Polyethylene Research Articles

Robust tetra-armed poly (ethylene glycol)-based hydrogel as tissue bioadhesive for the efficient repair of meniscus tears.

Repair and preservation of the injured meniscus has become paramount in clinical practice. However, the complexities of various clinic stitching techniques for meniscus repair pose challenges for grassroots doctors. Hence, there is a compelling interest in innovative therapeutic strategies such as bioadhesives. An ideal bioadhesive must cure quickly in aqueous and blood environments, bind strongly, endure arthroscopic washing pressures, and degrade appropriately for tissue regeneration. Here, we present a tetra-poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogel bioadhesive, boasting high biocompatibility, ultrafast gelation, facile injectable operation, and favorable mechanical strength. In view of the synergistic effects of chemical anchor and physical chain entanglement to tightly bind the meniscus, a seamless interface was formed between the surrounding meniscal tissues and hydrogels, enabling the longitudinal tear of the meniscus fused in situ to withstand large tensile force with the adhesive strength of 541.5±31.4kPa and arthroscopic washout resistance of 29.4kPa. Superior to existing commercial adhesives, ours allows sutureless application and arthroscopic assistance, without requiring specialized clinical skills. This research is expected to significantly impact our understanding of meniscal healing and ultimately promote a simpler process for achieving functional and structural recovery in torn menisci.

Halogen-Bonding Nanoarchitectonics in Supramolecular Plasticizers for Breaking the Trade-Off between Ion Transport and Mechanical Strength of Polymer Electrolytes for High-Voltage Li-Metal Batteries.

The low ionic conductivity of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based polymer electrolytes at room temperature impedes their practical applications. The addition of a plasticizer into polymer electrolytes could significantly promote ion transport while inevitably decreasing their mechanical strength. Herein, we report a supramolecular plasticizer (SMP) to break the trade-off effect between ionic conductivity and mechanical properties in PEO-based polymer electrolytes. Accordingly, the SMP is constructed by tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (G4) and SbF3 through halogen bonds. The SMP-plasticized PEO electrolyte (PEO/SMP) presents a simultaneously enhanced ionic conductivity of 2.4 × 10-4 S cm-1 (25 °C) and a high mechanical strength of 8.1 MPa, compared to those of pristine PEO-based electrolytes. Benefiting from the halogen bonds between G4 and SbF3, the Li-O coordination in PEO/SMP is evidently weakened, and thus rapid Li+ transport is achieved. Furthermore, the PEO/SMP electrolyte possesses a wide electrochemical stability window of 4.5 V and, importantly, derives an inorganic-rich SEI with a low interfacial resistance on a lithium metal surface. By using PEO/SMP, the lithium-metal battery with the LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 cathode exhibits a good rate and long-term cycling performance with a capacity retention of 75.3% (500 cycles). This work offers a rational guideline for the design of polymer electrolytes suitable for high-performance lithium-metal batteries.

Pyrolysis behavior of sewage sludge coexisted with microplastics: Kinetics, mechanism, and product characteristics

Microplastics can accumulate in the excess sludge from wastewater treatment plants through domestic wastewater. This study investigated the co-pyrolysis behavior of sewage sludge coexisting with two types of microplastics (polyethylene (PE) and polylactic acid (PLA)) and found a superior comprehensive pyrolysis performance. By calculating the difference between theoretical and experimental weight loss during the pyrolysis process, it was found that the incorporation of microplastics PE and PLA created a synergistic effect at 270°C–450 °C, which was confirmed through the Malek method analysis from a pyrolysis mechanism perspective that it could increase the random nuclei on each particle, that is, enhance the heterogeneous diffusion of volatiles. The average activation energy was reduced by 84.99 kJ/mol, as determined using three isoconversional methods: Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), and Starink. Regarding the products, the aforementioned synergistic effect led to a reduction in char retention and larger specific surface area of the biochar, while the quantities of gaseous products and bio-oil escalated. Through a thermogravimetric analyzer and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-FTIR), an increase in aromatic hydrocarbons, alkanes, aldehydes, ethers, and esters in the gaseous products were detected. Pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) revealed an increase in hydrocarbons, esters, and alcohols in the bio-oil, and acids and aldehydes decreased, overall enhancing the quality of the bio-oil. This study elucidated that pyrolysis completely transformed microplastics in sludge, thus eliminating environmental risks and provided a theoretical reference for understanding the pyrolysis behavior of sludge containing microplastics.

