Stimuli Responsive Polymeric Membranes: Smart Polymeric Membranes explains the fundamentals and advances in topics relating to the field of membrane science. It elaborately explains concepts relating to stimuli responsive membranes, with special importance given down to minute details. Material selection, preparation, characterization and applications of various stimuli responsive membranes are extensively addressed, and their relevance (including examples) is included. The book covers history and development, merits and demerits, mechanisms of transport and fouling, applicability of membranes to various diverse areas, and preparation and characterization techniques of membranes. Next, the concept of fouling and its remedial actions is discussed. Finally, promising fields of research in the membrane science and future perspectives of membrane science field are explored. Provides basic and advanced knowledge of smart membranes, considering their morphological, physicochemical and separation characteristics Written in a clear and lucid style, keeping a diverse audience in mind Based on the state-of-art research of the authors

This book provides an application-oriented approach for pH responsive membranes and types of stimuli-responsive membranes and their applications in the biomedical field including initial development and recent use. It explains types, modes, and modification methods of membranes, along with membrane usage in applications such as drug delivery, hemodialysis, chemical sensing, and so forth. pH Responsive Membranes: Biomedical Applications explores recent research carried out in the area as well as the future outlook, and provides deeper insight for readers on the subject, ranging from the basics to advanced levels on the topic. Features Describes preparation, characterization, and applications of pH responsive membranes in biomedical applications Introduces theoretical understanding of pH responsiveness Covers development of advanced techniques regarding pH responsive membranes Provides insight into development of new materials and membranes Discusses advancements in drug delivery, hemodialysis, antibodies and enzyme production, chemical sensing, and selective ionic transport using pH responsive membranes This book is aimed at graduate students and researchers involved in membrane and chemical engineering/polymer exploration, and medical researchers.

Stimuli Responsive Polymeric Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery Applications: Volume Two: Advanced Nanocarriers for Therapeutics discusses, in detail, the recent trends in designing dual and multi-responsive polymers and nanoparticles for safe drug delivery. Chapters cover dual-responsive polymeric nanocarriers for drug delivery and their different stimuli, multi-responsive polymeric nanocarriers, and the therapeutic applications of stimuli-responsive polymers. With an emphasis on advanced medical applications and synergistic operational and technological methodologies for the improvement of polymers systems for the production of stimuli-responsive polymers, this book is essential reading for materials scientists and researchers working in the drug delivery and pharmaceutical industries. As innovation and development in the area of stimuli responsive polymer-based nanomaterials for drug delivery is moving fast and there is an increased global demand for biodegradable and biocompatible responsive polymers and nanoparticles for safe drug delivery, users will find this to be a timely resource. - Focusses on the most advanced technologies, recent evaluation methods, technical aspects, and advanced synthesis techniques stimuli-responsive polymers - Examines advanced medical applications of stimuli responsive polymers - Analyzes synergistic operational and technological methodologies for the improvement of polymer systems for the production of stimuli-responsive polymers in drug delivery

This book provides an application-oriented approach for pH responsive membranes and types of stimuli-responsive membranes and their applications in the biomedical field including initial development and recent use. It explains types, modes, and modification methods of membranes, along with membrane usage in applications such as drug delivery, hemodialysis, chemical sensing, and so forth. pH Responsive Membranes: Biomedical Applications explores recent research carried out in the area as well as the future outlook, and provides deeper insight for readers on the subject, ranging from the basics to advanced levels on the topic. Features Describes preparation, characterization, and applications of pH responsive membranes in biomedical applications Introduces theoretical understanding of pH responsiveness Covers development of advanced techniques regarding pH responsive membranes Provides insight into development of new materials and membranes Discusses advancements in drug delivery, hemodialysis, antibodies and enzyme production, chemical sensing, and selective ionic transport using pH responsive membranes This book is aimed at graduate students and researchers involved in membrane and chemical engineering/polymer exploration, and medical researchers.

Amphiphilic polymer co-networks (APCNs) are a type of polymeric hydrogel, their hydrophobic polymer segments and hydrophilic components produce less aqueous swelling, giving better mechanical properties than conventional hydrogels. This new class of polymers is attracting increasing attention, resulting in further basic research on the system, as well as new applications. This book focuses on new developments in the field of APCNs, and is organised in four sections: synthesis, properties, applications and modelling. Co-network architectures included in the book chapters are mainly those deriving from hydrophobic macro-cross-linkers, representing the classical approach; however, more modern designs are also presented. Properties of interest discussed include aqueous swelling, thermophysical and mechanical properties, self-assembly, electrical actuation, and protein adsorption. Applications described in the book chapters include the use of co-networks as soft contact lenses, scaffolds for drug delivery and tissue engineering, matrices for heterogeneous biocatalysis, and membranes of controllable permeability. Finally, an important theory chapter on the modelling of the self-assembly of APCNs is also included. The book is suitable for graduate students and researchers interested in hydrogels, polymer networks, polymer chemistry, block copolymers, self-assembly and nanomaterials, as well as their applications in contact lenses, drug delivery, tissue engineering, membranes and biocatalysis.

