Three-dimensional Polymeric Network Research Articles

Activation Mechanism of Coal Gangue and Its Impact on the Properties of Geopolymers: A Review.

Coal gangue is one of the industrial solid wastes that may harm the human body through the ecosystem for a long time. Using coal gangue in geopolymer preparation can effectively reduce cement output and meet the sustainability requirements. In this paper, the physical and chemical characteristics, including the heavy metal content, of coal gangue from different producing areas are described. Then, the mechanism of physical activation (mechanical and thermal activation), chemical activation, and compound activation of coal gangue are illustrated. The machinability, as well as the mechanical, microscopic, and toxicity consolidation properties of geopolymers prepared from coal gangue, are summarized and analyzed. The results indicate that the coal gangue geopolymers can have higher mobility and mechanical strength than cement-based composites by adjusting high calcium element material, alkali activator content, Na2SiO3 modulus, and curing condition. After physical activation, coal gangue is used in geopolymer preparation with a chemical activator (alkali excitation agent), which effectively forms a three-dimensional silicon aluminate polymer network. The pore structure is dense, the physical fixation and chemical bonding are strengthened, and the solidification and adsorption of heavy metal ions are improved. Further, it can also be applied to solidifying radioactive waste, which is following the future development direction.

Molecular insights into impacts of EDTMPA on membrane fouling caused by transparent exopolymer particles (TEP)

While ethylenediamine tetramethylenephosphonic acid (EDTMPA) has been emerged as a stronger chelating agent than ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) for fouling mitigation, and transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) is a major foulant in membrane-based water treatment process, effects of EDTMPA on TEP fouling and the underlying mechanism have been not yet studied. In this study, Flory-Huggins lattice theory was combined with density functional theory (DFT) technology to explore this subject at molecular level. Filtration experiments showed a unimodal pattern of specific filtration resistance (SFR) of TEP sample with Ca2+ concentration in range of 0–3 mM. For the TEP sample with the peak SFR value at 1.5 mM Ca2+, continuous addition of EDTMPA (from 0 to 100 mg·L−1) resulted in a sustained decrease in SFR. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) mapping characterization showed the continuing decline of calcium content in the TEP layer with increase of EDTMPA addition, indicating that EDTMPA successfully captured Ca2+ from alginate‑calcium ligation (TEP), and then disintegrated the TEP structure. DFT simulation showed that Ca2+ preferentially coordinated with the terminal carboxyl groups of alginate chains to form a coordination configuration that is conducive to stretch the three-dimensional polymer network. Such a network corresponded to an extremely high SFR according to Flory-Huggins theory. EDTMPA addition caused disintegration of the coordination configuration of Ca2+ binding to terminal carboxyl groups, which further resulted in collapse and flocculation of TEP gel network structure, thus leading to a continuous SFR decrease. This work provided deep thermodynamic insights into effects of EDTMPA on TEP-associated fouling at molecular level, facilitating to better understanding and mitigation of membrane fouling.

Synthesis and Applications of Carboxymethyl Cellulose Hydrogels.

Hydrogels are basic materials widely used in various fields, especially in biological engineering and medical imaging. Hydrogels consist of a hydrophilic three-dimensional polymer network that rapidly expands in water and can hold a large volume of water in its swelling state without dissolving. These characteristics have rendered hydrogels the material of choice in drug delivery applications. In particular, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) hydrogels have attracted considerable research attention for the development of safe drug delivery carriers because of their non-toxicity, good biodegradability, good biocompatibility and low immunogenicity. Aiming to inspire future research in this field, this review focuses on the current preparation methods and applications of CMC gels and highlights future lines of research for the further development of diverse applications.

