Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides that specifically bind and interact with their corresponding targets, including proteins and cells, through unique three-dimensional structures. Numerous ...aptamers have been developed to target cancer biomarkers with high specificity and affinity, and some are employed as versatile guiding ligands for cancer-specific drug delivery and anti-cancer therapeutics. In this review, we list the aptamers that target tumor surface biomarkers and summarize the representative applications of aptamers as agonists and antagonists that activate anti-cancer and inactivate pro-cancer biomarkers, respectively. In addition, we describe applications of aptamer-drug or aptamer-oligonucleotide conjugates that can deliver therapeutic agents, including small interfering RNAs, micro RNAs, short hairpin RNAs, and chemotherapeutic molecules, to cancer cells. Moreover, we provide examples of aptamer- conjugated nano-vehicles, in which cancer-targeting oligonucleotide aptamers are conjugated with nano-vehicles such as liposomes, micelles, polymeric nanoparticles, and quantum dots. Conjugation of aptamers with anti-cancer drugs and nano-vehicles will facilitate innovative applications of aptamer-based cancer therapeutics.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Liquid metals are one of the most interesting and promising materials due to their electrical, fluidic, and thermophysical properties. With the aid of their exceptional deformable natures, liquid ...metals are now considered to be electrically conductive materials for sensors and actuators, major constituent transducers in soft robotics, that can experience and withstand significant levels of mechanical deformation. For the upcoming era of wearable electronics and soft robotics, we would like to offer an up-to-date overview of liquid metal-based soft (thus significantly deformable) sensors mainly but not limited to researchers in relevant fields. This paper will thoroughly highlight and critically review recent literature on design, fabrication, characterization, and application of liquid metal devices and suggest scientific and engineering routes towards liquid metal sensing devices of tomorrow.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Air-transmitted pathogens may cause severe epidemics showing huge threats to public health. Microbial inactivation in the air is essential, whereas the feasibility of existing air disinfection ...technologies meets challenges including only achieving physical separation but no inactivation, obvious pressure drops, and energy intensiveness. Here we report a rapid disinfection method toward air-transmitted bacteria and viruses using the nanowire-enhanced localized electric field to damage the outer structures of microbes. This air disinfection system is driven by a triboelectric nanogenerator that converts mechanical vibration to electricity effectively and achieves self-powered. Assisted by a rational design for the accelerated charging and trapping of microbes, this air disinfection system promotes microbial transport and achieves high performance: >99.99% microbial inactivation within 0.025 s in a fast airflow (2 m/s) while only causing low pressure drops (<24 Pa). This rapid, self-powered air disinfection method may fill the urgent need for air-transmitted microbial inactivation to protect public health.
Inflammasomes are multi-protein signaling complexes that trigger the activation of inflammatory caspases and the maturation of interleukin-1β. Among various inflammasome complexes, the NLRP3 ...inflammasome is best characterized and has been linked with various human autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Thus, the NLRP3 inflammasome may be a promising target for anti-inflammatory therapies. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms by which the NLRP3 inflammasome is activated in the cytosol. We also describe the binding partners of NLRP3 inftammasome complexes activating or inhibiting the inflammasome assembly. Our knowledge of the mechanisms regulating NLRP3 inflammasome signaling and how these influence inflammatory responses offers further insight into potential therapeutic strategies to treat inflammatory diseases associated with dysregulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome,
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Diverse touch experiences offer a path toward greater human–machine interaction, which is essential for the development of haptic technology. Recent advances in triboelectricity‐based touch sensors ...provide great advantages in terms of cost, simplicity of design, and use of a broader range of materials. Since performance solely relies on the level of contact electrification between materials, triboelectricity‐based touch sensors cannot effectively be used to measure the extent of deformation of materials under a given mechanical force. Here, an ion‐doped gelatin hydrogel (IGH)‐based touch sensor is reported to identify not only contact with an object but also deformation under a certain level of force. Switchable ionic polarization of the gelatin hydrogel is found to be instrumental in allowing for different sensing mechanisms when it is contacted and deformed. The results show that ionic polarization relies on conductivity of the hydrogels. Quantitative studies using voltage sweeps demonstrate that higher ion mobility and shorter Debye length serve to improve the performance of the mechanical stimuli‐perceptible sensor. It is successfully demonstrated that this sensor offers dynamic deformation‐responsive signals that can be used to control the motion of a miniature car. This study broadens the potential applications for ionic hydrogel‐based sensors in a human–machine communication system.
The rationally designed ion‐doped gelatin hydrogels (IGHs) provide dynamic tactile perception under consecutive events of mechanical stimuli, benefiting from the combined characteristics of triboelectric and piezoionic effects. Through broader theoretical studies on ion dynamics, remarkable sensitivity in deformative circumstances is achieved. The developed dynamic tactile sensing‐based communicator enables simultaneous recognition of pressure and texture through in‐depth analyses of ion dynamics.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
This paper proposes the design process of an ultra-high-speed surface-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor for a fuel-cell electric vehicle air compressor. Proposed design process enables ...ultra-high-speed motor design while considering mechanical stresses of the rotor materials according to the temperature. In the rotor design stage, the worst temperature condition of the permanent magnet and retaining sleeve on mechanical stress is investigated and reflected using analytical method. Rotor dimension such as permanent magnet and retaining sleeve thickness is determined considering both electromagnetic performance and mechanical characteristics. Then, from the initially designed model, the eddy current loss according to the shape ratio (SR) and torque density (TD) is analytically derived using proportional equation and finite-element analysis result. Then, SR and TD to reduce the eddy current loss and maximize the efficiency are determined while considering the first bending critical speed. Finally, to verify the proposed design process, the prototype is fabricated and tested. Test results show good agreement with the finite-element analysis results, and it is confirmed that the rotor is operated at the highest rotational speed without mechanical failure.
