van der Waals heterostructures, composed of vertically stacked inorganic 2D materials, represent an ideal platform to demonstrate novel device architectures and to fabricate on‐demand materials. The ...incorporation of organic molecules within these systems holds an immense potential, since, while nature offers a finite number of 2D materials, an almost unlimited variety of molecules can be designed and synthesized with predictable functionalities. The possibilities offered by systems in which continuous molecular layers are interfaced with inorganic 2D materials to form hybrid organic/inorganic van der Waals heterostructures are emphasized. Similar to their inorganic counterpart, the hybrid structures have been exploited to put forward novel device architectures, such as antiambipolar transistors and barristors. Moreover, specific molecular groups can be employed to modify intrinsic properties and confer new capabilities to 2D materials. In particular, it is highlighted how molecular self‐assembly at the surface of 2D materials can be mastered to achieve precise control over position and density of (molecular) functional groups, paving the way for a new class of hybrid functional materials whose final properties can be selected by careful molecular design.
Hybrid van der Waals heterostructures, in which 2D materials are combined with molecular layers, allow the creation of novel systems with unprecedented functions. The immense potential of molecular approaches to change the fundamental properties of 2D materials, create functional interfaces, and generate new device architectures, which thereby potentially open new technological avenues, are reviewed.
Nanostructured materials characterized by high surface–volume ratio hold the promise to constitute the active materials for next‐generation sensors. Solution‐processed hybrid organohalide ...perovskites, which have been extensively used in the last few years for optoelectronic applications, are characterized by a self‐assembled nanostructured morphology, which makes them an ideal candidate for gas sensing. Hitherto, detailed studies of the dependence of their electrical characteristics on the environmental atmosphere have not been performed, and even the effect of a ubiquitous gas such as O2 has been widely overlooked. Here, the electrical response of organohalide perovskites to oxygen is studied. Surprisingly, a colossal increase (3000‐fold) in the resistance of perovskite‐based lateral devices is found when measured in a full oxygen atmosphere, which is ascribed to a trap healing mechanism originating from an O2‐mediated iodine vacancies filling. A variation as small as 70 ppm in the oxygen concentration can be detected. The effect is fast (<400 ms) and fully reversible, making organohalide perovskites ideal active materials for oxygen sensing. The effect of oxygen on the electrical characteristics of organohalide perovskites must be taken into deep consideration for the design and optimization of any other perovskite‐based (opto‐) electronic device working in ambient conditions.
Oxygen gas is found to induce a colossal change in the electrical current flowing through organometallic hybrid perovskites, paving the way to the demonstration of fast, fully reversible, and wide‐range oxygen sensors. The efficiency of the sensing element depends dramatically on the nanoscale morphology of the material, which can be controlled by optimization of the deposition process.
Biological medicines have improved patients’ outcomes, but their high costs may limit access. Biosimilars, alternatives that have demonstrated high similarity in terms of quality, safety, and ...efficacy to an already licensed originator biological product, could increase competition and decrease prices. Given the expanding number of biosimilars, patients may switch from originator to biosimilar or among biosimilars. Randomized trials and observational studies conducted with multiple biosimilars over many disease areas confirmed the safety and efficacy of switching from originator to biosimilar. This study summarizes evidence on switching between biosimilars for which there are concerns to provide future guidance. A systematic search (MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library) for studies on anti-TNF agents, assessing clinical efficacy and safety of biosimilar-to-biosimilar switch in chronic inflammatory diseases, was performed. We retrieved 320 records and included 19 clinical studies. One study with historical control compared switching between biosimilars to maintenance of the same biosimilar. Ten were controlled cohort studies comparing switching between two biosimilars vs. switching from originator to a biosimilar or vs. multiple switches. Eight were single-arm cohort studies, where participants switched from one biosimilar to another, and the outcomes were compared before and after the switch. Overall, these studies did not highlight significant concerns in switching between biosimilars. Therefore, switching studies seem difficult to perform and unnecessary with the body of evidence suggesting no real problems in practice coupled with stringent regulatory requirements. Monitoring the use of biosimilars in clinical practice could support clinical decision-making, rational use of biological medicines, and help to further realize possible savings.
Carbon‐based spin valves, composed of a C60 layer sandwiched between two magnetic materials show room temperature spin transport for a fullerene thickness up to 30 nm. This result, interpreted by a ...multistep tunnelling transport model, represents an advance in the field of carbon spintronics.
Molecular switches enable the fabrication of multifunctional devices in which an electrical output can be modulated by external stimuli. The working mechanism of these devices is often hard to prove, ...since the molecular switching events are only indirectly confirmed through electrical characterization, without real-space visualization. Here, we show how photochromic molecules self-assembled on graphene and MoS
generate atomically precise superlattices in which a light-induced structural reorganization enables precise control over local charge carrier density in high-performance devices. By combining different experimental and theoretical approaches, we achieve exquisite control over events taking place from the molecular level to the device scale. Unique device functionalities are demonstrated, including the use of spatially confined light irradiation to define reversible lateral heterojunctions between areas possessing different doping levels. Molecular assembly and light-induced doping are analogous for graphene and MoS
, demonstrating the generality of our approach to optically manipulate the electrical output of multi-responsive hybrid devices.
Inability to form new memories is an early clinical sign of Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is ample evidence that the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide plays a key role in the pathogenesis of this disorder. ...Soluble, bio-derived oligomers of Aβ are proposed as the key mediators of synaptic and cognitive dysfunction, but more tractable models of Aβ-mediated cognitive impairment are needed. Here we report that, in mice, acute intracerebroventricular injections of synthetic Aβ₁₋₄₂ oligomers impaired consolidation of the long-term recognition memory, whereas mature Aβ₁₋₄₂ fibrils and freshly dissolved peptide did not. The deficit induced by oligomers was reversible and was prevented by an anti-Aβ antibody. It has been suggested that the cellular prion protein (PrPC) mediates the impairment of synaptic plasticity induced by Aβ. We confirmed that Aβ₁₋₄₂ oligomers interact with PrPC, with nanomolar affinity. However, PrP-expressing and PrP knock-out mice were equally susceptible to this impairment. These data suggest that Aβ₁₋₄₂ oligomers are responsible for cognitive impairment in AD and that PrPC is not required.
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