Tailoring the CMS/CS content in the optimized CS/CMS-lysozyme micro-gels resulted in a maximum loading efficiency of 849%. A mild particle preparation technique preserved relative activity at 1074% when compared to free lysozyme, significantly improving antibacterial action against E. coli due to a superimposed effect of CS and lysozyme. Subsequently, the particle system's action showed no harm to human cells. In vitro tests, involving six hours of simulated intestinal fluid, showed an approximate 70% digestibility rate. Microspheres composed of cross-linker-free CS/CMS-lysozyme, achieving a potent antibacterial effect with a 57308 g/mL dose and fast release at the intestinal level, represent a promising additive for enteric infection treatment, as shown by the results.

Click chemistry and biorthogonal chemistry, developed by Bertozzi, Meldal, and Sharpless, were awarded the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. In 2001, when the Sharpless lab introduced the concept of click chemistry, synthetic chemists rapidly embraced click reactions as their favored methodology for creating new functions. This research summary focuses on the work performed in our laboratories, utilizing the classic Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne click (CuAAC) reaction, developed by Meldal and Sharpless, and, additionally, the thio-bromo click (TBC) and the less-common, irreversible TERminator Multifunctional INItiator (TERMINI) dual click (TBC) reactions, both advancements from our laboratory. These click reactions will be instrumental in the accelerated modular-orthogonal construction of complex macromolecules, facilitating self-organization pertinent to biological systems. The discussion will encompass the self-assembly of amphiphilic Janus dendrimers and Janus glycodendrimers, along with their biomimetic counterparts dendrimersomes and glycodendrimersomes. Furthermore, straightforward approaches for assembling macromolecules with defined and complex architectures, such as dendrimers constructed from commercially available monomers and building blocks, will be investigated. Professor Bogdan C. Simionescu's 75th anniversary is commemorated in this perspective, honoring the son of my (VP) Ph.D. mentor, Professor Cristofor I. Simionescu. Professor Cristofor I. Simionescu, like his father, expertly managed both scientific pursuits and administrative responsibilities throughout his life, demonstrating a remarkable ability to seamlessly integrate these two vital aspects.

In pursuit of improved wound healing, developing materials with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, or antibacterial traits is crucial. This work details the preparation and characterization of soft, bioactive ion gel materials intended for patch applications, derived from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and four cholinium-based ionic liquids, each containing a different phenolic acid anion: cholinium salicylate ([Ch][Sal]), cholinium gallate ([Ch][Ga]), cholinium vanillate ([Ch][Van]), and cholinium caffeate ([Ch][Caff]). The phenolic motif within the ionic liquids, residing within the iongels, acts both as a crosslinking agent for PVA and a bioactive component. Ionic-conducting, thermoreversible, and flexible iongels, the ones we obtained, are also elastic. Importantly, the iongels showed superior biocompatibility, exhibiting non-hemolytic and non-agglutinating characteristics in the blood of mice, key criteria for successful wound healing applications. The inhibition zone against Escherichia Coli was greatest for PVA-[Ch][Sal] among all tested iongels, indicating their potent antibacterial properties. Polyphenol presence in the iongels was a key contributor to their high antioxidant activity, with the PVA-[Ch][Van] iongel registering the strongest antioxidant response. In conclusion, the iongels demonstrated a decrease in nitric oxide production in LPS-activated macrophages; the PVA-[Ch][Sal] iongel showed the superior anti-inflammatory property (>63% inhibition at 200 g/mL).

Lignin-based polyol (LBP), derived from the oxyalkylation of kraft lignin with propylene carbonate (PC), was utilized in the exclusive synthesis of rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs). Formulations were adjusted via design of experiments and statistical methods to create a bio-based RPUF with both low thermal conductivity and low apparent density, enabling its function as a lightweight insulating material. A comparison of the thermo-mechanical properties of the resultant foams was conducted, contrasting them with those of a standard commercial RPUF and a second RPUF (dubbed RPUF-conv) manufactured via a conventional polyol process. Employing an optimized formulation, the bio-based RPUF demonstrated a low thermal conductivity of 0.0289 W/mK, a low density of 332 kg/m³, and a reasonably well-formed cellular structure. Though exhibiting slightly diminished thermo-oxidative stability and mechanical properties relative to RPUF-conv, bio-based RPUF remains a viable material for thermal insulation. Regarding fire resistance, this bio-based foam has been substantially improved, with an 185% reduction in average heat release rate (HRR) and a 25% increase in burn time compared to RPUF-conv. Regarding insulation materials, this bio-based RPUF displays the potential to replace petroleum-based RPUF effectively. Concerning RPUFs, this first report highlights the employment of 100% unpurified LBP, a product of oxyalkylating LignoBoost kraft lignin.

