Simvastatin (SVA) is a well-prescribed drug for treating cardiovascular and hypercholesterolemia. Due to the extensive hepatic first-pass metabolism and poor solubility, its oral bioavailability is 5%. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and hydrogel-coated SLNs were investigated to overcome the limited bioavailability of SVA. Four different lipids used alone or in combination with two stabilizers were employed to generate 13 SLNs. Two concentrations of chitosan (CS) and alginate (AL) were coating materials. SLNs were studied for particle size, zeta potential, in vitro release, rheology, and bioavailability. The viscosities of both the bare and coated SLNs exhibited shear-thinning behavior. The viscosity of F11 (Chitosan 1%) at 20 and 40 rpm were 424 and 168 cp, respectively. F11 had a particle size of 260.1 ± 3.72 nm with a higher release; the particle size of F11-CS at 1% was 524.3 ± 80.31 nm. In vivo studies illustrated that F11 had the highest plasma concentration when compared with the SVA suspension and coated chitosan (F11 (Chitosan 1%)). Greater bioavailability is measured as (AUC0→24), as compared to uncoated ones. The AUC for F11, F11-CS 1%, and the SVA suspension were 1880.4, 3562.18, and 272 ng·h/mL, respectively. Both bare and coated SLNs exhibited a significantly higher relative bioavailability when compared to that from the control SVA.

In this work, we report on the synthesis and investigation of new hybrid multifunctional iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) coated by coumarin-bound copolymer, which combine magneto- or photothermal heating with luminescent thermometry. A series of amphiphilic block copolymers, including Coum-C11-PPhOx27-PMOx59 and Coum-C11-PButOx8-PMOx42 bearing luminescent and photodimerizable coumarin moiety, as well as coumarin-free PPhOx27-PMOx57, were evaluated for their utility as luminescent thermometers and for encapsulating spherical 26 nm IONPs. The obtained IONP@Coum-C11-PPhOx27-PMOx59 nano-objects are perfectly dispersible in water and able to provide macroscopic heating remotely triggered by an alternating current magnetic field (AMF) with a specific absorption rate (SAR) value of 240 W.g-1 or laser irradiation with a photothermal conversion efficiency of η = 68%. On the other hand, they exhibit temperature-dependent emission of coumarin offering the function of luminescent thermometer, which operates in the visible region between 20 °C and 60 °C in water displaying a maximal relative thermal sensitivity (Sr) of 1.53%·°C-1 at 60 °C.

This research work is based on a previous study by the authors that characterized the behavior of FBG sensors with a polyimide coating in a structural monitoring system. Sensors applied to structural health monitoring are affected by the presence of simultaneous multidirectional strains. The previous study observed the influence of the transverse strain (εy) while keeping the longitudinal strain constant (εx), where the x direction is the direction of the optical fiber. The present study develops an experimental methodology consisting of a biaxial test plan on cruciform specimens with three embedded FBG sensors coated with polyimide, acrylate, and ORMOCER®. Applying the Strain-Optic Theory as a reference, a comparison of the experimental values obtained with the different coatings was studied. This experimental work made it possible to study the influence of the transverse strain (εy) on the longitudinal measurements of each FBGS and the influence of the coating material. Finally, the calibration procedure was defined as well as K (strain sensitivity factor) for each sensor.

Aqueous Zn batteries employing mildly acidic electrolytes have emerged as promising contenders for safe and cost-effective energy storage solutions. Nevertheless, the intrinsic reversibility of the Zn anode becomes a focal concern due to the involvement of acidic electrolyte, which triggers Zn corrosion and facilitates the deposition of insulating byproducts. Moreover, the unregulated growth of Zn over cycling amplifies the risk of internal short-circuiting, primarily induced by the formation of Zn dendrites. In this study, a class of glucose-derived monomers and a block copolymer are synthesized through a building-block assembly strategy, ultimately leading to uncover the optimal polymer structure that suppresses the Zn corrosion while allowing efficient ion conduction with a substantial contribution from cation transport. Leveraging these advancements, remarkable enhancements are achieved in the realm of Zn reversibility, exemplified by a spectrum of performance metrics, including robust cycling stability without voltage overshoot and short-circuiting during 3000 h of cycling, stable operation at a high depth of charge/discharge of 75% and a high current density, >95% Coulombic efficiency over 2000 cycles, successful translation of the anode improvement to full cell performance. These polymer designs offer a transformative path based on the modular synthesis of polymeric coatings toward highly reversible Zn anode.