Application of Y-MOF-CNT-Derived Y2O3-C@CNT Composites in Lithium-Sulfur Battery Separators.

In order to mitigate the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides in lithium-sulfur batteries, we propose a yttrium-metal-organic framework-carbon nanotube (Y-MOF-CNT)-derived Y2O3-C@CNT composite for modifying the separator in this study. The Y-MOFs, comprising yttrium (Y) rare earth metal and terephthalic acid, exemplify a prototypical category of metal-organic framework (MOF) materials. They manifest the advantageous attributes associated with MOFs while concurrently possessing distinctive catalytic traits ascribed to rare earth elements. In this study, Y-MOF nanoparticles were synthesized on carbon nanotube (CNT) substrates via a facile aqueous solution method, succeeded by high-temperature carbonization to yield Y2O3-C@CNT composite materials. These composites were subsequently employed as coatings on one side of polyethylene (PE) separators. The resultant Y2O3-C@CNT composite inherits the particle-like morphology and porosity from its precursor Y-MOF, alongside the inherent conductivity in carbon-based materials. This amalgamation is conducive to polysulfide capture and catalytic conversion processes within lithium-sulfur batteries. The application of the Y2O3-C@CNT-coated PE separator effectively mitigated polysulfide shuttle effects and significantly enhanced the battery electrochemical performance. At a sulfur loading level of 3 mg cm-2 under a 0.5 C rate, an initial discharge specific capacity of 900 mAh g-1 was achieved. After 400 cycles, the discharge specific capacity remained at 483.85 mAh g-1 with a capacity retention rate of 53.7%. Upon increasing sulfur loading to 5 mg cm-2, the discharge specific capacity at a lower rate (0.1 C) reached 817.8 mAh g-1; even after 100 cycles, it maintained a value of 700 mAh g-1 with a capacity retention rate of 85.6%. Notably, our modified Y2O3-C@CNT separator demonstrated exceptional cycling stability, even under conditions involving high sulfur loading.

Ultrasensitive In Vitro and Ex Vivo Tracking of 13C-Labeled PEG-PLA Degradation Products by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry.

Copolymers of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) are widely used in biomedical applications. As inactive ingredients in formulations, tracking their degradation byproducts in vivo stands as a major challenge but is a pivotal endeavor to ensure safety and further progress in clinical stages. Current bioanalytical methods used to monitor this degradation lack sensitivity and quantification precision. This study introduces a cost-effective synthetic route for 13C-labeled PEG-PLA copolymers, combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), to monitor their in vitro and ex vivo degradation. Incorporating 13C isotopes into copolymers significantly enhances MALDI-TOF sensitivity, allowing for precise detection of degradation products at exceedingly low concentrations. We demonstrate the ability to trace 13C-labeled PEG-PLA in complex biological media (urine, plasma) at concentrations 100 times lower than labeled PEG-PLA. Our results pave the way toward ultrasensitive in vivo tracking and elucidation of in vivo fate of this widely investigated polymer family.

A novel phosphorus-containing pyridinium porous organic framework with flame retardancy for enhancing efficiency and safety of solid-state polymer electrolyte

The development of solid-state polymer electrolytes (SPEs) is aimed to obtain electrolyte materials with higher ionic conductivity, better mechanical properties, and greater flame retardancy. Based on the above considerations, a phosphorus-containing cationic porous organic polymer (ZR-POF) is prepared through “one-pot” three-component polymerization and incorporated as a filler to prepare poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based SPEs. By padding ZR-POF into PEO, the ionic conductivity of SPEs is significantly improved, especially the PEO-10 % ZR-POF electrolyte exhibits the highest ionic conductivity at 90 °C (1.26 × 10−3 S cm−1). And due to the nanosheet characteristics of ZR-POF, SPEs exhibit excellent mechanical properties, could form a more stable interface with the metal anode. It is worth noting that the introduction of phosphorus endows SPEs with excellent flame retardant properties, achieving rapid self-extinguishing within 12 s under intense combustion. Therefore, the resultant battery based on PEO-10 % ZR-POF electrolyte exhibits excellent electrochemical performance, with a capacity maintained at 591.8 mAh g−1 and a capacity attenuation rate of 0.027 % over 500 cycles at 1 C.

