Stretchable and Breathable Electroluminescent Displays Based on Ultrathin Nanocomposite Designs.

Stretchable electroluminescent devices represent an emerging optoelectronic technology for future wearables. However, their typical construction on sub-millimeter-thick elastomers has limited moisture permeability, leading to discomfort during long-term skin attachment. Although breathable textile displays may partially address this issue, they often have distinct visual appearances with discrete emissions from fibers or fiber junctions. This study introduces a convenient procedure to create stretchable, permeable displays with continuous luminous patterns. The design utilizes ultrathin nanocomposite devices embedded in a porous elastomeric microfoam to achieve high moisture permeability. These displays also exhibit excellent deformability, low-voltage operation, and excellent durability. Additionally, the device is decorated with fluorinated silica nanoparticles to achieve self-cleaning and washable capabilities. The practical implementation of these nanocomposite devices is demonstrated by creating an epidermal counter display that allows intimate integration with the human body. These developments provide an effective design of stretchable and breathable displays for comfortable wearing.

Multifunctional Nanocomposite Yield-Stress Fluids for Printable and Stretchable Electronics.

Compliant materials are crucial for stretchable electronics. Stretchable solids and gels have limitations in deformability and durability, whereas active liquids struggle to create complex devices. This study presents multifunctional yield-stress fluids as printable ink materials to construct stretchable electronic devices. Ionic nanocomposites comprise silica nanoparticles and ion liquids, while electrical nanocomposites use the natural oxidation of liquid metals to produce gallium oxide nanoflake additives. These nanocomposite inks can be printed on an elastomer substrate and stay in a solid state for easy encapsulation. However, their transition into a liquid state during stretching allows ultrahigh deformability up to the fracture strain of the elastomer. The ionic inks produce strain sensors with high stretchability and temperature sensors with high sensitivity of 7% °C-1. Smart gloves are further created by integrating these sensors with printed electrical interconnects, demonstrating bimodal detection of temperatures and hand gestures. The nanocomposite yield-stress fluids combine the desirable qualities of solids and liquids for stretchable devices and systems.

MOF-based Ag NPs/Co3O4 nanozyme for colorimetric detection of thiophanate-methyl based on analyte-enhanced sensing mechanism.

Silver nanoparticles supported on metal-organic framework (ZIF-67)-derived Co3O4 nanostructures (Ag NPs/Co3O4) were synthesized via a facile in situ reduction strategy. The resulting materials exhibited pH-switchable peroxidase/catalase-like catalytic activity. Ag NP doping greatly enhanced the catalytic activity of Ag NPs/Co3O4 towards 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) oxidation and H2O2 decomposition which were 59 times (A652 of oxTMB) and 3 times (A240 of H2O2) higher than that of ZIF-67, respectively. Excitingly, thiophanate-methyl (TM) further enhanced the peroxidase-like activity of Ag NPs/Co3O4 nanozyme due to the formation of Ag(I) species in TM-Ag NPs/Co3O4 and generation of more radicals resulting from strong interaction between Ag NPs and TM. The TM-Ag NPs/Co3O4 nanozyme exhibited lower Km and higher Vmax values towards H2O2 when compared with Ag NPs/Co3O4 nanozyme. A simple, bioelement-free colorimetric TM detection method based on Ag NPs/Co3O4 nanozyme via analyte-enhanced sensing strategy was successfully established with high sensitivity and selectivity. Our study demonstrated that hybrid noble metal NPs/MOF-based nanozyme can be a class of promising artificial nanozyme in environmental and food safety applications.

A Generic Strategy to Create Mechanically Interlocked Nanocomposite/Hydrogel Hybrid Electrodes for Epidermal Electronics.

