Polyvinyl Alcohol Research Articles

Cross-linked hydrophilic polymers: universal sensors for analyzing solutions containing polar organic compounds

Abstract This study presents a quantitative assessment of cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) granules as sensing elements for detecting aliphatic carboxylic acids and their sodium salts in aqueous solutions. Swelling kinetics were measured across solute concentrations ranging from 0.2 N to 1.0 N, with the granule radius varying between 0.31- and 0.43-mm. Results indicated that both carbon chain length and the presence of additional carboxyl groups exert a pronounced effect on the equilibrium swelling degree, thereby highlighting the interplay between hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen-bond formation. To interpret these observations, a heterophase physicomathematical model was employed, yielding three main kinetic coefficients (K1, K2, and K3) that capture solvent flux, polymer network elasticity, and solute transport. The model fits exhibited root-mean-square deviations below 1 %, attesting to its reliability in describing complex swelling - deswelling processes. Additionally, three-dimensional kinetic surfaces were constructed to illustrate how swelling evolves over time and concentration, revealing that initial swelling curves can serve as a rapid indicator of solute concentration. By leveraging the reversible nature of polymer swelling, this method offers a non-invasive, cost-effective approach suitable for monitoring organic acids in diverse fields such as environmental analysis, pharmaceutical processes, and chemical engineering.

Anisotropic hydrogel microelectrodes for intraspinal neural recordings in vivo

Creating durable, motion-compliant neural interfaces is crucial for accessing dynamic tissues under in vivo conditions and linking neural activity with behaviors. Utilizing the self-alignment of nano-fillers in a polymeric matrix under repetitive tension, here, we introduce conductive carbon nanotubes with high aspect ratios into semi-crystalline polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels, and create electrically anisotropic percolation pathways through cyclic stretching. The resulting anisotropic hydrogel fibers (diameter of 187 ± 13 µm) exhibit fatigue resistance (up to 20,000 cycles at 20% strain) with a stretchability of 64.5 ± 7.9% and low electrochemical impedance (33.20 ± 9.27 kΩ @ 1 kHz in 1 cm length). We observe the reconstructed nanofillers’ axial alignment and a corresponding anisotropic impedance decrease along the direction of cyclic stretching. We fabricate fiber-shaped hydrogels into bioelectronic devices and implant them into wild-type and transgenic Thy1::ChR2-EYFP mice to record electromyographic signals from muscles in anesthetized and freely moving conditions. These hydrogel fibers effectively enable the simultaneous recording of electrical signals from ventral spinal cord neurons and the tibialis anterior muscles during optogenetic stimulation. Importantly, the devices maintain functionality in intraspinal electrophysiology recordings over eight months after implantation, demonstrating their durability and potential for long-term monitoring in neurophysiological studies.

Therapeutic Effects of Nanocoating of Apitoxin (Bee Venom) and Polyvinyl Alcohol Supplemented with Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Therapeutic Effects of Nanocoating of Apitoxin (Bee Venom) and Polyvinyl Alcohol Supplemented with Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Dehydroxylated Polyvinyl Alcohol Separator Enables Fast Kinetics in Zinc-Metal Batteries.

Separators are critical components of zinc-metal batteries (ZMBs). Despite their high ionic conductivity and excellent electrolyte retention, the widely used glass fiber (GF)membranes suffer from poor mechanical stability and cannot suppress dendrite growth, leading to rapid battery failure. Contrarily, polymer-based separators offer superior mechanical strength and facilitate more homogeneous zinc (Zn)deposition. However, they typically suffer from sluggish ion transport kinetics and poor wettability by aqueous electrolytes, resulting in unsatisfactory electrochemical performance. Here a dehydroxylation strategy is proposed to overcome the above-mentioned limitations for polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) separators. A dehydroxylated PVA-based membrane (DHPVA) is synthesized at a relatively low temperature in a highly concentrated alkaline solution. Part of the hydroxyl groups are removed and, as a result, the hydrogen bonding between PVA chains, which is deemed responsible for the sluggish ion transport kinetics, is minimized. At 20°C, the ionic conductivity of DHPVA reaches 12.5mScm-1, which is almost 4 times higher than that of PVA. Additionally, DHPVA effectively promotes uniform Zn deposition, leading to a significantly extended cycle life and reduced polarization, both in a/symmetric (Cu/Zn and Zn/Zn) and full cells (Zn/NaV3O8). This study provides a new, effective, yet simple approach to improve the performance of ZMBs.

