bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Strategy of Limited‐Space Controlled Aggregation for Generic Enhancement of Drug Loading Capability
Authors: Huang Lin , Lu Yudie , Guo Shuai , Yang Jing , Liang Zhiyu , Zhang Qianqian , Yi Peiwei , Feng Yanqiu , Li Yan , Xu Yikai , Qiu Xiaozhong , Feng Jie , Shen Zheyu
Published: November 2022

A prevalent problem of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents (CAs) for drug loading applications is easy aggregation. The major concern of hollow mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (HMONs) is hard control of untimely drug leakage. To overcome both problems, a new strategy of limited‐space controlled aggregation for generic enhancement of drug loading capability is proposed. Typically, MRI CAs of exceedingly small gadolinium oxide nanoparticle (GO) and Gd poly(acrylic acid) macrochelate (GP) are exploited to load doxorubicin (D) in HMONs hollow core. The GO@D@HMONs and GP@D@HMONs without precipitation formation display much higher drug loading contents (33.0 ± 4.9%, 39.6 ± 4.0%) than GO@D and GP@D with serious precipitation generation (4.7 ± 0.5% and 14.7 ± 3.4%), which can be ascribed to the generation of GO@D and GP@D aggregates with larger sizes in HMONs hollow core than the pore size of HMONs preventing the drug leakage. The tumor microenvironment (TME)‐specific glutathione (GSH)‐triggered degradation of HMONs and the controlled drug release behaviors reinforce the chemotherapeutic efficacy and alleviate side effects on normal cells/tissues. The GSH‐activatable T1‐MRI is favorable to high contrast tumor imaging. Overall, the strategy of limited‐space controlled aggregation is promising for generic enhancement of drug loading capability of MRI CAs, realizing MRI‐guided high‐performance cancer treatments.
Semi‐Solid CNT@NaK Anode for Potassium Metal Battery
Authors: Yuan Wenlu , Ding Taifeng , Mou Peizhi , Luo Yusheng , Li Laiping , Chen Yong , Chen Xiumin , Shu Jie , Zhang Liyuan
Published: November 2022

The CK bond plays a significant role in stabilizing the Na‐K (NaK) alloy electrodes due to the enhancive interfacial affinity. In this study, a method for constructing semi‐solid K metal electrodes with rich CK bonds by in situ replacement of N‐doped carbon nanotubes (CNT) and liquid NaK alloy is proposed. Based on the in situ infrared thermal imaging technique combined with heat calculation, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy elemental analysis, and reaction thermodynamic calculation, graphite‐N, which is widely distributed on the wall of CNT, offers plenty of replacement sites for forming CK bonds. Due to the rich bonds, the amount of CNT sharply reduces in dendrite‐free semi‐solid CNT@NaK electrodes and the activity of NaK alloy raises to ≈90%. This discovery provides a new idea for establishing dendrite‐free anodes for K metal batteries.
Assembly and Biomineralization of Polymorphic Gold–Peptide Superstructures Using Tyrosine‐Rich Short Peptides
Authors: Kim Jeong‐Hwan , Min Kyoung‐Ik
Published: November 2022

Peptides show tremendous promise in synthesizing metal–peptide superstructures with tailored shapes and functions. However, bottom‐up control of the polymorphs of these superstructures using a single short peptide without molecular modification has not been mechanistically clarified. Therefore, an approach to constructing gold–peptide superstructures with unprecedented structural diversity using a tyrosine‐rich short peptide is developed, based on the assembling and mineralizing attributes of tyrosine. One‐step UV irradiation of peptide/gold‐salt systems enables on‐site mineralization of gold ions, permitting controlled solvent‐dependent fabrication of various superstructures. 0D colloids, 2D sheets, 3D superspheres, and 3D hollow capsules are produced via one‐pot reactions in a pH‐10 buffer, at the interface of a toluene–water biphasic system, in water, and in toluene‐in‐water emulsions, respectively, whereas 1D rod/fibril structures are produced using rapidly assembling peptides (A, F, I, L, N, V, Y, and D as X in YY‐X‐YY) in a two‐step process. Several peptide derivatives, which also exhibit assembling and biomineralizing abilities and form various superstructures, validate the functionality of the tyrosine‐rich peptide. This study sheds light on the design and development of diverse gold‐peptide superstructures for applications including catalysis, sensing, imaging, and photothermal therapy.
Bioinspired Machine‐Learning‐Assisted Early‐Fire Perception System Based on VO2 Optical Switch
Authors: Song Xuan , Fu Teng , Pi Jing , Wang Xiu‐Li , Song Fei , Yang Yang , Wang Ran , Deng Ze‐Peng , Wang Yu‐Zhong
Published: November 2022

The continuation of human civilization has always been accompanied by symbiosis and confrontation with fire. Particularly, humans can comprehensively recognize fire situations based on various sensory receptors in organs (eyes, skin, nose, etc.), further forming a sound fire perception system by in‐the‐brain recording, modeling, and understanding fire behaviors, leading to the most accurate fire treatments. If a sensing perception system can mimic human perceptual behavior and carry out real‐time fire recognition, such an active defense system can achieve real fire safety. Here, inspired by the brain‐centered perception system, an early‐fire perception system enabled by a VO2‐based temperature‐flame‐modulated optical switch, and a machine‐learning‐assistant demodulation algorithm is reported. This approach creates real‐time monitoring composed of early fire warning (1 s for candle flame and 4 s for 130 °C heat flow), fire cause recognition (95.7% accuracy in identification), and evacuation advice provision, advancing the technologies in the perception system that enable future sensors the comprehensive perception capability for fire state.
Interplay between Singlet and Triplet Excited States in Interface Exciplex OLEDs with Fluorescence, Phosphorescence, and TADF Emitters
Authors: Zhou Zeyang , Chen Rui , Jin Pengfei , Hao Jinjie , Wu Wubin , Yin Baipeng , Zhang Chuang , Yao Jiannian
Published: November 2022

