KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology

Electrospun fibres, particularly surface-modified membranes, have emerged as promising materials in tissue engineering due to their structural similarity to the extracellular matrix of native skin. In wound management, electrospun nanofibres used as standalone dressings have been shown to function as reliable materials for effective wound healing. This review presents a focused analysis of surface-functionalized electrospun nanocomposite fibres as an effective strategy to enhance the biological performance of electrospun systems without altering their properties. By tailoring the materials’ surface chemistry, wettability, roughness, and functional group density, these strategies directly influence critical therapeutic functions, including protein adsorption, cell adhesion, proliferation, antibacterial activity, and controlled drug delivery. The primary objective of this review is to evaluate various surface engineering approaches, including physical, chemical, biological, and nanomaterial-based modifications. This enables the incorporation of pro-regenerative functionalities onto electrospun nanocomposite fibres, thereby improving their interaction with the biological environment. Recent studies have demonstrated that such modifications can significantly enhance fibroblast proliferation, achieve high antibacterial efficiency, and accelerate wound closure rates compared to unmodified fibres. This review summarizes recent advancements in surface engineering strategies for electrospun nanocomposite fibres reported with particular emphasis on their mechanistic role in modulating the nano–bio interface and promoting wound repair. Furthermore, the therapeutic potential, existing challenges, and future research directions are critically discussed to support the rational design of next-generation electrospun wound dressings.

The Eugenol (4 allyl- 2 methoxyphenol), which is a critical phenolic compound found in several Asian spices and widely recognized for their medicinal purposes. However, its the concentration must be monitored strictly in food products to mitigate any potential toxicity. This work discusses the need for trace level sensing of Eugenol through electrochemical sensor platform. The electrode used was ZnFe2O4@GCN-modified GCE. ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by the reflux condensation method. Graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) was prepared by thermal polymerization of urea. The present study explores the optimum circumstances to detect Eugenol, focusing on factors like electrode modification and the effect of pH on the electrochemical response. The prepared ZnFe2O4@GCN nanocomposites were analyzed structurally, morphologically, and compositionally to understand their crystallinity, surface topology, elemental composition, and chemical bonds. The electrochemical studies to analyze the conductivity and charge transfer of the electrode the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were performed in the redox probe environment. The surface of the GCE (glassy carbon electrode) modified with ZnFe2O4@GCN exhibited a good electrochemical response for detection of Eugenol. The voltammetric studies were carried out for an optimized ratio in phosphate buffer (pH = 2). The initial parameters were optimized so that the modified electrode exhibited good electro catalytic activity. The sensitivity, limit of detection (LOD), and linear detection of eugenol were studied by Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) analysis. The studies revealed that ZnFe2O4@GCN-modified GCE has the LOD = 0.013 µM and a sensitivity of 27.67 µA µM−1 cm−2. The real-world application of these sensors has been studied with real-life samples with the recovery percentage calculated.

This research endeavors to examine the performance degradation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems induced by temperature variations and introduces a ternary hybrid phase-change material (PCM) aimed at improving thermal management. The formulated PCM is predicated on Glauber’s salt (Na2SO4·10H2O) synergistically augmented with graphene (Gr) flakes and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles to alleviate phase segregation and supercooling while enhancing thermal transfer efficiency. In contrast to traditional binary PCM systems, wherein graphene predominantly augments thermal conductivity, the inclusion of Al2O3 nanoparticles within the ternary composite serves as an efficacious heterogeneous nucleation site, thereby mitigating supercooling and stabilizing the phase-transition dynamics, while graphene establishes uninterrupted conductive pathways that expedite heat diffusion throughout the PCM matrix. An outdoor experimental assessment was performed on three distinct PV configurations: a reference PV module devoid of PCM (PV-1), a binary PCM-integrated module (PV-2), and a ternary composite PCM-integrated module (PV-3). The findings indicate that PV-3 attains a maximum reduction in operating temperature ranging from 3 to 4 °C and an enhancement in electrical efficiency between 2 and 3

While biodegradable metallic implants based on magnesium offer clear advantages over permanent metallic implants, this often cannot be translated to clinical applications due to limitations of the currently available Mg alloys. These can suffer from rapid corrosion and insufficient mechanical strength in living organisms. This study would overcome these shortcomings by preparing hybrid Mg–4Zn nanocomposites with 1 wt

The worldwide endeavour for net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs) requires the effective and robust incorporation of renewable energy systems. Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) technologies are pivotal to this transition; however, their efficacy in tropical regions such as South India is frequently compromised by high module temperatures. This research looks at employing a passive thermal management method through the use of the Glauber salt, a phase change material, Sodium Sulphate Decahydrate (Na₂SO₄·10 H₂O), integrated into a BIPV module. A comparative experimental study was done using two (2) 70 W PV modules, one with the PCM (BIPV-PCM), and the other without the PCM (BIPV-Ref) both installed in the same location in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu; 11°N; 77°E) and under actual weather conditions. The collected data shows that the module with the PCM (BIPV-PCM) exhibited the greatest surface temperature reduction (2.2 °C) at peak solar radiation hours (14:00). The overall efficiency of the BIPV-PCM module was approximately 1.5