The emerging area of e-textiles requires electrically conductive threads. We demonstrate that nylon, polyester, and cotton threads can be made conductive by coating their surfaces with random networks of solution-synthesized silver nanowires. A resistance per unit length of 0.8 O cm À1 was achieved and can be varied through the density of the nanowire coating. Because the nanowires are 35 nm in diameter, and the mesh structure does not cover the entire surface like a thin-film, less metal is used compared to conventional silver-coated conductive threads. This leads to a much lower weight and mechanically flexible coating. The functionality of the thread as a heater and the fabrication of stretchable conductive thread are also demonstrated.

We report an aptamer discovery technology that reproducibly yields higher affinity aptamers in fewer rounds compared to conventional selection. Our method (termed particle display) transforms libraries of solution-phase aptamers into “aptamer particles”, each displaying many copies of a single sequence on its surface. We then use fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to individually measure the relative affinities of >108 aptamer particles and sort them in a high-throughput manner. Through mathematical analysis, we identified experimental parameters that enable optimal screening, and demonstrate enrichment performance that exceeds the theoretical maximum achievable with conventional selection by many orders of magnitude. We used particle display to obtain high-affinity DNA aptamers for four different protein targets in three rounds, including proteins for which previous DNA aptamer selection efforts have been unsuccessful. We believe particle display offers an extraordinarily efficient mechanism for generating high quality aptamers in a rapid and economic manner, towards accelerated exploration of the human proteome.

We report an aptamer discovery technology that reproducibly yields higher affinity aptamers in fewer rounds compared to conventional selection. Our method (termed particle display) transforms libraries of solution‐phase aptamers into “aptamer particles”, each displaying many copies of a single sequence on its surface. We then use fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS) to individually measure the relative affinities of >108 aptamer particles and sort them in a high‐throughput manner. Through mathematical analysis, we identified experimental parameters that enable optimal screening, and demonstrate enrichment performance that exceeds the theoretical maximum achievable with conventional selection by many orders of magnitude. We used particle display to obtain high‐affinity DNA aptamers for four different protein targets in three rounds, including proteins for which previous DNA aptamer selection efforts have been unsuccessful. We believe particle display offers an extraordinarily efficient mechanism for generating high‐quality aptamers in a rapid and economic manner, towards accelerated exploration of the human proteome.

Electrical conductivity of a textile is a necessity for e-textile devices as well as functionality such as electromagnetic shielding and static dissipation. Here, sheet resistances as low as 3 Ω sq −1 are achieved by transfer printing films of silver nanowire networks onto the surface of fabrics. Because the nanowires are only 40 nm thick and the film is an open mesh rather than a continuous film, the coating is lightweight, more mechanically flexible than other conductive fabrics, and at sparser nanowire densities does not obstruct the pattern of the textile underneath. The open spaces in the mesh structure also allow adhesive to permeate through the film, permitting the coating to be applied through an easy, industrially compatible transfer printing process. It is demonstrated that the coating can be patterned and used as device interconnections, and has the ability to shield electromagnetic radiation and heat fabric.

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A study on the effect of silver-filled electrical epoxy materials and the effect of electroless silver nitrate-plated woven fabrics on electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of various woven fabrics has been reported. Polyester, cotton, polyester/viscose blend, and polyester/cotton blend fabrics were treated with silver-filled electrical epoxy by pad-cure method. The polyester fabrics were treated with various levels of silver nitrate concentration, temperature, and time to analyze EMSE. The electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of these silver-filled electrical epoxy-coated fabrics and electroless silver nitrate-plated woven fabrics has been measured in the frequency range 20—18,000 MHz using network analyzer equipment with MIL-STD 285 and also the morphological structures of the silver-filled electrical epoxy-coated woven materials and electroless silver nitrate-plated woven fabrics were analyzed using scanning electron microscope. It is observed that the silver-filled electrical epoxy cotton fabric has better electromagnetic shielding effectiveness than the polyester/cotton blend, polyester/viscose blend, and polyester fabric in the frequency range 20—18,000 MHz. It is also observed that the silver-filled electrical epoxy-coated cotton fabric has maximum shielding effectiveness (50—69 dB) in the frequency range 60—15,000 MHz. It is observed that the silver nitrate concentration and temperature have a significant influence on electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of silver nitrate-plated fabrics. It is also observed that the maximum EMSE (45—55 dB) was obtained in the frequency range 180—8000 MHz.

The development of nanoparticles as drug carriers is being increased in the past decades as the efficient transport system for drug molecules which offer a variety of biotechnology applications. Among the various nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have emerged as most promising nanomaterials for biomedical applications and drug delivery due to their small size with large surface area, polyaromatic structure, the possibility of functionalisations and chemical stability which make them able to interact with various small molecules including drugs. The present review highlights different aspects of CNTs including functionalisation, cellular uptake and drug loading capacity along with their applications as potential cargo of therapeutic molecule in drug delivery. Key Concepts Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are the most promising nanomaterials for biomedical applications. Scientific community is focusing on the development of targeted drug delivery systems. Single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have well‐defined dimensions as compared to multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and considered to be more stable nanostructure. The length of the CNTs varies from micrometre to nanometres, which can be further shortened by any physical or chemical method. The functionalised CNTs along with its void structure can provide more opportunities with improved and promising pharmacological applications. The solubility and dispensability of CNTs can be improved or modulated by functionalisation approach, which provides longer stabilisation. The functionalised CNTs have great permeability and it can easily cross the cell membranes. Safety is the basic requirement of any material that is being used as a medicine.