COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
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2026
·
IF 5.4
Shibing Shi,Xin Lu,Hongni Chen,Jian Li,Zhanguo Li,Mengfei Gao,Xin Gao,Yaping Zhang,Junfang Yan,Yi Wang
A green chitosan/gelatin hydrogel was developed via a facile one-pot strategy without chemical crosslinkers. • The hydrogel achieved >90% uranyl removal on non-porous surfaces and 70.7% on porous cement. • Synergistic chemisorption (–NH₂/–COOH) and physical encapsulation (gelatin 3D network) enable high decontamination. In recent years, the expansion of nuclear energy infrastructure has intensified demand for efficient surface decontamination technologies. Hydrogels have emerged as promising candidates for surface decontamination owing to their high radionuclide removal efficiency and compatibility with heterogeneous substrate geometries. In this study, a natural polymer hydrogel based on chitosan and gelatin was developed, achieving high removal rates of uranyl contaminants from various substrates. The hydrogel exhibits advantages including a facile one-pot synthesis, biodegradability, and compliance with green chemistry principles. Glycerol was introduced as a plasticizer to enhance film flexibility and crack resistance, while titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles were incorporated as rigid nanofillers to reinforce the mechanical strength of the gel network. Rheological characterization revealed that the precursor solution exhibits shear-thinning behavior, facilitating uniform application onto contaminated surfaces via brushing or spraying. High strength, high toughness, and high removal efficiencies can be achieved simultaneously by optimizing the concentration, temperature, and decontamination time during material design. Decontamination efficiencies reached 99.4% (stainless steel), 94.1% (glass), 98.8% (rubber), 96.0% (painted board), 91.3% (ceramic), and 70.7% (cement), substantially surpassing the performance of commercial decontaminants such as DeconGel. XPS confirmed that amino (-NH₂) and carboxyl (-COO⁻) groups from chitosan and gelatin, respectively, engage in inner-sphere coordination with UO 2 2 + , forming stable chelate complexes. Concurrently, the thermoreversible gelation of gelatin establishes a dense 3D network, which—upon solvent evaporation—physically entraps uranyl ions, thereby confirming a synergistic physicochemical decontamination mechanism. Owing to the abundance, low cost, and biodegradability of its constituents, along with the use of glycerol and TiO 2 as functional additives, this hydrogel system represents a green and sustainable alternative for surface decontamination in nuclear accident response and facility decommissioning scenarios. Download: Download high-res image (269KB) Download: Download full-size image
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高影响因子
DIAMOND AND RELATED MATERIALS
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2026
·
IF 5.2
Qihuan Liu,Xiangjun Li,Miaomiao Li,Yinxia Dong,Libo Tong,Zhongze Du,Hu Liu
Magnesium (Mg) alloys are widely used in aerospace and automotive industries due to their high specific strength, low density, and excellent electromagnetic shielding properties. However, their poor corrosion resistance limits long-term service reliability. Herein, multifunctional MXene/chitosan/polypyrrole (MCPY) hybrid microcontainers with acid-responsive release behavior are successfully fabricated and incorporated into an epoxy (EP) matrix to construct a smart anti-corrosion coating (EP@MCPY) for AZ31 Mg alloy. In this system, chitosan (CS) microspheres function as pH-responsive containers for the controlled release of polypyrrole (PPy), while two-dimensional MXene nanosheets simultaneously improve filler dispersion and enhance barrier performance through a labyrinth effect. Under acidic conditions, protonation-induced expansion of CS trigger the release of PPy, which promotes passive film stabilization through redox reactions, thereby providing active corrosion protection. Electrochemical tests reveal that after 14 days of immersion in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, the EP@MCPY coating maintains a high |Z| f=0.01 Hz of 1.06 × 10 11 Ω·cm 2 , significantly outperforming both pure EP and the chitosan/polypyrrole (CSPY) composite coating. In an acidic corrosive medium (pH = 3), the scratched EP@MCPY coating exhibits notable self-healing behavior, with its |Z| f=0.01 Hz increasing from 6.90 × 10 5 Ω·cm 2 to 2.13 × 10 6 Ω·cm 2 within 12 h, confirming the intelligent protective functionality of the coating under acidic conditions. The superior protective performance is attributed to the synergistic integration of MXene-enabled passive barrier protection and CSPY-mediated active corrosion inhibition. This work provides an effective strategy for developing multifunctional smart coatings with long-term corrosion resistance and self-healing capability for Mg alloys. Download: Download high-res image (165KB) Download: Download full-size image
