Colloidal photonic crystals (CPCs), which are the ordered assemblies of colloidal particles, can reflect specific wavelengths of light. In particular, CPCs with controllable optical properties are promising materials for advanced photonic applications. Principally, the optical properties of CPCs, i.e., reflection wavelengths and reflection intensities, are controllable. These two characteristics are closely related to the assembled structures of CPCs, especially interplanar spacing and regularity of the assembled structures. The reflection wavelength is proportional to the interplanar spacing of the structure; thus, uniform expanding/contracting of particle-to-particle distance causes red/blue shift of reflection peaks. On the other hand, the regularity affects the reflection intensity; reversible order–disorder transitions enable tuning of the reflection peak intensities. To control the structures of CPCs, various stimuli-responsive polymers and electromagnetic interactions of colloids have been employed. This review explains the above methods and clarifies the future perspectives.
COF-based membranes represent a new class of porous materials utilized in water treatment. A comprehensive exploration of these membranes, encompassing their properties and transport mechanisms, is crucial for elucidating the underlying principles and unresolved issues in membrane processes. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations offer a molecular-level exploration of membrane properties, both static and dynamic. This paper investigates the role of MD simulations in enhancing our understanding of COF-based membranes for water treatment processes.
This study discusses the structure and properties of COF materials, synthesis strategies, and their applications in water treatment. Furthermore, it explores the fundamental principles of MD simulation and various simulation methods pertinent to water treatment using COF-based membranes. By reviewing existing literature on MD simulations of COF-based membranes, this paper proposes future research directions in this promising field of membrane technology.
Adhesive interface stiffness significantly influences physiological processes by altering cell behaviors and signaling pathways. In particular, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT pathway, one of the most important pathways that cell division, survival, and differentiation, can be affected. However, the detailed mechanism of this interaction remains unclear. In this study, we used gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogels with varying stiffness to mimic cellular mechanical environments and examine their effects on PI3K-AKT signaling. Cells cultured on stiff hydrogels showed increased spreading, focal adhesion formation, and contractility compared to those on softer hydrogels. Furthermore, mechanotransduction activation on stiff hydrogels upregulated PIP3, PI3K, and phosphorylated AKT (pAKT) expression. Notably, inhibiting myosin II, a key regulator of contractility, reduced PI3K-AKT signaling, suggesting a link between force generation and pathway activation. These findings reveal that how PI3K-AKT signaling can be mediated by cell adhesion interface stiffness through cell contractility, which provides new insights for developing therapies targeting PI3K-AKT-associated diseases.

