Non-invasive action potential recordings using printed electrolyte-gated polymer field-effect transistors.

Scalable and high-throughput platforms to non-invasively record the Action Potentials (APs) of excitable cells are highly demanded to accelerate disease diagnosis and drug discovery. AP recordings are typically achieved with the invasive and low-throughput patch clamp technique. Non-invasive alternatives like planar multielectrode arrays cannot record APs without membrane poration, preventing accurate measurements of disease states and drug effects.

Construction of a Self-Enhanced Fluorescent Aptasensor Based on Lanthanide Ligand Self-Assembly and Catalytic Hairpin Assembly for Highly-Sensitive Detection of Anatoxin-a.

Anatoxin-a (ATX-a) is a potent neurotoxin produced by cyanobacteria, with growing evidence unequivocally linking it to acute aquatic toxicity, neurological impairment, and increased mortality in wildlife and livestock, highlighting its significant threat to ecosystem stability and public health. Here, we report a novel fluorescent aptasensor system (FAS) that integrates novel DNA-functionalized Eu nanoparticles (DNA-Eu NPs) with a catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) strategy for ultrasensitive ATX-a detection. We used single-stranded DNA CTA (ssDNA) oligomers rich in cytosine, thymine, and adenine as effective antenna ligands to sensitize the luminescence of Eu.

Engineering the Electronic Structure and Optoelectronic Properties of Chiral Metal Halides through Cation Design.

The tunability of hybrid organic-inorganic metal halides through targeted chemical design is one of their most attractive features, enabling fine control over physical properties for optoelectronic applications. In chiral systems, where chirality is introduced via organic amines, this tunability is often limited by the scarcity of suitable chiral cations. In this study, we report a family of 1D lead- and tin-based chiral hybrid halides incorporating a tailor-made cation bearing both amino and hydroxyl functional groups.

Electro-Mechanical Properties of Metallized Sodium Alginate Foils at the Limit of the Electrical Conduction.

In recent years, much attention has been given to biopolymers and renewable raw materials obtained from nature to find alternatives to petroleum-based materials. In this context, we developed a free-standing and flexible conductive substrate by sputtering a thin layer of gold onto a foil of sodium alginate, producing conductive self-standing substrates. These substrates have been utilized for the fabrication of eco-designed solution-processed optoelectronic devices.

In-Situ Self-Encapsulated Tin-Halide Perovskites for Air-Functional Near-Infrared Light-Emitting Diodes.

Tin-halide perovskites are emerging as exceptional materials for near-infrared light-emitting diodes (NIR-LEDs). However, their extreme oxygen sensitivity remains a significant obstacle to practical applications. This work presents a facile yet effective strategy to overcome this limitation by designing self-encapsulated tin-halide perovskite films.

Active Biopaste for Coral Reef Restoration.

Preserving coral reefs is crucial for safeguarding marine biodiversity, global ecosystems, and coastal communities. Coral restoration focuses on farming and transplanting corals back onto reefs. However, traditional attachment methods, such as petroleum-based epoxy, pose environmental risks or provide inefficient affixation.

Charge Redistribution via d-p Hybridization in NiCoP Supported on NiP Boosts Alkaline Hydrogen Production.

Transition-metal phosphides (TMPs) are promising electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), but their industrial-scale application is limited by sluggish water dissociation kinetics and insufficient active site exposure under alkaline conditions. Herein, we demonstrate orbital hybridization engineering in NiP/NiCoP-1 heterostructures fabricated via controlled phosphorization and magnetically modulated electrodeposition (MME). COMSOL simulations, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the heterointerface activates covalent Ni/Co-P bonding through optimized d-p orbital hybridization, leading to favorable electron density redistribution and an upshifted d-band center (Δ = 0.

3D Chiral Metal Halide Semiconductors.

Chiral metal halides are promising materials for nonlinear optics and spin-selective devices. Typically, chirality is introduced via large chiral organic cations, leading to low-dimensional structures and limitations in charge transport. Here, we design a family of chiral metal halides based on the relatively small ditopic /-3-aminoquinuclidine (3-AQ) cation, forming an (/-3AQ)-PbBr structure closely related to the 3D corner-sharing octahedral network of perovskites.

Unleashing the Impact of Topological Surface States on the Thermoelectric Properties of Granular SbTe Thin Films Deposited on Flexible Substrates.

Between thermoelectric materials, topological insulators (TIs) such as SbTe can effectively decouple phonon and electronic transport. Recent works mostly focused on TI composites or superlattices, where the contribution of the topological surface states (TSS) to the thermoelectric properties is overshadowed by other mechanisms such as energy filtering or electronic band reorganization. Here, we investigate efficient thermoelectric SbTe polycrystalline thin films deposited on plastic foil.

