Recent Advances in Functional Polymer Materials for Energy, Water, and Biomedical Applications: A Review

Abstract

Academic research regarding polymeric materials has been of great interest. Likewise, polymer industries are considered as the most familiar petrochemical industries. Despite the valuable and continuous advancements in various polymeric material technologies over the last century, many varieties and advances related to the field of polymer science and engineering still promise a great potential for exciting new applications. Research, development, and industrial support have been the key factors behind the great progress in the field of polymer applications. This work provides insight into the recent energy applications of polymers, including energy storage and production. The study of polymeric materials in the field of enhanced oil recovery and water treatment technologies will be presented and evaluated. In addition, in this review, we wish to emphasize the great importance of various functional polymers as effective adsorbents of organic pollutants from industrial wastewater. Furthermore, recent advances in biomedical applications are reviewed and discussed.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Performance of Pyridomethene–BF2 Fluorescence Dye-Doped PVA Thin Film and PVP Nanofibers as Low γ-ray Dosimeters

“…The most obvious solution was to exploit the physical, optical, and color changes following radiation treatment. , The most widespread solution was based on composite films whose matrix is an easy-to-cast polymer that interacts with different host molecules without affecting their colorimetric, physical, or optical characteristics. , At present, functional polymers are widely investigated in various fields. − Several polymers have been reported as matrices of thin-film dosimeters, such as PVA, nylon-6, polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, and polyvinyl chloride. Their possible doping using different dyes preceding their irradiation was studied, and their dosimetric efficiency was evaluated. − In line with this, the investigation of PVA-doped films has shown great interest in several studies and research. , PVA has shown more opportunities due to its low cost, availability, nontoxicity, water solubility, and ability to incorporate a wide range of transition metal salts and dyes. − Currently, nanofibrous materials via different electrospinning technologies are widely reported and proven effective in various biomedical applications including tissue engineering, wound dressing, drug delivery, regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and detection/biodetection. − These sustainable electrospun composites were effective due to their ease of operation, nanoscale diameter, wide specific surface, high porosity, cost-effectiveness, and the considerable adaptability for engineering eco-friendly bioactive nanomaterials. , Electrospun nanomaterials synthesized by mixing high molecular weight polymers and different sensitive dye molecules could be an effective way to prepare various nanomaterials as dosimeters of different γ-ray exposure levels.…”

“…28 − 30 Currently, nanofibrous materials via different electrospinning technologies are widely reported and proven effective in various biomedical applications including tissue engineering, wound dressing, drug delivery, regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and detection/biodetection. 30 − 33 These sustainable electrospun composites were effective due to their ease of operation, nanoscale diameter, wide specific surface, high porosity, cost-effectiveness, and the considerable adaptability for engineering eco-friendly bioactive nanomaterials. 34 , 35 Electrospun nanomaterials synthesized by mixing high molecular weight polymers and different sensitive dye molecules could be an effective way to prepare various nanomaterials as dosimeters of different γ-ray exposure levels.…”

Composite Proton-Conducting Membrane with Enhanced Phosphoric Acid Doping of Basic Films Radiochemically Grafted with Binary Vinyl Heterocyclic Monomer Mixtures

“…Functional polymeric materials play a very crucial role in driving progress in the surging quest to acquire renewable energy systems based on electrochemical reactions [ 1 ]. Particularly, these functional materials are widely investigated to develop polymer electrolytes and separators for reliable and sustainable energy conversion and storage devices such as supercapacitors, batteries, electrolyzers, and fuel cells [ 2 ].…”

Characterization of Polysaccharides Sequentially Extracted from Allium roseum Leaves and Their Hepatoprotective Effects against Cadmium Induced Toxicity in Mouse Liver

“…They are considered a source of natural antioxidant substances, such as polyphenols and polysaccharides [ 12 ]. Thus, reports demonstrated that natural polysaccharides have received increasing attention, due to their diverse biological activities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, antihyperlipidemic, antidiabetic, antiproliferative, and antitumor activities [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. They are considered more effective and safe, compared to some synthetic antioxidants [ 17 ].…”