Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Donghwan Ji, Jae Min Park, Myeong Seon Oh, Thanh Loc Nguyen, Hyunsu Shin, Jae Seong Kim, Dukjoon Kim, Ho Seok Park, Jaeyun Kim
Summary: In this study, the authors demonstrate the synthesis of superstrong, superstiff, and conductive alginate hydrogels with densely interconnecting networks. By using a simple reconstructing process, they achieve specific mechanical properties required for applications in artificial biological tissues, flexible electronics, and conductive membranes. The hydrogels show exceptional tensile strengths and elastic moduli, and they can also hold cations and exhibit high ionic conductivity.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Peixuan Wu, Ziyu Qin, Rohan Dassanayake, Zhicheng Sun, Meijuan Cao, Kun Fu, Yang Zhou, Yuanyuan Liu
Summary: In this study, an antibacterial and conductive MXene-SA-TSA-AM hydrogel was developed through radical polymerization. The coupling between sodium alginate (SA) and dimethyloctadecyl-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl) ammonium chloride (TSA) resulted in excellent antibacterial properties. The MXene-SA-TSA-AM hydrogel showed remarkable swelling ratios, mechanical properties, self-healing ability, and reproducible adhesion. It also exhibited high stability and rapid response in monitoring human physiological activities, and demonstrated efficient antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Zheng Lin Tan, Masato Yasuura, Yukichi Horiguchi, Hiroki Ashiba, Takashi Fukuda
Summary: This paper presents a new method called gel capsule-based digital PCR (gc-dPCR), which improves the stability of hydrogel capsules compared to droplets. This method enhances the sensitivity and stability of ddPCR, reduces its cost, and provides a more accurate quantification of low-concentration samples.
Article
Parasitology
Gereon Schares, Majda Globokar Vrhovec, Mareen Tuschy, Maike Joeres, Andrea Baerwald, Bretislav Koudela, Jitender P. Dubey, Pavlo Maksimov, Franz J. Conraths
Summary: The 529-bp repeat of H. hammondi can be used to establish a quantitative real-time PCR assay, with excellent specificity and sensitivity. This assay is a valuable diagnostic tool for epidemiological and cell biological studies on H. hammondi and related parasites.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Kyuha Park, Heewon Choi, Kyumin Kang, Mikyung Shin, Donghee Son
Summary: In this study, a soft stretchable conductive hydrogel composite with good electrical and mechanical properties was reported. This material can stably sense physiological signals and provide feedback regulation in unstable biotic-abiotic interfaces.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Linlin Zhuang, Jianbo Yang, Chunlei Song, Li Sun, Bin Zhao, Qiuping Shen, Xiyan Ren, Hongjing Shi, Yu Zhang, Mengling Zhu
Summary: An accurate and practical graphene oxide-based method, called GO-ASEA, was developed for rapid and highly sensitive detection of African swine fever virus (ASFV). This novel assay showed excellent specificity and selectivity, with a low detection limit, and demonstrated good clinical applicability. The GO-ASEA method has the potential to serve as a robust tool in epidemic prevention and point-of-care diagnosis.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Ling Fan, Lizhen Hu, Jinliang Xie, Zhongjie He, Yaping Zheng, DaiXu Wei, Dongdong Yao, Fangfang Su
Summary: The study introduces a high-performance multifunctional hydrogel PSAB, which shows excellent adhesion and mechanical properties, as well as broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and biocompatibility, making it a promising material for biomedical applications.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Weidu Song, Chuanhao Zhang, Huichao Lin, Taiyi Zhang, Haixia Liu, Xiaowen Huang
Summary: The proposed real-time rotary PCR reaction system (RRP) meets the requirements of low cost, low-power consumption, potential for miniaturization, and portability. Experimental and theoretical results demonstrate its feasibility in the rapid quantitative detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and have broad application prospects in bacteria detection and food safety.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Shaolei Huang, Yiquan An, Bangchao Xi, Xianglian Gong, Zhongfu Chen, Shan Shao, Shengxiang Ge, Jun Zhang, Dongxu Zhang, Ningshao Xia
Summary: Nucleic acid detection is a method that directly identifies the presence of pathogenic microorganisms and has advantages of high sensitivity, commendable specificity, and a short window period. A real-time PCR system based on multiple temperature zones was proposed to solve the time-consuming problem, enabling fast detection speed and high sensitivity under extreme conditions.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Thomas Distler, Christian Polley, Fukun Shi, Dominik Schneidereit, Mark. D. Ashton, Oliver Friedrich, Jurgen F. Kolb, John G. Hardy, Rainer Detsch, Hermann Seitz, Aldo R. Boccaccini
