bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Engineered Multifunctional Nano‐ and Biological Materials for Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Brouillard Anthony , Deshpande Nilesh , Kulkarni Ashish A. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCancer immunotherapy is set to emerge as the future of cancer therapy. However, recent immunotherapy trials in different cancers have yielded sub‐optimal results, with durable responses seen in only a small fraction of patients. Engineered multifunctional nanomaterials and biological materials are versatile platforms that can elicit strong immune responses and improve anti‐cancer efficacy when applied to cancer immunotherapy. While there are traditional systems such as polymer‐ and lipid‐based nanoparticles, there is a wide variety of other materials with inherent and additive properties that can allow for more potent activation of the immune system. By synthesizing and applying multifunctional strategies, it allows for a more extensive and more effective repertoire of tools to use in the wide variety of situations that cancer presents itself. Here, several types of nanoscale and biological material strategies and platforms that provide their inherent benefits for targeting and activating multiple aspects of the immune system are discussed. Overall, this review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of recent advances in the field of multifunctional cancer immunotherapy and trends that pave the way for more diverse and tactical regression of tumors through soliciting responses by either the adaptive or innate immune system, and even both simultaneously.
Chiral Spin Textures in Amorphous Iron–Germanium Thick Films
Authors: Streubel Robert , Bouma D. Simca , Bruni Frank , Chen Xiaoqian , Ercius Peter , Ciston Jim , N'Diaye Alpha T. , Roy Sujoy , Kevan Steve D. , Fischer Peter , Hellman Frances 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTopological solitary fields, such as magnetic and polar skyrmions, are envisioned to revolutionize microelectronics. These configurations have been stabilized in solid‐state materials with a global inversion symmetry breaking, which translates in magnetic materials into a vector spin exchange known as the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI), as well as spin chirality selection and isotropic solitons. This work reports experimental evidence of 3D chiral spin textures, such as helical spins and skyrmions with different chirality and topological charge, stabilized in amorphous Fe–Ge thick films. These results demonstrate that structurally and chemically disordered materials with a random DMI can resemble inversion symmetry broken systems with similar magnetic properties, moments, and states. Disordered systems are distinguished from systems with global inversion symmetry breaking by their degenerate spin chirality that allows for forming isotropic and anisotropic topological spin textures at remanence, while offering greater flexibility in materials synthesis, voltage, and strain manipulation.
Phenylene‐Bridged Bispyridinium with High Capacity and Stability for Aqueous Flow Batteries
Authors: Hu Shuzhi , Li Tianyu , Huang Mingbao , Huang Jinghua , Li Wenjin , Wang Liwen , Chen Zhenqiang , Fu Zhiyong , Li Xianfeng , Liang Zhenxing 
Published: January 2021

AbstractA rotating phenyl ring is introduced between the two pyridinium rings, namely, 1,1′‐bis[3‐(trimethylamonium)propyl]‐4,4′‐(1,4‐phenylene)bispyridinium tetrachloride ((APBPy)Cl4), to form a switchable conjugation. In this design, the conjugation is switched “off” in the oxidized state and the two pyridinium rings behave independently during the redox process, yielding a concomitant transfer of two electrons at the same potential and, thus, simplifying the battery management. The conjugation is switched “on” in the reduced state and the charge can be effectively delocalized, lowering the Lewis basicity and improving its chemical stability. By pairing 0.50 m (APBPy)Cl4 with a 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yl oxyl derivative as the positive electrolyte, a flow battery delivers a high standard cell voltage of 1.730 V and a high specific capacity of 20.0 Ah L–1. The battery also shows an exceptionally high energy efficiency of 80.8% and a superior cycling stability at 80 mA cm–2. This strategy proves itself a great success in engineering viologen as a two‐electron storage mediator with high capacity and stability.
