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| Open Access3D printing of robotic soft actuators with programmable bioinspired architectures
3D-printed soft actuators have limited motion and are far from reaching the level of complexity found in biological systems. Here the authors present a multimaterial 3D printing platform for the fabrication of soft actuators displaying a wide range of motions that are programmable.
- Manuel Schaffner
- , Jakob A. Faber
- & André R. Studart
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Article
| Open AccessBonding dissimilar polymer networks in various manufacturing processes
Hydrogels and hydrophobic elastomers of various shapes are difficult to bond in arbitrary sequences. Here the authors mix silane coupling agents into a precursor to form hydrogel resins with robust properties that can be spun, coated and printed in air.
- Qihan Liu
- , Guodong Nian
- & Zhigang Suo
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Article
| Open AccessMEMS-tunable dielectric metasurface lens
Conventional refractive elements are bulky, thick and offer limited active tunability. Here, the authors demonstrate MEMS-based tunable metasurface doublets with more than 60 diopters change in the optical power upon a 1-micron movement of a membrane with one of the metasurface elements.
- Ehsan Arbabi
- , Amir Arbabi
- & Andrei Faraon
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Article
| Open AccessBioinspired leaves-on-branchlet hybrid carbon nanostructure for supercapacitors
One way to improve the performance of supercapacitors is to use hybrid carbon nanomaterials. Here the authors show a bioinspired electrode design with graphene petals and carbon nanotube arrays serving as leaves and branchlets, respectively. The structure affords excellent electrochemical characteristics.
- Guoping Xiong
- , Pingge He
- & Timothy S. Fisher
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Article
| Open AccessBio-inspired counter-current multiplier for enrichment of solutes
Improving the efficiency of gas separation technology is needed, since existing methods represent a significant portion of the world’s energy consumption. Here, the authors report an enhancement in the release rate of carbon dioxide and oxygen using a counter-current amplification method inspired by fish.
- Kyle Brubaker
- , Armand Garewal
- & Aaron P. Esser-Kahn
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Article
| Open AccessShape anisotropy revisited in single-digit nanometer magnetic tunnel junctions
The thermal stability impedes the application of nanoscale magnetic tunnel junctions in electronic and spintronics devices. Here the authors achieved current-induced magnetization switching in magnetic tunnel junctions smaller than 10 nm with sufficient thermal stability due to the shape anisotropy without adding new material systems.
- K. Watanabe
- , B. Jinnai
- & H. Ohno
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Article
| Open AccessAnti-fouling graphene-based membranes for effective water desalination
Intrinsic limitations of nanoporous graphene limit its applications in water treatment. Here the authors produce post-treatment-free, low-cost graphene-based membranes from renewable biomass and demonstrate their high water permeance and antifouling properties using real seawater.
- Dong Han Seo
- , Shafique Pineda
- & Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov
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Article
| Open AccessHigh enthalpy storage thermoset network with giant stress and energy output in rubbery state
Energy storage in thermoset shape memory polymers happens through entropy reduction during the programming step, but low energy release is known to be a bottleneck for wide-spread application. Here, the authors show a thermoset network that stores energy primarily through enthalpy increase by bond length change, which leads to an improved energy output.
- Jizhou Fan
- & Guoqiang Li
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Article
| Open AccessSustained micellar delivery via inducible transitions in nanostructure morphology
Nanocarrier administration is often performed via intermittent bolus injection while sustained delivery platforms are rarely reported. Here the authors demonstrate that the cylinder-to-sphere transitions of self-assembled filomicelle scaffolds can be used for sustained delivery with improved resorptive capacity and biocompatibility.
- Nicholas B. Karabin
- , Sean Allen
- & Evan A. Scott
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Article
| Open AccessCombinatorial hydrogels with biochemical gradients for screening 3D cellular microenvironments
Tools to investigate a wide range of 3D microenvironmental parameters are important for understanding and controlling cell fate. Here, the authors develop hydrogels with orthogonal biochemical gradients and use this screening system to identify microenvironments that induce mesenchymal stem cell chondrogenesis.
