Stimuli-Responsive Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

The complex tissue-specific physiology that is orchestrated from the nano- to the macroscale, in conjugation with the dynamic biophysical/biochemical stimuli underlying biological processes, has inspired the design of sophisticated hydrogels and nanoparticle systems exhibiting stimuli-responsive features. Recently, hydrogels and nanoparticles have been combined in advanced nanocomposite hybrid platforms expanding their range of biomedical applications. The ease and flexibility of attaining modular nanocomposite hydrogel constructs by selecting different classes of nanomaterials/hydrogels, or tuning nanoparticle-hydrogel physicochemical interactions widely expands the range of attainable properties to levels beyond those of traditional platforms. This review showcases the intrinsic ability of hybrid constructs to react to external or internal/physiological stimuli in the scope of developing sophisticated and intelligent systems with application-oriented features. Moreover, nanoparticle-hydrogel platforms are overviewed in the context of encoding stimuli-responsive cascades that recapitulate signaling interplays present in native biosystems. Collectively, recent breakthroughs in the design of stimuli-responsive nanocomposite hydrogels improve their potential for operating as advanced systems in different biomedical applications that benefit from tailored single or multi-responsiveness.     

Structural,morphological, dielectric and magnetic properties of Zn-Zr co-doping yttrium iron garnet

In this study, yttrium iron garnet co-doped with Zn and Zr atoms with a chemical formula Y₃Zn_xZr_xFe_(5−2x)O₁₂ (x = 0.0-0.3) has been successfully prepared by the solid-state reaction method. The effects of doping concentration on the microstructure, crystal structure, magnetic properties, and dielectric properties of Y₃Zn_xZr_xFe_(5−2x)O₁₂ were investigated. The microstructure analysis indicates that co-doping of YIG with Zn and Zr can effectively reduce the grain size of the ceramic. The crystal structure results reveal that the doping concentration of Zn–Zr has substantial influence on the lattice parameters of YIG, such as, increases the lattice constant, crystal cell size, and interplanar spacing. However, the second phase of ZrO₂ appears once x ≥ 0.15. Additionally, the dielectric properties of YIG ferrite can be regulated using this Zn–Zr co-doping method. Zn–Zr co-doping can improve the dielectric stability and reduce the dielectric loss at high temperature. The magnetization measurement shows that the saturation magnetization is stabilized at x < 0.15, and the magnetic loss is decreased with the increase in the doping concentration. Overall, the findings show that the ceramic with x = 0.1 exhibits better properties included high saturation magnetization (24.607 emu/g), low magnetic loss (0.0025 @ 1 MHz), and relatively low dielectric loss (496 @ 400°C).     

Effects of ethylene-octene copolymer (POE) on the brittle to ductile transition of high-density polyethylene/POE blends

Three kinds of ethylene-octene copolymers (POE) were melt-blended with high-density polyethylene (PE-HD) in different proportions. Detailed characterizations were conducted to analyze their structural differences of POE and its effects in toughening PE-HD. The higher molecular weight POE can improve the toughness of PE-HD. 60:40 PE-HD/POE is elongated to break up to 700% while impact strength is 84.7 kJ/m² at −30°C, which is 21-fold of PE-HD. In the brittle to ductile transition (BDT) during impact, the fracture mechanism changes from the crazing mode to the shear yield-plastic deformation mode. The BDT temperature decreases as the POE molecular weight and its content increase. The interface strength in tension is estimated to access their effects. The Boltzmann-type models were successfully extended to describe the typical S-shaped curves in BDT of notched impact strength vs POE content or temperature. The supplementary decay model is suggested for the attenuation in toughening. Transition map in impact is proposed to select the use range of composition (c ) and temperature (T ) for high toughness. The curves are converted into 3D graph of T -c -impact strength for illustrating their coupling-separate effects, and further into the contour map of impact strength in T -c space for finding their partial equivalence.     

碳基采暖电热材料研究进展

近几年,由于节能与环保的需求,电取暖的方式得到大力的推广,电热材料的研究与应用受到人们广泛的重视。非金属碳基电热材料是新型的节能型电热采暖材料,本文重点对影响非金属碳基电热材料中的炭黑基电热材料、碳纤维基电热材料、碳晶电热材料电热性能的因素及相关应用进行了综述。     

含膦酸酯结构单元的磺胺衍生物合成与抗菌活性

为了寻找抗菌候选化合物,采用基于片段的药物发现方法,以氨基膦酸酯和磺酰氯为原料,设计合成了15个含膦酸酯结构单元的磺胺衍生物,经IR、1HNMR和13CNMR确认结构。采用两倍稀释法测定目标化合物的MIC(最小抑菌浓度)。结果表明:部分目标化合物呈潜在的抗菌活性,对所测试标准菌和耐药菌均有抑制活性。其中,化合物Ⅱf〔N-[(二乙氧基膦酰基)-4-氟苯甲基]-4-甲氧基苯磺酰胺〕对金黄色葡萄球菌(S. aureus)、大肠埃希菌(E. coli)、耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA)及耐氟喹诺酮类大肠杆菌(MREC)的MIC分别为32、64、128和128μg/mL,化合物Ⅱl〔N-[(二乙氧基膦酰基)-4-氟苯甲基]-4-氟苯磺酰胺〕对S. aureus、E. coli、MRSA及MREC的MIC分别为32、32、64和64μg/mL,抗菌活性优于对照药磺胺嘧啶。     

