Evaluation of Morphological Effect on Thermal and Mechanical Performance of PS/PMMA/CdS Nanocomposite Systems

In the present paper an effort has been made to investigate effect of dispersion of CdS nanoparticles on the thermal and mechanical properties of PS/PMMA blends. Samples have been prepared through dispersion of CdS nanoparticles (prepared separately) during solution casting blend fabrication processing. These nanocomposites samples are structurally characterized through Wide angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) and Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) techniques. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses of these samples have been carried out in lieu of surface morphological characterization. The measurements of glass transition temperature and stress-strain analyses have been performed through Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA). The thermal conductivity of nanocomposite samples has been determined using Hot Disk Thermal Constants Analyzer. The study shows that the incorporation of dispersed CdS nanoparticles in PS/PMMA blend matrix significantly alter their glass transition behaviour, thermal conductivity and tensile properties.

Sensing Behaviour of Some Nanocomposite Systems

Silver nanoparticles of diameters 3.4 to 13.2 nm grown at the interfaces between silicate glass and some oxide crystallites exhibited about six orders of magnitude reduction in resistivity for a relative humidity change from 25% to 80%. Sn-SnO2 nano core-shell structure prepared within a gel-derived silica glass film by electrodeposition technique followed by heat treatment showed large change in resistivity as a function of humidity. The resistivity also changed due to gas flow of CO2, C2H5OH and NO2, respectively. The latter arose because of reduction/oxidation of Sn4+/Sn2+ species present at the shell layer of the nanostructures. Nickel nanosheets of thickness ~0.6 nm grown within the interlayer spaces of Na-4 mica crystallites showed a change of dielectric permittivity (5%) for an applied magnetic field of 1.2 Tesla. An inhomogeneous model was used to explain this behavior. Two dimensional CuO phase was grown within the channels of diameter ~5 nm of mesoporous SiO2 structure. A magnetodielectric (MD) parameter M.D. of 4.4% was obtained in this case. BaTiO3 nanoparticles of diameter ~25 nm having pores with diameter 10 nm showed multiferroic behavior which arose due to the presence of oxygen vacancies as a result of large surface area present. An M.D. parameter of 11% was found. Similarly mesoporous LiNbO3 of 10 nm diameter showed an M.D. parameter of ~4.5% at a magnetic field 1 Tesla. A giant magnetocapacitance effect with a value of 44% at 1.5 T was observed in nickel zinc ferrite (NZF) impregnated mesoporous silica. A magnetocapacitance of 51% at magnetic field 1.7 T was found in the case of nanocomposites comprising of iron ion containing silica based nanoglass and mesoporous silica. In the last two examples the behavior was explained on the basis of Catalan model of space-charge polarization with extracted values of magnetoresistance of the NZF and nanoglass phases being 58%.

Dielectric spectroscopy characterization of Naþ ion-conducting polymer nanocomposite system PEO–PVP–NaIO_(4)–TiO_(2)

We studied the effect of titanium dioxide(TiO_(2))nanoparticles(NPs)on dielectric behavior of Naþion-conducting salt-complexed polymer nanocomposite system formed from a binary polymer blend of poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO)and polyvinyl pyrrolidone(PVP),with the addition of both sodium metaperiodate(NaIO_(4))at concentration 10 wt.%and TiO_(2) NPs of size10 nm,at concentrations 1,2,3,4 and 5 wt.%.Free standing nanocomposite PEO/PVP/NaIO_(4)/TiO_(2) films(150m)were characterized at room-temperature by analyzing their complex electrical impedance and dielectric spectra in the range 1 Hz–1 MHz.At the concentration of 3 wt.%of TiO_(2) NPs,both ion conductivity and dielectric permittivity of the PEO/PVP/NaIO_(4)/TiO_(2) ion-conducting dielectrics reach an enhancement by more than one order of magnitude as compared to nanoadditive-free case.

