The authors describe a general and facile method based on 3D printing methacrylated macromonomers to fabricate shape memory objects that can be used in flexible and responsive elec. circuits. Such responsive objects can be used in fabrication of soft robotics, minimal invasive medical devices, sensors, and wearable electronics. The use of 3D printing overcomes the poor processing characteristics of thermosets and enables complex geometries that are not easily accessible by other techniques. [on SciFinder(R)]

A platform of mechanotactic hybrids is established by projecting lateral gradients of apparent interfacial stiffness onto the planar surface of a compliant hydrogel layer using an underlying rigid substrate with microstructures inherited from 3D printed molds. Using this platform, the mechanistic coupling of epithelial migration with the stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is found to be independent of the interfacial compositional and topog. cues. [on SciFinder(R)]

Silver grids are attractive for replacing indium tin oxide as flexible transparent conductors. This work aims to improve the electrochem. stability of silver-based transparent conductors. A silver grid/PEDOT:PSS hybrid film with high cond. and excellent stability is successfully fabricated. Its functionality for flexible electrochromic applications is demonstrated by coating one layer of WO3 nanoparticles on the silver grid/PEDOT:PSS hybrid film. This hybrid structure presents a large optical modulation of 81.9% at 633 nm, fast switching, and high coloration efficiency (124.5 cm2 C-1). More importantly, an excellent electrochem. cycling stability (sustaining 79.1% of their initial transmittance modulation after 1000 cycles) and remarkable mech. flexibility (optical modulation decay of only 7.5% after 1200 compressive bending cycles) is achieved. A novel smart supercapacitor is presented that functions as a regular energy-storage device and simultaneously monitors the level of stored energy by a rapid and reversible color variation even at high current charge/discharge conditions. The film sustains an optical modulation of 87.7% and a specific capacitance of 67.2% at 10 A g-1 compared to their initial value at a c.d. of 1 A g-1. The high-performance silver grid/PEDOT:PSS hybrid transparent films exhibit promising features for various emerging flexible electronics and optoelectronic devices. [on SciFinder(R)]

In the absence of water-soluble photoinitiators with high absorbance in the ultraviolet (UV)-visible range, rapid three-dimensional (3D) printing of hydrogels for tissue engineering is challenging. A new approach enabling rapid 3D printing of hydrogels in aqueous solutions is presented on the basis of UV-curable inks containing nanoparticles of highly efficient but water-insoluble photoinitiators. The extinction coefficient of the new water-dispersible nanoparticles of 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl-diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO) is more than 300 times larger than the best and most used commercially available water-soluble photoinitiator. The TPO nanoparticles absorb significantly in the range from 385 to 420 nm, making them suitable for use in commercially available, low-cost, light-emitting diode-based 3D printers using digital light processing. The polymerization rate at this range is very fast and enables 3D printing that otherwise is impossible to perform without adding solvents. The TPO nanoparticles were prepared by rapid conversion of volatile microemulsions into water-dispersible powder, a process that can be used for a variety of photoinitiators. Such water-dispersible photoinitiator nanoparticles open many opportunities to enable rapid 3D printing of structures prepared in aqueous solutions while bringing environmental advantages by using low-energy curing systems and avoiding the need for solvents.[on SciFinder (R)]

Cerebral malaria (CM) is a major cause of death of Plasmodium falciparum infection. Misdiagnosis of CM often leads to treatment delay and mortality. Conventional brain imaging technologies are rarely applicable in endemic areas. Here we address the unmet need for a simple, non-invasive imaging methodology for early diagnosis of CM. This study presents the diagnostic and therapeutic monitoring using liposomes containing the FDA-approved fluorescent dye indocyanine green (ICG) in a CM murine model. Increased emission intensity of liposomal ICG was demonstrated in comparison with free ICG. The Liposomal ICG’s emission was greater in the brains of the infected mice compared to naive mice and drug treated mice (where CM was prevented). Histological analyses suggest that the accumulation of liposomal ICG in the cerebral vasculature is due to extensive uptake mediated by activated phagocytes. Overall, liposomal ICG offers a valuable diagnostic tool and a biomarker for effectiveness of CM treatment, as well as other diseases that involve inflammation and blood vessel occlusion.[on SciFinder (R)]

Nanostructured thin films are important in the fields of energy conversion and storage. In particular, multi-layered nanostructured films play an important role as a part of the energy system for energy saving applications in buildings. Inkjet printing is a low-cost and attractive technol. for patterning and deposition of multi-layered nanostructured materials on various substrates. However, it requires the development of a suitable ink formulation with optimum viscosity, surface tension and evapn. rate for various materials. In this study, a versatile ink formulation was successfully developed to prep. NiO and WO3 nanostructured films with strong adhesion to ITO coated glass using inkjet printing for energy saving electrochromic applications. We achieved a high performance electrochromic electrode, producing porous and continuous electrochromic films without aggregation. The NiO film with 9 printed layers exhibits an optical modulation of 64.2% at 550 nm and a coloration efficiency (CE) of 136.7 cm2 C-1. An inkjet-printed complementary all solid-state device was assembled, delivering a larger optical modulation of 75.4% at 633 nm and a higher CE of 131.9 cm2 C-1 among all solid-state devices. The enhanced contrast is due to the printed NiO film that not only performs as an ion storage layer, but also as a complementary electrochromic layer. [on SciFinder(R)]

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are considered pivotal components for mol. electronics. Techniques for SWCNT lithog. today lack simplicity, flexibility, and speed of direct, oriented deposition at specific target locations. In this paper SWCNTs are directly drawn and placed with chem. identification and demonstrated orientation using fountain pen nanolithog. (FPN) under ambient conditions. Placement across specific elec. contacts with such alignment is demonstrated and characterized. The fundamental basis of the drawing process with alignment has potential applications for other related systems such as inorg. nanotubes, polymers, and biol. mols. [on SciFinder(R)]

The invention provides novel means for fabricating patterns and objects comprising nanorods, while reducing inter-particle interaction. [on SciFinder(R)]