Infection and excessive oxidative stress are major challenges in wound healing. Herein, quaternary electrospun membranes were fabricated using polylactic acid (PLA) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as the matrix, with zinc oxide (ZnO) and curcumin (Cur) as functional additives to achieve dual antibacterial and antioxidant functions. MCC acted as a structural reinforcer and hydrophilic modifier to improve the mechanical properties and hydrophilicity of the PLA matrix, while ZnO and Cur served as synergistic bioactive components to endow the membranes with outstanding antibacterial and antioxidant capacities. ZnO-only groups (Z1 and Z2) exhibited moderate antibacterial and antioxidant activities. In contrast, the incorporation of Cur remarkably boosted these effects. The Z1C3 sample displayed a DPPH radical scavenging rate of 64.5%, alongside antibacterial efficiencies of 71.27% against E. coli and 92.04% against S. aureus. Further elevation of ZnO and Cur loading yielded superior bioactivity; Z2C5 achieved antibacterial rates of 77.38% against E. coli, 95.68% against S. aureus, and a DPPH scavenging ratio of 89.98%. These results indicate that ZnO and Cur loading can be adjusted to balance bioactivity and safety. From the biosafety perspective, Cur greatly improved biocompatibility and reduced the hemolysis rate below 5%. Overall, the PLA/MCC/ZnO/Cur nanofibrous membranes hold promise as functional wound dressing materials, offering a potential strategy for the design of sustainable and multifunctional wound care materials.

Ionic thermoelectric gels based on the Soret effect play an important role in realizing the efficient conversion of thermal and electrical energy, which is crucial for renewable energy utilization and efficient energy management. In this study, chitosan hydrogels were fabricated by complexation of chitosan and various metal ions via a freeze-casting approach for unitization as ionic thermoelectric materials. Various aggregate structures, including loosely fibrous networks, oriented porous structures, and lamellar porous structures, were obtained owing to the different interactions between chitosan and metal ions. As a result of the synergy of both the aggregate structure and intermolecular interaction, the as-prepared chitosan hydrogels demonstrated wide thermoelectric coefficient ranging from +1.6 mV·K−1 to −18.4 mV·K−1, which can be achieved by simply involving different metal ions. The present work not only demonstrates the correlation between gel structure, intermolecular interactions, and thermoelectric performance, but also provides a simple approach for the fabrication and regulation of natural polymer-based thermoelectric materials.

The synergistic optimization of antibacterial activity and mechanical properties has emerged as a priority in the development of medical dressings for chronic wounds. In this study, curcumin (Cur)-loaded polylactic acid/microcrystalline cellulose (PLA/MCC) nanofiber membranes were fabricated via electrospinning technology. It was found that the incorporation of 3% Cur significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of the electrospun nanofiber membrane compared with neat PLA. Its tensile strength and elongation at break increased by 240.2% and 181.2%, respectively, which meets the mechanical property requirements for clinical applications (1-40MPa). The antibacterial activity is a core indicator that directly determines the practical application value of wound dressings. 3% Cur-loaded PLA/MCC nanofiber membranes show excellent antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Compared with PLA/MCC, the inhibition rate was increased by 20.1% against Escherichia coli and 72.2% against Staphylococcus aureus, with antioxidant activity exceeding 68.0%. In addition, cytotoxicity and hemocompatibility tests verified that all nanofiber membranes complied with the safety standards of biomedical materials. In conclusion, the PLA/MCC/Cur nanofiber membranes hold great promise as a novel, efficient, and safe dressing candidate for the clinical management of chronic wounds.

To solve the problem of white pollution and petroleum energy consumption, zein/PVA blended fibers were prepared by wet-spinning technology to replace petroleum-based synthetic fibers. Zein has the environmentally friendly and resource-abundant characteristics, but its low viscosity makes it difficult to process via wet-spinning. By enabling the successful wet-spinning of inherently poorly spinnable zein, the introduction of PVA yielded blended fibers that retained more than 81% of the zein content. The zein/PVA blended fibers exhibit a maximum tensile strength of 32.38 MPa, a maximum elongation at break of 561.80%, a moisture regain of 4%, and a dye-uptake rate of 59.68%. This work lays the foundation for using zein/PVA blended fibers as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based synthetic fibers in the textile industry.

