Contact guidance is vital to many physiological processes, yet is still poorly understood. This is partly due to the variability of experimental platforms, making comparisons difficult. To combat this, a multiplexed approach was used to fabricate topographical cues on single quartz coverslips for high-throughput screening. Furthermore, this method offers control of surface roughness and protein adsorption characterization, two critical aspects to the in vitro environment often overlooked in contact guidance platforms. The quartz surface can be regenerated, is compatible with versatile microscopy modes, and can scale up for manufacturing offering a novel platform that could serve as a potential standard assay.

The interaction between negatively charged all-inorganic silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) is studied. It is shown that a small difference in the size of Si QDs affects the structure of Si QD–BSA composites significantly. When the diameter of Si QDs is 4 nm, a heterodimer (~20 nm) composed of one Si QD and one BSA molecule is a preferable and stable structure. On the other hand, when the diameter is 7 nm, the size of the composites increases to ~50 nm. The Si QD–BSA composites exhibit stable photoluminescence in the near-infrared range in phosphate-buffered saline.

Dielectric thin films of high- and low-refractive index are the essential components for optical coatings. To achieve high sputtering rates and superior film quality, the authors have developed novel conductive SiO2:Si and ZnO:Zn composites that become conductive once the doped silicon and metal Zn reach a critical ratio. The sputtering characteristics of the composite targets in direct current and radio-frequency (RF) plasma discharge are quite different from the corresponding element targets. The optical properties of the RF sputtered SiO2 and ZnO films from the composite targets is comparable with the films obtained from RF sputtering of pure oxide targets.

The development of more sustainable construction materials is a crucial step toward the reduction of CO2 emissions to mitigate climate change issues and minimize environmental impacts of the associated industries. Therefore, there is a growing demand for bio-based binders which are not only safer toward human and environmental health but also facilitate cleaner disposal of the construction materials and enable their compostability. Here, we summarize the most relevant bio-based polymers and molecules with applications in the construction sector. Due to the biologic nature of these materials, the existing biotechnologic processes, including synthetic biology, for their development and production have been evaluated.

The authors design six alumina hybrid structures consisting of stretching-dominated plates and different space-filling lattices comprised of hollow tubes and perform finite element simulations to study mechanical and failure behaviors of such hybrid structures. The authors investigate the effects of three geometrical parameters on the stiffness and failure of these hybrid structures and further compare their advantages and disadvantages. The authors find that the failure modes of these hybrid structures can be tuned by altering cell unit type and geometrical parameters. Among these hybrid structures, the ones with effective support from the lattice unit cells in the stretching direction exhibit better specific stiffness and strength. By varying the lattice and plate thickness, the authors find that the relations between stiffness/failure strength and density follow a power law. When intrinsic material failure occurs, the power law exponent is 1; when buckling failure arises, the power law exponent is 3. However, by varying tube thickness, their relations follow unusual power relations with the exponent changing from nearly 0 to nearly infinity. In addition, the hybrid structures also exhibit defect insensitivity. This study shows that such hybrid structures are able to greatly expand the design space of architectured cellular materials for engineering applications.

Spider dragline silk is a self-assembling protein that rivals many engineering fibers in strength, extensibility, and toughness, making it a versatile biocompatible material. Here, atomistic-level structures of wildtype MaSp1 protein from the Nephila clavipes spider dragline silk sequences, obtained using an in silico approach based on replica exchange molecular dynamics and explicit water, are subjected to nanomechanical testing and released preceding failure. We approximate the relaxation time from an exponential decay function, and identify permanent changes in secondary structure. Our work provides fundamental insights into the time-dependent properties of silk and possibly other protein materials.

Titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) were doped with vanadium using a novel, facile, and inexpensive method. The TiO2 NPs were dispersed in a vanadyl oxalate solution prepared by dissolving vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) in oxalic acid. A short heat treatment at 400 °C applied to the dried mixture resulted in the doping of TiO2 with a net measured decrease of its band gap by about 0.5 eV, making this important semiconductor material usable in the visible light spectrum.

