Treatment of spinal cord injury with biomaterials and stem cell therapy in non-human primates and humans

Spinal cord injury results in the loss of sensory,motor,and autonomic functions,which almost always produces permanent physical disability.Thus,in the search for more effective treatments than those already applied for years,which are not entirely efficient,researches have been able to demonstrate the potential of biological strategies using biomaterials to tissue manufacturing through bioengineering and stem cell therapy as a neuroregenerative approach,seeking to promote neuronal recovery after spinal cord injury.Each of these strategies has been developed and meticulously evaluated in several animal models with the aim of analyzing the potential of interventions for neuronal repair and,consequently,boosting functional recovery.Although the majority of experimental research has been conducted in rodents,there is increasing recognition of the importance,and need,of evaluating the safety and efficacy of these interventions in non-human primates before moving to clinical trials involving therapies potentially promising in humans.This article is a literature review from databases(PubMed,Science Direct,Elsevier,Scielo,Redalyc,Cochrane,and NCBI)from 10 years ago to date,using keywords(spinal cord injury,cell therapy,non-human primates,humans,and bioengineering in spinal cord injury).From 110 retrieved articles,after two selection rounds based on inclusion and exclusion criteria,21 articles were analyzed.Thus,this review arises from the need to recognize the experimental therapeutic advances applied in non-human primates and even humans,aimed at deepening these strategies and identifying the advantages and influence of the results on extrapolation for clinical applicability in humans.

Advanced Functional Electromagnetic Shielding Materials:A Review Based on Micro‑Nano Structure Interface Control of Biomass Cell Walls

Research efforts on electromagnetic interference(EMI)shielding materials have begun to converge on green and sustainable biomass materials.These materials offer numerous advantages such as being lightweight,porous,and hierarchical.Due to their porous nature,interfacial compatibility,and electrical conductivity,biomass materials hold significant potential as EMI shielding materials.Despite concerted efforts on the EMI shielding of biomass materials have been reported,this research area is still relatively new compared to traditional EMI shielding materials.In particular,a more comprehensive study and summary of the factors influencing biomass EMI shielding materials including the pore structure adjustment,preparation process,and micro-control would be valuable.The preparation methods and characteristics of wood,bamboo,cellulose and lignin in EMI shielding field are critically discussed in this paper,and similar biomass EMI materials are summarized and analyzed.The composite methods and fillers of various biomass materials were reviewed.this paper also highlights the mechanism of EMI shielding as well as existing prospects and challenges for development trends in this field.

High‑Entropy Electrode Materials:Synthesis,Properties and Outlook

High-entropy materials represent a new category of high-performance materials,first proposed in 2004 and extensively investigated by researchers over the past two decades.The definition of high-entropy materials has continuously evolved.In the last ten years,the discovery of an increasing number of high-entropy materials has led to significant advancements in their utilization in energy storage,electrocatalysis,and related domains,accompanied by a rise in techniques for fabricating high-entropy electrode materials.Recently,the research emphasis has shifted from solely improving the performance of high-entropy materials toward exploring their reaction mechanisms and adopting cleaner preparation approaches.However,the current definition of high-entropy materials remains relatively vague,and the preparation method of high-entropy materials is based on the preparation method of single metal/low-or medium-entropy materials.It should be noted that not all methods applicable to single metal/low-or medium-entropy materials can be directly applied to high-entropy materials.In this review,the definition and development of high-entropy materials are briefly reviewed.Subsequently,the classification of high-entropy electrode materials is presented,followed by a discussion of their applications in energy storage and catalysis from the perspective of synthesis methods.Finally,an evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of various synthesis methods in the production process of different high-entropy materials is provided,along with a proposal for potential future development directions for high-entropy materials.

Recent Advances in Fibrous Materials for Hydroelectricity Generation

Depleting fossil energy sources and conventional polluting power generation pose a threat to sustainable development.Hydroelectricity generation from ubiquitous and spontaneous phase transitions between liquid and gaseous water has been considered a promising strategy for mitigating the energy crisis.Fibrous materials with unique flexibility,processability,multifunctionality,and practicability have been widely applied for fibrous materials-based hydroelectricity generation(FHG).In this review,the power generation mechanisms,design principles,and electricity enhancement factors of FHG are first introduced.Then,the fabrication strategies and characteristics of varied constructions including 1D fiber,1D yarn,2D fabric,2D membrane,3D fibrous framework,and 3D fibrous gel are demonstrated.Afterward,the advanced functions of FHG during water harvesting,proton dissociation,ion separation,and charge accumulation processes are analyzed in detail.Moreover,the potential applications including power supply,energy storage,electrical sensor,and information expression are also discussed.Finally,some existing challenges are considered and prospects for future development are sincerely proposed.

