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We present the concept of a versatile drug-loaded composite hydrogel that can be activated using an argon-based cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) jet to deliver both a drug and CAP-generated molecules, concomitantly, in a tissue target. To demonstrate this concept, we utilized the antibiotic gentamicin that is encapsulated in sodium polyacrylate (PAA) particles, which are dispersed within a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel matrix. The final product is a gentamicin-PAA-PVA composite hydrogel suitable for an on-demand triggered release using CAP. We show that by activating using CAP, we can effectively release gentamicin from the hydrogel and also eradicate the bacteria effectively, both in the planktonic state and within a biofilm. Besides gentamicin, we also successfully demonstrate the applicability of the CAP-activated composite hydrogel loaded with other antimicrobial agents such as cetrimide and silver. This concept of a composite hydrogel is potentially adaptable to a range of therapeutics (such as antimicrobials, anticancer agents, and nanoparticles) and activatable using any dielectric barrier discharge CAP device.

The possibility of increasing the basic properties of concrete products by using Portland cement with additions of sulfated clinkers as a binder is considered. It was found that when the binder is hydrated, aluminate and ferruginous ettringite are formed, which reinforce the hardening structure of the stone, increase its strength properties and resistance to the corrosive effect of sulfates.

The interaction of multiple spark-generated bubbles near solid boundary is investigated experimentally. Qualitative study is done with high-speed imaging for bubble shape evolution and PVDF sensor for impact force measurement. Similar-sized bubbles are created synchronously and distance between bubbles or boundary is chosen to be as small as possible. The jet direction of two horizontally aligned bubbles is strongly influenced by proximity parameter (γ) near boundary. The role of inter bubble distance (η) between bubbles and its contribution to intensity of impulsive force is also presented. It is found that strongest impact is recorded for horizontal pair, compared to vertical pair and diagonal pair, for small η values. Three bubbles are arranged with middle one which is smaller, similar or bigger than left and right bubbles. Allocating bigger bubble in the center indeed produces the most destructive impact on boundary among all cases. Moreover, diverse bubble deformation features are witnessed for various combination of dimensionless parameter applied in this study.

We have recently reported on a method that utilizes a slit coater as a novel liquid crystal alignment technique. We carried out this study under two ultraviolet (UV) irradiation conditions, viz., (i) UV irradiation from the side of a glass substrate (exposure type 1) and (ii) UV irradiation from the side of the air--liquid crystal interface (exposure type 2), and investigated the electro-optical characteristics and azimuthal anchoring energy of liquid crystal sample cells performed under these two UV irradiation conditions.