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A newly designed daytime radiative cooling (DRC) strategy significantly enhances near-room-temperature waste heat recovery, generating power in both the daytime and nighttime.

ObjectiveStromal barriers, such as the abundant desmoplastic stroma that is characteristic of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), can block the delivery and decrease the tumour-penetrating ability of therapeutics such as tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), which can selectively induce cancer cell apoptosis. This study aimed to develop a TRAIL-based nanotherapy that not only eliminated the extracellular matrix barrier to increase TRAIL delivery into tumours but also blocked antiapoptotic mechanisms to overcome TRAIL resistance in PDAC.DesignNitric oxide (NO) plays a role in preventing tissue desmoplasia and could thus be delivered to disrupt the stromal barrier and improve TRAIL delivery in PDAC. We applied an in vitro–in vivo combinatorial phage display technique to identify novel peptide ligands to target the desmoplastic stroma in both murine and human orthotopic PDAC. We then constructed a stroma-targeted nanogel modified with phage display-identified tumour stroma-targeting peptides to co-deliver NO and TRAIL to PDAC and examined the anticancer effect in three-dimensional spheroid cultures in vitro and in orthotopic PDAC models in vivo.ResultsThe delivery of NO to the PDAC tumour stroma resulted in reprogramming of activated pancreatic stellate cells, alleviation of tumour desmoplasia and downregulation of antiapoptotic BCL-2 protein expression, thereby facilitating tumour penetration by TRAIL and substantially enhancing the antitumour efficacy of TRAIL therapy.ConclusionThe co-delivery of TRAIL and NO by a stroma-targeted nanogel that remodels the fibrotic tumour microenvironment and suppresses tumour growth has the potential to be translated into a safe and promising treatment for PDAC.

Although surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) can rapidly identify molecular fingerprints and has great potential for analysis, the need for delicate plasmonic substrates and complex laboratory instruments seriously limits its applicability for on-site detection. This paper describes the development of an inexpensive aluminum nanoparticle (AlNP)-decorated paper that functions as a facile SERS-based detection platform (Al-PSERS). Polydopamine-protected AlNPs were chemically synthesized and then simply drop-cast onto a hydrophobic cellulose paper, forming a monolayer AlNP cluster array. Because of the abundance of hot spots arising from the plasmonic clusters, the inherent quasi-three-dimensional structure of the cellulose fibers, and the concentration effect of the hydrophobic surface, the Al-PSERS provided significant enhancements to the signal of various analytes, measured using a portable 785 nm Raman spectrometer. Near-field optical simulations and experimental spectroscopic results revealed that the local electric fields and corresponding SERS signal intensities of the AlNP array exhibited clear particle-length and cluster-size dependencies. Therefore, the Al-PSERS could be optimized to provide high sensitivity (enhancement factor: 2 × 10

Much effort has been focused on novel nanomedicine for cancer therapy. However, tumor hypoxia limits the efficacy of various cancer therapeutics. Herein, we constructed a self-sufficient hybrid enzyme-based silk fibroin hydrogel system, consisting of Pt-decorated hollow Ag-Au trimetallic nanocages (HGN@Pt) and glucose oxidase (GOx), to supply O2 continuously and consume glucose concurrently and, thereby, synergistically enhance the anti-cancer efficacy of a combined starvation and photothermal therapy operating in a hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Thanks to the cooperative effects of the active surface atoms (resulting from the island-like features of the Pt coating), the intrinsically hollow structure, and the strain effect induced by the trimetallic composition, HGN@Pt displayed efficient catalase-like activity. The enhancement in the generation of O2 through the decomposition of H2O2 mediated by the as-designed nanozyme was greater than 400% when compared with that of hollow Ag-Pt bimetallic nanospheres or tiny Pt nanoparticles. Moreover, in the presence of HGN@Pt, significant amounts of O2 could be generated within a few minutes, even in an acidic buffer solution (pH 5.8-6.5) containing a low concentration of H2O2 (100-500 μM). Because HGN@Pt exhibited a strong surface plasmon resonance peak in the near-infrared wavelength range, it could be used as a photothermal agent for hyperthermia therapy. Furthermore, GOx was released gradually from the SF hydrogel into the tumor microenvironment to mediate the depletion of glucose, leading to glucose starvation-induced cancer cell death. Finally, the O2 supplied by HGN@Pt overcame the hypoxia of the microenvironment and, thereby, promoted the starvation therapeutic effect of the GOx-mediated glucose consumption. Meanwhile, the GOx-produced H2O2 from the oxidation of glucose could be used to regenerate O2 and, thereby, construct a complementary circulatory system. Accordingly, this study presents a self-sufficient hybrid enzyme-based system that synergistically alleviates tumor hypoxia and induces an anti-cancer effect when combined with irradiation of light from a near-infrared laser.