Nanograting‑Based Dynamic Structural Colors Using Heterogeneous Materials

Dynamic structuralcolors can change in response todifferent environmental stimuli.This ability remains effectiveeven when the size of the speciesresponsible for the structural coloris reduced to a few micrometers,providing a promising sensingmechanism for solving microenvironmentalsensing problems inmicro-robotics and microfluidics.However, the lack of dynamicstructural colors that can encoderapidly, easily integrate, and accuratelyreflect changes in physical quantities hinders their use in microscale sensing applications. Herein, we present a 2.5-dimensionaldynamic structural color based on nanogratings of heterogeneous materials, which were obtained by interweaving a pH-responsive hydrogelwith an IP-L photoresist. Transverse gratings printed with pH-responsive hydrogels elongated the period of longitudinal grating in the swollenstate, resulting in pH-tuned structural colors at a 45° incidence. Moreover, the patterned encoding and array printing of dynamic structuralcolors were achieved using grayscale stripe images to accurately encode the periods and heights of the nanogrid structures. Overall, dynamicstructural color networks exhibit promising potential for applications in information encryption and in situ sensing for microfluidic chips.

Research status and prospects of the fractal analysis of metal material surfaces and interfaces

As a mathematical analysis method,fractal analysis can be used to quantitatively describe irregular shapes with self-similar or self-affine properties.Fractal analysis has been used to characterize the shapes of metal materials at various scales and dimensions.Conventional methods make it difficult to quantitatively describe the relationship between the regular characteristics and properties of metal material surfaces and interfaces.However,fractal analysis can be used to quantitatively describe the shape characteristics of metal materials and to establish the quantitative relationships between the shape characteristics and various properties of metal materials.From the perspective of two-dimensional planes and three-dimensional curved surfaces,this paper reviews the current research status of the fractal analysis of metal precipitate interfaces,metal grain boundary interfaces,metal-deposited film surfaces,metal fracture surfaces,metal machined surfaces,and metal wear surfaces.The relationship between the fractal dimensions and properties of metal material surfaces and interfaces is summarized.Starting from three perspectives of fractal analysis,namely,research scope,image acquisition methods,and calculation methods,this paper identifies the direction of research on fractal analysis of metal material surfaces and interfaces that need to be developed.It is believed that revealing the deep influence mechanism between the fractal dimensions and properties of metal material surfaces and interfaces will be the key research direction of the fractal analysis of metal materials in the future.

Defect Engineering:Can it Mitigate Strong Coulomb Effect of Mg^(2+)in Cathode Materials for Rechargeable Magnesium Batteries?

Rechargeable magnesium batteries(RMBs)have been considered a promising“post lithium-ion battery”system to meet the rapidly increasing demand of the emerging electric vehicle and grid energy storage market.However,the sluggish diffusion kinetics of bivalent Mg^(2+)in the host material,related to the strong Coulomb effect between Mg^(2+)and host anion lattices,hinders their further development toward practical applications.Defect engineering,regarded as an effective strategy to break through the slow migration puzzle,has been validated in various cathode materials for RMBs.In this review,we first thoroughly understand the intrinsic mechanism of Mg^(2+)diffusion in cathode materials,from which the key factors affecting ion diffusion are further presented.Then,the positive effects of purposely introduced defects,including vacancy and doping,and the corresponding strategies for introducing various defects are discussed.The applications of defect engineering in cathode materials for RMBs with advanced electrochemical properties are also summarized.Finally,the existing challenges and future perspectives of defect engineering in cathode materials for the overall high-performance RMBs are described.

Two-Dimensional Materials for Highly Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells(PSCs)offer low costs and high power conversion efficiency.However,the lack of long-term stability,primarily stemming from the interfacial defects and the sus-ceptible metal electrodes,hinders their practical application.In the past few years,two-dimensional(2D)materials(e.g.,graphene and its derivatives,transitional metal dichalcogenides,MXenes,and black phosphorus)have been identified as a promising solution to solving these problems because of their dangling bond-free surfaces,layer-dependent electronic band structures,tunable functional groups,and inherent compactness.Here,recent progress of 2D material toward efficient and stable PSCs is summarized,including its role as both interface materials and electrodes.We discuss their beneficial effects on perovskite growth,energy level alignment,defect passivation,as well as blocking external stimulus.In particular,the unique properties of 2D materials to form van der Waals heterojunction at the bottom interface are emphasized.Finally,perspectives on the further development of PSCs using 2D materials are provided,such as designing high-quality van der Waals heterojunction,enhancing the uniformity and coverage of 2D nanosheets,and developing new 2D materials-based electrodes.