Strong and tough polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels with high intrinsic thermal conductivity

Although polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels display huge potential in tissue engineering, flexible and wearable electronic devices and soft robotics, their low intrinsic thermal conductivity and weak mechanical properties severely limit their wider applications in these areas. Herein, a Hofmeister effect-assisted “directional freezing-stretching” tactic is employed for simultaneously enhancing the intrinsic thermal conduction and mechanical properties of PVA hydrogels. The hydrogels are obtained through directional freezing followed by salting-out treatment and subsequent mechanical stretching and salting-out (DFS). The DFS PVA hydrogel with 15 wt% of PVA and a stretching ratio of 4 (DFS4) exhibits the highest thermal conductivity of 1.25 W/(m·K), which is 2.4 and 2.8 times that of PVA hydrogel prepared through frozen-thawed (FT) [0.52 W/(m·K)] and frozen-salted out (FS) [0.45 W/(m·K)] methods, respectively. The DFS4 PVA hydrogel also possesses greatly improved mechanical performances, exhibiting an elongation at break of 163.1%. In addition, the tensile strength, toughness, and elastic modulus of DFS4 PVA hydrogel significantly increase to 27.1 MPa, 25.3 MJ·m-3, and 21.5 MPa from 0.4 MPa, 0.32 MJ·m-3, and 0.07 MPa for FT PVA hydrogels, respectively. It is elucidated that the salting-out effect generates hydrophobic and crystalline regions, while directional freezing and stretching enhance the chain orientation in the DFS strategy. These effects synergistically contribute to the improvement of thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of PVA hydrogels.

Electroactive Dressing with Selective Sorption of Exudate Enables Treatment of Complicated Wound

AbstractExudate management and cell activity enhancement are vital to complicated wound healing. However, current exudate management dressings indiscriminately remove exudate, which is detrimental to cell activity enhancement. Herein, a novel class of electroactive bilayer (cMO/PVA) dressing is developed by constructing manganese oxide nanoneedle‐clusters decorated commercial carbon cloth (MO), in situ casting polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel, and finally charging. Benefitting from the hierarchical nanoneedle‐cluster structure of MO, abundant active sites are sufficiently exposed to achieve high area‐specific capacitances (e.g., 1881.3 mF cm−2), thereby establishing the long‐lasting electric field for cMO/PVA dressing. Such a unique cMO/PVA dressing can realize extraordinary selective sorption toward noxious substances over nutrient substances during exudate management. Meanwhile, its long‐term electrical stimulation therapy can promote cell proliferation and migration and enhance antibacterial property. As a result, our multifunctional cMO/PVA dressing can rapidly repair full‐thickness wounds in type II diabetic rats, offering an advanced strategy for the treatment of complicated wounds.

Deep eutectic solvent-mediated extraction of lignin: A novel strategy for producing high-quality biopolymers in controlled-release mulching applications.

Microplastic contamination of low-density polyethylene mulch and nutrient loss from fertilizers present significant challenges in the crop-growing. In this study, the focus was on creating a biodegradable film that combines the advantages of plastic film, thermal insulation and water retention, as well as the controlled release of fertilizer. A key innovation was the efficient introduction of low molecular weight and low dispersibility of poplar lignin into chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol matrices. The lignin was extracted using deep eutectic solvents of binary carboxylic acids (choline chloride and maleic acid). The refined lignin was used as a superhydrophobic additive to improve the mechanical properties, hydrophobicity, and controlled nutrient release properties of the films through cross-linking. The mulch attained a tensile strength of 37.6 MPa, an elongation of 644.1 %, and a precise release of 53.1 % urea over 30 d at the ideal lignin content ratio (10 %). Furthermore, the film proficiently regulated soil temperature and moisture content. Successful enhancement of cabbage growth was achieved by actual measurements. This discovery provides innovative ideas for the development of nutrient slow-release high-strength integrated agricultural mulching films to promote sustainable, high-quality green agriculture.