Interface exciplex represents a promising host material for organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) with barrier‐free charge injection and highly confined recombination region. However, the efficiency of radiative recombination in pristine exciplex is usually low and needs to be improved by doping various emitters. In this study, the interface exciplex OLEDs doped with fluorescence, phosphorescence, and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters is fabricated to investigate the relationship between their excited‐state properties and electroluminescence efficiencies. A maximum external quantum efficiency of 20% is achieved in interface exciplex OLEDs doped with TADF emitter, which corresponds to nearly 100% exciton utilization and is superior to those of fluorescence and phosphorescence emitters. Furthermore, optical spectroscopy and magneto‐electroluminescence method are used to study the advantages of TADF emitter in interface exciplex host. The large dipole of TADF emitter is beneficial for harvesting energy from the charge‐transfer state at the interface, and its reverse intersystem crossing avoids the accumulation of triplet excitons that leads to triplet‐triplet annihilation in interface exciplex OLEDs. These results demonstrate that the photophysical process needs to be carefully considered in designing high‐performance emitters for exciplex host materials, and it may bring in‐depth understanding on improving exciton utilization and electroluminescence efficiency in interface exciplex OLEDs.
Pre‐Deoxidation of Layered Ni‐Rich Cathodes to Construct a Stable Interface with Electrolyte for Long Cycling Life
Authors: Cheng Xing , Liu Xiaotong , Zhao Liang , Zhang Danfeng , Biao Jie , Chen Ziwei , Yuan Yu , Liu Ming , He Yan‐Bing , Kang Feiyu
Published: November 2022

Ni‐rich layered oxides as the cathode materials of high‐energy‐density lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) suffer from capacity decay and structural instability owing to oxygen loss during cycling. It is a huge challenge to prevent the oxygen loss of Ni‐rich cathode materials during long cycling. Here, a pre‐deoxidation of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) single crystal materials is achieved by heat treatment at elevated temperatures in argon condition to form a stable surface with rock salt structure. The stable surface structure with oxygen vacancy defects successfully suppresses the harmful phase transitions of NCM811 and effectively improves the stability of the NCM811/electrolyte interface during cycling at a high cut‐off voltage. In addition, the intragranular structural evolution and cation mixing degree is inhibited to effectively suppress the intergranular cracking and particle pulverization of cathode during long cycling. The pre‐deoxidation of NCM811 exhibits 70.6% capacity retention after 1000 cycles at the current density of 0.5 C between 2.8 and 4.3 V, which is much larger than that of pristine NCM811 capacity retention of 27.3%. The strategy of pre‐deoxidation of Ni‐rich layered structure cathode to regulate the defect chemistry and surface structure provides a facile and effective way to achieve long cycling life high‐energy density LIBs.
Modulated Ultrasmall γ‐Fe2O3 Nanocrystal Assemblies for Switchable Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Photothermal‐Ferroptotic‐Chemical Synergistic Cancer Therapy
Authors: Yang Baochan , Zhang Yiming , Sun Lixin , Wang Jian , Zhao Zunling , Huang Zhuoyue , Mao Wei , Xue Rong , Chen Runsheng , Luo Jianjun , Wang Tianyu , Jiang Jianzhuang , Qin Yan
Published: November 2022

Ferroptosis is recently discovered programmed cell death, induced by cellular ferrous ion bursts and subsequent Fenton reactions. The iron source in tumor cells is limited due to tightly controlled iron metabolism. Since hierarchical iron architecture is rarely considered in ferroptosis cancer treatment, multilayer Fe2O3 architectures (UF@PPDF NPs) are developed by modulating ultra‐small γ‐Fe2O3 nanocrystal assemblies, and further conjugating cancer cell targeting folic acid (FA), chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (Dox). Hierarchically assembled γ‐Fe2O3 nanocrystal facilitates switchable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), much enhanced ferroptosis efficiency, and very high second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) photothermal conversion. For MRI, UF@PPDF nanoparticles (NPs) enables clearly visualized tissues in terms of size and compactness, with dynamic T2‐T1 imaging switching. UF@PPDF NPs exhibits highly efficient photothermal therapy (PTT) upon NIR‐II irradiation, together with controlled release of ferric ions and Dox, thus achieving PTT‐chemotherapy‐ferroptosis trifunctional synergistic cancer therapy for tumor ablation. RNA sequencing analyses of differentially expressed genes implies a multifaceted role for this therapy in cancer cell signaling. Cellular respiration and electron transport are significantly upregulated, while the epigenetic pathways, including chromatin modification and RNA transcription activity are severely downregulated, with an overall effect of cellular apoptosis. Thus, γ‐Fe2O3 architectures provide new possibility for highly efficient deep tumor treatment.
Dynamic Multistage Coupling of FeS2/S Enables Ultrahigh Reversible Na–S Batteries
Authors: Ma Cunshuang , Wang Xiang , Lan Jiaqi , Zhang Jiyu , Song Keming , Chen Jiacheng , Ge Junmin , Chen Weihua
Published: November 2022