Layered Potassium Titanium Niobate/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite as a Potassium‑Ion Battery Anode

With graphite currently leading as the most viable anode for potassium-ion batteries(KIBs),other materials have been left relatively underexamined.Transition metal oxides are among these,with many positive attributes such as synthetic maturity,longterm cycling stability and fast redox kinetics.Therefore,to address this research deficiency we report herein a layered potassium titanium niobate KTiNbO5(KTNO)and its rGO nanocomposite(KTNO/rGO)synthesised via solvothermal methods as a high-performance anode for KIBs.Through effective distribution across the electrically conductive rGO,the electrochemical performance of the KTNO nanoparticles was enhanced.The potassium storage performance of the KTNO/rGO was demonstrated by its first charge capacity of 128.1 mAh g^(−1) and reversible capacity of 97.5 mAh g^(−1) after 500 cycles at 20 mA g^(−1),retaining 76.1%of the initial capacity,with an exceptional rate performance of 54.2 mAh g^(−1)at 1 A g^(−1).Furthermore,to investigate the attributes of KTNO in-situ XRD was performed,indicating a low-strain material.Ex-situ X-ray photoelectron spectra further investigated the mechanism of charge storage,with the titanium showing greater redox reversibility than the niobium.This work suggests this lowstrain nature is a highly advantageous property and well worth regarding KTNO as a promising anode for future high-performance KIBs.

A Generic Strategy to Create Mechanically Interlocked Nanocomposite/Hydrogel Hybrid Electrodes for Epidermal Electronics

Stretchable electronics are crucial enablers for next-generation wearables intimately integrated into the human body.As the primary compliant conductors used in these devices,metallic nanostructure/elastomer composites often struggle to form conformal contact with the textured skin.Hybrid electrodes have been consequently developed based on conductive nanocomposite and soft hydrogels to establish seamless skin-device interfaces.However,chemical modifications are typically needed for reliable bonding,which can alter their original properties.To overcome this limitation,this study presents a facile fabrication approach for mechanically interlocked nanocomposite/hydrogel hybrid electrodes.In this physical process,soft microfoams are thermally laminated on silver nanowire nanocomposites as a porous interface,which forms an interpenetrating network with the hydrogel.The microfoam-enabled bonding strategy is generally compatible with various polymers.The resulting interlocked hybrids have a 28-fold improved interfacial toughness compared to directly stacked hybrids.These electrodes achieve firm attachment to the skin and low contact impedance using tissue-adhesive hydrogels.They have been successfully integrated into an epidermal sleeve to distinguish hand gestures by sensing mus-cle contractions.Interlocked nanocomposite/hydrogel hybrids reported here offer a promising platform to combine the benefits of both materials for epidermal devices and systems.

Using Electrodeposition of Carboxylated Chitosan for Green Preparation of Copper Nanoclusters and Nanocomposite Films

On the basis of coordinated electrodeposition of carboxylated chitosan(CCS),we presented a green method to prepare Cu NCs and Cu NCs/CCS nanocomposite films.The method shows a range of benefits,such as the convenient and eco-friendly process,mild conditions,and simple post-treatment.The experimental results reveal that a homogeneous deposited film(Cu NCs/CCS nanocomposite film)is generated on the Cu plate(the anode)after electrodeposition,which exhibits an obvious red florescence.The results from TEM observation suggest there are nanoparticles(with the average particle size of 2.3 nm)in the deposited film.Spectral analysis results both demonstrate the existence of Cu NCs in the deposited film.Moreover,the Cu NCs/CCS film modified electrode is directly created through electrodeposition of CCS,which enables promising application in the electrochemical sensing.By means of fluorescence properties of Cu NCs,the Cu NCs/CCS film also owns the potential in fluorescence detection.Therefore,this work builds a novel method for the green synthesis of Cu NCs,meanwhile it offers a convenient and new electrodeposition strategy to prepare polysaccharide-based Cu NCs nanocomposites for uses in functional nanocomposites and bioelectronic devices.

