Smartphone based wearable sweat glucose sensing device correlated with machine learning for real-time diabetes screening.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a significant health threat, with its prevalence and burden increasing worldwide indicating its challenge for global healthcare management. To decrease the disease severity, the diabetic patients are recommended to regularly check their blood glucose levels. The conventional finger-pricking test possesses some drawbacks, including painfulness and infection risk. Nowadays, smartphone has become a part of our lives offering an important benefit in self-health monitoring. Thus, non-invasive wearable sweat glucose sensor connected with a smartphone readout is of interest for real-time glucose detection. RESULTS: Wearable sweat glucose sensing device is fabricated for self-monitoring of diabetes. This device is designed as a body strap consisting of a sensing strip and a portable potentiostat connected with a smartphone readout via Bluetooth. The sensing strip is modified by carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), followed by electrodeposition of Prussian blue. To preserve the activity of glucose oxidase (GOx) immobilized on the modified sensing strip, chitosan is coated on the top layer of the electrode strip. Herein, machine learning is implemented to correlate between the electrochemical results and the nanomaterial content along with deposition cycle of prussian blue, which provide the highest current response signal. The optimized regression models provide an insight, establishing a robust framework for design of high-performance glucose sensor. SIGNIFICANCE: This wearable glucose sensing device connected with a smartphone readout offers a user-friendly platform for real-time sweat glucose monitoring. This device provides a linear range of 0.1-1.5 mM with a detection limit of 0.1 mM that is sufficient enough for distinguishing between normal and diabetes patient with a cut-off level of 0.3 mM. This platform might be an alternative tool for improving health management for diabetes patients.

In situ sono-rheometric assessment of procaine-loaded calcium pectinate hydrogel for enhanced drug releasing under ultrasound stimulation.

Ultrasound (US) triggered alterations in the viscoelastic behavior of the procaine-loaded ionically gelatinized pectin hydrogel matrix, and drug release was observed using a sono-device rheometer. The gel softened immediately upon activation of the ultrasound operated at 43 kHz and remained in a softened state throughout the irradiation. Upon cessation of ultrasound, the gel promptly reverted to its original hardness. This cycle of softening was consistently observed in ionically crosslinked pectin hydrogels, resulting in the promotion of procaine release, particularly with higher US power and lower calcium concentration. As the amount of loaded procaine increased, the gel weakened due to ion exchange with the calcium crosslinker and procaine. The most substantial release efficiency, reaching 82 % with a concentration of 32 µg/ml, was achieved when the hydrogels contained 0.03 % procaine within the gelatinized hydrogel medicine at a calcium concentration of 0.9 M, representing a six-fold increase compared to that without US. Notably, US exposure affected the 3D porous structure and degradation rate, leading to hydrogel collapse and facilitating medicine release. Additionally, the procaine-loaded pectin hydrogels with 0.9 M calcium exhibited improved fibroblast cell viability, indicating non-toxicity compared to those hydrogels prepared at a higher Ca2+ concentration of 2.4 M.

Ultrasound-Triggered Amoxicillin Release from Chitosan/Ethylene Glycol Diglycidyl Ether/Amoxicillin Hydrogels Having a Covalently Bonded Network.

An antibiotic release system triggered by ultrasound (US) was investigated using chitosan (CS)/ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE) hydrogel carriers with amoxicillin (Amox) drug. Different CS concentrations of 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 wt % were gelled with EGDE and Amox was entrapped in the hydrogel carrier; the accelerated release was observed as triggered by 43 kHz US exposure at different US output powers ranging from 0 to 35 W. Among these CS hydrogel systems, the degree of accelerated Amox release depended on the CS concentration for the hydrogelation and the matrix with 2 wt % CS exhibited efficient Amox release at 35 W US power with around 19 µg/mL. The drug released with time was fitted with Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas models, and the enhancement was caused by US aiding drug diffusion within the hydrogel matrix by a non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. The US effect on the viscoelasticity of the hydrogel matrix indicated that the matrix became somewhat softened by the US exposure to the dense hydrogels for 2.5 and 3% CS/EGDE, while the degree of softening was slightly marked in the CS/EGDE hydrogels prepared with 1.5 and 2% CS concentration. Such US softening also aided drug diffusion within the hydrogel matrix, suggesting an enhanced Amox release.

