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Fernández-González A, de Lorenzo González C, Rodríguez-Varillas S, Badía-Laíño R. Bioactive silk fibroin hydrogels: Unraveling the potential for biomedical engineering. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 278:134834. [PMID: 39154674 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Silk fibroin (SF) has received special attention from the scientific community due to its noteworthy properties. Its unique chemical structure results in an uncommon combination of macroscopically useful properties, yielding a strong, fine and flexible material which, in addition, presents good biodegradability and better biocompatibility. Therefore, silk fibroin in various formats, appears as an ideal candidate for supporting biomedical applications. In this review, we will focus on the hydrogels obtained from silk fibroin or in combination with it, paying special attention to the synthesis procedures, characterization methodologies and biomedical applications. Tissue engineering and drug-delivery systems are, undoubtedly, the two main areas where silk fibroin hydrogels find their place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Fernández-González
- Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Oviedo, Av. Julian Claveria 8, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Clara de Lorenzo González
- Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Oviedo, Av. Julian Claveria 8, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Sandra Rodríguez-Varillas
- Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Oviedo, Av. Julian Claveria 8, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Rosana Badía-Laíño
- Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Oviedo, Av. Julian Claveria 8, 33006 Oviedo, Spain.
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Fang W, Yu Z, Gao G, Yang M, Du X, Wang Y, Fu Q. Light-based 3D bioprinting technology applied to repair and regeneration of different tissues: A rational proposal for biomedical applications. Mater Today Bio 2024; 27:101135. [PMID: 39040222 PMCID: PMC11262185 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.101135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
3D bioprinting technology, a subset of 3D printing technology, is currently witnessing widespread utilization in tissue repair and regeneration endeavors. In particular, light-based 3D bioprinting technology has garnered significant interest and favor. Central to its successful implementation lies the judicious selection of photosensitive polymers. Moreover, by fine-tuning parameters such as light irradiation time, choice of photoinitiators and crosslinkers, and their concentrations, the properties of the scaffolds can be tailored to suit the specific requirements of the targeted tissue repair sites. In this comprehensive review, we provide an overview of commonly utilized bio-inks suitable for light-based 3D bioprinting, delving into the distinctive characteristics of each material. Furthermore, we delineate strategies for bio-ink selection tailored to diverse repair locations, alongside methods for optimizing printing parameters. Ultimately, we present a coherent synthesis aimed at enhancing the practical application of light-based 3D bioprinting technology in tissue engineering, while also addressing current challenges and future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhuo Fang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Institute of Urologic Reconstruction, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Zhenwei Yu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Institute of Urologic Reconstruction, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Guo Gao
- Key Laboratory for Thin Film and Micro Fabrication of the Ministry of Education, School of Sensing Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Ming Yang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Institute of Urologic Reconstruction, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Xuan Du
- Key Laboratory for Thin Film and Micro Fabrication of the Ministry of Education, School of Sensing Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Institute of Urologic Reconstruction, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Qiang Fu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Eastern Institute of Urologic Reconstruction, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200233, China
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Zhao W, Yang X, Li L. Soy Protein-Based Wound Dressings: A Review of Their Preparation, Properties, and Perspectives. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024. [PMID: 39058925 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c05106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Wound healing is a major challenge worldwide, and people have been researching wound dressings that can promote wound healing for decades. Natural biobased materials, such as polysaccharides and proteins, have been widely used in the development of wound dressings. Among them, soy protein-based materials have attracted the interest of a wide range of researchers due to their safety, biocompatibility, controlled degradation, and ability to be mixed with other materials. However, there has been a lack of comments on these soy protein-based wound dressings. This work reviews various forms of soy protein-based wound dressings, such as hydrogels, films, and others, which could be prepared through physical/chemical cross-linking with synthetic or natural polymers. The important role played by soy protein-based materials in the wound healing phase and their properties will be examined, such as their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, angiogenesis-promoting, cellular biocompatibility, self-healing ability, adhesion, antimicrobial, and tunable mechanical properties. Additionally, insights into the market prospects and trends for soy protein dressings are provided, clarifying the enormous development potential of soy protein as a new type of wound repair material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhao
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Xiaoyu Yang
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Liang Li
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China
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Alshehhi JRMH, Wanasingha N, Balu R, Mata J, Shah K, Dutta NK, Choudhury NR. 3D-Printable Sustainable Bioplastics from Gluten and Keratin. Gels 2024; 10:136. [PMID: 38391466 PMCID: PMC10887891 DOI: 10.3390/gels10020136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Bioplastic films comprising both plant- and animal-derived proteins have the potential to integrate the optimal characteristics inherent to the specific domain, which offers enormous potential to develop polymer alternatives to petroleum-based plastic. Herein, we present a facile strategy to develop hybrid films comprised of both wheat gluten and wool keratin proteins for the first time, employing a ruthenium-based photocrosslinking strategy. This approach addresses the demand for sustainable materials, reducing the environmental impact by using proteins from renewable and biodegradable sources. Gluten film was fabricated from an alcohol-water mixture soluble fraction, largely comprised of gliadin proteins. Co-crosslinking hydrolyzed low-molecular-weight keratin with gluten enhanced its hydrophilic properties and enabled the tuning of its physicochemical properties. Furthermore, the hierarchical structure of the fabricated films was studied using neutron scattering techniques, which revealed the presence of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic nanodomains, gliadin nanoclusters, and interconnected micropores in the matrix. The films exhibited a largely (>40%) β-sheet secondary structure, with diminishing gliadin aggregate intensity and increasing micropore size (from 1.2 to 2.2 µm) with an increase in keratin content. The hybrid films displayed improved molecular chain mobility, as evidenced by the decrease in the glass-transition temperature from ~179.7 °C to ~173.5 °C. Amongst the fabricated films, the G14K6 hybrid sample showed superior water uptake (6.80% after 30 days) compared to the pristine G20 sample (1.04%). The suitability of the developed system for multilayer 3D printing has also been demonstrated, with the 10-layer 3D-printed film exhibiting >92% accuracy, which has the potential for use in packaging, agricultural, and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nisal Wanasingha
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Rajkamal Balu
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Jitendra Mata
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS), Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Lucas Heights, NSW 2232, Australia
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Kalpit Shah
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Naba K Dutta
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Namita Roy Choudhury
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
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Argenziano R, Viggiano S, Esposito R, Schibeci M, Gaglione R, Castaldo R, Fusaro L, Boccafoschi F, Arciello A, Della Greca M, Gentile G, Cerruti P, D'Errico G, Panzella L, Napolitano A. All natural mussel-inspired bioadhesives from soy proteins and plant derived polyphenols with marked water-resistance and favourable antibacterial profile for wound treatment applications. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 652:1308-1324. [PMID: 37659303 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.08.170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Implementation of tissue adhesives from natural sources endowed with good mechanical properties and underwater resistance still represents a challenging research goal. Inspired by the extraordinary wet adhesion properties of mussel byssus proteins resulting from interaction of catechol and amino residues, hydrogels from soy protein isolate (SPI) and selected polyphenols i.e. caffeic acid (CA), chlorogenic acid (CGA) and gallic acid (GA) under mild aerial oxidative conditions were prepared. EXPERIMENTS The hydrogels were subjected to chemical assays, ATR FT-IR and EPR spectroscopy, rheological and morphological SEM analysis. Mechanical tests were carried out on hydrogels prepared by inclusion of agarose. Biological tests included evaluation of the antibacterial and wound healing activity, and hemocompatibility. FINDINGS The decrease of free NH2 and SH groups of SPI, the EPR features, the good cohesive strength and excellent underwater resistance (15 days for SPI/GA) under conditions relevant to their use as surgical glues indicated an efficient interaction of the polyphenols with the protein in the hydrogels. The polyphenols greatly also improved the mechanical properties of the SPI/ agarose/polyphenols hydrogels. These latter proved biocompatible, hemocompatible, not harmful to skin, displayed durable adhesiveness and good water-vapour permeability. Excellent antibacterial properties and in some cases (SPI/CGA) a favourable wound healing activity on dermal fibroblasts was obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Argenziano