Assessment of local strain field in adhesive layer of an unsymmetrically repaired CFRP panel using digital image correlation

The present study focuses on experimental investigation of through the thickness displacement and strain field in thin adhesive layer in single sided (unsymmetrical) patch repaired CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced polymer) panel under tensile load. Digital image correlation (DIC) technique is employed to acquire the displacement and strain (longitudinal, peel and shear) field. Experimental determination of shear transfer length based on shear strain field obtained from DIC is introduced to estimate the optimum overlap length which is an essential parameter in patch design for the repair of CFRP structures. Further, DIC experiment with magnified optics is performed to get an insight into complex and localized strain field over thin adhesive layer especially at critical zones leading to damage initiation. The failure mechanism, load displacement behavior, damage initiation and propagation are closely monitored using DIC. The influence of patch edge tapering on strain distribution in adhesive layer is also investigated. The DIC successfully captures the global and localized strain field at critical zones over thin adhesive layer and further helps in monitoring the damage based on strain anomalies. Strains are found to have maximum magnitude at the patch overlap edge and the shear strain level in adhesive layer is higher than the peel strain. Normal tapering increases the peel strain and has negligible influence on shear strain level in adhesive layer. The recommended overlap length is found to be consistent with the recommendation in the literature. Whole field strain pattern and the overlap length obtained from experiment are further compared with the finite element analysis results and they appear to be in good coherence.     

Simultaneous accommodation of Dy3+ at the lattice site of β-Ca3(PO4)2 and t-ZrO2 mixtures: Structural stability,mechanical, optical,and magnetic features

Structurally stable β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂/t-ZrO₂ composite mixtures with the aid of Dy³⁺ stabilizer were accomplished at 1500°C. The precursors comprising Ca²⁺, P⁵⁺, Zr⁴⁺, and Dy³⁺ have been varied to obtain five different combinations. The results revealed the fact that complete phase transformation of calcium-deficient apatite to β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂ occurred only at 1300°C, whereas the evidence of t-ZrO₂ crystallization is obvious at 900°C. The dual occupancy of Dy³⁺ at β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂ and t-ZrO₂ structures was evident; however, Dy³⁺ initially prefers to occupy β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂ lattice until its saturation limit and thereafter accommodates at the lattice site of ZrO₂. The typical absorption and emission behavior of Dy³⁺ were noticed in all the systems and, moreover, the surrounding symmetry of Dy³⁺ domains has been determined from the luminescence study. All the systems ensured paramagnetic response that is generally contributed by the presence of Dy³⁺. A gradual increment in the phase content of t-ZrO₂ in the composite mixtures ensured a significant improvement in the hardness and Young's modulus of the investigated compositions.     

Static stress analysis of carbon nano-tube reinforced composite (CNTRC) cylinder under non-axisymmetric thermo-mechanical loads and uniform electro-magnetic fields

Static stresses analysis of carbon nano-tube reinforced composite (CNTRC) cylinder made of poly-vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is investigated in this study. Non-axisymmetric thermo-mechanical loads are applied on cylinder in presence of uniform longitudinal magnetic field and radial electric field. The surrounded elastic medium is modeled by Pasternak foundation because of its advantages to the Winkler type. Distribution of radial, circumferential and effective stresses, temperature field and electric displacements in CNTRC cylinder are determined based on Mori–Tanaka theory. The detailed parametric study is conducted, focusing on the remarkable effects of magnetic field intensity, elastic medium, angle orientation and volume fraction of carbon nano-tubes (CNTs) on distribution of effective stress. Results demonstrated that fatigue life of CNTRC cylinder will be significantly dependent on magnetic intensity, angle orientation and volume fraction of CNTs. Results of this research can be used for optimum design of thick-walled cylinders under multi-physical fields.     

垦71井区三维VSP资料波场分离方法应用研究

三维VSP资料是多偏移距VSP资料，资料中多种类型的波叠合在一起形成复杂波场。从复杂波场中分离出单一的保幅反射波波场是三维VSP波场分离的重要工作。常规二维VSP波场处理方法单一，难以适用于复杂的三维波场处理。针对三维VSP资料的波场特点，以分离上行反射P波为例，将单一波场分离方法加以适当组合，对垦71井区三维VSP实际资料进行了应用研究。结果表明，波场分离处理中叠加消去法和中值滤波相结合以及F—K滤波和中值滤波相结合的方法克服了单一方法的缺陷，波场处理后获得了波组特征明显、波场清晰单一的上行反射P波保幅波场，取得了较好的波场分离效果。