Tailoring of Silicone Urethane Methacrylate Resin for Vat Photopolymerization-Based 3D Printing of Shape Memory Polymers.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or silicone elastomers have garnered considerable attention in the field of medical device applications due to their superior thermal stability. However, conventional manufacturing techniques for silicone elastomers suffer from drawbacks such as cost, lengthy production time, and inherent difficulties in fabricating complex structures. To address these limitations, photosensitive polydimethylsiloxane urethane methacrylate (PDMSUMA) oligomers were synthesized, and their curing behaviors were specifically investigated for vat photopolymerization 3D printing applications. The study focused on exploring the impact of weight ratios between poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in the PDMSUMA resin formulation. The addition of PEGDMA as a reactive diluent was found to enhance the printability of the PDMSUMA resin and decrease its viscosity. Thermal, mechanical, and shape memory properties of the 3D-printed specimens were examined. Our findings demonstrate the potential of PDMSUMA resins for developing customizable shape memory materials with tailored properties.

Polymer Packaging through the Blending of Biowaste Oyster Shell and Low-Density Polyethylene: A Sustainable Approach for Enhanced Food Preservation.

This research delves into the impact of incorporating thermally treated oyster shell powder (TOS), a biowaste filler, into low-density polyethylene (LDPE) to develop a LDPE/TOS blend, aiming at enhancing food packaging materials. The LDPE/TOS blend portrays advantageous characteristics such as augmented mechanical strength, thermostability, crystallinity, water absorption, and improved hydrophobicity with TOS content up to 50%. Microstructure analysis reveals a transition from a sparse to a more interconnected structure, contributing to the amplified tensile strength. The blend demonstrates increased barrier properties against water vapor transmission, which is attributed to elongated diffusion paths induced by the TOS particles. Application of the blend material in vegetable preservation trials manifested a substantial reduction in water loss compared to pure LDPE or no packaging. This biowaste-based blend film extends the shelf-life of chicken significantly when compared to that of pure LDPE. Importantly, the LDPE/TOS blend exhibits excellent antibacterial properties against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

High performance filtration membranes from electrospun poly (3-hydroxybutyrate)-based fiber membranes for fine particulate protection.

PM2.5 (particulate matter with a size of <2.5 µm) pollution has become a critical issue owing to its adverse health effects, including bronchitis, pneumonopathy, and cardiovascular diseases. Globally, around 8.9 million premature casualties related to exposure to PM2.5 were reported. Face masks are the only option that may restrict exposure to PM2.5. In this study, a PM2.5 dust filter was developed via the electrospinning technique using the poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) biopolymer. Smooth and continuous fibers without beads were formed. The PHB membrane was further characterized, and the effects of the polymer solution concentration, applied voltage, and needle-to-collector distance were analyzed via the design of experiments technique, with three factors and three levels. The concentration of the polymer solution had the most significant effect on the fiber size and the porosity. The fiber diameter increased with increasing concentration, but decreases the porosity. The sample with a fiber diameter of ∼600 nm exhibited a higher PM2.5 filtration efficiency than the samples with a diameter of 900 nm, according to an ASTM F2299-based test. The PHB fiber mats fabricated at a concentration of 10%w/v, applied voltage of 15 kV, and needle tip-to-collector distance of 20 cm exhibited a high filtration efficiency of 95% and a pressure drop of <5 mmH2O/cm2. The tensile strength of the developed membranes ranged from 2.4 to 5.01 MPa, higher than those of the mask filters available in the market. Therefore, the prepared electrospun PHB fiber mats have great potential for the manufacture of PM2.5 filtration membranes.

Alternative platform for COVID-19 diagnosis based on AuNP-modified lab-on-paper.

