Sponge Surface Research Articles

Janus medical sponge dressings with anisotropic wettability for wound healing

Excessive exudates around the wound often lead to severe infections and prolonged nonhealing of the wound, and various dressings have been studied to solve this medical problem. Herein, we present novel Janus polyurethane (PU) sponge dressings with anisotropic surface wettability and unidirectional liquid transportation capability for wound healing. The specific wettability dressings were fabricated by immobilized superhydrophobic silica (SiO2) nanoparticles onto one surface of the superhydrophilic PU sponges with the assistance of polydopamine (PDA). Due to the draining force provided by the superhydrophilic part, the liquid could be transported unidirectionally through the superhydrophobic surface without wetting it. Based on this advantage, it was demonstrated that the Janus PU sponges could act as biomedical dressings to solve the problem of excessive wetting between the dressing and the wound, reduce the risk of infection, and accelerate the efficiency of the wound healing process. Thus, we believe that the novel Janus dressing is ideal for the management of excessive exudates around the wound and highly desirable for clinical applications.

Performance efficiency of MIPOH polymers as organic filler on cellulose pulp waste to form cellulosic paper sheets with biological evaluation and computational studies

In this elucidation, we synthesized novel molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPOH1-4) that were used as organic fillers on bagasse pulp to form cellulosic paper sheets, the formation of MIPOH1-4 from the reaction of enaminone 3 with methyl methacrylate monomer in the presence of ethylene glycol dimethyl acrylate and 2,2’-azobisisobutyronitrile. The obtained MIPOH1-4 was confirmed via FT-IR and SEM with different pore sizes. And we noticed that the increase of template 3 increases the hydrogen bond between monomer and template and gave sponge surface of MIPOH4. Furthermore, the computational energies of the template with different monomers utilize DFT/B3LYP/6-31G (d) level to know the stability of polymers and hydrogen bonding between them. So that we applied that in paper manufacture through the adsorption of MIPOH4 as an organic filler on bagasse pulp to form novel cellulosic paper sheets with different concentrations and these sheets which characteristic through FT-IR, SEM, sizing test, tensile strength, and elucidation their antimicrobial activity with theoretical and docking studies. The MIPOH4 and cellulosic paper sheets showed the thermal stability and high tendency of sizability of these paper sheets and concluded the interaction between cellulose fibers of pulp with MIPOH polymer with physical hydrogen bonding.

Highly interconnected porous PDMS/CNTs sandwich sponges with anti-icing/deicing microstructured surfaces

Three-dimensional flexible porous polydimethylsiloxane (pPDMS) materials are widely used in electronics due to their relatively large specific surface area, and so maintaining the electric charge at a high-humidity atmosphere is an issue that must be addressed. A method for combining centrifuging and hot embossing was proposed for rapid mass production of highly interconnected pPDMS sandwich sponges with microstructure on top layer. As optimized sacrificial templates, the salts were rearranged in the PDMS by this method, and so the high connectivity facilitated salts dissolving in 3 h, which greatly improved the efficiency of the whole fabrication period. The weight ratio of PDMS to salt was 1.0–3.5, and the porosity can be kept at ~ 70%. The combination of micron-scale truncated cones and highly interconnected pore structure endowed the sponge surface with a contact angle of up to ~ 153° and ice adhesion strength as low as ~ 6.78 kPa. The strategy to combine passive anti-icing with active deicing is to prepare PDMS/CNTs sandwich sponges with microstructure on top layer. For the PDMS/CNTs (7 wt%) sandwich sponge, the results show that the elongation at break is as high as ~ 161% and the stress is as low as ~ 23 kPa. Besides, its surface temperature rose rapidly from 25 to 100 °C in 10 s through far-infrared light (808 nm) irradiation, achieving a remote deicing effect. The superhydrophobic and anti-icing/deicing sponges with high toughness property are expected to be of use for further applications.