The development of new energy strategies has highlighted the importance of energy storage, with phase change materials (PCM) being one of the most promising materials for utilizing renewable thermal energy. Traditional PCM suffers from low thermal conductivity, leakage issues and inflexibility, which limit its application in multiple scenarios, such as wearable electronic devices. Herein, a multifunctional dual networks structure composite film with high thermal conductivity, leakage-proof performance and flexibility is prepared by a facile and feasible melt blending method. The continuous GNPs fillers form an efficient thermal conductive pathway within the PEG matrix, achieving a thermal conductivity as high as 1.36 W/m & sdot;K, enhanced by 433% compared with that of pure PEG. In addition, the created BC network structure effectively prevents leakage of PEG during phase transition as a flexible support and maintains its original shape even after 60 heating and cooling cycles at 80 degrees C. Moreover, the PEG/BC/GNPs film exhibits excellent flexibility, which can be repeatedly bent and folded without deformation, cracks, or damage. Consequently, the dual networks structure of PEG/BC/GNPs prepared in this study shows great potential in body thermal therapy due to its excellent electro-thermal conversion performance and can also be applied in battery cooling, realizing 8.2 degrees C decrease in wrapped battery compared to bare battery. Therefore, this research provides a new strategy to obtain flexible multifunctional PCM films applied in thermal management field by a simple and scalable route.

To reduce the environmental impact of excessive fertilizer use, a biodegradable slow-release urea system was developed using poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and polycaprolactone (PCL) via solution casting. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis indicated enhanced interfacial interactions between PBS and PCL at a mass ratio of 7:3, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed a dense and uniform film structure. The coated urea exhibited a typical two-stage release behavior with an initial burst followed by sustained release, significantly prolonging nitrogen release compared with pure urea, which dissolved completely within 10 min. In pakchoi preliminary growth evaluation experiments, the coated urea increased plant height by 16.48% and 16.94% relative to the pure urea and control groups, respectively, and reduced leaf chlorosis through continuous nitrogen supply. These results demonstrate that the PBS/PCL-coated urea system has strong potential for improving fertilizer utilization efficiency and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Wound dressings should meet essential requirements such as antibacterial activity, efficient exudate absorption, and biocompatibility. However, pristine polylactic acid (PLA) nanofiber membranes cannot meet these requirements due to their low toughness, strong hydrophobicity, and weak antibacterial properties. In this study, biodegradable nanofiber membranes based on PLA/gelatin (Gel)/graphene oxide (GO) were prepared via electrospinning for use as wound dressings. In contrast to those of pristine PLA membranes, the mechanical attributes and hydrophilic properties of the fabricated composite nanofiber mats were enhanced. At a GO loading of 0.5 wt%, the composite nanofiber membranes exhibited a tensile strength of 2.4 MPa, representing a 70% enhancement compared to the PLA sample. Gel incorporation was identified as the key factor responsible for enhanced hydrophilicity, as it lowered the water contact angle of the nanofiber membranes by 7.3°, corresponding to a change from 129.6° to 122.4°. In addition, due to the loaded GO, the nanofibrous membranes exhibited better antibacterial activity. Moreover, when the GO content was less than 0.5 wt%, the hemolysis rate was remained below 5%, which met the requirements for medical dressings. Overall, the PLA/gelatin/graphene oxide nanofiber membranes prepared in this study are promising candidates for medical dressing applications, and this study provides technical insights for the application of PLA, an environmentally friendly material.

Plastics are widely used in food packaging, storage, processing, and other food-related applications, playing a vital role in extending food shelf life, reducing material loss, and promoting food circulation. However, these plastic products that come into direct or indirect contact with foods can release micro- and nanoplastics through various physical and chemical processes. These micro- and nanoplastics can accumulate in the human body through bioaccumulation and other pathways and have become one of the emerging contaminants threatening food safety and human health. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the research progress on the generation pathways, release mechanisms, potential health threats, and prevention, control, and remediation technologies of micro- and nanoplastics in foods. Finally, future perspectives are presented for further safeguarding food safety and human health.

Ionic conductive hydrogels attract significant attention in flexible electronics due to their excellent ion transport and mechanical flexibility, but limited elasticity and poor fatigue resistance hinder practical applications. In this work, a highly tough and mechanically stable hydrogel is fabricated by incorporating cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and sodium caseinate (SC) into a polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogel matrix. CNF serves as a nanoscale reinforcing component that enhances the structural strength, while SC forms micellar structures that act as dynamic energy dissipation centers. The synergistic effect of CNF and SC significantly enhances the toughness and structural stability of the hydrogel. The resulting PAM/CNF/SC hydrogel exhibits a tensile strength of 0.71 MPa, a fracture strain of 1840%, and a high toughness of 3866.6 kJ m-3. Benefiting from the presence of sodium ions in SC, the hydrogel sensor shows excellent ionic conductivity and a rapid response time of 195 ms, enabling sensitive detection of human motions such as joint bending, swallowing, and laryngeal vibrations. This work provides a simple and effective strategy for developing high-performance ionic hydrogels, offering strong potential for application in wearable and flexible electronic devices.