COVID-19 has caused global health problems, and so rapid diagnosis is crucial to slow spread of the disease. Herein, a novel lab-on-paper screening method for SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 variant was developed using a gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric biosensor along with sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen using laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (LDI-MS). As a result of antigen-antibody interaction, in the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antigen the gold nanoparticles undergo aggregation and change color from red to light purple, allowing for rapid determination of SARS-CoV-2 antigen with the naked eye. Furthermore, the lab-on-paper method can be directly applied as a substrate for sensitive quantitation of SARS-CoV-2 antigen in saliva using LDI-MS without the use of a conventional organic matrix and sample preparation. LDI-MS offers early diagnosis with high sensitivity, rapidity without sample preparation and lower cost per test compared with reverse transcriptase-PCR, which is crucial for preventing mortality in patients with underlying conditions. This method showed linearity over 0.01-1 µg mL-1 covering the cut-off value of 0.048 µg mL-1 for COVID-19 detection in human saliva. Moreover, a colorimetric sensor for urea was also fabricated in-parallel, for prediction of COVID-19 severity in patients with chronic kidney disease. The color change upon increasing urea concentration directly reflected kidney damage, which is related to increasing risk of mortality among patients with COVID-19. Hence, this platform might be a potential device for non-invasive diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 variant, which is the variant of most concern because it is transmitted more rapidly than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Delta variant.

Enhancing impact resistance and biodegradability of PHBV by melt blending with ENR.

This research aims to enhance the mechanical characteristics of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) by using epoxidized natural rubber (ENR-25 and ENR-50) as a toughening agent and polybutadiene (PB) grafted with maleic anhydride (MA) (3 MA groups/chain) as a compatibilizer. The PHBV/ENR blends were mixed in 100/0, 90/10, 80/20, and 70/30 with PB-g-MA at 0, 5, and 10% (wt./wt.), using an internal mixer set to 175 °C with a rotor speed of 50 rpm. The findings indicated that at 70/30 PHBV/ENR composition, the impact strength of the blends with 25 and 50 epoxide contents were the greatest at 6.92 ± 0.35 J m-1 and 7.33 ± 1.19 J m-1, respectively, which are about two times greater than that of neat PHBV. Furthermore, the biodegradability of the PHBV/ENR blends was more substantial than that of neat PHBV, showing a mass reduction of approximately 40% and 45% for PHBV/ENR-25 and PHBV/ENR-50, respectively. In comparison, while the mass loss of PHBV was approximately 37% after three months of soil burial. The results indicate that ENR improves the toughness of the blends while simultaneously increasing PHBV degradation, which could pave the way for broadening PHBV for sustainability purposes.

Towards a Circular Economy: Study of the Mechanical, Thermal, and Electrical Properties of Recycled Polypropylene and Their Composite Materials.

This research focuses on the mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP) blended with recycled PP (rPP) at various concentrations. The rPP can be added at up to 40 wt% into the PP matrix without significantly affecting the mechanical properties. MFI of blended PP increased with increasing rPP content. Modulus and tensile strength of PP slightly decreased with increased rPP content, while the elongation at break increased to up to 30.68% with a 40 wt% increase in rPP content. This is probably caused by the interfacial adhesion of PP and rPP during the blending process. The electrical conductivity of materials was improved by adding carbon black into the rPP matrices. It has a significant effect on the mechanical and electrical properties of the composites. Stress-strain curves of composites changed from ductile to brittle behaviors. This could be caused by the poor interfacial interaction between rPP and carbon black. FTIR spectra indicate that carbon black did not have any chemical reactions with the PP chains. The obtained composites exhibited good performance in the electrical properties tested. Finally, DSC results showed that rPP and carbon black could act as nucleating agents and thus increase the degree of crystallinity of PP.

Viscoelastic Analysis of Pectin Hydrogels Regenerated from Citrus Pomelo Waste by Gelling Effects of Calcium Ion Crosslinking at Different pHs.