Preparation and characterization of polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan composite film with cassia oil encapsulated in β-cyclodextrin and its application in fresh banana.

In this study, composite films were developed by encapsulating cassia oil (CO) with β-cyclodextrin through a microencapsulation technique and incorporating it into a chitosan (CS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and glycerol matrix. The primary objective of the film was to inhibit bacterial growth on the surface of fresh bananas and extend their shelf life. Characterization methods were employed to evaluate the physical properties and functionality of the composite films. FTIR, XRD, and SEM analyses demonstrated that cassia oil microcapsules (COM) were uniformly dispersed throughout the film and exhibited excellent compatibility with the matrix. The inclusion of 30 % COM improved the film's UV-blocking properties from 86.15 % to 91.03 %. Additionally, due to its hydrophobic nature, CO significantly reduced the water content to 9.02 % and 10.67 %. Furthermore, the COM enhanced the film's tensile strength from 21.18 MPa to 43.21 MPa, and increased its antioxidant capacity to 36.87 %. The results also indicated that 30 % COM significantly enhanced the film's antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with inhibition zone diameters of 12.5 mm and 11.5 mm, while maintaining biosafety, as evidenced by unaltered cell survival rates in BEAS-2B and L02 cells. The film containing 30 % COM exhibited excellent preservation capacity for bananas, effectively extending their shelf life. These findings suggest that films containing COM have the potential to replace traditional plastic packaging in practical applications.

Development of electrospun whey protein isolate nanofiber mat for omega-3 nanoencapsulation: Microstructural and physical property analysis.

This study aimed to develop bead-free nanofibers for effective omega-3 encapsulation using optimal mixing ratios of whey protein isolate (WPI)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blends via electrospinning method. Various WPI-PVA ratios (100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50 v/v) were examined for surface tension, viscosity, and conductivity. SEM images revealed uneven nanofibers with bead at 90:10 and 80:20 ratios, while the 70:30 ratio produced uniform and bead-free nanofibers with an average diameter of 262.7 ± 49.5 nm. Other ratios exhibited uneven diameters. Therefore, the 70:30 ratio was chosen to encapsulate omega-3 at 6 %, 8 %, and 10 % v/v concentrations. SEM analysis showed that omega-3, at the optimal concentration of 8 %, was successfully loaded into the nanofibers, as shown by the highest encapsulation efficiency and the formation of beadless nanofibers in SEM images. FTIR spectra confirmed an interaction between polymers and revealed the effective inclusion of omega-3 within the nanofibers. XRD indicated a shift from semi-crystalline to an amorphous structure. In conclusion, the bead-free nanofibers demonstrate the highest encapsulation efficiency of omega-3. TGA results showed significant improvement in the thermal stability of omega-3 after nanoencapsulation in nanofibers. These new electrospun nanofibers have the potential to encapsulate bioactive compounds used in functional food products.

Tailoring conductive polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers: thermal-induced structural evolution in nitrogen for energy storage device

Carbon fibers from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was achieved by the electrospinning technique, which was subsequently followed by the stabilization and carbonization of electrospun PVA fibers. The XRD pattern of PVA fiber confirms the change in the structure of PVA nanofibers and carbonized PVA from temperatures of 200, 300, 400, 500, and 700 °C, resulting in a structural evolution from fibrous to plate-like and dot carbon compounds. The SEM image of the PVA precursor reveals the presence of fibers exhibiting a smooth surface following the stabilization and carbonization processes at temperatures below 500 °C. Furthermore, the image depicts fibers that melt and transform into a carbon layer at a higher carbonization temperature ranging from 600 to 700 °C. TEM results show the formation of carbon sheets and dots, with an average diameter of 8.2 nm. The evolution that occurs from fibers to carbon sheet due to the melting process indicates a change in the morphology of 1D to graphenic carbon. The identification of carbon–oxygen functional groups, such as C = C (carbon with sp2 hybridization), C–C (carbon with sp3 hybridization), and C = O bonds, has been successfully detected and analysed using both XPS and Raman spectroscopy techniques. The results of the XPS profile fitting, as proven by Raman spectra, produce a graphenic carbon containing a 2D structure, with the total sp2 fraction increasing in the increasing carbonization temperature. This is also followed by significantly increasing electrical conductivity. So, the carbonized PVA nanofiber has the potential to be applied in electronic and energy storage device applications. This is also followed by an increase in electrical conductivity due to the formation of more carbon functional groups compared to less oxygen. Thus, carbonized PVA nanofibers have great potential for application in electronic devices and energy storage applications such as batteries and supercapacitors.

