Biomimetic Structures Research Articles

Cephalopod-inspired Mxene-SEBS/TiO2 composite film for synergistic solar and infrared radiative heat management

Flexible biomimetic photonic structures, capable of achieving dynamic radiation modulation in both solar and infrared (IR) bands as required, are increasingly catering to low-energy thermal management and sustainable development. Herein, the cephalopod-inspired composite film of styrene-ethylene-butene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS)/titanium dioxide (TiO2)-Mxene has been designed and prepared. Analogous to squid leucophores, the SEBS/TiO2 layer of is able to regulate solar reflection and transmit infrared radiation. Mimicking squid iridocytes, the Mxene layer can regulate infrared reflection and absorb sunlight. The optimal structural parameters of the film and the regulation contrast were estimated via theoretical analysis. The theoretical design also illustrates that the two layers collaborate without interference. According to the optimal parameters, the Mxene-SEBS/TiO2 film was prepared. A dynamic regulation between radiative heating and cooling, namely, the solar reflection between 38 % and 66 % and infrared emissivity between 68 % and 89 % can be realized via mechanical actuation under 200 % strain. As the solar radiation is ∼650 W/m2, the composite film achieves ∼6.2 °C heating/∼1.4 °C cooling of the skin under mechanical actuation. When reducing the natural convection loss, the film further achieves ∼11.6 °C heating/∼0.8 °C cooling of the skin. This work provides a novel system and strategy for radiation modulation in solar-infrared bands for possible applications in thermal management.

Research Progress on Helmet Liner Materials and Structural Applications.

As an important part of head protection equipment, research on the material and structural application of helmet liners has always been one of the hotspots in the field of helmets. This paper first discusses common helmet liner materials, including traditional polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc., as well as newly emerging anisotropic materials, polymer nanocomposites, etc. Secondly, the design concept of the helmet liner structure is discussed, including the use of a multi-layer structure, the addition of geometric irregular bubbles to enhance the energy absorption effect, and the introduction of new manufacturing processes, such as additive manufacturing technology, to realize the preparation of complex structures. Then, the application of biomimetic structures to helmet liner design is analyzed, such as the design of helmet liner structures with more energy absorption properties based on biological tissue structures. On this basis, we propose extending the concept of bionic structural design to the fusion of plant stalks and animal skeletal structures, and combining additive manufacturing technology to significantly reduce energy loss during elastic yield energy absorption, thus developing a reusable helmet that provides a research direction for future helmet liner materials and structural applications.

Magnetic Hyperporous Elastic Material with Excellent Fatigue Resistance and Oil Retention for Oil-Water Separation.

Oily wastewater has caused serious threats to the environment; thus, high-performance absorbing materials for effective oil-water separation technology have attracted increasing attention. Herein, we develop a magnetic, hydrophobic, and lipophilic hyperporous elastic material (HEM) templated by high internal phase emulsions (HIPE), in which free-radical polymerization of butyl acrylate (BA) and divinylbenzene (DVB) is employed in the presence of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), lecithin surfactant, and modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The adoption of the emulsion template with nanoparticles as both stabilizers and cross-linkers endows the HEM with biomimetic hierarchical open-cell micropores and elastic cross-linked networks, generating an oil absorbent with outstanding mechanical stability. Compressive fatigue resistance of the HEM is demonstrated to endure 2000 mechanical cycles without plastic deformation or strength degradation. By exploiting the synergistic effect of hierarchical structures and low-surface-energy components, the resulting HEM also possesses excellent and robust hydrophobicity (water contact angle of 164°) and good oil absorption capacity, in which Fe3O4 nanoparticles lead to convenient magnetically controlled oil recyclability as well. Notably, the unique biomimetic microporous structure demonstrates superior oil retention capacity (>95% at 1000 rpm and >60% at 10,000 rpm) over the state-of-the-art porous materials for a diverse variety of oils to reduce the risk of secondary oil leakage, along with good recoverability by squeezing owing to the excellent compression resilience. These excellent performances of our HEM provide broad prospects for practical applications in oil-water separation, energy conversion, and smart soft robotics.

