Featured
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| Open AccessWireless charging-mediated angiogenesis and nerve repair by adaptable microporous hydrogels from conductive building blocks
Traumatic brain injury can cause long-term disability and thus constitutes a substantial healthcare burden worldwide. Here, the authors report a conductive microporous hydrogel to improve angiogenesis and recovery of brain function in traumatic brain lesions.
- Ru-Siou Hsu
- , Ssu-Ju Li
- & Shang-Hsiu Hu
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Article
| Open AccessHighly hydrated paramagnetic amorphous calcium carbonate nanoclusters as an MRI contrast agent
Sensitive, biocompatible and stable contrast agents for MRI are in demand. Here, the authors combine gadolinium ions with amorphous calcium carbonate to make stable paramagnetic amorphous carbonate nanoclusters with high MRI contrast and significantly improved biocompatibility over commercial gadolinium-based agents.
- Liang Dong
- , Yun-Jun Xu
- & Shu-Hong Yu
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Article
| Open AccessIn-situ growth of robust superlubricated nano-skin on electrospun nanofibers for post-operative adhesion prevention
Post-operative adhesions are a major complication from surgical intervention. Here, the authors develop a technique to grow a super-lubricating layer over electrospun nanofibers which was demonstrated to prevent postoperative adhesions with better outcomes than commercial products when compared in two in vivo models.
- Yi Wang
- , Yuanhang Xu
- & Hongyu Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessLiquid-infused microstructured bioadhesives halt non-compressible hemorrhage
Non‐compressible wounds are a major source of high mortality in trauma victims. Here the authors report on the creation of xerogels impregnated with liquid adhesives which can rapidly absorb fluids promoting blood clotting while forming adhesions to tissue and demonstrate the xerogel in ex vivo and in vivo models.
- Guangyu Bao
- , Qiman Gao
- & Jianyu Li
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Article
| Open AccessEfficient DNA fluorescence labeling via base excision trapping
Methods for fluorescently labelling DNAs are expensive and labour-intensive. Here the authors report an in situ DNA labelling strategy for oligonucleotides as well as dsDNA that makes use of aldehyde-reactive rotor dyes to trap AP sites resulting from excision of deaminated DNA bases.
- Yong Woong Jun
- , Emily M. Harcourt
- & Eric T. Kool
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Article
| Open AccessControl cell migration by engineering integrin ligand assembly
Engineering peptide assembly that controls integrin ligand presentation on the molecular level possesses by far the highest ligand density, expanding the perspective of ligand-density-dependent modulation.
- Xunwu Hu
- , Sona Rani Roy
- & Ye Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessInorganic nanosheets facilitate humoral immunity against medical implant infections by modulating immune co-stimulatory pathways
Bacterial biofilm formation is a major risk of surgical implantation, and necessitates implant removal and aggressive antibiotic treatment. Here authors show that post-surgical application of Manganese-containing inorganic nanosheets reduces residual and recurrent infection by improving antigen presentation and humoral immune response against the biofilms.
- Chuang Yang
- , Yao Luo
- & Xianlong Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessSpidroin N-terminal domain forms amyloid-like fibril based hydrogels and provides a protein immobilization platform
Recombinant spider silks are of interest but the multimodal and aggregation-prone nature of them is a limitation. Here, the authors report on a miniature spidroin based on the N-terminal domain which forms a hydrogel at 37 °C which allows for ease of production and fusion protein modification to generate functional biomaterials.
- Tina Arndt
- , Kristaps Jaudzems
- & Anna Rising
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Article
| Open AccessSynthesis of bioactive (1→6)-β-glucose branched poly-amido-saccharides that stimulate and induce M1 polarization in macrophages
Difficulty with purification, structural heterogenicity, and limited water solubility of β-glucans has significantly limited their therapeutic applications. Here, the authors report the synthesis of (1→6)-β-glucose-branched poly-amido-saccharides as glycan-mimetics and demonstrate macrophage stimulation and polarization.
- Ruiqing Xiao
- , Jialiu Zeng
- & Mark W. Grinstaff
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Article
| Open AccessIntrinsically fluorescent polyureas toward conformation-assisted metamorphosis, discoloration and intracellular drug delivery
Biomimetic materials are of interest but can often suffer from limitations caused by the non-native linkages used. Here, the authors report on the creation of amino acid constructed polyureas which can self-assemble into vesicles and nanotubes with aggregation induced fluorescence and the potential for drug delivery applications.