The fundamental challenges that coexisted around sulfur cathode energy storage systems, are the severe polysulfide dissolution and low reactivity resulting in poor reversibility and short cycle life, specifically, in inexpensive sodium ion batteries. Herein, the solution‐processed synthesis of ultra‐high intimate contacted FeS2/S architecture is reported and evolution of the dynamic multistage coupling between the FeS2 and S in sodium–sulfur batteries is revealed. Atomic visualization and in situ spectroscopy conclude that: NaxFeS2 (0 <x ≤1) effectively captures sodium polysulfides and promotes the conversion of S8 to Na2S4 to Na2S2/Na2S; simultaneously, the presence of Na2S2/Na2S traps the continuous growth of iron grains during continuously discharging to 0.4 V, thereby boosting the reversibility and high capacity. Moreover, the density functional theory further analyses the unique coupling effect of Na2Sx with different intermediate states of FeS2. The electrode with unique structure and dynamic coupling exhibits outstanding cycle reversibility and extremely long life, which delivers a reversible capacity of 860 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles with no capacity decay at 0.5 A g−1. Even under a practical areal capacity of 4 mAh cm−2, it still shows pretty‐well cycling stability.
Synthesis of the Elusive Doublewall Nanotubes and Nanocones(Horns) of MoS2 via Focused Solar Ablation
Authors: Barbe Timothée , Rosentsveig Rita , Brontvein Olga , Sreedhara M.B. , Zheng Kai , Bataille Françoise , Vossier Alexis , Flamant Gilles , Castelli Ivano E. , Gordon Jeffrey M. , Tenne Reshef
Published: November 2022

The synthesis of fundamentally small MoS2 nanotubes and nanocones(horns) that have proven elusive in prior studies has been achieved via ablation of a precursor mixture of crystallites of MoS2 + MoO3 by highly concentrated solar radiation. The special far‐from‐equilibrium conditions achieved in the solar furnace prove conducive to the generation of these singular nanostructures. Extensive electron microscopy and characterization results (transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction (ED), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning TEM (STEM), and high angle annular dark field (HAADF)) reveal a range of nanoparticle shapes and sizes based on which reaction mechanisms are proposed. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the sizable thermal fluctuations intrinsically produced in the high‐temperature solar reactor soften the MoS2 nanostructures, yielding corrugated layers that favor nanostructures with only a few layers, in agreement with the experimental observations.
Fast and Simple Fabrication of Multimaterial Hierarchical Surfaces Using Acoustic Assembly Photopolymerization (AAP)
Authors: Lichade Ketki M. , Pan Yayue
Published: November 2022

Multimaterial surfaces with hierarchical features have many potential applications in self‐cleaning, droplet manipulation, microfluidics, and biomedicine, owing to their wide range of functionalities induced by structural and material contrasts. Here, a fast and sustainable manufacturing method, acoustic assembly photopolymerization (AAP), is presented for productions of such surfaces. In the novel AAP process, an external acoustic field is used to assemble microparticles to microsized patterns, while the photocuring is combined with the acoustic assembly to produce multilevel hierarchical features, such as cones and wrinkles ranging from nanometer to micrometer. The mechanism underlying the proposed multimaterial surface structuring technique is discussed, and the relationship between process parameters and surface structures is modeled. Effects of surface material composition patterns and surface topology on the hydrodynamic properties are studied. To demonstrate potential applications, three microreactors are designed and automated droplet manipulations are demonstrated. The application of the proposed surface manufacturing approach is further extended to fog harvesting. The AAP technology and the fabricated multimaterial hierarchically‐structured surfaces demonstrated in this study can be employed in many other advanced applications in microfluidics, tissue engineering, and also potentially many other fields such as mechanical systems and battery systems.
A Periodic Wetting Surface Driven by Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Efficient Postimpact Droplet Collection
Authors: Tan Jie , Fan Zeng , Sun Shulan , Xu Minyi , Jiang Dongyue
Published: November 2022

The phenomenon of droplet impact is widely observed in nature and industrial processes. No matter the intrinsic wettability (hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and superhydrophobic) of the surface, the postimpact droplets tend to rebound or splash. The droplet impact dynamics have been well investigated but the inhibition of the rebounding or splashing of the postimpact droplet requires further exploration. This paper proposes a periodic wetting surface (PWS) driven by a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) for efficient postimpact droplet collection. With the high‐voltage electric signal generated from a rotating freestanding triboelectric nanogenerator (RF‐TENG), the wettability of an interdigital electrodes‐based electrowetting‐on‐dielectric (EWOD) surface can be changed periodically. The droplet impacts on the PWS show oscillating sliding motion that compensates the kinetic energy for droplet rebounding or splashing. As compared to pure hydrophobic or hydrophilic surfaces, the PWS shows the best droplet collection performance. The effects of the electric signal of the RF‐TENG such as open‐circuit voltage (0.44–3.00 kV) and frequency (0–60 Hz), droplet contents such as ions type and concentration of the droplet on the postimpact droplet collection efficiency are discussed. Finally, a practical application is demonstrated by the TENG driven PWS for real‐time and high‐efficiency collection of multiple postimpact droplets.
Real‐Time Metrology for Roll‐To‐Roll and Advanced Inline Manufacturing: A Review
Authors: Maize Kerry , Mi Ye , Cakmak Miko , Shakouri Ali
Published: November 2022