Advanced Pelvic Girdle Reconstruction with three dimensional-printed Custom Hemipelvic Endoprostheses following Pelvic Tumour Resection

PurposeResection of pelvic bone tumours and subsequent pelvic girdle reconstruction pose formidable challenges due to the intricate anatomy, weight-bearing demands, and significant defects. 3D-printed implants have improved pelvic girdle reconstruction by enabling precise resections with customized guides, offering tailored solutions for diverse bone defect morphology, and integrating porous surface structures to promote osseointegration. Our study aims to evaluate the long-term efficacy and feasibility of 3D-printed hemipelvic reconstruction following resection of malignant pelvic tumours.MethodsA retrospective review was conducted on 96 patients with primary pelvic malignancies who underwent pelvic girdle reconstruction using 3D-printed custom hemipelvic endoprostheses between January 2017 and May 2022. Follow-up duration was median 48.1 ± 17.9 months (range, 6 to 76 months). Demographic data, imaging examinations, surgical outcomes, and oncological evaluations were extracted and analyzed. The primary endpoints included oncological outcomes and functional status assessed by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS-93) score. Secondary endpoints comprised surgical duration, intraoperative bleeding, pain control and complications.ResultsIn 96 patients, 70 patients (72.9%) remained disease-free, 15 (15.6%) had local recurrence, and 11 (11.4%) succumbed to metastatic disease. Postoperatively, function improved with MSTS-93 score increasing from 12.2 ± 2.0 to 23.8 ± 3.8. The mean operating time was 275.1 ± 94.0 min, and the mean intraoperative blood loss was 1896.9 ± 801.1 ml. Pain was well-managed, resulting in substantial improvements in VAS score (5.3 ± 1.8 to 1.4 ± 1.1). Complications occurred in 13 patients (13.5%), including poor wound healing (6.3%), deep prosthesis infection (4.2%), hip dislocation (2.1%), screw fracture (1.0%), and interface loosening (1.0%). Additionally, all patients achieved precise implantation of customized prosthetics according to preoperative plans. T-SMART revealed excellent integration at the prosthesis-bone interface for all patients.ConclusionThe use of a 3D-printed custom hemipelvic endoprosthesis, characterized by anatomically designed contours and a porous biomimetic surface structure, offers a potential option for pelvic girdle reconstruction following internal hemipelvectomy in primary pelvic tumor treatment. Initial results demonstrate stable fixation and satisfactory mid-term functional and radiographic outcomes.

Advanced Enzyme Mimicking Engineering: 3D Biomimetic Pt Single‐Atom Nanozymes Initiating Pressure‐Driven Device

AbstractCurrent research on single‐atom nanozymes has predominantly concentrated on 2D structures, with limited exploration into the influence of 3D biomimetic structures on their catalytic performance. In this work, a 3D nanostructure of Pt single‐atom nanozyme (Pt‐NC SAzyme) is fabricated by encapsulating platinum 2,4‐pentanedionate in each molecular cage of ZIF‐8 and then pyrolyzing. X‐ray absorption fine structure analysis confirmed the presence of Pt as single atoms, with each Pt atom exclusively coordinated with four nitrogen atoms, while the *O is identified as an intermediate in the catalytic reaction. Additionally, theoretical calculations demonstrated that Pt‐NC SAzyme exhibited a lower potential energy and a shorter pathway for catalyzing the production of O2 from H2O2 than that of 2D Pt‐NC due to the localization effect, confirming a superior catalase‐like activity of Pt‐NC SAzyme. Based on the efficient O2 production from Pt‐NC SAzyme, a dual‐mode pressure immunosensor is established to achieve sensitive detection of aminopyrine by converting gas‐induced pressure into visual and timing readouts. This work introduced a novel approach to enhance the catalytic activity of SAzymes through bionic structural design and coordination environment, while also proposing a new concept for point‐of‐care testing in food safety, environmental monitoring, and disease diagnosis.