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DOI
高影响因子
Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
·
2026
·Vol. 14
·期 6
·125335
·
IF 7.5
Wenqi Wang,Dahu Yao,Chang Lu,Jing Chen,Xiaoxi Guo,Chaofan Yuan,Boya Wang,Xiping Gao,Xinchang Pang
A porous hydrogel was fabricated via freeze-crosslinking without freeze-drying. • Pulp fibers replace costly nanocellulose as a low-cost reinforcing skeleton. • Pulp fibers reinforce the chitosan network against collapse during evaporation. Solar interfacial evaporation holds great promise for seawater desalination and wastewater treatment, yet the development of low-cost, efficient, and structurally stable evaporators remains challenging. Herein, a sponge-like porous hydrogel (CAFC) was fabricated from chitosan (CS), pulp fibers (PF), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) through glutaraldehyde (GA) cross-linking and freeze-induced pore formation. The Schiff-base cross-linked CS network provided structural integrity, while the PF scaffold facilitated water transport and CNTs enabled efficient light harvesting and photothermal conversion. The optimized CAFC-4 hydrogel exhibited over 90% light absorption across 250–2500 nm and achieved a water evaporation rate of 2.66 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ with a solar evaporation efficiency of 84.4% under 1 sun irradiation. Even in 10 wt% NaCl solution, CAFC-4 maintained an evaporation rate of 1.93 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ and showed stable performance during cyclic and continuous evaporation tests. The evaporator also effectively purified wastewater containing methylene blue and Orange I, with no characteristic absorption peaks of the dyes observed in the UV–vis spectra of the collected water. Under natural sunlight, CAFC-4 achieved a maximum evaporation rate of 2.06 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ during outdoor simulated seawater desalination, with rejection efficiencies exceeding 99.9% for the major salt ions. These results demonstrate a simple and scalable strategy for constructing low-cost, biomass-based solar evaporators for water purification and desalination. Download: Download high-res image (233KB) Download: Download full-size image
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高影响因子
ChemPlusChem
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2026
·Vol. 91
·期 10
·e70252
·
IF 3.1
Yue-Jie Li,Ran Chen,Shao-Bo Li,Jin Zeng,Jing-Wen Chen,Hong-Yuan Wang,Chang-Wei Xu,Li Li,Jing Liu
Dye-containing wastewater remains an important environmental concern because many synthetic dyes are persistent and potentially harmful to aquatic organisms and human health. In this work, a biomass-based adsorbent was evaluated together with a separate post-desorption photo-oxidative treatment step. Cellulose (CL) and chitosan (CS) were used to prepare cross-linked CS/CL (C-CS/CL) microspheres for dye removal from water, with glutaraldehyde (GA) used to improve the structural stability of the microspheres. The synthesized C-CS/CL microspheres exhibited improved mechanical stability and pH-dependent dye adsorption, with preferential uptake of anionic dyes (acid blue 93 and acid black 1) and lower uptake of cationic dyes (methyl violet and methyl green). After adsorption, the dyes were eluted, allowing the C-CS/CL microspheres to be reused for repeated dye removal. The dye-containing eluate was subsequently subjected to UV/H 2 O 2 treatment, resulting in partial degradation of the model dyes. Overall, the C-CS/CL microspheres enabled preferential adsorption and repeated reuse, while the separate UV/H 2 O 2 step provided subsequent treatment of the dye-containing eluate. Graphical Crosslinked chitosan/cellulose microspheres provide stable, pH-responsive adsorption of anionic and cationic dyes and retain most adsorption capacity through ten reuse cycles. Adsorption is maintained in electrolyte, binary-dye, and real-water matrices. Regeneration releases dye-containing eluate for separate UV/H 2 O 2 treatment, which provides partial dye degradation as a complementary downstream oxidation step after desorption.