Mixed diffusion and relaxation kinetics model for hydrogels swelling

Hydrogels have a unique ability to retain moisture due to the three-dimensional (3D) polymeric network. Both swelling capacity and swelling rate of hydrogels depend on the various parameters such as solution concentration, temperature, degree of cross-linking in the gel structure, type of hydrophilic groups, pH, etc. Various kinetics models were presented for swelling rate, however, most of them only describe diffusion or polymer relaxation as the predominant process on the swelling rate. In the present work, a new mixed diffusion and relaxation kinetics model is presented by simultaneously considering both diffusion and polymer relaxation. The mixed model is able to cover the whole of swelling and provides insight into the gelling mechanism. By the presented kinetics model, it is possible to indicate the contribution of solvent molecules diffusion and polymer relaxation on the swelling rate and also determine the predominant process at different extent of swelling. It is shown that this new mixed kinetics model is a general equation and covers most of the previously reported equations. The presented mixed kinetics equation was used for modeling experimental swelling kinetics data at different conditions very well.

Free-Radical Photopolymerization for Curing Products for Refinish Coatings Market.

Even though there are many photocurable compositions that are cured by cationic photopolymerization mechanisms, UV curing generally consists of the formation of cross-linking covalent bonds between a resin and monomers via a photoinitiated free radical polymerization reaction, obtaining a three-dimensional polymer network. One of its many applications is in the refinish coatings market, where putties, primers and clear coats can be cured faster and more efficiently than with traditional curing. All these products contain the same essential components, which are resin, monomers and photoinitiators, the latter being the source of free radicals. They may also include additives used to achieve a certain consistency, but always taking into account the avoidance of damage to the UV curing—for example, by removing light from the innermost layers. Surface curing also has its challenges since it can be easily inhibited by oxygen, although this can be solved by adding scavengers such as amines or thiols, able to react with the otherwise inactive peroxy radicals and continue the propagation of the polymerization reaction. In this review article, we cover a broad analysis from the organic point of view to the industrial applications of this line of research, with a wide current and future range of uses.

Antimony Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Self-Supported Organic Carbon with a Polymer Network for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries Anode

Antimony (Sb) demonstrates ascendant reactive activation with lithium ions thanks to its distinctive puckered layer structure. Compared with graphite, Sb can reach a considerable theoretical specific capacity of 660 mAh g−1 by constituting Li3Sb safer reaction potential. Hereupon, with a self-supported organic carbon as a three-dimensional polymer network structure, Sb/carbon (3DPNS-Sb/C) composites were produced through a hydrothermal reaction channel followed by a heat disposal operation. The unique structure shows uniformitarian Sb nanoparticles wrapped in a self-supported organic carbon, alleviating the volume extension of innermost Sb alloying, and conducive to the integrality of the construction. When used as anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), 3DPNS-Sb/C exhibits a high invertible specific capacity of 511.5 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1 after 100 cycles and a remarkable rate property of 289.5 mAh g−1 at a current density of 10 A g−1. As anodes, LIBs demonstrate exceptional electrochemical performance.

Biomechanical origins of inherent tension in fibrin networks

Blood clots form at the site of vascular injury to seal the wound and prevent bleeding. Clots are in tension as they perform their biological functions and withstand hydrodynamic forces of blood flow, vessel wall fluctuations, extravascular muscle contraction and other forces. There are several mechanisms that generate tension in a blood clot, of which the most well-known is the contraction/retraction caused by activated platelets. Here we show through experiments and modeling that clot tension is generated by the polymerization of fibrin. Our mathematical model is built on the hypothesis that the shape of fibrin monomers having two-fold symmetry and off-axis binding sites is ultimately the source of inherent tension in individual fibers and the clot. As the diameter of a fiber grows during polymerization the fibrin monomers must suffer axial twisting deformation so that they remain in register to form the half-staggered arrangement characteristic of fibrin protofibrils. This deformation results in a pre-strain that causes fiber and network tension. Our results for the pre-strain in single fibrin fibers is in agreement with experiments that measured it by cutting fibers and measuring their relaxed length. We connect the mechanics of a fiber to that of the network using the 8-chain model of polymer elasticity. By combining this with a continuum model of swellable elastomers we can compute the evolution of tension in a constrained fibrin gel. The temporal evolution and tensile stresses predicted by this model are in qualitative agreement with experimental measurements of the inherent tension of fibrin clots polymerized between two fixed rheometer plates. These experiments also revealed that increasing thrombin concentration leads to increasing internal tension in the fibrin network. Our model may be extended to account for other mechanisms that generate pre-strains in individual fibers and cause tension in three-dimensional proteinaceous polymeric networks.

