Very recently, MXene-based wearable hydrogels have emerged as promising candidates for epidermal sensors due to their tissue-like softness and unique electrical and mechanical properties. However, it remains a challenge to achieve MXene-based hydrogels with reliable sensing performance and prolonged service life, because MXene inevitably oxidizes in water-containing system of the hydrogels. Herein, catecholfunctionalized poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA-CA)-based hydrogels is proposed to inhibit the oxidation of MXene, leading to rapid self-healing and superior strain sensing behaviors. Sufficient interaction of hydrophobic catechol groups with the MXene surface reduces the oxidation-accessible sites in the MXene for reaction with water and eventually suppresses the oxidation of MXene in the hydrogel. Furthermore, the PVA-CA-MXene hydrogel is demonstrated for use as a strain sensor for real-time motion monitoring, such as detecting subtle human motions and handwriting. The signals of PVA-CA-MXene hydrogel sensor can be accurately classified using deep learning models.
The direct use of conventional photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer cells has been thwarted by their low solubility, poor photostability, and aggregation tendency. Hence, complex and hectic synthetic procedures, such as developing nanomaterials and subsequently loading them with photosensitizers, have become mandatory for the effective use of photosensitizers in PDT. In this study, we have avoided complex procedures and produce hematoporphyrin (HP) photosensitizer-encapsulated carbon quantum dots (CQDs) (HP-CQDs) facilely through a well-controlled one-step microwave reaction by using the HP monomer as one of the precursors. The as-synthesized HP-CQDs retained all intrinsic optical and chemical properties of HP, while displaying excellent solubility in water. Importantly, the excellent reactive oxygen species generation ability of HP-CQDs under the illumination of deep red light favored their applicability in PDT-assisted efficient eradication of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Compared to HP, HP-CQDs exhibited very high phototoxicity and low dark toxicity toward MCF-7 cells. Overall, this study offers a proof of concept that photosensitizer-implanted CQDs, having excellence in PDT-assisted cancer treatment, can be easily designed by strategically exploiting the diversity available in the selection of precursors and synthesis conditions to produce CQDs.
A simple and efficient reinforcing strategy for mechanical and electrical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers is developed by using a natural urushiol as an eco-friendly and cross-linkable agent. This...
A simple,
cheap, and environment-friendly method is developed to
fabricate antibacterial plastic films or fibers. We report a robust
method to decorate silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on plastics or fibers,
which is achieved easily by dipping ultraviolet–ozone (UVO)-treated
plastic films or fibers into a silver nitrate solution under mild
conditions. Apart from silver nitrate, neither a stabilizer nor a
reducing agent is required, and no post-treatment is required to reduce
the Ag+ ions into AgNPs. The only process required is the
pre-treatment of the plastic substrates using UVO under an ambient
condition for their surface activation. Most importantly, the AgNP-coated
plastics show a robust adhesion ability and high bactericidal activity,
more than 99% toward both Gram-negative Escherichia
coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus
aureus. Because the AgNP-decoration on plastic substrates
by UVO-treatment is environmentally benign, highly reproducible, economically
beneficial, and universally acceptable for many kinds of plastic substrates,
it could be widely utilized for producing AgNP-coated plastics suitable
for biological and environmental applications in both academics and
industries.
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