Modular design of biomimetic electrospun keratin composites for tunable gaseous sorption inspired by reptile eggshells.

Biomimicry, the replication of natural structures, is an emerging strategy in materials engineering for developing advanced functional materials. Reptile eggshells serve as compelling models for tunable bioinspired material design due to their diversity in forms and functions. This study presents a modular approach to designing keratin-based composites with customizable vapor sorption behavior.

Convergence in biomineralization patterns across animal eggshells.

Shelled eggs are key components of animal reproduction on land, evolving independently in distant lineages of terrestrial animals including nematodes, gastropods, annelids, arthropods and chordates. They perform critical functions such as the exchange of gases between embryo and the environment, desiccation avoidance and protection from harmful radiation, microbial infection and mechanical damage. A core mechanism behind eggshell multifunctionality is the incorporation of biominerals (mainly calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate) into the shell.

Hydric Environment and Chemical Composition Shape Non-avian Reptile Eggshell Absorption.

The amniotic egg fulfils a critical role in reproduction by serving as an interface between the external environment and the embryo. Because non-avian reptiles are rarely incubated, they must be heated by, and absorb water from, the oviposition site for the developing embryo. The mechanisms by which they absorb sufficient, but not excess, water and how these mechanisms vary with local habitat is largely unknown, despite its significance to their evolution.

Comparative Analysis of Elastic Polyester Sportswear Fabrics with Printed Graphene Patterns.

In this study two elastic polyester fabrics differentiated by a graphene-printed pattern, called honeycomb (HC) and spider web (SW), were analyzed with a focus on their thermal, mechanical, moisture management and sensorial properties, aiming to identify the fabric with the most elevated heat dissipation and comfort for sportswear. The shape of the graphene-printed circuit did not lead to significant difference between the mechanical properties of the fabrics SW and HC assessed by the Fabric Touch Tester (FTT). Fabric SW outperformed fabric HC with respect of drying time, air permeability, moisture, and liquid management properties.

Stable amorphous solid dispersion of flubendazole with high loading via electrospinning.

In this work, an important step is taken towards the bioavailability improvement of poorly water-soluble drugs, such as flubendazole (Flu), posing a challenge in the current development of many novel oral-administrable therapeutics. Solvent electrospinning of a solution of the drug and poly (2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOx) is demonstrated to be a viable strategy to produce stable nanofibrous amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) with ultrahigh drug-loadings (up to 55 wt% Flu) and long-term stability (at least one year). Importantly, at such high drug loadings, the concentration of the polymer in the electrospinning solution has to be lowered below the concentration where it can be spun in absence of the drug as the interactions between the polymer and the drug result in increased solution viscosity.

Textile Based Electrochromic Cells Prepared with PEDOT: PSS and Gelled Electrolyte.

Electrochromic devices can act as passive displays. They change their color when a low voltage is applied. Flexible and bendable hybrid textile-film electrochromic devices with poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) were prepared on polyethylene polyethylene terephthalate (PEPES) membranes using a spray coating technique.

Fabrication of ZnO Nanoparticle-Decorated Nanofiber Mat with High Uniformity Protected by Constructing Tri-Layer Structure.

We demonstrate a sequential electrospinning process involving the adsorption of ZnO nanoparticles on the surface of bio-based polyester, which is a terpolyester of a renewable isosorbide (ISB) monomer, ethylene glycol, 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol, and terephthalic acid, the-so-called PEICT, to fabricate stable ZnO nanoparticles/PEICT nanofiber composite system protected with other two PEICT nanofiber mats. We found that post-electrospinning treatment with a particular solvent was effective to remove a residual solvent molecule in the PEICT nanofibers, which induced significant aggregation of the nanoparticles, leading to non-uniform distribution of the particles on the surface. Sequential electrospinning of the PEICT solution to sandwich ZnO nanoparticle-decorated PEICT nanofiber mat enabled to attain protected the inorganic/organic hybrid nanofiber mat, improving the long-term stability, and the reproducibility of the inorganic particles decorated nanofiber fabrication.