- Yeqiang Zhou
- , Fan Fan
- & Mingming Ding
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Article
| Open AccessReactive oxygen species-responsive and Raman-traceable hydrogel combining photodynamic and immune therapy for postsurgical cancer treatment
Combined immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and photodynamic therapies have huge potential but suffer from possible damage of the antibodies. Here, the authors create a ROS-responsive hydrogel that protects the ICB antibodies and allows for sustained co-delivery and demonstrate restrained regrowth of tumours in vivo.
- Yiyi Zhang
- , Sidan Tian
- & Liang Luo
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Article
| Open AccessMinimally invasive detection of cancer using metabolic changes in tumor-associated natural killer cells with Oncoimmune probes
NK cells can be affected by tumour cells and this difference could be utilised as a cancer diagnostic. Here the authors use a nickel based plasmonic spectroscopy system to measure metabolic differences in NK cells that have been exposed to cancer cells as a method of cancer detection.
- Deeptha Ishwar
- , Rupa Haldavnekar
- & Bo Tan
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Article
| Open AccessDynamic actuation enhances transport and extends therapeutic lifespan in an implantable drug delivery platform
Drug delivery implants suffer from diminished release profiles due to fibrous capsule formation over time. Here, the authors use soft robotic actuation to modulate the immune response of the host to maintain drug delivery over the longer-term and to perform controlled release in vivo.
- William Whyte
- , Debkalpa Goswami
- & Ellen T. Roche
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Article
| Open AccessPyro-catalysis for tooth whitening via oral temperature fluctuation
Tooth whitening becoming a common cosmetic treatment has led to the development of catalytic whitening solutions. Here, the authors report upon a thermally triggered, pyrocatalytic, catalyst which can use temperature changes from normal oral activity to breakdown stains and whiten teeth.
- Yang Wang
- , Shuhao Wang
- & Xuliang Deng
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Article
| Open AccessFatigue-free artificial ionic skin toughened by self-healable elastic nanomesh
Developing robust skin-like sensing materials is essential for soft electronics and robotics with extended service life. Here, inspired by the repairable nanofibrous structure of human skin, the authors engineer a fatigue-resistant artificial ionic skin toughened by self-healable elastic nanomesh.
- Jiqiang Wang
- , Baohu Wu
- & Peiyi Wu
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Article
| Open AccessSustainable environmental remediation via biomimetic multifunctional lignocellulosic nano-framework
Persistent organic pollutant (POP) remediation is important for protecting the environment and human health but can be expensive. Here, the authors report on the creation of a plant-based remediation material which can absorb high levels of POPs and then provide the nutrients needed for fungal degradation and detoxification.
- Jinghao Li
- , Xiaohan Li
- & Susie Y. Dai
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Article
| Open AccessProtein secondary structure in spider silk nanofibrils
Secondary fibril structure is a key component of the mechanical properties of protein materials like silk, yet, limited information is known about the internal structure of these protein fibrils. Here, the authors report on the use of polarised Raman and FTIR spectroscopy to study silk materials and identify six distinct secondary structures.
- Qijue Wang
- , Patrick McArdle
- & Hannes C. Schniepp
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Article
| Open AccessTopological digestion drives time-varying rheology of entangled DNA fluids
Understanding and controlling the rheology of polymeric complex fluids is of fundamental importance in both industry and biology. Here, Michieletto et al. show how to achieve time-dependent rheology of DNA solutions via enzymatically-driven architectural alterations by restriction endonucleases.
- D. Michieletto
- , P. Neill
- & R. M. Robertson-Anderson
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Article
| Open AccessMulti-step screening of DNA/lipid nanoparticles and co-delivery with siRNA to enhance and prolong gene expression
Plasmid DNA offers extended transgene expression duration compared to mRNA technologies. Here, using a multi-step screening platform, the authors report the best performing nanoparticle formulations for liver-targeted plasmid DNA expression in vivo.
- Yining Zhu
- , Ruochen Shen
- & Hai-Quan Mao
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Perspective
| Open AccessWater as the often neglected medium at the interface between materials and biology
Key to life, water is an often overlooked or over-simplified factor in materials and biology. In this perspective the importance of water in biomaterials is discussed as well as the need to more carefully consider water’s role in every aspect of a biomaterial’s function.
