A unique digital microfluidic electroporation (EP) system successfully demonstrates higher transgene expression than that of conventional techniques, in addition to reliable productivity and feasible integrated processes. By systematic investigations into the effects of the droplet EP conditions for a wild-type microalgae, 1 order of magnitude higher transgene expression is accomplished without cell wall removal over the conventional bulk EP system. In addition, the newly proposed droplet EP method by a droplet contact charging phenomena shows a great potential for the integration of EP processes and on-chip cell culture providing easy controllability of each process. Finally, the implications of the accomplishments and future directions for development of the proposed technology are discussed.
A green approach was adopted to exfoliate a Ti 2 AlC MAX phase. The exfoliated nanostructures (Alk-Ti 2 C fibr and Alk-Ti 2 C sheet ) with exceptional mechanical, thermal, and water stabilites, as well as abundant oxygenated active binding sites, were synthesized via a controlled hydrothermal treatment in an alkaline environment. The successful synthesis of nanofibers and sheetlike nanostructures was inferred with scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, field-emission transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Brunauer−Emmett− Teller surface area, ζ-potential analyses, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were utilized to investigate the material's characteristics and its structural changes after metal ion adsorption. Heavy metal ion adsorption of the synthesized nanostructures was assessed in batch tests based on Cd 2+ ion sequestration; the maximum adsorption capacity for Cd 2+ was 325.89 mg/g, which is among the highest values reported for similar materials such as graphene oxide and its derivatives. The detailed quantitative investigation confirmed the interaction of hydroxyl groups with Cd 2+ ions by electrostatic interactions, adsorption-coupled oxidation, and complex formation. Owing to their unique structure, high porosity, large specific surface area, and oxygenated functional groups, Alk-Ti 2 C sheet nanosheets were highly time-efficient for Cd 2+ removal. Moreover, Alk-Ti 2 C fibr and Alk-Ti 2 C sheet nanostructures were tested for simulated groundwater, showing that synthesized nanostructures were capable for removing Cd 2+ ions at the ppb level. The results obtained from this study suggested that nanostructures synthesized using this route could provide a new approach to prepare and exfoliate additional MAX phases for the removal of heavy metal ions and other pollutants in the environment.
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