Novel transcatheter aortic heart valves exhibiting excellent hemodynamic performance and low-fouling property

Transcatheter aortic heart valves (TAHVs) have been widely used for aortic valve replacements, with less trauma and lower clinical risk compared with traditional surgical heart valve replacements. In the present study, composites of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels and anisotropic high-shrinkage polyethylene terephthalate/polyamide6 (PET-PA6) fabric (PEGDA/PET-PA6) were fabricated as artificial heart valve leaflets. Dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) indicated that PEGDA/PET-PA6 composites possessed anisotropic mechanical properties (i.e., storage moduli ～23.30 ± 1.36 MPa parallel to the aligned fabric fibers and ～9.68 ± 0.90 MPa perpendicular to the aligned fibers at 1 Hz) that were comparable to aortic valve leaflets. The PEGDA/PET-PA6 composites with smooth surfaces were highly hydrophilic (contact angle ～41.6° ± 3.8°) and had low-fouling properties without platelet adhesion, suggesting a low risk of thrombogenicity when they interacted with blood. Furthermore, transcatheter aortic heart valves were fabricated using nitinol self-expanding frames and PEGDA/PET-PA6 composites as artificial leaflets, which presented excellent hemodynamic performance with a large orifice area (1.75 cm²) and low regurgitation (3.41%), thus meeting the requirements of ISO 5840-3 standard. Therefore, PEGDA/PET-PA6 composites had suitable mechanical properties, good biocompatibility, and low-fouling properties, indicating that they might be used for TAHVs in the future.     

DOC‐LS,a new liposome for dermal delivery,and its endocytosis by HaCaT and CCC‐ESF‐1 cells

The main objective of this work was to investigate the uptake channels of skin cells through which coumarin 6, transported by deoxycholate‐mediated liposomes (DOC‐LS), was internalised; this was also compared against the action of conventional LS. Coumarin 6‐loaded DOC‐LS and LS were characterised for size distribution, zeta potential, and shape, and analysed in vitro in human epidermal immortal keratinocyte (HaCaT) (epidermal) and human embryonic skin fibroblast (CCC‐ESF‐1) (dermal) cell lines. Various endocytosis inhibitors were incubated with cells treated with the nanocarriers. Flow cytometry results indicated that HaCaT and CCC‐ESF‐1 cells internalise the tested preparations through pinocytotic vesicles, macropinocytosis, clathrin‐mediated endocytic pathways, and via lysosomes, which consume a considerable amount of energy. The endocytosis pathways of DOC‐LS and LS showed no difference. This study provides a basis for the application of LS being combined with a microneedle system for efficient intracellular drug delivery, targeting cutaneous histocyte disorders.Inspec keywords: drugs, nanoparticles, lipid bilayers, nanomedicine, biomedical materials, electrokinetic effects, biomembrane transport, drug delivery systems, skin, organic compoundsOther keywords: dermal delivery, CCC‐ESF‐1 cells, skin cells, deoxycholate‐mediated liposomes, coumarin 6‐loaded DOC‐LS, endocytosis inhibitors, clathrin‐mediated endocytic pathways, endocytosis pathways, HaCaT cell lines, size distribution, zeta potential, nanocarriers, flow cytometry, pinocytotic vesicles, macropinocytosis, microneedle system, efficient intracellular drug delivery, targeting cutaneous histocyte disorders     

Facile growth of homogeneous Ni(OH)<Subscript>2</Subscript> coating on carbon nanosheets for high-performance asymmetric supercapacitor applications

The growth of a Ni(OH)₂ coating on conductive carbon substrates is an efficient way to address issues related to their poor conductivity in electrochemical capacitor applications. However, the direct growth of nickel hydroxide coatings on a carbon substrate is challenging, because the surfaces of these systems are not compatible and a preoxidation treatment of the conductive carbon substrate is usually required. Herein, we present a facile preoxidation-free approach to fabricate a uniform Ni(OH)₂ coating on carbon nanosheets (CNs) by an ion-exchange reaction to achieve the in situ transformation of a MgO/C composite to a Ni(OH)₂/C one. The obtained Ni(OH)₂/CNs hybrids possess nanosheet morphology, a large surface area (278 m²/g), and homogeneous elemental distributions. When employed as supercapacitors in a three-electrode configuration, the Ni(OH)₂/CNs hybrid achieves a large capacitance of 2,218 F/g at a current density of 1.0 A/g. Moreover, asymmetric supercapacitors fabricated with the Ni(OH)₂/CNs hybrid exhibit superior supercapacitive performances, with a large capacity of 198 F/g, and high energy density of 56.7 Wh/kg at a power density of 4.0 kW/kg. They show excellent cycling stability with 93% capacity retention after 10,000 cycles, making the Ni(OH)₂/CNs hybrid a promising candidate for practical applications in supercapacitor devices.