Formation of Perpendicular Three-Dimensional Network Nanostructures in ABC-Star Copolymers.

Perpendicular arrangements in hierarchical nanostructures show superior mechanical properties and provide great opportunities for the development of advanced membranes because different channels are connected by the perpendicular blocks. To obtain these perpendicular hierarchical nanostructures, we use a simple ABC-star terpolymer because of the existence of a conjunction point by using the A block as a polymer network template, which guides the BC phase separation accordingly. When χBC is 10, the formed phase and the corresponding phase diagram of ABC-star are similar to those of the AB2 triblock because of the mixture between the B and C blocks. Interestingly, at increased χBC, the B and C blocks phase separate, leading to the formation of a series of perpendicular nanostructures, including perpendicular lamellae-in-lamellae (L⊥), perpendicular lamellae-in-cylinder (C⊥), and even perpendicular three-dimensional polymer networks (G⊥). The corresponding stability regime of each phase is identified through the dedicated comparison of free energy, which can well explain the missing phases in Monte Carlo simulations. Our proposed design route according to the target structures and the calculated phase diagram can provide useful guidance for the experimental observation of these perpendicular nanostructures.

Preparation of an Intelligent pH Film Based on Biodegradable Polymers for Monitoring the Food Quality and Reducing the Microbial Contaminants.

Hydrogel refers to a three-dimensional cross-linked polymeric network made of synthetic or natural polymers that can hold water in its porous structure. The inclusion of hydrophilic groups in the polymer chains, such as amino, carboxyl, and hydroxyl groups, contributes to the hydrogel's water-holding ability. At physiological temperature and pH, these polymeric materials do not dissolve in water, but they do swell significantly in aqueous media. Hydrogel can be manufactured out of almost any water-soluble polymer, and it comes in a variety of chemical compositions and bulk physical properties. Hydrogel can also be made in a variety of ways. Hydrogel comes in a variety of physical shapes, including slabs, microparticles, nanoparticles, coatings, and films. Due to its ease of manufacture and self-application in clinical and fundamental applications, hydrogel has been widely exploited as a drug carrier. Contact lenses, artificial corneas, wound dressing, suture coating, catheters, and electrode sensors are some of the biomedical applications of hydrogels. The pigment color changes were observed from colorless to pale pink followed by dark reddish-pink. Anthocyanin was produced in large quantities and tested using a UV-visible spectrophotometer. At 450–550 nm, the largest peak (absorbance) was detected, indicating the presence of anthocyanin. The FTIR analysis of this study shows the different stretches of bonds at different peaks: 2918.309 (-C-H alkane stretch), 2812.12 (-C-H aldehyde weak intensity), 192320.37/cm (C-O bend), 21915.50, 2029.08/cm (-C=C arene group), 1906.94/cm (=C-H aromatics), 1797.78/cm (=C-H), 1707.94 (-C=O ketene), 1579.70, 1382.96 (C-H alkane strong bend), 889.18/cm (C-H aromatics plane bend), and 412.77/cm (-C-CI strong bond). The spectra of the PVA/chitosan film depict the peak's formation: 1571.88, 1529.55, 1500.62/cm (C-H alkene strong bend), 1492.90, 1483.26, 1467.83/cm (C-H alkene strong bond), 670.48, 443.63, 412.77/cm (-O-H carboxylic acids with great intensity), 1708.93 (-C=O ketone), and 1656.0/cm (alkenyl C=C stretch strong bond).

