A stretchable and self‐healable conductive material with high conductivity is critical to high‐performance wearable electronics and integrated devices for applications where large mechanical deformation is involved. While there has been great progress in developing stretchable and self‐healable conducting materials, it remains challenging to concurrently maintain and recover such functionalities before and after healing. Here, a highly stretchable and autonomic self‐healable conducting film consisting of a conducting polymer (poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate), PEDOT:PSS) and a soft‐polymer (poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic acid), PAAMPSA) is reported. The optimal film exhibits outstanding stretchability as high as 630% and high electrical conductivity of 320 S cm−1, while possessing the ability to repair both mechanical and electrical breakdowns when undergoing severe damage at ambient conditions. This polymer composite film is further utilized in a tactile sensor, which exhibits good pressure sensitivity of 164.5 kPa−1, near hysteresis‐free, an ultrafast response time of 19 ms, and excellent endurance over 1500 consecutive presses. Additionally, an integrated 5 × 4 stretchable and self‐healable organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) array with great device performance is successfully demonstrated. The developed stretchable and autonomic self‐healable conducting film significantly increases the practicality and shelf life of wearable electronics, which in turn, reduces maintenance costs and build‐up of electronic waste.
The technology of drug delivery systems (DDS) has expanded into many applications, such as for treating neurological disorders. Nanoparticle DDS offer a unique strategy for targeted transport and improved outcomes of therapeutics. Stroke is likely to benefit from the emergence of this technology though clinical breakthroughs are yet to manifest. This review explores the recent advances in this field and provides insight on the trends, prospects and challenges of translating this technology to clinical application. Carriers of diverse material compositions are presented, with special focus on the surface properties and emphasis on the similarities and inconsistencies among in vivo experimental paradigms. Research attention is scattered among various nanoparticle DDS and various routes of drug administration, which expresses the lack of consistency among studies. Analysis of current literature reveals lipid-and polymer-based DDS as forerunners of DDS for stroke; however, cell membrane-derived vesicles (CMVs) possess the competitive edge due to their innate biocompatibility and superior efficacy. Conversely, inorganic and carbonbased DDS offer different functionalities as well as varied capacity for loading but suffer mainly from poor safety and general lack of investigation in this area. This review supports the existing literature by systematizing presently available data and accounting for the differences in drugs of choice, carrier types, animal models, intervention strategies and outcome parameters.
Hybrid Imaging modalities have shown great potential in medical imaging and diagnosis. A more comprehensive and targeted view of neurological disorders can be achieved by blending the anatomical and functional perspectives through hybridization. With consistently improving technologies, there have been many developments in fused imaging techniques over the past few decades. This article provides an overview of various bimodal and trimodal hybrid imaging techniques being developed and explored for neuroimaging applications. Recent advancements and potentials are discussed for single photon emission computed tomography‐computed tomography (SPECT‐CT), positron emission tomography‐CT (PET‐CT), PET‐magnetic resonance imaging (PET‐MRI), electroencephalography‐functional magnetic resonance imaging (EEG‐fMRI), magnetoencephalography‐fMRI (MEG‐fMRI), EEG‐near‐infrared spectroscopy (EEG‐NIRS), magnetic resonance‐PET‐EEG (MR‐PET‐EEG) and MR‐PET‐CT in the perspective of neuroimaging. A comparison of these hybrid approaches is provided on a single platform to analyze their performance on the basis of several common factors essential for imaging and analyzing neurological disorders and in vivo molecular processes. This article also provides an overview of recently developed advanced imaging technologies that are being hybridized with other imaging modalities and being explored as potential techniques for neuroscience. Novel approaches and clinical applications of hybrid neuroimaging are anticipated with inclusion of new technologies, better sensing capabilities, multimodal probes, and improved hybridization.
Long gone was the time when tumors were thought to be insular masses of cells, residing independently at specific sites in an organ. Now, researchers gradually realize that tumors interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM), blood vessels, connective tissues and immune cells in their environment, which is now known as the tumor microenvironment (TME). It is found that the interactions between tumors and their surrounding promote tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. The dynamics and diversity of TME cause the tumors to be heterogeneous and thus pose a challenge for cancer diagnosis, drug design and therapy. As TME is significant in enhancing tumor progression, it is vital to identify the different components in the TME. This review explores how different factors in the TME supply tumors with the required growth factors and signaling molecules to proliferate, invade and metastasis. We also examine the development of TME-targeted nanotheranostics over the recent years for cancer therapy, diagnosis and anticancer drug delivery system. This review further discusses the limitations and future perspective of nanoparticle based theranostics when used in combination with current imaging modalities like Optical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Nuclear Imaging (PET and SPECT).
Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease that can lead to life‐threatening events such as myocardial infarction and stroke, is characterized by the build‐up of lipids and immune cells within the arterial wall. It is understood that inflammation is a hallmark of atherosclerosis and can be a target for therapy. In support of this concept, an injectable nanoliposomal formulation encapsulating fluocinolone acetonide (FA), a corticosteroid, is developed that allows for drug delivery to atherosclerotic plaques while reducing the systemic exposure to off‐target tissues. In this study, FA is successfully incorporated into liposomal nanocarriers of around 100 nm in size with loading efficiency of 90% and the formulation exhibits sustained release up to 25 d. The anti‐inflammatory effect and cholesterol efflux capability of FA‐liposomes are demonstrated in vitro. In vivo studies carried out with an apolipoprotein E‐knockout (Apoe−/−) mouse model of atherosclerosis show accumulation of liposomes in atherosclerotic plaques, colocalization with plaque macrophages and anti‐atherogenic effect over 3 weeks of treatment. This FA‐liposomal‐based nanocarrier represents a novel potent nanotherapeutic option for atherosclerosis.
Long gone is the time when tumors were thought to be insular masses of cells, residing independently at specific sites in an organ. Now, researchers gradually realize that tumors interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM), blood vessels, connective tissues, and immune cells in their environment, which is now known as the tumor microenvironment (TME). It has been found that the interactions between tumors and their surrounds promote tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. The dynamics and diversity of TME cause the tumors to be heterogeneous and thus pose a challenge for cancer diagnosis, drug design, and therapy. As TME is significant in enhancing tumor progression, it is vital to identify the different components in the TME such as tumor vasculature, ECM, stromal cells, and the lymphatic system. This review explores how these significant factors in the TME, supply tumors with the required growth factors and signaling molecules to proliferate, invade, and metastasize. We also examine the development of TME-targeted nanotheranostics over the recent years for cancer therapy, diagnosis, and anticancer drug delivery systems. This review further discusses the limitations and future perspective of nanoparticle based theranostics when used in combination with current imaging modalities like Optical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Nuclear Imaging (Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computer Tomography (SPECT)).
Bridging the human mind with an external system implicitly or explicitly has been the aspiration of researchers working in the field of cognitive neuroimaging. Identifying the potential of various imaging techniques in identifying and mapping different regions of the brain in relation to their functions is the key to eliminating the difficulties in developing a mind-machine interface (MMI). Communication technology has flourished to the extent that wireless MMI applications can be designed to virtually control machines like wheelchairs, artificial limbs, etc. A cornucopia of diversified works on cognitive imaging is required to move the preliminary MMI models forward, thus engendering a technologically advanced system which can be operated directly by the brain. This article provides an overview of various aspects of cognitive neuroimaging and its potential applications in the development of a mind-machine interface.
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