The localized surface plasmon resonance of plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) can be coupled with a noble metal substrate (S) to induce a localized augmented electric field (E-field) concentrated at the NP-S gap. Herein, we analyzed the fundamental near-field properties of metal NPs on diverse substrates numerically (using the 3D finite-difference time-domain method) and experimentally [using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)]. We systematically examined the effects of plasmonic NPs on noble metals (Ag and Au), non-noble metals (Al, Ti, Cu, Fe, and Ni), semiconductors (Si and Ge), and dielectrics (TiO2, ZnO, and SiO2) as substrates. For the AgNPs, the Al (11,664 times) and Si (3969 times) substrates produced considerable E-field enhancements, with Al in particular generating a tremendous E-field enhancement comparable in intensity to that induced by a Ag (28,224 times) substrate. Notably, we found that a superior metallic character of the substrate gave rise to easier induction of image charges within the metal substrate, resulting in a greater E-field at the NP-S gap; on the other hand, the larger the permittivity of the nonmetal substrate, the greater the ability of the substrate to store an image charge distribution, resulting in stronger coupling to the charges of localized surface plasmon resonance oscillation on the metal NP. Furthermore, we measured the SERS spectra of rhodamine 6G (a commonly used Raman spectral probe), histamine (a biogenic amine used as a food freshness indicator), creatinine (a kidney health indicator), and tert-butylbenzene [an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography contaminant] on AgNP-immobilized Al and Si substrates to demonstrate the wide range of potential applications. Finally, the NP-S gap hotspots appear to be widely applicable as an ultrasensitive SERS platform (∼single-molecule level), especially when used as a powerful analytical tool for the detection of residual contaminants on versatile substrates.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) represent significant potential and promise in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and nerve injuries. An efficient methodology or platform that can help in specifically directing the stem cell fate is important and highly desirable for future clinical therapy. In this study, a biodegradable electrical conductive film composed of an oxidative polymerized carboxyl-capped aniline pentamer (CCAP) and ring-opening polymerized tetra poly(d,l-lactide) (4a-PLA) was designed with the addition of the dopant, namely chondroitin sulfate. This conductive film acts as a biological substrate for the exogenous/endogenous electric field transmission in tissue, resulting in the control of NSC fate, as well as improvement in neural tissue regeneration. The results show that CCAP is successfully synthesized and then conjugated onto 4a-PLA to form a network structure with electrical conductivity, cell adhesion capacity, and biodegradability. The neuronal differentiation of NSCs can be induced on 4a-PLAAP, and the neuronal maturation process can be facilitated by the manipulation of the electrical field. This biocompatible and electroactive material can serve as a platform to determine the cell fate of NSCs and be employed in neural regeneration. For future perspectives, its promising performance shows potential in applications, such as electrode-tissue integration interfaces, coatings on neuroprosthetics devices and neural probes, and smart drug delivery system in neurological systems.

Antiangiogenic therapy is widely administered in many cancers, and the antiangiogenic drug sorafenib offers moderate benefits in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, antiangiogenic therapy can also lead to hypoxia-driven angiogenesis and immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and metastasis. Here, we report the synthesis and evaluation of NanoMnSor, a tumor-targeted, nanoparticle drug carrier that efficiently codelivers oxygen-generating MnO2 and sorafenib into HCC. We found that MnO2 not only alleviates hypoxia by catalyzing the decomposition of H2O2 to oxygen but also enhances pH/redox-responsive T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and drug-release properties upon decomposition into Mn2+ ions in the TME. Moreover, macrophages exposed to MnO2 displayed increased mRNA associated with the immunostimulatory M1 phenotype. We further show that NanoMnSor treatment leads to sorafenib-induced decrease in tumor vascularization and significantly suppresses primary tumor growth and distal metastasis, resulting in improved overall survival in a mouse orthotopic HCC model. Furthermore, NanoMnSor reprograms the immunosuppressive TME by reducing the hypoxia-induced tumor infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages, promoting macrophage polarization toward the immunostimulatory M1 phenotype, and increasing the number of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in tumors, thereby augmenting the efficacy of anti-PD-1 antibody and whole-cell cancer vaccine immunotherapies. Our study demonstrates the potential of oxygen-generating nanoparticles to deliver antiangiogenic agents, efficiently modulate the hypoxic TME, and overcome hypoxia-driven drug resistance, thereby providing therapeutic benefit in cancer.