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高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
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2026
·
IF 8.7
Yunhao Liu,Zuyu He,Yinghang Zhang,Chuang Zhou,Chao Wang,Lingxue Kong,Puwang Li,Shaohua Chen,Lu Yang,Wenwen Chen,Ziming Yang
Chitosan modified with quaternary phosphonium salt and sorbic acid was synthesized. • The TEO Pickering emulsions stabilized by CNC and MCS were prepared, which exhibited excellent stability. • A multifunctional film with good mechanical and barrier properties was designed. • The composite film against C. gloeosporioides can prolong the shelf life of mangoes. Mango is a popular tropical fruit valued for its flavor and nutritional richness. However, its postharvest shelf life is limited because of its climacteric nature, which leads to rapid softening and spoilage. Chitosan-based coatings suffer from limited mechanical strength and single-function antimicrobial activity. To address these limitations, a bifunctional modified chitosan (MCS) was synthesized by grafting quaternary phosphonium salts and sorbic acid onto the chitosan backbone. This MCS was then combined with a thyme essential oil (TEO) Pickering emulsion stabilized by cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) to fabricate an active composite coating (MCS-PE). The chemical structure, thermal stability, mechanical properties, and barrier properties of the composite films were characterized. The results indicated that the composite film loading with TEO at 3 μL/mL exhibited favorable tensile strength (10.94 MPa) and elongation at break (41.12%). Antibacterial assays revealed that the MCS-PE film-forming solution had excellent activity against Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus and C.gloeosporioides . The coating films effectively extended the storage life of mangoes at 25 °C, as indicated by assessments of peel color, firmness, weight loss, and other physiological indices. Consequently, mangoes coated with the optimal MCS-PE3 coating film (3 μL/mL TEO) had a shelf-life extension of at least 10 days compared to the uncoated control group. The sensory acceptability of the coated mangoes, particularly regarding potential flavor alteration, should be evaluated in future studies prior to commercial application. This work demonstrates that the synergistic integration of bifunctional chemical modification and Pickering emulsion stabilization offers a promising strategy for designing next-generation fruit preservation coatings.
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高影响因子
DYES AND PIGMENTS
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2026
·
IF 3.9
Guangxuan Zhu,Chuang Shang,Jiayang Niu,Aiai Gao,Yusen Zhao,Xuegang Chen
The novel furan-modified fluorene-based fluorescent small molecules were synthesized. • A catalyst-free Diels–Alder cycloaddition is utilized to crosslink chitosan, affording a mild fabrication strategy. • The as-prepared fluorescent hydrogel exhibits fluorescence color change behavior under ultraviolet light irradiation. • The fluorescent hydrogel achieve dual detection of Fe 3+ and Hg 2+ in aqueous solutions. In this study, a fluorescent furan-modified fluorene molecule ( F-Fu ) was first synthesized via a Stille coupling reaction. Using F-Fu as a cross-linker, a novel chitosan-based fluorescent hydrogel was successfully prepared through a Diels-Alder reaction between furan-functionalized F-Fu and maleimide-modified chitosan derivatives. The SEM results revealed the hydrogel has a porous network structure with pore sizes ranging from 60 to 100 μm. Rheological characterizations reveal dominant elastic responses (G′>G″), and the elastic modulus is elevated upon increasing crosslinking density. The hydrogel emits blue-violet fluorescence. The main emission peak at 385-386 nm originates from the π-π* transition of the fluorene core, and the shoulder peak at 398-402 nm is attributed to intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). Upon ultraviolet irradiation, the hydrogel exhibits green fluorescence, with its emission peaks merging and undergoing a blue shift to 378-382 nm. In aqueous dispersion, the fluorescence is readily quenched by Fe 3+ and Hg 2+ ions, enabling their sensitive detection. Owing to the paramagnetic or heavy-atom effect upon coordination, the LOD values for Fe 3+ and Hg 2+ are 0.064 ppm and 0.199 ppm, respectively. Download: Download high-res image (304KB) Download: Download full-size image
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高影响因子
Biomaterials Advances
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2026