Lightweight Dual‑Functional Segregated Nanocomposite Foams for Integrated Infrared Stealth and Absorption‑Dominant Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Lightweight infrared stealth and absorption-dominant electromagnetic interference(EMI)shielding materials are highly desirable in areas of aerospace,weapons,military and wearable electronics.Herein,lightweight and high-efficiency dual-functional segregated nanocomposite foams with microcellular structures are developed for integrated infrared stealth and absorption-dominant EMI shielding via the efficient and scalable supercritical CO_(2)(SC-CO_(2))foaming combined with hydrogen bonding assembly and compression molding strategy.The obtained lightweight segregated nanocomposite foams exhibit superior infrared stealth performances benefitting from the synergistic effect of highly effective thermal insulation and low infrared emissivity,and outstanding absorption-dominant EMI shielding performances attributed to the synchronous construction of microcellular structures and segregated structures.Particularly,the segregated nanocomposite foams present a large radiation temperature reduction of 70.2℃ at the object temperature of 100℃,and a significantly improved EM wave absorptivity/reflectivity(A/R)ratio of 2.15 at an ultralow Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) content of 1.7 vol%.Moreover,the segregated nanocomposite foams exhibit outstanding working reliability and stability upon dynamic compression cycles.The results demonstrate that the lightweight and high-efficiency dual-functional segregated nanocomposite foams have excellent potentials for infrared stealth and absorption-dominant EMI shielding applications in aerospace,weapons,military and wearable electronics.

Predicting the Mechanical Behavior of a Bioinspired Nanocomposite through Machine Learning

The bioinspired nacre or bone structure represents a remarkable example of tough,strong,lightweight,and multifunctional structures in biological materials that can be an inspiration to design bioinspired high-performance materials.The bioinspired structure consists of hard grains and soft material interfaces.While the material interface has a very low volume percentage,its property has the ability to determine the bulk material response.Machine learning technology nowadays is widely used in material science.A machine learning model was utilized to predict the material response based on the material interface properties in a bioinspired nanocomposite.This model was trained on a comprehensive dataset of material response and interface properties,allowing it to make accurate predictions.The results of this study demonstrate the efficiency and high accuracy of the machine learning model.The successful application of machine learning into the material property prediction process has the potential to greatly enhance both the efficiency and accuracy of the material design process.

Enhancing Defect-Induced Dipole Polarization Strategy of SiC@MoO_(3)Nanocomposite Towards Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Defect engineering in transition metal oxides semiconductors(TMOs)is attracting considerable interest due to its potential to enhance conductivity by intentionally introducing defects that modulate the electronic structures of the materials.However,achieving a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between micro-structures and electromagnetic wave absorption capabilities remains elusive,posing a substantial challenge to the advancement of TMOs absorbers.The current research describes a process for the deposition of a MoO_(3)layer onto SiC nanowires,achieved via electro-deposition followed by high-temperature calcination.Subsequently,intentional creation of oxygen vacancies within the MoO_(3)layer was carried out,facilitating the precise adjustment of electromagnetic properties to enhance the microwave absorption performance of the material.Remarkably,the SiC@MO-t4 sample exhibited an excellent minimum reflection loss of-50.49 dB at a matching thickness of 1.27 mm.Furthermore,the SiC@MO-t6 sample exhibited an effective absorption bandwidth of 8.72 GHz with a thickness of 2.81 mm,comprehensively covering the entire Ku band.These results not only highlight the pivotal role of defect engineering in the nuanced adjustment of electromagnetic properties but also provide valuable insight for the application of defect engineering methods in broadening the spectrum of electromagnetic wave absor ption effectiveness.SiC@MO-t samples with varying concentrations of oxygen vacancies were prepared through in-situ etching of the SiC@MoO_(3)nanocomposite.The presence of oxygen vacancies plays a crucial role in adjusting the band gap and local electron distribution,which in turn enhances conductivity loss and induced polarization loss capacity.This finding reveals a novel strategy for improving the absorption properties of electromagnetic waves through defect engineering.

