Articles tagged with Polymers
Electrochromic polymers offer a broad range of colors, including four shades of brown, for use in sunglasses, window tinting, and other applications. The materials can be easily switched on and off using low-voltage electrical current.
A team of researchers discovered that negatively charged molecules in biological scaffolds act like an 'ion sponge,' capturing calcium ions to guide crystallization. This new understanding may aid in developing advanced materials for energy and environmental applications.
A team from Brookhaven National Laboratory and Columbia University has designed materials that can convert more absorbed light energy into useful electricity by producing two electrical charge carriers per unit of light. This approach enables easy manufacturing processes, including 'printing' solar-energy-producing material like ink.
A new approach uses a comb-shaped polymer to protect enzymes from the immune system, reducing allergic reactions and maintaining efficacy. The method has potential applications in treating allergies and protecting rapidly degraded therapeutic molecules.
A new class of conjugated polymers has been discovered, approaching disorder-free limits and enabling faster, more efficient flexible electronics. These materials could be used to create lightweight, flexible displays for smartphones and tablets.
The study demonstrates that thermosponge nanoparticles can effectively deliver a variety of proteins while preserving their biological activity. The new platform is designed to eliminate the need for harsh solvents and shows promise for delivering protein-based drugs for human therapeutics.
Researchers found that particles bind under low temperatures but melt at moderate levels, then re-connect at higher temperatures. This discovery has potential for creating 'smart materials' and sharpening 3D printing detail.
The study reveals that biopolymer filaments undergo a transition from entangled spaghetti-like structures to aligned bow-shaped filaments when in flow, leading to dramatic shear-thinning behavior. This finding may aid the search for renewable alternatives and provide insights into biological processes such as cytoplasmic flow.
A new study reveals that slime-producing molecules produced by seaweed aid in the transmission of diseases like Toxoplasma gondii from land animals to sea otters. The parasite can be embedded in particles bound together by these polymers, which are then ingested by marine snails and eventually otters.
Orlin D. Velev, a leading colloid scientist, received the prestigious Colloid and Polymer Science Lecture award for his groundbreaking research in particle assembly, nanostructures, and biosensors. The award recognizes his innovative work in fostering international scientific exchange in the field of colloid and polymer science.
Scientists create two-dimensional biomimetic materials with customizable properties, forming at an oil-water interface. The new development enables designing peptoid nanosheets of increasing structural complexity for various applications.
The research team has found that larger surface areas of cells lead to reduced performance, but can be overcome by building modules with smaller cells connected in series or parallel. They have also developed a new automatic structuring technique to connect cells without damaging the substrate.
Researchers compared ultrathin strut sirolimus-eluting stents to thin strut everolimus-eluting stents, finding similar target lesion failure risks. A meta-analysis of β blocker therapy in heart failure with atrial fibrillation found no significant benefit over rate-control medications.
Physicists and materials scientists are using origami-based folding methods to create controllable new materials that exhibit desired physical properties. The technique, known as Miura-ori, allows for the creation of programmable metamaterials with tunable stiffness and stability.
Researchers have discovered new materials capable of repelling bacteria, which could lead to a significant reduction in hospital infections acquired through implanted medical devices. The polymers have been licensed to a UK SME for clinical trials, aiming to inform rational design of improved bacteria-resistant polymers.
Researchers propose a new method to create defect-free crystals using inexpensive ingredients, dispelling current methods' reliance on difficult-to-synthesize particles. By adding polymers to colloidal suspensions, scientists can impose order on crystal formation and tailor crystal structures.
Katerina Alba's research at the University of Huddersfield investigates the benefits of carbohydrates extracted from okra pods for improving food emulsion quality. Her work has garnered international interest and recognition, with presentations at a global hydrocolloids conference and publications in reputable scientific journals.
MIT researchers have developed a new membrane that can separate finely mixed oil and water, including nanoemulsions. The membrane uses hierarchical pore structures to block the passage of unwanted material while providing strength sufficient to withstand high pressure.
Researchers at IBS developed polymer nanocapsules with metal nanoparticles, offering high stability, dispersibility and catalytic activity in water. This technology replaces toxic liquid solvents with environmentally preferable ones, enabling sustainable catalysis.
Researchers from LLNL and MIT have created ultra-lightweight and stiff mechanical metamaterials using additive micro-manufacturing processes. The new materials exhibit properties not found in nature, maintaining a nearly constant stiffness per unit mass density across more than three orders of magnitude in density.