Low‐Cost, Highly Sensitive, and Flexible Piezoresistive Pressure Sensor Characterized by Low‐Temperature Interfacial Polymerization of Polypyrrole on Latex Sponge

AbstractPiezoresistive pressure sensors based on sponge are widely concerned because of their wide strain range, convenient signal acquisition, and good compressibility, yet it is still a challenge to acquire sponge‐based pressure sensors with low cost and excellent sensing performance. Herein, low‐priced FeCl3.6H2O and pyrrole (Py) are dispersed in deionized water to form FeCl3.6H2O/Py solution. Commercial latex sponge is impregnated into this solution to prepare conductive polypyrrole/latex (PPy/latex) sponge through low‐temperature interfacial polymerization. The surface of latex sponge is covered by the micro‐wrinkled PPy, which endows the PPy/latex sponge with a certain electrical conductivity. The specific porous structure and high elasticity of the latex sponge are the basic conditions for PPy/latex sponge excellent piezoresistive behaviors. PPy/latex sponge based piezoresistive pressure sensor shows high sensitivity (0.084 kPa−1 at below 3.12 kPa), wider sensing range (0–85.0%) and long durability over 3800 s (1800 cycles). At the same time, the ability of the PPy/latex sponge based piezoresistive pressure sensor to monitor human movement has been successfully evaluated in some application scenarios, such as bending fingers, grabbing objects, tiptoe rising, and crouching.

Superhydrophobic modification of cellulose sponge fabricated from discarded jute bags for oil water separation

Recent oil spills endanger the aquatic ecosystem besides huge loss of natural resources, hence require immediate attention. To develop economical solution for combating oil spills, discarded jute bags, with 60–65% cellulose were used to fabricate cellulose sponge using sol-gel method followed by freeze drying. The sponge surface was rendered superhydrophobic by dip coating with Tetraethyl-orthosilicate/Hexadecyltrimethoxy Silane (TEOS/HDTMS). The pristine and dip coated hydrophobic cellulose sponge (DHCS) were characterized for structure, morphology and hydrophobicity. FE-SEM confirmed the hydrophobic coating of TEOS/HDTMS on sponge surface, while superhydrophobicity was established with static contact angle of 151°. DHCS exhibited oil water separation efficiency of 98.5% and 97.2% and equilibrium adsorption efficiency of 35.55 g/g and 31.37 g/g for diesel oil and motor oil, respectively. The adsorption follow pseudo-second order kinetics with regression coefficients, R2 > 0.99. Equilibrium studies indicated that the Freundlich isotherm was best fit isotherm for oil water removal by DHCS. DHCS displayed significant recyclability with slight reduction of adsorption capacity to 85.2% for diesel oil and 82.5% for motor oil of its initial value after 10 cycles.

Facile fabrication of superhydrophobic, flame-retardant and conductive polyurethane sponge via dip-coating

Polydopamine (PDA) from the in-situ polymerization of dopamine and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) were used to construct a PDA/RGO composite coating with micro-nano roughness on the surface of polyurethane sponge (PUS) skeleton. Then, perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (PFOTES) was grafted onto the surface of PDA/RGO composite coating via the hydrolysis-condensation reaction of PFOTES and the hydroxyl of PDA/RGO composite coating, and the superhydrophobic, flame-retardant and conductive PUS (SFRC-PUS) was finally obtained. SFRC-PUS showed superior anti-droplet adhesion performance with the water contact angle of over 160°. Moreover, SFRC-PUS exhibited excellent flame retardancy. When suffering to fire, no melt droplet was generated in the combustion, and the fire extinguished within 42 s. Furthermore, SFRC-PUS possessed high electrical conductivity and excellent conductive stability. The resistance of SFRC-PUS still remained stable after 1000 loading–unloading cycles in the pressure range of 2–50 kPa. The preparation of SFRC-PUS was simple and efficient, showing great prospect in large-scale preparation of multi-functional waterproof flame-retardant and conductive materials.

