Solar-driven sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) offers a decentralized route to freshwater production by coupling hygroscopic sorbents with solar or low-grade thermal energy. However, material performance is still frequently judged by maximum equilibrium water uptake, which does not directly represent recoverable liquid-water production under realistic operating conditions. This review examines the relationships between sorbent mechanisms, effective working capacity, and liquid-water recovery, with particular attention to material-related constraints on device performance. The thermodynamic and microscopic origins of water capture are first analyzed in terms of sorption isotherms, effective working capacity, hydrophilic-site binding, ionic hydration, water-cluster growth, bulk absorption, pore filling, capillary condensation, and hysteresis. The structure–mechanism–performance relationships of three major sorbent families—crystalline porous frameworks (MOFs and COFs), hygroscopic polymer gels and aerogels, and salt-based composites—are then compared, with emphasis on working humidity window, transport resistance, regeneration demand, swelling or salt migration, cycling stability, and manufacturability. We show that high practical productivity requires coordinated optimization of water affinity, reversible storage capacity, hierarchical mass-transfer pathways, heat transfer, desorption kinetics, and condensation efficiency rather than maximization of a single uptake metric. Effective working capacity, release efficiency, condensation efficiency, cycle duration, durability, water quality, and areal productivity are identified as key metrics for meaningful cross-study comparison. Future progress depends on integrating sorbent chemistry with device-scale thermal and mass management and on standardized testing under realistic environmental conditions to translate laboratory sorption performance into reliable, scalable water production.
Phase transformation in materials is important since their properties, such as mechanical, thermal, and electrical, undergo substantial changes. Metals are regularly found in three crystal structures, namely body-centered cubic (BCC), face-centered cubic (FCC), hexagonal close packed (HCP). The transitions between these phases take place by different types of external stimuli, such as pressure and temperature. Initially, metallic elements adopt one of the aforementioned crystal structures at normal conditions. BCC is the prevalent structure of such metals as iron, while FCC is normally adopted by aluminum and copper. HCP is also the prime structure of titanium, zirconium and hafnium. In this article, we review molecular dynamics (MD) simulations conducted on the phase transformation of metals. Many studies on the properties of metallic structures employ interatomic potential functions developed on the ground of the embedded-atom method (EAM). Machine learning (ML) techniques are also used to develop such functions. In the current work, the effects of interatomic potential functions in the MD simulations are also examined in some cases available in the literature.
Objectives Multifunctional biopolymer-based systems are attractive for biomedical devices owing to their biocompatibility, structural versatility, and ability to interact functionally with biological tissues. Existing reviews, however, are organized mainly by material class or application and offer limited guidance on biointerface-driven design. This review uses biointerface behavior as the organizing principle for designing biopolymer-based biomedical devices. Methods Relevant literature was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, screened by title, abstract, and full text, and supplemented with landmark studies. Material platforms, structural engineering, multifunctionality, and biointerface design were integrated into a unified framework, within which hydrogels, films/coatings, nanofibers, and biocomposites were critically compared in terms of structure, property and biointerface relationships, advantages, limitations, and biomedical applications. Results Device performance in biointegrated systems depends on the concurrent optimization of mechanical compliance, adhesion, biodegradability, and electrical functionality rather than on any single property. Each platform shows characteristic biointerface failure modes, including dehydration and swelling mismatch in hydrogels, delamination in films, fiber fracture in nanofibers, and filler–matrix debonding in biocomposites. Biointerface characterization and biodegradability claims were often inconsistent or qualitative. Key challenges include the compliance–robustness trade-off, batch-to-batch variability, limited long-term biointerface data, and regulatory uncertainty. A biointerface-driven conceptual framework is proposed to guide material selection, structural engineering, and multifunctionality integration according to application-specific requirements. Conclusions Biopolymers act as active determinants of biointerface behavior rather than merely sustainable alternatives to synthetic polymers. The evidence base remains uneven, with limited replication and partial in vivo validation, so standardized evaluation protocols and long-term validation will be essential for clinical translation.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive degenerative joint disease characterized by chronic inflammation, oxidative stress imbalance, and cartilage destruction. Current treatments mainly provide symptomatic relief and have limited capacity to restore cartilage structure and function. Injectable hydrogels have emerged as promising therapeutic platforms for OA due to their localized delivery capability, tunable properties, and biocompatibility. This review summarizes recent advances in injectable hydrogel-based strategies for OA treatment from three perspectives: inflammatory regulation, oxidative stress modulation, and cartilage repair/regeneration. We first discuss how injectable hydrogels regulate the inflammatory microenvironment through sustained delivery of anti-inflammatory agents, immune modulators, and responsive release systems. We then highlight their roles in controlling oxidative stress by scavenging reactive oxygen species and restoring redox homeostasis. Furthermore, we summarize regenerative strategies based on extracellular matrix mimicry, stem cell regulation, growth factor delivery, and tissue reconstruction. Recent developments in multifunctional and stimuli-responsive hydrogels are also discussed, including their potential for targeted therapy and lubrication restoration. Finally, current challenges related to mechanical adaptation, long-term biosafety, scalable fabrication, and clinical translation are addressed. This review provides a comprehensive perspective on the design principles and therapeutic potential of injectable hydrogels for disease-modifying OA treatment.
