Co‐Immobilization of Proteins and DNA Origami Nanoplates to Produce High‐Contrast Biomolecular Nanoarrays

The biofunctionalization of nanopatterned surfaces with DNA origami nanostructures is an important topic in nanobiotechnology. An unexplored challenge is, however, to co‐immobilize proteins with DNA origami at pre‐determined substrate sites in high contrast relative to the nontarget areas. The immobilization should, in addition, preferably be achieved on a transparent substrate to allow ultrasensitive optical detection. If successful, specific co‐binding would be a step towards stoichiometrically defined arrays with few to individual protein molecules per site. Here, we successfully immobilize with high specificity positively charged avidin proteins and negatively charged DNA origami nanoplates on 100 nm‐wide carbon nanoislands while suppressing undesired adsorption to surrounding nontarget areas. The arrays on glass slides achieve unprecedented selectivity factors of up to 4000 and allow ultrasensitive fluorescence read‐out. The co‐immobilization onto the nanoislands leads to layered biomolecular architectures, which are functional because bound DNA origami influences the number of capturing sites on the nanopatches for other proteins. The novel hybrid DNA origami‐protein nanoarrays allow the fabrication of versatile research platforms for applications in biosensing, biophysics, and cell biology, and, in addition, represent an important step towards single‐molecule protein arrays.     

Additive Manufacturing of Precision Biomaterials

Biomaterials play a critical role in modern medicine as surgical guides, implants for tissue repair, and as drug delivery systems. The emerging paradigm of precision medicine exploits individual patient information to tailor clinical therapy. While the main focus of precision medicine to date is the design of improved pharmaceutical treatments based on “-omics” data, the concept extends to all forms of customized medical care. This includes the design of precision biomaterials that are tailored to meet specific patient needs. Additive manufacturing (AM) enables free-form manufacturing and mass customization, and is a critical enabling technology for the clinical implementation of precision biomaterials. Materials scientists and engineers can contribute to the realization of precision biomaterials by developing new AM technologies, synthesizing advanced (bio)materials for AM, and improving medical-image-based digital design. As the field matures, AM is poised to provide patient-specific tissue and organ substitutes, reproducible microtissues for drug screening and disease modeling, personalized drug delivery systems, as well as customized medical devices.     

Nanoscale Organization of TRAIL Trimers using DNA Origami to Promote Clustering of Death Receptor and Cancer Cell Apoptosis

Through inducing death receptor (DR) clustering to activate downstream signaling, tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) trimers trigger apoptosis of tumor cells. However, the poor agonistic activity of current TRAIL-based therapeutics limits their antitumor efficiency. The nanoscale spatial organization of TRAIL trimers at different interligand distances is still challenging, which is essential for the understanding of interaction pattern between TRAIL and DR. In this study, a flat rectangular DNA origami is employed as display scaffold, and an “engraving-printing” strategy is developed to rapidly decorate three TRAIL monomers onto its surface to form DNA-TRAIL3 trimer (DNA origami with surface decoration of three TRAIL monomers). With the spatial addressability of DNA origami, the interligand distances are precisely controlled from 15 to 60 nm. Through comparing the receptor affinity, agonistic activity and cytotoxicity of these DNA-TRAIL3 trimers, it is found that ≈40 nm is the critical interligand distance of DNA-TRAIL3 trimers to induce death receptor clustering and the resulting apoptosis.Finally, a hypothetical “active unit” model is proposed for the DR5 clustering induced by DNA-TRAIL3 trimers.     

