Papers by Keyword: Stimuli-Responsive Materials

Abstract: Enzymes, immobilized on pH/temperature/ion-responsive carriers, relieve poor contact and could be conveniently recycled as well. Enzymes were immobilized on pH-responsive carriers often by covalent method, which was better than non-covalent method (adsorption). The immobilized enzymes showed slight steric hindrance for enzymatic reaction, but always lose much activity during recycle process. The Km values were often increased significantly via immobilization on temperature/ion responsive carriers, while the immobilized enzymes expressed superior reusability. Both covalent and non-covalent methods were fit for enzymes to be immobilized on temperature-responsive carriers. Non-covalent method (entrapment) was preferential choose for enzymes to be immobilized on ion-responsive carriers. Many drawbacks, such as large activity loss and slow respondence during stimulus occurrence, seriously restrained the effect of the immobilized enzymes. It was supposed to open up special stimuli-responsive materials for enzymes immobilization, and choose proper immobilization methods, correspondingly.

Abstract: Shape memory polymers are a promising class of stimuli-responsive materials that have dual-shape capability. This kind of materials can recover their shape in a predefined way from temporary shape to desired permanent shape when exposed to an appropriate stimulus. In the development and extensive application of synthetic shape memory polymers on textile industrials, the thermal and hygrothermal effects of wool materials have attracted considerable attention. In this article the fundamental concept of the shape memory polymers and the fundamental aspects of the shape-memory effect were reviewed. The thermal and hygrothermal effects of wool materials were also summarized to discuss the shape memory behavior of wool materials. Besides the effects of synthetic shape memory polymers on the thermal and hygrothermal of the woven wool fabrics were introduced to show the shape memory behavior of treated wool further.