Recent technological advances in the fields of biomaterials and tissue engineering have spurred interest in biopolymers for various biomedical applications. The advantage of biopolymers is their favorable characteristics for these applications, among which proteins are of particular importance. Proteins are explored widely for 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering applications, wound healing, drug delivery systems, implants, etc., and the proteins mainly available include collagen, gelatin, albumin, zein, etc. Zein is a plant protein abundantly present in corn endosperm, and it is about 80% of total corn protein. It is a highly renewable source, and zein has been reported to be applicable in different industrial applications. Lately, it has gained attention in biomedical applications. This research interest in zein is on account of its biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and certain unique physico-chemical properties. Zein comes under the GRAS category and is considered safe for biomedical applications. The hydrophobic nature of this protein gives it an added advantage and has wider applications in drug delivery. This review focuses on details about zein protein, its properties, and potential applications in biomedical sectors.

Accurate temperature control during the induction heating process of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) is crucial for the curing effect of the material. This paper first builds a finite element model of induction heating, which combines the actual fiber structure and resin matrix, and systematically analyzes the heating mechanism and temperature field distribution of CFRP during the heating process. Based on the temperature distribution and variation observed in the material heating process, a PID control method optimized by the sparrow search algorithm is proposed, which effectively reduces the temperature overshoot and improves the response speed. The experiment verifies the effectiveness of the algorithm in controlling the temperature of the CFRP plate during the induction heating process. This study provides an effective control strategy and research method to improve the accuracy of temperature control in the induction heating process of CFRP, which helps to improve the results in this field.

Due to rising global environmental challenges, air/water pollution treatment technologies, especially membrane techniques, have been focused on. In this context, air or purification membranes have been considered effective for environmental remediation. In the field of polymeric membranes, high-performance polymer/graphene nanocomposite membranes have gained increasing research attention. The polymer/graphene nanomaterials exposed several potential benefits when processed as membranes. This review explains the utilization of polymer and graphene-derived nanocomposites towards membrane formation and water or gas separation or decontamination properties. Here, different membrane designs have been developed depending upon the polymer types (poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl chloride), poly(dimethyl siloxane), polysulfone, poly(methyl methacrylate), etc.) and graphene functionalities. Including graphene in polymers influences membrane microstructure, physical features, molecular permeability or selectivity, and separations. Polysulfone/graphene oxide nanocomposite membranes have been found to be most efficient with an enhanced rejection rate of 90%–95%, a high water flux >180 L/m²/h, and a desirable water contact angle for water purification purposes. For gas separation membranes, efficient membranes have been reported as polysulfone/graphene oxide and poly(dimethyl siloxane)/graphene oxide nanocomposites. In these membranes, N₂, CO₂, and other gases permeability has been found to be higher than even >99.9%. Similarly, higher selectivity values for gases like CO₂/CH₄ have been observed. Thus, high-performance graphene-based nanocomposite membranes possess high potential to overcome the challenges related to water or gas molecular separations.

This comprehensive review explores the forefront of nanohybrid materials, focusing on the integration of coordination materials in various applications, with a spotlight on their role in the development of flexible solar cells. Coordination material-based nanohybrids, characterized by their unique properties and multifunctionality, have garnered significant attention in fields ranging from catalysis and sensing to drug delivery and energy storage. The discussion investigates the synthesis methods, properties, and potential applications of these nanohybrids, underscoring their versatility in materials science. Additionally, the review investigates the integration of coordination nanohybrids in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), showcasing their ability to enhance the performance and stability of next-generation photovoltaic devices. The narrative further expands to encompass the synthesis of luminescent nanohybrids for bioimaging purposes and the development of layered, two-dimensional (2D) material-based nanostructured hybrids for energy storage and conversion. The exploration culminates in an examination of the synthesis of conductive polymer nanostructures, elucidating their potential in drug delivery systems. Last but not least, the article discusses the cutting-edge realm of flexible solar cells, emphasizing their adaptability and lightweight design. Through a systematic examination of these diverse nanohybrid materials, this review sheds light on the current state of the art, challenges, and prospects, providing valuable insights for researchers and practitioners in the fields of materials science, nanotechnology, and renewable energy.

The present study demonstrates the fabrication of heterogeneous ternary composite photocatalysts consisting of TiO₂, kaolinite, and cement (TKCe),which is essential to overcome the practical barriers that are inherent to currently available photocatalysts. TKCe is prepared via a cost-effective method, which involves mechanical compression and thermal activation as major fabrication steps. The clay-cement ratio primarily determines TKCe mechanical strength and photocatalytic efficiency, where TKCe with the optimum clay-cement ratio, which is 1:1, results in a uniform matrix with fewer surface defects. The composites that have a clay-cement ratio below or above the optimum ratio account for comparatively low mechanical strength and photocatalytic activity due to inhomogeneous surfaces with more defects, including particle agglomeration and cracks. The TKCe mechanical strength comes mainly from clay-TiO₂ interactions and TiO₂-cement interactions. TiO₂-cement interactions result in CaTiO₃ formation, which significantly increases matrix interactions; however, the maximum composite performance is observed at the optimum titanate level; anything above or below this level deteriorates composite performance. Over 90% degradation rates are characteristic of all TKCe, which follow pseudo-first-order kinetics in methylene blue decontamination. The highest rate constant is observed with TKCe 1-1, which is 1.57 h⁻¹ and is the highest among all the binary composite photocatalysts that were fabricated previously. The TKCe 1-1 accounts for the highest mechanical strength, which is 6.97 MPa, while the lowest is observed with TKCe 3-1, indicating that the clay-cement ratio has a direct relation to composite strength. TKCe is a potential photocatalyst that can be obtained in variable sizes and shapes, complying with real industrial wastewater treatment requirements.