Surface Plasmon‐Enhanced Short‐Wave Infrared Fluorescence for Detecting Sub‐Millimeter‐Sized Tumors
Authors: Huang Shengnan , Lin Ching‐Wei , Qi Jifa , Iyer Archana Mahadevan , He Yanpu , Li Yingzhong , Bardhan Neelkanth M. , Irvine Darrell J. , Hammond Paula T. , Belcher Angela M. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractShort‐wave infrared (SWIR, 900–1700 nm) enables in vivo imaging with high spatiotemporal resolution and penetration depth due to the reduced tissue autofluorescence and decreased photon scattering at long wavelengths. Although small organic SWIR dye molecules have excellent biocompatibility, they have been rarely exploited as compared to their inorganic counterparts, mainly due to their low quantum yield. To increase their brightness, in this work, the SWIR dye molecules are placed in close proximity to gold nanorods (AuNRs) for surface plasmon‐enhanced emission. The fluorescence enhancement is optimized by controlling the dye‐to‐AuNR number ratio and up to ≈45‐fold enhancement factor is achieved. In addition, the results indicate that the highest dye‐to‐AuNR number ratio gives the highest emission intensity per weight and this is used for synthesizing SWIR imaging probes using layer‐by‐layer (LbL) technique with polymer coating protection. Then, the SWIR imaging probes are applied for in vivo imaging of ovarian cancer and the surface coating effect on intratumor distribution of the imaging probes is investigated in two orthotopic ovarian cancer models. Lastly, it is demonstrated that the plasmon‐enhanced SWIR imaging probe has great potential for fluorescence imaging‐guided surgery by showing its capability to detect sub‐millimeter‐sized tumors.
Two‐Photon Polymerization of Nanocomposites for the Fabrication of Transparent Fused Silica Glass Microstructures
Authors: Kotz Frederik , Quick Alexander S. , Risch Patrick , Martin Tanja , Hoose Tobias , Thiel Michael , Helmer Dorothea , Rapp Bastian E. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractFused silica glass is the material of choice for many high‐performance components in optics due to its high optical transparency combined with its high thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability. Especially, the generation of fused silica microstructures is of high interest for microoptical and biomedical applications. Direct laser writing (DLW) is a suitable technique for generating such devices, as it enables nearly arbitrary structuring down to the sub‐micrometer level. In this work, true 3D structuring of transparent fused silica glass using DLW with tens of micrometer resolution and a surface roughness of Ra ≈ 6 nm is demonstrated. The process uses a two‐photon curable silica nanocomposite resin that can be structured by DLW, with the printout being convertible to transparent fused silica glass via thermal debinding and sintering. This technology will enable a plethora of applications from next‐generation optics and photonics to microfluidic and biomedical applications with resolutions on the scale of tens of micrometers.
Hidden Vacancy Benefit in Monolayer 2D Semiconductors
Authors: Zhang Xiankun , Liao Qingliang , Kang Zhuo , Liu Baishan , Liu Xiaozhi , Ou Yang , Xiao Jiankun , Du Junli , Liu Yihe , Gao Li , Gu Lin , Hong Mengyu , Yu Huihui , Zhang Zheng , Duan Xiangfeng , Zhang Yue 
Published: January 2021

AbstractMonolayer 2D semiconductors (e.g., MoS2) are of considerable interest for atomically thin transistors but generally limited by insufficient carrier mobility or driving current. Minimizing the lattice defects in 2D semiconductors represents a common strategy to improve their electronic properties, but has met with limited success to date. Herein, a hidden benefit of the atomic vacancies in monolayer 2D semiconductors to push their performance limit is reported. By purposely tailoring the sulfur vacancies (SVs) to an optimum density of 4.7% in monolayer MoS2, an unusual mobility enhancement is obtained and a record‐high carrier mobility (>115 cm2 V−1 s−1) is achieved, realizing monolayer MoS2 transistors with an exceptional current density (>0.60 mA µm−1) and a record‐high on/off ratio >1010, and enabling a logic inverter with an ultrahigh voltage gain >100. The systematic transport studies reveal that the counterintuitive vacancy‐enhanced transport originates from a nearest‐neighbor hopping conduction model, in which an optimum SV density is essential for maximizing the charge hopping probability. Lastly, the vacancy benefit into other monolayer 2D semiconductors is further generalized; thus, a general strategy for tailoring the charge transport properties of monolayer materials is defined.