Healthcare-associated infections are common causes of morbidity and mortality. Advanced nanotechnology provides a means of overcoming this problem, but it remains challenging to develop universal coating strategies for decorating antimicrobial nanomaterials onto various clinical devices. In this paper, we propose a general silane-based method for immobilizing monolayer metal nanoparticle (NP) arrays onto any type of substrate surface—especially for a diverse range of clinical implantable devices. The surface silanization was achieved simply through the adsorption of N1-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)diethylenetriamine (TMS), regardless of the material (polymer, metal, oxide) or morphology (flat, curved, textured) of the substrate, with no need for pretreatment or expensive instrumentation. Monolayers of various nanostructures (Ag, Au, and hollow Au NPs) were then decorated rapidly onto the TMS-treated substrates, thereby further functionalizing their surfaces. In particular, immobilization of the Ag NPs resulted in excellent anti-biofilm efficacy against three clinically life-threatening pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. Sustained release of Ag+ ions led to durable inhibition of bacterial attachment for up to 28 days. Studies with NIH3T3 fibroblasts revealed that the Ag NP arrays displayed no cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells. Overall, this universal coating process appears to be an innovative method for the surface-functionalization of diverse materials and devices employed in the fields of energy, sensing, and medicine—especially to prevent healthcare-associated infections arising from the use of clinical implantable devices in hospitals.

Much effort has been focused on novel nanomedicine for cancer therapy. However, tumor hypoxia limits the efficacy of various cancer therapeutics. Herein, we constructed a self-sufficient hybrid enzyme-based silk fibroin hydrogel system, consisting of Pt-decorated hollow Ag-Au trimetallic nanocages (HGN@Pt) and glucose oxidase (GOx), to supply O

Negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV−) centers in diamonds are point defects displaying unique optical properties and biocompatibility. In this study, we characterized fluorescent microdiamonds (FMDs) and explored their potential use as fiducial markers for image-guided photothermal therapy. To exploit the excellent thermal conductivity of diamonds, we decorated the surface-functionalized FMDs with hollow gold nanoparticles (HGNs). The dual functions—fluorescent and thermal imaging—of the HGN–FMDs were performed when applying the distinct excitation laser wavelengths of the HGNs and the FMDs, respectively. The HGNs effectively absorbed the excitation near-infrared light to result in excellent light-to-heat conversion; the generated heat is transferred from 70 nm HGNs to 400 μm FMDs to provide a homogeneous and global heating effect. When we embedded five HGN–FMD particles at a depth of 2 mm in chicken breast, a temperature increase of greater than 20 °C was achievable at the site of the HGN–FMDs. Our results highlight the promise of using nitrogen vacancy-containing diamond microcrystals in conjugation with gold nanoparticles for applications involving local hyperthermia.

Large-area surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensing platforms displaying ultrahigh sensitivity and signal uniformity have potentially enormous sensing applicability, but they are still challenging to prepare in a scalable manner. In this study, silver nanopaste (AgNPA) was employed to prepare a wafer-scale, ultrasensitive SERS substrate. The self-generated, high-density Ag nanocracks (NCKs) with small gaps could be created on Si wafers via a spin-coating process, and provided extremely abundant hotspots for SERS analyses with ultrahigh sensitivity-down to the level of single molecules (enhancement factor: ca. 10

Antiangiogenic therapy is widely administered in many cancers, and the antiangiogenic drug sorafenib offers moderate benefits in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, antiangiogenic therapy can also lead to hypoxia-driven angiogenesis and immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and metastasis. Here, we report the synthesis and evaluation of NanoMnSor, a tumor-targeted, nanoparticle drug carrier that efficiently codelivers oxygen-generating MnO

