The development of efficient,cost-effective catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)is crucial for advancing zinc-air batteries(ZABs).This study presents Fe_(4)N nanoparticles embedded in N-doped carbon nanofi...The development of efficient,cost-effective catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)is crucial for advancing zinc-air batteries(ZABs).This study presents Fe_(4)N nanoparticles embedded in N-doped carbon nanofibers(Fe_(4)N@CNF-NH_(3))as a highly efficient ORR catalyst.The Fe_(4)N@CNF-NH_(3)catalyst was synthesized via electrospinning,followed by high-temperature annealing in an NH_(3)atmosphere.This electrospinning technique ensured the uniform dispersion of Fe_(4)N nanoparticles within the carbon nanofibers(CNFs),preventing agglomeration and enhancing the availability of active sites.Structural and morphological analyses confirmed the formation of Fe_(4)N nanoparticles with a lattice spacing of 0.213 nm,surrounded by graphitic carbon structures that significantly improved the material’s conductivity and stability.Electrochemical tests demonstrated that Fe_(4)N@CNF-NH_(3)exhibited superior ORR activity,with a half-wave potential of 0.904 V,surpassing that of commercial Pt/C catalysts.This enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of Fe_(4)N nanoparticles and the conductive carbon framework,which facilitated efficient charge and mass transfer during the ORR process.Density functional theory calculations further revealed that the introduction of CNFs positively shifted the d-band center of Fe atoms,optimizing oxygen intermediate adsorption and lowering energy barriers for ORR.The practical applicability of Fe_(4)N@CNF-NH_(3)was validated through the assembly of both liquid-state and solid-state ZABs,which exhibited excellent cycling stability,high power density,and superior discharge voltage.This study offers a promising strategy for developing highly active,low-cost ORR catalysts and advances the potential for the commercialization of ZABs.展开更多
The need for bi-functional catalysts that facilit-ate both the oxygen reduction(ORR)and carbon dioxide re-duction(CO_(2)RR)reactions arises from their potential to help solve the critical problems of carbon neutrality...The need for bi-functional catalysts that facilit-ate both the oxygen reduction(ORR)and carbon dioxide re-duction(CO_(2)RR)reactions arises from their potential to help solve the critical problems of carbon neutrality and renew-able energy conversion.However,there are few reports on the development of bi-functional catalysts for zinc-air bat-tery-driven CO_(2)RR devices.We introduce a novel approach for synthesizing Fe_(2)N/Fe_(3)C species embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers by electrospinning a solution of Hemin and polyacrylonitrile in N,N-dimethylformamide.The material has an exceptional catalytic performance,with a half-wave potential of 0.91 V versus RHE for the ORR and values of over 90%for both the selectivity and Faradaic efficiency for the CO_(2)RR.The high catalytic performances are attrib-uted to the strong coupling between the Fe_(3)C/Fe_(2)N heterostructure and the Fe-N-C sites in the nitrogen-doped carbon nan-ofibers.Notably,both Fe_(3)C and Fe_(2)N play distinct roles in both the ORR and CO_(2)RR.This investigation indicates a way for designing advanced carbon-based bi-functional catalysts for use in this field.展开更多
The recovery of ionic liquids(ILs)has attracted growing attention as an indispensable process in“green”industrial applications.Forward osmosis(FO)has proven to be a sustainable method for concentrating the very dilu...The recovery of ionic liquids(ILs)has attracted growing attention as an indispensable process in“green”industrial applications.Forward osmosis(FO)has proven to be a sustainable method for concentrating the very dilute aqueous solutions of ILs at ambient temperature,in which semi-permeable membranes play a vital role in determining the recovery efficiency.Herein,we use interfacial polymerization method to prepare thin-film composite membranes consisting of polyamide skin layer and electrospun nanofibrous substrate with tunable water permeability and IL selectivity for osmotic enrichment of imidazolium ILs from their dilute aqueous solutions through FO process.The resulting FO membrane shows a compact polyamide layer with a thickness of 30-200 nm,guranteeing a high selectivity to ILs and water.Meanwhile,the nanofibrous substrate with large and interconnect pores as well as low tortuosity,providing mechanical and permeable support for the composite membranes.IL structure influences the osmotic pressure difference as well as the interactions with polyamide layer of the membrane and thus determines the whole concentration process.First,the alkyl chain growth augments the osmosis pressure difference between the ILs solution and draw solution,resulting in an enhancement in driving force of water osmosis and IL enrichment.Moreover,alkyl length aggravates external concentration polarization caused by the enhanced adsorption of ILs onto the skin layer via electrostatic and alkyl-πinteractions.Meanwhile,such adsorbed ILs further enhance the IL retention but decrease the reverse salt diffusion.Therefore,imidazolium ILs with varied alkyl lengths are ultimately enriched with a 100-fold increase in concentration from their dilute aqueous solutions with high IL/NaCl rejection and low IL loss.Remarkably,the final concentration of IL with longest alkyl length reaches the highest(6.4 mol·L^(-1)).This work provides the insights in respect to material preparation and process amelioration for IL recovery with high scalability at mild conditions.展开更多
The complex pathophysiology of spinal cord injury may explain the current lack of an effective therapeutic approach for the regeneration of damaged neuronal cells and the recovery of motor functions. Many efforts have...The complex pathophysiology of spinal cord injury may explain the current lack of an effective therapeutic approach for the regeneration of damaged neuronal cells and the recovery of motor functions. Many efforts have been performed to design and develop suitable scaffolds for spinal cord regeneration, keeping in mind that the reconstruction of a pro-regenerative environment is the key challenge for an effective neurogenesis. The aim of this review is to outline the main features of an ideal scaffold, based on biomaterials, produced by the electrospinning technique and intended for the spinal cord regeneration. An overview of the poly- mers more investigated in the production of neural fibrous scaffolds is also provided.展开更多
