Volume 45, Issue 10

This research focuses on analyzing how the design and configuration of the inner grasping structure affect the hold’s ability to conform to shapes, maintain stable grasps, and adapt to object geometries. Through a series of experiments, factors such as grasping position, dimension, shape, and weight variations of the object have been evaluated to determine their influence on key gripper characteristics like grasping ability, contact area, and adaptability. The findings offer valuable insights for optimizing the mechanical design of soft grippers to enhance their effectiveness and make them more viable in handling an object, particularly in applications where conformity and adaptability are crucial on the object surface. Using low-viscosity liquid silicone rubber (LSR) as the primary material extends the previous studies and will be a valuable finding for academic and practical applications.

At present, the forefront of drug carrier research revolves around crafting nano-sized carriers, particularly using hybrid mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). This study reported the fabrication of 180 nm MSNs featuring an ethane bridge skeleton structure, starting with the synthesis of MSNs, modifications were made by first applying γ -methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (MPS) onto the MSNs. Following this, N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM), acrylic acid (AA), and carboxymethyl chitosan (CTS) were grafted onto the MSNs, resulting in the successful creation of the composite MSNs-CTS-poly(NIPAM-co-AA) (abbreviated as MSNs-CTS-PNA) nano drug carrier. The experimental findings highlighted a notable drug encapsulation efficiency (75.5 ± 2.7 %) due to the core–shell architecture of MSNs-CTS-PNA. This tiered functionalization synergistically combines structural stability, pH and temperature stimuli-responsiveness, and biocompatibility. The ethane-bridged MSNs synthesis provides a rigid, porous framework for high drug loading, while CTS coating greatly boosts biocompatibility and prolongs circulation time. The optimized shell thickness balances high encapsulation efficiency and controlled drug release. These innovations make MSNs-CTS-PNA an advanced platform for targeted, combination, and environmentally adaptive drug delivery.

Polycaprolactone (PCL) and chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) binary blends were investigated to understand the effects of chlorine content and blend composition on crystal growth, morphology, and phase behavior in thin films. The crystal growth rate of PCL decreased with increasing CPE content, with higher chlorine content in CPE leading to more significant reductions due to disruption of PCL chain mobility and increased phase segregation. Morphological changes were observed as CPE content increased, transitioning from truncated lozenge shapes in neat PCL to S - or C -shaped crystals in the blends. The bending angle of these crystals increased with distance from the center and higher CPE concentrations, attributed to chain tilting caused by compressive or dilation stresses during rapid crystallization. Significant morphological differences were found between bulk, thin, and ultrathin films of the PCL/CPE blends. Bulk samples exhibited pronounced spherulitic structures, while thin films showed more irregular, constrained crystallization patterns, and ultrathin films displayed smooth, continuous morphologies. The chlorine content in CPE influenced the blend morphology, with higher chlorine content promoting more organized crystalline structures. These findings contribute to understanding how blend composition, film thickness, and processing conditions affect the morphology and crystallization behavior of PCL/CPE blends.

Polyacrylamide hydrogels (PAHs) with tunable properties were synthesized via frontal polymerization (FP) in a pilot-scale reactor. The process was regulated by controlling the starting mixture’s flow rate (0.5–5 cm/min) and temperature (16 °C, 23 °C, 53 °C) under UV irradiation, while eliminating adhesion between the PAH and reactor walls. PAH characterization under specified conditions employed varied monomer ratios with natural additives. Owing to FP’s unique mechanism, water absorption capacity (1–3,500 g/g) and release of active substances were precisely controlled to meet target properties. FP-synthesized PAHs exhibited tunable water absorption rates spanning 4–96 h. Numerical calculations with 3D measurements allowed eliminating minor deviations from stationarity and nonlinearity, ensuring the reproducibility of the obtained hydrogels. No residual toxic acrylamide monomer was detected in FP-synthesized PAHs. The swelling kinetics (water absorption/release) of the resulting hydrogels were investigated, alongside their potential agricultural applications. The hydrogels demonstrated efficacy in accelerating wheat seed germination and growth.