Roll‐to‐Roll (R2R) manufacturing is changing how state‐of‐the‐art technology is made. Roll‐to‐Roll is part of a family of advanced scalable inline manufacturing techniques that make traditional and state‐of‐the‐art products at high yield and reduced cost. R2R manufacturing has grown rapidly and is fundamental to several advanced technologies such as functional materials and films, sensors for medicine, biology, and environment monitoring, energy harvesting devices, and flexible electronics. Advantages of R2R manufacturing include ease of machine design, adaptability to a wide range of additive processing methods, and very high throughput. To keep up with advances in R2R manufacturing, novel methods have emerged to measure important product metrics (thickness, roughness, conductivity) and monitor quality (uniformity, defects) inline and in real‐time. This review provides an overview of the state‐of‐the‐art for real‐time inline metrology and quality control in modern R2R manufacturing. The survey considers both established inline metrology techniques such as line‐scan imaging and reflectometry, and techniques recently adapted or that show promise for real‐time inline R2R metrology such as ellipsometry, hyper‐spectral imaging, and Raman spectroscopy.
Direction‐Dependent Janus Metasurface Supported by Waveguide Structure with Spoof Surface Plasmon Polariton Modes
Authors: Guo Zi‐Han , Gao Cheng‐Jing , Zhang Hai‐feng
Published: November 2022

In this work, a novel direction‐dependent Janus metasurface (DDJM) supported by waveguide structure (WGS) with surface plasmon polariton (SSPP) modes is proposed. In −z‐direction, linear‐to‐linear (LTL) polarization conversion (PC) can be implemented at the low frequencies by the reflection characteristics of the WGS. And in the +z‐direction, the ultrawideband absorption takes shape due to the SSPP modes, in which strongly localized oscillation of free electrons are confined to the metal–dielectric interface assisted by the WGS. The combination of the WGS and the PC structure finally enables the low‐frequency LTL PC with the high polarization conversion ratio (over 0.9) at 0.87–1.35 THz in −z‐direction, corresponding to the relative bandwidth of 43.24%, as well as the absorption in +z‐direction with an efficiency of over 0.9 in the frequency range of 0.8–1.2 THz. Also the fixed direction‐independent transparent window brought by WGS runs from 1.57 to 1.90 THz when the co‐polarized transmission coefficient exceeds 0.85, occupying a staggered band compared to that of PC or absorption. The favorable properties of the DDJM promise a potential practical application in full‐space electromagnetic wave control and radar stealth technology fields.
Conducting Polymer Based Ammonia and Hydrogen Sulfide Chemical Sensors and Their Suitability for Detecting Food Spoilage
Authors: Preethichandra D. M. G. , Gholami Mahnaz D. , Izake Emad L. , O'Mullane Anthony P. , Sonar Prashant
Published: November 2022

Food security is critical for the sustainability of society. The spoilage of stocked food is an ongoing problem that causes significant losses to the global economy. Novel portable analytical platforms that provide timely information on the condition of food stock can support informed decision‐making on the safety of food consumption as well as on maximization of food storage lifetime. Ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are two of the major harmful gases that are produced due to bacteria activity during the food spoilage process. The timely detection of these gases in food stocks has vital importance to human health. In this review article, the recent progress of conducting polymer based NH3 and H2S gas sensors including sensor device prototypes, their sensing mechanisms, materials and methodologies for sensor fabrication, and their suitability for the development of consumer electronic devices for food spoilage detection are highlighted.
Hybrid Opto‐Thermocycler for RT‐qPCR Detects SARS‐CoV‐2
Authors: Guevara‐Pantoja Pablo E , Rodriguez‐Moncayo Roberto , Chavez‐Pineda Oriana G , Cedillo‐Alcantar Diana F , Reynoso‐Hernandez Keziah B , Ramirez‐Pool Jose A , Nuñez‐Muñoz Leandro A , Xoconostle‐Cazares Beatriz , Garcia‐Cordero Jose L
Published: November 2022

Although real‐time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) is the gold standard for detecting the virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) and other pathogens, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has highlighted the scarcity of instruments, devices, and reagents for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing in constrained settings. At least for under‐resourced countries, it has become critical to deploy instruments that can be rapidly constructed and satisfy this demand. Instead of separating the optical system from the thermal module (typical of qPCR thermocyclers), we report a portable Hybrid Opto‐Thermocycler—dubbed HybOT Cycler—that takes advantage of the high‐temperature tolerances (>100 °C) of electronic and optical components to combine thermal control, illumination, and fluorescence detection into a highly integrated hybrid module. This simple configuration allowed us to reduce the overall number of components, thus simplifying its assembly and reducing the instrument size. The HybOT Cycler is wirelessly controlled from an application installed in a tablet. PCR assays are carried out in a bubble‐free microfluidic device that can be easily replicated from an acrylic mold. Using the HybOT Cycler, down to 100 copies/µL of genetic material of the virus SARS‐CoV‐2 with 95% sensitivity and 100% specificity is detected. The HybOT Cycler can assist in diagnosing SARS‐CoV‐2 and other pathogens in resource‐poor settings.
Paper‐Based Bacterial Lysis Enables Sample‐to‐Answer Home‐based DNA Testing
Authors: Chondrogiannis Georgios , Réu Pedro , Hamedi Mahiar M.
Published: November 2022

Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) is the gold standard for infectious disease diagnostics. Currently NAATs are mainly limited to centralized laboratories, while paper‐based antigen tests are used for rapid home‐based diagnostics. DNA extraction, the initial sample preparation step in NAATs, remains a bottleneck that hinders its development toward home‐based kits. This step requires the use of compounds detrimental to the enzymes in downstream DNA amplification. Here, this work overcomes this bottleneck by immobilizing the enzyme achromopeptidase (ACP) on nitrocellulose, to both store and enable the separation of the enzymes from the other steps. This work provides proof‐of‐concept that immobilized ACP is effective at lysis and release of amplifiable DNA from gram‐positive Staphylococcus epidermidis and enables the use of the lysate directly for DNA amplification, without the need for heat deactivation of the enzyme. This sample preparation method requires only incubation at 37 °C and mild agitation, which allows to implement it with fully disposable and affordable equipment. Consequently, this work enables to combine the paper‐based DNA extraction method with the isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) followed by lateral flow detection to demonstrate a sample‐to‐answer NAAT packaged as an instrument free self‐test kit expanding the capabilities of home‐testing beyond antigen tests.
Wearable Supercapacitive Temperature Sensors with High Accuracy Based on Ionically Conductive Organogel and Macro‐Kirigami Electrode
Authors: Yu Yuyan , Peng Shuhua , Islam Mohammad , Wu Shuying , Wang Chun H.
Published: November 2022

Wearable temperature sensors with high accuracy are critical for human health monitoring. Ideally, they should show accuracy matching that of medical‐grade thermometers (i.e., ± ≈0.1–0.2 °C). Achieving this goal has proven challenging for sensors that must also meet key wearable requirements, such as flexibility, stretchability, and breathability. Herein, a new stretchable supercapacitive temperature sensor with a resolution of ±0.2 °C, is presented, which was achieved by. Two new strategies to increase temperature sensitivity and minimize the interferences of mechanical stretching and pressure: a) synthesizing an ion‐conductive NaCl‐organogel to serve as the redox‐active separator to increase sensitivity and suppress interference of compression; and b) using a kirigami design to decrease the interference of stretch and improve breathability. These two novel strategies endow the supercapacitive temperature sensors with a temperature accuracy of ±0.2 °C and exceptionally high sensitivity of 0.095 °C−1, which is more than 13 times higher than traditional dielectric‐capacitive sensors. The potential of the supercapacitive sensor in measuring body temperature is demonstrated by continuously monitoring skin temperatures under a medical compression garment that exerts pressure on the skin and the unsteady wrist flexion. The findings confirm that the organogel‐based supercapacitive sensors offer an extraordinary temperature accuracy significantly better than wearable sensors reported in the literature. The combined characteristics of high resolution, linearity, breathability, and stretchability make this sensor a promising candidate for skin‐interfaced health monitoring devices.
Highly Stretchable and Conductive Carbon Thread Incorporated into Elastic Rubber for Wearable Real‐Time Monitoring of Sweat During Stretching Exercise
Authors: Kim Seo Jin , Kil Min Sik , Park Hong Jun , Yoon Jo Hee , Kim Jueun , Bae Nam Ho , Lee Kyoung G. , Choi Bong Gill
Published: November 2022

Wearable sweat sensors with excellent stretchability and sensing performance attracted significant attention in the real‐time monitoring of physiological data on human sweat. However, most stretchable sweat sensors suffer from low sensitivity at high strains, and the fabrication methods are complicated and time‐consuming. In this study, a highly stretchable sensor by incorporating carbon thread into an elastomeric substrate using a 3D‐printed mold based on a wave pattern in an efficient and easy process is developed. As target biomarkers, sodium ion detecting electrochemical sensors are investigated, and these sensors exhibited high sensing performance of sensitivity, repeatability, selectivity, and stability. In particular, the sensor exhibited highly stable sensing performances even under a high strain of 300% and during a fatigue test of 10 000 stretching and releasing cycles at 300% strain. The real‐time monitoring performance of the stretchable sensor integrated with a wireless electronic module is further demonstrated by conducting on‐body tests of the subject's different physical activities of regular cycling, combined seated rowing and cycling, and treadmill running exercises.
Race‐Track Type Resonator Integrated Active Add‐Drop Filter from Flexible Organic Crystals: Experiments and Numerical Calculations
Authors: Kumar Avulu Vinod , Mamonov Evgeniy , Murzina Tatiana , Chandrasekar Rajadurai
Published: November 2022

The success of silicon photonics stems from the ability to design, simulate, and construct optical components and their optical performance simultaneously. However, poor mechanical compliance of Si‐based materials demands alternative photonic materials. The recent development of mechanically flexible organic waveguides as reliable photonic material platform is quite promising. Herein, the design and fabrication of a race‐track type resonator based add‐drop filter (ADF) from elastically bendable 9,10‐dibromoanthracene (DBA) crystals are reported. The elastic DBA microcrystals exhibit pseudo‐plasticity on a substrate facilitating the fabrication of race‐track type resonator and ADF via mechanophotonics technique. Photonic investigations of the circuit reveal its spectral filtering ability. These experimental observations confirmed by FDTD modelling support the unique abilities of organic optical elements for photonic device applications.
Novel Low‐Latency T‐Latch with Minimum Number of Cells in QCA Technology
Authors: Gholami Mohammad , Amirzadeh Zaman
Published: November 2022