Three-Dimensional Bioprinting of GelMA Hydrogels with Culture Medium: Balancing Printability, Rheology and Cell Viability for Tissue Regeneration

Three-dimensional extrusion bioprinting technology aims to become a fundamental tool for tissue regeneration using cell-loaded hydrogels. These biomaterials must have highly specific mechanical and biological properties that allow them to generate biosimilar structures by successive layering of material while maintaining cell viability. The rheological properties of hydrogels used as bioinks are critical to their printability. Correct printability of hydrogels allows the replication of biomimetic structures, which are of great use in medicine, tissue engineering and other fields of study that require the three-dimensional replication of different tissues. When bioprinting cell-loaded hydrogels, a small amount of culture medium can be added to ensure adequate survival, which can modify the rheological properties of the hydrogels. GelMA is a hydrogel used in bioprinting, with very interesting properties and rheological parameters that have been studied and defined for its basic formulation. However, the changes that occur in its rheological parameters and therefore in its printability, when it is mixed with the culture medium necessary to house the cells inside, are unknown. Therefore, in this work, a comparative study of GelMA 100% and GelMA in the proportions 3:1 (GelMA 75%) and 1:1 (GelMA 50%) with culture medium was carried out to determine the printability of the gel (using a device of our own invention), its main rheological parameters and its toxicity after the addition of the medium and to observe whether significant differences in cell viability occur. This raises the possibility of its use in regenerative medicine using a 3D extrusion bioprinter.

Compressive properties and energy absorption of selective laser melting formed Ti-6Al-4V porous radial gradient scaffold

Uniform porous structures are widely considered as the biological implant materials, but they are difficult to meet the needs of complex bone transplantation. The radial gradient porous structure can match the mechanical properties of different levels of natural femur by adjusting the internal and external porosity. Based on Gyroid unit cells, a parameterized model was employed to create a biomimetic bone structure. Uniform porous structure with an average porosity of 50% and radial gradient porous structure were prepared by selective laser melting (SLM).The mechanical properties, deformation behavior and energy absorption properties of uniform and radially graded porous structures were studied by compression test and finite element method (FE).The results show that the compression test curves of all porous structure exhibit elastic stage, platform stage and densification stage. In the platform stage, uniform porous structures are prone to early shear failure and poor energy absorption performance, whereas radially gradient porous structures exhibit higher elastic modulus and yield strength. When the strain is 0.3, uniform porous structures and porous structures with an inner porosity of 80% mainly exhibit 45° flexural-shear failures, while radially gradient porous structures with inner porosity of 62.5% and 70% experience V-shaped shear failures. Porous structures with an inner porosity of 70% have good energy absorption (107.99 MJ/m3), maximum energy absorption efficiency (46.94%), elastic modulus (5.2 GPa), and yield strength (296.02 MPa), matching the demands of cortical bone.

Ligand Dissociation of Metal-Complex Photocatalysts toward pH-Photomanipulation in Dynamic Covalent Hydrogels for Printing Reprocessable and Recyclable Devices.

Dynamic covalent hydrogels are gaining attention for their potential in smart materials, soft devices, electronics, and more thanks to their impressive mechanical properties, biomimetic structures, and dynamic behavior. However, a significant challenge lies in designing precise and efficient dynamic photochemistry for their preparation, allowing for complex structures and control over the dynamic process. Herein, we propose a general and straightforward orthogonal dynamic covalent photochemistry strategy for preparing high-performance printable dynamic covalent hydrogels, thereby broadening their advanced applications. This photochemical strategy uses a bifunctional photocatalyst to initiate radical polymerization and release ligands through a rapid light-mediated dissociation mechanism. This process leads to a controlled increase in system pH from mildly acidic to alkaline conditions within one hundred seconds, which in turn triggers the pH-sensitive model reactions of boronic acid/diol complexation and Knoevenagel condensation. The orthogonal photochemistry enables the formation of interpenetrated and conjoined networks, significantly enhancing the mechanical properties of the hydrogels. The reversible bonds formed during the process, i.e., boronic ester and unsaturated ketone bonds, confer excellent self-healing, reprocessable, and recyclable properties on the hydrogels through photochemical pH variations. Furthermore, this rapid, controlled fabrication process and dynamic behavior are highly compatible with printing techniques, enabling the design of adaptive and recyclable sensors with different structures. These advancements are promising for various material science, medicine, and engineering applications.