In this work, effects of heat treatment on the heterojunction between MoOx and ZnO quantum dots (QDs) are analyzed possibly for the first time. Solution-processed and thermal deposition technique is used for the growth of MoOx over the ZnO QDs and compared for the electrical analysis. The absorption and photoluminescence properties of ZnO QDs and MoOx have been analyzed for the optical behavior. Further, the heat-treated heterojunctions are analyzed for built-in potential (0.25 V), carrier density (~2.9 × 1018 cm−3), and responsivity (3.93 mAW−1). The heterojunction of solution-processed MoOx and ZnO QDs shows better stability after heat treatment compared with other devices.

Fullerite derivatives synthesized with a catalytic polymerization reaction at a relatively low-pressure range of 0.5–4 GPa show unique mechanical properties: elastic recovery is 98% and hardness possibly approaches 100 GPa. Structure of the samples is also unique: one composes from fragments of C60 molecules linked by the covalent bonds. To obtain the homogeneous crack-free samples, we synthesized B4C–fullerite derivatives composite which show a 550 MPa flexural stress, a 2250 MPa compressive strength, and a 28 GPa hardness and have density of 2.2 g/cm3.

We present the synthesis and the characterization of a novel cellulose-based electroactive hydrogel obtained through a simple water-based process. Its swelling and electroactive properties are here studied especially in low salinity water solutions. By combining smart materials and three-dimensional printing technique, we assessed that hydrogels can be shaped as natural algae and their motion can be controlled with electric signals to mimic natural seaweed movements under the effect of water flow. This could constitute a first step toward the development of hybrid habitats where artificial smart algae could cohabit with real living organisms or microorganisms.

Due to the lack of an effective and noninvasive screening tool, the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently difficult. For the early diagnosis of CRC, we have developed Fe3O4-Dye800-single chain fragment variable (ScFv)egfr/vegfr nanoprobes. ScFvegfr/vegfr (ScFv2) conjugated onto Fe3O4 nanoprobes efficiently recognized CRC tumors in vitro and in vivo. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging modalities such as Dye800 were utilized simultaneously with magnetic resonance to enhance detection efficiency. Fe3O4-Dye800-ScFv2 successfully detected tiny CRC tumors; the synergistic ScFv2 successfully enhanced CRC targeting. Thus, Fe3O4-Dye800-ScFv2 nanoprobes may represent a new molecular imaging strategy for the early detection of CRC.

Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) enhances mechanical performance of cement composites via short-circuit diffusion (SCD). CNCs transport water along their hydrophilic surface into the unhydrated cement cores to induce extra hydration. It is important to characterize CNC distribution because it determines the SCD pathways. This study for the first time, employs virtual environment dynamic atomic force microscopy, an atomic force microscopy computational tool to investigate CNC distribution in both fresh and hardened cement pastes. The methods not only provide insights in a static context (hardened sample), but also offer opportunities to evaluate the interaction of CNCs with calcium-silicate-hydrate growth during the kinetic early ages of hydration.

This article reviews the semiconductor and metal-based nanohybrid-sensitized photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells for hydrogen generation from water. The nanoscale hybridization of sensitizers in the photoanode can enhance light harvesting, interfacial charge transfer, charge separation, and induce a catalytic effect in dependence on the kind of the components and interfacial junction state. Subsequent to the introduction, second and third sections present the basic structure and design of the nanohybrid-sensitized PEC cell. Fourth section deals with the effect of the interfacial bond between quantum dots and TiO2 on the electron injection process. Fifth section mainly describes the formation of heteroepitaxial junction between the components of nanohybrids. In the sixth section, the state-of-the-art nanohybrid-sensitized PEC cells are treated with a particular emphasis placed on the interface state.

