Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nan Gao, Hui Zeng, Xiaofang Wang, Yue Zhang, Shuai Zhang, Ruwen Cui, Meining Zhang, Lanqun Mao
Summary: Graphdiyne (GDY), a 2D carbon allotrope, demonstrates a new character in electrochemiluminescence (ECL) investigation with strong emission and potential for emerging applications in imaging and light-emitting devices.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Khalil K. Hussain, Ricoveer Singh Shergill, Hairul Hisham Hamzah, Mark S. Yeoman, Bhavik A. Patel
Summary: Composite electrodes using various carbon materials are cost-effective and widely used, with thermoplastics as binders for reproducible and highly efficient electrodes. Different carbon allotropes show varied electrochemical performance when made into sensors, with graphite/PLA and graphene/PLA electrodes demonstrating the best electron transfer kinetics and sensitivity. CB/PLA electrodes are least prone to fouling. 3D printing allows for complex shapes and batch uniformity evaluation, with CB/PLA showing the best resolution and uniformity. These findings highlight the importance of choosing the appropriate carbon thermoplastic composite materials for electrode design.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Liuzheng Zheng, Nathan Hart, Yong Zeng
Summary: The field of micro-/nanorobotics has made significant progress and attracted interest from various research communities. Micro-/nanoscale robots offer unique advantages in chemical and biological sensing, making them a promising platform for future developments. This review provides an overview of the current state-of-the-art in micro-/nanorobotics, discusses the challenges faced, and presents the potential future applications of soft robotics in chemical and biological sensing.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jose Munoz, Mario Urso, Martin Pumera
Summary: A general procedure for synthesizing multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles with chiral, magnetic, and fluorescent properties, as well as self-propulsion, is reported here. The researchers functionalized self-propelled Ni@Pt superparamagnetic microrockets with fluorescent CdS quantum dots, which carried a chiral host biomolecule. The on-the-fly chiral recognition potential of these nanoparticles was demonstrated by their ability to selectively accommodate different chiral biomolecules. The study opens up possibilities for designing intelligent cargo micromachines with built-in chiral supramolecular recognition capabilities.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jose Munoz, Mario Urso, Martin Pumera
Summary: A general procedure for synthesizing multifunctional magnetic microcontainers with chiral, magnetic, fluorescent, and self-propulsion properties is reported. These microcontainers can recognize different chiral biomolecules (such as amino acids) through their beta-cyclodextrin affinity. Tryptophan enantiomers have been successfully discriminated using optical and electrochemical dual-mode readout.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
Mina Maruyama, Yanlin Gao, Nguyen Thanh Cuong, Susumu Okada
Summary: A two-dimensional magnetic carbon allotrope with hexagonally arranged fused pentagons is theoretically predicted. It has ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases as its respective ground and metastable states, with similar energy levels. The magnetic properties come from the polarized electron spins distributed in the hexagonal network structure.
APPLIED PHYSICS EXPRESS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Kirill Kolesnik, Philipp Segeritz, Daniel J. Scott, Vijay Rajagopal, David J. Collins
Summary: Acoustofluidic devices can manipulate particles and cells in arbitrary configurations at the microscale without complex patterning. This approach is enabling for cell studies and tissue engineering applications.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Sabrina A. Beker, Ivan Cole, Andrew S. Ball
Summary: Water pollution caused by dyes is a serious global concern, especially in developing countries. Nanomaterials, specifically carbon dots, show promise as a water treatment technology due to their unique properties and advantages. However, there is limited research on the ecotoxicity and fate of carbon dots in the environment. This review aims to summarize recent advancements in water remediation using carbon dots, discuss important factors for optimized catalytic remediation, and critically analyze the ecotoxicity issues and environmental fate of these nanoparticles.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Su-Jin Song, Carmen C. Mayorga-Martinez, Jan Vyskocil, Marketa Castoralova, Tomas Ruml, Martin Pumera
Summary: Magnetotactic bacteria can be precisely controlled by applying a magnetic field, allowing them to remove organic phosphate pesticides from aqueous solutions by binding with organic matter. These bacteria exhibit swarm behavior and can move in a circular direction under a programmed magnetic field. This technology shows potential for pollution removal and retrieval in various environments through directional magnetic actuation.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yangyang Yang, Lei Shi, Jingkai Lin, Panpan Zhang, Kunsheng Hu, Shuang Meng, Peng Zhou, Xiaoguang Duan, Hongqi Sun, Shaobin Wang
Summary: In this study, a magnetic FeOx@MnO2@SiO2 micromotor with multiple functions was designed, which demonstrated its catalytic performance in the activation of H2O2/peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for sustained motion and organic degradation. The correlations between catalytic efficiency and motion behavior/mechanism were also revealed.