- Sebastián L. Vega
- , Mi Y. Kwon
- & Jason A. Burdick
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Article
| Open AccessTargeted production of reactive oxygen species in mitochondria to overcome cancer drug resistance
Multidrug resistance is a major challenge in cancer therapy. Here, the authors develop a mitochondria-targeting nanoparticle system that inhibits adenosine triphosphate transporter activity via reactive oxygen species generation and can thus be used to target multidrug-resistant cancer.
- Hai Wang
- , Zan Gao
- & Xiaoming He
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Article
| Open AccessA microengineered vascularized bleeding model that integrates the principal components of hemostasis
Hemostasis is a complex ensemble of events, but current bleeding assays only analyze single components like coagulation or platelet function. Here the authors present a comprehensive vascularized microfluidic mechanical injury bleeding model that addresses different aspects of the hemostatic process.
- Yumiko Sakurai
- , Elaissa T. Hardy
- & Wilbur A. Lam
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Article
| Open AccessAn artificial nociceptor based on a diffusive memristor
The development of humanoid robots with artificial intelligence calls for smart solutions for tactile sensing systems that respond to dynamic changes in the environment. Here, Yoon et al. emulate non-adaption and sensitization function of a nociceptor—a sensory neuron—using diffusive oxide-based memristors.
- Jung Ho Yoon
- , Zhongrui Wang
- & J. Joshua Yang
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Article
| Open AccessElectric fields control the orientation of peptides irreversibly immobilized on radical-functionalized surfaces
Implanted materials can be rejected by the body, and coating the surfaces with peptides is seen as an option to overcome this problem. Here, the authors investigated how pH and electric fields can be used to prepare defined peptide coatings.
- Lewis J. Martin
- , Behnam Akhavan
- & Marcela M. M. Bilek
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Article
| Open AccessDNA multi-bit non-volatile memory and bit-shifting operations using addressable electrode arrays and electric field-induced hybridization
DNA based technology holds promise for non-volatile memory and computational tasks, yet the relatively slow hybridization kinetics remain a bottleneck. Here, Song et al. have developed an electric field-induced hybridization platform that can speed up multi-bit memory and logic operations.
- Youngjun Song
- , Sejung Kim
- & Xiaohua Huang
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Article
| Open AccessMechanically-sensitive miRNAs bias human mesenchymal stem cell fate via mTOR signalling
Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) fate can be mechanically regulated by substrate stiffness but this is difficult to control in a 3D hydrogel. Here the authors identify miRNAs that change expression in response to substrate stiffness and RhoA signalling and show that they can bias MSC fate in a 3D soft hydrogel.
- Jessica E. Frith
- , Gina D. Kusuma
- & Justin J. Cooper-White
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Article
| Open AccessSkin-inspired highly stretchable and conformable matrix networks for multifunctional sensing
Electronic skins have been developed to emulate human sensory systems, but simultaneous detection of multiple stimuli remains a big challenge due to coupling of electronic signals. Here, Hua et al. overcome this problem in a stretchable and conformable matrix network integrated with seven different modes.
- Qilin Hua
- , Junlu Sun
- & Zhong Lin Wang
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Article
| Open AccessEngineered nanointerfaces for microfluidic isolation and molecular profiling of tumor-specific extracellular vesicles
Extracellular vesicles can carry many different types of biological cargo and have been investigated as a biomarker for cancer diagnosis. Here the authors develop a microfluidic platform for rapid and sensitive isolation of tumor-specific extracellular vesicles.
- Eduardo Reátegui
- , Kristan E. van der Vos
- & Shannon L. Stott
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Article
| Open AccessStrong grain neighbour effects in polycrystals
Understanding how individual crystals share load inside a polycrystal is crucial to improve component lifetime, but remains difficult to measure. Here, the authors show that the crystal orientation of a grain and that of its neighbours can surprisingly cause stress relaxation in zirconium and titanium under load.
- Hamidreza Abdolvand
- , Jonathan Wright
- & Angus J. Wilkinson
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Article
| Open AccessMXene molecular sieving membranes for highly efficient gas separation
Two-dimensional materials show great potential for membrane technologies, but their disordered channels hinder their molecular sieving performance. Here, Wang, Gogotsi and colleagues design a MXene membrane with ordered nanochannels that exhibits an excellent H2/CO2 gas separation performance.