Researchers at MIT's Quantum Photonics Laboratory have developed novel optical sensors with predicted detection levels in the parts-per-billion range. The sensors use microscopic polymer light resonators that expand in the presence of specific gases.
Researchers designed a way for gels to swim in water using a hand-held laser that shrinks and swells polymer gels. This advance may allow hydrogels to explore surface waters to combat toxic elements or travel within the human body.
Boron Molecular secures rights to mass-manufacture and sell RAFT chain transfer agents globally for R&D and commercial purposes. CSIRO's reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) technology enables users to tailor polymer properties with unprecedented control.
A team of German and Italian researchers captured the first real-time movies of light-induced electron transfer in organic solar cells. The findings suggest that the quantum-mechanical nature of electrons and their coupling to nuclei is crucial for charge transfer, with potential implications for optimizing device efficiency.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed new structural 'supercaps' that can store and discharge significant amounts of electricity while withstanding realistic static loads and dynamic forces. The device operates flawlessly in storing and releasing electrical charge, even under intense dynamic and static forces.
A new method of making super tough fibers could be achieved by adding a slip knot to absorb additional energy, increasing its toughness from 44 to 1070 Joules per gram. The new approach allows ordinary polymers to reach unprecedented levels of resistance.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have created a novel technique to produce lightweight construction, protective clothing, or sports equipment at high temperatures and pressures. The method uses hydrothermal synthesis and is eco-friendly, reducing hazardous byproducts and energy consumption.
Researchers Chi Wu and Lianwei Li won the prize for their study on transporting polymer chains through a small cylindrical pore, discovering critical flow rates independent of chain length. The award recognizes significant contributions to modern polymer chemistry in China.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new type of tiny particle that can be used to authenticate currency, electronic parts, and luxury goods. The particles contain colored stripes of nanocrystals that glow brightly when lit up with near-infrared light.
Researchers have developed degradable polymer composite materials suitable for electronic components and a degradable antenna capable of data transmission. The technology, called transient electronics, allows for devices to self-destruct or degrade over time, eliminating the need for permanent storage or disposal.
Researchers at Michigan State University have engineered poplar trees to break down more easily, improving their viability as a sustainable source of biofuel. The innovative approach reduces energy usage and cost in the production of biofuels.
Scientists have discovered a new mechanism for using light to activate drug-delivering nanoparticles, providing precise control over the release of therapeutic substances. The method employs near-infrared light from a low-power laser to heat pockets of water within non-photo-responsive polymeric nanoparticles infused with drugs.
The study found no significant differences in cumulative safety and efficacy measures between biolimus-releasing stents with a degradable coating (BES) and everolimus-releasing stents with a durable polymer (EES). Biodegradable coatings have been shown to reduce late clinical problems associated with permanent polymers.
A JAMA study finds that biodegradable polymer biolimus-eluting stents (BP-BES) have similar safety outcomes to durable polymer everolimus-eluting stents (DP-EES) after two years, with noninferiority found for death and heart attack rates. The rates of target-lesion revascularization were also noninferior between the groups.
Researchers at the University of Basel successfully pulled isolated molecular chains from a gold surface using atomic force microscopy. The experiment revealed the detachment force and binding energy of molecules, providing new insights into the mechanical behavior of single polymers.
Scientists at the University of Freiburg have discovered a new paradigm for targeting specific cell types using nanoparticles. They developed particles that can recognize endothelial cells through biophysical principles, allowing for precise delivery to cancer cells without changing biological addresses. This breakthrough has significa...
The researchers propose to build complex polymer nanostructures on scaffolds made of plant viruses to provide control and precision. They aim to produce an evenly dispersed polymer coating with consistent and efficient properties, reducing toxic side effects in drug delivery.
A team of researchers from North Carolina State University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences has found an easy way to modify a commonly used polymer in solar cells to increase efficiency. The modification resulted in a significant boost in energy harvesting, with some solar cells showing a 36% improvement over similar polymers.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed polymers that 'snap' when triggered by light, converting light energy into mechanical work. This phenomenon enables flexible devices with potential applications in robotics and biomedical engineering.
Researchers used light-scattering techniques to study the detailed thermodynamics of hemoglobin fibers in sickle cell disease. They found that hemoglobin molecules associate more easily in high temperatures and concentrated solutions, leading to stronger bonds between fibers.