Advanced Biomimetic and Biohybrid Magnetic Micro/Nano‐Machines

AbstractBiomimetic and biohybrid micro/nano‐structures involve the replication and creation of technologies, structures, and materials based on biological systems at the micrometer and nanometer scale. These strategies harness the natural biological principles to develop innovative treatment methods and advanced microstructure devices for noninvasive therapies. In this study, a detailed overview of fabrication processes, magnetically assisted locomotive techniques, and potential applications of biomimetic and biohybrid micro/nano‐machines are presented. The latest advancements in magnetically actuated biomimetic structures, such as annelid‐worm‐like microswimmers, jellyfish‐shaped microparticles, fish‐shaped microswimmers, and walnut‐shaped micromotors are explored. Additionally, the magnetic biohybrid systems, including sunflower seed‐based micro‐perforators, nanomotors extracted from the bamboo stem, sperm cell‐based micromotors, bacteria‐based robots, scaffold‐based microrobots, DNA‐based micromotors, microalgae‐based microswimmers, and red blood cell‐based microswimmers are also examined. A thorough investigation of the magnetically assisted locomotive behavior of these microstructure devices in biological Newtonian fluids, featuring cork‐screw motion, undulatory motion, surface wrinkling motion, traveling wave‐like motion, and ciliary stroke motion is discussed. Furthermore, unprecedented and innovative treatment methods developed using these minuscule devices such as cervical cancer treatment using tetrapod hybrid sperm micromotors, tissue regeneration using silk fibroin protein‐based magnetic microscale scaffolds, and doxorubicin drug delivery using mushroom‐based microrobots is extensively presented.

3D-printed porous tantalum artificial bone scaffolds: fabrication, properties, and applications.

Porous tantalum scaffolds offer a high degree of biocompatibility and have a low friction coefficient. In addition, their biomimetic porous structure and mechanical properties, which closely resemble human bone tissue, make them a popular area of research in the field of bone defect repair. With the rapid advancement of additive manufacturing, 3D-printed porous tantalum scaffolds have increasingly emerged in recent years, offering exceptional design flexibility, as well as facilitating the fabrication of intricate geometries and complex pore structures that similar to human anatomy. This review provides a comprehensive description of the techniques, procedures, and specific parameters involved in the 3D printing of porous tantalum scaffolds. Concurrently, the review provides a summary of the mechanical properties, osteogenesis and antibacterial properties of porous tantalum scaffolds. The use of surface modification techniques and the drug carriers can enhance the characteristics of porous tantalum scaffolds. Accordingly, the review discusses the application of these porous tantalum materials in clinical settings. Multiple studies have demonstrated that 3D-printed porous tantalum scaffolds exhibit exceptional corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, and osteogenic properties. As a result, they are considered highly suitable biomaterials for repairing bone defects. Despite the rapid development of 3D-printed porous tantalum scaffolds, they still encounter challenges and issues when used as bone defect implants in clinical applications. Ultimately, a concise overview of the primary challenges faced by 3D-printed porous tantalum scaffolds is offered, and corresponding insights to promote further exploration and advancement in this domain are presented.

Structural Design and Control Research of Multi-Segmented Biomimetic Millipede Robot.

Due to their advantages of good stability, adaptability, and flexibility, multi-legged robots are increasingly important in fields such as rescue, military, and healthcare. This study focuses on the millipede, a multi-segmented organism, and designs a novel multi-segment biomimetic robot based on an in-depth investigation of the millipede's biological characteristics and locomotion mechanisms. Key leg joints of millipede locomotion are targeted, and a mathematical model of the biomimetic robot's leg joint structure is established for kinematic analysis. Furthermore, a central pattern generator (CPG) control strategy is studied for multi-jointed biomimetic millipede robots. Inspired by the millipede's neural system, a simplified single-loop CPG network model is constructed, reducing the number of oscillators from 48 to 16. Experimental trials are conducted using a prototype to test walking in a wave-like gait, walking with a leg removed, and walking on complex terrain. The results demonstrate that under CPG waveform input conditions, the robot can walk stably, and the impact of a leg failure on overall locomotion is acceptable, with minimal speed loss observed when walking on complex terrain. The research on the structure and motion control algorithms of multi-jointed biomimetic robots lays a technical foundation, expanding their potential applications in exploring unknown environments, rescue missions, agriculture, and other fields.