Opening of Perforated Folding Cartons: From the Field to Testing

This study demonstrates how a human‐hand opening process for a perforated folding carton can be mapped into a path for testing. A field observation was conducted to visually record opening patterns by an observation group. The most representative opening pattern was then repeated by another observation group in the laboratory, and the resulting opening pattern and movements were captured and mapped mathematically via Matlab. The opening speeds were calculated based on opening path that is used to compare the testing machine. A fixture attempting to mirror the opening path was developed for perforated folding cartons to be tested by using tensile testing machine. The study suggested that the process, involving the identifying opening pattern, guided test and fixture equipped testing, can be applied to replication of human‐packaging interaction. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spin Crossover Nanomaterials: From Fundamental Concepts to Devices

Nanoscale spin crossover materials capable of undergoing reversible switching between two electronic configurations with markedly different physical properties are excellent candidates for various technological applications. In particular, they can serve as active materials for storing and processing information in photonic, mechanical, electronic, and spintronic devices as well as for transducing different forms of energy in sensors and actuators. In this progress report, a brief overview on the current state‐of‐the‐art of experimental and theoretical studies of nanomaterials displaying spin transition is presented. Based on these results, a detailed analysis and discussions in terms of finite size effects and other phenomena inherent to the reduced size scale are provided. Finally, recent research devices using spin crossover complexes are highlighted, emphasizing both challenges and prospects.     

From Flatland to Spaceland: Higher Dimensional Patterning with Two‐Dimensional Materials

The creation of three‐dimensional (3D) structures from two‐dimensional (2D) nanomaterial building blocks enables novel chemical, mechanical or physical functionalities that cannot be realized with planar thin films or in bulk materials. Here, we review the use of emerging 2D materials to create complex out‐of‐plane surface topographies and 3D material architectures. We focus on recent approaches that yield periodic textures or patterns, and present four techniques as case studies: (i) wrinkling and crumpling of planar sheets, (ii) encapsulation by crumpled nanosheet shells, (iii) origami folding and kirigami cutting to create programmed curvature, and (iv) 3D printing of 2D material suspensions. Work to date in this field has primarily used graphene and graphene oxide as the 2D building blocks, and we consider how these unconventional approaches may be extended to alternative 2D materials and their heterostructures. Taken together, these emerging patterning and texturing techniques represent an intriguing alternative to conventional materials synthesis and processing methods, and are expected to contribute to the development of new composites, stretchable electronics, energy storage devices, chemical barriers, and biomaterials.     

Automated microscopy in diagnostic histopathology: From image processing to automated reasoning

A machine vision system for diagnostic histopathology offers five modules: 1) for the automated detection of regions of abnormality in histopathologic sections; 2) for fully automated image segmentation and diagnostic information extraction by a knowledge-guided procedure; 3) for the derivation of histometric indices, such as a progression index or grade for a lesion; 4) for diagnostic evidence evaluation by Bayesian inference networks; and 5) for individual patient targeted prognosis based on a case-based reasoning process. The system has been in operation for several years. Correct segmentation for even complex scenes such as cribriform glands has been achieved with a high success rate for histopathologic sections from prostate, colon, and breast. The lesion search module and prognostic module have passed feasibility testing and are still undergoing development. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 8, 214–223, 1997     

Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells: From Materials and Devices to Applications

Semitransparent solar cells (ST-SCs) have received great attention due to their promising application in many areas, such as building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs), tandem devices, and wearable electronics. In the past decade, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have revolutionized the field of photovoltaics (PVs) with their high efficiencies and facile preparation processes. Due to their large absorption coefficient and bandgap tunability, perovskites offer new opportunities to ST-SCs. Here, a general overview is provided on the recent advances in ST-PSCs from materials and devices to applications and some personal perspectives on the future development of ST-PSCs.     

Recent Advances in Energy Conversion Applications of Carbon Dots: From Optoelectronic Devices to Electrocatalysis

Exploitation and utilization of sustainable energy sources has increasingly become the common theme of global social development, which has promoted tremendous development of energy conversion devices/technologies. Owing to excellent and unique optical/electrical properties, carbon dots (CDs) have attracted extensive research interest for numerous energy conversion applications. Strong absorption, downconversion photoluminescence, electron acceptor/donor characteristics, and excellent electron conductivity endow CDs with enormous potential for applications in optoelectronic devices. Furthermore, excellent electron transfers/transport capacities and easily manipulable structural defects of CDs offer distinct advantages for electrocatalytic applications. Recent advances in CD‐based energy conversion applications, including optoelectronic devices such as light‐emitting diodes and solar cells, and electrocatalytic reactions including the hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, and carbon dioxide reduction reaction, are summarized. Finally, current challenges and future prospects for CD‐based energy conversion applications are proposed, highlighting the importance of controllable structural design and modifications.     