Inkjet Printable Conductive Activated Carbon Ink from Sustainable Sources.

Inkjet printing offers an attractive manufacturing method for flexible and large-area electronics, yet formulating sustainable inks not derived from fossil fuels represents a major challenge toward environmentally friendly technologies. Here, we present a conductive ink formulated for inkjet printing, consisting only of renewable and nontoxic components, namely electrically conductive activated carbon nanoparticles, ethyl cellulose as binder and stabilizer, and ethanol-terpineol mixture as the dispersant. The ink is composed of activated carbon nanoparticles with a diameter between 30 and 120 nm and exhibits high colloidal stability, dynamic viscosity and surface tension within an ideal range for inkjet printing.

Influence of Non-Cross-Linking AGEs on Mechanical Properties and Morphological Features of Tropocollagen Peptides: A Molecular Dynamics Study.

Collagen, a protein known for its long lifespan, is susceptible to accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) with age. These AGEs are considered markers that indicate the aging severity and influence the mechanics of tissues, leading to fragile bones and hardened skin. While many cross-linking AGEs have been widely studied for their ability to reduce the elasticity of biological tissues, contributing to skin hardening and fragile bones, through strong covalent bonds, non-cross-linking AGEs, or AGE adducts, are typically investigated as indicators of aging or as signaling factors in pathological conditions.

Cardiac action potential generation mechanisms via an intramembrane photoswitch. A simulation study.

Optical stimulation is emerging as a promising alternative to conventional methods for both research and therapeutic purposes due to its advantages, such as reduced energy consumption, minimal invasiveness, and exceptional spatial and temporal precision. Recently, we introduced Ziapin2, a novel light-sensitive azobenzene compound, as a tool to modulate cardiac cell excitability and contractility. The molecule proved to be effective in precisely regulating the excitation-contraction coupling process in both hiPS-derived cardiomyocytes and adult mouse ventricular myocytes (AMVMs).

Enhanced "Off-On" Electrochemiluminescent Biosensor Based on a Multivalent Aptamer-Induced Spatial Confinement Strategy for Ultrasensitive Detection of Membrane Protein (PTK-7).

"Off-on" electrochemiluminescence (ECL) techniques have garnered considerable interest in the biosensing field owing to its high sensitivity, low background signal, high signal-to-noise ratio, and avoidance of false-positive signals. However, a significant hurdle that prevents its further application is the lack of nontoxic, label-free, and easily synthesized ECL luminophores. In addition, achieving high quenching efficiency on these luminophores still requires strategy renewal.

Electromechanical Response of Saddle Points in Twisted hBN Moiré Superlattices.

In twisted layered materials (t-LMs), an interlayer rotation can break inversion symmetry and create an interfacial array of staggered out-of-plane polarization due to AB/BA stacking registries. This symmetry breaking can also trigger the formation of edge polarizations localized along the perimeter of AB/BA regions (i.e.

A Corn-Based Electrically Conductive Glue for Integration of Edible Electronics.

Edible electronics leverages the electronic properties of food-grade materials to create non-toxic technologies that can be either environmentally degraded or digested by the body after the completion of their function. Various edible electronic components have been recently proposed, and their integration into more complex circuits and systems is urgently needed for point-of-care devices. In this context, developing a safe technology for interconnecting edible components is crucial.

A Cardiac Microphysiological System for Studying Ca2+ Propagation via Non-genetic Optical Stimulation.

In vitro cardiac microphysiological models are highly reliable for scientific research, drug development, and medical applications. Although widely accepted by the scientific community, these systems are still limited in longevity due to the absence of non-invasive stimulation techniques. Phototransducers provide an efficient stimulation method, offering a wireless approach with high temporal and spatial resolution while minimizing invasiveness in stimulation processes.

Composite Thiophene-Based Nanoparticles: Revisiting the PEDOT:PSS/P3HT Interface for Living-Cell Optical Modulation.

Organic semiconducting nanoparticles (NPs) have been attracting increasing attention for their diverse applications in biotechnology, especially as photoactive materials for spatially controlled optical modulation of living-cell functions. Different approaches to optimize their efficacy and reliability have been recently attempted, including control of photophysical/-chemical properties, ad hoc tailoring of materials synthesis, and functionalization with biological moieties. Another promising strategy is offered by the realization of composite light-sensitive NPs, with a supramolecular architecture.

Charge-Phonon Coupling in Tin Halide Perovskites.

