with the low-molecular-weight TLAs.

Tailoring Microemulsification Techniques for the Encapsulation of Diverse Cargo: A Systematic Analysis of Poly (Urea-Formaldehyde) Microcapsules.

Cargo encapsulation through emulsion-based methods has been pondered over the years. Although several microemulsification techniques have been employed for the microcapsule's synthesis, there are still no clear guidelines regarding the suitability of one technique over the others or the impacts on the morphological and physicochemical stability of the final particles. Therefore, in this systematic study, we investigated the influence of synthesis parameters on the fabrication of emulsion-based microcapsules concerning morphological and physicochemical properties. Using poly(urea-formaldehyde) (PUF) microcapsules as a model system, and after determining the optimal core/shell ratio, we tested three different microemulsification techniques (magnetic stirring, ultrasonication, and mechanical stirring) and two different cargo types (100% TEGDMA (Triethylene glycol dimethacrylate) and 80% TEGDMA + 20% DMAM (N,N-Dimethylacrylamide)). The resulting microcapsules were characterized via optical and scanning electron microscopies, followed by size distribution analysis. The encapsulation efficiency was obtained through the extraction method, and the percentage reaction yield was calculated. Physicochemical properties were assessed by incubating the microcapsules under different osmotic pressures for 1 day and 1, 2, or 4 weeks. The data were analyzed statistically with one-way ANOVA and Tukey's tests (α = 0.05). Overall, the mechanical stirring resulted in the most homogeneous and stable microcapsules, with an increased reaction yield from 100% to 50% in comparison with ultrasonication and magnetic methods, respectively. The average microcapsule diameter ranged from 5 to 450 µm, with the smallest ones in the ultrasonication and the largest ones in the magnetic stirring groups. The water affinities of the encapsulated cargo influenced the microcapsule formation and stability, with the incorporation of DMAM leading to more homogeneous and stable microcapsules. Environmental osmotic pressure led to cargo loss or the selective swelling of the shells. In summary, this systematic investigation provides insights and highlights commonly overlooked factors that can influence microcapsule fabrication and guide the choice based on a diligent analysis of therapeutic niche requirements.

Long-term effect of exposure to triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) on male mouse reproduction.

Our study investigated the impact on male mouse fertility and reproduction of long-term (14 weeks) exposure to triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), a co-monomer of resin-based compounds, at doses of 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10ppm. Test and control mice were then paired with sexually mature untreated female mice and their fertility evaluated. Females paired with males exposed to all TEGDMA doses exhibited a significant decline in pregnancy rates, and significant increases in the total embryonic resorption-to-implantation ratio, except for males exposed to 0.01ppm TEGDMA. Males in the highest dose group (10ppm) showed significant increases in seminal vesicle and preputial gland weights. They also had significantly higher serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) than the controls, and the 0.01ppm dosage group for FSH levels. TEGDMA exposure resulted in notable histopathological alterations in the testis, with detachment of germ cells and shedding of germinal epithelium into the tubule lumen. These results strongly indicate that TEGDMA exposure has detrimental consequences on the reproductive abilities and functions in male mice through disruption of the standard hormonal regulation of the reproductive system, leading to changes in spermatogenesis and ultimately leading to decreased fertility.

Removing Aged Polymer Coatings from Porous Stone Surfaces Using the Gel Cleaning Method

Acrylic polymers were extensively used in past restoration practices, usually as consolidants or protecting agents. Their removal is often required because polymer coatings can improve some decay processes of stone substrates and, after ageing, may generate undesirable materials on the surface of artifacts. Therefore, the removal of old polymer coating from the surface of artifacts has become a common operation in the conservation of cultural heritage. As with other cleaning operations, it is a delicate process that may irreversibly damage the artifacts if not correctly carried out. The main aim of this study was to determine the appropriate cleaning procedure for efficiently removing old acrylic polymers (e.g., Paraloid B-72) from the surface of historical buildings. For this purpose, a polymer was applied to two different porous stone substrates (bio-calcarenite and arenaria stone). The hydrogel cleaning approach was used for the present study, as preliminary results suggested that it is the most promising polymer-removing method. The considered hydrogel (based on a semi-interpenetrating polymer network involving poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and polyvinylpyrrolidone) was prepared and characterized using different techniques in order to assess the gel’s properties, including the gel content, equilibrium water content, retention capability, hardness, Young’s modulus, and morphology. After that, the hydrogel was loaded with appropriate amounts of nano-structured emulsions (NSEs) containing a surfactant (EcoSufTM), organic solvents, and H2O, then applied onto the coated surfaces. Moreover, plain EcoSurfTM in a water emulsion (EcoSurf/H2O) was also used to understand the polymer-removing behavior of the surfactant without any organic solvent. A comparative study was carried out on artificially aged and unaged polymer-coated samples to better understand the cleaning effectiveness of the considered emulsions for removing decayed polymer coatings. The experimental results showed that the NSE-loaded hydrogel cleaning method was more effective than other common cleaning procedures (e.g., cellulose pulp method). In fact, only one cleaning step was enough to remove the polymeric material from the stone surfaces without affecting their original properties.