Growing demand for sustainable meat preservation requires solutions addressing microbial spoilage, lipid oxidation, and plastic pollution. This study developed gelatin/hyaluronic acid films incorporating carvacrol-loaded beta-cyclodextrin microcapsules (CAR@beta-CD films incorporating carvacrol-loaded solutions addressing microbial spoilage, lipid oxidation, and plastic pollution) and UV-blocking capacity (<20% transmittance at 275 nm), with sustained CAR release over 24 h. Antimicrobial activity against E. coli (87.3%) and S. aureus (91.5%) was higher than that of free CAR, while DPPH scavenging reached 32.1%. In pork preservation tests, coated samples maintained pH below 6.3 (vs. 6.7 in control) on day 9, reduced weight loss by 52.8% (4.2% vs. 8.9%), and lowered TBARS values by 57.1% (1.2 vs. 2.8 mg MDA/kg). Total viable counts remained below freshness thresholds for 7 days. These biodegradable films demonstrate multifunctional packaging potential aligned with green development strategies.

Polyols, serving as core feedstocks in polyurethane production, are characterized by multiple hydroxyl groups (-OH), primarily encompassing polyether polyols (PPG) and polyester polyols (PEP). Their reaction with isocyanates yields polyurethane materials with unique properties. However, conventional petroleum-derived polyols face challenges in meeting green sustainability demands. Lignin, with its abundant phenolic and aliphatic hydroxyl groups, presents a renewable alternative to petrochemical polyols. Its global abundance provides a significant resource base. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs), offering mild reaction conditions, reusability, and high efficiency/selectivity, demonstrate significant potential for producing bio-based polyols. This study employed a modified DES (comprising lactic acid as a hydrogen bond donor and 3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole as a hydrogen bond acceptor) to extract lignin from waste corn stalks, followed by solvothermal liquefaction using polyethylene glycol (MW = 400) and glycerol to synthesize lignin-derived polyether polyols. Comprehensive multiscale characterization elucidated the factors influencing composition, physicochemical properties, and production efficiency. Optimized extraction conditions yielded light-colored lignin with 80% yield, a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 35 647 g mol(-1), and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 2.221, exhibiting excellent thermal stability below 200 degrees C. Optimal liquefaction conditions produced polyols with a hydroxyl value of 440.7 mg KOH per g, an acid value of 37.7 mg KOH per g, a viscosity of 646.7 mPa s, and an Mw of 7429 g mol(-1). Structural confirmation was achieved via Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). This work successfully established a high-performance lignin-based polyol system, offering a sustainable pathway for polyurethane feedstocks.

Polymer-based composites incorporating highly thermally conductive fillers are widely used in thermal interface materials (TIMs) for electronic packaging. However, conventional fillers like graphene often form layered arrangements due to their high aspect ratio, leading to vertically isolated sheets, high interfacial thermal resistance, and limited through-plane thermal conductivity. In this work, high-energy ball milling is employed to incorporate liquid metal (LM) into a carboxyl-functionalized graphene nanosheet (CGNs)/bacterial cellulose (BC) system, during which Ga3 + ions derived from Ga2O3 are in situ generated on the LM surface and form coordination bonds with -OH and -COOH groups on both BC and CGNs, thereby significantly enhancing the interfacial interaction and heat transfer. Therefore, the LM functions as a soldering point to connect vertically isolated CGNs, building a more stable three-dimensional "brick-wall" structure that results in a high through-plane thermal conductivity of 0.981 W/m & sdot;K, representing a 424.6% increase over pure BC and an improvement of 300.4% compared to CGNs/BC. The composite also maintains excellent mechanical flexibility, with a tensile strength of 16.6 MPa and an elongation at break of 4.9%, along with improved flame retardancy, reduced hydrophilicity, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding capability. This approach provides a promising method for preparing high-performance thermal management materials in flexible electronics.

