Graphene/thermally expandable microsphere composite films with switchable thermal conductivity for intelligent thermal management.

Aerosol flow-driven instability and droplet-interfacial stabilization of mRNA lipid nanoparticles during mesh nebulization.

Electrospun PCL/PVA core-sheath nanofibres enabling staged antibiotic and peptide delivery for diabetic foot ulcer dressings.

Mussel catechol-inspired tough hydrogels with self-healing, wet adhesion and controllable drug release for wound dressing applications.

Electrospun multilayer nanofibers with modified antibacterial alginate derivative for enhanced spinnability and drug sustained release.

Shrimp is among the most perishable seafood commodities, and its freshness is still largely assessed through time-consuming laboratory methods. pH-responsive colorimetric films have received growing attention as they allow visual, real-time quality monitoring without specialized equipment. To date, anthocyanins from several floral sources have been tested in such systems, but purple Tulipa gesneriana petals, which are rich in anthocyanins and widely available as ornamental waste, have not been evaluated. In this study, tulip petal extract (TPE) was incorporated into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films to develop a smart indicator system for monitoring shrimp freshness. Incorporation of TPE (7.5-20 g kg-1, film basis) into PVA films significantly enhanced pH sensitivity and ammonia responsiveness while modulating structural and functional properties. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetric analyses indicated reduced crystallinity and thermal stability due to disruption of hydrogen bonding within the PVA matrix. Mechanical testing revealed a dose-dependent decrease in tensile strength (21.8 → 16.9 MPa) and a corresponding increase in elongation at break (213% → 286%), confirming a plasticizing effect. In addition, water solubility and water vapor permeability decreased, improving barrier performance. The films exhibited progressive color transitions from red to yellow-brown in response to increasing pH and total volatile basic nitrogen levels (112-616 mg kg-1) during refrigerated shrimp storage, demonstrating their effectiveness as real-time freshness indicators. TPE-enriched PVA films represent sustainable and cost-effective visual indicators for seafood freshness and show strong potential for broader intelligent food packaging applications. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

This study demonstrates active control of terahertz (THz) transmission by exploiting the humidity-driven swelling of a submicron poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) film integrated with metallic nanoresonators. Conventional THz modulators typically require bulk-like membranes tens of micrometers thick to compensate for weak light-matter interaction, which inevitably results in slow, diffusion-limited response times. In contrast, our approach utilizes field confinement near nanometer gaps to achieve high modulation depth with an ultrathin layer, offering a potential route to high-speed operation. Under 90% relative humidity, the 193 nm PVA film swells to 380 nm, exhibiting a rapid response time of 373 ms─nearly three times faster than 1.25 μm films. The hybrid structure achieves a 13.6% transmission modulation, driven by a localized dielectric transition at electric-field hot-spots. These findings provide a robust strategy for high-performance THz metasurfaces that bypass the traditional trade-off between modulation depth and response speed.

A synergistic Janus nanofiber dressing enables spatiotemporal sequential treatment of acute wounds.

ROS-responsive puerarin-loaded MOF hydrogel coating: Reprogramming the pathological microenvironment for enhanced diabetic bone regeneration.

An in situ-forming hydrogel with a sol-spray system promotes diabetic wound healing via synergistic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Hydrogels are increasingly explored as structural candidates for impact-mitigation and protection systems because of their biocompatibility, softness, and design versatility. However, conventional hydrogels typically suffer from inadequate mechanical properties and environmental instability, which severely hamper their practical applications. Here we report the use of quaternary ammonium-regulated networks to overcome these limitations, without the need for cumbersome postprocessing or high energy consumption. The approach enables controlled structural organization in polymers containing regularly spaced polar groups (e.g., polyvinyl alcohol, poly(acrylic acid), and polyacrylamide), transforming large, densely packed rigid domains into dynamic, adaptable supramolecular architectures. This arises from strong quaternary-ammonium-polymer associations that restrict local chain mobility and promote ordered segmental packing. Consequently, by tuning polymer composition, the hydrogels have widely tunable mechanics from brittle to ductile behavior, with ultimate stresses of 32.9-101.9MPa, strains of 29%-1670%, and toughness values of 22.7-434.1MJ m- 3. They also show exceptional impact-resistant performance (426.7MPa), combined with high energy dissipation (96.02%) and puncture resistance (1.3 J), which compares favorably to those of other tough hydrogels and even natural materials. The presented strategy is generalizable to other polymers, and could expand the applicability of structural hydrogels to more mechanically demanding conditions.

mRNA delivered by microneedle patch (MNP) can enable painless delivery, reduced need for healthcare expertise, and improved thermostability. In this study, we investigated formulation and manufacturing approaches for developing MNPs that deliver mRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) encoding luciferase as a reporter protein during MNP fabrication and storage, including mRNA-LNP concentration, formulation, pH, excipients, and backing material. MNPs were assessed for mRNA-LNP size, encapsulation efficiency, and protein expression in vitro and in vivo. MNPs fabricated with mRNA-LNPs initially prepared at a higher concentration yielded superior expression compared to mRNA-LNP concentration by centrifugation or tangential flow filtration. Acidic pH during MNP manufacturing enabled greater expression in vitro. However, no such correlation was observed in vivo. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) best stabilized mRNA-LNPs during the MNP manufacturing process amongst the tested polymers. Incorporating sugars in MNPs did not further improve stability. Low temperature drying (5°C) preserved mRNA functionality better compared to drying at 25°C and 40°C. Though there was significant activity loss initially (87% loss in 2 days at 40°C), mRNA expression was stabilized for extended subsequent periods even at accelerated conditions (10% additional loss after 28 days at 40°C). Our systematic approach identified key parameters for successful formulation and manufacturing approaches to incorporate mRNA-LNPs into MNPs, which could expand access to mRNA-based medical interventions.