A disturbance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis may cause the pathogenesis of many diseases. Inspired by natural photosynthesis, this work proposes a photo-driven H2-evolving liposomal nanoplatform (Lip NP) that comprises an upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP) that is conjugated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) via a ROS-responsive linker, which is encapsulated inside the liposomal system in which the lipid bilayer embeds chlorophyll a (Chla). The UCNP functions as a transducer, converting NIR light into upconversion luminescence for simultaneous imaging and therapy in situ. Functioning as light-harvesting antennas, AuNPs are used to detect the local concentration of ROS for FRET biosensing, while the Chla activates the photosynthesis of H2 gas to scavenge local excess ROS. The results thus obtained indicate the potential of using the Lip NPs in the analysis of biological tissues, restoring their ROS homeostasis, possibly preventing the initiation and progression of diseases., Hydrogen can be used to reduce the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS), but its delivery to diseased tissues is challenging due to its low solubility. Here the authors develop a photosynthesis-inspired FRET nanocomplex to detect and scavenge local excess of ROS in the tissue using photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) is a soft elastomer with excellent biocompatibility, and it has great potential in the application of soft tissue engineering and drug delivery. However, there is stil...

This paper describes the synthesis of near-infrared (NIR)-absorbing gold nanoframes (GNFs) and a systematic study comparing their physiological stability and biocompatibility with those of hollow Au-Ag nanoshells (GNSs), which have been used widely as photothermal agents in biomedical applications because of their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in the NIR region. The GNFs were synthesized in three steps: galvanic replacement, Au deposition, and Ag dealloying, using silver nanospheres (SNP) as the starting material. The morphology and optical properties of the GNFs were dependent on the thickness of the Au coating layer and the degree of Ag dealloying. The optimal GNF exhibited a robust spherical skeleton composed of a few thick rims, but preserved the distinctive LSPR absorbance in the NIR region-even when the Ag content within the skeleton was only 10 wt %, 4-fold lower than that of the GNSs. These GNFs displayed an attractive photothermal conversion ability and great photothermal stability, and could efficiently kill 4T1 cancer cells through light-induced heating. Moreover, the GNFs preserved their morphology and optical properties after incubation in biological media (e.g., saline, serum), whereas the GNSs were unstable under the same conditions because of rapid dissolution of the considerable silver content with the shell. Furthermore, the GNFs had good biocompatibility with normal cells (e.g., NIH-3T3 and hepatocytes; cell viability for both cells:90%), whereas the GNSs exhibited significant dose-dependent cytotoxicity (e.g., cell viability for hepatocytes at 1.14 nM: ca. 11%), accompanied by the induction of reactive oxygen species. Finally, the GNFs displayed good biocompatibility and biosafety in an in vivo mouse model; in contrast, the accumulation of GNSs caused liver injury and inflammation. Our results suggest that GNFs have great potential to serve as stable, biocompatible NIR-light absorbers for in vivo applications, including cancer detection and combination therapy.

Herein, we developed an extended floating-gate thin-film transistor (EFG-TFT) together with various sol-gel phases to determine alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. The EFG-TFT was fabricated with ZnO as the channel material and YOX as the dielectric layer, which provided an extended area for sensing the analyte interacting with the designed hydrogelator. A peptide-based supramolecular hydrogel material, i.e., 2-naphthylacetic acid- l -phenylalanine- l -phenylalanine- l -O-phosphor tyrosine (named Nap-FF-Yp) was synthesized as our sensing platform to detect ALP activity and the sol-gel state. Nap-FF-Yp could be cleaved by ALP during hydrolysis, leading to π-π stacking, and finally changed to a hydrogel. Due to the difference in the potential drop between the liquid phase and gel phase of the hydrogel, the sol-gel transition reaction could be monitored by the electrical signal. The greater the extent of hydrogelation, the smaller the threshold voltage (Vth) variation, and the threshold voltage shifted to the left. Under the device’s optimal conditions with oxygen plasma treatment, the limit of detection (LOD) reached 0.024 U/L. The development of this novel sol-gel state for a high-speed screening sensing platform with an excellent electrical response demonstrates the potential capabilities of future high-speed response sensors.