Review
Automation & Control Systems
Longchen Wang, Zheying Meng, Yu Chen, Yuanyi Zheng
Summary: This article reviews the advancements of engineering magnetic micro/nanorobots for versatile biomedical applications, including targeted delivery, minimally invasive surgery, cellular and intracellular measurement, intelligent sensing, detoxification, and antibacterial applications. The controllability, visualization, and biosafety aspects of magnetically manipulated micro/nanorobots are summarized, along with discussions on the challenges faced and future prospective developments.
ADVANCED INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sepideh Khoee, Samaneh Moayeri, Mohammad A. Charsooghi
Summary: This paper synthesized functionalized nanoparticles and investigated their diffusion coefficients and velocities in different solutions, as well as the effects of an external magnetic field and NaCl concentration on their movement direction.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Martina Ussia, Mario Urso, Monika Kratochvilova, Jiri Navratil, Jan Balvan, Carmen C. C. Mayorga-Martinez, Jan Vyskocil, Michal Masarik, Martin Pumera
Summary: This study reports a new biodegradable magnetically actuated zinc/cystine-based microrobots for in situ treatment of prostate cancer cells. The microrobots are fabricated through metal-ion-mediated self-assembly of cystine encapsulating superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles, allowing precise manipulation by a rotating magnetic field. Inside the cells, the enzymatic reducing environment promotes the disassembly of the cystine structure and disrupts non-covalent interactions with metal ions, enabling site-specific delivery of zinc ions for tumor cell killing via a Trojan horse effect.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chongchong Wang, Lulu Kong, Bingbing Chen, Lin Zhou, Wei Wang, Shaohua Wei
Summary: The precise edge-oriented growth of Ni2P at the edges of a 2D Ni-MOF was achieved for the first time, resulting in the formation of an edge mode Ni-MOF/Ni2P heterostructure. This heterostructure exhibited improved catalytic performance in the hydrogenation reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol, with upregulated d-band center, enhanced 4-nitrophenol adsorption capacity, lowered energy barrier of the rate-determining step, and higher specific surface area.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Roberto Maria-Hormigos, Carmen C. Mayorga-Martinez, Martin Pumera
Summary: This research develops a soft hydrogel-based microrobot with magnetic actuation and photodegradation functionalities for efficient degradation of organic pollutants. The microrobots demonstrate high degradation efficiency in multiple cycles, providing a simple and effective solution for water purification applications.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jose Grau, Maria Moreno-Guzman, Luis Arruza, Miguel angel Lopez, Alberto Escarpa, Alberto Chisvert
Summary: Miniaturized magnetic-based pipette tip microextraction is a sample preparation approach for microsamples. It involves dispersing a small amount of magnetic sorbent material in a low-volume sample to trap the target analytes, followed by using a pipette tip with a neodymium magnet inside to retrieve the sorbent. The method was successfully applied to determine free cortisol in serum and urine samples from low birth weight preterm newborns.