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Modelling and simulation of chlorophyll fluorescence from photosystem II as affected by temperature

Emission of chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) from photosystem II (PSII) is affected by both plant status and environmental conditions. In this work, a state space model structure for ChlF from PSII with temperature as a variable model parameter was developed to provide insights into the temperature effects on photosynthesis and greenhouse temperature control. Experiments were carried out at 20, 25, and 30°C to validate the capability and flexibility of the developed model structure. Simulations of ChlF emission were performed for different temperatures. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the ChlF model structure and the findings are useful for the development of greenhouse temperature control strategies.Inspec keywords: fluorescence, state‐space methods, photosynthesis, temperature control, vegetationOther keywords: chlorophyll fluorescence, photosystem II, PSII, plant status, environmental conditions, state space model structure, variable model parameter, temperature effects, photosynthesis, ChlF emission, ChlF model structure, greenhouse temperature control strategies, temperature 20.0 degC, temperature 25.0 degC, temperature 30.0 degC     

Modelling and simulation of photosystem II chlorophyll fluorescence transition from dark‐adapted state to light‐adapted state

Green houses play a vital role in modern agriculture. Artificial light illumination is very important in a green house. While light is necessary for plant growth, excessive light in a green house may not bring more profit and even damages plants. Developing a plant‐physiology‐based light control strategy in a green house is important, which implies that a state‐space model on photosynthetic activities is very useful because modern control theories and techniques are usually developed according to model structures in the state space. In this work, a simplified model structure on photosystem II activities was developed with seven state variables and chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) as the observable variable. Experiments on ChlF were performed. The Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm was used to estimate model parameters from experimental data. The model structure can fit experimental data with a small relative error (<2%). ChlF under different light intensities were simulated to show the effect of light intensity on ChlF emission. A simplified model structure with fewer state variables and model parameters will be more robust to perturbations and model parameter estimation. The model structure is thus expected useful in future green‐house light control strategy development.Inspec keywords: parameter estimation, fluorescence, lighting control, photosynthesis, agriculture, state‐space methods, greenhousesOther keywords: Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm, ChlF emission, state variables, green‐house light control strategy development, model parameter estimation, light intensity, model parameters, photosystem II activities, simplified model structure, state‐space model, plant‐physiology‐based light control strategy, plant growth, artificial light illumination, light‐adapted state, dark‐adapted state, photosystem II chlorophyll fluorescence transition     

Nano functional neural interfaces

Engineered functional neural interfaces (fNIs) serve as essential abiotic–biotic transducers between an engineered system and the nervous system. They convert external physical stimuli to cellular signals in stimulation mode or read out biological processes in recording mode. Information can be exchanged using electricity, light, magnetic fields, mechanical forces, heat, or chemical signals. fNIs have found applications for studying processes in neural circuits from cell cultures to organs to whole organisms. fNI-facilitated signal transduction schemes, coupled with easily manipulable and observable external physical signals, have attracted considerable attention in recent years. This enticing field is rapidly evolving toward miniaturization and biomimicry to achieve long-term interface stability with great signal transduction efficiency. Not only has a new generation of neuroelectrodes been invented, but the use of advanced fNIs that explore other physical modalities of neuromodulation and recording has begun to increase. This review covers these exciting developments and applications of fNIs that rely on nanoelectrodes, nanotransducers, or bionanotransducers to establish an interface with the nervous system. These nano fNIs are promising in offering a high spatial resolution, high target specificity, and high communication bandwidth by allowing for a high density and count of signal channels with minimum material volume and area to dramatically improve the chronic integration of the fNI to the target neural tissue. Such demanding advances in nano fNIs will greatly facilitate new opportunities not only for studying basic neuroscience but also for diagnosing and treating various neurological diseases.     

Pyridine-induced interfacial structural transformation of tetraphenylethylene derivatives investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy

The two-dimensional self-assembly behaviors of tetraphenylethylene (TPE) molecules are significant for further applications, but reports are rare. The self-assembled structures of two C₂-symmetry TPE derivatives (H₄TCPE and H₄ETTC) possessing propeller structures and their stimulus responses to the addition of vinylpyridine derivatives were thoroughly studied with the assistance of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) technique in combination with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Although their chemical structures were similar, the H₄TCPE and H₄ETTC molecules self-assembled into closely packed lamellar and quadrilateral structures, respectively, at the 1-heptanoic acid/HOPG interface. After the addition of pyridine derivatives (DPE, PEBP-C4, and PEBP-C8), H₄TCPE and H₄ETTC showed different responsiveness resulting in different co-assembly structures. The results indicated that the structures of pyridine derivatives—including backbones and substituents—affected the intermolecular interactions of both H₄TCPE/pyridine and H₄ETTC/pyridine systems. The modification of the self-assembly behaviors of propeller-shaped H₄TCPE and H₄ETTC would contribute to the construction of more complex multilevel nanostructures.

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Large capacitance and fast polarization response of thin electrolyte dielectrics by spin coating for two-dimensional MoS2 devices

Nano Research - A spin-coating method was applied to obtain thinner and smoother PEO/LiClO4 polymer electrolyte films (EFs) with a lower level of crystallization than those obtained using a...     

Synthesis of ultrathin semicircle-shaped copper nanowires in ethanol solution for low haze flexible transparent conductors

Nano Research - Copper nanowires (CuNWs) are becoming an indispensable item for next-generation transparent optical devices due to their excellent conductivity and transparency. In this work,...     

压电发电悬臂梁的非线性动力学建模及响应分析

以单晶悬臂梁压电发电装置为研究对象,在考虑压电材料非线性的情况下,利用广义Hamilton原理、Rayleigh-Ritz法、Euler-Bernoulli梁理论及压电元件恒定电场假设建立了悬臂梁压电发电装置的分布式机电耦合模型,通过数值计算分析谐振频率附近解的特性与系统参数及初始条件的关系,揭示了压电材料非线性、外激励参数对系统响应的影响规律,并通过实验验证了解析解的正确性.结果表明,压电材料的非线性特性会导致近似解的共振峰向左偏移,呈现软特性的非线性特征;当激励频率变化时,系统响应存在多解、跳跃等现象,主共振解的真正实现与初始条件的选取有关.