Xyloglucan-cellulose nanocrystal-chitosan double network hydrogels for soft actuators

Hydrogels are materials consisting in a three-dimensional hydrophilic polymer network swollen by a large amount of water. An efficient strategy to elaborate hydrogels consists in establishing double polymer networks in order to achieve high strengthening effect associated with other properties such as transparency or tailored swelling capacities. In this work, we prepared cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)-based hydrogels with double network architecture. The first network, formed by CNC and xyloglucan (XG), takes advantage of entropic adsorption of XG on the CNC surface while the second network relies on electrostatic interactions between cationic Chitosan (Chi) and anionic CNC. Hydrogels with different compositions were successfully prepared. Their rheological properties, stability and swelling capacities in acidic and alkaline solutions were evaluated. Internal organizations of hydrogels were investigated by fluorescence microscopy after polymer labelling and polarized optical microscopy (POM). Finally, hydrogels demonstrated excellent mechanical properties and tuneable swelling capacities that can be leveraged for the implementation of bilayer actuators. Therefore, we further prepared films composed of two hydrogels layers, each one containing a different XG/CNC ratio. Bilayered films bended in water due to the asymmetric swelling of layers and the extent of bending can be modulated by the XG/CNC ratio.

Modulation of Molecular Structure and Mechanical Properties of κ-Carrageenan-Gelatin Hydrogel with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

Hydrogels, three-dimensional hydrophilic water-insoluble polymer networks having mechanical properties inherent for solids, have attracted continuous research attention over a long time period. Here, we studied the structure and properties of hydrogel based on gelatin, κ-carrageenan and CNTs using the combination of SAXS, PXRD, AFM microscopy, SEM and rheology methods. We have shown that the integration of polysaccharide and protein in the composite hydrogel leads to suppression of their individual structural features and homogenization of two macromolecular components into a single structural formation. According to obtained SAXS results, we observed the supramolecular complex, which includes both polysaccharide and protein components associated with each other. It was determined that hydrogel structure formed in the initial solution state (dispersion) retains hydrogel supramolecular structure under its cooling up to gel state. The sizes of dense cores of these polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) slightly decrease in the gel state in comparison with PEC water dispersion. The introduction of CNTs to hydrogel does not principally change the type of supramolecular structure and common structural tendencies observed for dispersion and gel states of the system. It was shown that carbon nanotubes embedded in hydrogel act as the supplementary template for formation of the three-dimensional net, giving additional mechanical strengthening to the studied system.

Probing the growth and mechanical properties of Bacillus subtilis biofilms through genetic mutation strategies

Bacterial communities form biofilms on various surfaces by synthesizing a cohesive and protective extracellular matrix, and these biofilms protect microorganisms against harsh environmental conditions. Bacillus subtilis is a widely used experimental species, and its biofilms are used as representative models of beneficial biofilms. Specifically, B. subtilis biofilms are known to be rich in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and other biopolymers such as DNA and proteins like the amyloid protein TasA and the hydrophobic protein BslA. These materials, which form an interconnected, cohesive, three-dimensional polymer network, provide the mechanical stability of biofilms and mediate their adherence to surfaces among other functional contributions. Here, we explored how genetically-encoded components specifically contribute to regulate the growth status, mechanical properties, and antibiotic resistance of B. subtilis biofilms, thereby establishing a solid empirical basis for understanding how various genetic engineering efforts are likely to affect the structure and function of biofilms. We noted discrete contributions to biofilm morphology, mechanical properties, and survival from major biofilm components such as EPS, TasA and BslA. For example, EPS plays an important role in maintaining the stability of the mechanical properties and the antibiotic resistance of biofilms, whereas BslA has a significant impact on the resolution that can be obtained for printing applications. This work provides a deeper understanding of the internal interactions of biofilm components through systematic genetic manipulations. It thus not only broadens the application prospects of beneficial biofilms, but also serves as the basis of future strategies for targeting and effectively removing harmful biofilms.