University of Helsinki researchers have developed photochemically active polymers that can switch from a trans conformation to a cis conformation using light. This phenomenon allows for the creation of complex patterns and designs in liquids, opening up new possibilities for materials science and optics.
The SORT-OUT VI trial found that both zotarolimus-eluting and biolimus-eluting stents were associated with low major adverse cardiac events. The study demonstrated the non-inferiority of biocompatible polymer stents compared to biodegradable polymer-coated stents in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.
Case Western Reserve University researchers aim to develop processes that can be used by industry to manufacture Janus particles, which could carry paired medicines or provide unique optics for displays. The engineers focus on creating high-yield nanomanufacturing with simple processes.
Researchers have developed a new temperature-regulated delivery system that can release drugs or fragrances in response to body heat, offering greater control over delivery. The system uses microscopic bottle-like structures with melting corks made of fatty acids, which can be tailored to specific temperatures.
A research team at Northwestern University has designed and synthesized new polymer semiconductors, resulting in polymer solar cells with an impressive 80% fill factor. This achievement surpasses previous records and paves the way for a more efficient and sustainable energy production method.
Researchers develop nanoparticles that can assemble and disassemble using temperature, improving drug delivery and anticancer treatment. The new system uses thermosensitive polymers to control nanoparticle interactions, enabling more precise structures and potentially increasing the efficacy of anticancer drugs.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have created a novel printing process to produce micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) components from a highly flexible and non-toxic organic polymer. This innovation enables the creation of biocompatible MEMS for medical devices, such as bionic arms and smart prosthetics.
Researchers develop a technique using fluorescent tetrapod quantum dots to measure polymer fiber tensile strength without altering its mechanical properties. The tQDs act as non-perturbing probes that provide detailed stress monitoring, enabling the creation of stronger and more durable materials.
Researchers at NC State University have developed a new method to measure the optical gain of MEH-PPV, a low-cost polymer that can amplify light. The new approach uses extremely short laser pulses, reducing thermal degradation and providing more accurate results.
Researchers from UNIST developed a new plasmonic material that enhances performance in both polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) and polymer solar cells (PSCs), achieving world-record high efficiency, with PLEDs reaching up to 27.16 cd A-1 and PSCs producing enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of up to 8.31%.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a new method to create highly permeable and selective membranes for molecular-level separation, using ultraviolet irradiation. The process increases the density of the membrane surface, allowing for improved separation of molecules with varying sizes.
Scientists have discovered that knots tend to form at the ends of polymers, where they are frequent yet ephemeral. Once formed, knots move along the chain in a seemingly casual manner before disappearing or forming slip-knots/pseudo-knots at the center.
A recent substudy found that the biodegradable stent Orsiro was non-inferior to the drug-eluting Xience Prime for in-stent late lumen loss at nine months, with similar rates of target lesion failure and reduced neointimal hyperplasia.
Researchers at Technical University of Munich discover 'desorption stick', a new type of friction that occurs when polymer molecules interact with surfaces. This mechanism depends on the chemical nature of the surface and solvent, not on movement speed or adhesive strength.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a synthetic substance that resists the body's natural attack response to foreign objects. The polymer, known as a hydrogel, can be coated on medical devices like artificial heart valves and prostheses to prevent rejection.
A team of researchers has developed a novel material that enhances light absorption in polymer solar cells, increasing their efficiency. The material, Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles, is solution-processable and customizable on the molecular level, offering promising advantages over traditional silicon-based devices.
Researchers explored the flow of a polymer microgel in confined microchannels, finding its behavior is influenced by neighboring forces. The study challenges existing theories on fluid and solid states, revealing complex interactions between local and dynamic forces.
CSIRO has licensed its Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain Transfer polymerisation technology (RAFT) to Mirus Bio, a leading non-viral gene delivery company. This agreement will broaden Mirus' expertise in specialized polymer design tools and facilitate the development of new nucleic acid transfer capabilities.
Researchers at Texas Biomedical Institute discovered a polymer hidden within the Ebola virus that can be targeted by llama antibodies, enabling the creation of highly sensitive test kits using a single antibody. This breakthrough may revolutionize emerging viral diagnostics and offer a promising tool for detecting other deadly pathogens.
The NEXT trial found biolimus stent to be non-inferior to everolimus stent in target-lesion revascularization and stent thrombosis rates at one year. The study's long-term data will determine if the device's disappearing polymer offers superior benefits over other available stents.