Tin halide perovskites are promising materials to replace lead-based materials for perovskite optoelectronics, yet their performance is limited by their high self-p-doping. To quantify the impact of p-doping on carrier dynamics, we combine terahertz spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations to investigate the coupling of charge carriers to the lattice in prototypical tin-based perovskites. Doping is shown to influence the charge-phonon interactions significantly.

Photochemical Pathways and Light-Enhanced Radical Scavenging Activity of 1,8-Dihydroxynaphthalene Allomelanin.

Melanins play important roles in nature, particularly in coloration and photoprotection, where interaction with light is essential. Biomimetic melanins represent an advantageous alternative to natural melanin for technological applications, sharing the same unique biocompatibility, as well as optoelectronic properties. Allomelanin, derived from 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene, has been reported to exhibit even better photoprotective and antioxidant properties than the most studied example of biomimetic melanin, polydopamine.

Photo-modulated magnetoresistance in a ferromagnetic/normal/ferromagnetic tunnel junction based on monolayer black phosphorene.

We use the Floquet theory and the Landauer-Büttiker formula to investigate the transport characteristics of a ferromagnetic/normal/ferromagnetic tunnel junction based on monolayer black phosphorene under an off-resonant circularly polarized light (CPL). The results show that the CPL can control the transmission spectrum. In fact, the transmission gap of the antiparallel magnetized configuration is significantly broadened, and the electron blocking effect is enhanced.

All-organic transistors printed on a biodegradable and bioderived substrate for sustainable bioelectronics.

Biodegradable electronics is an incipient need in order to mitigate the alarming increase of electronic waste worldwide caused by capillary penetration of electronic devices and sensors. Flexibility, solution processability, low capital expenditure, and energy-efficient processes, which are distinctive features of organic printed electronics, have to be complemented by a sustainable sourcing and end-of-life of materials employed. This requirement calls for solutions where materials, especially substrates that typically represent the largest volume, can be biodegraded in the environment with no harm, yet assuring that no precious resources are dispersed.

Aptamer-Induced Spatially Confined Electron Donors Enable BiS/ZnInS Heterostructures for Attomolar Photoelectrochemical Detection of Antibiotic Resistance Genes.

Despite the fact that the exploration of novel materials with excellent photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance is the sought-after objective for its detection of low abundance targets, the introduction of electron donors in a rational and efficient manner to further boost the PEC signals is still desirable. In this work, highly efficient PEC materials BiS/ZnInS (BZ) heterojunctions were synthesized, and a strategy of aptamer-induced spatially confined electron donors (ASED) was, for the first time, proposed for highly enhanced and stable photocurrent generation. With dopamine (DA) or ascorbic acid (AA) as the electron donor model, ∼ 22-fold PEC signal enhancement could be obtained in the system using the ASED strategy.

A Solution-Based Deposition Method Enabling Pigment Blue Edible Electrochemical Transistors.

Copper(II) phthalocyanine (CuPc), also known as Pigment Blue 15, is a widely utilized pigment renowned for its exceptional semiconducting properties when refined to electronic-grade purity. Recent studies have confirmed its safety if ingested at doses required for essential active components in edible electronics for advanced gastrointestinal tract monitoring. Since in-body operations impose stringent safety constraints on operational biases, the development of transistors with high transconductance at low voltages is required to ensure adequate amplification gain.

A Conformationally Driven Mechanism in n-Type Doping of Naphthalene Diimide-Bithiophene Copolymer by 1H-Benzimidazoles.

N-doped polymer semiconductors are of great interest in the field of organic thermoelectrics, as high-conductive materials are still highly desired. In this framework, this paper aims to clarify whether the n-doping of naphthalene diimide-bithiophene copolymer, P(NDI2OD-T2), by 1H-benzimidazoles is a thermally activated process. The study interestingly demonstrates that a relevant change in conductivity, with an increase of more than three orders of magnitude with respect to pristine P(NDI2OD-T2), occurs before the annealing process takes place, thus revealing that benzimidazole-derived dopants are already active at room temperature.

Challenging the skin pigmentation bias in tissue oximetry via time-domain near-infrared spectroscopy.

Recently, skin pigmentation has been shown to affect the performance of pulse oximeters and other light-based techniques like photo-acoustic imaging, tissue oximetry, and continuous wave near-infrared spectroscopy. Evaluating the robustness to changes in skin pigmentation is therefore essential for the proper use of optical technologies in the clinical scenario. We conducted systematic time-domain near-infrared spectroscopy measurements on calibrated tissue phantoms and in vivo on volunteers during static and dynamic (i.