Water‐borne diseases resulting from pathogen infection are especially challenges in areas with inadequate sanitation and power supply. Here a novel disinfection system is developed for bacterial and ...viral inactivation in water using a self‐powered supercoiling‐mediated rotational triboelectric nanogenerator (S‐TENG) as a power source to drive a new oxidation‐assisted electroporation mechanism. Owing to its rational design, the S‐TENG achieves an ultrafast rotation (≈7500 rpm), therefore it enables a simultaneous nanowire‐enhanced localized electric field and generation of oxidative species resulting in high disinfection performance: >99.9999% microbial inactivation at a high flux of 15 000 L h‐1 m‐2. An integrated S‐TENG‐powered disinfection prototype using an enlarged electrode (area of 50 cm2) achieves complete disinfection when the gravity‐driven natural water flows through the whole system at a high rate (1 L min‐1). This rapid, self‐powered water disinfection method is a potential solution for urgent water disinfection needs during disasters and pandemics, and water disinfection in areas with inadequate power supply.
A self‐powered microbial disinfection system driven by a supercoiling‐mediated rotational triboelectric nanogenerator (S‐TENG) is demonstrated. Enabling an ultrafast rotation (≈7500 rpm), the S‐TENG achieves a simultaneous nanowire‐enhanced localized electric field and oxidative species generation. The integrated prototype enables >99.9999% microbial inactivation when gravity‐driven water flows at a high flux (15 000 L–1 m–2).
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The electrical repair of device circuits has been considered a main issue in the area of electronic packaging. Demand for self‐healing conductors as cost‐effective and promising materials for ...prolonging the durability of devices has increased. Recently, diverse designs of self‐healing and deformable circuits have been introduced in virtue of their high stretchability and conductivity. However, encapsulating a liquid metal with a polymer in a micro‐size container is essential for real applications. In this work, core–shell‐structured liquid metal microcapsules (LMCs, diameter = 2–10 µm) are synthesized via in situ polymerization of urea‐formaldehyde onto liquid metal colloids. Passivation films comprising LMC/polymer composites are simply prepared using phase separation between the capsules and the liquid prepolymer. Capsules ruptured by cutting or pressing release and transport liquid metal to the damaged sites, leading to effective recovery of electrical pathways. Such self‐healing of the metal contacts shows the high potential of LMCs for smart passivation of electronic devices. As an example, flexible perovskite solar cells incorporated with the passivation film demonstrate perfect recovery of the photovoltaic parameters immediately after cutting the metal contact, exhibiting a power conversion efficiency (PCE) retention of 99% relative to the initial value (PCE = 15.07%).
Liquid metal microcapsules (LMCs) are prepared by in situ polymerization of urea‐formaldehyde. A flexible perovskite solar cell employing the passivation film made of LMCs exhibits an excellent recovery rate from mechanical damage, 99% of initial power conversion efficiencies.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Since influenza occurs globally every year, it is important to develop a facile and accurate method to detect the influenza virus. This study aimed at developing a sensitive fluorometric assay for ...detecting influenza viral RNA through tandem gene amplification methods including reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), followed by strand displacement amplification (SDA) coupled with rolling circle amplification (RCA). Influenza viral RNA was initially amplified by RT-PCR with a tailed reverse primer containing an additional sequence for SDA. The RT-PCR amplicon was then subjected to SDA, yielding multiple copies of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) that can be used as a primer for subsequent RCA. Thereafter, a long ssDNA segment harboring tandem repeated G-quadruplexes that were generated through RCA was intercalated by Thioflavin T, yielding a strong fluorescence signal indicating the presence of the target viral RNA. Fluorometric analysis detected influenza viral RNA ranging from 50 pg to 500 pg with a limit of detection of 6.2 pg with a signal-to-background ratio of 10 and identified each influenza virus strain (H1N1, H3N2, and influenza B). Thus, the present method for the label-free fluorometric detection of viral RNA
via
tandem gene amplifications combining RT-PCR-coupled SDA and G-quadruplex-generating RCA would facilitate the efficient diagnosis of influenza infection.
Label-free fluorometric detection of influenza viral RNA by strand displacement coupled with rolling circle amplification.
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an acute febrile illness characterized by fever, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, and ...vomiting resulting from infection with the SFTS virus (SFTSV). The SFTSV is transmitted to humans by tick bites, primarily from
,
, and
. Human-to-human transmission has also been reported. Since the first report of an SFTS patient in China, the number of patients has also been increasing. The mortality rate of patients with SFTS remains high because the disease can quickly lead to death through multiple organ failure. In particular, an average fatality rate of approximately 20% has been reported for SFTS patients, and no treatment strategy has been established. Therefore, effective antiviral agents and vaccines are required. Here, we aim to review the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory diagnosis, and various specific treatments (i.e., antiviral agents, steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and plasma exchange) that have been tested to help to cope with the disease.
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