Abstract: Provided herein are biodegradable kombucha bacterial cellulose-based composite materials particularly suitable for formulating films for use in packaging applications, such as food packaging, thereby serving as a replacement for non-degradable plastics. The films are edible, strong, transparent, and have low hygroscopicity. In addition to the bacterial cellulose, the films can also include protein encapsulated within the cellulose matrix, and a crosslinked coating with ionic polysaccharide, a polyether, and a metal cation. Alternatively, the films can include a bacterial cellulose matrix and a hydrophobically modified polysaccharide on the bacterial cellulose matrix. Also provided are an effective, green, and low-cost strategy for fabricating the biodegradable materials.

Abstract: Provided herein are magnesium oxychloride cement compositions having a micro-/macro-two-tier porous structure derived from a Pickering foam form of the compositions. The compositions include magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride, water, and one or more surface modifying agents that modify at least a portion of the magnesium oxide, thereby creating particulates sufficient for stabilizing the Pickering foam. Also provided are bone repair scaffolds, and methods for producing the provided compositions and scaffolds and using them to repair bone defects.

Abstract: Ultra-stable aqueous foam comprises hydrophobic silica particles residing within bubbles in an aqueous solution of a hydrophilic polymer, a protein, or aqueous dispersible colloidal particles. The combination of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic components stabilizes the foam interfaces to result in long term stability of the foam. The foams can be crosslinked to stable monolithic foams and used for structural foams, coatings, and thermal insulating for construction.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making white hollow composite particles by one-step Pickering mini-emulsion polymerization and their application in making white inkjet ink compositions. Each of the particles comprises white inorganic particles; a crosslinked polymer shell; and a hollow core inside the crosslinked polymer shell, and wherein the inorganic particles adhere on the surface of the crosslinked polymer shell. The hollow composite particles have an average diameter ranging from 200 to 1,000 nm and a high degree of whiteness. Furthermore, the structure of the particles remains intact even after they are subjected to repeated centrifugation, decantation, shearing or a combination thereof, which makes them suitable for inkjet ink application.

Abstract: A method for preparing a novel waterborne polyurethane foam layer for synthetic leather is disclosed. The method includes first preparing a charged cellulose nanofiber by using a wood pulp as a raw material; meanwhile, subjecting a polyisocyanate, a macromolecular diol, a hydrophilic chain extender and a small molecular chain extender to a polyaddition reaction and an acid-base neutralization reaction in sequence, to obtain a cationic or anionic waterborne polyurethane; adding the charged cellulose nanofiber and a certain amount of a crosslinking agent to the oppositely charged ionic waterborne polyurethane emulsion, stirring the resulting mixture, forming a bimolecular layer at the gas/liquid interface by a self-assembly of the cellulose nanofiber and waterborne polyurethane nanoparticles through electrostatic interactions to obtain a stable Pickering foam; using the stable Pickering foam as a template, drying and solidifying to obtain the waterborne polyurethane foam layer for synthetic leather.

Abstract: Fluorinated metal nanoparticles (f-MNPs) are metal nanoparticles and/or semiconductor nanoparticles having a plurality of fluorinated alkyl ligands attached to the surfaces of the nanoparticles where the f-MNPs are greater than 20 nm in cross-section. The f-MNPs can be used as a surfactant to form active f-MNPs stabilized aqueous droplet, which can be used in a light-mediated microfluidic device where droplet movement, merging, splitting, and sorting can be carried out as directed by one or more laser beams focused onto one or more spots of light-mediated microfluidic device.

Abstract: A method for preparing a novel waterborne polyurethane foam layer for synthetic leather is disclosed. The method includes first preparing a charged cellulose nanofiber by using a wood pulp as a raw material; meanwhile, subjecting a polyisocyanate, a macromolecular diol, a hydrophilic chain extender and a small molecular chain extender to a polyaddition reaction and an acid-base neutralization reaction in sequence, to obtain a cationic or anionic waterborne polyurethane; adding the charged cellulose nanofiber and a certain amount of a crosslinking agent to the oppositely charged ionic waterborne polyurethane emulsion, stirring the resulting mixture, forming a bimolecular layer at the gas/liquid interface by a self-assembly of the cellulose nanofiber and waterborne polyurethane nanoparticles through electrostatic interactions to obtain a stable Pickering foam; using the stable Pickering foam as a template, drying and solidifying to obtain the waterborne polyurethane foam layer for synthetic leather.

Abstract: Ultra-stable aqueous foam comprises hydrophobic silica particles residing within bubbles in an aqueous solution of a hydrophilic polymer, a protein, or aqueous dispersible colloidal particles. The combination of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic components stabilizes the foam interfaces to result in long term stability of the foam. The foams can be crosslinked to stable monolithic foams and used for structural foams, coatings, and thermal insulating for construction.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods for producing a formulation with controlled active substance release, wherein a Pickering emulsion of the solvent in water type is applied to a solid carrier, and also formulations with controlled active substance release producible by the abovementioned method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the marking of materials with coded microparticies, wherein coded microparticles which are obtainable by (i) polymerization of at least one water-soluble monoethylenically unsaturated monomer in the presence of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least two double bonds in the molecule by inverse water-in-oil suspension polymerization, doped nanoparticles being used as the suspending medium, (ii) emulsion polymerization of water-insoluble monoethylenically unsaturated monomers with from 0 to 10% by weight, based on the monomer mixture, of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least two double bonds in the molecule, doped nanopartices being used as an emulsifier for stabilizing the disperse phase, (iii) polymerization of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer together with a copolymerizable dye which has an ethylenically unsaturated double bond, and, if appropriate, agglomeration of these partices or (iv) agglomeration of at