Biomaterials and tissue engineering in traumatic brain injury:novel perspectives on promoting neural regeneration

Traumatic brain injury is a serious medical condition that can be attributed to falls, motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries and acts of violence, causing a series of neural injuries and neuropsychiatric symptoms. However, limited accessibility to the injury sites, complicated histological and anatomical structure, intricate cellular and extracellular milieu, lack of regenerative capacity in the native cells, vast variety of damage routes, and the insufficient time available for treatment have restricted the widespread application of several therapeutic methods in cases of central nervous system injury. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have emerged as innovative approaches in the field of nerve regeneration. By combining biomaterials, stem cells, and growth factors, these approaches have provided a platform for developing effective treatments for neural injuries, which can offer the potential to restore neural function, improve patient outcomes, and reduce the need for drugs and invasive surgical procedures. Biomaterials have shown advantages in promoting neural development, inhibiting glial scar formation, and providing a suitable biomimetic neural microenvironment, which makes their application promising in the field of neural regeneration. For instance, bioactive scaffolds loaded with stem cells can provide a biocompatible and biodegradable milieu. Furthermore, stem cells-derived exosomes combine the advantages of stem cells, avoid the risk of immune rejection, cooperate with biomaterials to enhance their biological functions, and exert stable functions, thereby inducing angiogenesis and neural regeneration in patients with traumatic brain injury and promoting the recovery of brain function. Unfortunately, biomaterials have shown positive effects in the laboratory, but when similar materials are used in clinical studies of human central nervous system regeneration, their efficacy is unsatisfactory. Here, we review the characteristics and properties of various bioactive materials, followed by the introduction of applications based on biochemistry and cell molecules, and discuss the emerging role of biomaterials in promoting neural regeneration. Further, we summarize the adaptive biomaterials infused with exosomes produced from stem cells and stem cells themselves for the treatment of traumatic brain injury. Finally, we present the main limitations of biomaterials for the treatment of traumatic brain injury and offer insights into their future potential.

Exploration of Ideological and Political Materials for the Course of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry for Environmental and Ecological Engineering Major

Integrating ideological and political theories teaching into the whole process of classroom teaching construction is a new requirement for implementing the fundamental task of cultivating people by virtue and playing the role of collaborative education.In order to realize the seamless integration of inorganic and analytical chemistry courses and ideological and political education,this paper summarizes the current situation of ideological and political research on inorganic and analytical chemistry courses in three major databases in China(VIP,CNKI and Wanfang),and sorts out the knowledge points,ideological and political elements and educational goals according to the content of the course chapters,to provide a basic guarantee for the ideological and political education construction of the course.

A theoretical model for impact protection of flexible polymer material

The relationship between the protective performance of flexible polymer material and material parameters(elasticmodulus,viscosity coefficient)is explored,an impact collision motion equation between two bodies is establishedfrom the viscoelastic material constitutive,and the relationship between the kinematic response and the materialparameters is obtained.Based on the Kelvin constitutive model,a theoretical model for impact between the pro-tective body and the protected body is established,then the dynamic response is obtained.The feasibility of themodel was verified by drop hammer experiment,and the material parameters(elastic modulus,viscosity coeffi-cient)were obtained by formula.The model is discretized and the relationship between local impact response andmaterial parameters is analyzed.The discussion results on the relationship between the impact response and theprotective material performance indicate that adjusting the elastic modulus,viscosity coefficient,and thicknessof the protective material can effectively improve protective effect.

Experimental investigation of engineered geopolymer composite for structural strengthening against blast loads

The recent increase in blast/bombing incidents all over the world has pushed the development of effective strengthening approaches to enhance the blast resistance of existing civil infrastructures.Engineered geopolymer composite(EGC)is a promising material featured by eco-friendly,fast-setting and strain-hardening characteristics for emergent strengthening and construction.However,the fiber optimization for preparing EGC and its protective effect on structural elements under blast scenarios are uncertain.In this study,laboratory tests were firstly conducted to evaluate the effects of fiber types on the properties of EGC in terms of workability,dry shrinkage,and mechanical properties in compression,tension and flexure.The experimental results showed that EGC containing PE fiber exhibited suitable workability,acceptable dry shrinkage and superior mechanical properties compared with other types of fibers.After that,a series of field tests were carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of EGC retrofitting layer on the enhancement of blast performance of typical elements.The tests include autoclaved aerated concrete(AAC)masonry walls subjected to vented gas explosion,reinforced AAC panels subjected to TNT explosion and plain concrete slabs subjected to contact explosion.It was found that EGC could effectively enhance the blast resistance of structural elements in different scenarios.For AAC masonry walls and panels,with the existence of EGC,the integrity of specimens could be maintained,and their deflections and damage were significantly reduced.For plain concrete slabs,the EGC overlay could reduce the diameter and depth of the crater and spallation of specimens.