Mechanism of Self-Healing Hydrogels and Application in Tissue Engineering.

Self-healing hydrogels and traditional hydrogels both have three-dimensional polymeric networks that are capable of absorbing and retaining a large amount of water. Self-healing hydrogels can heal and restore damage automatically, and they can avoid premature failure of hydrogels caused by mechanical damage after implantation. The formation mechanism of self-healing hydrogels and the factors that hydrogels can load are various. Researchers can design hydrogels to meet the needs of different tissues through the diversity of hydrogels Therefore, it is necessary to summarize different self-healing mechanisms and different factors to achieve different functions. Here, we briefly reviewed the hydrogels designed by researchers in recent years according to the self-healing mechanism of water coagulation. Then, the factors for different functions of self-healing hydrogels in different tissues were statistically analyzed. We hope our work can provide effective support for researchers in the design process of self-healing hydrogel.

In-situ construction of chemically bonded conductive polymeric network for high-performance silicon microparticle anodes in lithium-ion batteries

The development of high-performance silicon anodes through a simple synthetic process remains unprecedentedly challenging due to poor cycle life caused by huge volume changes, especially for Si micro-particle (SiMP) anodes with a commercial level of Si loading (>1 mg cm−2). Herein, we develop an in-situ method for constructing three-dimensional (3D) conductive polymeric network during electrode preparation, as high-performance SiMP anodes. The 3D conductive polymeric network thus produced is composed of polyacrylic acid (PAA) chemically bonded onto amino-functionalized long singe-wall carbon nanotubes (SCNT–NH2–L). The resultant composite electrode, at a high Si loading of 5.37 mg cm−2, can realize an ultrahigh areal capacity of 10.59 mAh cm−2 and stable cycle performance at 600 mA g−1, which is superior to most of the state-of-the-art representative Si-based anodes. The enhanced electrochemical performance is due to the synergistic effect of conductive network and chemical bonds, which can buffer volume expansion and constrain the pulverized silicon particles to keep the electrical contact. Our work provides a novel but simple strategy to enable stable operation for advanced high-capacity anodes with large volume changes.

Hofmeister Effect Mediated Strong PHEMA-Gelatin Hydrogel Actuator.

Hydrogels have become popular in biomedical applications, but their applications in muscle and tendon-like bioactuators have been hindered by low toughness and elastic modulus. Recently, a significant toughness enhancement of a single hydrogel network has been successfully achieved by the Hofmeister effect. However, little has been conducted for the Hofmeister effect on the hybrid hydrogels, although they have a special network structure consisting of two types of polymer components. Herein we fabricated hybrid poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)-gelatin hydrogels with high mechanical performance and stimuli response. An ideal bicontinuous phase separation structure of the PHEMA (rigid) and gelatin (ductile) was observed with embedded microdisc-like gelatin in the three-dimensional polymeric network of PHEMA. A significant enhancement of mechanical performance by the Hofmeister effect was attributed to the salting-out-induced stronger and closer interphase interaction between PHEMA and gelatin. A superior comprehensive mechanical performance with fracture elongation over 650%, tensile strength of 5.2 MPa, toughness of 13.5 MJ/m3, and modulus of 45.6 MPa was achieved with the salting-out effect. More specifically, the synergy of phase separation and Hofmeister effect enable the hydrogel to contract with an enhanced modulus in high-concentration salt solutions, while the same hydrogel swells and relaxes in dilute solutions, exhibiting an ionic stimulus response and excellent shape-memory properties like those of most artificial muscle. This is manifested in highly stretched, twisted, and knotted hydrogel strips that can rapidly recover their original shape in a dilute salt solution. The high strength and modulus, ionic stimuli response, and shape memory property make the hybrid hydrogel a promising material for bioactuators in various biomedical applications.