MoS2@ZIF-8-based aerogel with multiscale biomimetic structure achieving all-day desalination and wastewater purification

In emerging freshwater generation strategy, solar driven evaporation technology has been brought into focus owing to its non-pollution and facile facilities. However, maintaining high freshwater yield remains a challenge under natural circumstances. Herein, MoS2@ZIF-8-based aerogel featuring a lotus root hourglass-shaped structure (denoted as LMZA) for efficient freshwater production via hybrid energy harvesting is ingeniously devised. After being integrated with metallic 1 T phase MoS2 and a vertically aligned porous structure, LMZA not only achieves an outstanding evaporation rate at different incident angles and intensities, but also utilizes wind or environmental energy for evaporation. More importantly, the proposed LMZA also achieved a fast evaporation rate of 8.47 kg m-2h−1 under 4.0 m s−1 without solar irradiation, which fully eliminated the impact of solar intermittency. Afterward, LMZA with a cross-scale hierarchical structure for desalination exhibits an evaporation rate of up to 2.08 kg m-2h−1 under one sun irradiation in 20 wt% brine, and possesses exceptional adaptability and stability. Besides, another advantage of LMZA is the effective purification of cadmium-containing wastewater through water evaporation and in situ adsorption. The removal efficiency is 74 % under one sun irradiation, and the condensed water with undetected Cd(II) heavy metal ions was obtained. More importantly, combined with ambient factors such as wind and ambient temperature in the natural environment, the home-made device achieves all-day freshwater generation with a daily yield of 27.08 kg m−2. The investigation of the device and LMZA pioneers a novel design concept for high yield freshwater generation in practical applications.

Investigation on the mechanism of self-healing effect of cementitious capillary crystalline waterproofing material on concrete and enhancement of its resistance to chloride erosion

To enhance the compactness of concrete in coastal areas and impede the ingress of chloride solutions into the structures, Cementitious capillary crystalline waterproofing material (CCCW) was internal incorporated into concrete. This study employed one-dimensional chloride immersion diffusion tests and wet-dry cycle tests to emulate the deterioration of concrete under natural conditions due to chloride ions. The optimal dosage of CCCW was determined by conducting chemical titration to measure the chloride ion concentration at various depths within the specimens. Subsequently, the influence of incorporating CCCW on the compressive strength of concrete under chloride conditions was assessed. Finally, employing experimental methods such as MIP, SEM and EDS, the pores within cementitious materials and the formation of internal crystals was examined at a microscopic level. Research indicates that in chloride salt environments, the penetration of salt solutions can trigger the formation of spider silk biomimetic shape crystalline structures within the internal pores of CCCW. thereby enhancing the compactness of concrete to achieve a self-healing effect while preventing the intrusion of chloride salt solutions.

Mycelium-based biomimetic composite structures as a sustainable leather alternative

Fungi, the main destructors of bio-waste, are opening up a new field for bio-based materials that contribute to a more eco-friendly future. In the fashion industry, using mycelium as a substitute for leather seems particularly promising. However, research has not yet been able to imitate the properties of leather. To this end, the mycelium of various white-rot fungi (Fomesfomentarius, Pleurotuseryngii, Trametesversicolor, and, as a control, the brown-rot fungus Fomitopsispinicola) was characterised. The biomimetic techno-pull approach was used to find suitable reinforcements like needle felts or woven fabrics made from regenerated cellulose fibres for the mycelium that increases tensile strength. Two methods to produce composite materials were tested: mycelial pulp grown on a liquid medium and mycelium grown directly on a reinforcement soaked with the same liquid. Overall, mechanical characteristics from purely cultured mycelium will not necessarily reflect the same characteristics of the fungus in an embedded fibre reinforcement. Nevertheless, both methods have resulted in promising materials, with F.fomentarius pulp and T.versicolor on needle felt, outperforming the tensile strength of artificial leather and Reishi™ from MycoWorks.