Capture and detection of metastatic cancer cells are crucial for diagnosis and treatment of malignant neoplasm. Here, we report the use of folic acid （FA） modified electrospun poly（vinyl alcohol） （PVA）/polyethyl...Capture and detection of metastatic cancer cells are crucial for diagnosis and treatment of malignant neoplasm. Here, we report the use of folic acid （FA） modified electrospun poly（vinyl alcohol） （PVA）/polyethyleneimine （PEI） nanofibers for cancer cell capture applications. Electrospun PVA/PEI nanofibers crosslinked by glutaraldehyde vapor were modified with FA via a poly（ethylene glycol） （PEG） spacer, followed by acetylation of the fiber surface PEI amines. The formed FA-modified nanofibers were well characterized. The morphology of the electrospun PVA/PEI nanofibers is smooth and uniform despite the surface modification. In addition, the FA-modified nanofibers display good hemocompatibility as confirmed by hemolysis assay. Importantly, the developed FA-modified nanofibers are able to specifically capture cancer cells overexpressing FA receptors, which were validated by quantitative cell counting assay and qualitative confocal microscopy analysis. The developed FA-modified PVA/PEI nanofibers may be used for capturing circulating tumor cells for cancer diagnosis applications.展开更多
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of composition poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)/poly(ε- caprolactone)(PLGA/PCL)blending on the morphology,shrinkage and degradation behaviors of the electrospun fi...The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of composition poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)/poly(ε- caprolactone)(PLGA/PCL)blending on the morphology,shrinkage and degradation behaviors of the electrospun fibers. With the increase of PLGA content in the composite fibers,the average diameter of the electrospun fibers increased from 1.35μm to 1.95μm.The serious shrinking of the electrospun PLGA meshes could be circumvented by adding 20% PCL in the fibers,resulting from the semi-crystalline nature of ...展开更多
Annulus fibrosus （AF） tissue engineering has recently received increasing attention as a treatment for intervertebral disc 0VD） degeneration; however, such engineering remains challenging because of the remarkable ...Annulus fibrosus （AF） tissue engineering has recently received increasing attention as a treatment for intervertebral disc 0VD） degeneration; however, such engineering remains challenging because of the remarkable complexity of AF tissue. In order to engineer a functional AF replacement, the fabrication of cell-scaffold constructs that mimic the cellular, biochemical and structural features of native AF tissue is critical. In this study, we fabricated aligned fibroua polyurethane scaffolds using an electrospinning technique and used them for culturing AF-derived-stem/progenitor cells （AFSCs）. Random fibrous scaffolds, also prepared via electrospinningy were used as a control. We compared the morphology, proliferation, gene expression and matrix production of AFSCs on aligned scaffolds and random scaffolds. There was no apparent difference in the attachment or proliferation of cells cultured on aligned scaffolds and random scaffolds. However, compared to cells on random scaffolds, the AFSCs on aligned scaffolds were more elongated and better aligned, and they exhibited higher gene expression and matrix production of coUagen-I and aggrecan. The gene expression and protein production of coUagen-II did not appear to differ between the two groups. Together, these findings indicate that aligned fibrous scaffolds may provide a favourable microenvironment for the differentiation of AFSCs into cells similar to outer AF cells, which predominantly produce collagen-I matrix.展开更多
In this study, multiwalled carbon nanotubes （MWCNTs） were used to encapsulate a model anticancer drug, doxorubicin （Dox）. Then, the drug-loaded MWCNTs （Dox/MWCNTs） with an optimized drug encapsulation percentage...In this study, multiwalled carbon nanotubes （MWCNTs） were used to encapsulate a model anticancer drug, doxorubicin （Dox）. Then, the drug-loaded MWCNTs （Dox/MWCNTs） with an optimized drug encapsulation percentage were mixed with poly（lactide-co-glycolide） （PLGA） polymer solution for subsequent electrospinning to form drug-loaded composite nanofibrous mats. The structure, morphology, and mechanical properties of the formed electrospun Dox/PLGA, MWCNTs/PLGA, and Dox/MWCNTs/PLGA composite nanofibrous mats were characterized using scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and tensile testing. In vitro viability assay and SEM morphology observation of mouse fibroblast cells cultured onto the MWCNTs/PLGA fibrous scaffolds demonstrate that the developed MWCNTs/PLGA composite nanofibers are cytocompatible. The incorporation of Dox-loaded MWCNTs within the PLGA nanofibers is able to improve the mechanical durability and maintain the three-dimensional structure of the nanofibrous mats. More importantly, our results indicate that this double-container drug delivery system （both PLGA polymer and MWCNTs are drug carriers） is beneficial to avoid the burst release of the drug and able to release the antitumor drug Dox in a sustained manner for 42 days. The developed composite electrospun nanofibrous drug delivery system may be used as therapeutic scaffold materials for post-operative local chemotherapy.展开更多
The separation stability under high-humidity is significant in practical applications for air filters.Herein,hydrophobic polyvinyl chloride(PVC)nanofiber filters with bead-on-string structure are designed to steadily ...The separation stability under high-humidity is significant in practical applications for air filters.Herein,hydrophobic polyvinyl chloride(PVC)nanofiber filters with bead-on-string structure are designed to steadily remove particle matter under high relative humidity of 90%-95%.The developed hydrophobic filters possess comparable separation performance with the hydrophilic one,but greatly enhanced stability.After the introduction of beadon-string structure,the filtration performance can be furtherly improved due to the formed large cavities and hydrophobicity.Such hydrophobic PVC filters can be promising candidates for air purification in practical applications especially in wet seasons.展开更多
Nanofibers(NFs)have been widely used in tissue engineering such as wound healing.In this work,the antibacterial ZnO quantum dots(ZnO QDs)have been incorporated into the biocompatible poly(ε-caprolactone)/collagen(PCL...Nanofibers(NFs)have been widely used in tissue engineering such as wound healing.In this work,the antibacterial ZnO quantum dots(ZnO QDs)have been incorporated into the biocompatible poly(ε-caprolactone)/collagen(PCL/Col)fibrous scaffolds for wound healing.The as-fabricated PCL-Col/ZnO fibrous scaffolds exhibited good swelling,antibacterial activity,and biodegradation behaviors,which were beneficial for the applications as a wound dressing.Moreover,the PCL-Col/ZnO fibrous scaffolds showed excellent cytocompatibility for promoting cell proliferation.The resultant PCL-Col/ZnO fibrous scaffolds containing vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)also exhibited promoted wound-healing effect through promoting expression of transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)and the vascular factor(CD31)in tissues in the early stages of wound healing.This new electrospun fibrous scaffolds with wound-healing promotion and antibacterial property should be convenient for treating wound healing.展开更多