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Analytical
Beatriz Jurado-Sanchez, Alberto Escarpa
Biographical-Item
Chemistry, Analytical
Alberto Escarpa
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Silvia Dortez, Agustin G. Crevillen, Alberto Escarpa
Summary: In this study, a colorimetric microfluidic paper-based analytical device combined with a smartphone readout was developed for the determination of serum iron levels. The method showed a good linear correlation, low detection limit, and high accuracy and inter-device reproducibility. Moreover, the method offered advantages such as affordability, portability, ease of use, sensitivity, and specificity, making it suitable for point-of-care testing.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Victor de la Asuncion-Nadal, Daniel Rojas, Beatriz Jurado-Sanchez, Alberto Escarpa
Summary: In this study, we describe the light-triggered photophoretic motion of WS2 micromotors. These micromotors were prepared using liquid-phase exfoliation of pristine WS2 in water, resulting in a layered material with high photoconversion capability. Under electromagnetic irradiation, the micromotors exhibit positive photophoretic motion and swarming-like behavior. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were used to characterize the photophoretic propulsion mechanism of the micromotors. These novel micromotors can perform collective motion without the need for surfactants or fuels, reaching velocities of up to 6000 μm/s, making them the fastest light-driven micromotor platform to date with potential for cutting-edge applications.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Roberto Maria-Hormigos, Carmen C. Mayorga-Martinez, Martin Pumera
Summary: This research develops a soft hydrogel-based microrobot with magnetic actuation and photodegradation functionalities for efficient degradation of organic pollutants. The microrobots demonstrate high degradation efficiency in multiple cycles, providing a simple and effective solution for water purification applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Roberto Maria-Hormigos, Carmen C. Mayorga-Martinez, Tomas Kincl, Martin Pumera
Summary: The brewing industry is projected to generate a revenue exceeding 500 billion euros in 2022, with an expected annual growth. This study demonstrates the use of magneto/catalytic nanostructured BioBots, encapsulating yeast cells, for enhanced beer fermentation. The encapsulated yeast cells retain their biological activity and the catalytic fermentation process produces oscillatory motion of the BioBots, improving the fermentation compared to static yeast cells. Magnetic actuation is then utilized to retrieve the BioBots from the beer samples, eliminating the need for additional filtration steps.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jose M. Gordon Pidal, Luis Arruza, Maria Moreno-Guzman, Miguel Angel Lopez, Alberto Escarpa
Summary: A fast and reliable OFF-ON micromotors (MM)-based aptassay was proposed for rapid, sensitive, and accurate determination of procalcitonin (PCT) in infants' serum samples. The method allowed for highly selective and sensitive PCT detection in just 5 minutes using a small volume of sample.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2023)
Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Hassan Nasrollahpour, Beatriz Jurado Sanchez, Mika Sillanpaa, Rasoul Moradi
Summary: Nanoclusters, consisting of few tens of atoms, have attracted significant attention in various fields due to their unique properties and applications. Compared to larger nanoparticles, nanoclusters exhibit distinct chemical, optical, and electrical properties. They can be used as signaling and/or reaction-accelerating materials in various sensing assays, showing enhanced properties. Nanoclusters also show great promise in terms of luminescence, with high quantum yield and better biocompatibility. They have opened new horizons in designing high-performance sensing and biosensing devices, offering excellent functionality and environmentally friendly properties.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Ana Maria Diez-Pascual, Pilar Garcia-Diaz, Rafael Pena-Capilla, Beatriz Jurado-Sanchez
Summary: This article describes the process of adapting from in site to online teaching in a Spanish University during COVID-19. It comprehensively explains the advantages, drawbacks, and the process adopted for virtual teaching, including an inquiry-based learning methodology. The outcomes of the teaching-learning process were evaluated through online tests and rubrics, and the impact of online adaptation was assessed by comparing marks and feedback from students.
RESEARCH IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Javier Bujalance-Fernandez, Beatriz Jurado-Sanchez, Alberto Escarpa
Summary: Micromotors (MMs) are small devices that can convert energy into independent motion. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline materials with unique properties such as high porosity and biocompatibility, and they have been used as active materials or building blocks for MMs. This article highlights the recent development of MOF-based MMs, focusing on propulsion mechanisms, designs, and challenges. The discussed advantages and challenges provide valuable guidance for designing next-generation MOF MMs for real-world applications.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Victor de la Asuncion-nadal, Javier Bujalance-Fernandez, Beatriz Jurado-Sanchez, Alberto Escarpa