Pectin was extracted from citrus pomelo waste, and the effects of calcium ions (Ca2+) on the gelation and hydrogels properties were investigated over a pH range of 3.2-8 by using viscoelastic analysis. The gelatinization of Ca2+-pectin was examined at concentrations of 0.9, 1.8, 2.4, and 3.6 M of Ca2+ in aqueous pectin solutions of 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%. The gel transition of Ca2+-pectin solution to hydrogels was determined by measuring the storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G") under mechanical strain from 0.01 to 100%. In a hydrogel of 3% pectin at Ca2+ = 2.4 M, as pH increased to 7, the G' at 0.01 strain % was 3 × 104 Pa, and 3 × 103 Pa at pH 5, indicating that the crosslinking weakened at acidic pH. Due to the crosslinking between the calcium ions and the ionized carboxylic acid groups of pectin, the resulting hydrogel became stiff. When the mechanical strain % was in the range of 0.01-1%, G' was unchanged and G" was an order of magnitude smaller than G', indicating that the mechanical stress was relieved by the gel. In the range of 1-100%, the gel deformation progressed and both the moduli values were dropped. Collapse from the gel state to the solution state occurred at 1-10 strain %, but the softer hydrogels with G' of 103 Pa had a larger strain % than the stiffer hydrogels with G' of 104 Pa.

Mechanically tunable resins based on acrylate-based resin for digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing.

Until now, only a few materials are available for additive manufacturing technologies that employ photopolymerization, such as stereolithography (SLA) and digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing systems. This study investigates a newly formulated resins as an alternative 3D printing materials with tunable mechanical properties to expand the potential applications of advanced engineering products such as wearable devices and small reactors. A commercial acrylate-based resin was selected as a standard resin (STD). The resin was formulated by combining various volume ratios of a low-cost polypropylene glycol (PPG) having various molecular weights (400, 1000, and 2000 g/mol) with the STD resin. The printability of the formulated resins was optimized using the digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing technique. The effects of the PPG contents on the properties of the printed parts were studied, including printability, thermal properties, mechanical properties, and thermo-mechanical properties. As a result, the formulated resins with 5-30%vol of PPG could be printed while higher PPG content led to print failure. Results suggest that increasing the PPG contents reduced the dimensional accuracy of the printed parts and decreased the mechanical properties, including the flexural strength, flexural modulus, impact strength, hardness, and elastic modulus. interestingly, at small loading, 5%vol, the mechanical performance of the printed specimens was successfully enhanced. These results are intriguing to use a tunable mechanical acrylate-based resin for a specific application such as a microreactor.

High electrolyte uptake of MXene integrated membrane separators for Zn-ion batteries.

The recent development of separators with high flexibility, high electrolyte uptake, and ionic conductivity for batteries have gained considerable attention. However, studies on composite separators with the aforementioned properties for aqueous electrolytes in Zn-ion batteries are limited. In this research, a polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/bio-based polyurethane (PU)/Ti3C2Tx MXene composite membrane was fabricated using an electrospinning technique. Ti3C2 MXene was embedded in fibers and formed a spindle-like structure. With Ti3C2Tx MXene, the electrolyte uptake and ionic conductivity reached the superior values of 2214% and 3.35 × 10-3 S cm-1, respectively. The composite membrane presented an excellent charge-discharge stability when assembled in a Zn//Zn symmetrical battery. Moreover, the developed separator exhibited a high flexibility and no dimensional and structural changes after heat treatment, which resulted in the high-performance separator for the Zn-ion battery. Overall, the PAN/bio-based PU/Ti3C2Tx MXene composite membrane can be potentially used as a high-performance separator for Zn-ion batteries.

γ-Irradiation crosslinking of graphene oxide/cellulose nanofiber/poly (acrylic acid) hydrogel as a urea sensing patch.

Poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) nanocomposite hydrogel was fabricated as a sensing patch for non-invasive dual detection of urea in sweat. The hydrogel was prepared by γ-irradiation crosslinking of PAA solution incorporated with graphene oxide (GO) and cellulose nanofiber (CNF). With high water-sorption capacity and transparency, the hydrogel was suitable to accommodate coloring reagents and enzymes for colorimetric sensing of urea in sweat. The colorimetric sensor exhibited vivid color change towards the increase of urea concentration in a linear range of 40-80 mM covering a cut-off value (60 mM) for chronic kidney disease (CKD) indication. Furthermore, the hydrogel could be directly applied as a substrate for direct quantitation of urea in sweat by laser desorption ionization mass spectroscopy (LDI-MS). While CNF improved the mechanical properties of the hydrogel, GO played a key role in enhancing laser desorption ionization of urea in LDI-MS and increased the hydrogel functionalities. LDI-MS verified that GO/CNF/PAA hydrogel could act as a direct matrix for promoting urea ionization and these results corresponded well with the colorimetric sensor. Hence, this hydrogel patch might be a potential material to be applied in non-invasive and dual-detection of CKD in medical diagnosis.