Bio-inspired Hydroxyapatite/Gelatin Transparent Nanocomposites

Hydroxyapatite(HA)nanoparticles impart outstanding mechanical properties to organicinorganic nanocomposites in bone.Inspired by the composite structure of HA nanoparticles and collagen in bone,a high performance HA/gelatin nanocomposite was first developed.The nanocomposites have much better mechanical properties(elongation at break 29.9%,tensile strength 90.7 MPa,Young’s modulus 5.24 GPa)than pure gelatin films(elongation at break 9.3%,tensile strength 90.8 MPa,Young’s modulus 2.5 GPa).In addition,the composite films keep a high transmittance in visible wavelength range from 0%to 60%of the HA solid content.These differences in properties are attributed to the homogeneous distribution of HA nanoparticles in the gelatin polymer matrix and the strong interaction between the particle surfaces and the gelatin molecules.This protocol should be promising for HA-based nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties for biomedical applications.

Increasing the toughness while reducing the viscosity of carbon nanotube/ polyether imide/polyether ether ketone nanocomposites

Polyether ether ketone(PEEK)has good mechanical properties.However,its high viscosity when molten limits its use because it is hard to process.PEEK nanocomposites containing both carbon nanotubes(CNTs)and polyether imide(PEI)were pre-pared by a direct wet powder blending method using a vertical injection molding machine.The addition of an optimum amount of PEI lowered the viscosity of the molten PEEK by approximately 50%while producing an increase in the toughness of the nanocom-posites,whose strain to failure increased by 129%,and fracture energy increased by 97%.The uniformly dispersed CNT/PEI powder reduced the processing difficulty of PEEK nanocomposites without affecting the thermal resistance.This improvement of the strength and viscosity of PEEK facilitate its use in the preparation of thermoplastic composites.

Assembly of functional carboxymethyl cellulose/polyethylene oxide/anatase TiO_(2) nanocomposites and tuning the dielectric relaxation, optical, and photoluminescence performances

Nanocomposite films consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose,polyethylene oxide(CMC/PEO),and anatase titanium diox-ide(TO)were produced by the use of sol-gel and solution casting techniques.TiO2 nanocrystals were effectively incorporated into CMC/PEO polymers,as shown by X-ray diffraction(XRD)and attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infrared(ATR-FTIR)analysis.The roughness growth is at high levels of TO nanocrystals(TO NCs),which means increasing active sites and defects in CMC/PEO.In differential scanning calorimetry(DSC)thermograms,the change in glass transition temperature(Tg)val-ues verifies that the polymer blend interacts with TO NCs.The increment proportions of TO NCs have a notable impact on the dielectric performances of the nanocomposites,as observed.The electrical properties of the CMC/PEO/TO nanocomposite undergo significant changes.The nanocomposite films exhibit a red alteration in the absorption edge as the concentration of TO NCs increases in the polymer blend.The decline in the energy gap is readily apparent as the weight percentage of TO NCs increases.The photoluminescence(PL)emission spectra indicate that the sites of the luminescence peak maximums show slight variation;peaks get wider,while their intensities decrease dramatically as the concentration of TO increases.These nanocomposite materials show potential for multifunctional applications including optoelectronics,antireflection coatings,pho-tocatalysis,light emitting diodes,and solid polymer electrolytes.