Enhancing glioblastoma cytotoxicity through encapsulating O6-benzylguanine and temozolomide in PEGylated liposomal nanocarrier: an in vitro study

Glioblastoma (GBM) (grade IV glioma) is the most fatal brain tumor, with a median survival of just 14 months despite current treatments. Temozolomide (TMZ), an alkylating agent used with radiation, faces challenges such as systemic toxicity, poor absorption, and drug resistance. To enhance TMZ effectiveness, we developed poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) liposomes co-loaded with TMZ and O6-benzylguanine (O6-BG) for targeted glioma therapy. These liposomes, prepared using the thin-layer hydration method, had an average size of 146.33 ± 6.75 nm and a negative zeta potential (−49.6 ± 3.1 mV). Drug release was slower at physiological pH, with 66.84 ± 4.62% of TMZ and 69.70 ± 2.88% of O6-BG released, indicating stability at physiological conditions. The liposomes showed significantly higher cellular uptake (p < 0.05) than the free dye. The dual drug-loaded liposomes exhibited superior cytotoxicity against U87 glioma cells, with a lower IC50 value (3.99µg/mL) than the free drug combination, demonstrating enhanced anticancer efficacy. The liposome formulation induced higher apoptosis (19.42 ± 3.5%) by causing sub-G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. The novelty of our study lies in co-encapsulating TMZ and O6-BG within PEGylated liposomes, effectively overcoming drug resistance and improving targeted delivery for glioma treatment.

Effect of Modified Atmospheric Storage on Seed Longevity of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.

Seed quality is crucial for boosting seed production and productivity. However, soybean seeds are inherently short lived, quickly loses viability even under optimal storage conditions. Therefore, maintaining their quality during storage is of prime importance. Keeping these in view a laboratory experiment was conducted to study the effect of modified atmospheric storage on seed quality of soybean (cv. DSb 34). The freshly harvested seeds with initial moisture content of 7.6% were stored in different modified atmospheric gaseous combinations for nine months from November 2023- August 2024. Results indicated that the seeds stored with gaseous combination of 90 % CO2: 4 % O2: 6 % N2 in 700 gauge polyethylene bag maintained better seed quality in terms of germination (86.77%), shoot length (14.49 cm), root length (12.58 cm), dry weight(0.995g/ 10 seedlings), seedling vigour index I (2349) and II (86.34) upto the end of nine months storage period by recording higher total dehydrogenase (0.438 OD value), α- amylase (10.72 µmol of maltose released min-¹ ml-1 of enzyme) and catalase activity (1.364 µmol H₂O₂ decomposed minˉ¹gˉ¹ protein) compared to all other gaseous combinations and control. Hence, this technique can be used to maintain seed longevity with little deterioration, ensuring the quality of seeds even after extended storage period.

Defect Detection of Polyethylene Gas Pipeline Based on Convolutional Neural Networks and Image Processing

Abstract In this paper, a method based on image recognition was proposed to detect the defects of polyethylene (PE) gas pipeline, especially the deformation due to the indentation. First, the pipeline -detection VGG (PD-VGG) model was established based on the convolutional neural network (CNN), and appropriate model parameters were optimized through model training. The defect recognition rate of the improved model can reach 94.76%. Following, the weighted average graying algorithm was used to separate the defects characterized by deformation. Then, an improved gamma correction algorithm was applied to achieve image enhancement, and the interference of impurities adhered on intersurface of pipeline was also removed by using multilayer filters. The edge detection of the defect image was completed by using the Canny operator, and following the screening between the target contour and the interference contour by using top-contour. Finally, the algorithm for minimum outer rectangle algorithm was used to fit the defect contour, and the eigenvalues of deformation defects were extracted. The results indicate that the above defect detection method can better extract the deformation contour of the dented pipeline. The high agreement with the experimental results provides a basis for the research of effectively recognizing whether the pipeline has undergone ductile failure only through profile detection of defects.

Assessment of microplastic and heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils of Ernakulam District, Kerala, India.