Summary: A fuel-free method using WS2 and MoS2 photophoretic microflakes is effective in eradicating Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. The microflakes, prepared through liquid-phase exfoliation of the materials, exhibit fast collective behavior and generate reactive oxygen species under electromagnetic irradiation. The motion of microflakes disrupts the biofilm and enhances the contact of radical oxygen species with bacteria, resulting in high removal rates for biofilm mass. Compared to free antibiotics, the use of these new moving microflakes shows higher efficiency in deactivating biofilms, making them promising for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Victor de la Asuncion-Nadal, Juan Victor Perales-Rondon, Alvaro Colina, Beatriz Jurado-Sanchez, Alberto Escarpa
Summary: Photophoretic Au@MoS2 micromotors are utilized as smart mobile substrates for dynamic surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensing. These micromotors possess photophoretic capabilities and swarming-like propulsion, allowing for increased density of SERS-active gold nanoparticles and preconcentration of target analyte. The strategy offers enhanced detection sensitivity without the need for additional external propulsion sources and simplifies the experimental setup.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Bettina Glahn-Martinez, Beatriz Jurado-Sanchez, Elena Benito-Pena, Alberto Escarpa, Maria C. Moreno-Bondi
Summary: This study developed a novel bioassay for monitoring FK506 using magnetic Janus micromotors and a recombinant chimera receptor. The bioassay utilized a fluorescence competitive method between the drug and the micromotors to achieve a one-step assay without washing steps. The method exhibited a high limit of detection and dynamic range, and was able to operate in raw samples.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Laetitia Bardet, Herve Roussel, Stefano Saroglia, Masoud Akbari, David Munoz-Rojas, Carmen Jimenez, Aurore Denneulin, Daniel Bellet
Summary: The thermal instability of silver nanowires leads to increased electrical resistance in AgNW networks. Understanding the relationship between structural and electrical properties of AgNW networks is crucial for their integration as transparent electrodes in flexible optoelectronics. In situ X-ray diffraction measurements were used to study the crystallographic evolution of Ag-specific Bragg peaks during thermal ramping, revealing differences in thermal and structural transitions between bare and SnO2-coated AgNW networks.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nathalia Cancino-Fuentes, Arnau Manasanch, Joana Covelo, Alex Suarez-Perez, Enrique Fernandez, Stratis Matsoukis, Christoph Guger, Xavi Illa, Anton Guimera-Brunet, Maria V. Sanchez-Vives
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive characterization of graphene-based solution-gated field-effect transistors (gSGFETs) for brain recordings, highlighting their potential clinical applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sikandar Aftab, Hailiang Liu, Dhanasekaran Vikraman, Sajjad Hussain, Jungwon Kang, Abdullah A. Al-Kahtani
Summary: This study examines the effects of hybrid nanoparticles made of NiO@rGO and NiO@CNT on the active layers of polymer solar cells and X-ray photodetectors. The findings show that these hybrid nanoparticles can enhance the charge carrier capacities and exciton dissociation properties of the active layers. Among the tested configurations, the NiO@CNT device demonstrates superior performance in converting sunlight into electricity, and achieves the best sensitivity for X-ray detection.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hyo Jung Shin, Seung Gyu Choi, Fengrui Qu, Min-Hee Yi, Choong-Hyun Lee, Sang Ryong Kim, Hyeong-Geug Kim, Jaewon Beom, Yoonyoung Yi, Do Kyung Kim, Eun-Hye Joe, Hee-Jung Song, Yonghyun Kim, Dong Woon Kim
Summary: This study investigates the role of SOX9 in reactive astrocytes following ischemic brain damage using a PLGA nanoparticle plasmid delivery system. The results demonstrate that PLGA nanoparticles can reduce ischemia-induced neurological deficits and infarct volume, providing a potential opportunity for stroke treatment.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anurag Chaudhury, Koushik Debnath, Nikhil R. Jana, Jaydeep K. Basu
Summary: The study investigates the interaction between nanoparticles and cell membranes, and identifies key parameters, including charge, crowding, and membrane fluidity, that determine the adsorbed concentration and unbinding transition of nanoparticles.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sina Sadeghi, Fazel Bateni, Taekhoon Kim, Dae Yong Son, Jeffrey A. Bennett, Negin Orouji, Venkat S. Punati, Christine Stark, Teagan D. Cerra, Rami Awad, Fernando Delgado-Licona, Jinge Xu, Nikolai Mukhin, Hannah Dickerson, Kristofer G. Reyes, Milad Abolhasani
Summary: In this study, an autonomous approach for the development of lead-free metal halide perovskite nanocrystals is presented, which integrates a modular microfluidic platform with machine learning-assisted synthesis modeling. This approach enables rapid and optimized synthesis of copper-based lead-free nanocrystals.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zahir Abbas, Nissar Hussain, Surender Kumar, Shaikh M. Mobin