- Li Ding
- , Yanying Wei
- & Yury Gogotsi
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Article
| Open AccessUnidirectional spin-Hall and Rashba−Edelstein magnetoresistance in topological insulator-ferromagnet layer heterostructures
Unidirectional spin Hall magnetoresistance enables the new spintronic devices but is limited by the low amplitude or working temperature. Here, the authors report the large unidirectional spin Hall magnetoresistance in a topological insulator and ferromagnetic metal bilayer system at relatively higher temperature.
- Yang Lv
- , James Kally
- & Jian-Ping Wang
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Article
| Open AccessDevelopment of an oral once-weekly drug delivery system for HIV antiretroviral therapy
Poor adherence to daily antiretrovirals can significantly affect treatment efficacy, but oral long-acting antiretrovirals are currently lacking. Here, the authors develop a once-weekly oral dosage form for anti-HIV drugs, assess its pharmacokinetics in pigs, and model its impact on viral resistance and disease epidemics.
- Ameya R. Kirtane
- , Omar Abouzid
- & Giovanni Traverso
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Article
| Open AccessSolving for ambiguities in radar geophysical exploration of planetary bodies by mimicking bats echolocation
Radar sounders, used for the geophysical exploration of celestial objects in the solar system, possess striking similarities to bat sonars. Here, the authors adapt and implement the bat clutter mitigation mechanism to radar geophysical exploration of planetary bodies.
- Leonardo Carrer
- & Lorenzo Bruzzone
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Article
| Open AccessBio-inspired reversible underwater adhesive
Many industrial applications require switchable adhesive properties in wet conditions, but this still remains challenging to achieve. Here the authors synthesize an adhesive based on host-guest interactions that exhibits reversible, tunable and fast regulation of the wet adhesion on diverse surfaces.
- Yanhua Zhao
- , Yang Wu
- & Zuankai Wang
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Article
| Open AccessReservoir computing using dynamic memristors for temporal information processing
Reservoir computing facilitates the projection of temporal input signals onto a high-dimensional feature space via a dynamic system, known as the reservoir. Du et al. realise this concept using metal-oxide-based memristors with short-term memory to perform digit recognition tasks and solve non-linear problems.
- Chao Du
- , Fuxi Cai
- & Wei D. Lu
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Article
| Open AccessStateful characterization of resistive switching TiO2 with electron beam induced currents
Oxide-based memristors hold promise for artificial neuromorphic computing, yet the detail of the switching mechanism—filament formation—remains largely unknown. Hoskins et al. provide nanoscale imaging of this process using electron beam induced current microscopy and relate it to resistive states.
- Brian D. Hoskins
- , Gina C. Adam
- & Jabez J. McClelland
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Article
| Open AccessOrigami silicon optoelectronics for hemispherical electronic eye systems
Hemispherical format has been adopted in camera systems to better mimic human eyes, yet the current designs rely on complicated fabrications. Here, Zhang et al. show an origami-inspired approach that enables planar silicon-based photodetector arrays to reshape into concave or convex geometries.
- Kan Zhang
- , Yei Hwan Jung
- & Zhenqiang Ma
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Article
| Open AccessProgrammed biomolecule delivery to enable and direct cell migration for connective tissue repair
Dense connective tissues do not easily heal, in part due to a low supply of reparative cells. Here, the authors develop a fibrous scaffold for meniscal repair that sequentially releases collagenase and a growth factor at the injury site, breaking down the extracellular matrix and recruiting endogenous cells.
- Feini Qu
- , Julianne L. Holloway
- & Robert L. Mauck
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Article
| Open AccessBenchmarking organic mixed conductors for transistors
Organic materials that support both electronic and ionic transport hold promise for applications in bioelectronics and energy storage. Here, Inal et al. use transistors to quantify the materials performance of organic mixed conductors in terms of the product of charge mobility and volumetric capacitance.