Biomimetic papilla texture by femtosecond laser for high-strength CFRTP/A6061-T6 FSSW hybrid structures

The lightweight design concept in structural applications has generated interest in hybrid structures of carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTP) and metals as attractive structure components. However, these hybrid structures face challenges due to the significant differences in physical and chemical properties between CFRTP and metals, resulting in limited strength and rendering them unsuitable for advanced transportation. To address these limitations, the current research focuses on creating a biomimetic texture on A6061-T6 (6061) surfaces using femtosecond laser to manufacture high-strength hybrid structures, inspired by organismal body surfaces. The CFRTP and 6061 were joined by friction stir spot welding (FSSW). The femtosecond laser treatment produces double-scale roughness on 6061 surfaces and causes carbon to absorb into alumina. These changes in physical and chemical structures enhance the compatibility between 6061 and CFRTP. The biomimetic rough aluminum surface creates effective mechanical interlock at the interface with CFRTP, preventing the initiation and propagation of fracture cracks. The presence of absorbed carbon enhances the Al-O covalency, which influences the bonding behavior at CFRTP/6061 interfaces. The improved compatibility, mechanical interlock, and enhanced bonding behavior synergistically strengthen the joint strength of CFRTP/6061 hybrid structure modified by the biomimetic papilla structure. Current biomimetic design strategy inherits the remarkable natural wisdom and is expected to provide valuable insights for the development and application of CFRTP/metal hybrid structures.

Advancing Osteoporotic Bone Regeneration Through Tailored Tea Polyphenols Functionalized Micro‐/Nano‐ Hydroxyapatite Bioceramics

AbstractEfforts to develop advanced bone substitutes for effective bone regeneration in substantial defects have led to the fabrication of tissue‐engineered scaffolds. These scaffolds, featuring hierarchical structures, specific chemical compositions, and functional qualities, are essential in mimicking native bone tissue. Inspired by the biomineralization process, hydrothermal treatment is used to synthesize micro‐/nano‐hydroxyapatite bioceramics functionalized with tea polyphenols (TP‐nwHA), closely resembling the structure of bone‐like apatite induced by hydroxyapatite bioceramics in vivo. The in vitro results demonstrate TP‐nwHA's superior biocompatibility, enhancing cell proliferation and adhesion. Furthermore, TP‐nwHA scaffolds significantly influence mesenchymal stem cells, promoting osteogenic differentiation while inhibiting osteoclastogenic differentiation. The upregulation of osteogenic proteins BMP2 and ITGB1, along with the downregulation of osteoclastic proteins FGF21 and IGFBP1, demonstrate the synergistic effect of the biomimetic structure and polyphenols on the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. In vivo, TP‐nwHA showe early angiogenic capabilities, leading to improved bone regeneration in critical‐size femoral bone defects in osteoporotic rats. Histological staining confirms the complete bridging of defects with new bone tissue in the TP‐nwHA group, and nanoindentation tests indicate the formation of mature mineralized bone tissue. Collectively, these findings suggest a novel strategy for fabricating bone‐mimicking constructs with potential applications in disease modeling.

Droplet Microfluidics-Assisted Fabrication of Shape Controllable Iron-Alginate Microgels with Fluorescent Property.

Droplet-based microfluidics-assisted fabrication of alginate microgels has extensive applications in biomaterials, biomedicines, and related fields. This approach is typically achieved by crosslinking droplets of an aqueous solution of sodium alginate with various divalent and trivalent ions, such as Ca2+, Ba2+, Sr2+, etc. Despite the exceptional features exhibited by bulk alginate hydrogels when using iron ions as the crosslinking reagent, including stimulus responsiveness and complex chemistry, no attention has been given to studying the fabrication of Fe-alginate microgels through droplet microfluidics. In this work, a facile method is presented for fabricating Fe-alginate microgels using single emulsion droplets as templates and an off-chip crosslinking technique to solidify the droplets. The morphologies of the resulting microgels can be systematically adjusted by manipulating different parameters such as viscosities and ionic strength of the collecting solutions. It should be noted that these resulting microgels undergo a color change from light brown to dark brown due to presumed self-oxidation of iron ions within their skeleton structure. Furthermore, these Fe-alginate microgels are functionalized by decorating them with a positively charged linear polymer via electrostatic interactions to impart them with stable fluorescent property. These functionalized Fe-alginate microgels may find potential applications in drug delivery carriers and biomimetic structures.