Characterization and application of superhydrophobic and superoleophilic OTS-LDH/melamine sponge

The n-octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) had been coated onto the layered double hydroxides (LDH), and the resultant composite of OTS-LDH was further loaded on the surface of melamine sponge by a soaking method to obtain the OTS-LDH/melamine sponge for efficient oil adsorption in this work. The surface chemical compositions of the OTS-LDH/sponge and its precursors were characterized by EDS, XPS, and FTIR. The results from EDS, XPS, and FTIR showed that the OTS had been successfully coated on LDH. The surface morphologies from SEM for the melamine sponge before and after modification illuminated that the surface skeleton of the OTS-LDH/sponge took a rough micro-nanostructure, and the surface had been loaded with the low surface energy material of OTS, which made the OTS-LDH/sponge display the superhydrophobic properties. The experiments of oil–water separation proved that the OTS-LDH/sponge took an excellent oil–water efficiency, and the modified sponge still took the better oil–water separation performance with an oil adsorption capacity of 13.7–21.1 times of the mass of the pristine sponge even after undergoing repeated extrusion for 60 times during the repeated cycle test.

Estimates of sponge consumption rates on an Indo-Pacific reef

Determining predator diets is essential for understanding the strength of top-down processes and how they cascade through food webs. This is especially important for sponges, key members of benthic communities, whose dominance has increased in recent years on some coral reefs. However, the diversity of spongivorous fishes and the sponges they consume are relatively unknown. Here, we estimated sponge consumption by spongivorous fishes in the Wakatobi Marine National Park, Indonesia. We deployed cameras to identify fish biting at the dominant reef sponge Xestospongia spp. and then used gut content analysis and fish abundance estimates to quantify sponge consumption. In total, 33 species from 10 families of reef fish were identified taking bites from Xestospongia spp.; however, the 2 most prolific sponge-grazers, Ctenochaetus binotatus and Chaetodon kleinii, had no sponge in their guts, showing that for some fish, bites on sponge surfaces are not reliable evidence of sponge consumption. Gut contents indicated that Pygoplites diacanthus was an obligate spongivore, while Pomacanthus imperator, P. xanthometopon, Zanclus cornutus and Siganus punctatus regularly consumed sponges. Sponge consumption by these 5 spongivores was estimated at 46.6 ± 18.3 g sponge 1000 m-2 d-1. Molecular approaches developed to sequence the 18S gene for sponges consumed by angelfishes led to the successful amplification of 14 consumed sponges representing 6 orders of Porifera. We provide the first estimate of sponge consumption in the Indo-Pacific and are the first to successfully sequence partially digested sponges from fish stomachs, identifying several sponges previously unknown to be consumed by spongivores.

One-pot facile synthesis of PDMS/PDMAEMA hybrid sponges for surfactant stabilized O/W emulsion separation.

Hydrophobic/oleophilic sponges are excellent absorbent materials for oil contaminant removal. However, the application is limited in dealing with surfactant stabilized O/W emulsions. The water in the emulsion isolates the contact between the sponge and oil droplets. Consequently, the oil absorption efficiency is not ideal. Herein, to improve the oil absorption efficiency from anionic surfactant stabilized O/W emulsions, water responsive hybrid sponges were reported. To prepare such sponges, water soluble poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate) (PDMAEMA) was introduced into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sponges using table salt as a template and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as mechanical reinforcement in a one-pot method. Upon contact with an O/W emulsion, the water soluble PDMAEMA chain rose to the surface of the sponge, turning the hydrophobic surface into hydrophilic. Next, the tertiary amine groups in PDMAEMA ionized in water and carried positive charges which would cause the coagulation of oil droplets. Finally, the coagulated oil droplets were absorbed immediately by the oleophilic inner part of the sponge through the wicking effect. As a result, a Janus interface was generated in situ and sustained. Such material design synergistically contributed to a satisfactory hexadecane (HD) absorption efficiency of 178 ± 4% in 25 min. In contrast, the PDMS-MWCNT1.0% sponge could only absorb 9.8 ± 0.2% HD. Moreover, these sponges also presented robust mechanical performance and reusability, offering a new route for oil/water separation and oil pollution remediation in open water.