·
IF 6.7
Yutao Feng,Wenxin Zhou,Lai Chang,Chaoying Wang,Yanxu Li,Xuqing Cai,Fuyang Yu,Wei Wu
A CMCS-SA nanofiber biomembrane loaded with chlorogenic acid and astragalus polysaccharide was fabricated via electrospinning • The dual-active-loaded nanofiber biomembrane modulates oxidative stress and inflammatory response via NRF2/HO-1 signaling pathway • The nanofiber dressing accelerates diabetic wound repair by promoting collagen deposition and dermal tissue reconstruction • Natural-product-based electrospun nanofiber shows promising potential for diabetic wound healing application Background Chronic diabetic wounds are difficult to heal due to persistent oxidative stress, uncontrolled inflammation, cellular dysfunction, and impaired angiogenesis. Traditional dressings cannot actively regulate this complex microenvironment; thus, new active repair materials are urgently needed. Methods A dual-drug loaded nanofiber mat was constructed using carboxymethyl chitosan/sodium alginate (CMCS/SA) as the matrix, co -loaded with chlorogenic acid (CGA) and astragalus polysaccharide (APS) via electrospinning. Samples were characterized by SEM, etc. In vitro hemostatic, antibacterial, and cytocompatibility properties were evaluated. A full-thickness skin defect model in STZ-induced diabetic mice was used to evaluate healing efficacy. Mechanisms were explored using histology, immunofluorescence, Western blot, and flow cytometry. Results The nanofiber mat exhibited uniform structure, excellent hemostasis, water absorption, and antibacterial activity. In diabetic mice, it significantly accelerated wound closure, promoted granulation tissue formation, and enhanced re-epithelialization. Mechanistically, the material upregulated the NRF2/HO-1 pathway to eliminate ROS, inhibited NF-κB signaling to reduce TNF-α and IL-6, promoted macrophage polarization from M1 to M2, and enhanced angiogenesis and orderly collagen deposition. Conclusions This study successfully constructed a multifunctional nanofiber mat with synergistic effects of antioxidation, anti-inflammation, immune regulation, and tissue regeneration, providing a new strategy for diabetic wound treatment.
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高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
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2026
·
IF 8.7
Ting Wu,Qiwei Wang,Sihan Zhou,Hecheng Chen,Libing Zhang
pH-tunable, reversible bidirectional bending in the electro-responsive oppositely charged polyelectrolyte Janus hydrogel. • EHD printing-in-situ photopolymerization strategy resolves CS/SA hydrogel performance bottlenecks. • Excellent mechanics (808.9% strain) and high ionic conductivity (13.81 × 10 −3 S/cm) integrated in the hydrogel. • Practical devices (soft gripper, biomimetic flower) validate broad applications in soft robotics. Polyelectrolyte hydrogels are ideal for soft actuators, but conventional chitosan/sodium alginate (CS/SA) ionic hydrogels face a critical trade-off among flexibility, ionic content, and actuation speed, hindering their practical applications. Herein, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and sodium acrylate (AAS) were used to modify CS-based polycationic and SA-based polyanionic networks, respectively. A Janus polyelectrolyte hydrogel (PCDM/PSSM) with seamless interface was fabricated via one-pot synthesis, electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing, and in-situ photopolymerization. Microstructural characterization verified successful monomer grafting, amorphous/low-crystallinity networks, and robust interlocked interfaces. The hydrogel exhibited superior mechanical properties (PSSM achieving a tensile stress of 78.6 kPa and a strain of 775.6%, and PCDM achieving a tensile stress of 52.2 kPa and a strain of 808.9%, respectively), high ionic conductivity (13.81 × 10 −3 S/cm for PSSM), and efficient electro-actuation (155° bending at 10 V). Its core advantage is pH-programmable reversible bidirectional bending: −145° toward the polyanionic layer at pH = 2 and + 151° toward the polycationic layer at pH ≥ 7, originating from pH-regulated asymmetric swelling of protonated/deprotonated functional groups and enhanced by electric-field-induced ion migration. Demonstrated applications included an underwater soft gripper for fragile object manipulation and a biomimetic flower for pH-responsive petal closure. This work resolves the longstanding trade-off of CS/SA hydrogels and provides a scalable strategy for high-performance stimuli-responsive soft actuators, promising broad use in soft robotics, bioinspired systems, and biomedical engineering.
