Single-Cell Microgels for Diagnostics and Therapeutics

Cell encapsulation within hydrogel droplets is transforming what is feasible in multiple fields of biomedical science such as tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, in vitro modeling, and cell-based therapies. Recent advances have allowed researchers to miniaturize material encapsulation complexes down to single-cell scales, where each complex, termed a single-cell microgel, contains only one cell surrounded by a hydrogel matrix while remaining <100 μm in size. With this achievement, studies requiring single-cell resolution are now possible, similar to those done using liquid droplet encapsulation. Of particular note, applications involving long-term in vitro cultures, modular bioinks, high-throughput screenings, and formation of 3D cellular microenvironments can be tuned independently to suit the needs of individual cells and experimental goals. In this progress report, an overview of established materials and techniques used to fabricate single-cell microgels, as well as insight into potential alternatives is provided. This focused review is concluded by discussing applications that have already benefited from single-cell microgel technologies, as well as prospective applications on the cusp of achieving important new capabilities.     

Environmentally Friendly Graphene Inks for Touch Screen Sensors

Graphene-based materials have attracted significant attention in many technological fields, but scaling up graphene-based technologies still faces substantial challenges. High-throughput top-down methods generally require hazardous, toxic, and high-boiling-point solvents. Here, an efficient and inexpensive strategy is proposed to produce graphene dispersions by liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) through a combination of shear-mixing (SM) and tip sonication (TS) techniques, yielding highly concentrated graphene inks compatible with spray coating. The quality of graphene flakes (e.g., lateral size and thickness) and their concentration in the dispersions are compared using different spectroscopic and microscopy techniques. Several approaches (individual SM and TS, and their combination) are tested in three solvents (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, and cyrene). Interestingly, the combination of SM and TS in cyrene yields high-quality graphene dispersions, overcoming the environmental issues linked to the other two solvents. Starting from the cyrene dispersion, a graphene-based ink is prepared to spray-coat flexible electrodes and assemble a touch screen prototype. The electrodes feature a low sheet resistance (290 Ω □⁻¹) and high optical transmittance (78%), which provide the prototype with a high signal-to-noise ratio (14 dB) and multi-touch functionality (up to four simultaneous touches). These results illustrate a potential pathway toward the integration of LPE-graphene in commercial flexible electronics.     

基于MF-DCCA 的呼吸道疾病与大气污染物相关性分析

针对呼吸道系统疾病与大气 PM2:5、 SO2 浓度序列的相关性特征, 应用多重分形消除趋势波动分析法 (MF-DCCA), 对张家界市永定区呼吸道系统疾病患病人数与大气 PM2:5、 SO2 浓度序列进行了研究。结果发现该地区 呼吸道系统疾病患病人数与大气 PM2:5、 SO2 浓度的相关性具有长期持续特征和多重分形特征。随后对它们相关性 多重分形特征的动力来源进行了分析, 通过随机重排和相位随机处理, 结果表明在不同时间尺度上的长期持续性影响 是其主要动力来源。进一步研究发现该地区呼吸道系统疾病与大气 PM2:5、 SO2 浓度序列的相关性在四个季节均具 有长期持续性的多重分形特征, 且夏季多重分形特征相对强于其他季节。     

Achieving fabrication of highly transparent Y2O3 ceramics via air pre-sintering by deionization treatment of suspension

An easy albeit quite effective deionization suspension treatment was adopted to alleviate the detrimental effects related to the hydrolysis of Y₂O₃ in an aqueous medium. Fabrication of highly transparent Y₂O₃ ceramics with a fine grain size via air pre-sintering and post–hot isostatic pressing (HIP) treatment without using any sintering additive was achieved using the treated suspensions. The hydrolysis issue of Y₂O₃ powder in an aqueous medium was effectively alleviated by using deionization treatment, and a well-dispersed suspension with a low concentration of dissolved Y³⁺ species was obtained. The dispersed suspensions were consolidated by the centrifugal casting method, and the green bodies derived from the suspension of 35.0 vol% solid loading showed an improved homogeneity with a relative density of 52.1%. Fully dense Y₂O₃ transparent ceramic with high transparency was obtained by pre-sintering consolidated green compacts at a low temperature of 1400°C for 16 h in air followed by a post-HIP treatment at 1550°C for 2 h under 200 MPa pressure. The sample had a fine average grain size of 690 nm. The in-line transmittance of the sample reached 83.3% and 81.8% at 1100 nm and 800 nm, respectively, very close to the theoretical values of Y₂O₃.     