- B. L. Dargaville
- & D. W. Hutmacher
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Article
| Open AccessEngineered biomimetic nanoparticles achieve targeted delivery and efficient metabolism-based synergistic therapy against glioblastoma
Targeting cancer-associated metabolism is evolving as a promising approach for cancer therapy. Here, the authors generate cancer cell-membrane encapsulated nanoparticles to induce cell cycle arrest and cytotoxicity in lactate-high cancer cells, reducing tumourigensis in glioblastoma cell-line and patient-derived models.
- Guihong Lu
- , Xiaojun Wang
- & Wei Wei
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Article
| Open AccessBioinspired asymmetric amphiphilic surface for triboelectric enhanced efficient water harvesting
The effective acquisition of clean water from atmospheric water offers a potential sustainable solution for increasing global water shortages. Here, authors developed a bioinspired asymmetric amphiphilic surface incorporating self-driven triboelectric adsorption to obtain clean water.
- Song Zhang
- , Mingchao Chi
- & Shuangxi Nie
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Article
| Open AccessNanoparticle elasticity affects systemic circulation lifetime by modulating adsorption of apolipoprotein A-I in corona formation
Nanoparticle elasticity is known to affect physiological fate but how this occurs is largely unknown. Here, the authors report on a study using nanoparticles differing in elasticity alone to show a difference in the protein corona, in particular apolipoprotein A-1 absorption, corresponds to differences in circulation time.
- Mingyang Li
- , Xinyang Jin
- & Lihua Yang
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Article
| Open AccessPrecision cancer sono-immunotherapy using deep-tissue activatable semiconducting polymer immunomodulatory nanoparticles
To improve the specificity of immunotherapy, here the authors report the design of a semiconducting polymer immunomodulatory nanoparticle with sonodynamic process to remotely release immune-modulators for deep-tissue precision cancer sono-immunotherapy.
- Jingchao Li
- , Yu Luo
- & Ruiping Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessSelf-assembly of tessellated tissue sheets by expansion and collision
Tissue boundaries in our body separate organs and enable healing, but boundary mechanics are not well known. Here, the authors define mechanical rules for colliding cell monolayers and use these rules to make complex, predictable tessellations.
- Matthew A. Heinrich
- , Ricard Alert
- & Daniel J. Cohen
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Article
| Open AccessSynthetic phosphoethanolamine-modified oligosaccharides reveal the importance of glycan length and substitution in biofilm-inspired assemblies
The phosphoethanolamine modified cellulose in E. colibiofilms has revealed that polysaccharide functionalization alters the biofilm properties. Here, the authors show a model system to explore the role of phosphoethanolamine and other unnatural modifications on the properties of the biofilm-inspired assemblies.
- Theodore Tyrikos-Ergas
- , Soeun Gim
- & Martina Delbianco
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Article
| Open AccessBiomimetic generation of the strongest known biomaterial found in limpet tooth
The highest tensile strength biomaterial known exists in limpet teeth and replicating this material is of interest. Here, the authors report on the ex vivo growth of teeth and use of isolated limpet tissue and cells providing foundations for the development of this high-tensile biomaterial.
- Robin M. H. Rumney
- , Samuel C. Robson
- & Dariusz C. Górecki
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Article
| Open AccessProgrammable synthetic cell networks regulated by tuneable reaction rates
Our understanding of how compartmentalisation and intercellular communication can tune enzyme reactions is still in its infancy. Here, the authors show that multi-enzyme reactions within semi-permeable compartments have distinct properties compared to reactions in buffer solution.
- Adrian Zambrano
- , Giorgio Fracasso
- & T-Y. Dora Tang
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Article
| Open AccessEngineering consortia by polymeric microbial swarmbots
Most attempts to co-cultivate the artificial microbial communities fail mostly due to the mismatched rates of consumption and production of nutrients among subpopulations. Here, the authors develop a microbial swarmbot mediated spatial segregation method to assemble stably coexisting consortia with both flexibility and precision.