Defects vibrations engineering for enhancing interfacial thermal transport in polymer composites.

To push upper boundaries of thermal conductivity in polymer composites, understanding of thermal transport mechanisms is crucial. Despite extensive simulations, systematic experimental investigation on thermal transport in polymer composites is limited. To better understand thermal transport processes, we design polymer composites with perfect fillers (graphite) and defective fillers (graphite oxide), using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a matrix model. Measured thermal conductivities of ~1.38 ± 0.22 W m-1 K-1 in PVA/defective filler composites is higher than those of ~0.86 ± 0.21 W m-1 K-1 in PVA/perfect filler composites, while measured thermal conductivities in defective fillers are lower than those of perfect fillers. We identify how thermal transport occurs across heterogeneous interfaces. Thermal transport measurements, neutron scattering, quantum mechanical modeling, and molecular dynamics simulations reveal that vibrational coupling between PVA and defective fillers at PVA/filler interfaces enhances thermal conductivity, suggesting that defects in polymer composites improve thermal transport by promoting this vibrational coupling.

Pyridinium surfactants can modulate the UV response of methyl green dye‐doped polymeric films for sensor development

AbstractConcerns about ultraviolet radiation (UV‐R) are increasing due to climate change. The effects of UV‐R on living organisms depend on exposure duration and intensity, making it crucial to monitor UV‐R levels. In this study, we investigated the role of surfactants as photosensitizing or stabilizing agents in a colorimetric sensor based on a polymeric film doped with methyl green dye. The films were synthesized using the casting technique from a filmogenic solution containing either carboxylated polyvinyl alcohol (P1) or hydroxylated polyvinyl alcohol (P2). We evaluated the impact of surfactant structure (dodecylpyridinium chloride, C12; hexadecylpyridinium chloride, C16; or sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) and concentration on the colorimetric response of the films to UV‐R. Color changes were monitored using the CIELab system. The results showed that, under UV‐R exposure for up to 5 h, films without surfactants did not lose their blue hue (negative b* parameter in CIELab). While SDS stabilized the dye in the polymeric matrix, films containing pyridinium surfactants (C12 or C16) changed color from blue to pale yellow (positive b* parameter in CIELab). The color change, which was modulated by surfactant concentration, was attributed to radical reactions involving the pyridinium surfactants, influenced by their hydrophobicity and the polymer structure. These results represent a significant advancement in colorimetric sensors for UV‐R, as they allow for the modulation of the sensor's response time through surfactant concentration in the polymeric film.

Immobilization of Peniophora incarnata F1 in PVA-SA-biochar matrix and its degradation performance and mechanism for erythromycin degradation.

Erythromycin is becoming one of the most common contaminants detected in surface water and wastewater, which poses a potential risk to ecological systems and human health. Until now, there is still no effective way to eliminate it. Herein, a novel and efficient erythromycin-degrading fungus Peniophora incarnata F1, capable of utilizing erythromycin as its sole source of carbon and energy, was isolated from contaminated sludge. Moreover, a fungal immobilization system was developed using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), sodium alginate (SA) and rape straw biochar (RB) to enhance the removal ability of erythromycin. Under optimal conditions of 30°C and pH 6.0, the removal rate of erythromycin with PVA-SA-RB@F1 within 5d reached 89.90%, which is 31.43% higher than that of free strain F1 (58.47%). Furthermore, eight biodegradation products of erythromycin were identified, and five compounds were firstly reported. Based on these metabolites, we inferred erythromycin was transformed to simple products mainly by dehydration, desugar, dehydrogenation, ester bond hydrolysis and carbon chain cleavage reactions. Finally, PVA-SA-RB@F1 were applied to wastewater contained 10mg/L and 50mg/L erythromycin, with the removal rates of 100% and 64.97%, respectively. These results show that PVA-SA-RB@F1 can be used as an effective tool to remove erythromycin in water environment. Therefore, this study provides a feasible strategy for bioremediation of erythromycin polluted environment.