Microplastics (MPs) and heavy metal pollution pose significant environmental threat, potentially leading to agroecosystem toxicity and jeopardizing food security. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the abundance and risk assessment of these pollutants in five different farmlands of Ernakulam district, India. Results showed that MPs content in agricultural fields near commercialized areas such as Kakkanad Nedungapuzha, Nedumbassery, and Kadamakuddy was dominant compared to Nechoor, a rural area. The average microplastic abundance was found to be 45.6 ± 26.4 items kg⁻1 dw. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) were the dominant polymers found in the soil samples, constituting 45% and 25% of the microplastic content, respectively. The pollution load index of MPs indicates that the sampling sites are considered to be polluted as PLI > 1 with hazard level I. The heavy metal pollution status follows the order: Cu (80.3 to 724mg/kg) > Zn (77 to 543.5mg/kg) > Cr (171.65 to 334.65mg/kg) > As (10.25 to 79.5mg/kg) > Pb (2.05 to 30.3mg/kg) > Cd (0.3 to 14.35mg/kg). Calculated pollution load index (PLI) geo-accumulation index (Igeo), ecological risk assessment values indicate that commercialized regions exhibit high levels of trace metals, namely Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Cr, posing a significant concern for the agricultural ecosystem. Our results indicate heightened microplastics and heavy metals prevalence in farmlands adjacent to commercial zones, necessitating immediate preventive action to mitigate increasing concentrations.

Upconversion Phosphor-Driven Photodegradation of Plastics.

Plastic waste poses a profound threat to ecosystems and human health, necessitating novel strategies for effective degradation in nature. Here, we present a novel approach utilizing upconversion phosphors as additives to significantly accelerate plastic photodegradation in nature via enhancing ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Pr-doped Li2CaGeO4 (LCGO:Pr) upconversion phosphors readily converting blue light into deep-UV radiation, dramatically improve photodegradation rates for polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics. In situ spectroscopic studies show that upconversion fluorescence initiates the photophysical cleavage of C-C and C-O bonds in the backbones of PE and PET, resulting in plastic degradation. Moreover, incorporating LCGO:Pr into polypropylene (PP) sheets realizes markedly enhanced photodamage, with the cracking area increasing by nearly 38-fold under simulated sunlight for 10 days. This underscores the potential of employing this approach for the construction of light-driven destructible polymers. Further optimization and exploration of material compatibility hold promise for developing sustainable photodegradable plastics.

Polyethylene Recycling Via Water Activation By Ball Milling.

Polyethylene (PE) is the most prevalent type of plastic waste and also the most challenging to depolymerize because of its inert carbon-carbon (C-C) bonds.[1] High temperature and noble metals are usually required for depolymerization.[2] To avoid using noble metals, costly reagents and harsh reaction conditions, it is worthwhile but challenging to explore new reaction pathways.[3] We report an unprecedented mechanochemical reaction of PE and water to result in shorter-chain alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, and ketones (Cn, where n ≲ 50), with above 80 % of starting carbon converted into these products, which could be a valuable feedstock for re-entering chemical value chains. This reaction is driven solely by ball milling, without heating and pressurizing. No costly catalysts are used. Instead, only earth-abundant Al₂O₃ was milled with reactants.

Polyethylene Recycling Via Water Activation By Ball Milling

Polyethylene (PE) is the most prevalent type of plastic waste and also the most challenging to depolymerize because of its inert carbon‐carbon (C–C) bonds.[1] High temperature and noble metals are usually required for depolymerization.[2] To avoid using noble metals, costly reagents and harsh reaction conditions, it is worthwhile but challenging to explore new reaction pathways.[3] We report an unprecedented mechanochemical reaction of PE and water to result in shorter‐chain alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, and ketones (Cn, where n ≲ 50), with above 80 % of starting carbon converted into these products, which could be a valuable feedstock for re‐entering chemical value chains. This reaction is driven solely by ball milling, without heating and pressurizing. No costly catalysts are used. Instead, only earth‐abundant Al₂O₃ was milled with reactants.

Bifunctional Portable Powder for Freshwater Production With Moisture Harvesting and Undrinkable Water Purification.