- Lin Wang
- , Xi Zhang
- & Zhuojun Dai
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Article
| Open AccessPotentiating hypoxic microenvironment for antibiotic activation by photodynamic therapy to combat bacterial biofilm infections
Bacteria in biofilms present unique metabolic conditions that limit the traditional antibiotic treatment. Here, the authors show a photodynamic therapy-activated chemotherapy potentiating the hypoxia of biofilms of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, by developing hyaluronic acid nanoparticles functionalized with chlorin e6 and metronidazole.
- Weijun Xiu
- , Ling Wan
- & Lianhui Wang
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Article
| Open AccessFlexible ultrasound-induced retinal stimulating piezo-arrays for biomimetic visual prostheses
Electronic visual prostheses, or biomimetic eyes, have shown capability of restoring functional vision through electrical pulses artificially initiating neural responses. Here, authors demonstrate a flexible piezo-array for ultrasound-induced retinal stimulation.
- Laiming Jiang
- , Gengxi Lu
- & Qifa Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessAn in situ hydrogel-mediated chemo-immunometabolic cancer therapy
Tryptophan metabolism, leading to the accumulation of kynurenine (Kyn) in the tumor microenvironment, restricts anti-tumor immunity. Here the authors report the design of a hydrogel loaded with doxorubicin and Kyn-degrading kynureninase to relieve immunosuppression, showing anti-tumor responses in preclinical models.
- Bo Wang
- , Jing Chen
- & Minglin Ma
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Article
| Open AccessTPGS-based and S-thanatin functionalized nanorods for overcoming drug resistance in Klebsiella pneumonia
Overproduction of efflux pumps represents an important mechanism of Klebsiella pneumonia resistance to tigecycline. Here, the authors design TPGS- and S-thanatin functionalized nanorods loaded with tigecycline to increase drug accumulation inside bacteria and overcome bacterial resistance.
- Xiaojuan Wang
- , Xiaoling Xu
- & Saiping Jiang
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Article
| Open AccessIn situ 3D bioprinting with bioconcrete bioink
Bioinks used in current in-situ bioprinting have limitations when applied to complex operational environments. Here, the authors report on the creation of a microgel reinforced GelMA bioink which can be simply prepared and used in different biomedical settings. The application is demonstrated in a cranial defect model.
- Mingjun Xie
- , Yang Shi
- & Yong He
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Article
| Open AccessProgrammable probiotics modulate inflammation and gut microbiota for inflammatory bowel disease treatment after effective oral delivery
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex disease that is associated with multiple genetic and environmental variables. Here the authors develop genetically engineered probiotics with selfproducing functional proteins and biofilm self-coating for safe and efficient IBD treatment in mice.
- Jun Zhou
- , Maoyi Li
- & Qian Chen
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Article
| Open AccessCellulose photonic pigments
Several biomaterials have been promised as suitable candidates for photonic materials and pigments, but their fabrication processes have been limited to the small to medium-scale production of films. Here, the authors demonstrate a substrate-free process to fabricate structurally coloured microparticles via the confined self-assembly of a cholesteric cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) suspension within emulsified microdroplets.
- Richard M. Parker
- , Tianheng H. Zhao
- & Silvia Vignolini
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Article
| Open AccessTransformation of dolutegravir into an ultra-long-acting parenteral prodrug formulation
Here, using animal models, Deodhar et al. single parenteral dose of dolutegravir (DTG) prodrug nanocrystals sustains drug protein-adjusted 90% inhibitory concentration for up to a year, without injection site reactions or systemic toxicities.
- Suyash Deodhar
- , Brady Sillman
- & Howard E. Gendelman
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Article
| Open AccessMolecularly cleavable bioinks facilitate high-performance digital light processing-based bioprinting of functional volumetric soft tissues
Soft tissue fabrication using digital light processing remains challenging. Here the authors present a molecular cleavage approach to achieve high-performance bioprinting of constructs with tissue-matching mechanical properties and structural complexity.
- Mian Wang
- , Wanlu Li
- & Yu Shrike Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessAdaptive liquid interfaces induce neuronal differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells through lipid raft assembly
In this work the authors report how human mesenchymal stem cells rapidly adapt to dynamic microenvironment through lipid raft in membrane microdomains that direct neurogenesis.
- Xiaofang Jia
- , Jingwen Song
- & Katsuhiko Ariga
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Article
| Open AccessHighly stable and tunable peptoid/hemin enzymatic mimetics with natural peroxidase-like activities
Peroxidase mimics are currently being investigated as catalysts for lignin depolymerisation. In this article, the authors investigate a class of self-assembled and highly stable peptoid/hemin nanomaterials as peroxidase mimics that are highly stable and tuneable for the depolymerisation of a biorefinery lignin.