Stretchable electronics are crucial enablers for next-generation wearables intimately integrated into the human body. As the primary compliant conductors used in these devices, metallic nanostructure/elastomer composites often struggle to form conformal contact with the textured skin. Hybrid electrodes have been consequently developed based on conductive nanocomposite and soft hydrogels to establish seamless skin-device interfaces. However, chemical modifications are typically needed for reliable bonding, which can alter their original properties. To overcome this limitation, this study presents a facile fabrication approach for mechanically interlocked nanocomposite/hydrogel hybrid electrodes. In this physical process, soft microfoams are thermally laminated on silver nanowire nanocomposites as a porous interface, which forms an interpenetrating network with the hydrogel. The microfoam-enabled bonding strategy is generally compatible with various polymers. The resulting interlocked hybrids have a 28-fold improved interfacial toughness compared to directly stacked hybrids. These electrodes achieve firm attachment to the skin and low contact impedance using tissue-adhesive hydrogels. They have been successfully integrated into an epidermal sleeve to distinguish hand gestures by sensing muscle contractions. Interlocked nanocomposite/hydrogel hybrids reported here offer a promising platform to combine the benefits of both materials for epidermal devices and systems.

Ultrastretchable Electrically Self-Healing Conductors Based on Silver Nanowire/Liquid Metal Microcapsule Nanocomposites.

Stretchable conductive nanocomposites are essential for deformable electronic devices. These conductors currently face significant limitations, such as insufficient deformability, significant resistance changes upon stretching, and drifted properties during cyclic deformations. To tackle these challenges, we present an electrically self-healing and ultrastretchable conductor in the form of bilayer silver nanowire/liquid metal microcapsule nanocomposites. These nanocomposites utilize silver nanowires to establish their initial excellent conductivity. When the silver nanowire networks crack during stretching, the microcapsules are ruptured to release the encased liquid metal for recovering the electrical properties. This self-healing capability allows the nanocomposite to achieve ultrahigh stretchability for both uniaxial and biaxial strains, minor changes in resistance during stretching, and stable resistance after repetitive deformations. The conductors have been used to create skin-attachable electronic patches and stretchable light-emitting diode arrays with enhanced robustness. These developments provide a bioinspired strategy to enhance the performance and durability of conductive nanocomposites.

Maskless Fabrication of Highly Conductive and Ultrastretchable Liquid Metal Features through Selective Laser Activation.

In the rising field of stretchable electronics, liquid metals are ideal candidate conductors with metallic conductivity and intrinsic deformability. The complex patterning methods of liquid metal features have limited their widespread applications. In this study, we report a maskless fabrication approach for the facile and scalable patterning of liquid metal conductors on an elastomer substrate. Laser-activated patterns are employed as versatile templates to define arbitrary liquid metal patterns. The as-prepared liquid metal features show an excellent conductivity of 3.72 × 104 S/cm, a high resolution of 70 µm, ultrahigh stretchability of up to 1000% strain, and electromechanical durability. The practical suitability of liquid metal conductors is demonstrated by fabricating a stretchable light-emitting diode (LED) matrix and a smart sensing glove. The maskless fabrication technique introduced here allows versatile patterning of liquid metal conductors with affordable costs, which may stimulate a broad range of applications in stretchable electronic devices and systems.

Highly Conductive and Compliant Silver Nanowire Nanocomposites by Direct Spray Deposition.

The silver nanowire (Ag NW)/elastomer nanocomposite represents a prototypical form of a compliant conductor for flexible and stretchable electronic devices. The widespread implementations are currently hindered by the complicated procedures to effectively disperse Ag NWs into elastomer matrices. In this study, we report a facile and scalable coating process to create Ag NW nanocomposites on various flexible/stretchable substrates. As-synthesized Ag NWs from the high-yield polyol-reduction approach are homogeneously dispersed into a variety of dilute elastomer solutions, thereby enabling direct spray deposition into highly compliant conductors. The as-prepared nanocomposite exhibits excellent conductivity (∼11,000 S/cm) and high deformability to 100% strain. The stable electrical properties are largely retained under repetitive mechanical manipulations including stretching, bending, and folding. The patterned features of conductive nanocomposites are conveniently accessed using shadow masks or selective laser ablation. The practical suitability is demonstrated by the successful implementations of a stretchable sensing patch and a flexible light-emitting diode display.

A facile and scalable patterning approach for ultrastretchable liquid metal features.

