We herein provide an effective method to fabricate a transparent superamphiphobic coating with superhydrophobicity and near-superoleophobicity, the finished coating also shows improved stability under various measurements. To do this, a transparent superhydrophobic coating was first prepared with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and hydrophobic silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) nanoparticles. Then the coating was sintered to degrade the PDMS into SiO 2 before it was further oxidized into silanol (Si-OH). Finally, the coating was treated with 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorooctyl-trichlorosilane (PFTS). The PFTS treated coating shows transparency, superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 152.7 AE 2.1 and near-superoleophobicity with a diiodomethane contact angle of 140.7 AE 3.2 . The droplets of water and diiodomethane can simultaneously slide off the surface with a sliding angle of less than 6 . Moreover, the PFTS treated coating shows a higher stability than the PDMS/SiO 2 coating fabricated by spin coating under various environmental conditions. The PFTS treated coating also shows quite good stability under high temperature environment. The superamphiphobic properties, transparency and improved stability of the PFTS treated coating are systemically discussed and the results show that the finished coating may be appropriate for many outdoor applications.

The reactive blends were prepared by the blending of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) in the presence of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as a radical initiator in the melt state. The gel fractions, morphologies, crystallization behaviors, and rheological and mechanical properties of the reactive blends were investigated. Some crosslinked/branched structures were formed according to the rheological measurement and gel fraction results, and the crosslinked/branched structures played the role of nucleation site for the reactive blends. The PLA–PBS copolymers of the reactive blends acted as a compatibilizer for the PLA and PBS phases and, hence, improved the compatibility between the two components. Moreover, it was found that the reactive blends showed the most excellent mechanical properties as the DCP contents were 0.2 and 0.3 phr. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 39580.

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Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) chains are directly grafted onto a silicon surface by in situ amidation and PLA/PLA-grafted SiO 2 nanocomposites are compounded using a Haake torque rheometer. To have a better understanding of the interaction between grafted polymer chains and PLA matrix, thermal, and rheological properties of PLA/PLA-grafted SiO 2 nanocomposites are explored. DSC analysis shows that PLA-grafted-SiO 2 can accelerate the cold crystallization rate and increase the degree of crystallinity of PLA. Shear rheology testing indicates that PLA/PLA-grafted-SiO 2 nanocomposites still exhibits the typical homopolymer-like terminal behavior at low frequency range even at a content of PLA-grafted-SiO 2 of 5 wt %, compared to PLA/SiO 2 , it is also found that the nanocomposites show stronger shear-thinning behaviors in the high frequency region after grafting. In addition, elongation viscosity testing shows the entanglement between grafted chains and matrix that is needed to improve the melt strength of PLA.

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Bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) used in the clinic are mostly fixed by glutaraldehyde and the lack of endothelialization is a major problem for glutaraldehyde‐fixed pericardia. Hyaluronic acid is a major glycosaminoglycan that exists in native heart valves. Coupled with its inherent biocompatibility, it may enhance endothelial adhesion and proliferation when associated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In this study, an optimized system is developed to improve the endothelialization of glutaraldehyde‐fixed pericardium. A hybrid pericardium with VEGF‐loaded hyaluronic acid hydrogel coating is developed by the crosslinking of 1,4‐butanediol diglycidyl ether. The adhesion and growth potential of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) on pericardia, platelet adhesion, and calcification by an in vivo rat subdermal implantation model are investigated. The results show improved HUVEC adhesion and proliferation, less platelet adhesion, and less calcification for hybrid pericardium by introducing the coating of VEGF‐loaded hyaluronic acid hydrogel. Thus, the coating of VEGF‐loaded hyaluronic acid hydrogel on pericardium is a promising approach to obtain bioprosthetic valves for clinical applications with increased endothelialization and antithrombotic and anticalcification properties.

The use of anti-biofouling polymers has widespread potential for counteracting marine, medical, and industrial biofouling. The anti-biofouling action is usually related to the degree of surface wettability. This review is focusing on anti-biofouling polymers with special surface wettability, and it will provide a new perspective to promote the development of anti-biofouling polymers for biomedical applications. Firstly, current anti-biofouling strategies are discussed followed by a comprehensive review of anti-biofouling polymers with specific types of surface wettability, including superhydrophilicity, hydrophilicity, and hydrophobicity. We then summarize the applications of anti-biofouling polymers with specific surface wettability in typical biomedical fields both in vivo and in vitro, such as cardiology, ophthalmology, and nephrology. Finally, the challenges and directions of the development of anti-biofouling polymers with special surface wettability are discussed. It is helpful for future researchers to choose suitable anti-biofouling polymers with special surface wettability for specific biomedical applications.