Biomimetic Aerogel for Moisture-Induced Energy Harvesting and Self-Powered Electronic Skin

Moisture–electric generator (MEG)-based blue energy is widely studied. There is still a significant challenge in improving the power of the MEGs system and expanding its application in self-powered electronic skin. Inspired by the structure of ferns, a biomimetic moisture–electric aerogel is designed to collect energy. Polyvinyl alcohol dendritic colloids act as “roots” and “stems” to provide support and channels to transport water molecules. Meanwhile, “leaf-like” graphene oxide sheets generate electricity through direct interaction with water. Besides, based on the above biomimetic structure, this work further enhances the output performance of MEGs by increasing the specific surface area (120.4 m² g⁻¹) and introducing an ultra-high ion density gradient (from −35 to +37 mV). Meanwhile, due to the excellent water absorption, the MEGs show good salt resistance and cyclic stability. By constructing unique biomimetic structures, ultra-high ion density gradient, and regulating environmental conditions, a high-performance MEG is obtained, including ultra-high open-circuit voltage (1.9 V) and short-circuit current (82.5 µA), the industry-leading power density among MEGs with continuous output is reported in the literature (22.55 µW cm⁻²). Besides, the MEGs can accurately respond to environmental and pressure changes, showing its application potential in self-powered electronic skin.     

Direct Observation of Oxygen Ion Dynamics in a WO3-x based Second-Order Memristor with Dendritic Integration Functions

Direct observation of oxygen dynamics in an oxide-based second-order memristor can provide the valid evidence to clarify the memristive mechanism, however, which is still limited for now. In this study, the migration and diffusion of oxygen ions in the region of Pt/WO_3-x Schottky interface are observed in the WO_3-x second-order memristor by using the technique of in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the electron energy loss spectroscopy. Interestingly, the coexistence of memristive and memcapacitive switching can be implemented in this memristor. Combined with the analysis of depth-profile X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), an interface-barrier-modulation second-order memristive model is proposed based on the above results. Notably, temporally correlative oxygen dynamics in the memristor offers the platform to integrate signals from multiple inputs, enabling the realization of the dendritic functions of synchronous and asynchronous integration for the application of logic operations with fault-tolerance capability and associative learning. These findings provide the experimental evidence to in-depth understanding of oxygen dynamics and switching mechanism in second-order memristor, which can support the optimization of memristive performance and the achievement of biorealistic synaptic functions.     

Nanogel Encapsulated Hydrogels As Advanced Wound Dressings for the Controlled Delivery of Antibiotics

Biocompatible and degradable dual-delivery gel systems based on hyperbranched dendritic−linear−dendritic copolymers (HBDLDs) is herein conceptualized and accomplished via thiol-ene click chemistry. The elasticity of the hydrogels is tunable by varying the lengths of PEG (2, 6, 10 kDa) or the dry weight percentages (20, 30, 40 wt%), and are found to range from 2–14.7 kPa, comparable to human skin. The co-delivery of antibiotics is achieved, where the hydrophilic drug novobiocin sodium salt (NB) is entrapped within the hydrophilic hydrogel, while the hydrophobic antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) is encapsulated within the dendritic nanogels (DNGs) with hydrophobic cores (DNGs-CIP). The DNGs-CIP with drug loading capacity of 2.83 wt% are then physically entrapped within the hybrid hydrogels through UV curing. The hybrid hydrogels enable the quick release of NB and prolonged released of CIP. In vitro cell infection assays showed that the antibiotic-loaded hybrid hydrogels are able to treat bacterial infections with significant bacterial reduction. Hybrid hydrogel band aids are fabricated and exhibited better antibacterial activity compared with commercial antimicrobial band aids. Remarkably, most hydrogels and hybrid hydrogels show enhanced human dermal cell proliferation and could be degraded into non-toxic constituents, showing great promise as wound dressing materials.     

Thermoresponsive Hydrogels as Microniches for Growth and Controlled Release of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The recently emerging stem-cell artificial niche engineering in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs) 3D cultures has provided enormous opportunities to fully utilize the potential of these cells in biomedical applications. Although a fully chemically defined niche environment can supply cells with desirable safety for clinical use, establishing an artificial degradable niche environment for the controlled release of proliferated cells under mild conditions is still a big challenge. Here, an advanced controlled releasable iPSC 3D artificial niche is reported based on dendritic polyglycerol and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-polyethylene glycol polymers via a physical–chemical cogelation strategy. Benefiting from the chemically defined synthetic materials and their precise cooperation by covalent cross-linking and physical phase transition, the cogelation-based artificial niche system can be adjusted with optimal parameters and owns high cell biocompatibility to support the robust production of high quality iPSCs with an excellent expansion efficiency. Moreover, the expanded cells can be released out of their niche environment controllably only by adjusting the temperature. Overall, this controlled release hydrogel scaffold shows great promise in iPSC 3D culture for downstream applications.     