In this work, the optimal electrospinning conditions of trans-polyisoprene （TPI） solutions were evaluated nevertheless its lower glass transition temperature than the room temperature. Subsequently, chemical crossli...In this work, the optimal electrospinning conditions of trans-polyisoprene （TPI） solutions were evaluated nevertheless its lower glass transition temperature than the room temperature. Subsequently, chemical crosslinking of TPI nonwovens was firstly investigated by vulcanizing at high temperatures in the case of the persistence of nanofiber structure. For this purpose, curing agents of TPI were embedded in TPI nanofibers by co-electrospinning, and then a protect layer was coated on TPI nanofibers by filtering gelatin solution going through TPI nonwoven before the vulcanization at 140-160 ℃. The results showed that the vulcanization of TPI fibrous nonwoven at high temperatures did not destroy the fiber morphology. Interestingly, TPI fibrous nonwovens after vulcanization showed excellent mechanical properties （N17 MPa of tensile strength） that could be comparable to or even higher than that of some bulk rubber materials.展开更多
Nowdays,electrocatalytic water splitting has been regarded as one of the most efficient means to approach the urgent energy crisis and environmental issues.However,to speed up the electrocatalytic conversion efficienc...Nowdays,electrocatalytic water splitting has been regarded as one of the most efficient means to approach the urgent energy crisis and environmental issues.However,to speed up the electrocatalytic conversion efficiency of their half reactions including hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER),electrocatalysts are usually essential to reduce their kinetic energy barriers.Electrospun nanomaterials possess a unique one‐dimensional structure for outstanding electron and mass transportation,large specific surface area,and the possibilities of flexibility with the porous feature,which are good candidates as efficient electrocatalysts for water splitting.In this review,we focus on the recent research progress on the electrospun nanomaterials‐based electrocatalysts for HER,OER,and overall water splitting reaction.Specifically,the insights of the influence of the electronic modulation and interface engineering of these electrocatalysts on their electrocatalytic activities will be deeply discussed and highlighted.Furthermore,the challenges and development opportunities of the electrospun nanomaterials‐based electrocatalysts for water splitting are featured.Based on the achievements of the significantly enhanced performance from the electronic modulation and interface engineering of these electrocatalysts,full utilization of these materials for practical energy conversion is anticipated.展开更多
Harvesting solar energy to drive the semiconductor photocatalysis offers a promising tactic to address ever-growing challenges of both energy shortage and environmental pollution.Design and synthesis of nano-heterostr...Harvesting solar energy to drive the semiconductor photocatalysis offers a promising tactic to address ever-growing challenges of both energy shortage and environmental pollution.Design and synthesis of nano-heterostructure photocatalysts with controllable components and morphologies are the key factors for achieving highly efficient photocatalytic processes.Onedimensional(1D)semiconductor nanofibers produced by electrospinning possess a large ratio of length to diameter,high ratio of surface to volume,small grain sizes,and high porosity,which are ideally suited for photocatalytic reactions from the viewpoint of structure advantage.After the secondary treatment of these nanofibers through the solvothermal,gas reduction,in situ doping,or assembly methods,the multi-component nanofibers with hierarchical nano-heterostructures can be obtained to further enhance their light absorption and charge carrier separation during the photocatalytic processes.In recent years,the electrospun semiconductorbased nano-heterostructures have become a“hot topic”in the fields of photocatalytic energy conversion and environmental remediation.This review article summarizes the recent progress in electrospinning synthesis of various kinds of high-performance semiconductor-based nano-heterostructure photocatalysts for H2 production,CO_(2) reduction,and decomposition of pollutants.The future perspectives of these materials are also discussed.展开更多
Bacterial infections are a major cause of chronic infections.Thus,antibacterial material is an urgent need in clinics.Antibacterial nanofibers,with expansive surface area,enable efficient incorporation of antibacteria...Bacterial infections are a major cause of chronic infections.Thus,antibacterial material is an urgent need in clinics.Antibacterial nanofibers,with expansive surface area,enable efficient incorporation of antibacterial agents.Meanwhile,structure similar to the extracellular matrix can accelerate cell growth.Electrospinning,the most widely used technique to fabricate nanofiber,is often used in many biomedical applications including drug delivery,regenerative medicine,wound healing and so on.Thus,this review provides an overview of all recently published studies on the development of electrospun antibacterial nanofibers in wound dressings and tissue me-dicinal fields.This reviewer begins with a brief introduction of electrospinning process and then discusses electrospun fibers by incorporating various types of antimicrobial agents used as in wound dressings and tissue.Finally,we finish with conclusions and further perspectives on electrospun antibacterial nanofibers as 2D biomedicine materials.展开更多
The recharged zinc-air battery(ZAB) has drawn significant attention owing to increasing requirement for energy conversion and storage devices.Fabricating the efficient bifunctional oxygen catalyst using a convenient s...The recharged zinc-air battery(ZAB) has drawn significant attention owing to increasing requirement for energy conversion and storage devices.Fabricating the efficient bifunctional oxygen catalyst using a convenient strategy is vitally important for the rechargeable ZAB.In this study,the bimetallic ZIFs-containing electrospun(ES) carbon nanofibers membrane with hierarchically porous structure was prepared by coaxial electrospinning and carbonization process,which was expected to be a bifunctional electrocatalyst for ZABs.Owing to the formed dual single-atomic sites of Co-N_(4) and Zn-N_(4),the obtained ES-Co/ZnCNZIFexhibited the preferable performance toward oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) with E1/2of 0.857 V and JLof 5.52 mA cm^(-2),which were more than Pt/C.Meanwhile,it exhibited a marked oxygen evolution reaction(OER) property with overpotential of 462 mV due to the agglomerated metallic Co nanoparticles.Furthermore,the ZAB based on the ES-Co/Zn-CNZIFcarbon nanofibers membranes delivered peak power density of 215 mW cm^(-2),specific capacity of 802.6 mA h g^(-1),and exceptional cycling stability,far larger than Pt/C+RuO_(2)-based ZABs.A solid-state ZAB based on ES-Co/Zn-CNZIFshowed better flexibility and stability with different bending angles.展开更多