Liquid metals represent an attractive class of compliant conductors featuring metallic conductivity and inherent deformability. The widespread implementation of liquid metal conductors in stretchable electronics is currently hindered by the lack of a facile patterning approach. In this study, we introduce a facile and scalable patterning approach to create liquid metal features on an elastomer substrate. A screen-printed Ag nanoflake pattern is employed as a template for the subsequent selective coating of a liquid metal layer. The as-prepared liquid metal conductors show a bulk-level conductivity of ∼2.7 × 104 S cm-1, an ultrahigh stretchability of up to 700% tensile strain, and excellent electromechanical durability. The practical suitability is demonstrated by the successful fabrication of an ultradeformable ribbon cable and a smart sensing glove. The efficient and economical access to ultrastretchable liquid metal features may open up a broad range of emerging applications in soft electronic devices and systems.

Simple and sensitive determination of sulfites in Chinese herbal teas by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Sulfites are used widely in food and beverage production to prevent browning or oxidation. However, the overingestion of sulfites is harmful to human health and may cause medical complications. Chinese herbal teas have been widely consumed for centuries. However, sulfite levels in Chinese herbal teas are rarely investigated and reported. Here, we present a simple, sensitive, and quantitative method to determine sulfites in Chinese herbal teas using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) coupled with dispersive solid phase extraction. The method utilized a SeQuant ZIC-HILIC column for separation, and the optimal gradient eluents consisted of acetonitrile and aqueous solution with 0.1% acetic acid and 10 mM ammonium acetate. Porous chitosan/partially reduced graphene oxide/diatomite (CS/prGO/DM) composites were used as efficient dispersive solid phase extraction adsorbents for sample preparation. Several parameters were investigated during the extraction process, including sample-to-extraction solvent volume ratios, the extraction procedure and dosage of the adsorbent. Under the optimum conditions, the developed method gave a good determination coefficient (r2 > 0.99), low detection limits (0.51-12.1 µg kg-1) and high recoveries in the range of 83.8-102.7% at different spiked levels. The method has the great advantages of being time saving, good reproducibility and much lower detection limits when compared to titration methods. The method was further applied to analyze real herbal tea samples collected from the local market, demonstrating that our developed method is robust and useful for determining sulfites in practical application.

Solution-based fabrication of mechanically transformative materials for implantable applications.

Implantable probes and needles represent multifunctional biomedical platforms by integrating sensing, stimulation, and drug delivery capabilities. Conventional rigid probes often result in inflammatory responses due to large mechanical mismatch with soft biological tissues, whereas soft probes with improved long-term performances are difficult to be inserted deep into the compliant biological tissues. An emerging class of mechanically transformative materials addresses the challenge by embedding a phase-change material of gallium within an elastomeric matrix. These materials exhibit high stiffness under ambient conditions to enable facile insertion and compliant mechanical properties after implantations. The widespread implementation of mechanically transformative materials is primarily hindered by the lack of facile fabrication techniques for delicate gallium features. In this study, we introduce a solution-based approach for scalable fabrication of gallium-based mechanically transformative materials, which exhibit bistable mechanical properties with large modulations in the modulus by five orders of magnitude. In a solution-based coating process, gallium features are created based on a patterned copper film and then encapsulated with elastomers to form mechanically transformative materials. The height profile of the gallium feature is controlled by the two-dimensional design of the copper pattern, which provides access to delicate and complex three-dimensional features as exemplified by mechanically transformative indwelling needles with sharp tips. The practical suitability is demonstrated by the in vivo implementation of the indwelling needles for long-term chemotherapy. The excellent biocompatibility enables applications of mechanically transformative biomedical devices in chronic implantable systems.

Laparoscopic specimen extraction in vitro: preliminary experience.