- Tengyue Jian
- , Yicheng Zhou
- & Chun-Long Chen
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Article
| Open AccessWireless implantable optical probe for continuous monitoring of oxygen saturation in flaps and organ grafts
Although continuous monitoring of tissue oxygenation is critically important after tissue/organ graft procedures, current technologies have key limitations. Here, the authors develop a miniaturized, minimally invasive, self-anchoring optical probe and demonstrate continuous monitoring of oxygenation in porcine flap and organ models.
- Hexia Guo
- , Wubin Bai
- & John A. Rogers
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Article
| Open AccessOscillatory rheotaxis of artificial swimmers in microchannels
Biological and artificial microswimmers often navigate channels under external flow, where in many biomicroswimmers the active upstream motion is oscillatory. Here the authors demonstrate that regular, controllable, and reproducible oscillatory rheotaxis can be observed in artificial microswimmers.
- Ranabir Dey
- , Carola M. Buness
- & Corinna C. Maass
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Article
| Open AccessA bio-functional polymer that prevents retinal scarring through modulation of NRF2 signalling pathway
One common cause of vision loss after retinal detachment surgery is retinal scarring. Here the authors demonstrate that a bio-functional polymer can prevent retinal scarring by suppression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and hyper-proliferation of retinal pigment epithelial cells.
- Bhav Harshad Parikh
- , Zengping Liu
- & Xinyi Su
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Article
| Open AccessExtensible and self-recoverable proteinaceous materials derived from scallop byssal thread
Bio-inspired materials are an intense area of study as researchers try to adapt biomaterials for other applications. Here, the authors report on the processing of protein materials derived from the byssal thread of scallops to create high-extensibility materials with self-recovery under wet conditions.
- Xiaokang Zhang
- , Mengkui Cui
- & Weizhi Liu
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Article
| Open AccessMultifunctional metal-organic framework-based nanoreactor for starvation/oxidation improved indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-blockade tumor immunotherapy
Inhibited immune response and low levels of delivery inhibit starvation cancer therapies. Here, the authors report on the co-delivery of glucose oxidase and IDO inhibitor 1-methyltryptophan using metal organic frameworks and show amplified release in response to starvation therapy along with immune modulatory effects.
- Liangliang Dai
- , Mengjiao Yao
- & Yanli Zhao
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Article
| Open AccessPolymer-coated carbon nanotube hybrids with functional peptides for gene delivery into plant mitochondria
The delivery of genetic material into plants is challenging due to the cell wall barrier. Here, the authors hybridize polymer-coated carbon nanotubes with functional peptides to deliver plasmid DNA cargo into intact plant mitochondria for transient expression and homologous recombination at high efficiency.
- Simon Sau Yin Law
- , Geoffrey Liou
- & Keiji Numata
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Article
| Open AccessChiral self-assembly of cellulose nanocrystals is driven by crystallite bundles
Chirality transfer across length-scales is an intriguing phenomenon but connecting the properties of individual building blocks to the emergent features of their resulting large-scale structure remains challenging. Here, the authors investigate the origins of mesophase chirality in cellulose nanocrystal suspensions, whose self-assembly into chiral photonic films has attracted significant interest.
- Thomas G. Parton
- , Richard M. Parker
- & Silvia Vignolini
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Article
| Open AccessPrecisely translating computed tomography diagnosis accuracy into therapeutic intervention by a carbon-iodine conjugated polymer
Poly(diiododiacetylene)—PIDA—contains iodine atoms, which are commonly found in computed tomography contrast agents. Here, the authors find that PIDA can function as a contrast agent and can also be used as a visual marker to delineate tumour margins.
- Mingming Yin
- , Xiaoming Liu
- & Liang Luo
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Article
| Open AccessDandelion pappus morphing is actuated by radially patterned material swelling
The dandelion pappus opens and closes reversibly to tune seed dispersal according to environmental moisture levels. Here the authors combined experiments with a computational model to show that pappus closure is coordinated by radially-patterned tissue swelling at the base of floral organs.
- Madeleine Seale
- , Annamaria Kiss
- & Naomi Nakayama