Sustainable Vegetable Oil-Based Biomaterials: Synthesis and Biomedical Applications

One of the main criteria for ecological sustainability is that the materials produced for common use are green. This can include the use of biomaterials and materials that are environmentally friendly, biodegradable and produced at low cost. The exploration of natural resources as sustainable precursors leads to the production of biopolymers that are useful for 3D printing technology. Recently, waste vegetable oils have been found to be a good alternative source for the production of biopolymers in various applications from the engineering to the biomedicine. In this review, the processes for the synthesis of vegetable oil-based biomaterials are described in detail. Moreover, the functionalization strategies to improve the mechanical properties of these materials and the cell-material interaction for their potential use as micro-structured scaffolds in regenerative medicine are discussed.

Review on UV-Induced Cationic Frontal Polymerization of Epoxy Monomers

Ultraviolet (UV)-induced cationic frontal polymerization has emerged as a novel technique that allows rapid curing of various epoxy monomers upon UV irradiation within a few seconds. In the presence of a diaryliodonium salt photoinitiator together with a thermal radical initiator, the cationic ring opening polymerization of an epoxide monomer is auto-accelerated in the form of a self-propagating front upon UV irradiation. This hot propagating front generates the required enthalpy to sustain curing reaction throughout the resin formulation without further need for UV irradiation. This unique reaction pathway makes the cationic frontal polymerization a promising route towards the efficient curing of epoxy-based thermosetting resins and related composite structures. This review represents a comprehensive overview of the mechanism and progress of UV-induced cationic frontal polymerization of epoxy monomers that have been reported so far in literature. At the same time, this review covers important aspects on the frontal polymerization of various epoxide monomers involving the chemistry of the initiators, the effect of appropriate sensitizers, diluents and fillers.

Facilely prepared blue-green light sensitive curcuminoids with excellent bleaching properties as high performance photosensitizers in cationic and free radical photopolymerization

Four blue-green light sensitive curcuminoids have been prepared using a facile method. High performances were found as photosensitizers in cationic and free radical photopolymerzation.

Recent Developments of Versatile Photoinitiating Systems for Cationic Ring Opening Polymerization Operating at Any Wavelengths and under Low Light Intensity Sources

Photoinitiators (PI) or photoinitiating systems (PIS) usable in light induced cationic polymerization (CP) and free radical promoted cationic polymerization (FRPCP) reactions (more specifically for cationic ring opening polymerization (ROP)) together with the involved mechanisms are briefly reviewed. The recent developments of novel two- and three-component PISs for CP and FRPCP upon exposure to low intensity blue to red lights is emphasized in details. Examples of such reactions under various experimental conditions are provided.

Photoinduced curcumin derivative-coatings with antibacterial properties

Synthesis of antibacterial coatings derived from epoxidized soybean oil and curcumin for the efficient inhibition of bacteria proliferation.

A new role of curcumin: as a multicolor photoinitiator for polymer fabrication under household UV to red LED bulbs

Curcumin can act as a multicolor photoinitiator in free radical photopolymerization under air upon exposure to household LED bulbs.

Activation of the sol–gel process by visible light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for the synthesis of inorganic films

Photosensitized acid generation opens the possibility of using a visible LED light source for inorganic photo sol–gel process. It also provides a simple approach for sustainable synthesis of inorganic or hybrid materials under solar irradiance.

Long wavelength photoinitiated free radical polymerization using conjugated thiophene derivatives in the presence of onium salts

A highly conjugated thiophene derivative, 3,5-diphenyldithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]-thiophene, has been used as an electron-transfer photosensitizer for long wavelength free radical photopolymerization of (meth)acrylic monomers in the presence of onium salts.