This project focused on modifying membrane surfaces to increase fouling control while improving permeability and selectivity, resulting in membranes with longer operational lives, lower cleaning frequencies, and higher efficiencies. The modifications involved the attachment of a temperature sensitive polymer to keep the membrane from fouling. The membrane modifications, which produced a self-cleaning cellulose acetate membrane, involved grafting the surface with a thermally responsive film layer of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC). HPC possesses a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of approximately 43C. When attached to a surface, HPC forms a film, which collapses at temperatures above the LCST and expands when cooled to below the LCST. By keeping the film in a non-equilibrium state, via oscillating the temperature of the membrane surface, (as was observed by flux decline), fouling was reduced. Two surface modification techniques were tested and compared to the unmodified membrane - Method 1 and Method 2. Method 1 involved the attachment of a gel layer whereas Method 2 was the attachment of polymer structures on the surface of the membrane. Roughness measurements, using a wet atomic force microscopy (AFM) cell, and filtration experiments (to monitor flux declines) were performed at cold temperatures (25C), at hot temperatures (60C) and with temperature oscillations. The unmodified membrane had roughness values that were higher when hot and lower when cold, and it displayed flux declines under all temperature conditions when a humic solution was filtered. Since the humic solution was acting as a fouling agent, the decrease in flux indicated the membrane was fouling. When Method 1 was used, both roughness values and filtration experiments supported temperature activation. Wet Method 1 membranes at cold temperatures displayed an average roughness of 8.40 nm while at hot temperatures, the roughness decreased to 0.92 nm, supporting the hypothesis of the film being expanded at cold temperatures and collapsed at hot temperatures. Filtration experiments using the Method 1 membrane showed that flux measurements remained nearly constant at all temperature test conditions; however, initial flux values were significantly lower than the unmodified membrane due to the potential film formation within pores. On the other hand, the Method 2 showed higher initial flux values (not significantly different from the unmodified membrane) since the film was formed in solution then attached to the membrane, which was believed to be farther away from the membrane surface. Membrane roughness values for Method 2 were on average 6.80 nm and 5.02 nm for cold and hot temperatures. As with Method 1, Method 2 membranes displayed nearly no flux decline irrespective of temperature condition when a humic solution was filtered through. Even though temperature responses were more pronounced when Method 1 membranes were used as compared to the Method 2 membranes, the loss in initial fluxes due to pore blockage with Method 1 made Method 2 more advantageous. A Method 2 modified membrane would produce a self-cleaning membrane. The use of harsh chemicals during normal membrane cleaning would be avoided with the Method 2 modified membrane as a constant flux operation could be achieved using temperature oscillations only.

Biopolymers for Biomedical Applications The twenty chapters written by experts in the field of biopolymers and biomedical engineering, provide a complete resource that systematically discusses the most widely used biopolymers and their biomedical applications, and presents all the important research and developments that have occurred in the field. In recent decades, significant progress has been made in polymer science for biomedical applications. The use of biopolymers specifically attracted the focus on the development of therapeutic polymeric systems. The exclusive features of biopolymers, such as biodegradability and biocompatibility make them highly sought after, and major research conducted with them has resulted in various therapeutic systems. However, until now only a few showed a potential to be appropriate for human use. Each chapter covers a single biopolymer, its properties, and biomedical applications. The chapters are arranged systematically, with the most common biopolymers discussed early in the book to give more insight into the field. Further, a specific chapter is dedicated to the application of biopolymers for wound healing. Later, specific chapters are dedicated to the application of bioplastics and biopolymers for the development of medical devices and biosensors, respectively. Additionally, a chapter is dedicated to the application of biopolymers in the field of dentistry, with a special focus on their risk to human health. Keeping in mind recent advanced technologies, a chapter is dedicated solely to the latest progress of biopolymers in 3D and 4D printing for biomedical applications. The final chapter comprehensively explains the future perspectives of biopolymers in the biomedical field. Audience The book is a reference source for scientists, research scholars, chemical and polymer engineers, biologists, biotechnologists, polymer technologists, industrialists, health experts, and policymakers.

Smart Polymer Nanocomposites: Biomedical and Environmental Applications presents the latest information on smart polymers and their promising application in various fields, including their role in delivery systems for drugs, tissue engineering scaffolds, cell culture sports, bioseparation, and sensors or actuator systems. - Features detailed information on the preparation, characterization and applications of smart functional polymer composites - Covers a broad range of applications in both the biomedical and environmental engineering fields - Chapters are written by authors with diverse background expertise from the faculties of chemistry, engineering and the manufacturing industry

Surface Engineering of Polymer Membranes covers the processes that modify membrane surfaces to improve their in-service performance, meaning, to confer surface properties which are different from the bulk properties. Purposes may be to minimize fouling, modulate hydrophilicity/ hydrophobicity, enhance biocompatibility, create diffusion barriers, provide functionalities, mimic biomembranes, fabricate nanostructures, etc. First, the basics of surface engineering of polymer membranes are covered. Then topics such as surface modification by graft polymerization and macromolecule immobilization, biomimetic surfaces, enzyme immobilization, molecular recognition, and nanostructured surfaces are discussed. This book provides a unique synthesis of the knowledge of the role of surface chemistry and physics in membrane science. Dr. Zhikang Xu of the Institute of Polymer Science of Zhejiang University has eight Chinese patents and in 2006 was honored as a Distinguished Young Scholar by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC).