Potential Surface Research Articles

Programming Bifunctional Metal-Organic Frameworks to Integrate Multiple Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Green Electronics toward Effective Self-Powered Photocatalytic System.

Programming and synthesizing bifunctional materials for regulating the output of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and their photocatalytic efficiency is a promising strategy for energy harvesting to build self-powered systems. Herein, we tackle this challenge by introducing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as molecular catalysts and triboelectric layers for self-powered photocatalytic systems. A zeolite-like mixed-valence MOF (CuICuII-1) and a ladder-structured MOF (CuII-2) were obtained through structural transformation. Due to the excellent charge-trapping capability and surface potential of CuICuII-1, the outputs of CuICuII-1-TENG (a short-circuit current (Isc) of 30.4 μA and an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 524.1 V) were significantly superior to those of CuII-2-TENG. The incorporation of CuICuII-1 with ethylcellulose (EC) to form CuICuII-1@EC composite films greatly improved the TENG outputs, and the 10% CuICuII-1@EC-TENG offered the maximum Isc (57.2 μA) and Voc (986.8 V). Furthermore, multiple 10% CuICuII-1@EC-TENG devices were integrated in parallel to assemble multiple TENG devices (M-TENG) to harvest biomechanical energy, which displayed significant potential to continuously power blue LEDs, generating blue-light irradiation to trigger the photocatalytic C(sp)-H/Si-H cross-coupling reactions of aromatic alkyne and trimethylsilane for alkynylsilane over the photocatalysts CuICuII-1 and CuII-2. The results revealed that CuICuII-1 achieved a cooperative effect on remarkable catalytic selectivity and activity. This work demonstrates that bifunctional MOFs can serve as friction electrode materials for the large-scale integration and assembly of MOF-based TENG, and photocatalysts for achieving self-powered photocatalytic systems.

Body Surface Potential Mapping: A Perspective on High-Density Cutaneous Electrophysiology.

The electrophysiological signals recorded by cutaneous electrodes, known as body surface potentials (BSPs), are widely employed biomarkers in medical diagnosis. Despite their widespread application and success in detecting various conditions, the poor spatial resolution of traditional BSP measurements poses a limit to their diagnostic potential. Advancements in the field of bioelectronics have facilitated the creation of compact, high-quality, high-density recording arrays for cutaneous electrophysiology, allowing detailed spatial information acquisition as BSP maps (BSPMs). Currently, the design of electrode arrays for BSP mapping lacks a standardized framework, leading to customizations for each clinical study, limiting comparability, reproducibility, and transferability. This perspective proposes preliminary design guidelines, drawn from existing literature, rooted solely in the physical properties of electrophysiological signals and mathematical principles of signal processing. These guidelines aim to simplify and generalize the optimization process for electrode array design, fostering more effective and applicable clinical research. Moreover, the increased spatial information obtained from BSPMs introduces interpretation challenges. To mitigate this, two strategies are outlined: observational transformations that reconstruct signal sources for intuitive comprehension, and machine learning-driven diagnostics. BSP mapping offers significant advantages in cutaneous electrophysiology with respect to classic electrophysiological recordings and is expected to expand into broader clinical domains in the future.

Interannual Variation of Global Surface Potential Vorticity Forcing in Boreal January and Its Link with Long-Persisting Droughts in Southwest China

Abstract An increasing number of studies have recognized the essential influence of surface potential vorticity (PV) forcing on atmospheric circulation. In this study, we investigated the temporal characteristics of global surface PV forcing in January and its associated climate anomalies. The global surface PV forcing exhibited a pronounced decreasing trend, implying reduced forcing on atmospheric PV. Its interannual component was accompanied by cold winters on the Eurasian and North American continents and long-persisting droughts in southwest China (SWC), consistent with the coexistence of these extreme events. Based on the global surface PV forcing index, the mechanism underlying long-persisting droughts, which lasted from October to January, was investigated. The formation mechanisms of persistent drought varied monthly. Specifically, the occurrence of drought in October was closely related to Rossby wave activity over Eurasia, which enhanced the anomalous anticyclone over the Tibetan Plateau and subsequently induced air descent over SWC. In contrast, drought in November and December could be ascribed to La Niña events in the central Pacific, which facilitated subsidence over SWC through local meridional circulation anomalies. Distinct from other months, the combined effects of La Niña events and circulation anomalies over northern Eurasia caused the drought in January. The former reduced precipitation over southern SWC, whereas the latter influenced precipitation over central SWC. The present study provides novel insights into simultaneous extreme events in the Northern Hemisphere. Significance Statement Long-persisting droughts in southwest China (SWC) usually coexist with cold winters in the Eurasian and North American continents. Here, we suggested that the coexistence of these extremes was closely linked to interannual variability in global surface potential vorticity forcing. Based on this relationship, the mechanism underlying long-persisting droughts in SWC, lasting from October to January, was investigated. The formation of these droughts could be ascribed to Rossby wave activity over Eurasia in October and to La Niña events in the central Pacific in November and December. The drought in January was ascribed to the combined effects of La Niña and circulation anomalies over northern Eurasia. This study provides a broader view for understanding extremes that occurred simultaneously in the Northern Hemisphere.

RECEIVING AND ADSORPTION CHARACTERISTICS OF BIOCARBON MATERIALS FROM HOUSEHOLD WASTE

The aim of this research is the development of new carbon materials based on agricultural waste and a detailed study of their physicochemical properties, which allows to evaluate the potential directions of use of these materials in industry and environmental technologies. Within the framework of the work, four types of waste were chosen, in particular, wood sawdust, apple cake, as well as wheat and corn husks, which are widely available and rarely used as raw materials for creating adsorbents. The selected materials were subjected to the process of pyrolysis at a temperature of 500°C for one hour, which effectively preserves the porous structure of the material and improves its adsorption properties. The obtained samples of biocarbon materials were analyzed using nitrogen porosimetry, which made it possible to determine their adsorption potential, porosity, and total surface area. The results of the study showed a significant difference in the adsorption capacity of the samples, depending on the type of raw material. The sample based on corn husk demonstrated the highest adsorption activity, which indicates its potential for water purification from various types of pollution, including organic and inorganic compounds, heavy metals and other toxic substances. In addition, an additional analysis of the samples was carried out in order to assess their potential in other industries. In particular, the revealed porosity and surface area of ​​the materials allow us to consider them as promising components for filtration systems, catalysts in chemical reactions, materials for energy storage, as well as means for environmental protection and environmental restoration. The results of the study confirm that the use of agricultural waste for the creation of functional carbon materials is not only economically beneficial, but also an ecologically appropriate approach, which contributes to reducing the amount of waste and creating new opportunities for sustainable development.

Efficient One-Pot Hydrothermal Synthesis of TiO2 Nanostructures for Reactive Black 5 Dye Removal: Experimental and Theoretical Insights

Water scarcity continues to be a major worldwide issue. Therefore, from a scientific perspective, it is crucial to develop a highly effective, affordable, environmentally friendly, and readily available metal-based adsorbent for wastewater treatment. This study focuses on synthesizing a mesoporous/nanosphere TiO2 using a free-template and eco-friendly method to effectively remove Reactive Black 5 (RB5) dye. The synthesis of TiO2 nanospheres was achieved through the use of titanium isopropoxide at 100 °C for 12 h in a one-pot hydrothermal process, successfully regulating their morphology and crystallite size. The TiO2 nanospheres were extensively characterized using multiple techniques, such as XRD, FE-SEM, zeta potential, FT-IR, HR-TEM, and BET surface area tools. Adsorption experiments revealed a notable capacity of 109 mg g−1 for RB5 dye, following pseudo-second-order kinetic behavior. The equilibrium data conformed well to the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating monolayer adsorption. Thermodynamic evaluations confirmed that the process was spontaneous, endothermic, and governed by physisorption. Calculations using density functional theory (DFT) provided additional support for the experimental findings, demonstrating strong binding interactions between the dye and the TiO2 (101) surface. The TiO2 nano-adsorbent showed excellent reusability and maintained high adsorption efficiency over multiple cycles, making it a promising candidate for wastewater treatment.

Comediation of voltage gating and ion charge in MXene membrane for controllable and selective monovalent cation separation.

Artificial ion channels with controllable mono/monovalent cation separation fulfill important roles in biomedicine, ion separation, and energy conversion. However, it remains a daunting challenge to develop an artificial ion channel similar to biological ion channels due to ion-ion competitive transport and lack of ion-gating ability of channels. Here, we report a conductive MXene membrane with polydopamine-confined angstrom-scale channels and propose a voltage gating and ion charge comediation strategy to concurrently achieve gated and selective mono/monovalent cation separation. The membrane shows a highly switchable "on-off" ratio of ∼9.9 for K+ transport and an excellent K+/Li+ selectivity of 40.9, outperforming the ion selectivity of reported membranes with electrical gating (typically 1.5 to 6). Theoretical simulations reveal that the introduced high-charge cations such as Mg2+ enable the preferential distribution of target K+ over competing Li+ at the channel entrance, and the surface potential reduces the ionic transport energy barrier for allowing K+ to pass quickly through the channel.

Evolution of vortices at the merging of an ethanol droplet with water in an intrusive mode

The evolution of vortices formed when a freely falling drop of a 95% aqueous solution of ethanol, tinted with brilliant green, merges with water in the intrusive mode has been traced by method of high-speed video recording. The drop smoothly flows into the liquid and forms a subducting lenticular intrusion, in which a weakly expressed ring vortex is formed if the potential surface energy is greater than or of the same order as its kinetic energy. Gradually, the intrusion of lighter liquid begins to float up and contracts around the cavern, which takes on a conical shape. From the center of the pointed bottom of the cavity, which has reached its maximum depth, a compact volume containing a light liquid of droplet is pushed into the thickness of the liquid. After the cavern collapses, the primary intrusion spreads along the free surface of the target fluid. In this case, the submerging volume is transformed into a small spherical vortex, which reaches its maximum depth, and then stops and forms a compact secondary intrusion elongated vertically. Next, the central part of the secondary intrusion begins to flow up and gradually transforms into a new ring vortex. As it approaches the free surface, the diameter of the vortex increases. The slowly rising shell of the intrusion forms the bottle-shaped base of the cylindrical trace of the ring vortex, colored with droplet pigment. Changes in the sizes of the main structural components during the evolution of the flow pattern were traced.

A Simulation study of the output characteristics of freestanding Triboelectric nanogenerators with interdigitated electrodes for self-powered sensing application

Diverse forms of mechanical energy are available in environmental routine activities. These energy forms can be harvested, measured and converted to produce electricity at nanogenerator (NG) and micro-scale levels based on the phenomenon of triboelectrification. These motivate this work to develop a self-powered sensing device to detect and monitor static and dynamic processes associated with mechanical activities. The significance is to study the output characteristics of freestanding mode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with multiple units of metal and dielectric electrodes. The integrated modeling environment of COMSOL Multiphysics software was employed for the simulation study of the proposed TENG. The system output responses considered for analysis includes, open circuit electric potential and short circuit surface charge density. For the open circuit, the electric potential was achieved at maximum value of 10kV, while for short circuit surface charge density, the electric potential was achieved at maximum value of 27 Cm-2. The study results revealed that the input parameter of contact displacement of electrodes is proportional to the output electrical potential of the system. Hence, the efficiency of TENG can be deployed for energy harvesting and sensing of mechanical variables.

A temperature dependent analytical model & performance evaluation of triple-material dielectric-pocket gate-all-around MOSFET

In current article, an analytical model of a Triple-Material Dielectric-Pocket Gate-All-Around (TM-DP-GAA) MOSFET has been presented for elevated temperature conditions. The numerical model of surface potential has been developed for temperatures ranging from 300 to 700 K. The influence of temperature on the drain current, threshold voltage and subthreshold swing has been investigated. The performance of GAA MOSFET and TM-DP-GAA MOSFET has been compared for 30 nm channel length. The TM-DP-GAA MOSFET exhibits lower subthreshold swing, higher transconductance, high drain current and reduced leakage current in comparison to the other semiconductor devices. It has also been noticed that with increasing temperature, the variation in subthreshold current and subthreshold swing is minimal. The subthreshold swing improves by 12.42% over the DPGAA MOSFET. The dielectric pocket-based MOSFET is more resistant to temperature variation.The device simulation is performed using Silvaco TCAD.

Adjusting Interface Action and Spacing for Control of Particle Potential.

As the core issue of physical chemistry, how to acquire, control, even adjust surface charging of colloidal particle is far from being completely understood. So poly(lauryl methacrylate) (PLMA) is first introduced with different chain lengths onto crude anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (150-200 nm) through two-step surface modification. Along with rising basic nonionic polyisobutylene succinimide (PIBS) concentration, those modified TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2-NH-PLMA) with the low grafting amount (0.33-4.86 wt.%) and the short chain of the grafted PLMA fragments (layer thickness: 3.0-6.9 nm) underwent charge reversal from being positively to negatively charged in nonpolar isododecane solution. And the more modified ones (PLMA grafting amount: 11.10%; layer thickness: 9.5 nm) remained original electropositivity under same conditions. Based on molecular dynamics simulation, once the repeating unit number exceeds 12, these long grafted PLMA chains will bring about strong steric hindrance to increase interface spacing and weaken interface action against PIBS absorption. This may propose a unique strategy for adjusting or stabilizing surface potential of colloid particles by grafted polymer chains. It is anticipated to provide a facile, precise, and promising control to electronic ink for electrophoretic display.

Temperature-dependent optical and surface electrical properties of Pb(Zr0.3Ti0.7)O3 /p-GaN film

Understanding the temperature-dependent optical and electrical properties of PZT, a multifunctional ferroelectric thin film with temperature sensitivity, is crucial for its applications. This study systematically investigated the microstructure, optical, and surface electrical features of Pb(Zr0.3Ti0.7)O3 thin film deposited on p-GaN substrate (PZT/p-GaN), with an emphasis on their response to temperature variations. Band gap energy (3.643 eV) and the three interband electronic transitions (3.528 eV, 4.662 eV, 6.582 eV) were extracted from optical measurements, which govern the photoelectron transmission behavior of the PZT/p-GaN. Additionally, we identify three phase-transition temperatures (450 K, 550 K, and 620 K) through temperature-dependent optical behavior analysis. With increasing temperature, the electronic transitions and bandgap show a redshift trend, and the bandgap change follows the O'Donnell equation with a significant electron-phonon coupling coefficient (S = 10.284), revealing a strong electron-phonon coupling effect in PZT/p-GaN. The temperature-dependent kelvin piezoelectric force microscopy (KPFM) shows that the surface potential and work function of PZT/p-GaN exhibit different linear variations over three temperature ranges divided by the phase transition temperature point as a demarcation. Furthermore, we observed that the optical and surface electrical properties exhibit anomalous trends at the phase transition point. These findings offer a theoretical reference for the application of PZT thin films in optoelectronics and electronic devices.

Nanomedicine based on chemotherapy-induced immunogenic death combined with immunotherapy to enhance antitumor immunity.

Chemo-immunotherapy based on inducing tumor immunogenic cell death (ICD)with chemotherapy drugs has filled the gaps between traditional chemotherapy and immunotherapy. It is verified that paclitaxel (PTX) can induce breast tumor ICD. From this basis, a kind of nanoparticle that can efficiently deliver different drug components simultaneously is constructed. The purpose of this study is for the sake of exploring the scheme of chemotherapy-induced ICD combined with other immunotherapy to enhance tumor immunogenicity and inhibit the growth, metastasis, and recurrence of breast tumors, so as to provide a research basis for solving the tough problem of breast cancer treatment. Nanomedicine loaded with PTX, small interference RNA that suppresses CD47 expression (CD47siRNA, siCD47), and immunomodulator R848 were prepared by the double emulsification method. The hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential of NP/PTX/siCD47/R848 were characterized. Established the tumor-bearing mice model of mouse breast cancer cell line (4T1) in situ and observed the effect of intravenous injection of NP/PTX/siCD47/R848 on the growth of 4T1 tumor in situ. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of drugs on tumor immune cells. NP/PTX/siCD47/R848 nano-drug with tumor therapeutic potential were successfully prepared by double emulsification method, with particle size of 121.5 ± 4.5nm and surface potential of 36.1 ± 2.5mV. The calreticulin on the surface of cell membrane and extracellular ATP or HMGB1 of 4T1 cells increased through treatment with NPs. NP/PTX-treated tumor cells could cause activation of BMDCs and BMDMs. After intravenous injection, NP/PTX could quickly reach the tumor site and accumulate for 24h. The weight and volume of tumor in situ in the breast cancer model mice injected with nanomedicine through the tail vein were significantly lower than those in the PBS group. The ratio of CD8+/CD4+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment and the percentage of dendritic cells in peripheral blood increased significantly in breast cancer model mice injected with nano-drugs through the tail vein. Briefly, the chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel can induce breast cancer to induce ICD. The nanomedicine which can deliver PTX, CD47siRNA, and R848 at the same time was prepared by double emulsification. NP/PTX/siCD47/R848 nano-drug can be enriched in the tumor site. The experiment of 4T1 cell tumor-bearing mice shows that the nano-drug can enhance tumor immunogenicity and inhibit breast tumor growth, which provides a new scheme for breast cancer treatment. (Graphical abstract).

A supervised machine learning tool to predict the bactericidal efficiency of nanostructured surface

The emergence and rapid spread of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains is a growing concern of public health. Inspired by the natural bactericidal surfaces of lotus leaves and shark skin, increasing attention has been focused on the use of mechano-bactericidal methods to create surfaces with antibacterial and/or bactericidal effects. There have been several studies exploring the bactericidal effect of nanostructured surfaces under various combinations of parameters. However, the correlation and synergies between these factors still need to be clarified. Recently machine learning (ML), which enables prediction or decision-making based on data, has been used in the field of biomaterials with promising results. In this study, we explored ML in nanotechnology to investigate the antimicrobial potential of nanostructured surfaces. A dataset of nanostructured surfaces and their antimicrobial properties was built by extracting the published literature. Based on the literature review and the distribution of our dataset, 70% bactericidal efficiency was selected as a practical benchmark for our classification model that balances stringent bactericidal performance with achievable targets in diverse conditions. Subsequently, we developed an ML classification model, which demonstrated an 81% accuracy in its predictive capability. A regression model was further developed to predict the value of bactericidal efficiency for nanostructured surfaces. Feature importance analysis of the ML models suggested that nanotopographical features have a greater influence on bactericidal properties than material properties, thus providing insight into the principles of the mechano-bactericidal effect of nanostructured surfaces. Overall, this ML model tool could help researchers to effectively select and design the parameters of the surface structure prior to experimentation, thereby improving the timeliness and reducing the number of experiments and the associated costs.Graphical

Understanding the dielectric properties of silicone rubber‐BN nanocomposites under DC voltage

AbstractThe present study explores the dielectric and structural properties of silicone rubber composites with low‐weight percentages of boron nitride (BN) fillers aimed at insulation applications. The incorporation of BN fillers into the silicone rubber matrix significantly enhances the glass transition temperature (Tg), melting temperature (Tm), and crystallization temperature (Tc). Notably, the dielectric constant increases while the loss factor remains minimal with a low concentration of BN fillers with silicone rubber matrix. J–V characteristics from space charge limited current (SCLC) measurements were employed to evaluate trap density. The addition of 3 wt% BN filler notably improves the crossover voltage and trap density in the silicone rubber matrix. A strong correlation has been observed between trap density values derived from SCLC measurements and surface potential decay experiments. Furthermore, the SCLC measurements at different temperatures exhibit an Arrhenius behavior, providing insights into the charge transport and trapping mechanisms. Overall, the experiment results indicate that the inclusion of 3 wt % of BN filler has significant improvement in dielectric as well as charge trap characteristics.Highlights BN filler impacts permittivity and tan (δ) based on concentration levels. Differential scanning calorimetry shows crystallinity changes with increased BN filler in silicone rubber. Surface potential relates to J–V characteristics, following SCLC mechanism. Arrhenius relation to temperature‐based SCLC shows thermally activated conduction. Trap density trends align in SCLC and surface potential decay methods.

The Langmuir Monolayer as a Model Membrane System for Studying the Interactions of Poly(Butyl Cyanoacrylate) Nanoparticles with Phospholipids at the Air/Water Interface

Poly(butyl cyanoacrylate) (PBCA) nanoparticles have numerous applications, including drug and gene delivery, molecular imaging, and cancer therapy. To uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying their interactions with cell membranes, we utilized a Langmuir monolayer as a model membrane system. This approach enabled us to investigate the processes of penetration and reorganization of PBCA nanoparticles when deposited in a phospholipid monolayer subphase. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to visualize Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films of these nanoparticles. Additionally, we examined the state of a monolayer of Pluronic F68, a stabilizer of PBCA nanoparticles in suspension, by measuring the changes in relative surface area and surface potential over time in the barostatic regime following PBCA suspension spreading. Based on these findings, we propose a molecular mechanism for nanoparticle reorganization at the air–water interface.

Innovative surface engineering of sustainable polymers: Toward green and high-performance materials

The development of sustainable polymers is critical to the progression of greener manufacturing processes, especially for the additive manufacturing technologies of fused deposition modeling (FDM). The study aims to explore potential application surface engineering techniques that enhance the performance of these sustainable polymers within the context of FDM. Various surface modification methods, such as plasma treatment, chemical etching, and UV irradiation, were utilized on biodegradable and recycled polymers, with the treatment process conducted under controlled conditions. Mechanical testing was done using a Tinius Olsen universal testing machine, with surface morphology analyzed through scanning electron microscopy. The outcome indicated that the tensile strength of polylactic acid improved by 15% with plasma treatment, while the thermal stability of recycled polyethylene terephthalate improved by 12% with chemical etching. Surface engineering developments on various techniques will be reviewed, particularly in optimizing them within FDM processes for different types of polymers. Different surface modifications will be compared here, analyzing aspects such as adhesion, endurance, and more overall performance. This comparison provides a fundamental outlook into the relationship between surface treatment and polymer performance, paving the way for optimization of FDM processes in sustaining material applications. These findings serve as further guidance toward making additive manufacturing much more sustainable and efficient through advanced surface engineering. The numerical improvement of material properties observed in the study will aid in further endeavors towards achieving sustainability and efficiency in additive manufacturing.

Charge characteristics of co-electrospun nanofiber membranes and their application in high-humidity environment

Enhancing the charge density and charge stability is an important approach to improve the filtration performance of electrospun nanofiber air filters. In the present study, the polymers with different electron transport capabilities were co-electrospun in pairs to prepare charge-enhanced nanofiber membranes. The results showed that the average surface potential of the interfacial regions of polyamide 6 (PA6) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) nanofibers was 165 mV, which was substantially higher than the non-intersection area of nanofibers. The charges induced by the contact-induced electrification between nanofibers accumulated in the intersection area of the hybrid nanofibers, which contributed to the high surface potential of the nanofiber membranes. Moreover, the co-electrospinning of polymers allowed the positively charged PA 6 nanofibers and negatively charged PVC nanofibers to coexist in the nanofiber membranes. Benefiting from these charge characteristics, the co-electrospun PA 6/PVC nanofiber membranes exhibited an average filtration efficiency of 99.73 % for 50–500 nm particles at the face velocity of 5.3 cm/s, and the pressure drop was 130 Pa. A hydrophilic fiber layer was employed to mitigate the influence of humidity on the charge decay and pressure drop growth of thenanofiber membrane. The growth rate of pressure drop of the protected nanofiber membrane was as low as 0.95 Pa/min under the challenge of water droplets. In contrast, the growth rate of pressure drop for common membrane based filters was in the range of 5–120 Pa/min. Additionally, the color of the hydrophilic layer changed corresponding to the water content in the air filters, which could serve as an indicator for the filter service life visible to naked eyes. This study provides a new approach for charging nanofiber membranes and improving their filtration performance stability in practical applications.

Autocorrelation maps for optimal setting in cardiac resynchronization therapy

Background and ObjectivePatients with chronic heart failure are treated with implanted devices artificially stimulating the ventricular myocardium to support the ventricular activation propagation dynamics. The criterion for stimulation/pacing timing is a shortening of the QRS duration in the ECG signal. The study suggests additional ECG parameters that could be helpful in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device pacing settings. MethodsThis issue was approached by computing and evaluating autocorrelation maps derived from body surface potential maps during the QRS complex. The autocorrelation maps were calculated from the body surface potential maps of seventeen patients, fourteen of whom were diagnosed with the left bundle branch block (LBBB) and three with the right bundle branch block (RBBB). Eleven of the LBBB patients were responders, and all three RBBB patients and three LBBB patient were non-responders. The body surface potential maps were measured during their spontaneous heart rhythm and optimal CRT setting. The patients’ autocorrelation maps were compared with the autocorrelation maps of a control group of 33 healthy persons using two-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Wilcoxon rank-sum statistical tests. ResultsThe autocorrelation maps from spontaneous rhythm were significantly different (p < 0.00008) in healthy and LBBB groups, which was shown on 19 parameters extracted from the autocorrelation maps by both the statistical tests of equality. In the optimal CRT setting in the LBBB responders, four of the studied parameters (Shannon entropy of the histogram of the autocorrelation map's values, and mean, standard deviation, and geometrical mean of the autocorrelation map's positive values) were not significantly different from the parameters of the healthy subjects (p > 0.19). ConclusionsSelected parameters of autocorrelation maps can be used as additional parameters for optimal CRT pacing settings, leading to patients’ positive responses to the treatment.

Detection of PD-L1 expression levels in malignant pleural mesothelioma with a targeted MRI nanoprobe in vivo.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated potential in inhibiting the growth of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), and their efficacy is associated with the expression of programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1). This study evaluated a PD-L1-targeted nanoprobe for detecting PD-L1 expression in a nude mouse model of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). A PD-L1-binding peptide (WL-12) was conjugated with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) to create the nanoprobe WL-12@Fe₃O₄. The nanoprobe's stability, biotoxicity, targeting ability, and in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging effects were assessed and compared to non-targeted Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. ΔT2 values and PD-L1 expression were measured in H226 and MSTO-211H tumor tissues over 4 weeks to analyze correlations. The WL-12@Fe₃O₄ nanoprobe demonstrated uniform distribution and a spherical shape, with a larger size (43.82nm) and lower surface potential (-9.34 ± 0.54mV) compared to Fe₃O₄ (32.67nm, -20.20 ± 0.88mV, P < 0.05). The XPS and FT-IR analysis results indicate the successful coupling of WL-12 with Fe3O4. It was well dispersed in serum and saline and showed no cytotoxicity or organ damage in vivo. The probe selectively accumulated in PD-L1-expressing MPM cells, especially MSTO-211H, and exhibited significantly higher uptake in high PD-L1-expressing H460 cells (930.22 ± 11.75ng/mL) compared to low PD-L1-expressing A549 cells (254.89 ± 17.33ng/mL, P < 0.05). Tumor iron levels in the WL-12@Fe₃O₄ group were significantly elevated (141.02 ± 17.33μg/g) compared to controls (36.43 ± 3.56μg/g, P < 0.05), with no significant differences in other organs (P > 0.05). The T2 values of H226 and MSTO-211H tumors decreased after probe injection, with ΔT2 values significantly higher in the targeted group than the nontargeted group (P < 0.05). ΔT2 values increased over 4weeks, correlating strongly with PD-L1 expression (P < 0.05). The PD-L1-targeted nanoprobe with MRI is a promising tool for noninvasive, real-time assessment of PD-L1 expression in MPM.

Balancing hydrophobicity and surface potential in bio-based bisfuran-containing polyamide coatings for enhanced long-term antibacterial efficacy and endotoxin adsorption

To develop antimicrobial protective materials based on renewable polymers, we synthesized a series of bio-based bisfuran-based polyamide (bFPA) polymers with various functional groups, including allyl quaternary ammonium cations, decyl quaternary ammonium cations, and sulfonate betaine. These bFPA-based coating materials, featuring excellent thermal stability (>230 °C) and biocompatibility, were facilely fabricated on polyurethane (PU) substrates by blending and crosslinking with unsaturated aliphatic PU resin. By altering the combination of different functional groups in bFPA polymers, we controlled the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity and surface charge properties of the bio-based coating. Compared to pure PU coatings, the bFPA-based coatings with moderate hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity and surface potential significantly reduced the adhesion of model protein and bacteria by approximately 70 % and >99 %, respectively, demonstrating outstanding anti-protein and anti-bacterial adhesion properties. Even after seven cycles of use, the coatings maintained the ability to kill ∼80 % and >99 % of Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, respectively, indicating long-lasting antibacterial activity. Additionally, the optimized bFPA-based coatings effectively adsorbed ∼80 % of endotoxins from damaged Gram-negative bacteria through electrostatic interactions, thereby reducing the risk of inflammation and sepsis. The development of bio-based polyamide coatings with long-term antibacterial and endotoxin adsorption properties significantly advances their safe and reliable application of in the field of biomedical devices.