Guar gum, a biopolymer derived from Cyamopsis tetragonoloba , widely used for encapsulating drugs, microorganisms, and bioactive compounds in various field. This study aims to optimize the synthesis of guar gum nanoparticles using response surface methodology. The nanoparticles were synthesized by nanoprecipitation method, utilizing polymers, cross-linkers, and surfactants. The optimization process employs a central composite design to show the relationship between independent variables and dependent variables. The input variables including guar gum, cross-linker, and surfactant concentration were systematically evaluated and optimized. The quadratic model ( R 2 value – 0.9) showed higher relationship between the independent and dependent variables. The numerical optimization was conducted to validate the model’s reliability, demonstrating that all independent variables had a significant effect on the dependent variables ( p  < 0.05). The optimization methodology shows higher desirability of 0.823. The characterization techniques like X-ray diffraction confirms the amorphous nature of the synthesized material. Transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis indicates the particle size ranging from 20 to 50 nm and elemental composition. The optimized conditions led to nanoparticles with enhanced stability, uniform size, and improved functional properties. This approach offers a reliable strategy for the large-scale production of guar gum nanoparticles, with promising applications in various fields.

Ordered porous ZrO 2 has good biocompatibility and chemical stability, however, it exhibits low bioactivity and insufficient drug loading. In this study, submicron ordered porous ZrO 2 skeleton was constructed using polystyrene colloidal crystal with an average size of 820 ± 10 nm as the template. It was then modified by chitosan (CS) surface coating to change its surface functional groups, thereby improving its adsorption capacity and obtaining surface bioactivity to expand its potential application in the field of drug slow release. The factors affecting ordered porous morphology of the composite and their influencing rules were studied in detail. The results indicated that morphology of the composite was greatly affected by the concentration of CS, coating time, molecular weight of CS, and degree of deacetylation (DD). When the CS concentration was 1 wt%, the coating time was 1 h, the CS molecular weight was 200 kDa, and the DD was 90 %, the composite had regular ordered porous morphology and uniform thickness, which is expected to become a high performance drug sustained-release carrier material.

In this study, the compatibilization and chain-extension effects of a novel high molecular weight, high epoxy functionality polymer (HSMG) on the PLA/recycled-ABS (70/30) blend were investigated for a circular economy. Multiple aspects including compatibility, micro-phase morphology, rheological behavior, thermodynamic behavior, and mechanical properties were examined. SEM observation revealed that the incorporation of HSMG into PLA/r-ABS (70/30) blend significantly refined the size of the dispersed ABS phase. The viscosity of the composite system increased with rising r-ABS content due to its high viscosity and also with the increase in HSMG dosage, attributed to enhanced compatibility and branched-PLA (b-PLA) structure formation. The melt index of the system decreased with increasing HSMG dosage, in line with the viscosity change, and dropped sharply at 0.1 wt% HSMG addition. The mechanical properties generally improved with rising HSMG dosage. The optimal HSMG dosage was 0.5 wt%, at which the overall mechanical properties of the blend were comparable to those of general high impact ABS resin. Additionally, TGA results showed that adding HSMG to the PLA/r-ABS blend had certain impacts on its thermal stability. Overall, HSMG was demonstrated to have a significant influence on modifying the properties of the PLA/r-ABS blend.

Deep and ultra-deep oil and gas exploration imposes stringent requirements on water-based drilling fluids. Conventional fluid loss additives often fail to deliver stable performance in these extreme environments, largely due to inadequate functional group composition and thermal stability. This work introduces an innovative strategy by regulating the structure of quaternary AM/AMPS/NVP/DMDAAC copolymers and clarifying their high-temperature filtration loss mechanisms. Five polymers with different compositions were synthesized, and their structural features, thermal stability, filtration loss performance, and mechanisms were systematically evaluated. The results showed that the monomer composition significantly influenced the polymer’s structural characteristics and thermal stability. Increasing the N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) content to 25–40 % enhanced intermolecular interactions and thermal stability at high temperatures, with a filtration volume of 25.7 mL in freshwater-based mud after aging at 240 °C. It was found that Poly D formed a dense filter cake through strong hydrogen bonding with high adsorption. Moreover, high dimethyldiallylammonium chloride (DMDAAC) content triggered charge shielding effect and disrupted bentonite dispersion. And NVP reduces permeability by modulating the equilibrium of filter cake affinity. This study reveals the structure-property relationship of copolymers under high-temperature and high-salt conditions, which provides new perspectives and experimental bases for designing and synthesizing high-temperature water-based fluid loss control agent for drilling fluids.