Urinary tract infections (UTI) represent one of the most common problem within the urological disorders, and it is mainly caused by biofilm formation which leads to bacterial infection. Anti-adhesion and antibacterial agents are two primary mechanisms to prevent biofilm formation; however, current strategies are insufficiently effective. In this study, we developed an effective antibiofilm biodegradable polymer with high biocompatibility. Here we embedded silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in poly(glycerol sebacate) acrylate (PGSA) followed by superhydrophilic modification on the polymer surfaces. The modified surfaces were characterized using SEM, AFM and contact angle measurements. This anti-adhesive surface prevented the adhesion of E. coli and limited the biofilm coverage percentage to less than 3% in 24 h. In the in vitro degradation, the long-term antibiofilm performance was evaluated in Nowatzki-Stoodley artificial urine (NSAU). The surface modified AgNPs embedded PGSA (sPGSA-AgNPs) was able to effectively inhibit the formation of biofilm by reducing the biofilm coverage to less than 0.01%, and it also showed low cytotoxicity with human bladder carcinoma cell. With the effective antibiofilm, biocompatibility and biodegradability, it is possible to be applied in urological devices to ameliorate the situation of UTIs.

Solar energy powered sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is a novel strategy for obtaining fresh water in water-scarce regions. The major challenge is to design a cost-effective all-in-one solid bulk sorbent that can capture water from air, even when outdoor conditions are cool, dry, and with low-intensity nature sunlight. Here, we report a strategy comprising solution exchange and lyophilization for integrating a lithium chloride hygroscopic agent, a nanofibrillated cellulose hydrophilic skeleton and a graphene solar absorber, to exploit a solar-powered nanostructured biopolymer hygroscopic aerogel (NBHA) for AWH. The intrinsic porous bilayer structure with interconnected micron- and nano-scale channels of NBHA enables it readily absorb moisture (even at a low relative humidity of ~18%), has a high-water storage capacity, and requires little energy from natural sunlight for solar-driven light-to-vapor conversion. Liquid water was successfully harvested outdoors in natural sunlight of 0.10–0.56 kW m−2 using a facile device based on the NBHA. This work provides a convenient, effective, and practical solution for AWH, even in severe environmental conditions.

The accurate and rapid determination of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is of great importance in many applications such as clinical diagnosis, bioanalysis, and food safety. Moreover, H2O2 is a side product of specific enzymatic reactions. For instance, glucose could be oxidized to produce gluconic acid and H2O2 in the presence of glucose oxidase (GOx). Up until now, there have already been many methods to detect H2O2, including spectrophotometry, electroanalysis, and fluorometry. However, these techniques require expensive or sophisticated instruments. Therefore, low-cost, easy-to-use, sensitive H2O2 biosensors are necessary. In this decade, researchers have developed various approaches to detect the H2O2, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A common enzyme, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), could catalyze the oxidation of the substrate 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) by H2O2 to develop a green color in aqueous solution. But the enzyme has many environmental limitations, including temperature, pH value, and complicated purification process. As a result, enzyme-mimic materials have emerged. Among them, the noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) are eye-catching due to their unique properties such as strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption from the visible to near-infrared region, high stability, low cost, large surface-to-volume ratio, and high catalytic activity. Furthermore, NPs have been widely used in diverse fields ranging from ultrasensitive sensing, nanophotonics, solar cells to enzymatic reactions. In this study, we have developed two systems to detect H2O2 without any complicated equipments. Both of them are simple, low cost, and disposable. Most importantly, we could distinguish the color change by naked eyes. By these advantages, the sensors could be applied as point-of-care platforms and clinical diagnoses. The intrinsic catalytic ability of palladium nanoparticles in many specific reactions have been confirmed. Herein, our first system utilizes an enzymatic approach by using our hollow palladium nanostructure (PdNS) to catalyze the oxidization of ABTS by H2O2. In this case, we have successfully immobilized a nanoparticle array onto a commercial polymer substrate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), via a wet-chemical method. By mixing H2O2 with ABTS in an acetate buffer sollution (pH=4.6) and dropping the solution onto a PdNS-coated PET plate, we could observe the increasing darkness of green color with increasing H2O2 concentration by naked eyes. The high catalytic activity may attribute to the hollow structure with high surface area, and the intrinsic catalytic ability of Pd. In another system, we immobilized hollow gold nanostructure (AuNS) onto PET substrates, and then dropped the H2O2 solution directly onto the AuNS-coated PET plate. Because of the strong oxidizing ability of H2O2, the silver atoms in AuNS would be oxidized to silver ions and the AuNS would be transformed to a more porous structure. Owing to the changes in structure/morphology, different colors were obtained in various H2O2 concentrations by naked eyes. In summary, the two efficient sensing platforms show great sensitivity and obvious color changes. Moreover, combining specific enzymes or antibody with our platforms creates the potential for clinical diagnosis such as glucose or prostatic specific antigen (PSA) sensing. In the future, the applications of the sensing systems could extend to other fields that relate to H2O2.