Recent Advances on Graphene Quantum Dots: From Chemistry and Physics to Applications

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) that are flat 0D nanomaterials have attracted increasing interest because of their exceptional chemicophysical properties and novel applications in energy conversion and storage, electro/photo/chemical catalysis, flexible devices, sensing, display, imaging, and theranostics. The significant advances in the recent years are summarized with comparative and balanced discussion. The differences between GQDs and other nanomaterials, including their nanocarbon cousins, are emphasized, and the unique advantages of GQDs for specific applications are highlighted. The current challenges and outlook of this growing field are also discussed.     

Molecularly Imprinted Synthetic Antibodies: From Chemical Design to Biomedical Applications

Billions of dollars are invested into the monoclonal antibody market every year to meet the increasing demand in clinical diagnosis and therapy. However, natural antibodies still suffer from poor stability and high cost, as well as ethical issues in animal experiments. Thus, developing antibody substitutes or mimics is a long‐term goal for scientists. The molecular imprinting technique presents one of the most promising strategies for antibody mimicking. The molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are also called “molecularly imprinted synthetic antibodies” (MISAs). The breakthroughs of key technologies and innovations in chemistry and material science in the last decades have led to the rapid development of MISAs, and their molecular affinity has become comparable to that of natural antibodies. Currently, MISAs are undergoing a revolutionary transformation of their applications, from initial adsorption and separation to the rising fields of biomedicine. Herein, the fundamental chemical design of MISAs is examined, and then current progress in biomedical applications is the focus. Meanwhile, the potential of MISAs as qualified substitutes or even to transcend the performance of natural antibodies is discussed from the perspective of frontier needs in biomedicines, to facilitate the rapid development of synthetic artificial antibodies.     

Biocompatible Material-Based Flexible Biosensors: From Materials Design to Wearable/Implantable Devices and Integrated Sensing Systems

Human beings have a greater need to pursue life and manage personal or family health in the context of the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things, and 5G/6G technologies. The application of micro biosensing devices is crucial in connecting technology and personalized medicine. Here, the progress and current status from biocompatible inorganic materials to organic materials and composites are reviewed and the material-to-device processing is described. Next, the operating principles of pressure, chemical, optical, and temperature sensors are dissected and the application of these flexible biosensors in wearable/implantable devices is discussed. Different biosensing systems acting in vivo and in vitro, including signal communication and energy supply are then illustrated. The potential of in-sensor computing for applications in sensing systems is also discussed. Finally, some essential needs for commercial translation are highlighted and future opportunities for flexible biosensors are considered.     

The Road Towards Planar Microbatteries and Micro‐Supercapacitors: From 2D to 3D Device Geometries

The rapid development and further modularization of miniaturized and self‐powered electronic systems have substantially stimulated the urgent demand for microscale electrochemical energy storage devices, e.g., microbatteries (MBs) and micro‐supercapacitors (MSCs). Recently, planar MBs and MSCs, composed of isolated thin‐film microelectrodes with extremely short ionic diffusion path and free of separator on a single substrate, have become particularly attractive because they can be directly integrated with microelectronic devices on the same side of one single substrate to act as a standalone microsized power source or complement miniaturized energy‐harvesting units. The development of and recent advances in planar MBs and MSCs from the fundamentals and design principle to the fabrication methods of 2D and 3D planar microdevices in both in‐plane and stacked geometries are highlighted. Additonally, a comprehensive analysis of the primary aspects that eventually affect the performance metrics of microscale energy storage devices, such as electrode materials, electrolyte, device architecture, and microfabrication techniques are presented. The technical challenges and prospective solutions for high‐energy‐density planar MBs and MSCs with multifunctionalities are proposed.