Sustainable food packaging materials derived from renewable sources are in increasing demand in the food industry. This has generated remarkable interest in incorporating bioactive compounds to fabricate antimicrobial, disease-resistant, and eco-friendly food packaging films. This review highlights a wide range of biodegradable polymeric materials, including agro- based (soy protein, zein, and cellulose), animal based (gelatin and chitosan), synthetic (polylactic acid [PLA], polyethylene adipate [PEA], and polycaprolactone [PCL]), and a few others derived from microbial sources (polyhydroxyalkanoates [PHA] and polyhydroxybutyrates [PHBs]), that can be used to develop biodegradable films. The focus is on strategies for incorporating aromatic compounds (e.g., essential oils and phenolics) into these polymeric matrices to enhance antimicrobial activity and extend food shelf life. This review summarizes the usage of different bio-based polymers, mostly derived from renewable resources, in the development of film materials by addition of aromatic functionalized compounds. Additionally, the antioxidant and antimicrobial mechanism of functionalized compounds are described in detail. Through a comprehensive analysis of current research and emerging technologies, this review provides insights into the potential of aromatic compound-based biopolymer systems to develop sustainable active food packaging materials that achieve desired functional performance while minimizing environmental effects. Though the wide spread usage of bio-based packaging materials are desired but several issues with respect to material performance such as high hydrophilicity, migration of chemicals from packaging system and less shelf-life are the key challenges. Also from future prospect point of view, the acceptance of bio-based packaging material by consumer and Government’s directive to increase usage of bio-based materials will boost its application.

To enable real-time indication of food freshness and safety, a pH-responsive, color-changing food packaging film was developed. Blueberry anthocyanin (BA) was encapsulated with polyethylene oxide (PEO) using microencapsulation technology to produce Blueberry anthocyanin - polyethylene oxide microcapsules (BA-PEO). These microcapsules were then incorporated into a poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)/thermoplastic starch (TPS) matrix to fabricate a biodegradable film capable of in situ monitoring of food freshness. Appropriate addition of BA-PEO enhanced the thermal stability and tensile strength of the PBAT/TPS films. At a BA-PEO content of 2 phr, the oxygen permeability coefficient reached a minimum value of 1.47 & times; 10- 15 cm3 center dot cm center dot cm- 2 center dot s- 1 center dot Pa- 1, representing a 20.3% reduction. However, the incorporation of BA-PEO increased both the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and water vapor permeability (WVP). At 4 phr BA-PEO, the WVTR and WVP were 115.20 g center dot(m2 center dot 24 h)-1 and 2.23 & times; 10-14 g center dot(cm2 center dot s center dot Pa)-1, respectively. A DE*ab value greater than 5 indicates that the color change is directly observable. Therefore, the potential of PBAT/TPS films filled with BA-PEO microcapsules is demonstrated in the field of intelligent food packaging materials.

Improving the performance of the lithium-metal anodes (LMAs) required effective inhibition of lithium (Li) dendrite growth and stabilization of the electrode interface. Herein, a lithiophilic multi-metal V1.7Nb0.3AlC/V1.7Nb0.3CTx (MAX/MXene) composite coating was constructed on a commercial microporous polypropylene (PP) separator to enhance the stability of the LMAs. Meanwhile, the MAX phase skeleton further improves the mechanical robustness and chemical stability of the coating. Electrochemical kinetics analyses also indicate reduced interfacial resistance and accelerated Li+ transport, accounting for the improved cycling stability. The optimized MAX/MXene-6 h@PP separator has enabled the uniform and compact Li deposition, effectively inhibiting the dendrite formation. The Li||MAX/MXene-6 h@PP||Li symmetric cells have exhibited ultra-stable cycling over 4000 h at 5 mA cm− 2 and 5 mAh cm− 2 with overpotential of about 19 mV. The Li||MAX/MXene-6 h@PP||LiFePO4 (LFP) full cells have demonstrated excellent cycling stability with 121 mAh g− 1 after 300 cycles at 1 C. This work suggested that the MAX/MXene modified separators have offered a promising route toward stabilizing LMAs and provided new design insights for high-performance separators in next-generation LMAs.

To address the adhesion problem of curcumin-containing zein fibers, sandwich-structured zein/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membranes with a curcumin-functionalized core layer were fabricated via sequential electrospinning (outer-core-outer). The core layer exhibited flattened and adhesive fibers, whereas encapsulation within protective outer layers yielded cylindrical, non-adhesive fibers with tunable diameters (0.43-1.0 mu m). The sandwich membranes exhibited enhanced mechanical properties (tensile strength up to 4.67 MPa) and stable hydrophobicity. Filtration tests demonstrated > 95% efficiency for 0.3 mu m particles and > 97% for particles >= 0.5 mu m, with pressure drop values ranging from 7.03 to 7.56 mbar. Post-filtration imaging revealed that curcumin-containing membranes displayed dispersed particle deposition on individual fibers, while the curcumin-free outer layer showed extensive particle aggregation, indicating curcumin-induced particle anchoring. FTIR analysis confirmed curcumin-mediated hydrogen bonding and increased beta-sheet content. The sandwich design resolves core layer adhesion while preserving filtration functionality, offering a sustainable strategy for bio-based air filtration materials.