BACKGROUND: The last procedure performed by the surgeon in laparoscopic surgery is to extract the specimen through the smallest incision possible. This experiment aimed to explore the maximum diameter of specimens that can be extracted through auxiliary incisions of different lengths and shapes by in vitro physical experiments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the abdominal wall with the muscle layer, fixed on a square wooden frame, to simulate the human abdominal wall. Then, specimen extraction ports were made with circular, inverted Y-shaped and straight-line incisions of different sizes and lengths, and specimens of different sizes were made from tissues of different species. These specimens were extracted from different incisions with a force gauge. The tension value (N) was measured, and records were made of the length or diameter of the smallest auxiliary incision through which a given specimen could pass, as well as the largest specimen diameter that could pass through an incision of a given size. This experiment provides us with preliminary experience-based knowledge of how to choose the appropriate auxiliary incision for surgical specimen extraction according to the diameter of the specimen. RESULTS: The maximum diameters of specimens that could be extracted with circular ostomy diameters of 2.4, 2.7 and 3.3 cm were 4.0, 4.5 and 6.0 cm, respectively. Specimens with diameters of 6.0, 8.0 and 10.0 cm could be extracted through inverted Y-shaped incisions with a length around the umbilicus of 1 cm and an extension length of 1.0, 3.0, and 4.0 cm, respectively. Moreover, these same specimens could be extracted through inverted Y-shaped incisions with a length around the umbilicus of 2 cm and extension lengths of 0.0, 1.0 and 2.0 cm. Tough tissue specimens (made from chicken gizzards) with diameters of 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 cm, respectively, could be removed through straight-line incisions measuring 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 cm in length. CONCLUSION: Along with preoperative imaging, surgical planning and trocar position, the shape and length of auxiliary incisions can be used to improve the extraction of specimens via laparoscopic surgery.

Porous chitosan/partially reduced graphene oxide/diatomite composite as an efficient adsorbent for quantitative colorimetric detection of pesticides in a complex matrix.

On-site, instrument free quantitative analysis of pesticides is of significant importance for food safety control. However, it is still a great challenge for pesticide detection in food via the current visual detection methods due to the presence of interferents in a complex matrix. In this study, a complex tea matrix had a strong effect on a gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) based colorimetric sensor for the detection of pesticides. Here, a porous chitosan/partially reduced graphene oxide/diatomite (CS/prGO/DM) composite was successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal treatment. It could act as an efficient adsorbent for removing different types of tea interferents. A colorimetric sensing platform for the quantitative detection of pesticides in a complex matrix was successfully established. The color changes of the aggregation of Au NPs induced by pesticides were captured using the camera of a smartphone and the images were processed with average RGB (red, green, and blue) values obtained using self-developed software. The G/R values and A700/525 values obtained from UV-vis spectra could be used for quantitative analysis of pesticides. The limits of detection of phosalone and thiram in tea were 90 nM and 13.8 nM, respectively. It is expected that graphene-based materials are attractive for wide application of on-site colorimetric quantitative detection in a variety of fields like environmental protection, food safety and bioanalysis.

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the prostate with bladder invasion shortly after androgen deprivation: Two case reports.

BACKGROUND: To summarize the imaging, morphological and biological characteristics of sarcomatoid carcinoma (SC) of the prostate with bladder invasion not long after castration. CASE SUMMARY: Our two cases were initially diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the prostate due to dysuria. However, prostate SC was diagnosed after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and castration after only 5 and 10 mo, respectively. Distinctive liver-like tissues appeared in the second TURP procedure in case 1, while a white, fish flesh-like, narrow pedicled soft globe protruded from the prostate to the bladder in case 2. CONCLUSION: The sarcomatoid component of SC may arise from one of the specific groups of cancer cells that are resistant to hormonal therapy. Morphological characteristics of SCs can present as "red hepatization" and "fish flesh". SCs grow rapidly and have a poor prognosis, and thus, extensive TURP plus radiation may be the treatment of choice.

A rare life-threatening disease: unilateral kidney compressed by huge chronic spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: To study an uncommon life-threatening disease, spontaneous retroperitoneal and perirenal hemorrhage. CASE DESCRIPTIONS: A 69-year-old male presented with pain in the left waist and back of 1 month duration. The renal abscess was suspected by magnetic resonance imaging before operation. The perirenal hematoma was cleaned by operation. In another case, the patient had a functional solitary left kidney compressed by a huge retroperitoneal mass and uropenia appeared. RESULTS: The first patient died of adult respiratory distress syndrome after surgery. The second patient died of cardiac insufficiency and pulmonary embolism on the second day after evacuation of retroperitoneal hematoma. CONCLUSION: Conservative surgery, such as selective arterial embolization, is a reasonable approach in patients with chronic spontaneous retroperitoneal and perirenal space hemorrhage and with poor general condition. We strongly recommend drainage or interventional therapy, but not a major surgery, in patients with poor condition.