ELECTROACTIVE AND NANOSTRUCTURED POLYMERS AS SCAFFOLD MATERIALS FOR NEURONAL AND CARDIAC TISSUE ENGINEERING

Conducting polymer, polyaniline （PANI）, has been studied as a novel electroactive and electrically conductive material for tissue engineering applications. The biocompatibility of the conductive polymer can be improved by （i） covalently grafting various adhesive peptides onto the surface of prefabricated conducting polymer films or into the polymer structures during the synthesis, （ii） co-electrospinning or blending with natural proteins to form conducting nanofibers or films, and （iii） preparing conducting polymers using biopolymers, such as collagen, as templates. In this paper, we mainly describe and review the approaches of covalently attaching oligopeptides to PANI and electrospinning PANI-gelatin blend nanofibers. The employment of such modified conducting polymers as substrates for enhanced cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation has been investigated with neuronal PC-12 cells and H9c2 cardiac myoblasts. For the electrospun PANI- gelatin fibers, depending on the concentrations of PANI, H9c2 cells initially displayed different morphologies on the fibrous substrates, but after one week all cultures reached confluence of similar densities and morphologies. Furthermore, we observed, that conductive PANI, when maintained in an aqueous physiologic environment, retained a significant level of electrical conductivity for at least 100 h, even though this conductivity was decreasing over time. Preliminary data show that the application of micro-current stimulates the differentiation of PC-12 cells. All the results demonstrate the potential for using PANI as an electroactive polymer in the culture of excitable cells and open the possibility of using this material as an electroactive scaffold for cardiac and/or neuronal tissue engineering applications that require biocompatibility of conductive polymers.

Durability Testing of Composite Aerospace Materials Based on a New Polymer Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Resin

In this study,the durability of a new polymer carbonfiber-reinforced epoxy resin used to produce composite material in the aerospacefield is investigated through analysis of the corrosion phenomena occurring at the microscopic scale,and the related infrared spectra and thermal properties.It is found that light and heat can con-tribute to the aging process.In particular,the longitudinal tensile strength displays a non-monotonic trend,i.e.,itfirst increases and then decreases over time.By contrast,the longitudinal compressive and inter-laminar shear strengths do not show significant changes.It is also shown that the inter-laminar shear strength of carbonfiber/epoxy resin composites with inter-laminar hybrid structure is better than that of pure carbonfiber materials.The related resistance to corrosion can be improved by more than 41%.

A Research on the Air Permeability of High Polymer Materials Used to Produce Sports Clothing Fabrics

Composite fabrics based on Polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)polymer displays several notable properties.They are waterproof,windproof,permeable to moisture and thermally insulating at the same time.In the present study,PTFE fibers are used as raw material to make fiber membranes.The film is formed by crisscrossing interconnected fiber filaments and the related air permeability:tensile creep characteristics and other properties are tested.The results show that the pore size,thickness,and porosity of the film itself can affect the moisture permeability of the film.The water pressure resistance of the selected fabric is 8.5 kPa,and the moisture permeability is 7038 g/(m^(2)·24 h).