- Sahika Inal
- , George G. Malliaras
- & Jonathan Rivnay
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Article
| Open AccessHuman eye-inspired soft optoelectronic device using high-density MoS2-graphene curved image sensor array
Soft and flexible optoelectronic devices may provide effective routes toward retinal implants for enhanced visual functions. Here, the authors fabricate a curved array of flexible MoS2-graphene photodetectors and demonstrate its potential application as ophthalmic imaging element in mouse models.
- Changsoon Choi
- , Moon Kee Choi
- & Dae-Hyeong Kim
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Article
| Open AccessSuper-achromatic monolithic microprobe for ultrahigh-resolution endoscopic optical coherence tomography at 800 nm
Optical coherence tomography is an established optical tool for in vivo clinical imaging and diagnosis applications, but endoscopic technologies remain limited. Here, Yuan et al. develop a flexible, narrow diameter, super-achromatic endoscopic probe for ultrahigh-resolution in vivo OCT imaging of small luminal organs or narrow constrictions.
- Wu Yuan
- , Robert Brown
- & Xingde Li
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Correspondence
| Open AccessCorrespondence: Revisiting the theoretical cell membrane thermal capacitance response
- Michael Plaksin
- , Eitan Kimmel
- & Shy Shoham
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Article
| Open AccessElectrostrictive microelectromechanical fibres and textiles
Micro-electromechanical systems fabrication techniques are based on silicon micromachining processes, resulting in rigid and low aspect ratio structures. Here the authors demonstrate a flexible, high aspect ratio micro-electromechanical system in fibre enabled by an electrostrictive ferrorelaxor terpolymer layer.
- Tural Khudiyev
- , Jefferson Clayton
- & Yoel Fink
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Article
| Open AccessGiant thermal expansion and α-precipitation pathways in Ti-alloys
Complex phase transformations in β-stabilised titanium alloys can dramatically change their α and β microstructures, providing tailorability for aerospace or biomaterial applications. Here the authors show that Ti-Nb alloys exhibit giant thermal expansions and identify two new pathways that lead to α phase formation.
- Matthias Bönisch
- , Ajit Panigrahi
- & Jürgen Eckert
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Article
| Open AccessPolymorphic regenerated silk fibers assembled through bioinspired spinning
Natural silk fibers are produced using a simple and green approach compared to alternative synthetic methods. Here, the authors show a bioinspired approach to spin regenerated silk fibers using anisotropic liquid crystals and dry spinning, resulting in remarkably robust fibers.
- Shengjie Ling
- , Zhao Qin
- & Markus J. Buehler
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Article
| Open AccessRiver-bed armouring as a granular segregation phenomenon
River beds often exhibit armouring, in which formation of a coarse surface layer shields the finer underlying grains from erosion. Here, using experiments in a laboratory river and discrete and continuum models, the authors demonstrate that river-bed armouring is driven by vertical granular segregation.
- Behrooz Ferdowsi
- , Carlos P. Ortiz
- & Douglas J. Jerolmack
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Article
| Open AccessUltra-low and ultra-broad-band nonlinear acoustic metamaterials
Linear acoustic metamaterials based on resonances are generally tunable but limited by their narrow bands. Here, Fang et al. fabricate one- and two-dimensional nonlinear acoustic metamaterials with a broadband, low-frequency, response—greatly suppressing low frequency noise.
- Xin Fang
- , Jihong Wen
- & Dianlong Yu
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Article
| Open AccessSequence and entropy-based control of complex coacervates
Monomer sequence is an emerging tool to precisely encode information (and thus structure and function) into polymer systems. Here the authors use sequence-control in complex coacervates to understand how monomer sequence translates to physical material properties.
- Li-Wei Chang
- , Tyler K. Lytle
- & Sarah L. Perry
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Article
| Open AccessMultifunctional nanocomposite hollow fiber membranes by solvent transfer induced phase separation
Coating porous membranes with nanoparticles can enhance their separation and antifouling properties, but methods to do so remain complex. Here, Lee and colleagues use solvent transfer-induced phase separation to prepare nanoparticle-functionalized hollow fiber membranes from bicontinuous interfacially jammed emulsion gels.