The authors prepared a micro-structured, thermosensitive hydrogel with N-isopropylacrylamide microgels with a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of 32 °C dispersed on a matrix of N-isopropylacrylamide-co-dimethylacrylamide with an LCST at 40 °C. Incubation of the hydrogel at 33 °C in a solution of fluorescein-albumin induced loading of the protein. The protein was not loaded at a temperature below the LCST of the microgels (4 °C), suggesting that the shrinkage of the microgels followed by the formation of micropores within the hydrogel matrix is a prerequisite for protein loading. A sustained and complete release of the loaded protein was obtained at 37 °C.

In this work, the guest Li+ conduction properties in NaBr–LiBH4 system were investigated. It was suggested that the guest Li+ ions occupy the Na+ sites and BH4− ions substitute the Br− ions in NaBr. The dominant Li+ conduction in NaBr–LiBH4 system was demonstrated by the combination of electrochemical measurements and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. The guest Li+ ion conductivity of 15NaBr·LiBH4 was measured to be 1 × 10−7 S/cm at 313 K. The present results indicate that the guest Li+ conductors are not restricted to the previous reported iodides (NaI, KI), but other Li-free compounds have the possibility to become the candidates for the guest Li+ ion conductors.

Quantitative Fe content determination of powders by Mössbauer spectroscopy is described. In this method, powder samples and internal standard are combined homogeneously in a plastic film ensuring a thin absorber. This method was verified by quantifying the Fe content of a series of samples and independently confirming by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopic analysis. Additionally, for the first time, Fe contamination in ball-milled Si as a function of milling time was quantified. It was found that Fe contamination increased with time but surprisingly became steady state at 1.12 ± 0.04 at.% Fe after grain size reduction.

In this study, Mg-substituted tricalcium phosphate (Mg-TCP) nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal reactions of Mg-calcite mesocrystals from echinoderm skeletons. Following the biomineralization of echinoderms, Mg-calcite powder was synthesized via the solid-state transition of Mg-amorphous calcium carbonate prepared by a wet-chemical precipitation method, which can also be used to fabricate Mg-TCP. We illustrated that Mg-calcite with a certain level of Mg substitution led to the formation of Mg-TCP through the ion-exchange reactions in the hydrothermal system. Therefore, this study provides a new pathway for the synthesis of Mg-TCP nanoparticles.

In in vitro separate compartment model of neuronal cells and extracellular iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs)–amyloid complexes, a traversing proton-induced Coulomb nanoradiator effect (CNR) was found to break up the ION–amyloid fibrils and to induce redox changes in the IONs. We found that the CNR effect caused the conversion of redox-active iron (II) into redox-inactive iron (III) as well as the disruption of the ION–amyloid fibrils without significantly damaging normal neuronal cells. Our observations suggest a non-invasive redox inactivation and β-amyloidolyis-based therapy of neurotoxic Aβ plaque involving a traversing proton Coulomb nanochelator that would not substantially impact normal neuronal cells.

The emerging planar subwavelength microlens has attracted wide attention recently. There exists a trade-off in the selection of phase shifter materials for the lens designed with linearly polarized incidence. In this work, we have discovered that it is possible to utilize tapered nanostructure to increase the transmission of phase shifters built with high refractive index materials. A typical grating microlens is demonstrated to examine the effectiveness of taper-enhancement effect—the focus efficiency is increased from 9% to 28% with the properly designed tapered sidewall. Our work will provide a novel method to enhance performance using high refractive index materials in the emerging microlens field.

An amorphous aluminum oxide supercapacitor can store a large amount of electric storge on the uneven surfaces with AlO6 clusters. The amount of stored electricity increases with decreasing convex diameter d and depth of valley h. The nondestructive detection of AlO6 clusters on a surface with (Al0.91Y0.09)O1.66 oxide layer at a depth of 0.5 μm was determined based on a 3505 cm−1 peak band in the Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectrum and one 1047 cm−1 peak in the microRaman spectrum. The discharging time (T) could be expressed as T = 1.388 × 100.019 I. Thus, we can evaluate the amount of electricity by the nondestructive detection methods such as FT-IR and the microRaman spectra.