Future wearable technologies and personal electronics may benefit from e‐textiles that simultaneously possess high elasticity and multiple capabilities such as energy harvesting and sensing. Here, the first elastic multifunctional fiber that can scavenge mechanical energy from body motion and electromagnetic energy from surrounding electrical appliances is presented. In addition to converting multiple sources of waste energy into electricity, the fibers can also serve as self‐powered tactile and biomechanical sensors. The fibers consist of hollow elastomeric fibers filled with liquid metal. The fibers harvest energy by the combination of triboelectricity (160 V m−1, 5 µA m−1, and ≈360 µW m−1) and induced electrification of the liquid metal (±8 V m−1 (60 Hz), ±1.4 µA m−1, and ≈8 µW m−1). The fibers are characterized and their utility for powering electronics and sensing biomechanical information is demonstrated. These fibers are further demonstrated as completely soft and stretchable components for human–machine interfaces, including keypads and wireless music controllers.
In the present study, the effectiveness of paclitaxel nanocrystals (PTX NCs) encapsulated in carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) nanoparticles (CMCS−PTX NPs) as an anticancer drug is evaluated. The CMCS nanoparticles are produced via a cross‐junction microfluidic device where the PTX/CMCS concentration and flow rates in the device are optimized. The dynamic light scattering data show that the PTX NCs have a median diameter size of 230±90 nm, while the size of CMCS−PTX NPs is roughly 270±30 nm. The zeta‐potential result indicates less negative surface charge for the CMCS−PTX NPs as compared to the PTX NCs. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy micrographs, differential scanning calorimetry thermograms, and X‐ray diffraction patterns reveal that the physicochemical properties of the drug remain unaltered after perfusion through the microfluidic device. Cytotoxicity and cell endocytosis of PTX NCs and CMCS−PTX NPs are evaluated in vitro using G361 melanoma‐positive skin cells. The results reveal that the CMCS−PTX NPs increase the cellular uptake and cytotoxicity compared to the PTX NCs alone. In addition, the antitumor effect of CMCS−PTX NPs on B16 melanoma indicates the great potential of CMCS as a promising nano‐carrier for PTX NCs drug with potent inhibitory effect on the tumor growth.
Easy sample collection, physiological relevance, and ability to noninvasively and longitudinally monitor the human body are some of the key attributes of wearable sweat sensors. Examples typically include reversible sensors or an array of singleuse sensors embedded in specialized microfluidics for temporal analysis of sweat. However, evolving this field to a level that truly represents "lab-on-skin" technology will require the incorporation of advanced functionalities that give the user the freedom to (1) choose the precise time for performing sample analysis and (2) select sensors from an array embedded within the device for performing condition-specific sample analysis. Here, we introduce new concepts in wearable microfluidic platforms that offer such capabilities. The described technology involves a series of fingeractuated pumps, valves, and sensors incorporated within soft, wearable microfluidics. The incoming sweat collects in the inlet chamber and can be analyzed by the user at the time of their choosing. On-demand sweat analyte assessment is achieved by pulling a thin tab to activate a pump which opens a valve and allows the pooled sweat to enter a chamber embedded with sensors for the desired analytes. The article describes a thorough characterization of the platform that demonstrates the robustness of the pumping, valving, and sensing aspects of the device under conditions mimicking real-life scenarios. A two-day-long human pilot study validates the system and illustrates the device's ability to offer on-demand, longitudinal, and multianalyte sensing. Our work represents the first example of a wearable system with such on-demand sensing capabilities and opens exciting avenues in sweat sensing for acquiring new insights into human physiology.
a This work was aimed to synthesize and characterize poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [poly (HEMA)]-based molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (MIP NPs) containing timolol maleate (TM) via precipitation polymerization. The molecular structures of the MIP and non-imprinted polymer (NIP) NPs were compared by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The morphological observations by using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of MIP NPs as small as 128 nm in average diameter with appropriate synthesis conditions. Thermal behaviors of the samples were also studied by the use of thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. By considering a series of key factors such as monomer : template ratio, cross-linker type, pH, and temperature, the sample with promising characteristics was found to be that of HEMA : TM ratio of 10:1, 40 mmol of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker, and polymerization temperature of 60°C in acetonitrile as porogenic solvent. Furthermore, the ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry results proved a controlled release of TM from the MIP NP samples compared with NIP ones at extended periods. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of the MIP and NIP NPs samples was evaluated on mesenchymal stem cells, and the obtained observations showed that they had no adverse side effect on the living cells; especially the surface of the MIP NPs sample depicted highly cellˈs biocompatibility. Finally, the outcomes from designed different experiments conducted us that the HEMA-based MIP NPs have great potential as an ocular nanocarrier for TM delivery.
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