Bamboo-inspired ultra-strong nanofiber-reinforced composite hydrogels

Biological materials, such as bamboo, are naturally optimized composites with exceptional mechanical properties. Inspired by such natural composites, traditional methods involve extracting nanofibers from natural sources and applying them in composite materials, which, however, often results in less ideal mechanical properties. To address this, this study develops a bottom-up nanofiber assembly strategy to create strong fiber-reinforced composite hydrogels inspired by the hierarchical assembly of bamboo. Self-assembled chitosan-sodium alginate nanofibers (CSNFs) are combined with tannic acid (TA) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as the interfacial crosslinker and hydrogel matrix, respectively, to emulate the fundamental cellulose-lignin-hemicellulose composition unit of bamboo. Strong interfacial electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding form between the functional groups of these components. These molecular interactions can be further reinforced by constructing higher-order structure through stretch-induced orientation. The resulting composite hydrogel achieves good mechanical performance, including a high tensile strength of up to 60.2 MPa and a simultaneous high strength of 48.0 MPa and ultimate strain of 470%. This approach demonstrates a hierarchical bottom-up strategy to construct strong and robust composite hydrogels by effectively leveraging fundamental molecular interactions. By mimicking bamboo’s highly integrated structural composition, it offers a promising solution for creating advanced bioinspired materials with excellent mechanical properties.

Production of Monodisperse Oil-in-Water Droplets and Polymeric Microspheres Below 20 μm Using a PDMS-Based Step Emulsification Device

Step emulsification (SE) is renowned for its robustness in generating monodisperse emulsion droplets at arrayed nozzles. However, few studies have explored poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based SE devices for producing monodisperse oil-in-water (O/W) droplets and polymeric microspheres with diameters below 20 µm—materials with broad applicability. In this study, we present a PDMS-based microfluidic SE device designed to achieve this goal. Two devices with 264 nozzles each were fabricated, featuring straight and triangular nozzle configurations, both with a height of 4 µm and a minimum width of 10 µm. The devices were rendered hydrophilic via oxygen plasma treatment. A photocurable acrylate monomer served as the dispersed phase, while an aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution acted as the continuous phase. The straight nozzles produced polydisperse droplets with diameters exceeding 30 µm and coefficient-of-variation (CV) values above 10%. In contrast, the triangular nozzles, with an opening width of 38 µm, consistently generated monodisperse droplets with diameters below 20 µm, CVs below 4%, and a maximum throughput of 0.5 mL h−1. Off-chip photopolymerization of these droplets yielded monodisperse acrylic microspheres. The low-cost, disposable, and scalable PDMS-based SE device offers significant potential for applications spanning from laboratory-scale research to industrial-scale particle manufacturing.

Effects of autologous serum and artificial tears on corneal sensation and tear film stability in patients with mild to moderate xerophthalmia after cataract surgery.

We aimed to evaluate the effects of autologous serum plus artificial tears on corneal sensation and tear film stability in patients with mild to moderate xerophthalmia after cataract surgery. A total of 150 patients with mild to moderate xerophthalmia after one-time cataract surgery from March 2022 to September 2023 were selected and randomly divided into a control group (n = 75) and a study group (n = 75). The control group was treated with artificial tears (polyvinyl alcohol eye drops), while the study group was given autologous serum plus artificial tears. The treatment lasted for four weeks in both groups. The clinical efficacy was observed and adverse reactions were recorded. The clinical effective rate of the study group was higher than that of the control group (96.00% versus 86.67%) (χ2 = 4.127, P < 0.05). After four weeks of treatment, the corneal sensation was superior to that before treatment in both groups, and it was better in the study group than that in the control group (Z = 2.053, P < 0.05). In comparison with the pre-treatment period, the tear film break-up time (BUT) increased, while the corneal fluorescein staining (FL) score and levels of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β dropped in both groups after treatment, and the study group had longer BUT and a lower FL score than those of the control group (t = 6.492, 7.033, 7.140, 4.709 and 3.059, P < 0.05). The incidence rates of adverse reactions were similar between the two groups (χ2 = 0.132, P > 0.05). Autologous serum plus artificial tears can improve the corneal sensation and tear film stability and alleviate inflammatory responses without increasing adverse reactions in patients with mild to moderate xerophthalmia after cataract surgery.