New Nano Polymer Materials for Composite Exterior-Wall Coatings

A triethylenetetramine epoxy mixture was synthesized through the reaction of a low-molecular-weight liquid epoxy resin with triethylenetetramine(TETA).Then triethyltetramine(TETA)was injected dropwise into a pro-pylene glycol methyl ether(PM)solution for chain extension reaction.A hydrophilic andflexible polyether seg-ment was introduced into the hardener molecule.The effects of TETA/DGEPG,reaction temperature and reaction time on the epoxy conversion of polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether(DGEPG)were studied.In addition,several alternate strategies to add epoxy resin to the high-speed dispersion machine and synthesize MEA DGEBA adduct(without catalyst and with bisphenol A diglycidyl ether epoxy resin)were compared.It was found that the higher the molecular weight of triethylenetetramine,the longer the chain segment of the surface active molecule.When the equivalence ratio of amine hydrogen and epoxy group is low,the stability of lotion is good.When the ratio of amine hydrogen to epoxy group is large,the content of triethylenetetramine is small.The main objective of this study is the provision of new data and knowledge for the development of new materials in the coating and electronic industry.

Integrated Computational Materials Engineering for the Development and Design of High Modulus Al Alloys

Integrated computational materials engineering(ICME)is to integrate multi-scale computational simulations and key experimental methods such as macroscopic,mesoscopic,and microscopic into the whole process of Al alloys design and development,which enables the design and development of Al alloys to upgrade from traditional empirical to the integration of compositionprocess-structure-mechanical property,thus greatly accelerating its development speed and reducing its development cost.This study combines calculation of phase diagram(CALPHAD),Finite element calculations,first principle calculations,and microstructure characterization methods to predict and regulate the formation and structure of composite precipitates from the design of highmodulus Al alloy compositions and optimize the casting process parameters to inhibit the formation of micropore defects in the casting process,and the final tensile strength of Al alloys reaches420 MPa and Young's modulus reaches more than 88 GPa,which achieves the design goal of the high strength and modulus Al alloys,and establishes a new mode of the design and development of the strength/modulus Al alloys.

Molecular Dynamics (MD) Applications in Materials Science and Engineering and Nanotechnology

Molecular dynamics (MD) is a computer simulation technique that helps to explore the behavior and properties of molecules and atoms. MD has been used in research and development in many spaces, including materials science and engineering and nanotechnology. MD has been proven useful in topics like the nano-engineering of construction materials, correcting graphene planar defects, studying self-assembling bio-materials, and the densification, consolidation, and sintering of nanocrystalline materials.

Application of machine learning in perovskite materials and devices:A review

Metal-halide hybrid perovskite materials are excellent candidates for solar cells and photoelectric devices.In recent years,machine learning(ML)techniques have developed rapidly in many fields and provided ideas for material discovery and design.ML can be applied to discover new materials quickly and effectively,with significant savings in resources and time compared with traditional experiments and density functional theory(DFT)calculations.In this review,we present the application of ML in per-ovskites and briefly review the recent works in the field of ML-assisted perovskite design.Firstly,the advantages of perovskites in solar cells and the merits of ML applied to perovskites are discussed.Secondly,the workflow of ML in perovskite design and some basic ML algorithms are introduced.Thirdly,the applications of ML in predicting various properties of perovskite materials and devices are reviewed.Finally,we propose some prospects for the future development of this field.The rapid devel-opment of ML technology will largely promote the process of materials science,and ML will become an increasingly popular method for predicting the target properties of materials and devices.

A dual redox-active and robust polymer enables ultrafast and durable proton-storage capability

Aqueous proton batteries(APBs) offer a viable and attractive option in the field of affordable and sustainable energy solutions.Organic polymers are highly favored due to their environmentally friendly manufacturability and malleable molecular configurations,making them suitable materials for constructing APB electrodes.Nonetheless,their currently limited capacity for proton-associated redox reactions poses a challenge to the widespread usage.Herein,we have developed a highly redox-active organic polymer(PTA) tailored for APB applications.The inclusion of dual redox-active moieties in the extended nconjugated frameworks not only enhances the redox activity and refines the electronic properties,but also ensures the high structural integrity of the PTA polymer.When used as an electrode,the PTA polymer has a notable ability to store protons,with a large capacity of 213.99 mA h g^(-1) at 1 A g^(-1) and exceptional long-term stability,as evidenced by retaining 94.6% of its initial capacity after 20,000 cycles.In situ techniques alongside theoretical calculations have unveiled efficient redox processes occurring at C=N and C=O redox-active sites within the PTA electrode upon proton uptake/removal.Furthermore,a softpackage APB device has been assembled with impressive electrochemical behaviors and excellent operational lifespan,accentuating its significant promise for real-world deployment.

