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Gels, Volume 10, Issue 12 (December 2024) – 3 articles

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15 pages, 6312 KiB  
Article
Environmentally Friendly Nanoporous Polymeric Gels for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment
by Tarek M. Madkour, Rasha E. Elsayed and Rasha A. Azzam
Gels 2024, 10(12), 756; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10120756 - 22 Nov 2024
Abstract
Environmentally friendly nanoporous gels are tailor-designed and employed in the adsorption of toxic organic pollutants in wastewater. To ensure the maximum adsorption of the contaminant molecules by the gels, molecular modeling techniques were used to evaluate the binding affinity between the toxic organic [...] Read more.
Environmentally friendly nanoporous gels are tailor-designed and employed in the adsorption of toxic organic pollutants in wastewater. To ensure the maximum adsorption of the contaminant molecules by the gels, molecular modeling techniques were used to evaluate the binding affinity between the toxic organic contaminants such as methylene blue (MB) and Congo red (CR) and various biopolymers. To generate nanopores in the matrix of the polymeric gels, salt crystals were used as porogen. The pores were then used to accommodate catalytic nickel (Ni0) nanoparticles. Under UV irradiation, the nanoparticles demonstrated the effective adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of both the methylene blue and Congo red dyes, achieving removal efficiencies of up to 90% for MB and 80% for CR. The thermodynamic analysis suggested a spontaneous endothermic dissociative adsorption mechanism, which implies the oxidative catalytic degradation of the dyes. The kinetic modeling suggested a pseudo-second-order model, while the model for intra-particle diffusion revealed that Congo red diffuses faster than methylene blue. MB adsorption followed a Langmuir isotherm, while CR adsorption followed a linear isotherm. The results confirm that dye molecules initially undergo physisorption and subsequent dissociative adsorption. The products of the catalytic degradation of methylene blue continue to be absorbed on the surface of the nanoparticles, while those of Congo red switch to preferential desorption. Full article
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20 pages, 1695 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances of Cellulose-Based Hydrogels Combined with Natural Colorants in Smart Food Packaging
by Lan Yang, Qian-Yu Yuan, Ching-Wen Lou, Jia-Horng Lin and Ting-Ting Li
Gels 2024, 10(12), 755; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10120755 - 21 Nov 2024
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Abstract
Due to the frequent occurrence of food safety problems in recent years, healthy diets are gradually receiving worldwide attention. Chemical pigments are used in smart food packaging because of their bright colors and high visibility. However, due to shortcomings such as carcinogenicity, people [...] Read more.
Due to the frequent occurrence of food safety problems in recent years, healthy diets are gradually receiving worldwide attention. Chemical pigments are used in smart food packaging because of their bright colors and high visibility. However, due to shortcomings such as carcinogenicity, people are gradually looking for natural pigments to be applied in the field of smart food packaging. In traditional smart food packaging, the indicator and the packaging bag substrate have different degrees of toxicity. Smart food packaging that combines natural colorants and cellulose-based hydrogels is becoming more and more popular with consumers for being natural, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and renewable. This paper reviews the synthesis methods and characteristics of cellulose-based hydrogels, as well as the common types and characteristics of natural pigments, and discusses the application of natural colorants and cellulose-based hydrogels in food packaging, demonstrating their great potential in smart food packaging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cellulose-Based Hydrogels (3rd Edition))
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25 pages, 8025 KiB  
Review
The Unfulfilled Potential of Synthetic and Biological Hydrogel Membranes in the Treatment of Abdominal Hernias
by Kenigen Manikion, Christodoulos Chrysanthou and Constantinos Voniatis
Gels 2024, 10(12), 754; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10120754 - 21 Nov 2024
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Abstract
Hydrogel membranes can offer a cutting-edge solution for abdominal hernia treatment. By combining favorable mechanical parameters, tissue integration, and the potential for targeted drug delivery, hydrogels are a promising alternative therapeutic option. The current review examines the application of hydrogel materials composed of [...] Read more.
Hydrogel membranes can offer a cutting-edge solution for abdominal hernia treatment. By combining favorable mechanical parameters, tissue integration, and the potential for targeted drug delivery, hydrogels are a promising alternative therapeutic option. The current review examines the application of hydrogel materials composed of synthetic and biological polymers, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), gelatine, and silk fibroin, in the context of hernia repair. Overall, this review highlights the current issues and prospects of hydrogel membranes as viable alternatives to the conventional hernia meshes. The emphasis is placed on the applicability of these hydrogels as components of bilayer systems and standalone materials. According to our research, hydrogel membranes exhibit several advantageous features relevant to hernia repair, such as a controlled inflammatory reaction, tissue integration, anti-adhesive-, and even thermoresponsive properties. Nevertheless, despite significant advancements in material science, the potential of hydrogel membranes seems neglected. Bilayer constructs have not transitioned to clinical trials, whereas standalone membranes seem unreliable due to the lack of comprehensive mechanical characterization and long-term in vivo experiments. Full article
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