Detwinning through migration of twin boundaries in nanotwinned Cu films under in situ ion irradiation

The mechanism of radiation-induced detwinning is different from that of deformation detwinning as the former is dominated by supersaturated radiation-induced defects while the latter is usually triggered by global stress. In situ Kr ion irradiation was performed to study the detwinning mechanism of nanotwinned Cu films with various twin thicknesses. Two types of incoherent twin boundaries (ITBs), so-called fixed ITBs and free ITBs, are characterized based on their structural features, and the difference in their migration behavior is investigated. It is observed that detwinning during radiation is attributed to the frequent migration of free ITBs, while the migration of fixed ITBs is absent. Statistics shows that the migration distance of free ITBs is thickness and dose dependent. Potential migration mechanisms are discussed.     

Impact of arteriovenous fistula cannulation on the quality of dialysis

Introduction: Adequate hemodialysis directly improves health. Puncturing an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and the amount of blood recirculation greatly affect the quality of dialysis. Few studies have assessed the method to cannulate a fistula and its influence on efficiency of hemodialysis. Methods: This prospective pilot study included 14 patients with end‐stage renal failure receiving regular intermittent hemodialysis. Patients received three consecutive treatments with both needles directed upstream then three consecutive treatments with the venous needle directed upstream and the arterial needle directed downstream. With both techniques, the distance between the needles was kept constant at 2.5 cm. Recirculation rate and Kt/V ratio were measured during each treatment using thermodilution and a diascan Fresenius generator. Findings: The 14 patients received 84 hemodialysis sessions: i.e., 8 (57.1%) males and 6 (42.8%) females, mean age 62.3 ± 15.57 years. Results showed that mean recirculation rates and Kt/V did not significantly differ between the two techniques. Discussion: Because no significant difference was found between the two techniques, the direction of insertion of needles should be decided upon on a case‐by‐case basis depending on the anatomy of the AVF and the feasibility of the puncture.     

Research Advances in Microfiber Humidity Sensors

An overview of the numerous latest research in microfiber humidity sensors is carried out with a specific focus on measurement methods, humidity sensitive materials, probe structures, and sensing properties of different sensors. First, five mainstream measurement structures, including taper, fiber grating, coupler, resonator, and interferometer are reviewed. It is concluded that these measurement structures sense the physicochemical property variations of microfibers or sensitive films and exhibit the change of optical signal when exposed to environment. Second, the basic preparation methods, humidity‐sensing properties, and their advantages and disadvantages as humidity sensitive material are addressed. Then, the advantages and disadvantages of all the above sensing structures are also discussed and compared. Finally, the main existing problems and potential solutions of microfiber humidity sensors are pointed out.     

Flexible Cationic Nanoparticles with Photosensitizer Cores for Multifunctional Biomedical Applications

One challenge for multimodal therapy is to develop appropriate multifunctional agents to meet the requirements of potential applications. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is proven to be an effective way to treat cancers. Diverse polycations, such as ethylenediamine‐functionalized poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGED) with plentiful primary amines, secondary amines, and hydroxyl groups, demonstrate good gene transfection performances. Herein, a series of multifunctional cationic nanoparticles (PRP) consisting of photosensitizer cores and PGED shells are readily developed through simple dopamine‐involving processes for versatile bioapplications. A series of experiments demonstrates that PRP nanoparticles are able to effectively mediate gene delivery in different cell lines. PRP nanoparticles are further validated to possess remarkable capability of combined PDT and gene therapy for complementary tumor treatment. In addition, because of their high dispersities in biological matrix, the PRP nanoparticles can also be used for in vitro and in vivo imaging with minimal aggregation‐caused quenching. Therefore, such flexible nanoplatforms with photosensitizer cores and polycationic shells are very promising for multimodal tumor therapy with high efficacy.     

Immobilization of Photo‐Immunoconjugates on Nanoparticles Leads to Enhanced Light‐Activated Biological Effects

The past three decades have witnessed notable advances in establishing photosensitizer–antibody photo‐immunoconjugates for photo‐immunotherapy and imaging of tumors. Photo‐immunotherapy minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue when using a cancer‐selective photo‐immunoconjugate, but requires a threshold intracellular photosensitizer concentration to be effective. Delivery of immunoconjugates to the target cells is often hindered by I) the low photosensitizer‐to‐antibody ratio of photo‐immunoconjugates and II) the limited amount of target molecule presented on the cell surface. Here, a nanoengineering approach is introduced to overcome these obstacles and improve the effectiveness of photo‐immunotherapy and imaging. Click chemistry coupling of benzoporphyrin derivative (BPD)–Cetuximab photo‐immunoconjugates onto FKR560 dye‐containing poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) nanoparticles markedly enhances intracellular photo‐immunoconjugate accumulation and potentiates light‐activated photo‐immunotoxicity in ovarian cancer and glioblastoma. It is further demonstrated that co‐delivery and light activation of BPD and FKR560 allow longitudinal fluorescence tracking of photoimmunoconjugate and nanoparticle in cells. Using xenograft mouse models of epithelial ovarian cancer, intravenous injection of photo‐immunoconjugated nanoparticles doubles intratumoral accumulation of photo‐immunoconjugates, resulting in an enhanced photoimmunotherapy‐mediated tumor volume reduction, compared to “standard” immunoconjugates. This generalizable “carrier effect” phenomenon is attributed to the successful incorporation of photo‐immunoconjugates onto a nanoplatform, which modulates immunoconjugate delivery and improves treatment outcomes.     