To explore the effects of perfluorinated substituents on anion exchange membrane (AEM) performance, cross-linked polynorbornene-based AEMs featuring perfluorinated side chains were produced through a sequential strategy, involving ring-opening metathesis polymerization, crosslinking, and quaternization. The crosslinking structure of the resultant AEMs (CFnB) is responsible for the simultaneous occurrence of a low swelling ratio, high toughness, and high water uptake. These AEMs, possessing a flexible backbone and perfluorinated branch chains, facilitated ion accumulation and side-chain microphase separation, which contributed to a high hydroxide conductivity, reaching 1069 mS cm⁻¹ at 80°C, even with ion content lower than 16 meq g⁻¹ (IEC). The incorporation of perfluorinated branch chains in this work leads to a novel approach for improved ion conductivity at low ion concentrations, and proposes a viable technique for synthesizing high-performance AEMs.

An analysis of polyimide (PI) content and post-curing treatments on the thermal and mechanical traits of epoxy (EP) blended with polyimide (PI) was conducted in this study. The EP/PI (EPI) blending process decreased crosslinking density, leading to an increase in ductility and, consequently, improvements in both flexural and impact strength. Different from other processes, the post-curing of EPI saw an improvement in thermal resistance due to increased crosslinking density, leading to an enhanced flexural strength of up to 5789% due to an increase in stiffness, while conversely reducing impact strength by up to 5954%. The mechanical properties of EP saw improvement due to EPI blending, and post-curing of EPI was shown to be an effective approach for augmenting heat resistance. EPI blending demonstrably improved the mechanical properties of EP, and post-curing proved a valuable technique for increasing the material's heat resistance.

Injection processes' rapid tooling (RT) mold production has been given a relatively new dimension by additive manufacturing (AM). This paper focuses on experiments involving mold inserts and specimens produced by stereolithography (SLA), a type of additive manufacturing process. The performance of the injected parts was examined by comparing a mold insert created using additive manufacturing to one produced via traditional subtractive manufacturing. The performance of temperature distribution and mechanical tests (in compliance with ASTM D638) were assessed. In a comparative tensile test, specimens from a 3D-printed mold insert performed demonstrably better (almost 15%) than those from a duralumin mold. Emricasan The simulated and experimental temperature distributions were remarkably similar; the average temperatures varied by a negligible amount, just 536°C. These findings definitively support the applicability of AM and RT as practical and superior alternatives for small and medium-sized injection molding projects worldwide.

A botanical extract from Melissa officinalis (M.) is the focal point of this current study. Polymer fibrous materials composed of biodegradable polyester-poly(L-lactide) (PLA) and biocompatible polyether-polyethylene glycol (PEG) were successfully electrospun to incorporate *Hypericum perforatum* (St. John's Wort, officinalis). The study revealed the perfect process conditions for the development of hybrid fibrous materials. In order to analyze the impact of extract concentration (0%, 5%, or 10% by weight of polymer) on the morphology and the physico-chemical characteristics of the electrospun materials, an investigation was carried out. Defect-free fibers were the sole components of all the prepared fibrous mats. A description of the mean fiber size in both PLA and PLA/M materials is given. The PLA/M material is combined with five percent by weight of officinalis extract. The officinalis extracts, at a 10% by weight concentration, showed respective peak wavelengths of 1370 nm, 1398 nm, and 1506 nm at 220 nm, 233 nm, and 242 nm. By incorporating *M. officinalis* into the fibers, a slight increase in fiber diameters was noted, coupled with an increase in the water contact angle to 133 degrees. The presence of polyether in the fabricated fibrous material contributed to the materials' enhanced wetting, thereby exhibiting hydrophilicity (with the water contact angle measured at 0). Emricasan The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate free radical assay revealed potent antioxidant activity in the extract-containing fibrous materials. Emricasan Exposure of the DPPH solution to PLA/M resulted in a change in color to yellow, and an 887% and 91% reduction in the absorbance of the DPPH radical was observed. Incorporating officinalis with PLA/PEG/M yields an interesting result.