Freshwater scarcity threatens human survival, particularly in extreme environments like deserts, oceans, and space. Compatible atmospheric water harvesting and undrinkable water purification offer an affordable approach to solving freshwater scarcity in these extreme environments. Nonetheless, developing composite sorbent to attain efficient atmospheric water harvesting and undrinkable water purification remains challenging. Hence, a portable hybrid hygroscopic powder (HLC powder) consisting of hydroxypropyl chitosan, dibenzaldehyde-functional poly(ethylene glycol), lithium chloride (LiCl), and nano carbon black is proposed. The HLC powder with optimized LiCl load can capture moisture from the air, showing a high water uptake of 1.76g g-1 at 34% relative humidity (RH) and appropriate over a wide humidity from 34% to 75% RH. pH-responsive sol-gel transition induced by Schiff base bonds transforms the HLC solution into hydrogel, inhibiting hydrated salt leakage. Meanwhile, to achieve efficient undrinkable water purification, the LiCl-free hybrid powder is utilized to convert the undrinkable water, including seawater, dye water, and human urine, to photothermal hydrogel evaporators with low evaporation enthalpies and high evaporation rates ranging from 1.81 to 2.05 kg m-2 h-1 under one sun. This strategy establishes a new path to conveniently obtaining freshwater, breaking hydrological restrictions.

Catalytically Active Gold Nanoparticles on Star Block Co-polymer Matrix: Synthesis of Nanocomposite Film Exploring the Langmuir-Blodgett Technique.

Nanocomposites with metal nanoparticles and block copolymers distributed in a stable and robust thin film are preferred for various applications. Here, synthesis of such a nanocomposite is reported, which is composed of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) embedded in a tetronic 701 (T701) and 90R4 (T90R4) thin film matrix generated using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) thin film technique. Tetronics contain a monoprotonated central ethylenediamine group at pH 5 due to the presence of chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) in the subphase, along with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) blocks, both of which have the capacity to serve as the reducing agent toward chloroaurate anion (AuCl4-). Calorimetric experiments have shown that T90R4 has a better interaction with AuCl4-, probably due to its better electrostatic interaction with AuCl4- ions due to the higher % of the hydrophilic PEO group. On the other hand, the T701-AuNP interaction turned out to be more spontaneous due to the higher hydrophobicity of T701 (higher PPO/PEO ratio). The optical properties and structure/morphology of these nanocomposites are characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, and TEM. The composite thin film has the ability to catalyze the organic electron transfer process between p-nitrophenol and p-aminophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride. A clear correlation has been found between the reaction rates and the kind of tetronic present in the nanocomposite, which acted as a matrix and stabilizer toward AuNPs.

Engineered 1,6-heptadiynes based polymeric prodrug system for anticancer drug delivery

Diacetylene moiety, DIOL was functionalized to chemotherapeutic drug, chlorambucil and water-soluble moiety poly(ethylene glycol) to get our macromonomer MPDC. MPDC was further cyclopolymerized using Hoveyda Grubbs’ second generation catalyst, results to form polymer PMPDC. Amphiphilic nature of PMPDC leads to self-assembly in water which was characterized by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscope. Cytotoxicity study was performed with HeLa and MCF 7 cancer cell lines which showed good cell growth inhibition. As PMPDC having non-fluorescent property, another polymer PMPDP was synthesized as control using 1-pyrenebutyric acid which was further used for drug release at different pH and cell internalization study. Increase in internalization of polymer with increase in concentration was observed in both HeLa and MCF 7 cells. Formation of all the compounds were characterized carefully by different analytical techniques.

Neuron-Inspired Flexible Phase Change Materials for Ambient Energy Harvesting and Respiration Monitoring.

The global energy crisis and climate change pose unprecedented challenges. Wearable devices with personal thermoregulation and energy harvesting hold great promise for achieving energy savings and human thermal comfort. Here, inspired by neurons, a novel phase change material (PCM) is reported for efficient energy harvesting and respiratory monitoring via a self-assembly strategy. The use of gum arabic (GA) enabled the encapsulation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and the targeted distribution of carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (cMWCNTs) simultaneously in poly (ethylene vinyl acetate) (EVA) matrix. The material exhibits an outstanding toughness value of 14.88MJ m-3 and high elongation at a break of 565.67%, exhibiting remarkable flexibility. The material with sufficient melting enthalpy (71.11 J g-1) demonstrates high photothermal conversion efficiency (95.27%) under 808nm laser irradiation (105mW cm-2). In addition, due to the synergistic effect of GA and PEG, especially the formation of microdome structures on the surface, the material demonstrates ultrasensitive humidity responsiveness for respiratory monitoring with high precision, excellent repeatability, and fast response/recovery time (50.4/50.5ms). Notably, it shows great potential for moisture-electric generators (MEGs) with the function of non-contact sensing. This material opens the path toward next-generation wearable devices in energy conversion and health monitoring.