Synergism of Zinc Oxide/Organoclay-Loaded Poly(lactic acid) Hybrid Nanocomposite Plasticized by Triacetin for Sustainable Active Food Packaging

The synergistic effect of organoclay(OC)and zinc oxide(ZnO)nanoparticles on the crucial properties of poly(lactic acid)(PLA)nanocompositefilms was systematically investigated herein.After their incorporation into PLA via the solvent casting technique,the water vapor barrier property of the PLA/OC/ZnOfilm improved by a maximum of 86%compared to the neat PLAfilm without the deterioration of Young’s modulus or the tensile strength.Moreover,thefilm’s self-antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogens,including gram-negative(Escherichia coli,E.coli)and gram-positive(Staphylococcus aureus,S.aureus)bacteria,was enhanced by a max-imum of approximately 98–99%compared to the neat PLAfilm.Furthermore,SEM images revealed the homo-geneous dispersion of both nano-fillers in the PLA matrix.However,the thermal stability of thefilm decreased slightly after the addition of the OC and ZnO.Thefilm exhibited notable light barrier properties in the UV-Vis range.Moreover,the incorporation of a suitable biodegradable plasticizer significantly decreased the Tg and notably enhanced theflexibility of the nanocompositefilm by increasing the elongation at break approxi-mately 1.5-fold compared to that of the neat PLAfilm.This contributes to its feasibility as an active food packa-ging material.

Advanced Nanocomposite Arabic Gum Polyacrylic Acid Hydrogels for Flexible Supercapacitors

In this work,the fabrication and characterization of the nanocomposite hydrogel,as a solid electrode in electro-chemical cell and gel electrolyte material using Indium titanium oxide/polyethylene terephthalate(ITO/PET)flex-ible substrate for double-layer supercapacitors have been reported.The nanocomposite hydrogel composed of Arabic gum(AG),Acrylic acid(AA),reduced graphene oxide(RGO),and silver nanoparticles(AgNPs)was fab-ricated via a physical cross-linked polymerization reaction,in which the ascorbic acid was used as a reducing agent to generate AgNPs and to convert Graphene oxide(GO)to RGO during the polymerization reaction.The morphology and structural characteristics of nanocomposite hydrogel were investigated using atomic force microscopy(AFM),scanning electron microscope(SEM),Fourier transfer infrared(FTIR),and X-rayfluores-cence(XRF).Additionally,the effect of RGO and AgNPs on hydrogel stability was assessed through Thermogra-vimetric analysis(TGA)and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),while its mechanical properties were studied using the nanoindentation test.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS),and cyclic voltammetry(CV)were also conducted to study the electrochemical properties of the prepared hydrogel.The effects of AgNPs,RGO,and water content were all considered in the study of supercapacitor performance.The microstructural tests showed that the nanocomposite hydrogel has a relatively high swelling rate,which has a crucial effect on the capa-citance.Furthermore,the effects of increasing AgNP concentration and water content in the hydrogel matrix showed a significant improvement in its electrochemical performance,compared with that for Arabic gum poly acrylic acid(AGPAA)hydrogel itself,were the specific capacitance exhibited a significant enhancement,convert-ing from a low value to a substantially higher capacitance value.Moreover,when the nanocomposite hydrogel was used as the working electrode in an electrochemical cell with a hydrochloric acid(HCl)electrolyte solution,it exhibited good electrode performance.Additionally,using(ITO/PET)as aflexible substrate for nanocomposite hydrogel shows an improvement in their suitability for supercapacitor applications.Therefore,it is suggested that the fabricated hydrogel supercapacitor has potential applications in thefield of renewable and clean energy harvesting.

Photocatalytic ozonation-based degradation of phenol by ZnO—TiO_(2)nanocomposites in spinning disk reactor