Summary: Electroactive hydrogels incorporating pyrrole and high gelatin-content oxidized alginate-gelatin (ADA-GEL) have been developed, with electroactive polypyrrole synthesized inside the ADA-GEL matrix. These hydrogels exhibit 3D printability, cytocompatibility, and conductivity, making them promising for cell therapies and electrical-stimulation assisted tissue engineering.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Hwan Gyun Jeon, Ji Wook Choi, Hee Uk Lee, Bong Geun Chung
Summary: Polymerase chain reaction is commonly used for diagnosing infectious diseases, but traditional thermal cyclers are not suitable for point-of-care testing. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a low-cost and efficient portable thermal cycler.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jae Jong Kim, Hyoung-Min Park, A. Young Kyoung, In Kyung Park, Si-Kyu Lim, Byoung Chul Park
Summary: Genetic mutations like SNP are common in genetic disorders and cancers, and PCR methods are widely used for SNP detection. The specifically designed PCR platform STexS can efficiently distinguish small amounts of SNP mixed in normal DNA, aiding in targeting potential SNPs or genetically mutated biomarkers in human clinical samples.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Sumin Kim, Heewon Choi, Donghee Son, Mikyung Shin
Summary: An intrinsically conductive and tissue-adhesive granular hydrogel was fabricated using an electrohydrodynamic spraying method. This hydrogel can be applied in soft and flexible electronics to connect humans and machines.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Christine Arndt, Margarethe Hauck, Irene Wacker, Berit Zeller-Plumhoff, Florian Rasch, Mohammadreza Taale, Ali Shaygan Nia, Xinliang Feng, Rainer Adelung, Rasmus R. Schroeder, Fabian Schuett, Christine Selhuber-Unkel
Summary: The study presents a novel approach to fabricate hydrogel composites with outstanding electrical conductivity by microengineering graphene and polyacrylamide. The method allows for combining excellent conductivity of graphene with adaptable mechanical properties of polyacrylamide, while maintaining the original properties of the matrix. This approach shows promise for applications in bioelectronics and biohybrid robotics.
Article
Polymer Science
Yeonsun Choi, Kyuha Park, Heewon Choi, Donghee Son, Mikyung Shin
Summary: The article introduces a plant-inspired conductive alginate hydrogel composed of boronic acid modified alginate and oligomerized epigallocatechin gallate extracted from plant compounds. The conductive hydrogels exhibit high stretchability and self-healing properties, suitable for electrophysiological bridging to transfer electromyographic signals in an ex vivo muscle defect model.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Alex H. Wrede, Jie Luo, Reza Montazami, Anumantha Kanthasamy, Nicole N. Hashemi
Summary: Reactive astrocytes play a vital role in the brain's response to traumatic brain injuries. Cavitation in the skull during TBI can have detrimental effects, with upregulated harmful genes linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Studying the genetic expression of astrocytes in response to cavitation can help optimize treatment methods and understand the potential implications of cranial cavitation in TBI.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Reihaneh Jamshidi, Mehrnoosh Taghavimehr, Yuanfen Chen, Nicole Hashemi, Reza Montazami
Summary: Transient technology plays an important role in sustainable system design and implementation, widely used in medical implants, environmental sensors, and hardware-secured devices; Controlled disintegration of systems without harsh solvents is a step towards achieving green and sustainable electronics.
ADVANCED SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Saurabh S. Aykar, Nima Alimoradi, Mehrnoosh Taghavimehr, Reza Montazami, Nicole N. Hashemi
Summary: This study presents a microfluidic-based method for cell seeding inside alginate hollow microfibers, where mouse astrocytes are passively seeded. The addition of collagen I and poly-d-lysine enhances cell attachment and viability compared to nonadditive-based hollow microfibers.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Mehran Abbasi Shirsavar, Mehrnoosh Taghavimehr, Lionel J. Ouedraogo, Mojan Javaheripi, Nicole N. Hashemi, Farinaz Koushanfar, Reza Montazami
Summary: This study investigates the impact of key parameters on the conductivity of E-jet printed circuits and develops a machine learning model using collected experimental data to predict the characteristics of the printed circuits. Results show that the K-NN model and random forest are the best methods for classifying electrode conductivity.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Manufacturing
Vahid Nasirian, Amir Ehsan Niaraki-Asli, Saurabh S. Aykar, Mehrnoosh Taghavimehr, Reza Montazami, Nicole N. Hashemi
Summary: Carbon-modified fibrous structures with high biocompatibility have attracted attention for their low cost, sustainability, abundance, and excellent electrical properties. This study introduces a microfluidic-based technique to produce alginate hollow microfibers incorporated with water dispersed modified graphene. The addition of graphene enhances the conductivity without changing the inner dimension of the hollow region. The improved electrochemical performance makes these microfibers suitable for developing flexible capacitors for smart health electronics.