Oriented artificial nanofibers and laser induced periodic surface structures as substrates for Schwann cells alignment

People with injuries to the peripheral nervous system suffer from paralysis of the facial muscles, fingers and hands or toes and feet, often for the rest of their lives, due to its poor functional regeneration. Therefore, to improve patients’ quality of life, there is an urgent need for conduits that effectively support the healing of large defects in nerve pathways through specific guidance of nerve cells. This paper describes two specific methods for achieving directed growth of Schwann cells, a type of glial cells that can support the regeneration of the nerve pathway by guiding the neuronal axons in the direction of their alignment. One method uses aligned polyamide-6 (PA-6) nanofibers produced via electrospinning on a very fast rotating structured collector, which enables easy nanofiber detachment, without additional effort. The other method implies the exposure of a poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) foil to a KrF* laser beam, that renders a nanorippled surface topography. Schwann cell growth on these substrates was inspected after one week of cultivation by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For both methods we show that Schwann cells grow in a certain direction, predetermined by nanofiber and nanoripple orientation. In contrast, cells cultivated on randomly oriented nanofibers or unstructured surfaces, show an omnidirectional growth behavior. These two methods can be used to produce nerve conduits for the treatment of injuries to the peripheral nervous system.

Multifunctional hyaluronic acid ligand-assisted construction of CD44- and mitochondria-targeted self-assembled upconversion nanoparticles for enhanced photodynamic therapy.

Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been used as a potential nanocarrier for photosensitizers (PSs), which have demonstrated a great deal of promise in achieving an effective photodynamic therapy (PDT) for deep-seated tumors. However, overcoming biological barriers to achieve mitochondria-targeted PDT remains a major challenge. Herein, CD44- and mitochondria-targeted photodynamic nanosystems were fabricated through the self-assembly of hyaluronic acid-conjugated-methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-diethylenetriamine-grafted-(chlorin e6-dihydrolipoic acid-(3-carboxypropyl)triphenylphosphine bromide) polymeric ligands (HA-c-mPEG-Deta-g-(Ce6-DHLA-TPP)) and NaErF4:Tm@NaYF4 core-shell UCNPs (termed CMPNs). The CMPNs presented ideal physiological stability, a good drug loading capacity and an improved capacity for the generation of singlet oxygen (1O2) based on the FRET mechanism. Significantly, confocal images revealed that CMPNs not only facilitated cellular uptake through CD44-receptor-targeted endocytosis, subsequently enabling rapid evasion from endo-lysosomal sequestration, but also specifically targeted mitochondria, ultimately inducing a profound disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, which triggered apoptosis upon laser irradiation, thereby significantly enhancing the therapeutic effect. Furthermore, in vitro antitumor experiments further confirmed the substantial enhancement in cancer cell killing efficiency achieved by treating with CMPNs upon near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. This innovative approach holds promise for the development of NIR-laser-activated photodynamic nanoagents specifically designed for mitochondria-targeted PDT, thus addressing the limitations of the current PDT treatments.

Recent Progresses and Challenges to Determine Properties of Sulfonated Polyether Ether Ketone Based Electrolytes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Applications

AbstractThis review focuses on fillers, modifications, and methods used in the preparation and development of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (sPEEK) membranes, specifically for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications as proton exchange membranes in recent years. The primary objective is to evaluate recent advancements by emphasizing key characteristics such as water uptake and swelling capacity, ionic conductivity, methanol permeability, and single cell polarization tests. Additionally, the review aims to provide insights for future researchers by discussing the preparation processes of electrolytes. It presents basic characterizations of membrane electrolytes, including evaluations of the sulfonation degree and ion exchange capacities of sPEEK. High performance of membrane electrolytes is essential for commercialization and to compete with established membranes like Nafion®, which has a perfluorosulfonic acid structure. Therefore, the review also covers detailed characterization methods for assessing long‐term stability when available in the related studies. Numerical results and indicators are categorized and tabulated for easy interpretation and comparative analysis.