A Universal Platform for Macromolecular Deliveryinto Cells Using Gold Nanoparticle Layers via the Photoporation Effect

Although promising, it is challenging to develop a simple and universal method for the high‐efficiency delivery of biomacromolecules into diverse cells. Here, a universal delivery platform based on gold nanoparticle layer (GNPL) surfaces is proposed. Upon laser irradiation, GNPL surfaces show such good photothermal properties that absorption of the laser energy causes a rapid increase in surface temperature, leading to enhanced membrane permeability of the cultured cells and the diffusion of macromolecules into the cytosol from the surrounding medium. The high‐efficiency delivery of different macromolecules such as dextran and plasmid DNA into different cell types is achieved, including hard‐to‐transfect mouse embryonic fibroblasts (mEFs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), while cell viability is well maintained under optimized irradiation conditions. The platform vastly outperforms the leading commercial reagent, Lipofectamine 2000, especially in transfecting hard‐to‐transfect cell lines (plasmid transfection efficiency: ≈53% vs ≈19% for mEFs and ≈44% vs ≈8% for HUVECs). Importantly, as the gold nanoparticles (GNPs) constituting the GNPL are firmly immobilized together, the potential cytotoxicity caused by endocytosis of GNPs is effectively avoided. This platform is reliable, efficient, and cost‐effective with high‐throughput and broad applicability across different cell types, opening up an innovative avenue for high‐efficiency intracellular delivery.     

Microstructure and Crystal Structure in TAGS Compositions

GeTe, a small bandgap semiconductor that has native p-type defects due to Ge vacancies, is an important constituent in the thermoelectric material known as TAGS. TAGS is an acronym for alloys of GeTe with AgSbTe₂, and compositions are normally designated as TAGS-x, where x is the fraction of GeTe. TAGS-85 is the most important with regard to applications, and there is also commercial interest in TAGS-80. The crystal structure of GeTe_1+δ has a composition-dependent phase transformation at a temperature ranging from 430°C (δ = 0) to ~400°C (δ = 0.02). The high-temperature form is cubic. The low-temperature form is rhombohedral for δ < 0.01, as is the case for good thermoelectric performance. Addition of AgSbTe₂ shifts the phase transformation to lower temperatures, and one of the goals of this work is a systematic study of the dependence of transformation temperature on the parameter x. We present results on phase transformations and associated instabilities in TAGS compositions in the range of 70 at.% to 85 at.% GeTe.     

Rapid Assembly of Large Scale Transparent Circuit Arrays Using PDMS Nanofilm Shaped Coffee Ring

Rapid and precise assembly of functional nanoparticles into well‐defined structures in large scale is motivated by broad fields. In this study, large‐scale transparent conductive circuit arrays are rapidly self‐assembled by simply pipetting a gold nanoparticles suspension onto a PDMS nanofilm patterned substrate with distinct hydrophilic/hydrophobic areas. The solution firstly self‐confines into predefined hydrophilic geometries, followed by assembly of nanoparticles into well‐defined circuits with 1D patterns by coffee ring effect. Submicrometer height and submicrometer‐ to micrometer‐width circuit arrays with various shapes are precisely generated by varying the PDMS nanofilm patterns. Thousands of circuits with different geometries are self‐assembled simultaneously within 1 min. The conductive circuits show good optical transparency up to 95%. After being transferred into PDMS elastomer sheet by encapsulating, the circuits remain highly conductive during bending and stretching. With the advantages of high‐throughput, equipment‐free, scalability, and precise control, this technique will open an avenue for fabricating large‐scale functional materials for applications in electronics, optoelectronics, and healthcare devices.     

激光扫描共聚焦显微镜在纳米毒理学研究中的应用

随着激光扫描共聚焦显微镜技术的不断更新,功能不断拓展,已成为新兴学科纳米毒理学及其交叉学科科学研究的重要工具.激光扫描共聚焦显微镜能够动态检测纳米颗粒在活细胞内的定位及其与细胞骨架、细胞内离子、生物大分子的相互作用,有助于深入研究纳米颗粒对机体的毒理学效应及其机制.     

基于光纤光谱的二恶烷浓度检测方法研究

为了准确、快速、低成本地检测二恶烷浓度,实验制备了二恶烷紫外光谱检测试剂——柠檬酸稳定银纳米粒子(Ci-AgNPs)试剂,搭建了光纤光谱测量系统。利用光纤光谱测量系统,实验研究了二恶烷检测试剂浓度、温度、p H对二恶烷浓度检测性能的影响。在此基础上,测试了检测剂对二恶烷的选择响应特性。实验研究发现,当Ci-AgNPs试剂浓度为15μmol/L,温度为55oC,p H为7时,Ci-AgNPs试剂对二恶烷的响应灵敏度达到0. 001 6 L/g,响应时间为10 min。该检测试剂对甲醇、无水乙醇、丙酮、乙腈、四氢呋喃、N-二甲基甲酰胺、三氯甲烷、二甲基亚砜均不响应,表明该检测试剂对二恶烷具有较好的选择敏感性。     