Sorafenib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has recently been shown to be a potential antifibrotic agent. However, a narrow therapeutic window limits the clinical use and therapeutic efficacy of sorafenib. Herein, we have developed and optimized nanoparticle (NP) formulations prepared from a mixture of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PEG-PLGA) copolymers with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) for the systemic delivery of sorafenib into the fibrotic livers of CCl4-induced fibrosis mouse models. We characterized and compared the pharmaceutical and biological properties of two different PLGA nanoparticles (NPs)--PEG-PLGA NPs (PEG-PLGA/PLGA=10/0) and PEG-PLGA/PLGA NPs (PEG-PLGA/PLGA=5/5). Increasing the PLGA content in the PEG-PLGA/PLGA mixture led to increases in the particle size and drug encapsulation efficacy and a decrease in the drug release rate. Both PEG-PLGA and PEG-PLGA/PLGA NPs significantly prolonged the blood circulation of the cargo and increased the uptake by the fibrotic livers. The systemic administration of PEG-PLGA or PEG-PLGA/PLGA NPs containing sorafenib twice per week for a period of 4 weeks efficiently ameliorated liver fibrosis, as indicated by decreased α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) content and collagen production in the livers of CCl4-treated mice. Furthermore, sorafenib-loaded PLGA NPs significantly shrank the abnormal blood vessels and decreased microvascular density (MVD), leading to vessel normalization in the fibrotic livers. In conclusion, our results reflect the clinical potential of sorafenib-loaded PLGA NPs for the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis.

The development of biodegradable medical implants that are observable through rapid and non-invasive imaging techniques is crucial toward the treatments of many illnesses. However, the tracking of biodegradable medical devices in post-implantations remains problematic, due to the intrinsic radio-transparency of polymeric device. In this study, we developed a 3D-printable radiopaque polymer with tunable degradation rates and mechanical properties, and can be characterized through X-ray and computed tomography (CT). Three radiopacifiers were introduced to poly(glycerol sebacate) acrylate (PGSA), including barium sulfate, bismuth subcarbonate, bismuth oxychloride, and resulted in radiopacities that are equivalent in intensities to commercial BIOTEQⓇ pigtail drainage catheters. The changes in mechanical properties with varying concentration of radiopacifiers were studied, and bismuth oxychloride embedded PGSA (PGSA-BiOCl) was chosen for in vitro degradation over 30 days. The linear correlation between the mass loss and decrease in radiopacity of PGSA-BiOCl over time indicates the possible application of PGSA-BiOCl toward the monitoring of degrading implants, in contrast with similar PCL products. Through digital light processing additive manufacturing (DLP-AM), PGSA-BiOCl was proven to be 3D-printable and equally visible under radiological imaging when comparing to commercial products.

This paper describes a systematic investigation of the phenomenon of white-light-induced heating in silk fibroin films embedded with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). The Au NPs functioned to develop an ultrahigh broadband absorber, allowing white light to be used as a source for photothermal generation. With an increase of the Au content in the composite films, the absorbance was enhanced significantly around the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) wavelength, while non-LSPR wavelengths were also increased dramatically. The greater amount of absorbed light increased the rate of photoheating. The optimized composite film exhibited ultrahigh absorbances of approximately 95% over the spectral range from 350 to 750 nm, with moderate absorbances (60%) at longer wavelengths (750-1000 nm). As a result, the composite film absorbed almost all of the incident light and, accordingly, converted this optical energy to local heat. Therefore, significant temperature increases (ca. 100 °C) were readily obtained when we irradiated the composite film under a light-emitting diode or halogen lamp. Moreover, such composite films displayed linear light-to-heat responses with respect to the light intensity, as well as great photothermal stability. A broadband absorptive film coated on a simple Al/Si Schottky diode displayed a linear, significant, stable photo-thermo-electronic effect in response to varying the light intensity.