As an alternative to nanoelectronic devices, the quantum‐dot cellular automata (QCA) offer new opportunities to design high‐level algorithms and architectures. Using parallel processing, high speed, and low energy consumption, this emerging technology is very suitable and efficient for operational needs that require a large amount of computing and are often time consuming. In this paper, a new and optimal T‐latch design is introduced. The proposed latch structure has less occupied area and energy consumption than the existing implementation methods. In the proposed T‐latch the cell, area and energy consumption are reduced by 9.52%, 6.45%, and 19.67% compared to the best previous designs, respectively. Also, in this article, the T‐latch with reset and T‐latch with set/reset terminals are designed. Then, using the proposed T‐latch, various other latches are designed to ensure the correct operation of the designed T‐latch. Finally, to show that the proposed latch works properly in more complex circuits, they are used in the design of 1‐bit, 4‐bit, andn‐bit counters and the results of the simulations show the proper operation of the circuit. The proposed methods are simulated using the QCADesigner software and compared with other designs in terms of cell number, area, and energy consumption.
Wavy Whiskers in Wakes: Explaining the Trail‐Tracking Capabilities of Whisker Arrays on Seal Muzzles
Authors: Zheng Xingwen , Kamat Amar M. , Cao Ming , Kottapalli Ajay Giri Prakash
Published: November 2022

Seals can detect prey up to 180 m away using only their flow‐sensing whiskers. The unique undulating morphology of Phocid seal whiskers reduces vortex‐induced vibrations (VIVs), rendering seals highly sensitive to biologically relevant flow stimuli. In this work, digital models of harbor and grey seal whiskers are extracted using 3D scanning and a mathematical framework that accurately recreates their undulating geometry is proposed. Through fluid–structure interaction studies and experimental investigations involving a whisker array mounted on 3D‐printed microelectromechanical systems sensors, the vibration characteristics of the whisker array and the interaction between neighboring whiskers in steady flows and fish‐wake‐like vortices are explained for the first time. Results reveal that the downstream vortices intensity and resulting VIVs are consistently lower for grey than harbor seal whiskers and a smooth cylinder, suggesting that the grey seal whisker geometry can be an ideal template for the biomimetic design of VIV‐resistant underwater structures. In addition, neighboring whiskers in an array influence one another by resulting in greater flow vorticity fluctuation and distribution area, thus causing increased vibrations than an isolated whisker, which indicates the possibility of a signal‐strengthening effect in whisker arrays.
Polyamines Promote Aragonite Nucleation and Generate Biomimetic Structures
Authors: Nahi Ouassef , Kulak Alexander N. , Zhang Shuheng , He Xuefeng , Aslam Zabeada , Ilett Martha A. , Ford Ian J. , Darkins Robert , Meldrum Fiona C.
Published: November 2022

Calcium carbonate biomineralization is remarkable for the ability of organisms to produce calcite or aragonite with perfect fidelity, where this is commonly attributed to specific anionic biomacromolecules. However, it is proven difficult to mimic this behavior using synthetic or biogenic anionic organic molecules. Here, it is shown that cationic polyamines ranging from small molecules to large polyelectrolytes can exert exceptional control over calcium carbonate polymorph, promoting aragonite nucleation at extremely low concentrations but suppressing its growth at high concentrations, such that calcite or vaterite form. The aragonite crystals form via particle assembly, giving nanoparticulate structures analogous to biogenic aragonite, and subsequent growth yields stacked aragonite platelets comparable to structures seen in developing nacre. This mechanism of polymorph selectivity is captured in a theoretical model based on these competing nucleation and growth effects and is completely distinct from the activity of magnesium ions, which generate aragonite by inhibiting calcite. Profiting from these contrasting mechanisms, it is then demonstrated that polyamines and magnesium ions can be combined to give unprecedented control over aragonite formation. These results give insight into calcite/aragonite polymorphism and raise the possibility that organisms may exploit both amine‐rich organic molecules and magnesium ions in controlling calcium carbonate polymorph.
NADPH Selective Depletion Nanomedicine‐Mediated Radio‐Immunometabolism Regulation for Strengthening Anti‐PDL1 Therapy against TNBC
Authors: Wang Ying , Gao Di , Jin Lin , Ren Xuechun , Ouyang Yanan , Zhou Ying , He Xinyu , Jia Liangliang , Tian Zhongmin , Wu Dingcai , Yang Zhe
Published: November 2022

Anti‐PD(L)1 immunotherapy recently arises as an effective treatment against triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) but is only applicable to a small portion of TNBC patients due to the low PD‐L1 expression and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). To address these challenges, a multifunctional “drug‐like” copolymer that possesses the auto‐changeable upper critical solution temperature and the capacity of scavenging reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) inside tumor cells is synthesized and employed to develop a hypoxia‐targeted and BMS202 (small molecule antagonist of PD‐1/PD‐L1 interactions)‐loaded nanomedicine (BMS202@HZP NPs), combining the anti‐PD‐L1 therapy and the low‐dose radiotherapy (LDRT) against TNBC. In addition to the controlled release of BMS202 in the hypoxic TNBC, BMS202@HZP NPs benefit the LDRT by upregulating the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP, the primary cellular source for NADPH) of TME whereas scavenging the NADPH inside tumor cells. As a result, the BMS202@HZP NPs‐mediated LDRT upregulate the PD‐L1 expression of tumor to promote anti‐PD‐L1 therapy response while reprogramming the immunometabolism of TME to alleviate its immunosuppression. This innovative nanomedicine‐mediated radio‐immunometabolism regulation provides a promising strategy to reinforce the anti‐PD‐L1 therapy against TNBC.
High‐Quality Artery Monitoring and Pathology Imaging Achieved by High‐Performance Synchronous Electrical and Optical Output of Near‐Infrared Organic Photodetector
Authors: He Zeyu , Du Xiaoyang , Zheng Caijun , Yu Xin , Lin Hui , Tao Silu
Published: November 2022