Evaluation of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and poly(N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide) cryogels as potential quercetin release matrices

Fabrication of a suitable drug delivery system forms an attractive strategy to overcome the low bioavailability of quercetin. Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate–co-N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide), P(HEMA-co-HEAA) copolymer samples, and homopolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA) and N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide (PHEAA) offer potential as quercetin delivery matrices owing to their favorable properties rendered in this study. Free radical polymerization applied under cryogenic conditions produced the polymer gels. The homopolymers and copolymers are noncytotoxic, porous, soft cryogels with surfaces resistant to protein and HCT-116 cancer cell adhesion. In vitro, quercetin release studies from samples reveal swelling-controlled, zero-order drug release at pH = 7.4 and 37 °C with high cumulative release percentages ranging from 92.03% to 94.82%. The durability of the cryogels and limited quercetin release at pH = 2.0 indicate that these cryogels are promising matrices for successfully delivering quercetin to the small intestine, where its primary absorption occurs.

Influence of dual-cure resin-cement curing modes on gingival cytotoxicity and inflammatory responses

Background/purposeDual-cure resin-cements are used for various dental restorations. However, whether the curing modes of these resin-cements influence gingival inflammation remains unclear. Hence, herein, we evaluated the effects of dual-cure resin-cement curing modes on gingival cytotoxicity and inflammatory responses. Materials and methodsSpecimens were prepared using two dual-cure resin-cements—RelyX Unicem 2 (RU) and G-CEM ONE (GO)—by light-cure or self-cure modes. Degree of conversion (DC) and monomer elution of the resin-cements were measured using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Human gingival fibroblasts (GFs) and macrophages were cultured on resin-cements, and inflammatory cytokine levels, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation were evaluated. ResultsLight-cured (LC) resin-cements exhibited significantly higher DC and lower monomer elution than did self-cured (SC) resin-cements. Triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) and urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) were substantially eluted from RU and GO, respectively. Neither LC resin-cement exhibited cytotoxicity and enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in GFs and macrophages. However, both SC resin-cements significantly decreased cell numbers and promoted cellular inflammatory responses. SC generated higher intracellular ROS levels compared to that seen with LC, and different patterns of MAP kinase activation were observed between SC–RU and SC–GO. ConclusionCompared with LC dual-cure resin-cements, SC dual-cure resin-cements show stronger cytotoxicity and elicit greater inflammatory responses in gingival cells owing to residual monomers (e.g., TEGDMA and UDMA) by activating MAP kinases in GFs and macrophages. Clinicians should ensure adequate light irradiation during prosthesis cementation and make efforts to remove the excess cement.

Vat photopolymerization of dual-scale porosity alumina honeycombs using phase-separable camphene porogen dissolved in binary photopolymer blends

Dual-scale porosity ceramics comprised of macro-scale pore networks surrounded by porous frameworks manufactured by additive manufacturing (AM) can offer significantly enhanced functions compared to conventional porous ceramics. However, exploring new ways of more tightly controlling micro-scale porous structures for AM still remains challenging. Here, we propose a novel type of vat photopolymerization using camphene as a phase-separable porogen dissolved in binary photopolymer blends for manufacturing dual-scale porosity alumina honeycombs. More specifically, solid camphene with various contents (40 vol%, 50 vol%, and 60 vol%) could be completely dissolved in blends of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) used as solvent and anti-solvent, respectively, at room temperature and then crystallize dendritically at ∼ 5 °C via phase separation. After which, thin layers of phase-separated alumina suspensions could be selectively photopolymerized by a digital light processing (DLP) engine to construct 3-dimensionally interconnected macro-scale pore channels. In addition, micro-scale pores could be created in alumina frameworks by removing camphene-rich crystals by freeze-drying. This new approach enabled manufacturing of well-defined macro-scale honeycomb structures with tailored micro-scale porosities. As the camphene content increased from 40 vol% to 60 vol%, micro-scale porosity increased from 39.1 ± 0.5 vol% to 57.5 ± 0.6 vol%, and thus the overall porosity increased from 58.5 ± 0.1 vol% to 68.8 ± 0.3 vol%, while the compressive strength decreased from 355.6 ± 67.1 MPa to 97.6 ± 10.2 MPa.

Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)/BN nanohybride: Enhanced adsorption of antibiotic pollutant removal from wastewater

Increasing wastewater pollution by pharmaceutical waste poses a serious threat to environmental safety and public health, so sorbents with high adsorption capacity and removal efficiency are in high demand. To address this important problem, a novel pellet sorbent containing (2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate)-modified BN nanoparticles (pHEMA/BN) was produced by a combination of CVD synthesis (BN), solution method (pHEMA/BN nanoparticles) and uniaxial pressing (pHEMA/BN pellets) and studied for the adsorption of tetracycline (TC) and linezolid (LNZ) from aqueous solutions. Characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, have provided insight into adsorbent microstructure and specific surface area. At an initial antibiotic concentration of 100 mg/L, pHEMA/BN adsorbent demonstrated an 84–88 % increase in equilibrium adsorption capacity after 24 h and an 86–89 % increase in antibiotic removal efficiency compared to unmodified BN. Molecular dynamics calculations revealed robust interactions between the polymer and BN, accompanied by an electron density redistribution. And density functional theory calculations showed the formation of multiple hydrogen bonds between the polymer hydroxyl groups and the antibiotic functional groups. Adsorption kinetics analysis suggested that pHEMA/BN adsorption involves both physical interaction and chemisorption. The pHEMA/BN material demonstrates good reusability with an adsorption efficiency >90 % after three sorption cycles with sorbent regeneration between cycles. These results highlight the high potential of pHEMA/BN adsorbents for practical applications in drinking water and wastewater treatment, offering versatility and efficiency in the pharmaceutical contaminant adsorption, thereby facilitating the development of more cost-effective and sustainable wastewater treatment methods compared to conventional adsorbents.

Poly(acrylamide)-co-poly(hydroxyethyl)methacrylate-co-poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate) hydrogel platform for stability, storage and biocatalytic applications of urease

In our present work, an explicit crosslinked thermo-responsive hydrogel platform has been developed, by using polyacrylamide (PAAm), poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate) (PCHMA), and then coupled with urease to yield bioconjugates (BCs). Synergic effect of these polymer units provides thermoresponsive nature, optimum crosslinking with desired swelling behaviour, and stability and improved catalytic to Urease in the resultant BCs. Synthesis of the terpolymer has been achieved by employing HEMA (monomer as well as crosslinker), instead of using the conventional crosslinkers, through free radical solution polymerization technique. Various grades of TRPUBs have been fabricated by varying HEMA and CHMA contents while keeping fixed amounts of AAm. Further, the structural analysis of BCs has been done by fourier transform infra-red spectroscopic study and their thermal stabilities have been studied by thermogravimetric analysis. Urea present in TRPUBs has beenanalysed for its hydrolysis atdifferent temperatures viz., 25 °C, 45 °C and 70 °C. Further, the effect of crosslinking, temperature and reaction time on catalytic activities of TRPUBs has been studied. TRPUBs grades have showna maximum swelling capacity up to 5200 %; excellent catalytic activity even at 70 °C; and 85 % activity retention after 18 days storage in buffer medium.