Ionically conductive gelatin-based hybrid composite hydrogels with high mechanical strength, self-healing, and freezing-tolerant properties

Conductive hydrogels with stretchable three-dimensional (3D) polymeric networks are considered promising alternatives for electronic flexible devices. Fabrication of hydrogels with high mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and functionality remains challenging. In this study, we synthesized chitin nanowhiskers (ChNs) and dialdehyde microfibrillated cellulose (DAMFC) fibrils synergistically enhanced by gelatin hybrid composite hydrogels. The Schiff base reaction between the aldehyde groups on the surface of the DAMFC fibrils and the amino groups on the gelatin chains formed a large dynamic 3D network. DAMFC fibrils were covalently connected to the gelatin matrix, affording hydrogels high mechanical strength with a compressive stress of 3.482 MPa under 85% strain. In contrast, the dynamic Schiff base bonds endowed the hydrogels with good self-healing properties. The mechanical properties of the hydrogels were further improved by immersing the hybrid composite hydrogels in NaCl solution. The hydrogels exhibited good electrical conductivity and freezing tolerance. The investigated all-natural-polymer conductive hydrogels with high mechanical strength, freezing tolerance, and self-healing properties showed great potential in the fields of tissue engineering and flexible electronics.

Slow Release and Water Retention Performance of Poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)/Fulvic Acid/Oil Shale Semicoke Superabsorbent Composites.

In order to achieve the low cost and multifunction of superabsorbent composites, poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)/fulvic acid/oil shale semicoke (PAMFS) were prepared by free radical copolymerization of fulvic acid (FA), oil shale semicoke (OSSC), acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AM). The characterization results revealed that FA and OSSC were involved in the construction of a three-dimensional (3D) polymeric network via hydrogen bonding and covalent bonding. The water absorbency of PAMFS in distilled water and 0.9 wt% NaCl solution were 724 and 98 g/g, respectively. The FA slow release of PAMFS in distilled water and soil was achieved due to the interaction between FA and the functional groups of polymer matrix by hydrogen bonds and covalent bonds. Furthermore, the potted experiment indicated that the addition of PAMFS to soil can significantly promote plant growth compared with the pure soil, regardless of water stress. Therefore, this superabsorbent composite showed an excellent water absorption and salt resistance performance, as well as nice slow release performance. It has a broad application prospect.

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) copolymer nanogels with thermogelling ability prepared by a single step of dispersion polymerization

The copolymer nanogels composed of two N-substituted acrylamides with different water solubility, N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM, water-soluble) and N-t-butylacrylamide (TBAM, water-insoluble), were prepared by free-radical polymerization in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a dispersant and found to exhibit thermogelling ability at very low concentrations. To investigate the structure of the P(NIPAM-TBAM) nanogel and its formation mechanism in dispersion polymerization, we prepared the nanogels by changing the conditioning time, which is the time between the addition of SDS to the monomer solution and the start of polymerization, and compared the thermogelling properties of the resultant nanogels. As the conditioning time increased, (i) the hydrodynamic diameter of the nanogel decreased, (ii) the sol–gel and gel-syneresis transition temperatures of the nanogel dispersion decreased, and (iii) the storage moduli of the nanogel dispersion in a gel state increased. These results indicate that the P(NIPAM-TBAM) nanogel has a block-like structure composed of the TBAM-rich brushes and the NIPAM-rich core with three-dimensional polymer network, and that the TBAM ratio in the brushes increases with an increase in the conditioning time. It should be noted that the critical gelation concentration of the P(NIPAM-TBAM) nanogel dispersion was very low (∼1.3 wt%), compared with other thermogelling polymers reported in literatures. This low gelation concentration can be attributed to the gel structure of the nanogel core because the NIPAM-rich core can retain water inside even when the TBAM-rich brushes are dehydrated and crosslink with each other to induce gelation of the system.