随机模糊神经网络在快速凝固研究中的应用

液态金属的快速凝固已经发展成为广泛应用的先进材料制备技术。但是,迄今为止对这一过程中晶体生长动力学规律仍缺乏真正完备的理论描述。实际上,不论是传统的急冷快速凝固工艺还是深过冷条件下的三维快速凝固,两者都是以高速传热传质为特征的复杂非线性动力学过程。如果采用常规的数学物理分析方法,建立一个描述快速凝固过程中组织形成规律的普适性理论模型是极其困难的。10年来,LiptonKurz和Trivedi[1]提出的“LKT快速枝晶生长模型”在过冷度ΔT200K的中等过冷范围内能够较广泛地适用[2,3]。随着空间材料科学的发展,目前实验技术已经…     

树枝状大分子催化剂的合成与应用研究进展

介绍了一类新型催化剂－树枝状大分子的合成方法。包括发散法，收敛法，高度核心和支化单体法及双倍指数混合生长法，同时介绍了新型催化剂的结构特点，重点论述了催化活性中心在核心和外围端基两类催化剂在加氢，Diels-Alder反应，Fischer-Tropsch反应，Heck反应，Kharasch加成反应等中的应用，展望了这类新型催化剂的发展前景。     

转基因树突状细胞激活细胞毒性T细胞特异性杀伤淋巴瘤的体外实验

目的 探讨转基因树突状细胞激活细胞毒性T细胞产生抗淋巴瘤的特异性细胞免疫反应。方法 采用人骨髓来源的髓系前体细胞,在人细胞因子IL-4、GM-CSF和INF-α诱导下,在体外生成大量树突状细胞。将制备好的含有IgVH1核酸质粒,用脂质体法转染树突状细胞。转染成功的树突状细胞与外周血T淋巴细胞共培养,激活特异性CTL细胞,与阳性表达IgVH1的人淋巴瘤Namalwa细胞反应,用3H-TdR掺入法观察CLLs对瘤细胞的特异性杀伤效应。结果 树突状细胞能够用脂质体方法转染IgVH1核酸质粒,并且有效递呈给外周血T细胞,对表达IgVH1的人淋巴瘤Namalwa细胞产生特异性免疫杀伤活性,与对照组相比差异有显著意义（P<0.01）。结论 体外诱导扩增的 DC能够转染 IgVH1核酸质粒,体外激活T淋巴细胞,产生特异性细胞毒效应。     

A Trip to Oz and a Peak Behind the Curtain of Magnesium Batteries

The introduction of the Li‐ion battery has revolutionized the electronics industry due to its high energy density. Magnesium batteries may have the potential to exceed the energy densities of Li‐ion batteries. Herein, the major advancements in magnesium electrochemistry and the challenges that must be overcome to realize a practical magnesium battery are discussed. So too are the controversial realities of current magnesium battery research and their implications.     

Interaction of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Soft Nanocomposite Hydrogels Based on Polyethylene Glycol and Dendritic Polyglycerol

Keeping the stemness of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and their adipocyte differentiation potential is critical for clinical use. However, these features are lost on traditional substrates. hMSCs have often been studied on stiff materials whereas culturing hMSCs in their native niche increases their potential. Herein, a patterned hydrogel nanocomposite with the stiffness of liver tissues is obtained without any molding process. To investigate hMSCs' mechanoresponse to the material, the RGD spacing units and the stiffness of the hydrogels are dually tuned via the linker length. This work suggests that hMSCs' locomotion is influenced by the nature of the hydrogel layer (bulk or thin film). Contrary to on bulk surfaces, cell traction occurs during cell spreading on thin films. In addition, hMSCs' spreading behavior varies from shorter to longer linker‐based hydrogels, where on both surfaces hMSCs maintains their stemness as well as their adipogenic differentiation potential with a higher number of adipocytes for nanocomposites with a longer polymer linker. Overall, this work addresses the need for a new alternative for hMSCs culture allowing the cells to differentiate exclusively into adipocytes. This material represents a cell‐responsive platform with a tissue‐mimicking architecture given by the mechanical and morphological properties of the hydrogel.