An in situ and rapid self-healing strategy enabling a stretchable nanocomposite with extremely durable and highly sensitive sensing features

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Liu ◽  
Xiangqian Fan ◽  
Weimin Feng ◽  
Xinlei Shi ◽  
Fengchao Li ◽  
...  

A spontaneous, rapid, and in situ self-healing strategy was proposed to boost both the durability and sensitivity of stretchable strain-sensing materials.

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3574
Author(s):  
Pejman Heidarian ◽  
Hossein Yousefi ◽  
Akif Kaynak ◽  
Mariana Paulino ◽  
Saleh Gharaie ◽  
...  

Electroconductive hydrogels with stimuli-free self-healing and self-recovery (SELF) properties and high mechanical strength for wearable strain sensors is an area of intensive research activity at the moment. Most electroconductive hydrogels, however, consist of static bonds for mechanical strength and dynamic bonds for SELF performance, presenting a challenge to improve both properties into one single hydrogel. An alternative strategy to successfully incorporate both properties into one system is via the use of stiff or rigid, yet dynamic nano-materials. In this work, a nano-hybrid modifier derived from nano-chitin coated with ferric ions and tannic acid (TA/Fe@ChNFs) is blended into a starch/polyvinyl alcohol/polyacrylic acid (St/PVA/PAA) hydrogel. It is hypothesized that the TA/Fe@ChNFs nanohybrid imparts both mechanical strength and stimuli-free SELF properties to the hydrogel via dynamic catecholato-metal coordination bonds. Additionally, the catechol groups of TA provide mussel-inspired adhesion properties to the hydrogel. Due to its electroconductivity, toughness, stimuli-free SELF properties, and self-adhesiveness, a prototype soft wearable strain sensor is created using this hydrogel and subsequently tested.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenka Ulrychová ◽  
Pavel Ostašov ◽  
Marta Chanová ◽  
Michael Mareš ◽  
Martin Horn ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The blood flukes of genus Schistosoma are the causative agent of schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease that infects more than 200 million people worldwide. Proteases of schistosomes are involved in critical steps of host–parasite interactions and are promising therapeutic targets. We recently identified and characterized a group of S1 family Schistosoma mansoni serine proteases, including SmSP1 to SmSP5. Expression levels of some SmSPs in S. mansoni are low, and by standard genome sequencing technologies they are marginally detectable at the method threshold levels. Here, we report their spatial gene expression patterns in adult S. mansoni by the high-sensitivity localization assay. Methodology Highly sensitive fluorescence in situ RNA hybridization (FISH) was modified and used for the localization of mRNAs encoding individual SmSP proteases (including low-expressed SmSPs) in tissues of adult worms. High sensitivity was obtained due to specifically prepared tissue and probes in combination with the employment of a signal amplification approach. The assay method was validated by detecting the expression patterns of a set of relevant reference genes including SmCB1, SmPOP, SmTSP-2, and Sm29 with localization formerly determined by other techniques. Results FISH analysis revealed interesting expression patterns of SmSPs distributed in multiple tissues of S. mansoni adults. The expression patterns of individual SmSPs were distinct but in part overlapping and were consistent with existing transcriptome sequencing data. The exception were genes with significantly low expression, which were also localized in tissues where they had not previously been detected by RNA sequencing methods. In general, SmSPs were found in various tissues including reproductive organs, parenchymal cells, esophagus, and the tegumental surface. Conclusions The FISH-based assay provided spatial information about the expression of five SmSPs in adult S. mansoni females and males. This highly sensitive method allowed visualization of low-abundantly expressed genes that are below the detection limits of standard in situ hybridization or by RNA sequencing. Thus, this technical approach turned out to be suitable for sensitive localization studies and may also be applicable for other trematodes. The results suggest that SmSPs may play roles in diverse processes of the parasite. Certain SmSPs expressed at the surface may be involved in host–parasite interactions. Graphic abstract


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengcheng Wu ◽  
Zhenwei Wang ◽  
Xinhua Yao ◽  
Jianzhong Fu ◽  
Yong He

A recyclable, self-healing conductive nanoclay and corresponding stamping process are developed for printing flexible electronics directly and quickly in situ.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 7755-7763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiyan Qiao ◽  
Pengfei Qi ◽  
Xiaohui Zhang ◽  
Linan Wang ◽  
Yeqiang Tan ◽  
...  

RSC Advances ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (87) ◽  
pp. 84200-84208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adil Sultan ◽  
Sharique Ahmad ◽  
Faiz Mohammad

We report the synthesis of polypyrrole (PPy) and polypyrrole/silicon carbide nanocomposites (PPy/SiC) and PPy/SiC/dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) by in situ chemical polymerization and their application as sensors for the detection of highly toxic chlorine gas.


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