A Nanorobotics-Based Approach of Breast Cancer in the Nanotechnology Era.

We are living in an era of advanced nanoscience and nanotechnology. Numerous nanomaterials, culminating in nanorobots, have demonstrated ingenious applications in biomedicine, including breast cancer (BC) nano-theranostics. To solve the complicated problem of BC heterogeneity, non-targeted drug distribution, invasive diagnostics or surgery, resistance to classic onco-therapies and real-time monitoring of tumors, nanorobots are designed to perform multiple tasks at a small scale, even at the organelles or molecular level. Over the last few years, most nanorobots have been bioengineered as biomimetic and biocompatible nano(bio)structures, resembling different organisms and cells, such as urchin, spider, octopus, fish, spermatozoon, flagellar bacterium or helicoidal cyanobacterium. In this review, readers will be able to deepen their knowledge of the structure, behavior and role of several types of nanorobots, among other nanomaterials, in BC theranostics. We summarized here the characteristics of many functionalized nanodevices designed to counteract the main neoplastic hallmark features of BC, from sustaining proliferation and evading anti-growth signaling and resisting programmed cell death to inducing angiogenesis, activating invasion and metastasis, preventing genomic instability, avoiding immune destruction and deregulating autophagy. Most of these nanorobots function as targeted and self-propelled smart nano-carriers or nano-drug delivery systems (nano-DDSs), enhancing the efficiency and safety of chemo-, radio- or photodynamic therapy, or the current imagistic techniques used in BC diagnosis. Most of these nanorobots have been tested in vitro, using various BC cell lines, as well as in vivo, mainly based on mice models. We are still waiting for nanorobots that are low-cost, as well as for a wider transition of these favorable effects from laboratory to clinical practice.

Experimental study on impact icing of the superhydrophobic surfaces with cruciferous bionic structure

Superhydrophobic surfaces have been extensively utilized due to their high hydrophobicity and anti-icing properties. Inspired by the shape of a cross flower, research has utilized circular arc curves and Bessel curves to design a cross flower structure model. Using 3D modeling software for modeling and 3D printing technology to prepare biomimetic microstructures in structural design. The structural shape of the microstructure before and after spray coating was detected using ultra depth of field and laser confocal microscopy. Using Ultra-Ever Dry as a low surface energy substance to alter the wettability of microstructure surfaces. Through surface wettability tests, droplet freezing, and droplet impact tests, the cross shaped biomimetic structure designed by the Bessel curve has a maximum droplet freezing time of 4193 s and a minimum droplet impact time of 9.81 ms. The experimental results indicate that the cross shaped biomimetic structure has good hydrophobicity and broad application prospects.

Bioinspired melt-blown fiber felt with flame retardancy for efficient oil spill remediation by solar-driven oil evaporation and adsorption

Confronted with rapid-spread river oil leaks and marine oil spills containing toxic and light fractions, conventional emergency response measures often fall short. This study proposes a solar-driven oil evaporation and adsorption (SOEA) strategy that efficiently addresses the challenges posed by toxic and light oils in rivers and oceans. Inspired by the self-protection and anti-fouling effects of fish scales, a photothermal oil-adsorbing felt with a biomimetic scale structure for efficient SEOA is constructed by decorating functional components onto the melt-blown fiber felt using scalable spraying technology. The rational integration of a dual-layer scale structure and functional constituents imparts stable superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning, flame retardancy, enhanced mechanical strength, and a higher oil adsorption capacity. Benefiting from the superior photothermal conversion, the solar-vapor conversion efficiency of the resulting P-EG/MXene@PP reaches 85.6 % under 1 sunlight, with an evaporation rate for light oil of 13.17 kg/m2/h, 8 times higher than natural volatilization. For crude oil floating on water, it achieves a 98 % oil removal efficiency in 6 h, with 41 wt% of the light fraction evaporated. This research provides distinctive insights into solar-driven oil spill remediation behavior and pioneers the SOEA strategy, offering rapid, efficient, and safe solutions for intricate oil spill scenarios.