Cuicui Wang¹, Xin Wei¹, Lee M. Smith², Ge Wang¹, Shuangbao Zhang³, Haitao Cheng^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.7, pp. 1829-1844, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.018782 - 07 March 2022

Abstract In order to investigate the effect of the relative motion of nano CaCO₃ reinforced bamboo pulp fiber (BPF)/HDPE composite components on the mechanical performance, a comparative study was performed. BPF was treated by nano CaCO₃ blending (BM) and impregnation modification (IM) technology. The composites were produced using hot press (HPMP), extrusion (EMP) and injection molding process (IMP). The physical morphology of BPF was similar at different manufacturing processes. Compared to the samples manufactured by HPMP, a decrease in the (specific) flexural strength of BPF/HDPE composites and an increase in those of composites treated by nano CaCO₃ manufactured More >

YINGHUI WU^#, HONG ZHANG^#, QIANG WANG, SUOYUAN LI, JUN SHEN^*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1363-1364, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018360 - 07 February 2022

Abstract Transcription factor Brachyury, a protein containing 435 amino acids, has been widely investigated and reported in notochord differentiation and nucleus pulposus development. The crucial functions and underlying mechanisms by Brachyury are discussed in this paper, which suggests Brachyury can be developed into a potential novel target for the therapy of intervertebral disc degeneration. More >

Lei Tan, Liangxian Liu, Chaodong Liu, Weihong Wang^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.11, pp. 1897-1911, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.016418 - 04 June 2021

Abstract As the most favorable alternative to petroleum-based polymers, polylactic acid (PLA) which is the most promising degradable polymer has attracted increasing attention. However, the addition of cellulose to improve its strength often results in a reduction in its toughness. In this work, microscale cellulose is first prepared from pulp fibers by using a deep eutectic solvent, and then is used as the reinforcement of PLA. A microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)/PLA sheet with uniform texture is obtained by the solution mixing, melt blending, hot-pressing and cold-pressing process. The effects of MCC on the crystallization, thermal stability and… More >

Gustavo de Souza, Ricardo K. Kramer, Antonio J. F. Carvalho^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.10, pp. 1257-1268, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.011906 - 31 August 2020

Abstract Oil spills and oil/water wastewater are among the great concerns regarding oil pollution. Existing technologies face many limitations and in some cases are responsible for causing secondary pollution, therefore there is as seek for environmental friendly solutions. Biomass, from which celluloses are highlighted, are being employed for oil/water separation or oil absorbents membranes. Usually, these membranes are obtained by freeze drying of CNF (cellulose nano- fibrils) suspensions followed by chemical modification for hydrophobization, which involves expensive process as chemical vapor deposition and expensive reactants as sylanes, turning these processes hardly scalable. Here, we produced a More >

Yuhsuan Wang^1,2, Yuwei Guo^1,2, Lisha Zheng^1,2,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 99-99, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.06995

Abstract Many studies have shown that cell shape effects cell chromatin aggregation, gene expression, protein synthesis, cell growth, apoptosis, and cytoskeletal rearrangement [1, 2]. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are capable of osteogenic, dentinogenic, chondrogenic, and neurogenic differentiation. They are regarded as a promising candidate for tissue regeneration. How the cell shape regulates their cell behavior is still unknown. We used micropatterning technology to design single cell patterns in a 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16 length-width ratio of rectangles with the same area. The results indicated that cell shape rearranged the cytoskeleton of DPSCs. The nuclear… More >

Runze Zhao¹, Tingting Xia¹, Mengyue Wang¹, Fan Feng¹, Wanqian Liu^1,*, Li Yang^1,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 77-77, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07155

Abstract This study was focus on the exploring the therapeutic function of lysyl oxidase (LOX) in rat nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). To do this, a Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat caudal spine degeneration model was established by puncturing the Co5-6 disc. NP cells apoptosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) degeneration in IVDD were evaluated by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) and immunofluorescence. Then, the therapeutic effect of LOX on IVDD was evaluated by histological staining. In vitro, the regulator effect of LOX on degenerate rat NP cell was explored. ECM… More >

Nadezda Stevulova^1,*, Viola Hospodarova¹, Adriana Estokova¹, Eva Singovszka¹, Marian Holub¹, Stefan Demcak¹, Jaroslav Briancin², Anton Geffert³, Frantisek Kacik³, Vojtech Vaclavik⁴, Tomas Dvorsky⁴

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.11, pp. 1121-1145, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07556

Abstract The aim of this study was to characterize two types of cellulosic fibers obtained from bleached wood pulp and unbleached recycled waste paper with different cellulose content (from 47.4 percent up to 82 percent), to compare and to analyze the potential use of the recycled fibers for building application, such as plastering mortar. Changes in the chemical composition, cellulose crystallinity and degree of polymerization of the fibers were found. The recycled fibers of lower quality showed heterogeneity in the fiber sizes (width and length), and they had greater surface roughness in comparison to high purity… More >

Emanoele Maria Santos Chiromito¹, Eliane Trovatti², Antonio Jose Felix Carvalho^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.5, pp. 403-413, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.01846

Abstract Despite the great potential of cellulose wood pulp and cellulose nanofibrils as reinforcing filler in thermoplastics, its use is limited due to its tendency to form agglomerates and due to its high hydrophilic character. Here we describe fiberboard composites with high contents of wood pulp or cellulose nanofibrils, and a resin of poly (styrene-methyl-methacrylate-acrylic acid) used as water-based emulsion. Cellulose wood pulp and cellulose nanofibrils were used directly in the form of water suspensions. The method is based on the flocculation of the polymer emulsion followed by agglomeration of a mixture of the polymer emulsion… More >

Lísias Pereira Novo^1,2*, Julien Bras^3,4, Mohamed Naceur Belgacem^3,4, Antonio Aprigio da Silva Curvelo²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.6, No.2, pp. 160-168, 2018, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634165

Abstract Two distinct lignocellulosic fractions (rind and core) can be obtained through a physical separation of sugarcane stalks. Although presenting differences in morphology, both fractions can be employed to produce pulps and papers. The pulps and paper sheets produced from the core and rind fractions were characterized by their chemical composition, physical properties and mechanical properties. The pulps obtained from the core presented a higher amount of fines, lower drainage ability and rendered denser and stiffer sheets. The pulps from the rind, which have a higher content of fibers and higher degree of polymerization, produced sheets More >

N. A. Sri Aprilia¹, M. S. Nurul Atiqah², Zhari Ismail³, C. Y. Loo², Chaturbhuj K. Saurabh², Rudi Dungani⁴, Abdul Khalil H.P.S^2*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, No.5, pp. 380-387, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634130

Abstract Due to environmental concerns, green composites have become a highly researched material. In the present study, kenaf fiber was used as reinforcement in epoxy-based composite with weight fraction ranges from 0, 5, 10, and 15% (w/w of resin). The ratio of epoxy to hardener was 65:32.5. Prior to incorporation, kenaf bast fiber underwent Soda-AQ pulping followed by total chlorine-free bleaching (OAZP sequence). The obtained pulp was then subjected to supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SCE) treatment. It was observed that epoxy composite with 10% of fiber loading demonstrated the highest mechanical properties with a tensile strength More >