Opisthobranch grazing results in mobilisation of spherulous cells and re-allocation of secondary metabolites in the sponge Aplysina aerophoba

Sponges thrive in marine benthic communities due to their specific and diverse chemical arsenal against predators and competitors. Yet, some animals specifically overcome these defences and use sponges as food and home. Most research on sponge chemical ecology has characterised crude extracts and investigated defences against generalist predators like fish. Consequently, we know little about chemical dynamics in the tissue and responses to specialist grazers. Here, we studied the response of the sponge Aplysina aerophoba to grazing by the opisthobranch Tylodina perversa, in comparison to mechanical damage, at the cellular (via microscopy) and chemical level (via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry, MALDI-imaging MS). We characterised the distribution of two major brominated alkaloids in A. aerophoba, aerophobin-2 and aeroplysinin-1, and identified a generalised wounding response that was similar in both wounding treatments: (i) brominated compound-carrying cells (spherulous cells) accumulated at the wound and (ii) secondary metabolites reallocated to the sponge surface. Upon mechanical damage, the wound turned dark due to oxidised compounds, causing T. perversa deterrence. During grazing, T. perversa’s way of feeding prevented oxidation. Thus, the sponge has not evolved a specific response to this specialist predator, but rather relies on rapid regeneration and flexible allocation of constitutive defences.

Fabrication of Bacteria- and Blood-Repellent Superhydrophobic Polyurethane Sponge Materials.

Biofilm and thrombus formation on surfaces results in significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, which highlights the importance of the development of efficacious fouling-prevention approaches. In this work, novel highly robust and superhydrophobic coatings with outstanding multiliquid repellency, bactericidal performance, and extremely low bacterial and blood adhesion are fabricated by a simple two-step dip-coating method. The coatings are prepared combining 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (FAS-17)-coated hydrophobic zinc oxide and copper nanoparticles to construct hierarchical micro/nanostructures on commercial polyurethane (PU) sponges followed by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) treatment that is used to improve the binding degree between the nanoparticles and the sponge surface. The micro/nanotextured samples can repel various liquids including water, milk, coffee, juice, and blood. Relative to the original PU, the superhydrophobic characteristics of the fabricated sponge cause a significant reduction in the adhesion of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) by up to 99.9% over a 4-day period in a continuous drip-flow bioreactor. The sponge is also highly resistant to the adhesion of fibrinogen and activated platelets with ∼76 and 64% reduction, respectively, hence reducing the risk of blood coagulation and thrombus formation. More importantly, the sponge can sustain its superhydrophobicity even after being subjected to different types of harsh mechanical damage such as finger-wiping, knife-scratching, tape-peeling, hand-kneading, hand-rubbing, bending, compress-release (1000 cycles) tests, and 1000 cm sandpaper abrasion under 250 g of loading. Hence, this novel hybrid surface with robustness and the ability to resist blood adhesion and bacterial contamination makes it an attractive candidate for use in diverse application areas.

Multifunctional sponges with flexible motion sensing and outstanding thermal insulation for superior electromagnetic interference shielding

Although electrically conductive polymer composites (ECPCs) are promising in the application of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, how to endow the ECPCs multifunctionality is still a huge challenge. In this work, the novel polyurethane@polydopamine@silver nanoparticles (PU@PDA@Ag) sponges with excellent compressibility, flexible motion sensing, outstanding thermal insulation and superior EMI shielding properties were successfully fabricated by a facile bio-response method, which could be obtained by following two steps: (i) PDA was decorated on the surface of PU sponges by dopamine self-polymerization. (ii) Ag nanoparticles were in-situ grown on the surface of PU sponges by electroless plating. PU@PDA@Ag sponge had the maximum EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of 84 dB, and the corresponding specific SE and absolute SE were 2625 dB cm3 g−1 and 5250 dB cm2 g−1, much higher than those of other shielding foams/sponges. Meanwhile, PU@PDA@Ag sponge possessed low thermal conductivity (52.72 mW/mK), excellent compression resilience and piezoresistive properties.

Caffeic acid polymer rapidly modified sponge with excellent anti-oil-adhesion property and efficient separation of oil-in-water emulsions

The efficient treatment of high stability emulsion with small diameter and the prevention of oil contamination of materials are serious issues in the process of emulsion separation. In order to address those issues, we reported a fast and versatile hydrophilic surface coating technology that uses oxidants and diamines to synergistically promote the polymerization of caffeic acid (CA). It was found that amino groups can not only accelerate the polymerization of CA, but also promote the deposition of polymers on the sponge surface. Using silica nanoparticles to improve the roughness, superhydrophilic melamine sponge could be prepared, which exhibited excellent superhydrophlic-underwater superolephobic and anti-oil-adhesion properties. DFT simulation was employed to explore the potential mechanism of the anti-oil adhesion ability. In addition, combined with the mechanical compression strategy, the sponge exhibited a high efficiency of 99.10% with a permeation flux of 19080 ± 700 Lm-2 h-1 in emulsion separation just under the action of gravity. Moreover, based on the interaction between the surfactant and the surface of the material, the separation mechanism was discussed. Overall, this work provided an advanced method for the preparation of superhydrophilic sponge with anti-oil-fouling performance, which showed great potential in dealing with practically challenging emulsified wastewater.

Conductive elastic sponge-based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) for effective random mechanical energy harvesting and ammonia sensing

Abstract Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) based on elastic materials is increasing interests for irregular and random mechanical energies harvesting. However, the conductive design of the elastic materials in TENGs often limits its applications. Herein, a new conductive and elastic sponge-based triboelectric nanogenerator (ES-TENG) is developed for random mechanical energy harvesting, which integrates the elastic material and the conductive material on a flexible sponge to realize the collection of mechanical energies, particularly for irregular and random motions. The conductive elastic sponge is prepared by a simple dilute chemical polymerization of aniline to grow conductive polyaniline nanowires (PANI NWs) on the surface of elastic sponge. Due to the flexible deformation of sponge, it can harvest the kinetic energy of disordered motion with different amplitudes and from variable directions. As the triboelectric layer of ES-TENG, the porous sponge and polyaniline nanowires on its surface can provide a large contact area and improve the triboelectric efficiency. At the same time, the conductive polyaniline coating on the surface of sponge can also be used as the electrode of ES-TENG to conduct electrons and generate an output of 540 V and 6 μA respectively, which can be used on various flexible object surfaces to collect irregular and random mechanical energy ubiquitous in daily life. In addition, based on the NH3-sensing performance and the three-dimensional reticular structure of the polyaniline nanowires on the elastic sponge, the ES-TENG can make it work as self-powered sensor for detecting toxic NH3 with the detection limit up to 1 ppm and the response time less than 3 s. In view of the microporous and nanowire structures, elasticity, conductivity and easy fabrication of the conductive elastic sponge, the ES-TENG has promising applications in various irregular and random mechanical energy harvesting and self-powered NH3 sensors.

Photothermal and Joule heating-assisted thermal management sponge for efficient cleanup of highly viscous crude oil

Fast and efficient cleanup of high-viscosity oil spills on the sea is still a global challenge today. Traditional recycling methods are either energy demanding or inefficient. Hydrophobic/oleophilic sorbents are promising candidates to handle oil spills, but they have limited ability to recover high viscosity oil. In this work, we report a superhydrophobic/oleophilic carbon nanotubes (CNT) and polypyrrole (PPy) coated melamine sponge (m-CNT/PPy@MS). The CNT/PPy coating enables the sponge to convert light and electricity to heat, ensuring that the absorbent can adapt to various working environments. The rapid heat generation on the sponge surface can significantly reduce the viscosity of crude oil and accelerate the absorption rate, thereby achieving the purpose of rapid recovery of oil spills. Under one sun illumination (1.0 kW/m2) and an applied voltage (8 V), the surface temperature of the m-CNT/PPy@MS can reach 118.6 °C. The complete penetration time of oil droplets is 93.5% less than that of an unheated sponge. In addition, under half sun irradiation intensity and 11 V, the porous sponge absorbed 6.92kg/m2 of crude oil in the first minute, which is about 31 times as much as that of an unheated sponge. Finally, we demonstrate a continuous absorption system, consisting of a self-heating m-CNT/PPy@MS and peristaltic pump, that can continuously recover oil spills on the sea surface. In view of its unique design, lower cost and fast oil absorption speed, this work provides a new option to tackle large-scale oil spill disasters on the sea surface.