This paper describes the fabrication of paper-based plasmonic refractometric sensors through the embedding of metal nanoparticles (NPs) onto flexible papers using reversal nanoimprint lithography. The NP-embedded papers can serve as gas sensors for the detection of volatile biogenic amines (BAs) released from spoiled food. Commercial inkjet papers were employed as sensor substrates-their high reflectance (80%) and smooth surfaces (roughness: ca. 4.9 nm) providing significant optical signals for reflection-mode plasmonic refractometric sensing and high particle transfer efficiency, respectively; in addition, because inkjet papers have lightweight and are burnable and flexible, they are especially suitable for developing portable, disposable, cost-effective, eco-friendly sensing platforms. Solid silver NPs (SNPs), solid gold NPs (GNPs), and hollow Au-Ag alloyed NPs (HGNs) were immobilized on a solid mold and then transferred directly onto the softened paper surfaces. The particle number density and exposure height of the embedded NPs were dependent on two imprinting parameters: applied pressure and temperature. The optimal samples exhibited high particle transfer efficiency (ca. 85%), a sufficient exposure surface area (ca. 50% of particle surface area) presented to the target molecules, and a strong resonance reflectance dip for detection. Moreover, the HGN-embedded paper displayed a significant wavelength dip shift upon the spontaneous adsorption of BA vapors (e.g., Δλ = 33 nm for putrescine; Δλ = 24 nm for spermidine), indicating high refractometric sensitivity; in contrast, no visible spectroscopic responses were observed with respect to other possibly coexisting gases (e.g., air, N

An environmentally benign four-component reaction in aqueous medium in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTACl) has been developed for the synthesis of 6-amino-3-methyl-4-aryl-/1-phenyl-1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole-5-carbonitrile. The method presented is mild, environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and functionality tolerant and gives the products in good to excellent yields.

Silver octahedra with edge lengths controlled in the range of 20-72 nm were synthesized via seed-mediated growth. The key to the success of this synthesis is the use of single-crystal Ag seeds with uniform and precisely controlled sizes to direct the growth and the use of citrate as a selective capping agent for the {111} facets. Our mechanistic studies demonstrated that Ag seeds with both cubic and quasi-spherical shapes could evolve into octahedra. For the first time, we were able to precisely control the edge lengths of Ag octahedra below 100 nm, and the lower limit of size could even be pushed down to 20 nm. Using the as-obtained Ag octahedra as sacrificial templates, Au nanocages with an octahedral shape and precisely tunable optical properties were synthesized through a galvanic replacement reaction. Such hollow nanostructures are promising candidates for a broad range of applications related to optics, catalysis, and biomedicine.

A facile, robust approach to the synthesis of Au cubic nanoframes is described. The synthesis involves three major steps: 1) preparation of Au-Ag alloyed nanocages using a galvanic replacement reaction between Ag nanocubes and HAuCl4 ; 2) deposition of thin layers of pure Au onto the surfaces of the nanocages by reducing HAuCl4 with ascorbic acid, and; 3) formation of Au cubic nanoframes through a dealloying process with HAuCl4 . The key to the formation of Au cubic nanoframes is to coat the surfaces of the Au-Ag nanocages with sufficiently thick layers of Au before they are dealloyed. The Au layer could prevent the skeleton of a nanocage from being fragmented during the dealloying step. The as-prepared Au cubic nanoframes exhibit tunable localized surface plasmon resonance peaks in the near-infrared region, but with much lower Ag content as compared with the initial Au-Ag nanocages.

The three-component Kabachnik–Fields reaction of substituted salicylaldehydes, aromatic amine, and triphenyl phosphite in water was effectively catalyzed by p-toluenesulfonic acid to give various α-amino phosphonates in good yields. The catalyst is easily available and inexpensive, and the process is green and mild. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 24:110–115, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/hc.21071

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance mud logging technology (NMR mud logging) is a new mud logging technology. Mainly applies the CPMG（Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill）pulse sequence to measure transverse relaxation time (T2) of the fluid. NMR mud logging can measure drill cutting, core and sidewall core in the well site, also according to the experiment results, the sample type and size has little effect to analysis result. Through NMR logging, we can obtain several petrophysical parameters such as total porosity, effective porosity, permeability, oil saturation, water saturation, movable fluid saturation, movable oil saturation, movable water saturation, irreducible fluid saturation, irreducible oil saturation, irreducible water saturation, pore size and distribution in rock samples, etc. NMR mud logging has been used nearly 10 years in China, Sudan, Kazakhstan, etc. it plays an important role in the interpretation and evaluation of reservoir and its fluids.