Electrospinning is a popular method for generating long and continuous nanofibers due to its simplicity and versatility.However,conventional electrospun products have weak strength and low availability,which restrict ...Electrospinning is a popular method for generating long and continuous nanofibers due to its simplicity and versatility.However,conventional electrospun products have weak strength and low availability,which restrict their functionality in complex applications.Hierarchical morphology introduces additional and distinctive structural layers onto electrospun fibers.This requires either an extra fabrication step or controlling electrospinning parameters to achieve the desired morphology.Hierarchical morphology can improve the properties of electrospun nanofibers while also mitigating the undesired characteristics.This review discusses the primary and secondary hierarchical structures of electrospun nanomaterials.Hierarchical structures were found to enhance the functionality of nanomaterials and improve pore connectivity and surface areas of electrospun nanofibers.A further advantage is the ability to impart multiple functionalities on nanostructures.With a better understanding of some of the dominant hierarchical structures,nanomaterials applications in drug delivery,tissue engineering,catalysis,and energy devices industries can be improved.展开更多
A separator film for high-performance Li-ion batteries was prepared by electrospinning. The film had a hybrid morphology of silica nanofibers(SNFs) and alumina nanoparticles(ANPs), with a smooth surface, polymer-free ...A separator film for high-performance Li-ion batteries was prepared by electrospinning. The film had a hybrid morphology of silica nanofibers(SNFs) and alumina nanoparticles(ANPs), with a smooth surface, polymer-free composition, high porosity(79%), high electrolyte uptake(876%), and excellent thermal stability. Contact angle measurements demonstrated the better immersion capability of the SNF-ANP separator film for commercial liquid electrolytes than a commercial CELGARD 2500 separator film. Moreover,compared to the commercial CELGARD 2500 separator, the ionic conductivity of the SNF-ANP separator film was nearly three times higher, the bulk resistance was lower at elevated temperature(120 ℃), the interfacial resistance with lithium metal was lower, and the electrochemical window was wider. Full cells were fabricated to determine the cell performance at room temperature. The specific capacity of the full cell with the SNF-ANP separator film was 165 mAh g-1;the cell was stable for 100 charge/discharge cycles and exhibited a capacity retention of 99.9%. Notably, the electrospun SNF-ANP separator film can be safely used in Li-ion or Li-S rechargeable batteries.展开更多
Polymer dielectrics which possess excellent dielectric properties such as high breakdown strength,flexibility,and facile processability are considered as promising materials for advanced electrostatic capacitors.Howev...Polymer dielectrics which possess excellent dielectric properties such as high breakdown strength,flexibility,and facile processability are considered as promising materials for advanced electrostatic capacitors.However,most dielectric polymers have unsatisfactory energy storage performances at high-temperature environments.Here,polyetherimide(PEI) nanocomposite films contained with electrospun Ba(Zr_(0.79)Ti_(0.21))O_(3) nanofibers(BZTNFs) are fabricated by common solution casting method.The dielectric properties,especially the breakdown strength of the BZTNFs/PEI nanocomposites,are characterized,yet improvement is only in the small loading ones.The energy storage performance of the 0.5 vol% and1.0 vol% BZTNFs content nanocomposite is further investigated from 25 to 150℃.With the introduction of small loading BZTNFs,the dielectric permittivity and electric displacement of the nanocomposite are improved at all evaluated temperatures.The 1.0 vol% BZTNFs/PEI possesses a maximal discharged energy density of6.05 J·cm^(-3) with high efficiency of 94.9% at 25℃,then falls to 3.34 J·cm^(-3) with efficiency of 54.6% at 150℃ for the larger remnant displacement.Apparently,the relaxation ferroelectric nanofller of BZTNFs is much effective in increasing the dielectric permittivity of nanocomposite,but its capacity to restrict the migration of the charge carriers at high temperatures is weaker than that of the nanofillers with wider bandgap.The complementation of both kinds of the nanofillers probably provides an approach to available high-temperature dielectric films.展开更多
The adsorption properties of the Pb(Ⅱ)-Cd(Ⅱ) double-imprinted electrospun crosslinked chitosan nanofibers(Pd/Cd-DIECCNs) prepared by electropspinning and imprinting process for the removal of Pb(Ⅱ) and Cd(Ⅱ) from ...The adsorption properties of the Pb(Ⅱ)-Cd(Ⅱ) double-imprinted electrospun crosslinked chitosan nanofibers(Pd/Cd-DIECCNs) prepared by electropspinning and imprinting process for the removal of Pb(Ⅱ) and Cd(Ⅱ) from aqueous solutions were investigated. The prepared nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscope(SEM) analysis. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the minimum fiber average diameter was obtained 110 nm. Then the adsorption experiments were carried out to study the effect of different adsorption parameters, such as pH, the ratio between Pb(Ⅱ) and Cd(Ⅱ)in the mixed solutions, contact time, the Pd/Cd-DIECCNs dose and temperature in a batch system. The Extended Langmuir model was applied to describe the equilibrium data of Pb(Ⅱ) and Cd(Ⅱ). The maximum adsorption capacities of the Pd/Cd-DIECCNs arrived at 567 mg/g for Pb(Ⅱ) and 341 mg/g for Cd(Ⅱ), respectively.展开更多
The high incidence of cardiovascular disease has led to significant demand for synthetic vascular grafts in clinical applications.Anti-proliferation drugs are usually loaded into devices to achieve desirable anti-thro...The high incidence of cardiovascular disease has led to significant demand for synthetic vascular grafts in clinical applications.Anti-proliferation drugs are usually loaded into devices to achieve desirable anti-thrombosis effects after implantation.However,the non-selectiveness of these conventional drugs can lead to the failure of blood vessel reconstruction,leading to potential complications in the long term.To address this issue,an asymmetric membrane was constructed through electro-spinning techniques.The bilayer membrane loaded and effectively released nitric oxide(NO),as hoped,from only one side.Due to the short diffusion distance of NO,it exerted negligible effects on the other side of the membrane,thus allowing selective regulation of different cells on both sides.The released NO boosted the growth of endothelial cells(ECs)over smooth muscle cells(SMCs)-while on the side where NO was absent,SMCs grew into multilayers.The overall structure resembled a native blood vessel,with confluent ECs as the inner layer and layers of SMCs to support it.In addition,the membrane preserved the normal function of ECs,and at the same time did not exacerbate inflammatory responses.By preparing this material type that regulates cell behavior differentially,we describe a new method for its application in the cardiovascular field such as for artificial blood vessels.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.11904208the Project of Shandong Province Higher Educational Science and Technology Program(No.J18KB098).