Near‐infrared organic photodetectors (NIR‐OPDs) are significant technologies in emerging biomedicine applications for uniquely wearable, noninvasive, low‐cost advantages. However, biosignals are weak and changing rapidly so practical biodetection and bioimaging are still challenging for NIR‐OPDs. Herein, high‐performance NIR‐OPDs with synchronous optical output are realized by recombining anode‐injected electrons with photogenerated holes on emitters. Owing to high detection performance of 4.5 × 1012 Jones detectivity and 120 kHz −3 dB bandwidth, five arteries are monitored by transmission‐type method and cardiac cycle is analyzed. Importantly, the synchronous optical output is direct emission demonstrating outstanding photon conversion efficiency approaching 20% and luminance signal‐to‐noise ratio over 8000. Consequently, pathology imaging is directly developed without complex readout circuits and arrays from which squamous metaplasia of cervix and carcinoma of large intestine are observed clearly. The NIR‐OPD demonstrates strategies for high‐performance synchronous electrical/optical output and directly imaging. Biomedicine applications implemented here are high level, representing important steps for NIR‐OPDs toward providing clues for clinical diagnosis.
Supramolecular Loading of DNA Hydrogels with Dye–Drug Conjugates for Real‐Time Photoacoustic Monitoring of Chemotherapy
Authors: Borum Raina M. , Moore Colman , Mantri Yash , Xu Ming , Jokerst Jesse V.
Published: November 2022

A longstanding problem with conventional cancer therapy is the nonspecific distribution of chemotherapeutics. Monitoring drug release in vivo via noninvasive bioimaging can thus have value, but it is difficult to distinguish loaded from released drug in live tissue. Here, this work describes an injectable supramolecular hydrogel that allows slow and trackable release of doxorubicin (Dox) via photoacoustic (PA) tomography. Dox is covalently linked with photoacoustic methylene blue (MB) to monitor Dox before, during, and after release from the hydrogel carrier. The conjugate (MB‐Dox) possesses an IC50 of 161.4 × 10−9 m against human ovarian carcinoma (SKOV3) cells and loads into a DNA‐clad hydrogel with 91.3% loading efficiency due to MB‐Dox's inherent intramolecular affinity to DNA. The hydrogel is biodegradable by nuclease digestion, which causes gradual release of MB‐Dox. This release rate is tunable based on the wt% of the hydrogel. This hydrogel maintains distinct PA contrast on the order of days when injected in vivo and demonstrates activatable PA spectral shifts   during hydrogel degradation. The released and loaded payload can be imaged relative to live tissue via PA and ultrasound signal being overlaid in real‐time. The hydrogel slowed the rate of the murine intraperitoneal tumor growth 72.2% more than free Dox.
Multimodal Electrocorticogram Active Electrode Array Based on Zinc Oxide‐Thin Film Transistors
Authors: Zhang Fan , Zhang Luxi , Xia Jie , Zhao Wanpeng , Dong Shurong , Ye Zhi , Pan Gang , Luo Jikui , Zhang Shaomin
Published: November 2022

Active electrocorticogram (ECoG) electrodes can amplify weak electrophysiological signals and improve anti‐interference ability; however, traditional active electrodes are opaque and cannot realize photoelectric collaborative observation. In this study, an active and fully transparent ECoG array based on zinc oxide thin‐film transistors (ZnO TFTs) is developed as a local neural signal amplifier for electrophysiological monitoring. The transparency of the proposed ECoG array is up to 85%, which is superior to that of the previously reported active electrode arrays. Various electrical characterizations have demonstrated its ability to record electrophysiological signals with a higher signal‐to‐noise ratio of 19.9 dB compared to the Au grid (13.2 dB). The high transparency of the ZnO‐TFT electrode array allows the concurrent collection of high‐quality electrophysiological signals (32.2 dB) under direct optical stimulation of the optogenetic mice brain. The ECoG array can also work under 7‐Tesla magnetic resonance imaging to record local brain signals without affecting brain tissue imaging. As the most transparent active ECoG array to date, it provides a powerful multimodal tool for brain observation, including recording brain activity under synchronized optical modulation and 7‐Tesla magnetic resonance imaging.
Material Choice and Structure Design of Flexible Battery Electrode
Authors: Xia Xiangling , Yang Jack , Liu Yang , Zhang Jiujun , Shang Jie , Liu Bin , Li Sean , Li Wenxian
Published: November 2022

With the development of flexible electronics, the demand for flexibility is gradually put forward for its energy supply device, i.e., battery, to fit complex curved surfaces with good fatigue resistance and safety. As an important component of flexible batteries, flexible electrodes play a key role in the energy density, power density, and mechanical flexibility of batteries. Their large‐scale commercial applications depend on the fulfillment of the commercial requirements and the fabrication methods of electrode materials. In this paper, the deformable electrode materials and structural design for flexible batteries are summarized, with the purpose of flexibility. The advantages and disadvantages of the application of various flexible materials (carbon nanotubes, graphene, MXene, carbon fiber/carbon fiber cloth, and conducting polymers) and flexible structures (buckling structure, helical structure, and kirigami structure) in flexible battery electrodes are discussed. In addition, the application scenarios of flexible batteries and the main challenges and future development of flexible electrode fabrication are also discussed, providing general guidance for the research of high‐performance flexible electrodes.
Spatially Resolved Dynamics of Cobalt Color Centers in ZnO Nanowires
Authors: Plass Christian T. , Bonino Valentina , Ritzer Maurizio , Jäger Lukas R. , Rey‐Bakaikoa Vicente , Hafermann Martin , Segura‐Ruiz Jaime , Martínez‐Criado Gema , Ronning Carsten
Published: November 2022