Near‐Infrared Emission by Tuned Aggregation of a Porphyrin Compound in a Host–Guest Light‐Emitting Electrochemical Cell
Authors: Mone Mariza , Tang Shi , Genene Zewdneh , Murto Petri , Jevric Martyn , Zou Xianshao , Ràfols‐Ribé Joan , Abdulahi Birhan A. , Wang Jia , Mammo Wendimagegn , Andersson Mats R. , Edman Ludvig , Wang Ergang 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe synthesis of 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis((5,10‐bis((2‐hexyldecyl)oxy)dithieno[3,2‐c:3′,2′‐h][1,5]naphthyridin‐2‐yl)ethynyl)porphyrin zinc(II) (Por4NT), a near‐infrared (NIR) emitting compound, comprising a zinc porphyrin core linked with triple bonds through its meso positions to four 5,10‐bis((2‐hexyldecyl)oxy)dithieno[3,2‐c:3′,2′‐h][1,5]naphthyridine (NT) arms is reported. Por4NT featured high solubility in common non‐polar solvents, which is ideal for easy processing through solution techniques, and high photoluminescence (PL) efficiency of ≈30% in dilute toluene solution. It also exhibited a strong tendency for aggregation because of its flat conformation, and this aggregation resulted in a strong redshifted emission and a drop in PL efficiency. A well‐matched PBDTSi‐BDD‐Py “host” terpolymer is therefore designed, which is capable of mitigating the aggregation of the Por4NT “guest”. An optimized blend of the host, guest, and an ionic‐liquid electrolyte is utilized as the active material in a light‐emitting electrochemical cell (LEC), which delivered strong NIR radiance of 134 µW cm‐2 with a long wavelength maximum at 810 nm at a low drive voltage of 5.0 V. The attainment of the strong NIR emission from the host–guest LEC is attributed to a tuned aggregation of the Por4NT emitter, which resulted in the desired aggregation‐induced redshift of the emission at a reasonably retained efficiency.
Electronic Structure and Optical Properties of Mixed Iodine/Bromine Lead Perovskites. To Mix or Not to Mix?
Authors: Diez‐Cabanes Valentin , Even Jacky , Beljonne David , Quarti Claudio 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHalide mixing is a key strategy to tune the emission wavelength in lead halide perovskites but is also effective in improving the performance of halide perovskite solar cells. Yet, a clear and global picture of how halide alloying and related spatial in/homogeneous distribution influence the electronic and optical properties of halide perovskites is currently lacking. Considering the preeminent mixed iodine/bromine perovskite as a case study, state‐of‐the‐art hybrid density functional theory calculations are performed, exploring the full space of chemical composition and accounting for phase segregation effects. It is shown that, at low doping regime, halide impurities do not act as trap states and that a quasi‐linear opening of the bandgap occurs with increasing the bromine content. Phase segregation at the nanoscale, in turn, drastically affects the electronic structure of mixed halide systems, with namely bromine rich domains acting as barrier to hole diffusion. The energetic disorder probed by optical absorption in these mixed systems is surprisingly insensitive to configurational disorder, but mostly dominated by the coexistence of phases with various degrees of halide segregation.
Individual Si Nanospheres Wrapped in a Suspended Monolayer WS2 for Electromechanically Controlled Mie‐Type Nanopixels
Authors: Yan Jiahao , Liu Xinyue , Mao Bijun , Yang Guowei , Li Baojun 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAll‐dielectric (especially silicon) nanostructures that are capable of low‐loss sub‐wavelength light localization are favorable for miniaturized all‐optical or optoelectronic chips. Recently, Si waveguides have been integrated with the 2D transition‐metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) with atomic thinness and intense light–matter interactions for high‐performance optoelectronic devices. However, further miniaturized and nanoscale optoelectronic devices are highly necessary and can be realized using all‐dielectric Si nanostructures. So far, realizing electrically controlled coupling between all‐dielectric nanostructures and TMDCs is challenging at the subwavelength scale. Here, the electrically controlled optical nanopixels using individual Si nanospheres are reported, which are conventional all‐dielectric units with strong Mie‐type magnetic resonances, wrapped in suspended WS2 monolayers. By applying gate voltages, deformation of the WS2 monolayer occurs as an opening or a closing umbrella. As a result, the scattering intensities are tuned by 40% because of the change in the Mie‐exciton coupling. Simultaneously, a doubled photoluminescence intensity enhancement with a 0.014 eV redshift of excitonic energy is observed, owing to the cooperation of the electromechanics and electrostatic doping. The findings suggest a new approach to build nanoscale optoelectronic devices and display units.