Summary: The rational construction of free-standing and flexible electrodes for electrochemical energy storage devices is an emerging research focus. In this study, a redox-active metal-organic framework (MOF) was prepared on carbon nanofibers using an in situ approach, resulting in a flexible electrode with high redox-active behavior and unique properties such as high flexibility and lightweight. The prepared electrode showed excellent cyclic retention and rate capability in supercapacitor applications. Additionally, it could be used as a freestanding electrode in flexible devices at different bending angles.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lishan Zhang, Xiaoting Zhang, Hui Ran, Ze Chen, Yicheng Ye, Jiamiao Jiang, Ziwei Hu, Miral Azechi, Fei Peng, Hao Tian, Zhili Xu, Yingfeng Tu
Summary: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising local treatment modality in cancer therapy, but its therapeutic efficacy is restricted by ineffective delivery of photosensitizers and tumor hypoxia. In this study, a phototactic Chlorella-based near-infrared (NIR) driven green affording-oxygen microrobot system was developed for enhanced PDT. The system exhibited desirable phototaxis and continuous oxygen generation, leading to the inhibition of tumor growth in mice. This study demonstrates the potential of using a light-driven green affording-oxygen microrobot to enhance photodynamic therapy.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yujin Li, Jing Xu, Xinqi Luo, Futing Wang, Zhong Dong, Ke-Jing Huang, Chengjie Hu, Mengyi Hou, Ren Cai
Summary: In this study, hollow heterostructured materials were constructed using an innovative template-engaged method as cathodes for zinc-ion batteries. The materials exhibited fast Zn2+ transport channels, improved electrical conductivity, and controlled volume expansion during cycling. The designed structure allowed for an admirable reversible capacity and high coulombic efficiency.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Paritosh Mahato, Shashi Shekhar, Rahul Yadav, Saptarshi Mukherjee
Summary: This study comprehensively elucidates the role of the core and electrostatic surface of metal nanoclusters in catalytic reduction reactions. The electrostatic surface dramatically modulates the reactivity of metal nanoclusters.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pei Liu, Mengdi Liang, Zhengwei Liu, Haiyu Long, Han Cheng, Jiahe Su, Zhongbiao Tan, Xuewen He, Min Sun, Xiangqian Li, Shuai He
Summary: This study demonstrates a simple and environmentally-friendly method for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanozymes (ZnO NZs) using wasted hop extract (WHE). The WHE-ZnO NZs exhibit exceptional peroxidase-like activity and serve as effective catalysts for the oxidation of 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In addition, a straightforward colorimetric technique for detecting both H2O2 and glucose was developed using the WHE-ZnO NZs as peroxidase-like catalysts.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hyunkyu Oh, Young Jun Lee, Eun Ji Kim, Jinseok Park, Hee-Eun Kim, Hyunsoo Lee, Hyunjoo Lee, Bumjoon J. Kim
Summary: Mesoporous carbon particles have unique structural properties that make them suitable as support materials for catalytic applications. This study investigates the impact of channel nanostructures on the catalytic activity of porous carbon particles (PCPs) by fabricating PCPs with controlled channel exposure on the carbon surface. The results show that PCPs with highly open channel nanostructures exhibit significantly higher catalytic activity compared to those with closed channel nanostructures.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yunjie Lu, Zhaohui Li, Zewei Li, Shihao Zhou, Ning Zhang, Jianming Zhang, Lu Zong
Summary: A tough, long-lasting adhesive and highly conductive nanocomposite hydrogel (PACPH) was fabricated via the synergy of interfacial entanglement and adhesion group densification. PACPH possesses excellent mechanical properties, interfacial adhesion strength, and conductivity, making it a promising material for long-term monitoring of human activities and electrocardiogram signals.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zichao Wei, Audrey Vandergriff, Chung-Hao Liu, Maham Liaqat, Mu-Ping Nieh, Yu Lei, Jie He
Summary: We have developed a simple method to prepare polymer-grafted plasmonic metal nanoparticles with pH-responsive surface-enhanced Raman scattering. By using pH-responsive polymers as ligands, the aggregation of nanoparticles can be controlled, leading to enhanced SERS. The pH-responsive polymer-grafted nanoparticles show high reproducibility and sensitivity in solution, providing a novel approach for SERS without the need for sample pre-concentration.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Melis Ozge Alas Colak, Ahmet Gungor, Merve Buldu Akturk, Emre Erdem, Rukan Genc
Summary: This research investigates the effect of functionalizing carbon dots with hydroxyl polymers on their performance as electrode materials in a supercapacitor. The results show that the functionalized carbon dots exhibit excellent electrochemical performance and improved stability.