3D PRINTING AND ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Amir Niaraki, Mehran Abbasi Shirsavar, Saurabh S. Aykar, Mehrnoosh Taghavimehr, Reza Montazami, Nicole N. Hashemi
Summary: Real-time and high-throughput monitoring of neural cells exposed to injury mechanisms using microelectrode arrays and electrical impedance spectroscopy is demonstrated in this study. Aqueous graphene is used for microelectrode fabrication, and the surface morphology and electrical properties of the electrodes are characterized. The attachment and impedance changes of the neural population on the graphene microelectrodes are quantified, and the impact of UV exposure on neural detachment is monitored.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Tannaz Tavari, Saber Meamardoost, Naserodin Sepehry, Pooria Akbarzadeh, Mostafa Nazari, Nicole N. Hashemi, Mohsen Nazari
Summary: A comprehensive systematic optimization framework for accurately predicting an efficient electrode geometry is currently unavailable. In this study, different geometries, including 3D step electrodes, were designed to fabricate AC electroosmosis micro-pumps. Optimization of both geometrical and nongeometrical parameters was essential for achieving optimal performance. Numerical simulation and fabrication of a microchip validated the effectiveness of the proposed geometry in outperforming state-of-the-art micro-pumps in terms of fluid velocity, electrode density, and channel length.
Article
Education & Educational Research
Christopher T. Boyle, Nicole N. Hashemi
Summary: This study investigated the impact of an early learning assessment on students' motivation to improve their performance. It analyzed the effect of a first exam, with an average below a passing grade, on students' outcomes in a mechanical engineering course. The results showed that after the inadequate performance on the first exam, students were motivated to achieve higher grades in subsequent exams and assessments.
EDUCATION SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Rajeendra L. Pemathilaka, Nicole N. Hashemi
Summary: In an effort to achieve sustainable drug discovery, a proof-of-concept study was conducted to examine the effects of pharmaceutical agents on neural cells transported across the placental barrier. The concerns regarding the potential impact of these agents on fetus necessitate further investigation. A placenta-on-a-chip model was utilized to study the transport of naltrexone (NTX) and its primary metabolite 6 beta-naltrexol. Neural cells exposed to the transported NTX/6 beta-naltrexol exhibited altered gene expression and reduced cell viability, indicating the significance of this study in understanding the consequences of pharmaceutical agent exposure on developing fetuses and premature brains.
INNOVATION AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Lionel J. Ouedraogo, Mychal J. Trznadel, Mckayla Kling, Vahid Nasirian, Alexandra G. Borst, Mehran Abbasi Shirsavar, Andrew Makowski, Marilyn C. Mcnamara, Reza Montazami, Nicole N. Hashemi
Summary: The manufacturing of 3D cell scaffoldings provides advantages for modeling diseases and injuries. A triple-flow microfluidic device is developed to fabricate alginate/graphene hollow microfibers. These unique 3D hollow scaffolds can enhance the available surface area for nutrient transport and have higher electrical conductivity.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Rajeendra L. Pemathilaka, Nima Alimoradi, David E. Reynolds, Nicole N. Hashemi
Summary: In this study, a placental microsystem was developed to investigate the transport and effects of pharmaceutical agents on the developing fetus. The microsystem successfully replicated the structural and physiological characteristics of the placental barrier. It was found that fluid shear stress played a role in the formation of elongated microvilli. The concentration of pharmaceutical agents in the fetal channel differed from that in the maternal channel, indicating the presence of the placental barrier. Additionally, the study reported gene expression changes in epithelial and endothelial cells after exposure to pharmaceutical agents.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Nicole N. Hashemi, Rajeendra L. Pemathilaka, Nima Alimoradi, David E. Reynolds
Summary: A placental microsystem mimicking the structural phenotypes of a placental barrier was created to study the transport of pharmaceutical agents to the developing fetus. The formation of a continuous network of cell junctions and elongated microvilli under dynamic flow conditions was demonstrated, with fluid shear stress triggering microvilli formation. The concentrations of pharmaceutical agents in fetal channels were evaluated in coculture and control models, showing differences in drug concentrations between the two models. Gene expressions of epithelial and endothelial cells after drug administration and transport through the placental barrier were also reported.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Amir Niaraki, Marilyn C. McNamara, Reza Montazami, Nicole N. Hashemi
Summary: This study presents a graphene-based biosensor for real-time monitoring of dopaminergic neural cells. The biosensor characterizes cell adhesion and cytotoxicity factors through impedance spectroscopy. The results demonstrate the applicability of the impedance-based sensing for rapid screening of cytotoxic elements.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2022)