Novel approach to promote the hydrophobic association: Introduction of short alkyl chains into hydrophobically associating polyelectrolytes

Chitosan-based hydrogels: From preparation to applications, a review

Chitosan, derived from the deacetylation of chitin, is an abundant natural biopolymer on earth. Chitosan and its derivatives have become promising biological materials because of their unique molecular structure and excellent biological activities. The reactive functional groups of chitosan such as the amino and hydroxyl groups play a crucial role in facilitating the synthesis of three-dimensional hydrogel. Chitosan-based hydrogels have been widely used in medical, pharmaceutical, and environmental fields for years. Nowadays, chitosan-based hydrogels have been found in a wide range of applications in the food industry such as food sensors, dye adsorbents and nutrient carriers. In this review, recently developed methods for the preparation of chitosan-based hydrogels were given, and the biological activities of chitosan-based hydrogels were systematically introduced. Additionally, the recent progress in food sensors, packaging, dye adsorbents, and nutrient carriers was discussed. Finally, the challenges and prospects for the future development of chitosan-based hydrogels were discussed.

Application and Research Prospect of Functional Polymer Gels in Oil and Gas Drilling and Development Engineering

Polymer gel materials are formed by physically crosslinking and chemically crosslinking to form a gel network system with high mechanical properties and reversible performance. Due to their excellent mechanical properties and intelligence, polymer gel materials are widely used in biomedical, tissue engineering, artificial intelligence, firefighting and other fields. Given the current research status of polymer gels at home and abroad and the current application status of oilfield drilling, this paper reviews the mechanism of polymer gels formed by physically crosslinking and chemically crosslinking, summarizes the performance characteristics and the mechanism of action of polymer gels formed by non-covalent bonding, such as hydrophobic bonding, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic and Van der Waals interactions interactions, and covalent bonding such as imine bonding, acylhydrazone bonding and Diels-Alder reaction. The current status and outlook of the application of polymer gels in drilling fluids, fracturing fluids and enhanced oil recovery are also introduced. We expand the application fields of polymer gel materials and promote the development of polymer gel materials in a more intelligent direction.

Binary Hydrogels: Induction Methods and Recent Application Progress as Food Matrices for Bioactive Compounds Delivery-A Bibliometric Review

Food hydrogels are biopolymeric materials made from food-grade biopolymers with gelling properties (proteins and polysaccharides) and a 3D network capable of incorporating large amounts of water. They have sparked considerable interest because of their potential and broad application range in the biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors. However, hydrogel research in the field of food science is still limited. This knowledge gap provides numerous opportunities for implementing their unique properties, such as high water-holding capacity, moderated texture, compatibility with other substances, cell biocompatibility, biodegradability, and high resemblance to living tissues, for the development of novel, functional food matrices. For that reason, this article includes a bibliometric analysis characterizing research trends in food protein-polysaccharide hydrogels (over the last ten years). Additionally, it characterizes the most recent developments in hydrogel induction methods and the most recent application progress of hydrogels as food matrices as carriers for the targeted delivery of bioactive compounds. Finally, this article provides a future perspective on the need to evaluate the feasibility of using plant-based proteins and polysaccharides to develop food matrices that protect nutrients, including bioactive substances, throughout processing, storage, and digestion until they reach the specific targeted area of the digestive system.