Two-Dimensional Materials for Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells(PSCs)offer low costs and high power conversion efficiency.However,the lack of long-term stability,primarily stemming from the interfacial defects and the sus-ceptible metal electrodes,hinders their practical application.In the past few years,two-dimensional(2D)materials(e.g.,graphene and its derivatives,transitional metal dichalcogenides,MXenes,and black phosphorus)have been identified as a promising solution to solving these problems because of their dangling bond-free surfaces,layer-dependent electronic band structures,tunable functional groups,and inherent compactness.Here,recent progress of 2D material toward efficient and stable PSCs is summarized,including its role as both interface materials and electrodes.We discuss their beneficial effects on perovskite growth,energy level alignment,defect passivation,as well as blocking external stimulus.In particular,the unique properties of 2D materials to form van der Waals heterojunction at the bottom interface are emphasized.Finally,perspectives on the further development of PSCs using 2D materials are provided,such as designing high-quality van der Waals heterojunction,enhancing the uniformity and coverage of 2D nanosheets,and developing new 2D materials-based electrodes.

The design and engineering strategies of metal tellurides for advanced metal-ion batteries

Owning various crystal structures and high theoretical capacity,metal tellurides are emerging as promising electrode materials for high-performance metal-ion batteries(MBs).Since metal telluride-based MBs are quite new,fundamental issues raise regarding the energy storage mechanism and other aspects affecting electrochemical performance.Severe volume expansion,low intrinsic conductivity and slow ion diffusion kinetics jeopardize the performance of metal tellurides,so that rational design and engineering are crucial to circumvent these disadvantages.Herein,this review provides an in-depth discussion of recent investigations and progresses of metal tellurides,beginning with a critical discussion on the energy storage mechanisms of metal tellurides in various MBs.In the following,recent design and engineering strategies of metal tellurides,including morphology engineering,compositing,defect engineering and heterostructure construction,for high-performance MBs are summarized.The primary focus is to present a comprehensive understanding of the structural evolution based on the mechanism and corresponding effects of dimension control,composition,electron configuration and structural complexity on the electrochemical performance.In closing,outlooks and prospects for future development of metal tellurides are proposed.This work also highlights the promising directions of design and engineering strategies of metal tellurides with high performance and low cost.

面向国际合作班的Engineering Materials课程教学研究与实践

针对国际合作班双语教学特点,结合专业培养要求,对现有Engineering Materials教学模式中存在的一些问题展开研究,重点在教材建设,教学方法以及考核方式方面寻求解决办法,开展面向国际合作班的Engineering Materials课程教学研究与实践。

Bird’s-eye view of recycled solid wastes in road engineering

Recent trends in road engineering have explored the potential of incorporating recycled solid wastes into infrastructures that including pavements,bridges,tunnels,and accessory structures.The utilization of solid wastes is expected to offer sustainable solutions to waste recycling while enhancing the performance of roads.This review provides an extensive analysis of the recycling of three main types of solid wastes for road engineering purposes:industrial solid waste,infrastructure solid waste,and municipal life solid waste.Industrial solid wastes suitable for road engineering generally include coal gangue,fly ash,blast furnace slag,silica fume,and steel slag,etc.Infrastructure solid wastes recycled in road engineering primarily consist of construction&demolition waste,reclaimed asphalt pavements,and recycled cement concrete.Furthermore,recent exploration has extended to the utilization of municipal life solid wastes,such as incinerated bottom ash,glass waste,electronics waste,plastic waste,and rubber waste in road engineering applications.These recycled solid wastes are categorized into solid waste aggregates,solid waste cements,and solid waste fillers,each playing distinct roles in road infrastructure.Roles of solid waste acting aggregates,cements,and fillers in road infrastructures were fully investigated,including their pozzolanic properties,integration effects to virgin materials,modification or enhancement solutions,engineering performances.Utilization of these materials not only addresses the challenge of waste management but also offers environmental benefits aiming carbon neutral and contributes to sustainable infrastructure development.However,challenges such as variability in material properties,environmental impact mitigation,secondary pollution to environment by leaching,and concerns regarding long-term performance need to be further addressed.Despite these challenges,the recycled solid wastes hold immense potential in revolutionizing road construction practices and fostering environmental stewardship.This review delves into a bird’seye view of the utilization of recycled solid wastes in road engineering,highlighting advances,benefits,challenges,and future prospects.