Spinning disk reactor(SDR)has emerged as a novel process intensification photocatalytic reactor,and it has higher mass transfer efficiency and photon utilization for the degradation of toxic organic pollutants by advanced oxidation processes(AOPs).In this study,ZnO—TiO_(2)nanocomposites were prepared by solgel method,and coated on the disk of SDR by impregnation-pull-drying-calcination method.The performance of catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscope,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,photoluminescence and ultraviolet—visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.Photocatalytic ozonation in SDR was used to remove phenol,and various factors on degradation effect were studied in detail.The results showed that the rate of degradation and mineralization reached 100%and 83.4%under UV light irradiation after 50 min,compared with photocatalysis and ozonation,the removal rate increased by 69.3%and 34.7%,and mineralization rate increased by 56.7%and 62.9%,which indicated that the coupling of photocatalysis and ozonation had a synergistic effect.The radical capture experiments demonstrated that the active species such as photogenerated holes(h^(+)),hydroxyl radicals(·OH),superoxide radical(·O_(2)-)were responsible for phenol degradation,and·OH played a leading role in the degradation process,while h+and·O_(2)^(-)played a non-leading role.

Phase field model for electric-thermal coupled discharge breakdown of polyimide nanocomposites under high frequency electrical stress

In contrast to conventional transformers, power electronic transformers, as an integral component of new energy power system, are often subjected to high-frequency and transient electrical stresses, leading to heightened concerns regarding insulation failures. Meanwhile, the underlying mechanism behind discharge breakdown failure and nanofiller enhancement under high-frequency electrical stress remains unclear. An electric-thermal coupled discharge breakdown phase field model was constructed to study the evolution of the breakdown path in polyimide nanocomposite insulation subjected to high-frequency stress. The investigation focused on analyzing the effect of various factors, including frequency, temperature, and nanofiller shape, on the breakdown path of Polyimide(PI) composites. Additionally, it elucidated the enhancement mechanism of nano-modified composite insulation at the mesoscopic scale. The results indicated that with increasing frequency and temperature, the discharge breakdown path demonstrates accelerated development, accompanied by a gradual dominance of Joule heat energy. This enhancement is attributed to the dispersed electric field distribution and the hindering effect of the nanosheets. The research findings offer a theoretical foundation and methodological framework to inform the optimal design and performance management of new insulating materials utilized in high-frequency power equipment.

Efficacy of graphene nanocomposites for air disinfection in dental clinics: A randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND Aerosols containing disease-causing microorganisms are produced during oral diagnosis and treatment can cause secondary contamination.AIM To investigate the use of graphene material for air disinfection in dental clinics by leveraging its adsorption and antibacterial properties.METHODS Patients who received ultrasonic cleaning at our hospital from April 2023 to April 2024.They were randomly assigned to three groups(n=20 each):Graphene nanocomposite material suction group(Group A),ordinary filter suction group(Group B),and no air suction device group(Group C).The air quality and air colony count in the clinic rooms were assessed before,during,and after the procedure.Additionally,bacterial colony counts were obtained from the air outlets of the suction devices and the filter screens in Groups A and B.RESULTS Before ultrasonic cleaning,no significant differences in air quality PM2.5 and colony counts were observed among the three groups.However,significant differences in air quality PM2.5 and colony counts were noted among the three groups during ultrasonic cleaning and after ultrasonic treatment.Additionally,the number of colonies on the exhaust port of the suction device and the surface of the filter were significantly lower in Group A than in Group B(P=0.000 and P=0.000,respectively).CONCLUSION Graphene nanocomposites can effectively sterilize the air in dental clinics by exerting their antimicrobial effects and may be used to reduce secondary pollution.

Removal of Dye Using Lignin-Based Biochar/Poly(ester amide urethane)Nanocomposites from Contaminated Wastewater