Thermal depolarization and electromechanical hardening in Zn2+-doped Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3-BaTiO3

Na_1/2Bi_1/2TiO₃-based materials have been earmarked for one of the first large-volume applications of lead-free piezoceramics in high-power ultrasonics. Zn²⁺-doping is demonstrated as a viable route to enhance the thermal depolarization temperature and electromechanically harden (1-y)Na_1/2Bi_1/2TiO₃-yBaTiO₃ (NBT100yBT) with a maximum achievable operating temperature of 150 °C and mechanical quality factor of 627 for 1 mole % Zn²⁺-doped NBT6BT. Although quenching from sintering temperatures has been recently touted to enhance T_F-R, with quenching the doped compositions featuring an additional increase in T_F-R by 17 °C, it exhibits negligible effect on the electromechanical properties. The effect is rationalized considering the missing influence on conductivity and therefore, negligible changes in the defect chemistry upon quenching. High-resolution diffraction indicates that Zn²⁺-doped samples favor the tetragonal phase with enhanced lattice distortion, further corroborated by ²³Na Nuclear Magnetic Resonance investigations.     

Microstructure and electromagnetic properties of LiFe5O8 ferrite ceramics prepared from wet- and dry-milled powders

The effect of dry and wet ball milling of LiFe₅O₈ ferrite powder on the microstructure and electromagnetic properties of ferrite ceramics was studied using XRD analysis, scanning electron microscopy, dilatometry, thermogravimetry, calorimetry, and measurement of specific magnetization and electrical resistance. The sintering temperature was 1050 °C; the sintering time was 2 h. It was found that ferrite fabricated from dry-milled powder exhibits an ordered α-LiFe₅O₈ phase with bulk density of 91%. Its saturation magnetization and Curie temperature are 55 emu/g and 628°С, respectively. Specific electrical resistance is 4?10⁶ Ω cm. Wet milling in isopropyl alcohol causes formation of a disordered β-LiFe₅O₈ phase. Ceramics produced by this method shows higher bulk density (97%) and low porosity, and an order of magnitude lower resistivity. Its saturation magnetization and Curie temperature are 51 emu/g and 607°С, respectively.     

Methanol Synthesis with Steel Mill Gases: Performance Investigations in an On-Site Technical Center

An on-site laboratory with direct access to cleaned and conditioned steel mill gases was recently put into operation. The long-term performance and stability of Clariant's MegaMax®800 methanol synthesis catalyst utilizing steel mill gases is currently being investigated. First test results revealed that in order to investigate deactivation mechanisms arising from particular properties of the cleaned steel mill gases, the overlaying effect of thermal deactivation of the catalyst has to be minimized.     

Low thermal conductivity in porous SiC–SiO2–Al2O3–TiO2 ceramics induced by multiphase thermal resistance

The introduction of multiple heterogeneous interfaces in a ceramic is an efficient way to increase its thermal resistance. Novel porous SiC–SiO₂–Al₂O₃–TiO₂ (SSAT) ceramics were fabricated to achieve multiple heterogeneous interfaces by sintering equal volumes of SiC, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and TiO₂ compacted powders with polysiloxane as a bonding phase and carbon as a template at 600 °C in air. The porosity could be controlled between 66% and 74% by adjusting the amounts of polysiloxane and the carbon template. The lowest thermal conductivity (0.059 W/(m·K) at 74% porosity) obtained in this study is an order of magnitude lower than those (0.2–1.3 W/(m·K)) of porous monolithic SiC, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and TiO₂ ceramics at an equivalent porosity. The typical specific compressive strength value of the porous SSAT ceramics at 74% porosity was 3.2 MPa cm³/g.     

Effect of in-flight particle behavior on the morphology of flame sprayed Er2O3 splats

The morphology and microstructure of splats impact the comprehensive capability of a new coating methodology called chelate flame spraying (CFS). This study addresses the quantitative characterization of the spread morphologies of flame sprayed Er₂O₃ splats directly deposited under different spray conditions on aluminum alloy substrates with a mirror finish. The influence of the in-flight particle temperature and velocity, carrier gas type, and carrier gas ratio on the solidification mechanism of molten droplets was investigated. Image analysis methods were employed to identify single splats from the morphology observed with field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). In addition, Er₂O₃ films were synthesized on an Al–Mg alloy (A5052) substrate using N₂ or O₂ as the carrier gas. When O₂ was used as the carrier gas, 109-μm-thick films were deposited on the A5052 substrate. The cross-sectional porosity of the films was 3.8%. In contrast, films with 101-μm thickness were synthesized on the A5052 substrate when N₂ was used as the carrier gas. The cross-sectional porosity of these films was 13.8%. The results showed that the carrier gas type (N₂) and carrier gas ratio had a significant effect on the flattening behavior of the molten droplets. A spraying method combined with multidimensional modes is proposed to control the morphology of the splats.