by Andrew Weems  , Wenyan Li  , Duncan Maitland  and Luz Marina Calle

Received: 12 September 2019;  Published: 31 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.1904008

Biomedical applications of shape memory polymers (SMPs) are limited by their biostability, degradability, and possible toxicity risks after implantation. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were used to increase the oxidative biostability (increase time until degradation occurs) using antioxidants and to induce oxidative degradation through incorporation of hydrogen peroxide-containing MSNs with modified surfaces. The presented results confirm increased oxidative stability using antioxidants, and alternatively, [...]

by Naiwei Chi  , Shuyao Zheng  , Elwin Clutter  and Rong Wang

Received: 30 October 2019;  Published: 18 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.1904007

Background: Diabetic patients suffer from chronic wounds partly due to altered function of fibroblasts. Fibroblasts of diabetic patients synthesize collagen I (COLI) at a much higher level than collagen III (COLIII), resulting in delayed tissue granulation and, consequently, a delay in the overall wound healing process. Methods: We aimed to revive the matrix protein productivity of diabetic fibroblasts by employing aligned, electrically conductive and biocompatible spider silk-CNT fibers as a cell culture matrix t [...]

by Sana Sandhu  , Anindita Arpa  , Xi Chen  , Rahul Kumar  and Justyn Jaworski

Received: 15 September 2019;  Published: 25 November 2019;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.1904006

Increasing interest in bacterial cellulose due to the huge potential which exists for the development of this new biomaterial for medical applications has been met with recent growth in research in engineering this unique microbial manufactured material. The mechanical properties, porosity, and biocompatibility of bacterial cellulose derived biomaterials are particularly attractive for use in wound healing, tissue engineering, and drug delivery applications. Advances in synthetic biology and soft materials engineer [...]

by Taise M. Manhabosco  , Shaul Aloni  , Jeffrey J. Urban  , Tevye R. Kuykendall  , Sara M. Manhabosco  , Ana Bárbara Batista  , Jaqueline S. Soares  , Ana Paula M. Barboza  , Alan. B. de Oliveira  and Ronaldo J. C. Batista

Received: 06 September 2019;  Published: 29 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.1904005

Tin telluride (SnTe) ultrathin films were deposited electrochemically on polycrystalline and monocrystalline gold substrates using the electrochemical atomic layer epitaxy (ECALE) method. The electrochemical behaviors of Sn and Te were studied systematically by means of cyclic voltammetry. Cyclic voltammetry curves for Sn displayed a broad peak in the region between -0.15 V and -0.35 V, which was related to the under-potential deposition (UPD), while the curves for Te displayed a peak at 0.3 V for Te UPD. X-ray pho [...]

by Lia Ofek  , Daniella Goder  and Meital Zilberman

Received: 31 July 2019;  Published: 11 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.1904004

Background: Wound management is an important field in medical care, as annually, millions of wounds require treatment worldwide. Soy protein is highly biocompatible, easily processed, and a relatively cheap natural polymer, which can be used for wound dressing applications. Methods: In this study, solvent cast soy protein films, plasticized by glycerol and cross-linked by glyoxal, were thermally treated and their mechanical properties were evaluated as a function of various processing parameters. Samples were then [...]

by Y. Ben-Aryeh

Received: 29 July 2019;  Published: 04 September 2019;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.1903003

Microsphere super-resolutions, which are beyond the Abbe classical limit, are described. The conversion of evanescent waves to propagating waves, are analyzed by using the geometry of the microsphere. In microsphere experiments a nanojet is produced near the focal plane where its width is smaller than the Abbe limit and this width remains unchanged in the axial direction for some wavelengths. The interference between evanescent waves converted to propagating waves and the nanojet leads to increase in light intensit [...]

by H. Hakemi  , O. Pinshow  and D. Gal-Fuss

Received: 24 June 2019;  Published: 07 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.1903002

In the past few years, there have been many attempts to commercialize Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) for Rear Projection Screen (RPS) in electrically switchable films and glass products. This application is based on the exceptional image quality of PDLC at a wide viewing angle. However, due to the high price of conventional switchable PDLC privacy glass, the integration of RPS in PDLC failed to attract large multimedia and entertainment markets. An obvious solution to this problem is the independent develo [...]

by Alexander Henn  and Maija-Liisa Mattinen

Received: 08 March 2019;  Published: 26 April 2019;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.1902001

Technical lignins from the biorefinery, pulp, and paper industries are largely underutilized, even though this aromatic and randomly structured biopolymer could be an interesting raw material for advanced applications in addition to bulk daily goods. Recently, colloidal lignin particles (CLPs) have gained much of the research interests due to the attractive multi-functional properties of the biopolymer. Utilization of lignin in nanoparticulate morphology resolves most of the drawbacks when using lignin (heterogenei [...]