A Lipid Targeting, pH‐Responsive Nanoemulsion Encapsulating a DNA Intercalating Agent and HDAC Inhibitor Reduces TNBC Tumor Burden
Authors: Kim Bumjun , Hebert Jacob M. , Liu Daxing , Auguste Debra T. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTriple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) represent a heterogenous disease with high patient mortality relative to other breast cancers. Doxorubicin (Dox), a DNA intercalating drug, is widely used as chemotherapy for TNBC. However, it often accompanies severe side effects that limit the effective therapeutic dose. It is hypothesized that the combination of Dox with a histone deacetylase inhibitor, panobinostat (Pan), may improve therapeutic efficacy by attacking rapid cell proliferation and abnormal histone deacetylation. Herein, pH‐responsive, lipid targeting nanoemulsions (pLNEs) are designed to direct both Dox and Pan to TNBC cells that overexpress lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor 1 (LPAR1) via the ratio of LPA to lysophosphatidylcholine and trigger Dox release via disassociation from docosahexanoic acid. Dox/Pan‐pLNEs result in higher intranuclear Dox compared to free Dox, free Dox/Pan, and Dox‐pLNEs. Tumors treated with Dox/Pan‐pLNEs exhibit 2.4‐fold reduction in tumor burden relative to free Dox alone. Molecular analysis reveals that MDA‐MB‐231 tumor growth inhibition is mediated by re‐expression of thioredoxin‐interacting protein and suppression of cytoplasmic p27kip1 and c‐Jun activation domain‐binding protein‐1. This lipid targeting, Dox/Pan encapsulating pLNE represents a platform for treating TNBC with greater therapeutic efficacy.
Quantum Nuclei at Weakly Bonded Interfaces: The Case of Cyclohexane on Rh(111)
Authors: Fidanyan Karen , Hamada Ikutaro , Rossi Mariana 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe electronic properties of interfaces can depend on their isotopic constitution. One known case is that of cyclohexane physisorbed on Rh(111), in which isotope effects have been measured on the work function change and desorption energies. These effects can only be captured by calculations including nuclear quantum effects (NQE). In this paper, this interface is addressed employing dispersion‐inclusive density‐functional theory coupled to a quasi‐harmonic (QH) approximation for NQE, as well as to fully anharmonic ab initio path integral molecular dynamics (PIMD). The QH approximation is able to capture that deuterated cyclohexane has a smaller adsorption energy and lies about 0.01 Å farther from the Rh(111) surface than its isotopologue, which can be correlated to the isotope effect in the work function change. An investigation of the validity of the QH approximation relying on PIMD simulations, leads to the conclusion that although this interface is highly impacted by anharmonic quantum fluctuations in the molecular layer and at bonding sites, these anharmonic contributions play a minor role when analyzing isotope effects at low temperatures. Nevertheless, anharmonic quantum fluctuations cause an increase in the distance between the molecular layer and Rh(111), a consequent smaller overall work function change, and intricate changes in orbital hybridization.
A Micromachined Picocalorimeter Sensor for Liquid Samples with Application to Chemical Reactions and Biochemistry
Authors: Bae Jinhye , Zheng Juanjuan , Zhang Haitao , Foster Peter J. , Needleman Daniel J. , Vlassak Joost J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCalorimetry has long been used to probe the physical state of a system by measuring the heat exchanged with the environment as a result of chemical reactions or phase transitions. Application of calorimetry to microscale biological samples, however, is hampered by insufficient sensitivity and the difficulty of handling liquid samples at this scale. Here, a micromachined calorimeter sensor that is capable of resolving picowatt levels of power is described. The sensor consists of low‐noise thermopiles on a thin silicon nitride membrane that allow direct differential temperature measurements between a sample and four coplanar references, which significantly reduces thermal drift. The partial pressure of water in the ambient around the sample is maintained at saturation level using a small hydrogel‐lined enclosure. The materials used in the sensor and its geometry are optimized to minimize the noise equivalent power generated by the sensor in response to the temperature field that develops around a typical sample. The experimental response of the sensor is characterized as a function of thermopile dimensions and sample volume, and its capability is demonstrated by measuring the heat dissipated during an enzymatically catalyzed biochemical reaction in a microliter‐sized liquid droplet. The sensor offers particular promise for quantitative measurements on biological systems.