Synthesis of Silver Nanocrystallites by a New Thermal Decomposition Method and Their Characterization

We formed silver nanocrystallites by the thermal decomposition of a Ag+¹‐oleate complex, which was prepared by a reaction with AgNO₃ and sodium oleate in a water solution. The resulting monodispersed silver nanocrystallites were produced by controlling the temperature (290 °C). Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) images of the particles showed a 2‐dimensional assembly of the particles with a diameter of 9.5 ± 0.7 nm, demonstrating the uniformity of these nanocrystallites. An energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectrum and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) peaks of the nanocrystallites showed the highly crystalline nature of the silver structure. We analyzed the decomposition of the Ag⁺¹‐oleate complex using a Thermo Gravimetric Analyzer (TGA) and observed the crystallization process using XRD.     

Effects of ultraviolet–ozone treatment on organic-stabilized ZnO nanoparticle-based electron transporting layers in inverted polymer solar cells

Electron transporting layers (ETLs) in inverted polymer solar cells (I-PSCs) were fabricated by spin coating a colloidal dispersion of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), and the effects of ultraviolet–ozone (UVO) treatment on the ZnO NP ETLs were investigated. The brief UVO treatment (<5 min) could considerably improve the performance of the resulting I-PSCs (∼30% increase in power conversion efficiency); whereas, excessive UVO treatment (>10 min) caused significant degradation. The characterization of the ZnO ETLs as a function of the UVO treatment duration revealed that brief treatment can remove the residual organic stabilizer molecules on the surface of the ZnO films by UV induced decomposition mechanism. However, excessive treatment can generate additional defects on/within the ZnO films, which can induce charge recombination. This effect was further confirmed by the thermal treatment of the ZnO ETLs at a high temperature (280 °C) at which the organic surfactants could be removed. Flexible I-PSCs were also fabricated using indium doped tin oxide coated plastic substrates and the usefulness of the room temperature UVO treatment was further confirmed in view of its potential applicability in flexible devices.     

螺旋碳纳米管的制备、表征及性能

采用溶胶-凝胶结合氢气还原方法制备了Ni纳米颗粒,并用这种Ni纳米颗粒作为催化剂,通过催化裂解乙炔的方法在425℃制备了螺旋度较高且呈对称生长的螺旋碳纳米管。结果表明,本方法简单、成本低、环境友好,可大量制备高纯度螺旋碳纳米管。场发射扫描电镜(FE-SEM)及高分辨透射电镜(HR-TEM)图片表明,通常情况下两根旋向相反的螺旋碳纳米管生长在一个催化剂颗粒上,且这种纳米螺旋呈空心管状。X射线衍射及拉曼光谱分析表明,所得样品成分为有缺陷的石墨结构和镍多晶,未发现其他杂相。此外,对样品的磁性及微波吸收性能进行了研究。     

Fast Switching ITO Free Electrochromic Devices

Indium‐doped tin oxide free electrochromic devices are prepared by coating electrochromic polymers onto polyethylene terephthalate substrates encompassing two different silver grids as electrodes. One design comprises a flexoprinted highly conductive silver grid electrode, yielding electrochromic devices with a response time of 2 s for an optical contrast of 27%. The other design utilizes an embedded silver grid electrode whereupon response times of 0.5 s for a 30% optical contrast are realized when oxidizing the device. A commercially available conductive poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4‐styrenesulfonate acid) formulation (PEDOT:PSS) is coated onto the silver grids as a charge balancing polymer, and is in this setting found to be superior to a polypyrrole previously employed in electrochromic devices. In addition, the PEDOT:PSS layer increases the conductivity in the hexagonal grid structure.     

Highly Robust Indium‐Free Transparent Conductive Electrodes Based on Composites of Silver Nanowires and Conductive Metal Oxides

A hybrid approach for the realization of In‐free transparent conductive layers based on a composite of a mesh of silver nanowires (NWs) and a conductive metal‐oxide is demonstrated. As metal‐oxide room‐temperature‐processed sol–gel SnO_x or Al:ZnO prepared by low‐temperature (100 °C) atomic layer deposition is used, respectively. In this concept, the metal‐oxide is intended to fuse the wires together and also to “glue” them to the substrate. As a result, a low sheet resistance down to 5.2 Ω sq^‐1 is achieved with a concomitant average transmission of 87%. The adhesion of the NWs to the substrate is significantly improved and the resulting composites withstand adhesion tests without loss in conductivity. Owing to the low processing temperatures, this concept allows highly robust, highly conductive, and transparent coatings even on top of temperature sensitive objects, for example, polymer foils, organic devices. These Indium‐ and PEDOT:PSS‐free hybrid layers are successfully implemented as transparent top‐electrodes in efficient all‐solution‐processed semitransparent organic solar cells. It is obvious that this approach is not limited to organic solar cells but will generally be applicable in devices which require transparent electrodes.