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Versatile functionalization of commercial polysulfone (PSf) membranes-A two-step lithiation and acylation provides surface functionality on membranes-Polymer "grafting to" or "grafting from" to control surface properties of membranes-Polymer grafted membranes are applied as a biocatalytic membrane reactors-Increased stability of ADH is achieved through immobilization on pVim grafted PSf

Controlling drug delivery from medical dressings to wounds remains a challenge despite the presence of multiple drug‐containing wound dressings on the market. The dressing should ideally be effective immediately after application and still show no burst effect, and must also be comfortable for an extended period of time. Here, a silicone‐based membrane is shown to offer an adjustable, constant release of various drugs even at a minimum moisture level resembling that of dry wounds. The drugs are dissolved in glycerol, which is speed‐mixed with silicone and subsequently cured to yield a solid membrane with evenly distributed glycerol microcontainers housing the drug. The drugs are released immediately upon contact with moisture, enabling efficient treatment with short response time and no burst. Drug delivery capability is evaluated using a classical drug release experiment, as well as by performing an antimicrobial susceptibility test on ten bacterial strains in agar diffusion assays. Results show that glycerol–silicone membranes are promising candidates for fighting bacterial infections. Moreover, the addition of glycerol domains to a silicone matrix is proven to have a positive impact on water vapor transmission rate and moisture handling capabilities, resulting in a more skin compliant dressing.

In the recent decade, a strong push toward development of more biobased binders for coating applications as part of the transition toward independence from nonrenewable fossil-based raw materials has been seen. Here we present a biobased epoxy lignin/rapeseed fatty acid derivative (eFA-L), which has been applied in coating systems, leading to coatings with >97% biobased content and Y = 130 MPa. To approach the strength of classical epoxy systems, a series of bimodal systems, containing low molecular weight adducts of biobased diglycidyl furan-2,5-dicarboxylate (DGFDC) and fossil-based diglycidylether bisphenol A (DGEBA) were prepared. In these bimodal systems, it was shown that DGEBA contributes to higher mechanical strength compared to DGFDC at equivalent cross-linking density, which was attributed to increased π–π stacking interactions. The biobased bimodal binder system composed of eFA-L and DGFDC (30 wt %) resulted in a coating with a biobased content of 93 wt %, Y = 440 MPa, and T g > 50 °C. Better mechanical properties (Y = 700 MPa) were achieved by use of DGEBA (30 wt %), but it results in a significant reduction in biobased content to 62 wt %.

In the context of a green transition, alternatives to fossil-based aromatic compounds have to be implemented. In this study, the combination of sequential solvent fractionation followed by depolymerization via catalytic hydrogenolysis of lignin led to liquid oligomeric lignin structures with chemical properties governed by the choice of lignin soluble fraction. Lignin species of increasing molecular weight (MW) were obtained with MW reduction up to 72% compared to the parent lignin, with a corresponding increase in total hydroxyl content up to 18% obtained through cleavage of lignin ether bonds. Hydrogenolysis led to lignin depolymerization oils comprising macromolecular lignin fragments and app. 15–18 wt % lignin monomers, resulting in a liquid product mixture. The lignin species were epoxidized to show their potential as a bio-based aromatic substitute to fossil-based bisphenol A. Liquid epoxy resins were obtained with viscosities between 2 × 103 and 4 × 105 Pa·s, which after curing resulted in thermoset networks with Young’s moduli between 0.9 and 1.4 GPa depending on the lignin fraction. Optimal viscosity to mechanical performance was obtained for ethyl acetate and ethanol solvent fractionated and depolymerized lignins as lower viscosity allows for reduced use of volatile organics.