文摘The development of efficient,cost-effective catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)is crucial for advancing zinc-air batteries(ZABs).This study presents Fe_(4)N nanoparticles embedded in N-doped carbon nanofibers(Fe_(4)N@CNF-NH_(3))as a highly efficient ORR catalyst.The Fe_(4)N@CNF-NH_(3)catalyst was synthesized via electrospinning,followed by high-temperature annealing in an NH_(3)atmosphere.This electrospinning technique ensured the uniform dispersion of Fe_(4)N nanoparticles within the carbon nanofibers(CNFs),preventing agglomeration and enhancing the availability of active sites.Structural and morphological analyses confirmed the formation of Fe_(4)N nanoparticles with a lattice spacing of 0.213 nm,surrounded by graphitic carbon structures that significantly improved the material’s conductivity and stability.Electrochemical tests demonstrated that Fe_(4)N@CNF-NH_(3)exhibited superior ORR activity,with a half-wave potential of 0.904 V,surpassing that of commercial Pt/C catalysts.This enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of Fe_(4)N nanoparticles and the conductive carbon framework,which facilitated efficient charge and mass transfer during the ORR process.Density functional theory calculations further revealed that the introduction of CNFs positively shifted the d-band center of Fe atoms,optimizing oxygen intermediate adsorption and lowering energy barriers for ORR.The practical applicability of Fe_(4)N@CNF-NH_(3)was validated through the assembly of both liquid-state and solid-state ZABs,which exhibited excellent cycling stability,high power density,and superior discharge voltage.This study offers a promising strategy for developing highly active,low-cost ORR catalysts and advances the potential for the commercialization of ZABs.
文摘The need for bi-functional catalysts that facilit-ate both the oxygen reduction(ORR)and carbon dioxide re-duction(CO_(2)RR)reactions arises from their potential to help solve the critical problems of carbon neutrality and renew-able energy conversion.However,there are few reports on the development of bi-functional catalysts for zinc-air bat-tery-driven CO_(2)RR devices.We introduce a novel approach for synthesizing Fe_(2)N/Fe_(3)C species embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers by electrospinning a solution of Hemin and polyacrylonitrile in N,N-dimethylformamide.The material has an exceptional catalytic performance,with a half-wave potential of 0.91 V versus RHE for the ORR and values of over 90%for both the selectivity and Faradaic efficiency for the CO_(2)RR.The high catalytic performances are attrib-uted to the strong coupling between the Fe_(3)C/Fe_(2)N heterostructure and the Fe-N-C sites in the nitrogen-doped carbon nan-ofibers.Notably,both Fe_(3)C and Fe_(2)N play distinct roles in both the ORR and CO_(2)RR.This investigation indicates a way for designing advanced carbon-based bi-functional catalysts for use in this field.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52173095)the MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization,Zhejiang University(No.2023MSF05)。
文摘The recovery of ionic liquids(ILs)has attracted growing attention as an indispensable process in“green”industrial applications.Forward osmosis(FO)has proven to be a sustainable method for concentrating the very dilute aqueous solutions of ILs at ambient temperature,in which semi-permeable membranes play a vital role in determining the recovery efficiency.Herein,we use interfacial polymerization method to prepare thin-film composite membranes consisting of polyamide skin layer and electrospun nanofibrous substrate with tunable water permeability and IL selectivity for osmotic enrichment of imidazolium ILs from their dilute aqueous solutions through FO process.The resulting FO membrane shows a compact polyamide layer with a thickness of 30-200 nm,guranteeing a high selectivity to ILs and water.Meanwhile,the nanofibrous substrate with large and interconnect pores as well as low tortuosity,providing mechanical and permeable support for the composite membranes.IL structure influences the osmotic pressure difference as well as the interactions with polyamide layer of the membrane and thus determines the whole concentration process.First,the alkyl chain growth augments the osmosis pressure difference between the ILs solution and draw solution,resulting in an enhancement in driving force of water osmosis and IL enrichment.Moreover,alkyl length aggravates external concentration polarization caused by the enhanced adsorption of ILs onto the skin layer via electrostatic and alkyl-πinteractions.Meanwhile,such adsorbed ILs further enhance the IL retention but decrease the reverse salt diffusion.Therefore,imidazolium ILs with varied alkyl lengths are ultimately enriched with a 100-fold increase in concentration from their dilute aqueous solutions with high IL/NaCl rejection and low IL loss.Remarkably,the final concentration of IL with longest alkyl length reaches the highest(6.4 mol·L^(-1)).This work provides the insights in respect to material preparation and process amelioration for IL recovery with high scalability at mild conditions.
文摘The complex pathophysiology of spinal cord injury may explain the current lack of an effective therapeutic approach for the regeneration of damaged neuronal cells and the recovery of motor functions. Many efforts have been performed to design and develop suitable scaffolds for spinal cord regeneration, keeping in mind that the reconstruction of a pro-regenerative environment is the key challenge for an effective neurogenesis. The aim of this review is to outline the main features of an ideal scaffold, based on biomaterials, produced by the electrospinning technique and intended for the spinal cord regeneration. An overview of the poly- mers more investigated in the production of neural fibrous scaffolds is also provided.
基金financially supported by the Program for Professor of Special Appointment(Eastern Scholar)at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learningthe Key Laboratory of Textile Science&Technology,Ministry of Education,“111 Project”(B07024)+4 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universitiesthe Chinese Universities Scientific Fund(No.101-06-0019014)the support from Shanghai Pujiang Program(No.14PJ1400400)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21405012)the State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials,Donghua University(No.LK1429)
文摘Capture and detection of metastatic cancer cells are crucial for diagnosis and treatment of malignant neoplasm. Here, we report the use of folic acid （FA） modified electrospun poly（vinyl alcohol） （PVA）/polyethyleneimine （PEI） nanofibers for cancer cell capture applications. Electrospun PVA/PEI nanofibers crosslinked by glutaraldehyde vapor were modified with FA via a poly（ethylene glycol） （PEG） spacer, followed by acetylation of the fiber surface PEI amines. The formed FA-modified nanofibers were well characterized. The morphology of the electrospun PVA/PEI nanofibers is smooth and uniform despite the surface modification. In addition, the FA-modified nanofibers display good hemocompatibility as confirmed by hemolysis assay. Importantly, the developed FA-modified nanofibers are able to specifically capture cancer cells overexpressing FA receptors, which were validated by quantitative cell counting assay and qualitative confocal microscopy analysis. The developed FA-modified PVA/PEI nanofibers may be used for capturing circulating tumor cells for cancer diagnosis applications.
基金This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No. 20304013)partially by Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(No.Y405029).
文摘The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of composition poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)/poly(ε- caprolactone)(PLGA/PCL)blending on the morphology,shrinkage and degradation behaviors of the electrospun fibers. With the increase of PLGA content in the composite fibers,the average diameter of the electrospun fibers increased from 1.35μm to 1.95μm.The serious shrinking of the electrospun PLGA meshes could be circumvented by adding 20% PCL in the fibers,resulting from the semi-crystalline nature of ...
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81171479, 51303120, 81471790)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2012M521121)+2 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20130335)the Jiangsu Provincial Special Program of Medical Science (BL2012004)the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions
文摘Annulus fibrosus （AF） tissue engineering has recently received increasing attention as a treatment for intervertebral disc 0VD） degeneration; however, such engineering remains challenging because of the remarkable complexity of AF tissue. In order to engineer a functional AF replacement, the fabrication of cell-scaffold constructs that mimic the cellular, biochemical and structural features of native AF tissue is critical. In this study, we fabricated aligned fibroua polyurethane scaffolds using an electrospinning technique and used them for culturing AF-derived-stem/progenitor cells （AFSCs）. Random fibrous scaffolds, also prepared via electrospinningy were used as a control. We compared the morphology, proliferation, gene expression and matrix production of AFSCs on aligned scaffolds and random scaffolds. There was no apparent difference in the attachment or proliferation of cells cultured on aligned scaffolds and random scaffolds. However, compared to cells on random scaffolds, the AFSCs on aligned scaffolds were more elongated and better aligned, and they exhibited higher gene expression and matrix production of coUagen-I and aggrecan. The gene expression and protein production of coUagen-II did not appear to differ between the two groups. Together, these findings indicate that aligned fibrous scaffolds may provide a favourable microenvironment for the differentiation of AFSCs into cells similar to outer AF cells, which predominantly produce collagen-I matrix.
基金financially supported by the“111 Project”(No.B07024)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(for R.Guo,M.Shen and X.Shi)+1 种基金the Program for Professor of Special Appointment(Eastern Scholar)at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learningthe Program for Innovative Research Team(in Science and Technology)in University of Henan Province(No.13IRTSTHN024)
文摘In this study, multiwalled carbon nanotubes （MWCNTs） were used to encapsulate a model anticancer drug, doxorubicin （Dox）. Then, the drug-loaded MWCNTs （Dox/MWCNTs） with an optimized drug encapsulation percentage were mixed with poly（lactide-co-glycolide） （PLGA） polymer solution for subsequent electrospinning to form drug-loaded composite nanofibrous mats. The structure, morphology, and mechanical properties of the formed electrospun Dox/PLGA, MWCNTs/PLGA, and Dox/MWCNTs/PLGA composite nanofibrous mats were characterized using scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and tensile testing. In vitro viability assay and SEM morphology observation of mouse fibroblast cells cultured onto the MWCNTs/PLGA fibrous scaffolds demonstrate that the developed MWCNTs/PLGA composite nanofibers are cytocompatible. The incorporation of Dox-loaded MWCNTs within the PLGA nanofibers is able to improve the mechanical durability and maintain the three-dimensional structure of the nanofibrous mats. More importantly, our results indicate that this double-container drug delivery system （both PLGA polymer and MWCNTs are drug carriers） is beneficial to avoid the burst release of the drug and able to release the antitumor drug Dox in a sustained manner for 42 days. The developed composite electrospun nanofibrous drug delivery system may be used as therapeutic scaffold materials for post-operative local chemotherapy.
基金funding from by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21706076,21536005,51621001)the National Natural Science Foundation of the Guangdong Province(2014A030312007)+1 种基金Guangzhou Technology Project(201804010210)the State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering(201835)。
文摘The separation stability under high-humidity is significant in practical applications for air filters.Herein,hydrophobic polyvinyl chloride(PVC)nanofiber filters with bead-on-string structure are designed to steadily remove particle matter under high relative humidity of 90%-95%.The developed hydrophobic filters possess comparable separation performance with the hydrophilic one,but greatly enhanced stability.After the introduction of beadon-string structure,the filtration performance can be furtherly improved due to the formed large cavities and hydrophobicity.Such hydrophobic PVC filters can be promising candidates for air purification in practical applications especially in wet seasons.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(LBY20H110001,LY18E030006)National Natural Science Foundation of China(51873194).
文摘Nanofibers(NFs)have been widely used in tissue engineering such as wound healing.In this work,the antibacterial ZnO quantum dots(ZnO QDs)have been incorporated into the biocompatible poly(ε-caprolactone)/collagen(PCL/Col)fibrous scaffolds for wound healing.The as-fabricated PCL-Col/ZnO fibrous scaffolds exhibited good swelling,antibacterial activity,and biodegradation behaviors,which were beneficial for the applications as a wound dressing.Moreover,the PCL-Col/ZnO fibrous scaffolds showed excellent cytocompatibility for promoting cell proliferation.The resultant PCL-Col/ZnO fibrous scaffolds containing vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)also exhibited promoted wound-healing effect through promoting expression of transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)and the vascular factor(CD31)in tissues in the early stages of wound healing.This new electrospun fibrous scaffolds with wound-healing promotion and antibacterial property should be convenient for treating wound healing.