The selection of appropriate probiotic strains is vital for their successful inclusion in foods. These strains must withstand processing to reach consumers with ≥106 CFU/g, ensuring effective probiotic function. Achieving this in commercial products is challenging due to sensitivity to temperature during processing. In this work, Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 was microencapsulated by ionic gelation (with alginate or pectin) followed by polymeric coating (with whey protein concentrate or chitosan). Then, such microcapsules were incorporated into a strawberry puree, which was subsequently dehydrated at three temperatures (40 °C, 45 °C, and 50 °C) by Refractance Window®. The ultimate aim was to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed methods from a technological point of view. Kinetic curves of the probiotic\'s viability showed a high cell loading (>109 CFU/g). Additionally, an average encapsulation efficiency of 91% and a particle size of roughly 200 µm were found. A decrease in the viability of the microorganism was observed as drying temperature and time increased. As a demonstration of the above, in a particular case, drying at 45 °C and 50 °C, viable cells were found up to 165 min and 90 min, respectively; meanwhile, drying at 40 °C, viable cells were reported even after 240 min. The greatest viability preservation was achieved with Refractance Window® drying at 40 °C for 240 min when microcapsules coated with whey protein concentrate were incorporated into puree; this procedure showed great potential to produce dehydrated strawberry snacks with moisture (15%), water activity (aw < 0.6), and viability (≥106 CFU/g) suitable for functional foods. The membrane-stabilizing properties of whey protein concentrate could prevent cell damage. In contrast, probiotics in chitosan-coated capsules showed reduced viability, potentially due to antimicrobial properties and the formation of cracks. These findings signify a breakthrough in the production of dehydrated snacks with the addition of probiotics, addressing challenges in preserving the viability of these probiotics during processing; thus, opening the possibility for the development of a probiotic strawberry snack.

The increase of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a growing concern worldwide and the search for new therapies could cost billions of dollars and countless lives. Inert surfaces are major sources of contamination due to easier adhesion and formation of bacterial biofilms, hindering the disinfection process. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a photoactivatable and anti-adhesive kappa-carrageenan coating using proanthocyanidin as a photosensitizer. The complete reduction (>5-log10 CFU/cm3) of culturable cells of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathogens was achieved after 30 min of exposure to visible light (420 nm; 30 mW/cm2) with 5 % (w/v) of the photosensitizer. Cell membrane damage was confirmed by measuring potassium leakage, epifluorescence microscopy and bacterial motility analysis. Overall, visible light irradiation on coated solid surfaces mediated by proanthocyanidin showed no cytotoxicity and inactivated clinically important pathogens through the generation of reactive oxygen species, inhibiting bacterial initial adhesion. The developed coating is a promising alternative for a wide range of applications related to surface disinfection and food biopreservation.

Strawberries (Fragaria xannanasa) are susceptible to mechanical, physical, and physiological damage, which increases their incidence of rot during storage. Therefore, a method of protection is necessary in order to minimize quality losses. One way to achieve this is by applying polymer coatings. In this study, multisystem coatings were created based on polymer nanocapsules loaded with Lippia graveolens essential oil, and it was found to have excellent optical, mechanical, and water vapor barrier properties compared to the control (coating formed with alginate and with nanoparticles without the essential oil). As for the strawberries coated with the multisystem formed from the polymer nanocapsules loaded with the essential oil of Lippia graveolens, these did not present microbial growth and only had a loss of firmness of 17.02% after 10 days of storage compared to their initial value. This study demonstrated that the multisystem coating formed from the polymer nanocapsules loaded with the essential oil of Lippia graveolens could be a viable alternative to preserve horticultural products for longer storage periods.

The dip coating process is one of the recognized techniques used to generate polymeric coatings on stents in an easy and low-cost way. However, there is a lack of information about the influence of the process parameters of this technique on complex geometries such as stents. This paper studies the dip coating process parameters used to provide a uniform coating of PLA with a 4-10 µm thickness. A stainless-steel tube (AISI 316L) was laser-cut, electropolished, and dip-coated in a polylactic acid (PLA) solution whilst changing the process parameters. The samples were characterized to examine the coating\'s uniformity, thickness, surface roughness, weight, and chemical composition. FTIR and Raman investigations indicated the presence of PLA on the stent\'s surface, the chemical stability of PLA during the coating process, and the absence of residual chloroform in the coatings. Additionally, the water contact angle was measured to determine the hydrophilicity of the coating. Our results indicate that, when using entry and withdrawal speeds of 500 mm min-1 and a 15 s immersion time, a uniform coating thickness was achieved throughout the tube and in the stent with an average thickness of 7.8 µm.

In this study, we prepare highly self-healable polymeric coating materials using charge transfer complex (CTC) interactions. The resulting coating materials demonstrate outstanding thermal stability (1 wt% loss thermal decomposition temperature at 420 °C), rapid self-healing kinetics (in 5 min), and high self-healing efficiency (over 99%), which is facilitated by CTC-induced multiple interactions between the polymeric chains. In addition, these materials exhibit excellent optical properties, including transmittance over 91% and yellow index (YI) below 2, and show enhanced weatherability with a ΔYI value below 0.5 after exposure to UV light for 72 h. Furthermore, the self-healable coating materials developed in this study show outstanding mechanical properties by overcoming the limitations of conventional self-healing materials.

Surface engineering of conventional catalysts using polymeric coating has been extensively explored for producing hybrid catalytic material with enhanced activity, high mechanical and thermal stability, enhanced productivity, and selectivity of the desired product. The present review discusses in detail the state-of-the-art knowledge on surface modification of catalysts, namely photocatalysts, electrocatalysts, catalysts for photoelectrochemical reactions, and catalysts for other types of reactions, such as hydrodesulfurization, carbon dioxide cycloaddition, and noble metal-catalyzed oxidation/reduction reactions. The various techniques employed for the polymer coating of catalysts are discussed and the role of polymers in enhancing the catalytic activity is critically analyzed. The review further discusses the applications of biodegradable and biocompatible natural polysaccharide-based polymers, namely, chitosan and polydopamine as prospective coating material.