Basic Characteristics of an Appropriate Waste Fillers for Solvent Free and Water-Borne Industrial Polymer Floors and Their Utilization

Recently the manufacture of epoxy coating and flooring materials begun to be under strong pressure to use more environmentally friendly raw materials in its composition.First tendency to reduce of solvents and diluents contained in the materials appeared at the end of 90´s.This situation was supported by the Council of Europe in 2004 to reduce VOC emissions to zero till 2020.Solvent materials were thus largely replaced by solvent free materials from which the volatile substances are not released into the air.But pressure continued to increase,and over the past decade began to take centre stage water-based epoxy.On the Czech market solvent based material is still occasionally used,but predominant are solvent free materials.There are no commonly used materials containing wastes as fillers in new water-borne and solvent-free epoxy materials.Characteristics identification of the waste material as a potential filler is a set of properties that determine the limits of secondary raw materials or waste as a filler.This paper describes the basic characteristics which must be selected to meet the requirements,to affect negatively the workability,sedimentation,properties and behavior of the final floor system.Some materials must comply with special requirements,such as resistance to chemicals,etc.Next part of paper talks about utilization of polymer floors and their mechanical properties.

Exploring the Synergy: Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Steel and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) Reinforced Slab Incorporating Alccofine and M-Sand

Introduction: This study investigates the Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Steel and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) Reinforced Slab Incorporating Alccofine and M-sand. Objective: Specific objectives include evaluating the mechanical properties and structural behaviour of steel and GFRP-reinforced one-way slabs and comparing experimental and theoretical predictions. Methods: Four different mix proportions were arrived at, comprising both conventional concrete and Alccofine-based concrete. In each formulation, a combination of normal river sand and M-sand was utilized. Results: Concrete with Alccofine exhibits superior mechanical properties, while M-sand incorporation minimally affects strength but reduces reliance on natural sand. GFRP-reinforced slabs display distinct brittle behaviour with significant deflections post-cracking, contrasting steel-reinforced slabs’ gradual, ductile failure. Discrepancies between experimental data and design recommendations underscore the need for guideline refinement. Conclusion: Alccofine and M-sand enhance concrete properties, but reinforcement type significantly influences slab behaviour. GFRP-reinforced slabs, though exhibiting lower values than steel, offer advantages in harsh environments, warranting further optimization.

Unleashing the Potential of Unidirectional Mechanical Materials: Breakthroughs and Promising Applications

The emergence of mechanically one-way materials presents an exciting opportunity for materials science and engineering. These substances exhibit unique nonreciprocal mechanical responses, enabling them to selectively channel mechanical energy and facilitate directed sound propagation, controlled mass transport, and concentration of mechanical energy amidst random motion. This article explores the fundamentals of mechanically one-way materials, their potential applications across various industries, and the economic and environmental considerations related to their production and use.

Research Progress on the Preparation of Inorganic/Natural Materials Composite Microspheres

Microspheres are a new type of drug carrier with great potential for development and application.Natural polymers have good biocompatibility,biodegradability,and are easily dispersed in living organisms,making them suitable for preparing microspheres.Inorganic materials(mainly inorganic minerals)have excellent mechanical properties and are inexpensive and easy to obtain.Through the coupling and hybridization of natural polymers and inorganic materials,they can complement each other's advantages and synergistically enhance efficiency,resulting in many excellent physical and chemical properties.Inorganic materials/natural polymer composite microspheres can be prepared by modifying natural polymers with inorganic materials through various methods such as emulsification crosslinking,solution mixing,in-situ synthesis,extrusion,etc.The application of inorganic materials/natural polymer composite microspheres in drug delivery systems has significant sustained-release effects,is safe and non-toxic,and the cost of carrier materials is relatively low,which has certain significance for the development of new drug carriers.This article reviews the recent research on the preparation,drug loading and release properties of inorganic material/natural polymer composite microspheres,analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of commonly used preparation methods,and looks forward to the development direction of composite microspheres.