This study utilizes electrospinning to develop bio-based fibrous films composed of zein and polylactic acid (PLA), with chitosan added in varying concentrations. The resulting films exhibit remarkable filtration efficiency, capturing over 95% of airborne pollutants, while maintaining a low pressure drop of less than 4 mbar. A key innovation in this work is the integration of chitosan. Chitosan, a naturally derived polysaccharide, significantly increases the conductivity and viscosity of the spinning solution, enhancing interactions among PLA, chitosan, and protein molecules. This leads to a robust network structure with improved hydrophobicity and a bimodal structure, both essential for maintaining high filtration efficiency without reducing breathability. The addition of chitosan effectively addresses the common issue of high pressure drop in PLA/zein composite films, improving the product's efficiency and practicality for air filtration applications. Furthermore, the inherent mechanical strength and ductility of chitosan contribute to the fibrous films' overall durability and functionality. These properties make chitosan-modified zein/PLA fibers highly suitable for air pollution control, especially in personal protective equipment. This research underscores the potential of chitosan-enhanced bio-based materials as sustainable and effective solutions for advanced air filtration technologies.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) exhibits good water solubility, biocompatibility, and gas barrier properties. It is an important renewable and biodegradable polymeric material and is widely used in drug delivery, food packaging, tissue engineering, etc. However, its application is limited by insufficient mechanical performance. Hyperbranched polymers are a class of highly branched, structured macromolecular polymers with multiple branching sites and rich end functional groups. In this work, blend films were prepared by mixing PVA with water-soluble hyperbranched polyester (HBPE) using the solution casting method. The results showed that the hydroxyl groups of HBPE could form a hydrogen-bond-based cross-linking network with the hydroxyl groups of PVA. This, in turn, will effectively improve the mechanical properties, water absorption, thermal stability, etc. of the blend film. When the mass ratio of HBPE to PVA is 1:4, the elongation at break of the blend film was 404.23% with a tensile strength of 39.97 MPa. The prepared PVA/HBPE blend material is expected to be more widely applied in fields such as tissue engineering, packaging materials, etc.

Due to people's environmental awareness and the continuous improvement of the living environment requirements, the pollution problem of fine particles has attracted widespread attention and great importance. Therefore, the development of new green and environmentally friendly air filtration materials with high efficiency and low resistance is ongoing. In this work, eco-friendly zein/ethylcellulose blende nanofiber membranes with different fiber morphologies, diameter sizes, and hydrophobicity are prepared by electrospinning technology, and their performance in the field of air filtration and purification is investigated, to make them highly efficient for the adsorption of small pollutants of various polarities. The experiments showed that the hydrophobicity of the nanofiber membrane was adjusted by changing the ratio of zein and ethylcellulose, and the addition of ethylcellulose improved the thermal stability and use temperature of the composite nanofiber membrane. The filtration efficiency of the nanofiber membrane can reach more than 85 % for small particle pollutants of different polarities, and both sides of the tested membrane have high filtration capacity, which can still be maintained after three times of reused. This gives it great potential and broad application prospects in the field of air filtration.

To develop a wound dressing with effective antibacterial and biodegradable properties, polylysine (PL), nano‑silver (AgNP), and silver oxide (Ag₂O) were incorporated into polylactic acid/silk fibroin (PLA/SF) nanofibers to enhance their antibacterial activity. PLA/SF drug-loaded nanofiber films were fabricated through electrospinning, utilizing PL, AgNP, and Ag₂O as antibacterial agents. The results indicated that the inclusion of these additives improved the mobility of the molecular chains and increased crystallinity by 32.57 %. The porosity of the film decreased from 89 % to 87 %, while the liquid absorption rate and air permeability also diminished. Additionally, the contact angle increased from 78° to 92°, and water resistance improved. The film maintained adequate mechanical properties and in vitro degradation rates, which are crucial for wound dressing applications. Notably, PLA/SF nanofiber films demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity, underscoring their potential for use in the medical field. This study offers a promising approach for designing multifunctional wound dressings with enhanced antibacterial and biodegradable properties.