The dynamics of color centers, being a promising quantum technology, is strongly dependent on the local environment. A synergistic approach of X‐ray fluorescence analysis and X‐ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) using a hard X‐ray nanoprobe is applied. The simultaneous acquisition provides insights into compositional and functional variations at the nanoscale demonstrating the extraordinary capabilities of these combined techniques. The findings on cobalt doped zinc oxide nanowires show an anticorrelation between the band edge emission of the zinc oxide host and the intra‐3d cobalt luminescence, indicating two competing recombination paths. Moreover, time‐resolved XEOL measurements reveal two exponential decays of the cobalt luminescence. The fast and newly observed one can be attributed to a recombination cascade within the cobalt atom, resulting from direct excitation. Thus, this opens a new fast timescale for potential devices based on cobalt color centers in ZnO nanowires in photonic circuits.
Lipid Nanoparticle Delivery System for mRNA Encoding B7H3‐redirected Bispecific Antibody Displays Potent Antitumor Effects on Malignant Tumors
Authors: Huang Cheng , Duan Xing , Wang Jichao , Tian Qingqing , Ren Yangmei , Chen Kepan , Zhang Zongliang , Li Yuanyou , Feng Yunyu , Zhong Kunhong , Wang Yuelong , Zhou Liangxue , Guo Gang , Song Xiangrong , Tong Aiping
Published: November 2022

The therapeutic use of bispecific T‐cell engaging (BiTE) antibodies has shown great potential for treating malignancies. BiTE can simultaneously engage CD3ε on T cells and tumor antigen on cancer cells, thus exerting an effective antitumor effect. Nevertheless, challenges in production, manufacturing, and short serum half‐life of BiTE have dampened some of the promise and impeded the pace of BiTE‐based therapeutics to combat diseases. Nowadays, in vitro‐transcribed mRNA has achieved programmed production, which is more flexible and cost‐effective than the traditional method of producing recombinant antibody. Here, the authors have developed a BiTE‐based mRNA treatment by encapsulating mRNA encoding B7H3×CD3 BiTE into a novel ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). The authors have found that LNPs have high transfection efficiency, and the hepatosplenic targeting capability of produce high concentrations of BiTE. Above all, a single intravenous injection of BiTE mRNA‐LNPs could achieve high levels of protein expression in vivo and significantly prolonged the half‐life of the BiTE, which can elicit robust and durable antitumor efficacy against hematologic malignancies and melanoma. Therefore, their results suggested that the therapeutic strategy based on mRNA expression of B7H3×CD3 BiTE is of potential research value and has promising clinical application prospects.
Biodegradable, Water‐Resistant, Anti‐Fizzing, Polyester Nanocellulose Composite Paper Straws
Authors: Kwak Hojung , Kim Hyeri , Park Seul‐A , Lee Minkyung , Jang Min , Park Sung Bae , Hwang Sung Yeon , Kim Hyo Jeong , Jeon Hyeonyeol , Koo Jun Mo , Park Jeyoung , Oh Dongyeop X.
Published: November 2022

Among plastic items, single‐use straws are particularly detrimental to marine ecosystems because such straws, including those made of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), are sharp and extremely slowly degradable in the ocean. While paper straws are promising alternatives, they exhibit hydration‐induced swelling even when coated with a non‐degradable plastic coating and promote effervescence (fizzing) in soft drinks owing to their surface heterogeneities. In this study, upgraded paper straw is coated with poly(butylene succinate) cellulose nanocrystal (PBS/CNC) composites. CNC increases adhesion to paper owing to their similar chemical structures, optimizes crystalline PBS spherulites through effective nucleation, and reinforces the matrix through its anisotropic and rigid features. The straws are not only anti‐fizzing when used with soft drinks owing to their homogeneous and seamless surface coatings, but also highly water‐resistant and tough owing to their watertight surfaces. All degradable components effectively decompose under aerobic composting and in the marine environment. This technology contributes to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water).
Green Flexible Triboelectric Nanogenerators Based on Edible Proteins for Electrophoretic Deposition
Authors: Kheirabadi Noushin Raeisi , Karimzadeh Fathallah , Enayati Mohammad Hossein , Kalali Ehsan Naderi
Published: November 2022

The next generation of wearable electronics for internet of things (IoT) systems, and green energy harvesting require electrically conductive materials with high flexibility, conductivity, and being environmentally friendly. In this study, three biopolymers, cow's milk, soy milk, and egg white liquid, are investigated and compared as spin‐coated positive layers in triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Superior results are obtained using egg white liquid as a novel liquid conductor with comparable conductivity and high transparency. After investigating various disposable polymers as substrates, sandpaper is used to improve the output performance of the proposed egg white liquid based TENG (EW‐TENG). The maximum output power density, voltage, and current of the EW‐TENG are 328.84 mW cm−2, 1720 V, and 16.05 mA, respectively. The fabricated EW‐TENG, with an area of 4 × 4 cm2, can directly illuminate 55 high‐power blue LEDs and can adequately perform an electrophoretic deposition of ZnO nanoparticles on copper layers without microcracks. The potential distribution of the EW‐TENG obtained by COMSOL Multiphysics software is consistent with the experimental results. Herein, an eco‐environmentally friendly, flexible, and lightweight electronic device for energy harvesting and electrophoretic deposition applications is proposed.