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Materials Today Nano
·
2026
·
IF 7.6
Yexia Xiao,Yuxin Guo,Bingyang Wang,Yongdong Zhao,Huifang Wang,Xianghua Gao,Baolong Niu,Wenfeng Li
Caffeic acid-modified chitosan (CCS) was successfully prepared as a dispersant and reducing agent for nanosilver. • AgNPs@CCS has excellent antimicrobial activity and biocompatibility. • APCCS composite films exhibit strong antioxidant properties. • The APCCS-2 composite film achieves long-lasting antimicrobial activity and can inhibit bacterial reproduction within 60 h. • APCCS composite films extended the shelf life of strawberries to the 9th day under 4 °C storage conditions. The massive release of silver nanoparticles poses a cumulative toxicity threat to the environment and living organisms. In this study, we have for the first time utilized the strong chelating effect of catechol groups in caffeic acid-modified chitosan (CCS) toward Ag + to achieve the immobilization and reduction of nanosilver (AgNPs@CCS) via a green synthesis method. This approach enables controlled Ag + release and enhances the biocompatibility of AgNPs@CCS: Ag + release was only 0.298 ± 0.004 μg/mL after 72 h. Hemolysis rates remained below 5% at 1024 μg/mL, and cell viability exceeded 80% at 250 μg/mL. Furthermore, to investigate the application of AgNPs@CCS in fruit preservation, we incorporated it as an antimicrobial filler into CCS and polyvinyl alcohol matrices to prepare composite films with excellent antimicrobial and preservation properties. Results demonstrated that the incorporation of AgNPs@CCS significantly enhanced the composite the mechanical properties, antioxidant capacity, and barrier performance of film. The APCCS-2 composite film exhibited antibacterial inhibition rates exceeding 97% against both E . coli and S . aureus , effectively suppressing bacterial proliferation for up to 60 h. Finally, the APCCS composite film extended the shelf life of strawberries stored at 4 °C to 9 days. And the weight loss rate of all APCCS composite films was greater than 19% on the 28th day, indicating that they have excellent degradation performance. It is a highly promising freshness-preserving packaging film. Download: Download high-res image (346KB) Download: Download full-size image
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高影响因子
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
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2026
·
IF 8.8
Pei Wu,Yilin Che,Rui Zhou,Yixin Tang,Lei Guo,Baiqiao Chen,Xinran Yan,Shanli Wu,Chang Liu,Mujie Kan,Jizhou Zhang,Xi Yang,Xin Jiang,Zhanxin Wang,Erlei Wang,Tianhao Yan,Caina Xu
Novel chitosan-based composite film with Luteolin-SOD nano-micelles via nano-encapsulation for food preservation. • This composite film outperforms conventional packaging: superior inhibition of oxidation, delays spoilage, biodegradable. • Natural-ingredient film: promising substitute for traditional packaging, meeting eco-friendly and sustainable demands. Chitosan-based films are promising alternatives to petroleum-based food packaging materials but suffer from insufficient mechanical strength, poor water resistance, and limited antioxidant capacity. To address these issues, we synthesized chitosan-based nano-polymers loaded with luteolin (Lut) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (CLS nano-micelles). We then incorporated these nano-micelles into a chitosan-based film to produce a CLS film. The results showed that, compared with the pure chitosan film, the mechanical properties of CLS film significantly improved, with tensile strength increasing from 6.14 MPa to 37.50 MPa and elongation at break increasing from 17.4% to 34.6%. The barrier properties of the CLS film were also enhanced, as both water vapor permeability and solubility decreased. Notably, the CLS film also exhibited excellent antioxidant properties (with DPPH inhibition rates increasing from 4.4% to 48.3% and ABTS inhibition rates rising from 7.2% to 74.6%) and demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against E. coli , S. aureus , and B. subtilis . It also exhibited excellent biocompatibility and demonstrated favorable biodegradability in soil. Grape preservation assays further confirmed its efficacy in maintaining fruit freshness. These results demonstrate that integrating CLS nano-micelles into a chitosan matrix significantly improves its mechanical, barrier, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. This makes the CLS film a promising eco-friendly alternative for sustainable food packaging applications, offering an efficient and environmentally friendly solution. Download: Download high-res image (125KB) Download: Download full-size image
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE
·
2026
·Vol. 91
·期 4
·e71016
·
IF 4.1
Kaixin Niu,Fei Yao,Yingying Ma,Dingyang Lv,Fusheng Chen
Food loss of agricultural products has become a major global challenge that urgently requires effective solutions. This study developed multifunctional composite films by integrating peanut shell-derived carbon dots (CDs) into chitosan (CS)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrices. The CS/PVA composite film containing 5% CDs (CP/5%CDs) exhibited significant improvements in ultraviolet shielding, mechanical strength, water vapor barrier properties, and thermal stability, attributing to the formation of a dense film structure and effect of hydrogen bonding interactions among film components. Notably, this composite film exhibited exceptional antioxidant capacity with 80.19% DPPH and 99.20% ABTS radical scavenging rates. And this composite film showed potent antibacterial capacity through photocatalytic ROS generation, exceeding 94% inhibition against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus under light irradiation. Furthermore, when applied in strawberry preservation trials, the CP/5%CDs film effectively extended shelf life, demonstrating practical potential for perishable food packaging applications. Practical Applications This research could be used to develop safer and more sustainable food-packaging materials for fresh produce. The film helps slow spoilage by blocking UV light, reducing moisture loss, and limiting bacterial growth. It may offer food industries and consumers an eco-friendly option to keep perishable fruits fresher for longer.
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE
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2026
·
IF 4.7
Wenting Gao,Bin Mu,Fangfang Yang,Yalong Li,Yu Tang,Zhihe Luo,Aiqin Wang
The potential of chitosan (CS) films for the preservation has been explored, and it is recognized as one of the promising approaches to enhancing the comprehensive capability of CS films for food control after incorporation of functional nanofillers. Herein, Rhodiola rosea extract/ZnO/palygorskite (RRE/ZnO/Pal) nanocomposites were facilely prepared and incorporated into CS matrix to obtain RRE/ZnO/Pal/CS (RZPC) composite films, in which ZnO/Pal nanocomposites were synthesized by a green phyto-mediated method followed by loading of R. rosea extract via a semi-dry grinding process to form organic/inorganic bioactive nanocomposites. The composite films exhibited significantly enhanced antioxidant, antibacterial, mechanical and UV-shielding properties compared with the pure CS film, as well as the maximum scavenging activities on hydroxyl radicals and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine radicals of composite films were 92.85% ± 1.59% and 56.89% ± 0.56%, respectively. The antibacterial ratios of composite films containing 6.25% of RRE/ZnO/Pal nanocomposites were 94.92% ± 2.67% and 95.48% ± 2.08% for E. coli and S. aureus , respectively. In addition, the RZPC films effectively delayed browning and deterioration of bananas. This study provides a green method for construction of bioactive nanocomposites and new strategy to design multifunctional CS films for food preservation based on the synergistic effect of organic and inorganic components.
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DOI
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）