High-repeatability macro-porous sponge piezoresistive pressure sensor with polydopamine/polypyrrole composite coating based on in situ polymerization method

High-stability piezoresistive sensors are an important part of smart wearable systems. In this study, an in situ polymerization method was used to polymerize a layer of polydopamine (PDA) and poly-pyrrole (PPy) on the surface of the macro-porous sponge (MPS). The deposition of PDA was done using para toluene sulfonic acid (p-TSA), the pH of the solution being used to control the thickness of the PDA, that followed by PPy coating. The thin layer of PDA effects to give better adherent in-between MPS surface and PPy coating. The morphology, chemical composition, and pressure-sensing properties of the fabricated PDA/PPy pressure sensors have been widely investigated. The experimental results show that the PDA/PPy-MPS pressure sensor with the concentration of p-TSA is 0.05 M with PDA coating shows better performance in the pressure range of 1–10 kPa. The pressure sensor performance of PDA (0.05 M p-TSA)/PPy-MPS near 1000 pressure cycles related to average sensitivity, hysteresis, and non-linear errors are 7.20 ± 2.46 kPa−1, 13.51 ± 0.03%, and 3.30 ± 0.59%, respectively. The repeatability error of up and down near conductive signals are reported as 2.70 ± 0.93% and 2.25 ± 0.63%. Its minimum resistance is reported as 9.94 Ω when the pressure increased up to 119 kPa. The developed applications of PDA/PPy-MPS show promising ability to use as a pressure sensor and switching element in smart wearable devices.

In-House Validation of a Rinse–Membrane Filtration Method for Processing Fresh Produce Samples for Downstream Cultural Detection of Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria

More efficient sampling and detection methods of pathogens on fresh produce are needed. The purpose of this study was to compare a novel rinse-membrane filtration method (RMFM) to a more traditional sponge rubbing or stomaching method in processing jalapeño peppers and cantaloupe samples for detection of Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria monocytogenes. For jalapeño peppers inoculated with 106, 104, and 102 CFU of each pathogen and cantaloupes inoculated at 106 and 104 CFU, all pathogens were detected in all (100%) samples by RMFM at a 10-mL filtration volume, as well as by the stomacher and sponge rubbing methods. However, for cantaloupe inoculated at 102 CFU, detection differed by pathogen: S. enterica (20% RMFM, 60% stomacher, and 20% sponge), L. monocytogenes (40% RMFM, 60% stomacher, and 20% sponge), and E. coli O157:H7 (100% RMFM, 75% stomacher, and 75% sponge). When RMFM was compared with the other methods, in accordance with guidelines in the International Organization for Standardization 16140:2003 protocol, it produced values >95% in relative accuracy, relative specificity, and relative sensitivity. Overall, the RMFM performed similar to or better than the homogenization and sponge surface rubbing methods and is a good alternative for processing large numbers of produce samples for bacterial pathogen detection.

Bio-extract amalgamated sodium alginate-cellulose nanofibres based 3D-sponges with interpenetrating BioPU coating as potential wound care scaffolds.