Characterization of pH-responsive high molecular-weight chitosan/poly (vinyl alcohol) hydrogel prepared by gamma irradiation for localizing drug release.

pH-sensitive hydrogels prepared by gamma irradiation find promising biological applications, partially, in the field of localized drug liberation. Herein, optimal conditions for fabricating high-molecular-weight chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol hybrid hydrogels using gamma irradiation at 10, 25, and 30 kGy were investigated by studying the water uptake behavior, the pore size on the surface, and thermal stability. Furthermore, the crosslinking mechanism of irradiated hydrogels was examined via solid-state 13C NMR spectrum. The swelling ratio of the gamma-irradiated CS/PVA hydrogel was pH-dependent; particularly, the hybrid hydrogel exhibited high swelling ratios under acidic conditions than those under basic conditions due to the protonation of amino groups on CS-backbone in acidic environments. In addition, amoxicillin was used as a model drug in the in vitro drug release investigations in pH-simulated gastric fluid and deionized water at 37 °C. To identify the drug release mechanism, several kinetic models composing zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, Hixson-Crowell, and Korsmeyer-Peppas models were used. The findings suggested that drug release is mediated by a non-Fickian transport mechanism.

Application of Different Vegetable Oils as Processing Aids in Industrial Rubber Composites: A Sustainable Approach.

Rubber composites based on renewable vegetable oils are being increasingly developed, as these materials significantly reduce the use of petroleum-based carcinogenic oils as plasticizers in rubber products. Apart from renewability, vegetable oils have some major advantages, such as easy availability, biodegradability, and environmentally friendly nature. Until now, vegetable oils, such as palm oil, soybean oil, and linseed oil, have been successfully used as processing oils to replace petroleum-based oils in engineered rubber composites. So far, the concept of a vegetable-oil-based plasticizer has been applied to rubber composites containing different industrially important fillers, like carbon black, silica, calcium carbonate, and expandable graphite. In the near future, the trend of utilizing vegetable-oil-based plasticizers may bring considerable advancements in the performance of filled rubber composites in an environmentally acceptable and sustainable manner.

Controllable Morphology of Sea-Urchin-like Nickel-Cobalt Carbonate Hydroxide as a Supercapacitor Electrode with Battery-like Behavior.

Nickel-cobalt carbonate hydroxide with a three-dimensional (3D) sea-urchin-like structure was successfully developed by the hydrothermal process. The obtained structure enables the enhancement of charge/ion diffusion for the high-performance supercapacitor electrodes. The mole ratio of nickel to cobalt plays a vital role in the densely packed sea-urchin-like structure formation and electrochemical properties. At optimized nickel/cobalt mole ratio (1:2), the highest specific capacitance of 950.2 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 and the excellent cycling stability of 178.3% after 3000 charging/discharging cycles at 40 mV s-1 are achieved. This nickel-cobalt carbonate hydroxide electrode yields an energy density in the range of 42.9-15.8 Wh kg-1, with power density in the range of 285.0-2849.9 W kg-1. The charge/discharge mechanism at the atomic level as monitored by time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy (TR-XAS) indicates that the high capacitance behavior in a nickel-cobalt carbonate hydroxide is mainly dominated by cobalt carbonate hydroxide.

A non-enzymatic disposable electrochemical sensor based on surface-modified screen-printed electrode CuO-IL/rGO nanocomposite for a single-step determination of glucose in human urine and electrolyte drinks.

