Advanced Materials Interfaces最新文献

DNA Nanotechnology

In the Research Article (DOI: 10.1002/admi.202500619), Soo Hyeon Kim and co-workers present a novel strategy using DNA Y-motif nanostar hydrogels and DNA-functionalized antibodies for precise live-cell manipulation. Target cells are labeled with DNA sticky ends that hybridize with DNA Y-motifs, enabling their incorporation and capture within the hydrogel during self-assembly. This method allows parallel isolation, enrichment, and release of target cell types, demonstrated by selective manipulation of cancer cells.

Slippery Superhydrophobic Surfaces

Linear polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) incorporated into an epoxy-silicone matrix create durable superhydrophobic coatings with enhanced water repellency and droplet rebound, surpassing conventional alkyl functionalization. Electro- and photothermal actions can restore water repellency and mitigate icing. More details can be found in the Research Article by Jia Min Chin and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/admi.202500706).

Halide Perovskites

The illustration depicts charge carriers preserving their quantum phase coherence as they traverse grain boundaries in halide perovskite thin films, revealing a striking grain-size-independent behavior. Subsequent investigations uncover that phase coherence is not limited by microstructural features but dictated largely by crystal structure (or strain). More details can be found in the Research Article by Jose L. Mendoza-Cortes, Johannes Pollanen, Richard R. Lunt, William J. Gannon, and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/admi.202500567).

Functionally Graded Printable Wood Biomass

Ramus cellulose-mediated blends form large-scale, ambient conditions additively manufactured, and biodegradable composites able to mediate their structural capacity from micro- to macro-scale. A stiff truss turns into a strong beam and into a flexible curtain in a functionally-graded half-a-meter construct. More details can be found in the Research Article by Laia Mogas-Soldevila and -co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/admi.202500513).

Plasmonic semiconductors have attracted extensive interest in optoelectronics and photocatalysis due to their broadened absorption spectral range, hot-electron injection, and near-field enhancement. Among various plasmonic semiconductors, WO_3-x allows high concentrations of oxygen vacancies (O_V) and pronounced localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effects, enabling continuous tuning of optical and electronic properties. However, the LSPR effect in WO_3-x depends critically on O_V concentration and their stability. Herein, a surface reconstruction approach (structural rearrangement forming a dense surface layer with altered stoichiometry) was employed to synthesize WO_3-x nanosheets consisting of an inner layer with rich O_V concentration and a dense WO₃ surface passivation layer, which suppresses O_V healing and thereby allows stable O_V concentration during exposure in ambient atmosphere conditions or photocatalytic reactions. The as-synthesized plasmonic WO_3-x semiconductor exhibits enhanced LSPR effect due to the formation of a dense WO₃ passivation layer on the surface, which significantly improves the efficiency and stability of photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange under visible-near-infrared light illumination. This study provides a novel approach to improve the O_V stability in plasmonic WO_3-x semiconductors, offering important insights for stabilizing O_V concentrations in various plasmonic semiconductors. This advancement facilitates the application of plasmonic semiconductors in fields such as photocatalysis and nano-optoelectronics.

Lubricating greases play a vital role in reducing friction and wear under dynamic loading, but their performance is often limited by poor dispersion and compatibility of nano-additives. In this study, graphene-coated titanium dioxide (TiO₂@G) hybrids were synthesized via carbothermal treatment and incorporated at 0.5 wt% in lithium grease, alongside pristine graphene, TiO₂, and their physical mixture for comparison. Tribological and thermal behavior were evaluated using ASTM-standard testing, profilometry, transmission electron microscopy and Hamrock–Dowson line-contact film-thickness modeling. The TiO₂@G-800 hybrid demonstrated an 85.7% reduction in wear scar diameter, a 22.0% decrease in operating temperature and a modest increase in calculated film thickness (∼1.5%) relative to the control. Lubrication regime analysis based on Stribeck and Tallian parameter (λ) confirmed mixed lubrication across all samples, with slightly higher λ ratios for TiO₂@G-800 and graphene, consistent with improved film retention and wear protection. The superior performance of TiO₂@G is attributed to its engineered core–shell morphology, wherein the graphene sheath improves interfacial lubricity and thermal conductivity while the TiO₂ core provides structural reinforcement. These findings highlight nanoscale interface engineering as a promising approach for developing next-generation high-performance greases with applications in energy, transportation and advanced manufacturing.

Efficient fog harvesting strategies have attracted increasing attention for addressing global water scarcity. In this study, a bio-inspired slippery surface was engineered by combining hydrophilic–hydrophobic patterning and lubricant infusion based on hydrophobic undecylenic-modified microcrystalline cellulose (UMCC) nanoparticles. The UMCC nanoparticles were synthesized using a dialysis–spraying process, followed by UV-assisted patterning of the hydrophilic domains and infusion with a perfluoropolyether lubricant to create a stable, directionally modified slippery interface. The pristine nanoparticle surface exhibited strong adhesion and high contact-angle hysteresis, which severely hindered droplet removal. However, after lubricant infusion, the contact angle hysteresis was dramatically reduced, enabling rapid droplet mobility, similar to that of Nepenthes pitcher plants. The resulting surface exhibited excellent chemical and environmental stabilities over a wide pH range. Notably, the moderately hydrophilic amino-patterned surface enhanced droplet nucleation, coalescence, and directional removal, achieving an exceptional fog-harvesting rate of 532.8 ± 85.1 mg/(h·cm²), surpassing the performance of all unmodified controls. This study established a simple and sustainable platform for next-generation bio-inspired fog-harvesting and water-management technologies.

Transient electric birefringence measurements are used to show that brookite titania nanorods dispersed in the apolar liquid butylbenzene possess a large permanent dipole moment of 516 debye (rod length: 39 nm, diameter: 4.1 nm). This dipole moment makes the particles highly susceptible to applied electric fields. Isotropic dispersions at high volume fractions of up to 20% nanorods are aligned on a time scale of tens of microseconds at low field strengths. Alignment becomes nearly complete at a field strength of around 10 V/µm. It is shown that the birefringence of these dispersions is large enough that light transmission can be switched on and off in thin film cells of 150 µm thickness. These properties make brookite nanorod dispersions promising as the active material in optoelectronic applications.

Spheroids have emerged as valuable tools in bone tissue engineering, mimicking the cellular interactions in native tissues. However, the application of small and low-cell-number spheroids for simultaneous bone regeneration and vascularization remains underexplored. In this study, small pre-vascularized spheroids (250 cells each) were developed, using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) or human periosteum-derived stem cells (hPDCs), co-cultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Spheroids were evaluated for stability, osteogenic differentiation, and angiogenic potential. Results indicated that hMSC and hPDC spheroids formed stable structures, while HUVEC monocultures failed to achieve spheroid stability. Co-cultures showed HUVEC localization patterns mimicking native vascular structures. Gene and protein analyses revealed distinct osteogenic potential between hMSC and hPDC spheroids, with the latter demonstrating superior and earlier differentiation. Additionally, vascular endothelial growth factor expression was higher in co-cultures, suggesting enhanced angiogenic potential, particularly in hPDC spheroids. Using small-diameter spheroids addresses limitations of conventional large spheroids, such as necrotic core formation and heterogeneous differentiation. These findings emphasize the promise of pre-vascularized spheroids for scaffold-free and scaffold-based tissue engineering applications. Furthermore, their small size enables the exploration of their potential applications in 3D bioprinting, paving the way for the future development of more biomimetic vascularized bone constructs.