We developed a soft sensor to predict polyvinyl alcohol viscosity and designed process conditions to reach the target range. Using squared and cross terms and time-series data improved prediction accuracy. In the case study, optimal conditions brought off-target products into range.

Mechanical properties enhanced injectable reactive oxygen species-responsive double network hydrogel promotes bone regeneration for the treatment of periodontitis.

Sorafenib (SB) is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, currently marketed as an oral dosage form. However, due to severe irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, the drug is facing decreased acceptability as a therapeutic agent. This study aimed to develop nano-scaffolds to increase the drug loading capacity and decrease the adverse drug reactions of SB. Polymers used for the preparation of nano-scaffolds were polylactic co-glycolic acid (PLGA), ethyl cellulose (EC) and polyvinyl alcohol which was used as a surfactant. A range of different formulations was designed using 12.5 mg and 25 mg of EC, while the concentration of the PLGA was kept constant throughout the study. All formulations with or without the drug were characterized for size by dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, hemolysis assay, cell viability assay, apoptotic assay and in-vivo evaluation. DLS results showed the minimum nano-scaffold size of 252.8 ± 12 nm, which was increased by increasing the concentration of polymer and drug. The physicochemical assessment showed the presence of minor interactions between the polymeric system and SB. The cell viability assay showed the minimum cell viability at 50.66 ± 0.13 % at a maximum concentration of SB-loaded formulations, whereas the presence of apoptotic bodies confirmed these results. The in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation showed the safety profile of the polymeric PLGA/EC in the absence of drug content. Therefore, the fabricated system may be used as a carrier system for SB and can further be included in tumor model studies.

Intelligent bilayer films based on polyvinyl alcohol/carboxymethyl cellulose-chitosan for efficient preservation and real-time freshness indication of beef.

Preparation of multifunctional hydrogel composed of polyvinyl alcohol/ chitosan/cellulose nanofiber/anthocyanin and its application in intelligent food packaging systems.

Sustainable resin development for the strategic upcycling of waste fly ash into high-performance polymer composites

Pathological scarring following skin trauma remains a formidable clinical challenge. Hydrogel dressings can promote wound closure by providing wet healing environment, yet the role of the dressing's mechanical microenvironment on the scar formation is overlooked. Herein, a series of mechanically-tunable hydrogels were produced from the same concentrations of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly(polyethylene glycol methacrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate) (PPG) without or with the addition of hyperbranched poly-l-lysine (HBPL) via a cyclic freeze-thaw method. All the hydrogels could maintain their mechanical strength under physiological conditions. Culture with fibroblasts on the hydrogels in vitro showed that the high-stiffness environment triggered the Piezo1 ion channel (the mechanosensitive ion channel), inducing a calcium influx, conveying severe scarring potential. The low-modulus hydrogels (∼20-29 kPa) significantly reduced scar elevation index, α-smooth muscle actin expression and collagen I/III ratios in a rabbit ear ventral full-thickness wound model in vivo. While the mechanical modulus of the hydrogel played a dominant role in scar suppression, the incorporation of HBPL provided a modest yet synergistic anti‑scarring benefit by effectively adsorbing key inflammatory factors. The material system demonstrated its great potential as a ready-to-use wound dressing for clinical translation. By identifying a mechanical adaptive window for wound dressings, this study provides a framework for the rational design of mechanotherapeutic biomaterials to achieve better scar-less tissue regeneration. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Pathological scarring following skin trauma remains a formidable clinical challenge. Hydrogel dressings can promote wound closure by providing a wet healing environment, yet the role of the dressing's mechanical microenvironment on the scar formation is overlooked. Herein, mechanically-tunable polyvinyl alcohol-based hydrogels with the same chemical compositions were prepared via a cyclic freeze-thaw method. The substrate stiffness modulated the Piezo1 mechanosensitive axis, triggering a stiffness-dependent calcium influx. The low-modulus dressings effectively suppressed pathological hyperplasia with the smallest scar elevation index, downregulated α-smooth muscle actin expression, and a transition toward a regenerative type III/I collagen ratio. By silencing the Piezo1-mediated mechanotransduction pathway through a low-modulus interface, this study provides a robust material design framework that optimizes the regenerative microenvironment, offering a promising dual-strategy approach for clinical wound management and the prevention of pathological fibrosis.

Optimized polysulfone/polyethylene glycol forward osmosis membranes with a poly(vinyl alcohol)/glutaraldehyde crosslinked interlayer for high water flux and low salt leakage