TiO2 Nanowire Array Memristive Devices Emulating Functionalities of Biological Synapses
Authors: Ebenhoch Carola , Schmidt‐Mende Lukas 
Published: January 2021

AbstractMemristors are deemed to be the electrical twin to biological synapses. They enable emulation of human memory functionalities such as learning, memorizing, and forgetting. The present hydrothermally grown titanium dioxide nanowire array memristive devices have shown to be able to mimic synaptic behaviors. As well as spike‐rate dependent plasticity, excitatory postsynaptic currents, and paired pulse facilitation, high endurance, and on/off ratios for the nanowire arrays are presented. Decay fitting of postsynaptic currents with Kohlrausch's equation shows lifetimes of few milliseconds up to several hundred seconds, offering the possibility of a short‐term to long‐term memory transition. Furthermore, a strong dependence of the lifetime of the signals on the frequency and amplitude of the stimulation pulses is observed.
Emerging Catalysts to Promote Kinetics of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Wang Peng , Xi Baojuan , Huang Man , Chen Weihua , Feng Jinkui , Xiong Shenglin 
Published: January 2021

AbstractLithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) with a high theoretical capacity of 1675 mAh g−1 hold promise in the realm of high‐energy‐density Li–metal batteries. To cope with the shuttle effect and sluggish transformation of soluble lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), varieties of traditional metal‐based materials (such as metal, metal oxides, metal sulfides, metal nitrides, and metal carbides) with unique catalytic activity for accelerating LiPSs redox have been exploited to fundamentally inhibit the shuttle effect and improve the performance of LSBs. Concurrently, some budding catalytic materials also possess enormous potential for facilitating LiPSs redox reaction in LSBs, including metal borides, metal phosphides, metal selenides, single atoms, and defect‐engineered materials. Here, recent advances in these emerging catalytic candidates as well as the evaluation methods and parameters for catalytic materials are comprehensively summarized for the first time. New insights are also given to aid in the design of high‐performance LSBs and satisfy the high expectation in the future, including the exposure of the active sites and adsorption‐catalysis synergy strategies. Finally, the current challenges and prospects for designing highly efficient catalytic materials are highlighted, aiming at providing guidance for configuring catalytic materials to make sure high‐energy and long‐life LSBs.
Interfacial Design and Assembly for Flexible Energy Electrodes with Highly Efficient Energy Harvesting, Conversion, and Storage
Authors: Ko Yongmin , Lee Seokmin , Kwon Cheong Hoon , Lee Seung Woo , Cho Jinhan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCharge transfer between a conductive support and active materials as well as between neighboring active materials is one of the most critical factors in determining the performance of various electrodes in energy harvesting, conversion, and/or storage. Particularly, when preparing energy electrodes using conductive and/or electrochemically active nanoparticles (NPs), the bulky organic materials (i.e., ligand or polymeric binder) covering the NP surface seriously limit the charge transfer within the electrode, thereby restricting the energy storage or conversion efficiency. Furthermore, the flexibility and mechanical stability of the electrode have been considered important evaluation indices for flexible/wearable energy applications. In this regard, considerable research has been directed toward controlling the interfacial structure to enhance the charge transfer efficiency and toward incorporating functional materials into flexible/porous supports. This review describes the central progress in flexible electrodes for energy harvesting, conversion, and storage, along with the challenges in designing high‐performance energy electrodes. In particular, layer‐by‐layer (LbL) assembly is analyzed, which is an ultrathin film fabrication technology that enables fine tuning of the interfacial structure for various electrode materials. It is shown how LbL assembly can be effectively applied to energy electrodes to obtain desired functionalities and improve the charge transfer efficiency of electrodes.