In this work, advanced polymer nanocomposites comprising of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and nanodiamonds (NDs) were developed using a single-step solution-casting method. The properties of the prepared PVA/NDs nanocomposites were investigated using Raman spectroscopy, small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). It was revealed that the tensile strength improved dramatically with increasing ND content in the PVA matrix, suggesting a strong interaction between the NDs and the PVA. SEM, TEM, and SAXS showed that NDs were present in the form of agglomerates with an average size of ~60 nm with primary particles of diameter ~5 nm. These results showed that NDs could act as a good nanofiller for PVA in terms of improving its stability and mechanical properties.

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved polymer used in humans in the forms of resorbable sutures, drug carriers, and bone regeneration materials. Recently, PLGA-based conjugates have been extensively investigated for cancer, which is the second leading cause of death globally. This article presents an account of the literature on PLGA-based conjugates, focusing on their chemistries, biological activity, and functions as targeted drug carriers or sustained drug controllers for common cancers (e.g., breast, prostate, and lung cancers). The preparation and drug encapsulation of PLGA nanoparticles and folate-decorated poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (FA–PEG–PLGA) conjugates are discussed, along with several representative examples. Particularly, the reactions used for preparing drug-conjugated PLGA and FA–PEG–PLGA are emphasized, with the associated chemistries involved in the formation of structures and their biocompatibility with internal organs. This review provides a deeper understanding of the constituents and interactions of PLGA-conjugated materials to ensure successful conjugation in PLGA material design and the subsequent biomedical applications.

New organic–inorganic nanocomposites based on PVA, SiO₂ and SSA were prepared in a single step using a solution casting method, with the aim to improve the thermomechanical properties and ionic conductivity of PVA membranes. The structure, morphology, and properties of these membranes were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), water uptake (Wu) measurements and ionic conductivity measurements. The SAXS/WAXS analysis showed that the silica deposited in the form of small nanoparticles (∼ 10 nm) in the PVA composites and it also revealed an appreciable crystallinity of pristine PVA membrane and PVA/SiO₂ membranes (decreasing with increasing silica loading), and an amorphous structure of PVA/SSA and PVA/SSA/SiO₂ membranes with high SSA loadings. The thermal and mechanical stability of the nanocomposite membranes increased with the increasing silica loading, and silica also decreased the water uptake of membranes. As expected, the ionic conductivity increased with increasing content of the SSA crosslinker, which is a donor of the hydrophilic sulfonic groups. Some of the PVA/SSA/SiO₂ membranes had a good balance between stability in aqueous environment (water uptake), thermomechanical stability and ionic conductivity and could be potential candidates for proton exchange membranes (PEM) in fuel cells.

Rheological properties of new anhydrous proton conducting membrane based on PVA, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS),sulfosuccinic acid (SSA), titanium dioxide (TiO₂)was examined at various stoichiometric ratios. SSA was used as sulfonating agents to form a crosslinked structure and as proton source, whereas TEO Sand TiO₂were utilized to improve the thermal and mechanical properties of the membrane. In order to verify that all the substances were immobilized into the matrix, the membranes were analysed by means of FT-IR. The rheological, mechanical and thermal properties of the membranes were investigated using rheometer ARES G2 and thermogravimetic analyser (TGA).The analysis of mixed PVA solutions exhibited a unique behaviour of viscosity with increased crosslink density. The dynamic storage modulus G´ of dried composite membranes shows better mechanical resistance and increased tolerance to pressure applied during membrane electrode assembly (MEA).

Polyamide thin-film composite membranes were prepared on a reinforced microporous polyethersulfone (PES) support by in situ interfacial polycondensation of amic acid diamines (AADs) with 1,3,5-benzenetricarbonyl trichloride and subsequent curing. Water soluble AADs were synthesized by reacting trimellitic anhydride chloride and cyclic/aromatic diamines in dimethylformamide at 5–10°C. Polyamide ultra-thin barrier layer containing different structural modifications were isolated by dissolving the matrix PES support in dichloromethane and characterized for IR, NMR, and DSC techniques. Morphology of membranes by scanning electron microscopy showed the appearance of honeycomb-like structure on the polyamide skin surface and the cross section displayed the presence of nodular structure which arises from the dense polyamide skin. The performances of these membranes were measured by passing the feed solutions containing 2,000 ppm of NaCl and Na₂SO₄ in a reverse osmosis test kit. Membranes exhibited very broad range of separations for NaCl (35–85%) and Na₂SO₄ (40–89%) depending on the chemical nature of the AADs. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of composite membranes with aromatic diamine structures were >220°C, indicating the higher stiffness nature of the polymer chain due to the presence of fully aromatic structural units.

Developing synthetic materials that replicate the nonlinear and anisotropic mechanical behavior of soft tissues remains a central challenge in tissue engineering. Here, we present a silk fiber-reinforced interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel platform engineered to achieve a tunable balance of tensile strength, extensibility, and stiffness. By varying fiber orientation - longitudinal, transverse, and cross-plied (CP) - we introduced directional anisotropy that emulates key structure-function relationships observed in native fibrous tissues. The longitudinal and CP composites exhibited significantly enhanced mechanical performance, with ultimate tensile strengths of 8.1 ± 2.3 MPa and 6.8 ± 1.0 MPa, and elastic moduli of 28.2 ± 5.4 MPa and 25.8 ± 5.3 MPa, respectively - significantly larger than the unreinforced hydrogel and transverse configuration. Despite increased stiffness, these configurations maintained physiologically relevant ultimate strains: 46.5 ± 12.0% (longitudinal) to 63.5 ± 33.6% (transverse), closely matching values for native coronary arteries (54.0 ± 25.0%). The CP configuration further reproduced the nonlinear strain-stiffening and pressure-dependent compliance characteristic of coronary adventitia, with measured radial compliance (1.9-2.1 %/100 mmHg) within the range of human coronaries and saphenous veins. These findings demonstrate that coupling long-fiber alignment with IPN architecture enables controlled anisotropy and physiological mechanical fidelity, providing a robust framework for next-generation vascular grafts, adventitial wraps, and soft-tissue phantoms.