Optimization Strategies of Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3) Cathode Materials for Sodium‑Ion Batteries

Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)(NVP)has garnered great attentions as a prospective cathode material for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)by virtue of its decent theoretical capacity,superior ion conductivity and high structural stability.However,the inherently poor electronic conductivity and sluggish sodium-ion diffusion kinetics of NVP material give rise to inferior rate performance and unsatisfactory energy density,which strictly confine its further application in SIBs.Thus,it is of significance to boost the sodium storage performance of NVP cathode material.Up to now,many methods have been developed to optimize the electrochemical performance of NVP cathode material.In this review,the latest advances in optimization strategies for improving the electrochemical performance of NVP cathode material are well summarized and discussed,including carbon coating or modification,foreign-ion doping or substitution and nanostructure and morphology design.The foreign-ion doping or substitution is highlighted,involving Na,V,and PO_(4)^(3−)sites,which include single-site doping,multiple-site doping,single-ion doping,multiple-ion doping and so on.Furthermore,the challenges and prospects of high-performance NVP cathode material are also put forward.It is believed that this review can provide a useful reference for designing and developing high-performance NVP cathode material toward the large-scale application in SIBs.

Chlorine-Substituent Regulation in Dopant-Free Small-Molecule Hole-Transport Materials Improves the Effi ciency and Stability of Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

Although doped hole-transport materials(HTMs)off er an effi ciency benefi t for perovskite solar cells(PSCs),they inevi-tably diminish the stability.Here,we describe the use of various chlorinated small molecules,specifi cally fl uorenone-triphenylamine(FO-TPA)-x-Cl[x=para,meta,and ortho(p,m,and o)],with diff erent chlorine-substituent positions,as dopant-free HTMs for PSCs.These chlorinated molecules feature a symmetrical donor-acceptor-donor structure and ideal intramolecular charge transfer properties,allowing for self-doping and the establishment of built-in potentials for improving charge extraction.Highly effi cient hole-transfer interfaces are constructed between perovskites and these HTMs by strategi-cally modifying the chlorine substitution.Thus,the chlorinated HTM-derived inverted PSCs exhibited superior effi ciencies and air stabilities.Importantly,the dopant-free HTM FO-TPA-o-Cl not only attains a power conversion effi ciency of 20.82% but also demonstrates exceptional stability,retaining 93.8%of its initial effi ciency even after a 30-day aging test conducted under ambient air conditions in PSCs without encapsulation.These fi ndings underscore the critical role of chlorine-substituent regulation in HTMs in ensuring the formation and maintenance of effi cient and stable PSCs.

The application of cellulosic-based materials on interfacial solar steam generation for highly efficient wastewater purification: A review

The world's population is growing,leading to an increasing demand for freshwater resources for drinking,sanitation,agriculture,and industry.Interfacial solar steam generation(ISSG)can solve many problems,such as mitigating the power crisis,minimizing water pollution,and improving the purification and desalination of seawater,rivers/lakes,and wastewater.Cellulosic materials are a viable and ecologically sound technique for capturing solar energy that is adaptable to a range of applications.This review paper aims to provide an overview of current advancements in the field of cellulose-based materials ISSG devices,specifically focusing on their applications in water purification and desalination.This paper examines the cellulose-based materials ISSG system and evaluates the effectiveness of various cellulosic materials,such as cellulose nanofibers derived from different sources,carbonized wood materials,and two-dimensional(2D)and 3D cellulosic-based materials from various sources,as well as advanced cellulosic materials,including bacterial cellulose and cellulose membranes obtained from agricultural and industrial cellulose wastes.The focus is on exploring the potential applications of these materials in ISSG devices for water desalination,purification,and treatment.The function,advantages,and disadvantages of cellulosic materials in the performance of ISSG devices were also deliberated throughout our discussion.In addition,the potential and suggested methods for enhancing the utilization of cellulose-based materials in the field of ISSG systems for water desalination,purification,and treatment were also emphasized.

Recent Progress in Improving Rate Performance of Cellulose-Derived Carbon Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Cellulose-derived carbon is regarded as one of the most promising candidates for high-performance anode materials in sodium-ion batteries;however,its poor rate performance at higher current density remains a challenge to achieve high power density sodium-ion batteries.The present review comprehensively elucidates the structural characteristics of cellulose-based materials and cellulose-derived carbon materials,explores the limitations in enhancing rate performance arising from ion diffusion and electronic transfer at the level of cellulose-derived carbon materials,and proposes corresponding strategies to improve rate performance targeted at various precursors of cellulose-based materials.This review also presents an update on recent progress in cellulose-based materials and cellulose-derived carbon materials,with particular focuses on their molecular,crystalline,and aggregation structures.Furthermore,the relationship between storage sodium and rate performance the carbon materials is elucidated through theoretical calculations and characterization analyses.Finally,future perspectives regarding challenges and opportunities in the research field of cellulose-derived carbon anodes are briefly highlighted.