A solid hydrogel electrolyte-based micro fuel cell integrated with fuel/electrolyte storage and supply function

<p indent="0mm">The development of modern electronic equipment has promoted the requirement of portable energy conversion devices. Fuel cell technology provides clean energy, which is pollution-free and environmentally friendly. It has several advantages, including instant charge and discharge, high energy conversion efficiency, and easy integration. However, some disadvantages, such as high membrane cost, membrane aging degradation, water management, and extra ohmic resistance, always accompany the conventional proton exchange membrane fuel cells. In addition, the need for fuel tanks increases the system cost and complexity and is unfavorable for miniaturization. Meanwhile, the consumption of additional pump power to supply fuel can reduce the net output power. Hydrogel is a solid-state electrolyte crosslinked via a three-dimensional (3D) polymer network. The porous structure possesses the abilities of water absorption and retention and enables fast mass transport on a large surface. To simplify the fuel cell system and improve its portability, a miniature fuel cell integrated with the fuel/electrolyte is proposed, complemented by the water retention and ionic conductivity of the hydrogel. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel is prepared via cyclic freezing and thawing processes. The effects of the fabrication parameters, such as swelling and conductivity of the hydrogel electrolyte, are discussed, and the fuel cell equipped with hydrogel is set up. The micromorphology and element distribution of PVA hydrogel are evaluated via physical characterization. PVA hydrogel has an abundant 3D-network porous structure. PVA polymer chain is uniformly crosslinked, and C and O elements are evenly distributed on the hydrogel skeleton. Fourier transform infrared results reveal numerous hydrophilic groups in PVA hydrogel, including –OH and C–O, contributing to the high aqueous electrolyte absorption ability. The effect of fabrication parameters on the swelling properties of PVA hydrogel is studied. The high concentration and efficient repetitive freezing-thawing can improve the crosslinking density of the PVA hydrogel, firmness of the hydrogel skeleton, and swelling equilibrium. The PVA hydrogel in 5% can reach the maximum swelling ratio of 45%. The ionic conductivity of the PVA hydrogel after swelling the electrolyte is studied via the two-probe AC impedance method. The various freezing-thawing cycles have an evident influence on the crosslinking density and pore size of the hydrogel, contributing to the absorption ability of the sulfuric acid solution and hydrogel conductivity. The ionic conductivity of the PVA hydrogel in 5% by three freeze-haw cycles is up to 173.61 mS/cm, facilitating the hydrogen ion conduction in the fuel cell. Moreover, the effects of hydrogel thickness, fuel concentration, and electrolyte concentration on the fuel cell performance are studied. Consequently, when the hydrogel electrolyte thickness is <sc>6 mm</sc> using <sc>6 mol/L</sc> HCOOH and <sc>1 mol/L</sc> H₂SO₄, the maximum power density is <sc>2.5 mW/cm²</sc>, and the limiting current density is <sc>15.2 mA/cm².</sc> The results suggest that the fuel cell can be used to power miniature portable electronic devices.

Effect of chest physiotherapy on cystic fibrosis sputum nanostructure: an experimental and theoretical approach

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease characterized by the production of viscous mucoid secretions in multiple organs, particularly the airways. The pathological increase of proteins, mucin and biological polymers determines their arrangement into a three-dimensional polymeric network, affecting the whole mucus and impairing the muco-ciliary clearance which promotes inflammation and bacterial infection. Thus, to improve the efficacy of the drugs usually applied in CF therapy (e.g., mucolytics, anti-inflammatory and antibiotics), an in-depth understanding of the mucus nanostructure is of utmost importance. Drug diffusivity inside a gel-like system depends on the ratio between the diffusing drug molecule radius and the mesh size of the network. Based on our previous findings, we propose the combined use of rheology and low field NMR to study the mesh size distribution of the sputum from CF patients. Specifically, we herein explore the effects of chest physiotherapy on CF sputum characteristic as evaluated by rheology, low field NMR and the drug penetration through the mucus via mathematical simulation. These data show that chest physiotherapy has beneficial effects on patients, as it favourably modifies sputum and enhances drug penetration through the respiratory mucus.Graphical abstract