Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill (OFI) is considered a natural source of bioactive phytochemicals, mainly isorhamnetin glycosides (IRGs). These compounds have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities, among others. The development of a suitable delivery system for these compounds is needed to improve their chemical and biological stability. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of fabrication and characterization of IRG-loaded gelatin (GL) forcespun fibers and crosslinking with glutaraldehyde (GTA). Two different percentages (25% and 30% w/v) of GL were evaluated with 12% (w/v) OFI flour to obtain nanofibers GL/OFI1 and GL/OFI2, respectively. The morphology and physicochemical properties of the fibers were investigated. The results indicated that the diameters of the fibers were on the nanoscale. The amount of IRGs was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The IRGs release and the cytocompatibility of the nanofibers were also evaluated. GL concentration significantly affected the IRG release. Among both nanofibers, the GL/OFI2 nanofiber achieved a cumulative IRGs release of 63% after 72 h. Both fibers were shown to be biocompatible with human skin/fibroblast cells. Specifically, GL/OFI1 nanofibers exhibited favorable features for their application as an extract-coupled release system. The IRGs-embedded GL nanofiber mats may become a good alternative for the delivery of phytochemicals for the health sector and biomedical applications.

In this paper, we discuss the creation of a hybrid magnetorheological elastomer that combines nano- and microparticles. The mixture contained 45 wt.% fillers, with combinations of either 0% nanoparticles and 100% microparticles or 25% nanoparticles and 75% microparticles. TGA and FTIR testing confirmed the materials’ thermal and chemical stability, while an SEM analysis determined the particles’ size and morphology. XRD results were used to determine the crystal size of both nano- and microparticles. The addition of reinforcing particles, particularly nanoparticles, enhanced the stiffness of the composite materials studied, but their overall strength was only minimally affected. The computed interaction parameter relative to the volume fraction was consistent with the previous literature. Furthermore, the study observed a magnetic response increment in composite materials reinforced with nanoparticles above 30 Hz. The isotropic material containing only microparticles had a lower storage modulus than the isotropic sample with nanoparticles without a magnetic field. However, when a magnetic field was applied, the material with only microparticles exhibited a higher storage modulus than the samples with nanoparticles.

In this study, a piezoelectric harvesting device was developed using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers reinforced with either BaTiO₃ nanoparticles or graphene powder. BaTiO₃ nanoparticles were synthesized through the sol-gel method with an average size of approximately 32 nm. The PVDF nanofibers, along with the nanoparticle composites in an acetone-N,N-dimethylformamide mixture, were produced using a centrifugal Forcespinning™ machine, resulting in a heterogeneous arrangement of fiber meshes, with an average diameter of 1.6 μm. Experimental tests revealed that the electrical performance of the fabricated harvester reached a maximum value of 35.8 Voc, demonstrating the potential of BaTiO₃/ PVDF-based piezoelectric devices for designing wearable applications such as body-sensing and energy-harvesting devices.

Current hydrogels used for cartilage tissue engineering often lack the mechanical strength and structural integrity required to mimic native human cartilage. This study addresses this limitation by developing reinforced hydrogels based on a ternary polymer blend of poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA), gelatin (GL), and chitosan (CH), with gentamicin sulfate (GS) as an antimicrobial agent and a crosslinker. The hydrogels were produced using two crosslinking methods, the freeze/thaw and heated cycles, and reinforced with forcespun polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofiber to improve mechanical performance. Chemical characterization revealed that GS forms weak hydrogen bonds with the ternary polymers, leading to esterification with PVA, and covalent bonds are formed as the result of the free amino group (-NH₂) of chitosan that reacts with the carboxylic acid group (-COOH) of gelatin. SEM images help us to see how the hydrogels are reinforced with polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers produced via force spinning technology, while mechanical properties were evaluated via uniaxial tensile and compressive tests. Water retention measurements were performed to examine the crosslinking process’s influence on the hydrogel’s water retention, while the hydrogel surface roughness was obtained via confocal microscopy images. A constitutive model based on non-Gaussian strain energy density was introduced to predict experimental mechanical behavior data of the hydrogel, considering a non-monotonous softening function. Loading and unloading tests demonstrated that GS enhanced crosslinking without compromising water retention or biocompatibility because of the reaction between the free amino group of CH and the carboxylic group of gelatin. The PCL-reinforced PVA/GL/CH hydrogel shows strong potential for cartilage repair and tissue engineering applications.