Bioinspired Concentric-Cylindrical Multilayered Scaffolds with Controllable Architectures: Facile Preparation and Biological Applications

Multifunctional cross-sensitive magnetic alginate-chitosan-polyethylene oxide nanofiber sensor for human-machine interaction

Flexible nanofiber membranes are compelling materials for the development of functional multi-mode sensors; however, their essential features such as high cross-sensitivity, reliable stability and signal discrimination capability have rarely been realized simultaneously in one sensor. Here, a novel multi-mode sensor with a nanofiber membrane structure based on multiple interpenetrating networks of bidisperse magnetic particles, sodium alginate (SA), chitosan (CHI) in conjunction with polyethylene oxide hydrogels was prepared in a controllable electrospinning technology. Specifically, the morphology distributions of nanofibers could be regulated by the crosslinking degree of the interpenetrating networks and the spinning process parameters. The incorporation of SA and CHI endowed the sensor with desirable flexibility, ideal biocompatibility and skin-friendly property. Besides, the assembled sensors not only displayed preferable magnetic sensitivity of 0.34 T-1 and reliable stability, but also exhibited favorable cross-sensitivity, quick response time, and long-term durability for over 5000 cycles under various mechanical stimuli. Importantly, the multi-mode stimuli could be discriminated via producing opposite electrical signals. Furthermore, based on the signal distinguishability of the sensor, a wearable Morse code translation system assisted by the machine learning algorithm was demonstrated, enabling a high recognizing accuracy (>99.1 %) for input letters and numbers information. Due to the excellent multifunctional sensing characteristics, we believe that the sensor will have a high potential in wearable soft electronics and human-machine interactions.

Preparation of superhydrophobic, green, and eco-friendly modified polylactic acid foams for separation oil from water

Developing a facile and green strategy to fabricate polymer foams with super hydrophobicity and eco-friendliness for large-scale oil-water separation remains a challenge. In this study, biocompatible polylactic acid polymer foam modified by nanochitosan and stearic acid was used to remove petroleum and organic contaminants in water. All three materials used to prepare and modify this foam are green and inexpensive. F₄d foam (prepared by solvent displacement method) and F₈d foam (prepared by freeze dryer) can selectively remove oil pollutants in water with a contact angle of 164.01° and 168.51°, respectively. The maximum absorption capacity of oil pollutants by F₄d and F₈d are related to chloroform with values of 32.7 g/g and 48.51 g/g, respectively. Also, the minimum absorption capacity is related to n-hexane with values of 24.83 g/g and 32.06 g/g. The absorption percentage range of F₄d and F₈d foams after 15 cycles of absorption-desorption for chloroform is 82.56 % and 87.81 %, respectively, and for n-hexane, is 77.28 % and 85.99 %, respectively. During the continuous water-oil pumping test, the efficiency of foam can be maintained for >15 h, which shows promising hope for large-scale oil pollution cleaning.

Nano- And Microfiber-Based Fully Fabric Triboelectric Nanogenerator For Wearable Devices

The combination of the triboelectric effect and static electricity as a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been extensively studied. TENGs using nanofibers have advantages such as high surface roughness, porous structure, and ease of production by electrospinning; however, their shortcomings include high-cost, limited yield, and poor mechanical properties. Microfibers are produced on mass scale at low cost; they are solvent-free, their thickness can be easily controlled, and they have relatively better mechanical properties than nanofiber webs. Herein, a nano- and micro-fiber-based TENG (NMF-TENG) was fabricated using a nylon 6 nanofiber mat and melt blown nonwoven polypropylene (PP) as triboelectric layers. Hence, the advantages of nanofibers and microfibers are maintained and mutually complemented. The NMF-TENG was manufactured by electrospinning nylon 6 on the nonwoven PP, and then attaching Ni coated fabric electrodes on the top and bottom of the triboelectric layers. The morphology, porosity, pore size distribution, and fiber diameters of the triboelectric layers were investigated. The triboelectric output performances were confirmed by controlling the pressure area and basis weight of the nonwoven PP. This study proposes a low-cost fabrication process of NMF-TENGs with high air-permeability, durability, and productivity, which makes them applicable to a variety of wearable electronics.

Facile Fabrication of Superhydrophobic and Eco-Friendly Poly(lactic acid) Foam for Oil-Water Separation via Skin Peeling

Superhydrophobic polymer foams are a good candidate for oil absorption because of their lightweight and tunable porosity and have promising applications in the long-term application of oil-water separation. However, developing a facile and green strategy to fabricate pure polymer foams with superhydrophobicity and eco-friendliness for large-scale oil-water separation remains a challenge. Here, a facile template-free water-assisted thermally impacted phase separation approach combined with skin peeling for the fabrication of superhydrophobic and eco-friendly pure poly(lactic acid) (PLA) foam for oil-water separation is proposed for the first time. The PLA foam with special micro- and nanostructures possesses a water contact angle of 151°, and the maximum saturated adsorption capacity is 31.5 g/g. More importantly, during the continuous oil-water pumping experiment, the foam has an efficiency of 98% and could maintain for more than 15 h, showing a promising prospect for cleaning large-scale oil pollution.