Improved Oxygen Barrier Properties of Polypropylene/Polyvinyl Alcohol Blends Through Reactive Compatibilization

ABSTRACT The relatively poor oxygen barrier property limits broad application of polypropylene (PP) as packaging materials, pipes, etc. while incorporation of nanoparticles, EVOH etc. faces problems of poor compatibility and dispersion, and high price. In this work, in light of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with polyhydroxy structure and excellent barrier properties, PP was blended with PVA through reactive compatibilization by using polypropylene grafted maleic anhydride (PgM) as compatibilizer. A strong intermolecular interaction and entanglement between the two phases formed, leading to an increase of interfacial transition area, and the phase size decreased, changing from “sea-island” to “co-continuous” structure, while a relatively high PVA polymerization degree would lead to a decrease of intermolecular entanglement. In addition, the hydrogen bonding in the system was enhanced, although the crystallinity of the two phases decreased by blending. As a result, the oxygen transmission coefficient of the PP/PVA/PgM blends reached as low as 6.48 × 10−14 cm3·cm/(cm2·s·Pa), which was 48.1% lower than that of PP, while the impact toughness was improved by 56.5%. This work provides a feasible and economic method for enhancing the oxygen barrier ability of PP.

High strength, toughness, and wear-resistant photothermal management films assembled from nanocellulose, MXene sediments, and polyvinyl alcohol

High strength, toughness, and wear-resistant photothermal management films assembled from nanocellulose, MXene sediments, and polyvinyl alcohol

Implementation of the Box-Behnken Design in the Development and Optimization of Methotrexate-Loaded Microsponges for Colon Cancer.

Methotrexate (MTX) is an effective anticancer agent with limited water solubility, resulting in lower absorption in the gastrointestinal tract when administered orally. The present aim of the study is to construct sustained-release formulation of MTX-loaded microsponges with enhanced intestinal absorption and bioavailability using a quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method. The Box-Behnken design (BBD) was adopted for this purpose. Particle size, encapsulation efficiency (EE), Q 2 h % (% drug release in 2 h), and Q 24 h % (% drug release in 24 h) were used as dependent factors, and polyvinyl alcohol, solvent, and stirring speed were used as independent factors. The prepared microsponges were characterized to assess their particle size and encapsulation efficacy (%). Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry were used to verify the compatibility study. Moreover, the cytotoxicity study was conducted on the HT-29 cell line. The optimized formulation exhibited a % encapsulation efficacy of 87.191% and a particle size of 2.176 µm. Furthermore, the optimized formulation demonstrated sustained drug release (85.71%) in Simulated Gastric Fluid (SGF) fluid at different pHs 1.2, 6.8, and 7.4. The stability study of the optimized formulation revealed good stability in terms of drug release, % encapsulation efficacy, and particle size. The results of the optimized formulation demonstrated that the viability of HT-29 colon cancer (CC) cells was dose-dependently decreased by MTX-loaded microsponges. BBD was successfully employed for the development and optimization of MTX microsponges filled in Eudragit S-100-coated hard gelatin capsule, depicting their potential release of MTX from microsponges capsule only at the colonic region and found to be potential carrier system for CC.

Dual-Functional Carbon Dot Films: Blue-Light Filtration and Cyan-Light Conversion for Healthier White Light-Emitting Diodes.

Blue light emitted by commercial white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) in the 440-470 nm range poses ocular health risks with prolonged exposure. Effective filtration is crucial for health-conscious lighting, but traditional filters often cause color distortion by completely removing blue emission. In this study, we address this challenge by synthesizing carbon dots (CDs) with strong absorption at 460 nm and bright cyan emission at 485 nm, featuring a photoluminescence quantum yield of 65% and a narrow full width at half-maximum of 30 nm. When embedded in a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix, the CDs@PVA films effectively filter UV-to-blue light, reducing the blue-light ratio from 27.2% to 2.7%. At the same time, the cyan emission preserves the white light's spectral composition, achieving a color rendering index of 83 ± 5. This dual functionality demonstrates the potential of CDs to enable safer WLEDs that improve both ocular health and lighting quality.