- Martin F. Haase
- , Harim Jeon
- & Daeyeon Lee
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Article
| Open AccessMolecular rheotaxis directs DNA migration and concentration against a pressure-driven flow
Implementing a nucleic acid preconcentration method can improve the sensitivity of microfluidic analysis systems. Here Friedrich et al. concentrate DNA by many orders of magnitude using pressure-driven flow, which could lead to a simple and practical microanalysis platform.
- Sarah M. Friedrich
- , Jeffrey M. Burke
- & Tza-Huei Wang
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Article
| Open AccessFully inkjet-printed two-dimensional material field-effect heterojunctions for wearable and textile electronics
Heterojunction structures based on 2D materials show promise for wearable and textile electronics. Here, the authors demonstrate fully inkjet-printed hetero junctions of graphene and h-BN as a platform for FET-based smart electronics on wearable and washable textile substrates.
- Tian Carey
- , Stefania Cacovich
- & Felice Torrisi
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Article
| Open AccessLarge-scale water collection of bioinspired cavity-microfibers
Spider-silk-mimicking microfibers often suffer from low efficiency and durability in water collection. Here, the authors fabricate robust microfibers with spindle cavity-knots and different topological fiber-networks with improved water-collecting performance
- Ye Tian
- , Pingan Zhu
- & Liqiu Wang
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Article
| Open AccessSuperelasticity and cryogenic linear shape memory effects of CaFe2As2
Shape memory materials are capable of returning to their original form post-deformation, but those with high actuation performances remain scarce. Here the authors reveal that CaFe2As2 exhibits cryogenic linear shape memory behaviour with high recoverable strain and yield strength, owing to a reversible uni-axial phase transformation.
- John T. Sypek
- , Hang Yu
- & Seok-Woo Lee
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Article
| Open AccessBidirectional wavelength-division multiplexing transmission over installed fibre using a simplified optical coherent access transceiver
The signalling scheme used in access networks require electrical bandwidths many times greater than subscribers can utilise. Here, the authors describe a promising approach to achieve bidirectional transmission with bandwidth-efficient yet low-complexity coherent optical network unit transceiver.
- M. S. Erkılınç
- , D. Lavery
- & P. Bayvel
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Article
| Open AccessOrigami-based tunable truss structures for non-volatile mechanical memory operation
Origami is a popular method to design building blocks for mechanical metamaterials. Here, the authors assemble a volumetric origami-based structure, predict its axial and rotational movements during folding, and demonstrate the operation of mechanical one- and two-bit memory storage.
- Hiromi Yasuda
- , Tomohiro Tachi
- & Jinkyu Yang
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Article
| Open AccessInverse poroelasticity as a fundamental mechanism in biomechanics and mechanobiology
How soft tissues respond to mechanical load is essential to their biological function. Here, the authors discover that – contrary to predictions of poroelasticity – fluid mobility in collagenous tissues induces drastic volume decrease with tensile loading and pronounced chemo-mechanical coupling.
- Alexander E. Ehret
- , Kevin Bircher
- & Edoardo Mazza
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Article
| Open AccessA novel true random number generator based on a stochastic diffusive memristor
Memristors can switch between high and low electrical-resistance states, but the switching behaviour can be unpredictable. Here, the authors harness this unpredictability to develop a memristor-based true random number generator that uses the stochastic delay time of threshold switching
- Hao Jiang
- , Daniel Belkin
- & Qiangfei Xia
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Article
| Open AccessSynchronized conductivity modulation to realize broadband lossless magnetic-free non-reciprocity
Optical non-reciprocity achieved through refractive index modulation can have its challenges and limitations. Here, Dinc et al. introduce the concept of non-reciprocity based on synchronized spatio-temporal modulation of conductivity to achieve different types of non-reciprocal functionality.
- Tolga Dinc
- , Mykhailo Tymchenko
- & Harish Krishnaswamy
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Article
| Open AccessNeutrophil-inspired propulsion in a combined acoustic and magnetic field
Devising effective swimming and propulsion strategies in microenvironments is attractive for drug delivery applications. Here Ahmed et al. demonstrate a micropropulsion strategy in which a combination of magnetic and acoustic fields is used to assemble and propel colloidal particles along channel walls.
- Daniel Ahmed
- , Thierry Baasch
- & Bradley J. Nelson