基金financially supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(No.2015CB654700(2015CB654706))the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51473083 and 21174074)+3 种基金Special Foundation of Taishan Mountain Scholar Constructive ProgramShandong Provincial Key R&D program(No.2015GGX102019)Shandong Provincial Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(No.JQ201213)the Yellow River Delta Scholar program(Office of National University Science&Technology Park Administrative Committee(China University of Petroleum))
文摘In this work, the optimal electrospinning conditions of trans-polyisoprene （TPI） solutions were evaluated nevertheless its lower glass transition temperature than the room temperature. Subsequently, chemical crosslinking of TPI nonwovens was firstly investigated by vulcanizing at high temperatures in the case of the persistence of nanofiber structure. For this purpose, curing agents of TPI were embedded in TPI nanofibers by co-electrospinning, and then a protect layer was coated on TPI nanofibers by filtering gelatin solution going through TPI nonwoven before the vulcanization at 140-160 ℃. The results showed that the vulcanization of TPI fibrous nonwoven at high temperatures did not destroy the fiber morphology. Interestingly, TPI fibrous nonwovens after vulcanization showed excellent mechanical properties （N17 MPa of tensile strength） that could be comparable to or even higher than that of some bulk rubber materials.
基金This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51973079,51773075 and 21875084)the Project of Department of Scienceand Technology of Jilin Province,China(20190101013JH).
文摘Nowdays,electrocatalytic water splitting has been regarded as one of the most efficient means to approach the urgent energy crisis and environmental issues.However,to speed up the electrocatalytic conversion efficiency of their half reactions including hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER),electrocatalysts are usually essential to reduce their kinetic energy barriers.Electrospun nanomaterials possess a unique one‐dimensional structure for outstanding electron and mass transportation,large specific surface area,and the possibilities of flexibility with the porous feature,which are good candidates as efficient electrocatalysts for water splitting.In this review,we focus on the recent research progress on the electrospun nanomaterials‐based electrocatalysts for HER,OER,and overall water splitting reaction.Specifically,the insights of the influence of the electronic modulation and interface engineering of these electrocatalysts on their electrocatalytic activities will be deeply discussed and highlighted.Furthermore,the challenges and development opportunities of the electrospun nanomaterials‐based electrocatalysts for water splitting are featured.Based on the achievements of the significantly enhanced performance from the electronic modulation and interface engineering of these electrocatalysts,full utilization of these materials for practical energy conversion is anticipated.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12074055 and 62005036)Liaoning BaiQianWan Talents Program,Dalian Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars(2018RJ05)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province(Grant No.2020-MZLH-15)the Program for Dalian Excellent Talents(Grant No.2020RQ131).
文摘Harvesting solar energy to drive the semiconductor photocatalysis offers a promising tactic to address ever-growing challenges of both energy shortage and environmental pollution.Design and synthesis of nano-heterostructure photocatalysts with controllable components and morphologies are the key factors for achieving highly efficient photocatalytic processes.Onedimensional(1D)semiconductor nanofibers produced by electrospinning possess a large ratio of length to diameter,high ratio of surface to volume,small grain sizes,and high porosity,which are ideally suited for photocatalytic reactions from the viewpoint of structure advantage.After the secondary treatment of these nanofibers through the solvothermal,gas reduction,in situ doping,or assembly methods,the multi-component nanofibers with hierarchical nano-heterostructures can be obtained to further enhance their light absorption and charge carrier separation during the photocatalytic processes.In recent years,the electrospun semiconductorbased nano-heterostructures have become a“hot topic”in the fields of photocatalytic energy conversion and environmental remediation.This review article summarizes the recent progress in electrospinning synthesis of various kinds of high-performance semiconductor-based nano-heterostructure photocatalysts for H2 production,CO_(2) reduction,and decomposition of pollutants.The future perspectives of these materials are also discussed.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Project No.51573103,No.21274094)2019 Foundation Research fostering project 21 and postdoctoral fund(2019SCU12007)from SiChuan University
文摘Bacterial infections are a major cause of chronic infections.Thus,antibacterial material is an urgent need in clinics.Antibacterial nanofibers,with expansive surface area,enable efficient incorporation of antibacterial agents.Meanwhile,structure similar to the extracellular matrix can accelerate cell growth.Electrospinning,the most widely used technique to fabricate nanofiber,is often used in many biomedical applications including drug delivery,regenerative medicine,wound healing and so on.Thus,this review provides an overview of all recently published studies on the development of electrospun antibacterial nanofibers in wound dressings and tissue me-dicinal fields.This reviewer begins with a brief introduction of electrospinning process and then discusses electrospun fibers by incorporating various types of antimicrobial agents used as in wound dressings and tissue.Finally,we finish with conclusions and further perspectives on electrospun antibacterial nanofibers as 2D biomedicine materials.
基金supported by the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (2222004)。
文摘The recharged zinc-air battery(ZAB) has drawn significant attention owing to increasing requirement for energy conversion and storage devices.Fabricating the efficient bifunctional oxygen catalyst using a convenient strategy is vitally important for the rechargeable ZAB.In this study,the bimetallic ZIFs-containing electrospun(ES) carbon nanofibers membrane with hierarchically porous structure was prepared by coaxial electrospinning and carbonization process,which was expected to be a bifunctional electrocatalyst for ZABs.Owing to the formed dual single-atomic sites of Co-N_(4) and Zn-N_(4),the obtained ES-Co/ZnCNZIFexhibited the preferable performance toward oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) with E1/2of 0.857 V and JLof 5.52 mA cm^(-2),which were more than Pt/C.Meanwhile,it exhibited a marked oxygen evolution reaction(OER) property with overpotential of 462 mV due to the agglomerated metallic Co nanoparticles.Furthermore,the ZAB based on the ES-Co/Zn-CNZIFcarbon nanofibers membranes delivered peak power density of 215 mW cm^(-2),specific capacity of 802.6 mA h g^(-1),and exceptional cycling stability,far larger than Pt/C+RuO_(2)-based ZABs.A solid-state ZAB based on ES-Co/Zn-CNZIFshowed better flexibility and stability with different bending angles.