A non-enzymatic disposable electrochemical sensor coupled with an automated sample pretreatment paper-based device was developed to avoid an additional sample preparation step for glucose determination in human urine and electrolyte drinks. The automated sample pretreatment paper-based device was successfully fabricated by the simple coating of a strong alkaline solution on a patterned wax paper, and then attached on an electrochemical sensor. The nanocomposite of copper oxide nanoparticles, ionic liquid and reduced graphene oxide (CuO-IL/rGO) modified on the screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) was created and used as a non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensor. The presence of the CuO-IL/rGO nanocomposite on the screen-printed electrode surface was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). Under optimal conditions, glucose was measured by dropping 100 µL sample solution on the device and detected via chronoamperometry (CA) using a smartphone potentiostat controlled by Android app., providing a rapid current response within 20 s and linearity in a range of 0.03-7.0 mM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.14 µM. Furthermore, this developed device was successfully applied for determining glucose levels in human urine and electrolyte drinks, exporting satisfying results correlated with a commercial enzymatic glucose biosensor and labeled values of the commercial products. Therefore, this device could be an alternative device for a non-enzymatic glucose sensor with single-step sample loading, allowing for real-time analysis, low cost, portability, disposability, and on-field measurement.

Review on the Conceptual Design of Self-Healable Nitrile Rubber Composites.

The search for suitable strategies to manufacture self-healable nitrile rubber (NBR) composites is the most promising part in the industrial field of polar rubber research. In recent years, some important strategies, specifically, metal-ligand coordination bond formation, ionic bond formation, and dynamic hydrogen bond formation, have been utilized to develop duly self-healable NBR composites. This paper reviews the continuous advancement in the research field related to self-healable NBR composites by considering healing strategies and healing conditions. Special attention is given to understand the healing mechanism in reversibly cross-linked NBR systems. The healing efficiency of a cross-linked NBR network is usually dependent on the definite interaction between functional groups of NBR and a cross-linking agent. Finally, the results obtained from successful studies suggest that self-healing technology has incredible potential to increase the sustainability and lifetime of NBR-based rubber products.

In situ hydrothermal synthesis of nickel cobalt sulfide nanoparticles embedded on nitrogen and sulfur dual doped graphene for a high performance supercapacitor electrode.

Nickel cobalt sulfide nanoparticles (NCS) embedded onto a nitrogen and sulfur dual doped graphene (NS-G) surface are successfully synthesized via a two-step facile hydrothermal process. The electrical double-layer capacitor of NS-G acts as a supporting host for the growth of pseudocapacitance NCS nanoparticles, thus enhancing the synergistic electrochemical performance. The specific capacitance values of 1420.2 F g-1 at 10 mV s-1 and 630.6 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 are achieved with an impressive capability rate of 76.6% preservation at 10 A g-1. Furthermore, the integrating NiCo2S4 nanoparticles embedding onto the NS-G surface also present a surprising improvement in the cycle performance, maintaining 110% retention after 10 000 cycles. Owing to the unique morphology an impressive energy density of 19.35 W h kg-1 at a power density of 235.0 W kg-1 suggests its potential application in high-performance supercapacitors.

Effect of Various Surface Treatments on the Performance of Jute Fibers Filled Natural Rubber (NR) Composites.

In the present study, the suitability of various chemical treatments to improve the performance of jute fibers (JFs) filled natural rubber (NR) composites was explored. The surface of JFs was modified by three different surface treatments, namely, alkali treatment, combined alkali/stearic acid treatment and combined alkali/silane treatment. Surface modified JFs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The reinforcing effect of untreated and surface treated JFs in NR composites was comparatively evaluated in terms of cure, mechanical, morphological and thermal properties. Combined alkali/silane treated JFs filled NR composite showed considerably higher torque difference, tensile modulus, hardness and tensile strength as compared to either untreated or other surface treated JFs filled NR systems. A crosslink density measurement suggested effective rubber-fibers interaction in combined alkali/silane treated JFs filled NR composite. Morphological analysis confirmed the improvement in the interfacial bonding between NR matrix and JFs due to combined alkali/silane treatment allowing an efficient "stress-transfer" mechanism. As a whole, combined alkali/silane treatment was found to be most efficient surface treatment method to develop strong interfacial adhesion between NR matrix and JFs.