The pursuit of incorporating eco-friendly reinforcing agents in polymer composites has accentuated the exploration of various natural biomass-derived materials.The burgeoning environmental crisis spurred by the discharge of synthetic dyes into wastewater has catalyzed the search for effective and sustainable treatment technologies.Among the various sorbent materials explored,biochar,being renewable,has gained prominence due to its excellent adsorption properties and environmental sustainability.It has also emerged as a focal point for its potential to replace other conventional reinforcing agents,viz.,fumed silica,aluminum oxide,treated clays,etc.This study introduces a novel class of polymer nanocomposites comprising of lignin-based biochar particles and poly(ester amide urethane)matrix via a feasible method.The structural evaluation of these nanocomposites was accomplished using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,and powder X-ray diffraction.The polymer nanocomposites exhibited superior mechanical properties with an increment in tensile strength factor by 45%in comparison to its pristine matrix,along with an excellent toughness value of 90.22 MJm^(−3)at a low loading amount of only 1 wt%.The composites showed excellent improvement in thermal properties with a sharp rise in the glass transition temperature(Tg)value from−28.15℃to 84℃,while also championing sustainability through inherent biodegradability attributes.Beyond their structural prowess,these polymer nanocomposites demonstrated excellent potential as adsorbents,displaying efficient removal of malachite green and tartrazine dyes from aqueous systems with a removal efficiency of 87.25%and 73.98%,respectively.The kinetics study revealed the pseudo second order model to be the precision tool to assess the dye removal study.Complementing this,the Langmuir adsorption isotherm provided a framework to assess the sorption features of the polymer nanocomposites.Overall,these renewable biochar integrated polymer matrices boast remarkable recovery capabilities up to seven cycles of usage with an excellent dye recovery percentage of 95.21%for the last cycle,thereby defining sustainability as well as economic feasibility.

Synthesis,characterization and evaluation of polyacrylamide graft starch/clay nanocomposite hydrogel system for enhanced oil recovery

In this paper the suitability of a graft polymer nanocomposite hydrogel system for enhanced oil recovery was examined using polyacrylamide graft starch/clay nanocomposite(a laboratory synthesized product) and chromium(III) acetate(crosslinker). X-ray diffraction analysis,Fourier transform infrared spectrometry analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were carried out to reveal the laboratory synthesized product as a nanocomposite. The effects of various parameters like salt concentration, p H, temperature, polymer concentration and crosslinker concentration on the properties of the developed gel system were systematically evaluated.The thermal stability of the nanocomposite gel and the conventional gel system were also determined by thermogravimetric analysis. The graft polymer nanocomposite gel system exhibited acceptable gel strength, gelation time and gel stability compared with the conventional gel system. The nanocomposite gels prepared using a low crosslinker concentration showed higher gel strength and required longer gelation time than the conventional gel which is more desirable properties for the effective placement of gel during enhanced oil recovery operations. In addition, sand pack flooding experiments show that the graft polymer nanocomposite gels had better plugging capacity than the conventional gel systems under reservoir conditions. Hence, this gel system may be suitable in the water shutoff treatments required for enhanced oil recovery from oilfields.

Site-selective oral delivery of therapeutic antibodies to the inflamed colon via a folic acid-grafted organic/inorganic hy brid nanocomposite system

This study aimed to develop a pH-responsive folic acid-grafted organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposite system for site-selective oral delivery of therapeutic antibodies. A folic acid-grafted aminoclay(FA-AC) was prepared via an in situ sol-gel method. Then, a drug-loaded nanocomplex was prepared via the electrostatic interaction of FA-AC with infliximab(IFX), a model antibody, and coated with Eudragit? S100(EFA-AC-IFX). FA-AC exhibited favorable profiles as a drug carrier including low cytotoxicity, good target selectivity, and capability to form a nanocomplex with negatively charged macromolecules. A pH-responsive FA-AC-based nanocomplex containing IFX(EFA-AC-IFX) was also obtained in a narrow size distribution with high entrapment efficiency(>87%). The conformational stability of IFX entrapped in EFA-AC-IFX was well maintained in the presence of proteolytic enzymes. EFA-ACIFX exhibited pH-dependent drug release, minimizing premature drug release in gastric conditions and the upper intestine. Accordingly, oral administration of EFA-AC-IFX to colitis-induced mice was effective in alleviating the progression of ulcerative colitis, while oral IFX solution had no efficacy. These results suggest that a pH-responsive FA-AC-based nanocomposite system can be a new platform for the site-selective oral delivery of therapeutic antibodies.