In this work, sodium alginate (SA) based "all-natural" composite bio-sponges were designed for potential application as wound care scaffold. The composite bio-sponges were developed from the aqueous amalgamation of SA and cellulose nanofibres (CNFs) in bio-extracts like Rice water (Rw) and Giloy extract (Ge). These sponges were modified by employing a simple coating strategy using vegetable oil-based bio-polyurethane (BioPU) to tailor their physicochemical and biological properties so as to match the specific requirements of a wound care scaffold. Bio-sponges with shared interpenetrating polymeric network structures were attained at optimized BioPU coating formulation. The interpenetration of BioPU chains within the sponge construct resulted in the formation of numerous micro-networks in the interconnected microporous structure of sponges (porosity ≥75%). The coated sponge showed a superior mechanical strength (compressive strength ~3.8MPa, compressive modulus ~35MPa) with appreciable flexibility and recoverability under repeated compressive loading-unloading cycles. A tunable degradation behaviour was achieved by varying BioPU coating concentrations owing to the different degree of polymer chain entanglement within the sponge construct. The physical entanglement of BioPU chains with core structural components of sponge improved their structural stability by suppressing their full fragmentation in water-based medium without affecting its swelling behaviour (swelling ratio>1000%). The coated sponge surface has provided a suitable moist-adherent physical environment to support the adhesion and growth of skin cells (HaCaT cells). The MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and hemolytic assay revealed the non-toxic and biocompatible nature of coated sponges in vitro. Moreover, no signs of skin erythema or edema were observed during in vivo dermal irritation and corrosion test performed on the skin of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Our initial observations revealed the credibility of these sponges as functional wound care scaffolds as well as its diverse potential as a suitable substrate for various tissue engineering applications.

Preparation of TiO2/Sponge Composite for Photocatalytic Degradation of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol

Photocatalysis has emerged as a promising approach for treating environmental pollution. In this study, TiO2/sponge composites with good photocatalytic activity in visible light were prepared via a simple and efficient low-temperature process and applied to the degradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) present in papermaking wastewater. The process conditions for preparing TiO2/sponge composites were optimized by varying the TiO2 dosage, cellulose dosage, and surfactant concentration. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) results showed that TiO2 successfully adhered to the sponge surface and that the composites achieved a good recycling effect. Degradation occurred under visible light, and a degradation rate of 81% for 2,4,6-TCP with initial concentration of 20 mg/L was achieved in 4 h. The fragments were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS), which revealed the formation of 2-hydroxyvaleric acid (2-HVA) as a degradation product; a possible degradation mechanism is proposed to interpret these findings. Visible-light photocatalysis shows high potential for the rapid and environmentally friendly destruction of organic pollutants in papermaking wastewater.

Description and distribution of Desmacella hyalina sp. nov. (Porifera, Desmacellidae), a new cryptic demosponge in glass sponge reefs from the western coast of Canada

Glass sponges (Porifera, Hexactinellida) form globally unique reefs that support deep-sea biodiversity in the Canadian northeast Pacific. In February 2017, the largest known reefs were protected within the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area (HSQCS-MPA). Many studies that have established baseline biodiversity data for the MPA have focused on describing the crustaceans and fish living in the reefs, but the relationship between glass sponges and sponge epibionts has often been overlooked. We studied one of the more conspicuous sponge epibionts of the genus Desmacella Schmidt, 1870, a demosponge that encrusts the surface of reef-forming glass sponges. Using a remotely operated vehicle, samples of an encrusting sponge with three color morphotypes (yellow, white, and mauve) were collected from the northern reef complex of the HSQCS-MPA. Spicule and DNA analyses of COI sequences revealed the white morphotype to be distinct from the previously described species, D. austini Lehnert, Conway, Barrie & Krautter, 2005. Comparisons with other Desmacella samples collected from other regions in British Columbia waters since 1976 confirmed this to be a new species, which we describe here as Desmacella hyalina sp. nov. We also mapped the spatial distribution of the color morphotypes on the reefs and found that Desmacella spp. formed nearly 20% of live sponge cover at some sampling sites indicating its potential importance in the reefs. Our results expand on knowledge of the diversity of sponge epibionts in glass sponge reefs and highlight the importance of understanding cryptic species diversity especially for future monitoring in marine protected areas.