文摘Electrospinning is a popular method for generating long and continuous nanofibers due to its simplicity and versatility.However,conventional electrospun products have weak strength and low availability,which restrict their functionality in complex applications.Hierarchical morphology introduces additional and distinctive structural layers onto electrospun fibers.This requires either an extra fabrication step or controlling electrospinning parameters to achieve the desired morphology.Hierarchical morphology can improve the properties of electrospun nanofibers while also mitigating the undesired characteristics.This review discusses the primary and secondary hierarchical structures of electrospun nanomaterials.Hierarchical structures were found to enhance the functionality of nanomaterials and improve pore connectivity and surface areas of electrospun nanofibers.A further advantage is the ability to impart multiple functionalities on nanostructures.With a better understanding of some of the dominant hierarchical structures,nanomaterials applications in drug delivery,tissue engineering,catalysis,and energy devices industries can be improved.
基金financial support for this work from the National Key R&D Program of China (2016YFB0100100)the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA17000000)R&D Projects in Key Areas of Guangdong Province of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology Agency (2019B090908001).
文摘A separator film for high-performance Li-ion batteries was prepared by electrospinning. The film had a hybrid morphology of silica nanofibers(SNFs) and alumina nanoparticles(ANPs), with a smooth surface, polymer-free composition, high porosity(79%), high electrolyte uptake(876%), and excellent thermal stability. Contact angle measurements demonstrated the better immersion capability of the SNF-ANP separator film for commercial liquid electrolytes than a commercial CELGARD 2500 separator film. Moreover,compared to the commercial CELGARD 2500 separator, the ionic conductivity of the SNF-ANP separator film was nearly three times higher, the bulk resistance was lower at elevated temperature(120 ℃), the interfacial resistance with lithium metal was lower, and the electrochemical window was wider. Full cells were fabricated to determine the cell performance at room temperature. The specific capacity of the full cell with the SNF-ANP separator film was 165 mAh g-1;the cell was stable for 100 charge/discharge cycles and exhibited a capacity retention of 99.9%. Notably, the electrospun SNF-ANP separator film can be safely used in Li-ion or Li-S rechargeable batteries.
基金financially supported by Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (No. 2020B1515120074)。
文摘Polymer dielectrics which possess excellent dielectric properties such as high breakdown strength,flexibility,and facile processability are considered as promising materials for advanced electrostatic capacitors.However,most dielectric polymers have unsatisfactory energy storage performances at high-temperature environments.Here,polyetherimide(PEI) nanocomposite films contained with electrospun Ba(Zr_(0.79)Ti_(0.21))O_(3) nanofibers(BZTNFs) are fabricated by common solution casting method.The dielectric properties,especially the breakdown strength of the BZTNFs/PEI nanocomposites,are characterized,yet improvement is only in the small loading ones.The energy storage performance of the 0.5 vol% and1.0 vol% BZTNFs content nanocomposite is further investigated from 25 to 150℃.With the introduction of small loading BZTNFs,the dielectric permittivity and electric displacement of the nanocomposite are improved at all evaluated temperatures.The 1.0 vol% BZTNFs/PEI possesses a maximal discharged energy density of6.05 J·cm^(-3) with high efficiency of 94.9% at 25℃,then falls to 3.34 J·cm^(-3) with efficiency of 54.6% at 150℃ for the larger remnant displacement.Apparently,the relaxation ferroelectric nanofller of BZTNFs is much effective in increasing the dielectric permittivity of nanocomposite,but its capacity to restrict the migration of the charge carriers at high temperatures is weaker than that of the nanofillers with wider bandgap.The complementation of both kinds of the nanofillers probably provides an approach to available high-temperature dielectric films.
基金supported by open project of Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Self-Assembly Chemistry for Organic Functional Molecules(No. K2017-8)
文摘The adsorption properties of the Pb(Ⅱ)-Cd(Ⅱ) double-imprinted electrospun crosslinked chitosan nanofibers(Pd/Cd-DIECCNs) prepared by electropspinning and imprinting process for the removal of Pb(Ⅱ) and Cd(Ⅱ) from aqueous solutions were investigated. The prepared nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscope(SEM) analysis. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the minimum fiber average diameter was obtained 110 nm. Then the adsorption experiments were carried out to study the effect of different adsorption parameters, such as pH, the ratio between Pb(Ⅱ) and Cd(Ⅱ)in the mixed solutions, contact time, the Pd/Cd-DIECCNs dose and temperature in a batch system. The Extended Langmuir model was applied to describe the equilibrium data of Pb(Ⅱ) and Cd(Ⅱ). The maximum adsorption capacities of the Pd/Cd-DIECCNs arrived at 567 mg/g for Pb(Ⅱ) and 341 mg/g for Cd(Ⅱ), respectively.
基金This work was supported by the Natural Key Research and Development Project of Zhejiang Province,China(No.2018C03015)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2016YFC1102203)the Medical Health Science and Technology Projects of Zhejiang Province(No.2019KY426).
文摘The high incidence of cardiovascular disease has led to significant demand for synthetic vascular grafts in clinical applications.Anti-proliferation drugs are usually loaded into devices to achieve desirable anti-thrombosis effects after implantation.However,the non-selectiveness of these conventional drugs can lead to the failure of blood vessel reconstruction,leading to potential complications in the long term.To address this issue,an asymmetric membrane was constructed through electro-spinning techniques.The bilayer membrane loaded and effectively released nitric oxide(NO),as hoped,from only one side.Due to the short diffusion distance of NO,it exerted negligible effects on the other side of the membrane,thus allowing selective regulation of different cells on both sides.The released NO boosted the growth of endothelial cells(ECs)over smooth muscle cells(SMCs)-while on the side where NO was absent,SMCs grew into multilayers.The overall structure resembled a native blood vessel,with confluent ECs as the inner layer and layers of SMCs to support it.In addition,the membrane preserved the normal function of ECs,and at the same time did not exacerbate inflammatory responses.By preparing this material type that regulates cell behavior differentially,we describe a new method for its application in the cardiovascular field such as for artificial blood vessels.