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy; Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Sara Viggiano
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Esposito
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Martina Schibeci
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Rosa Gaglione
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Rachele Castaldo
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials - CNR, Pozzuoli (NA), Italy
| | - Luca Fusaro
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Italy
| | | | - Angela Arciello
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Marina Della Greca
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Gennaro Gentile
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials - CNR, Pozzuoli (NA), Italy
| | - Pierfrancesco Cerruti
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB-CNR), CNR, Pozzuoli (Na), Italy
| | - Gerardino D'Errico
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Lucia Panzella
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
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Madappura AP, Madduri S. A comprehensive review of silk-fibroin hydrogels for cell and drug delivery applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:4868-4886. [PMID: 37860231 PMCID: PMC10583100 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrogel scaffolds hold great promise for developing novel treatment strategies in the field of regenerative medicine. Within this context, silk fibroin (SF) has proven to be a versatile material for a wide range of tissue engineering applications owing to its structural and functional properties. In the present review, we report on the design and fabrication of different forms of SF-based scaffolds for tissue regeneration applications, particularly for skin, bone, and neural tissues. In particular, SF hydrogels have emerged as delivery systems for a wide range of bio-actives. Given the growing interest in the field, this review has a primary focus on the fabrication, characterization, and properties of SF hydrogels. We also discuss their potential for the delivery of drugs, stem cells, genes, peptides, and growth factors, including future directions in the field of SF hydrogel scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alakananda Parassini Madappura
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, 300044 Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Srinivas Madduri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Surgery, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Lyu Y, Liu Y, He H, Wang H. Application of Silk-Fibroin-Based Hydrogels in Tissue Engineering. Gels 2023; 9:gels9050431. [PMID: 37233022 DOI: 10.3390/gels9050431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Silk fibroin (SF) is an excellent protein-based biomaterial produced by the degumming and purification of silk from cocoons of the Bombyx mori through alkali or enzymatic treatments. SF exhibits excellent biological properties, such as mechanical properties, biocompatibility, biodegradability, bioabsorbability, low immunogenicity, and tunability, making it a versatile material widely applied in biological fields, particularly in tissue engineering. In tissue engineering, SF is often fabricated into hydrogel form, with the advantages of added materials. SF hydrogels have mostly been studied for their use in tissue regeneration by enhancing cell activity at the tissue defect site or counteracting tissue-damage-related factors. This review focuses on SF hydrogels, firstly summarizing the fabrication and properties of SF and SF hydrogels and then detailing the regenerative effects of SF hydrogels as scaffolds in cartilage, bone, skin, cornea, teeth, and eardrum in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihan Lyu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yusheng Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Houzhe He
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Hongmei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
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Haas S, Schmieg B, Wendling P, Guthausen G, Hubbuch J. Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Time-Dependent Wetting and Swelling Behavior of an Auxetic Hydrogel Based on Natural Polymers. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14225023. [PMID: 36433150 PMCID: PMC9694485 DOI: 10.3390/polym14225023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A time-dependent understanding of swelling characteristics and external stimuli behavior is crucial for the development and understanding of functional hydrogels. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers the opportunity to study three-dimensional (3D) soft materials nondestructively. This technique is already widely used as an image-based medical diagnostic tool and is applied here to evaluate complex structures of a hydrogel-a double network of chemically crosslinked casein enhanced with alginate-fabricated by 3D printing. When hydrogel disks immersed in four different liquid systems were analyzed, the material exhibited distinct system-dependent behavior characterized by rheological and mechanical measurements. Further material functionalization was achieved by macroscopic structuring of the hydrogel as an auxetic material based on a re-entrant honeycomb structure. MRI offers the advantage of monitoring overall changes in the area of the analyzed specimen and internal structural changes simultaneously. To assess the behavior of this complex structure, a series of short MRI measurements, each lasting 1.7 min, captured liquid diffusion and thus structural swelling behavior. A clear dependence of external and internal structural changes as a function of liquid properties causing these changes was observed. In conclusion, this approach might pave the way for prospective applications to monitor liquid diffusion into (e.g., vascularization) and swelling behavior of functional hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Haas
- Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Molecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Fritz-Haber-Weg 2, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Barbara Schmieg
- Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Molecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Fritz-Haber-Weg 2, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Institute of Functional Interfaces, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Paul Wendling
- Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Molecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Fritz-Haber-Weg 2, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Gisela Guthausen
- Institute of Mechanical Process Engineering and Mechanics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Adenauerring 20b, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Engler Bunte Institute Water Chemistry and Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Adenauerring 20b, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jürgen Hubbuch
- Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Molecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Fritz-Haber-Weg 2, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Institute of Functional Interfaces, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
- Correspondence:
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Tran TS, Balu R, Mettu S, Roy Choudhury N, Dutta NK. 4D Printing of Hydrogels: Innovation in Material Design and Emerging Smart Systems for Drug Delivery. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:1282. [PMID: 36297394 PMCID: PMC9609121 DOI: 10.3390/ph15101282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Advancements in the material design of smart hydrogels have transformed the way therapeutic agents are encapsulated and released in biological environments. On the other hand, the expeditious development of 3D printing technologies has revolutionized the fabrication of hydrogel systems for biomedical applications. By combining these two aspects, 4D printing (i.e., 3D printing of smart hydrogels) has emerged as a new promising platform for the development of novel controlled drug delivery systems that can adapt and mimic natural physio-mechanical changes over time. This allows printed objects to transform from static to dynamic in response to various physiological and chemical interactions, meeting the needs of the healthcare industry. In this review, we provide an overview of innovation in material design for smart hydrogel systems, current technical approaches toward 4D printing, and emerging 4D printed novel structures for drug delivery applications. Finally, we discuss the existing challenges in 4D printing hydrogels for drug delivery and their prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Naba Kumar Dutta
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
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Xu H, Su Y, Liao Z, Liu Z, Huang X, Zhao L, Duan R, Hu Y, Wei Y, Lian X, Huang D. Coaxial bioprinting vascular constructs: A review. Eur Polym J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2022.111549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Electrospun Composite Nanofiltration Membranes for Arsenic Removal. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14101980. [PMID: 35631863 PMCID: PMC9147594 DOI: 10.3390/polym14101980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, significant attention has been paid towards the study and application of mixed matrix nanofibrous membranes for water treatment. The focus of this study is to develop and characterize functional polysulfone (PSf)-based composite nanofiltration (NF) membranes comprising two different oxides, such as graphene oxide (GO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) for arsenic removal from water. PSf/GO- and PSf/ZnO-mixed matrix NF membranes were fabricated using the electrospinning technique, and subsequently examined for their physicochemical properties and evaluated for their performance for arsenite–As(III) and arsenate–As(V) rejection. The effect of GO and ZnO on the morphology, hierarchical structure, and hydrophilicity of fabricated membranes was studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), small and ultra-small angle neutron scattering (USANS and SANS), contact angle, zeta potential, and BET (Brunauer, Emmett and Teller) surface area analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to study the elemental compositions and polymer-oxide interaction in the membranes. The incorporation of GO and ZnO in PSf matrix reduced the fiber diameter but increased the porosity, hydrophilicity, and surface negative charge of the membranes. Among five membrane systems, PSf with 1% ZnO has the highest water permeability of 13, 13 and 11 L h−1 m−2 bar−1 for pure water, As(III), and As(V)-contaminated water, respectively. The composite NF membranes of PSf and ZnO exhibited enhanced (more than twice) arsenite removal (at 5 bar pressure) of 71% as compared to pristine PSf membranes, at 43%, whereas both membranes showed only a 27% removal for arsenate.
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