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Augmenting contact lenses with sensing capabilities requires incorporating multiple functionalities within a diminutive device. Inspired by multifunctional biophotonic nanostructures of glasswing butterflies, a nanostructured scleral lens with enhanced optical, bactericidal, and sensing capabilities is reported. When used in conjunction with a smartphone‐integrated Raman spectrometer, the feasibility of point‐of‐care applications is demonstrated. The bioinspired nanostructures made on parylene films are mounted on the anterior and posterior side of a scleral lens to create a nanostructured lens. Compared to unstructured parylene, nanostructured parylene minimizes glare by 4.3‐fold at large viewing angles up to 80o. When mounted on a scleral lens, the nanostructures block 2.8‐fold more ultraviolet (UVA) light while offering 1.1‐fold improved transmission in the visible regime. Furthermore, the nanostructures exhibit potent bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli, killing 89% of tested bacteria within 4 h. The same nanostructures, when gold‐coated, are used to perform rapid label‐free multiplex detection of lysozyme and lactoferrin, the protein biomarkers of the chronic dry eye disease, in whole human tears using drop‐coating deposition Raman spectroscopy. The detection of both proteins in whole human tear samples from different subjects using the nanostructured lens produced excellent correlation with commercial enzyme‐based assays while simultaneously displaying a 1.5‐fold lower standard deviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Such bioinspired scleral lens sensors can detect lysozyme and lactoferrin in whole human tears for chronic dry eye disease management. In article number 2205113, Radwanul Hasan Siddique, Hyuck Choo, and co-workers have shown that integrating glasswing butterfly wing-inspired nanostructures on a scleral lens can enhance visibility, block UV radiation, reduce bacterial infection and add sensing capabilities too! B Bioinspired Nanostructures b How can glasswing butterflies make contact lenses more functional?. [Extracted from the article]

A horn-shaped metal-clad InGaAsP nano-cavity with sloped sidewalls is proposed as a platform for nanoscale light sources. The nano-cavity’s physical dimensions are 350 × 350 × 350 nm3, and its mode volume is 0.5 (λ0/n)3. In our numerical simulations and quantitative analysis, we have shown that the sloped sidewalls reduce metallic absorption and improve resonant mode confinement; and adjusting their slope from 0 to 16° increased the Q factor from 150 to 900 and laser modulation 3dB bandwidth from 4.3 to 36 GHz. The lasing threshold current was expected to be 35 µA at 16°. In a simulated feasibility study, we demonstrate 60 Gbps modulated laser signal (5 fJ/bit), producing 20 µW output power at the 1.5 µm wavelength with injection current 100 µA, as an implementation of horn-shaped nano-cavity platform to the low power and ultra-fast on-chip nano-laser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing pandemic and increasing frequency of infectious disease outbreaks due to climate change, urbanization, and global human migration have put great focus on nucleic acid amplification‐based diagnostic technologies (NAAT). These methods can provide gold standard accuracy and sensitivity, and their widespread availability at the point‐of‐care is crucial for managing the spread of pathogens in human and animal populations, as well as for environmental surveillance. However, so far the reach of NAAT‐based platforms has mostly remained limited to centralized facilities in the hand of trained workers, causing great distress in times of need. In this review, the current state‐of‐the‐art research, as well as, commercial diagnostic products, is highlighted, their performances are discussed, and the role of academic‐industrial collaborations in developing the next generation of breakthrough technologies is emphasized. It is envisioned that with these collaborations, the next generation of autonomous, affordable, and mobile NAAT devices can be developed, for a broad range of targets, and for providing truly democratized access to NAAT diagnostics for the global population in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the white beetle of the genus Cyphochilus, we fabricate ultra-thin, porous PMMA films by foaming with CO2 saturation. Optimising pore diameter and fraction in terms of broad-band reflectance results in very thin films with exceptional whiteness. Already films with 60 µm-thick scattering layer feature a whiteness with a reflectance of 90%. Even 9 µm thin scattering layers appear white with a reflectance above 57%. The transport mean free path in the artificial films is between 3.5 µm and 4 µm being close to the evolutionary optimised natural prototype. The bio-inspired white films do not lose their whiteness during further shaping, allowing for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The butterfly genus Hypolimnas features iridescent blue colouration in some areas of its dorsal wings. Here, we analyse the mechanisms responsible for such colouration on the dorsal wings of Hypolimnas salmacis and experimentally demonstrate that the lower thin lamina in the white cover scales causes the blue iridescence. This outcome contradicts other studies reporting that the radiant blue in Hypolimnas butterflies is caused by complex ridge-lamellar architectures in the upper lamina of the cover scales. Our comprehensive optical study supported by numerical calculation however shows that scale stacking primarily induces the observed colour appearance of Hypolimnas salmacis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomimicry is the practice of imitating naturally occurring bio‐designs through engineering and invention. For instance, Blue Morpho butterfly wing colors are a result of the reflection and refraction of nanostructures embedded in the wing and have inspired practical applications in nanofabrication and photonics. Interdisciplinary science educational materials have been developed that demonstrate the cross‐disciplinary aspects and biomimetic properties used in designing nano‐based devices. The unique optical properties of the Blue Morpho wing provides an excellent source of demonstrating how aspects of chemistry, biology, physics, and nanotechnology relate. Specifically, these educational tools demonstrate concepts including natural selection, chemical and physical properties, structure at the nanoscale, optical, and electromagnetic design. In addition, the engaging activities are correlated to how nanotechnology drives invention and provides students a mechanism to be introduced to the possibilities nanotechnology provides. A comprehensive combination of lab, cleanroom, and classroom activities are suggested to promote remote learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: molecular diagnostics; nucleic acid amplification technologies; nucleic acids; point-of-cares EN molecular diagnostics nucleic acid amplification technologies nucleic acids point-of-cares 1 1 1 10/30/23 20231024 NES 231024 B Mobile Health Devices b Mobile-health platforms have the potential to provide real-time monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment options to individuals regardless of their location. Enabled by university-industry collaborations, in article 2300230, Hyuck Choo, Youngeun Kim, Shailabh Kumar, and co-workers envision a new generation of autonomous, affordable, and mobile health devices, for a broad range of targets, and providing truly democratized access to nucleic acid-based diagnostics for the global population in the future. Molecular diagnostics, nucleic acid amplification technologies, nucleic acids, point-of-cares. [Extracted from the article]