On the way to increase osseointegration potential: Sequential SI-ATRP as promising tool for PEEK-based implant nano-engineering

In the search of the ideal bone implant material, surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) techniques were successfully employed to modify the polyetheretherketone (PEEK) surface with complex architecture nanolayers featuring hydrophilic poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) or poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) branches. As a result, polymer layers with height up to over 300 nm were synthesized to decrease the water contact angle from 92.8° to 23.0°. In-depth analysis of layer topography, structure and elemental composition realized with atomic force microscopy (AFM), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), time-of-flight secondary ions mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS) and X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed successful surface modification. Additionally, to demonstrate the applicability of proposed PEEK functionalization, the biomineralization assay in simulated body fluid (SBF) solution was conducted. The high density of hydroxyl and amine groups in branched polymer brushes structure enhanced the rate of hydroxyapatites (HAp) formation substantially. Compared to untreated PEEK, modification with polymer brushes resulted in the creation of cauliflower-like structures with high specific surface area and Ca/P ratio equal to 1.83–1.87 for PEEK grafted with brushes composed of PHEMA backbone segment and PDMAEMA or PHEMA as block polymer branches (PEEK-g-PHEMA-g-PDMAEMA or PEEK-g-PHEMA-g-PHEMA) after 2 weeks. Finally, the process of the hydroxyapatite formation and increase of the layer thickness in a range of 14 days to 6 weeks of immersion in SBF was thoroughly visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Modification of methacrylate bone cement with eugenol – A new material with antibacterial properties

Abstract Nowadays, the search for unconventional antibacterial agents is very common. One of them may be eugenol (EU) (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol), which exhibits antimicrobial properties against pathogenic bacteria and is used in the pharmaceutical industry. Owing to its structure, EU decreases the exotherm of polymerization without a negative impact on the degree of conversion. The properties of EU-modified bone cement, such as doughing time, maximum temperature, and setting time, will be characterized, as well as mechanical properties, EU release, and antibacterial properties. Bone cements were synthesized by mixing a powder phase composed of two commercially available methacrylate copolymers (Evonic) and a liquid phase containing 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and EU with an amount of 0.5 wt% of bone cement sample. As an initiating system, benzoyl peroxide and N,N-dimethylaniline were used. Samples were prepared with various amounts of the initiating system. The doughing time, maximum temperature (T max), setting temperature (T set), setting time (t set), and compressive strength tests were determined according to the ISO 5833:2002 standard requirements. The doughing time for bone cement depends on the amount of the initiating system. The maximum temperature during curing of bone cement is very low; however, the setting time is closer to the upper limit set by the standard. The compressive strength of the tested materials is good and significantly exceeds the requirements of the standard. EU release was very high and ranged from around 43–62% after 168 h. Moreover, antibacterial studies show that the tested bone cements are bacteriostatic for Staphylococcus aureus or and Escherichia coil strains. In summary, modified bone cements meet the ISO 5833:2002 standard requirements in all parameters and are characterized by good mechanical properties (similar to or higher than commercial bone cement), high EU release, and bacteriostatic properties.

Facile fabrication of high thickness hydrophilic polymer brushes via Surface-Initiated Microliter-Scale copper mediated PhotoATRP toward antifouling surfaces

The recent development of sustainable chemistry motivates scientists to develop economically favourable, highly efficient, and environmentally friendly polymerization techniques. This contribution demonstrates a facile fabrication of hydrophilic polymer brushes via surface-initiated photochemically induced atom transfer radical polymerization using a copper catalyst in low concentrations and microlitre volume of polymerization mixture (SI-μL-CuPhotoATRP). The fabrication proceeds by sandwiching of μL reaction solution between a Si-wafer modified with ATRP-initiator and a glass slide under atmospheric and ambient conditions. Optimization of reaction conditions was realized on hydrophilic monomer such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). Effect of various experimental parameters such as light intensity, solvents, ligands, the volume of the reaction solution, size of the Si-wafers, amount of CuBr2, and CuBr2/ligand ratio in kinetics, linear increase of polymer layer thickness, final thickness and profile of unmodified edges were investigated. The successful fabrication of hydrophilic polymer brushes is confirmed via Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), profilometry and water contact angle. A linear thickness increase with time up to at least 300 nm was achieved, compared to polymethacrylate layers with thickness up to approximately 100 nm previously published by using photoATRP. The general applicability of the optimized conditions for SI-μL-CuPhotoATRP was further proved for two additional hydrophilic monomers, such as glycidyl methacrylate and 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate. Furthermore, sequential homo and block copolymerization demonstrated the living character of fabrication conditions, permitting facile fabrication of well-controlled tetra block homo/copolymer brushes with a pyramid-like pattern on Si-wafer. Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) brushes-grown surfaces exhibit excellent antifouling properties and long-term structural stability. The facile, affordable, and environmentally friendly SI-μL-CuPhotoATRPapproachprovides avenues for various surface modifications, such as biomedical, soft robotic, and coating applications.