Nanoscale Lacing by Electrons

The ability to harness the optical or electrical properties of nanoscale particles depends on their assembly in terms of size and spatial characteristics which remains challenging due to lack of size focusing. Electrons provide a clean and focusing agent to initiate the assembly of nanoclusters or nanoparticles. Here an intriguing route is demonstrated to lace gold nanoclusters and nanoparticles in string assembly through electron‐initiated nucleation and aggregative growth of Au(I)‐thiolate motifs on a thin film substrate. This size‐focused assembly is demonstrated by controlling the electron dose under transmission electron microscopic imaging conditions. The Au(I)‐thiolate motifs, in combination with the molecularly mediated alignment, facilitate the interstring electrostatic and intrastring aurophilic interactions, which functions as a molecular template to aid electron‐initiated 1D lacing. The findings demonstrate a hierarchical route for the 1D assemblies with size and spatial tunable catalytic, optical, sensing, and diagnostic properties.     

GraftFast Surface Engineering to Improve MOF Nanoparticles Furtiveness

Controlling the outer surface of nanometric metal–organic frameworks (nanoMOFs) and further understanding the in vivo effect of the coated material are crucial for the convenient biomedical applications of MOFs. However, in most studies, the surface modification protocol is often associated with significant toxicity and/or lack of selectivity. As an alternative, how the highly selective and general grafting GraftFast method leads, through a green and simple process, to the successful attachment of multifunctional biopolymers (polyethylene glycol (PEG) and hyaluronic acid) on the external surface of nanoMOFs is reported. In particular, effectively PEGylated iron trimesate MIL‐100(Fe) nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit suitable grafting stability and superior chemical and colloidal stability in different biofluids, while conserving full porosity and allowing the adsorption of bioactive molecules (cosmetic and antitumor agents). Furthermore, the nature of the MOF–PEG interaction is deeply investigated using high‐resolution soft X‐ray spectroscopy. Finally, a cell penetration study using the radio‐labeled antitumor agent gemcitabine monophosphate (³H‐GMP)‐loaded MIL‐100(Fe)@PEG NPs shows reduced macrophage phagocytosis, confirming a significant in vitro PEG furtiveness.     

Light‐Activated,Multi‐Semiconductor Hybrid Microswimmers

Using a dynamic fabrication process, hybrid, photoactivated microswimmers made from two different semiconductors, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) are developed, where each material occupies a distinct portion of the multiconstituent particles. Structured light‐activated microswimmers made from only TiO₂ or Cu₂O are observed to be driven in hydrogen peroxide and water most vigorously under UV or blue light, respectively, whereas hybrid structures made from both of these materials exhibit wavelength‐dependent modes of motion due to the disparate responses of each photocatalyst. It is also found that the hybrid particles are activated in water alone, a behavior which is not observed in those made from a single semiconductor, and thus, the system may open up a new class of fuel‐free photoactive colloids that take advantage of semiconductor heterojunctions. The TiO₂/Cu₂O hybrid microswimmer presented here is but an example of a broader method for inducing different modes of motion in a single light‐activated particle, which is not limited to the specific geometries and materials presented in this study.     

The Influence of Carbon Nitride Nanosheets Doping on the Crystalline Formation of MIL‐88B(Fe) and the Photocatalytic Activities

In this research, bulk graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C₃N₄) is exfoliated and transferred to the carbon nitride nanosheets (CNNSs), which are then coupled with MIL‐88B(Fe) to form the hybrid. From the results of the powder X‐ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis, it is found that the doping of CNNSs on the surface of MIL‐88(Fe) could maintain the basic structure of MIL‐88B(Fe), and the smaller dimension of CNNSs might influence the crystallization process of metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) compared to bulk g‐C₃N₄. Besides, the effects of the CNNSs incorporation on photocatalysis are also investigated. Through the photoluminescence spectra, electrochemical measurements, and photocatalytic experiments, the hybrid containing 6% CNNSs is certified to possess the highest catalytic activity to degrade methylene blue and reduce Cr(VI) under visible light. The improvement of the photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the matched energy level which favors the formation of the heterojunctions. Besides, it promotes the charge migration such that the contact between MOFs and CNNSs is more intimate, which can be inferred from the electronic microscopy images. Finally, a possible photocatalytic mechanism is put forward by the relative calculation and the employment of the scavengers to trap the active species.