Provided are superabsorbent materials composed of agar, and one or more water-soluble natural polysaccharides, and dietary compositions containing such superabsorbent materials. The disclosed superabsorbent materials have various food and therapeutic applications and can be used as loading vehicles for nutrients and therapeutic agents. Also provided are methods for preparing such superabsorbent materials.

The invention provides a hydrogel network comprising a plurality of hydrogel objects, wherein each of said hydrogel objects comprises: a hydrogel body, and an outer layer of amphipathic molecules, on at least part of the surface of the hydrogel body, wherein each of said hydrogel objects contacts another of said hydrogel objects to form an interface between the contacting hydrogel objects. A process for producing the hydrogel networks is also provided. The invention also provides an electrochemical circuit and a hydrogel component for mechanical devices comprising a hydrogel network. Various uses of the hydrogel network are also described, including their use in synthetic biology and as components in electrochemical circuits and mechanical devices.

A method of making CNT films is described in which the film is washed with a mild acid treatment. The method generates a CNT film that is not sensitive to moisture or fluctuations in moisture. The method involves the use of anionic polysaccharides or anionic glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronic acid, sodium salt, as aqueous dispersing agents and their modification to a hydrophobic matrix after deposition. In the course of conducting the work described here, we made the surprising discovery that washing with an aqueous acidic solution resulted in a decrease in resistance through the material. The invention also includes CNT composites made by the inventive methods and a CNT composite comprising CNTs and anionic polysaccharides or anionic glycosaminoglycans further characterized by a low cationic content and a high conductivity and/or small CNT particle size as measured by SEM.

A method for producing a metal nanoparticle-loaded biopolymer microgel involving the reduction of metal ions in a metal ion-loaded biopolymer microgel. The method yields a metal nanoparticle-loaded biopolymer microgel. Also disclosed is a method of catalytically reducing an organic pollutant in water using the metal nanoparticle-loaded biopolymer microgel and a reducing agent.

A method for producing a metal nanoparticle-loaded biopolymer microgel involving the reduction of metal ions in a metal ion-loaded biopolymer microgel. The method yields a metal nanoparticle-loaded biopolymer microgel. Also disclosed is a method of catalytically reducing an organic pollutant in water using the metal nanoparticle-loaded biopolymer microgel and a reducing agent.

A stereolithography elastic film with adjustable peeling force applied to a stereolithography 3D printing apparatus, and the stereolithography elastic film includes at least one of a first colloid and a second colloid. The first colloid includes a non-polyelectrolyte and water, the water occupies the largest percentage in the first colloid. The second colloid includes a polyelectrolyte, a coagulant and water, the water occupies the largest percentage in the second colloid. The peeling force of the stereolithography elastic film may be adjusted by adjusting the percentage of at least one of the non-polyelectrolyte, the polyelectrolyte, the coagulant, and the water.

The present invention relates to a preparation method of an edible and biodegradable environmental-friendly tableware, and the present invention provides a preparation method of a natural macromolecule-based edible and degradable tableware, where the principles of endogenous diffusion and polymer crosslinking to prepare an edible tableware such as a straw, a cup and a bowl from a microscopic state. The tableware material of the present invention may degrade rapidly under natural conditions and requires no composting. The tableware prepared by the method of the present invention has an excellent water stability performance. In terms of material acquisition, carrageenan, sodium alginate and other raw materials are widely available and stable, and may constitute a good substitute for grain starch, wood, etc., and the material cost is low.

A method for producing a metal nanoparticle-loaded biopolymer microgel involving the reduction of metal ions in a metal ion-loaded biopolymer microgel. The method yields a metal nanoparticle-loaded biopolymer microgel. Also disclosed is a method of catalytically reducing an organic pollutant in water using the metal nanoparticle-loaded biopolymer microgel and a reducing agent.

A method of making CNT films is described in which the film is washed with a mild acid treatment. The method generates a CNT film that is not sensitive to moisture or fluctuations in moisture. The method involves the use of anionic polysaccharides or anionic glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronic acid, sodium salt, as aqueous dispersing agents and their modification to a hydrophobic matrix after deposition. In the course of conducting the work described here, we made the surprising discovery that washing with an aqueous acidic solution resulted in a decrease in resistance through the material. The invention also includes CNT composites made by the inventive methods and a CNT composite comprising CNTs and anionic polysaccharides or anionic glycosaminoglycans further characterized by a low cationic content and a high conductivity and/or small CNT particle size as measured by SEM.

A method for producing an aqueous foam comprising (a) preparing a solution comprising at least one surfactant and at least one protic polar solvent, (b) bringing the solution into contact with a pressurised gas to obtain a two-phase mixture, and (c) injecting the two-phase mixture to obtain the aqueous foam after expansion or dispersion of the gas. The solution further comprises at least one gelling compound chosen from a non-nitrogenous polysaccharide and gelatin. An aqueous foam obtained by such method and uses of the same, in particular in the fields of decontamination, the purification of effluents, or the defusing or containment of explosive devices or suspected explosive devices.