Fabrication and Excellent Properties of Polyvinylidene fluoride/Graphene Composite Films as Thermal Interface Materials

The growing concern about thermal conductivityand electromagnetic shielding inelectronic equipment has promoted the development of interfacial film materials.In this work,polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF)/graphene composite films with different graphene contents were fabricated by high-energy ball milling,cold isostatic pressing,scraping and coating,successively.High-energy ball milling is beneficial to the dispersion of graphene powder,while cold isostatic pressing can greatly enhance thermal conductivity and mechanical strength by reducing the voids in the film and increasing the contact area of graphene sheets.The thermal conductivity,tensile strength and electromagnetic shielding properties of the films were carefully investigated and compared.It was demonstrated that the thermal conductivity increased from 0.19 Wm-1.K-1 for pure PVDF to 103.9 W-m-1.K-1 for the composite film with PVDF:graphene=1:3.Meanwhile the electromagnetic shielding efficiency can reach 36.55 dB.The prepared PVDF/graphene composite films exhibit outstanding overall performance and have the potential for practical applications.

A commentary on the interplay of biomaterials and cell adhesion:new insights in bone tissue regeneration

This article navigates the relationship between biomaterials and osteogenic cell adhesion,highlighting the importance of mimicking the physiological response for bone tissue regeneration.Within this spirit is an initial description of the interaction between osteoblasts and osteoprogenitor cells with the extracellular matrix,explaining the leading role of integrins and cadherins in cell adhesion,and the intracellular signaling pathways elicited.Additionally,there is a focus on the strategies of advanced biomaterials that foster osteogenesis by replicating the native environment,taking advantage of these known specific signaling pathways.Thefinal remarks lay on the need for careful consideration of in-vitro and in-vivo complexities in biomaterial development.

Recent progress in Ni-rich layered oxides and related cathode materials for Li-ion cells

Undoubtedly,the enormous progress observed in recent years in the Ni-rich layered cathode materials has been crucial in terms of pushing boundaries of the Li-ion battery(LIB)technology.The achieved improvements in the energy density,cyclability,charging speed,reduced costs,as well as safety and stability,already contribute to the wider adoption of LIBs,which extends nowadays beyond mobile electronics,power tools,and electric vehicles,to the new range of applications,including grid storage solutions.With numerous published papers and broad reviews already available on the subject of Ni-rich oxides,this review focuses more on the most recent progress and new ideas presented in the literature references.The covered topics include doping and composition optimization,advanced coating,concentration gradient and single crystal materials,as well as innovations concerning new electrolytes and their modification,with the application of Ni-rich cathodes in solid-state batteries also discussed.Related cathode materials are briefly mentioned,with the high-entropy approach and zero-strain concept presented as well.A critical overview of the still unresolved issues is given,with perspectives on the further directions of studies and the expected gains provided.

Numerical Study and Optimization of CZTS-Based Thin-Film Solar Cell Structure with Different Novel Buffer-Layer Materials Using SCAPS-1D Software

This study explored the performances of CZTS-based thin-film solar cell with three novel buffer layer materials ZnS, CdS, and CdZnS, as well as with variation in thickness of buffer and absorber-layer, doping concentrations of absorber-layer material and operating temperature. Our aims focused to identify the most optimal thin-film solar cell structure that offers high efficiency and lower toxicity which are desirable for sustainable and eco-friendly energy sources globally. SCAPS-1D, widely used software for modeling and simulating solar cells, has been used and solar cell fundamental performance parameters such as open-circuited voltage (), short-circuited current density (), fill-factor() and efficiency() have been optimized in this study. Based on our simulation results, it was found that CZTS solar cell with Cd0.4Zn0.6S as buffer-layer offers the most optimal combination of high efficiency and lower toxicity in comparison to other structure investigated in our study. Although the efficiency of Cd0.4Zn0.6S, ZnS and CdS are comparable, Cd0.4Zn0.6S is preferable to use as buffer-layer for its non-toxic property. In addition, evaluation of performance as a function of buffer-layer thickness for Cd0.4Zn0.6S, ZnS and CdS showed that optimum buffer-layer thickness for Cd0.4Zn0.6S was in the range from 50 to 150nm while ZnS offered only 50 – 75 nm. Furthermore, the temperature dependence performance parameters evaluation revealed that it is better to operate solar cell at temperature 290K for stable operation with optimum performances. This study would provide valuable insights into design and optimization of nanotechnology-based solar energy technology for minimizing global energy crisis and developing eco-friendly energy sources sustainable and simultaneously.

Bithiophene-based cost-effective hole transport materials for efficient n-i-p perovskite solar cells

Charge transport materials constitute a relatively large portion of the cost in the production of perovskite solar cells(PSCs).Therefore,developing cheap and efficient charge transport materials is of great significance for the commercialization of PSCs.In this study,three low-cost hole transport materials(HTMs),specifically 4,4'-(3,3'-bis(4-methoxy-2,6-dimethylphenyl)-[2,2'-bithiophene]-5,5'-diyl)bis(N,N-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)aniline)(TP-H),4,4'-(3,3'-bis(4-methoxy-2,6-dimethylphenyl)-[2,2'-bithiophene]-5,5'-diyl)bis(3-methoxy-N,N-bis(4-methoxy-phenyl)aniline)(TP-OMe),and 4,4'-(3,3'-bis(4-methoxy-2,6-dimethylphenyl)-[2,2'-bithiophene]-5,5'-diyl)bis(3-fluoro-N,N-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)aniline)(TP-F),were designed and synthesized using a bulky group-substi-tuted 2,2'-bithiophene core and methoxy-or F-functionalized triphenylamine derivatives.Compared to the HTMs without F atoms,TP-F using F substitution exhibited enhanced intermolecular packing,a lower highest occupied molecular orbital energy level,and increased hole mobility and conductivity.The PSC incorporating the doped TP-F as the hole transport layer achieved the highest power conversion efficiency(over 24%)among the three devices.The high performance of TP-F can be attributed to the passivation effect of S and F atoms on uncoordinated Pb2+within the perovskite(PVSK)film,which significantly reduces the density of defect states and the incidence of trap-mediated recombination in PSCs.This study demonstrates the effec-tiveness of the 3,3'-bis(4-methoxy-2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2,2'-bithiophene building block for constructing cost-effective HTMs and highlights the impact of F substitution on enhancing the photovoltaic performance of PSCs.

Recent advances in living cell nucleic acid probes based on nanomaterials for early cancer diagnosis

The early diagnosis of cancer is vital for effective treatment and improved prognosis. Tumor biomarkers, which can be used for the early diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic evaluation of cancer, have emerged as a topic of intense research interest in recent years. Nucleic acid, as a type of tumor biomarker, contains vital genetic information, which is of great significance for the occurrence and development of cancer. Currently, living cell nucleic acid probes, which enable the in situ imaging and dynamic monitoring of nucleic acids, have become a rapidly developing field. This review focuses on living cell nucleic acid probes that can be used for the early diagnosis of tumors. We describe the fundamental design of the probe in terms of three units and focus on the roles of different nanomaterials in probe delivery.

Effect of carbon material and surfactant on ink property and resulting surface cracks of fuel-cell microporous layers

Ensuring the consistency of electrode structure in proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells is highly desired yet challenging because of wide-existing and unguided cracks in the microporous layer(MPL). The first thing is to evaluate the homogeneity of MPL with cracks quantitatively. This paper proposes the homogeneity index of a full-scale MPL with an area of 50 cm~2, which is yet to be reported in the literature to our knowledge. Besides, the effects of the carbon material and surfactant on the ink and resulting MPL structure have been studied. The ink with a high network development degree produces an MPL with low crack density, but the ink with high PDI produces an MPL with low crack homogeneity. The polarity of the surfactant and the non-polarity of polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) are not mutually soluble,resulting in the heterogeneous PTFE distribution. The findings of this study provide guidelines for MPL fabrication.

Inkjet-Printing Controlled Phase Evolution Boosts the Efficiency of Hole Transport Material Free and Carbon-Based CsPbBr_(3) Perovskite Solar Cells Exceeding 9%

Hole transport material free carbon-based all-inorganic CsPbBr_(3)perovskite solar cells(PSCs)are promising for commercialization due to its low-cost,high open-circuit voltage(V_(oc))and superior stability.Due to the different solubility of PbBr_(2)and CsBr in conventional solvents,CsPbBr_(3)films are mainly obtained by multi-step spin-coating through the phase evolution from PbBr_(2)to CsPb_(2)Br_(5)and then to CsPbBr_(3).The scalable fabrication of high-quality CsPbBr_(3)films has been rarely studied.Herein,an inkjet-printing method is developed to prepare high-quality CsPbBr_(3)films.The formation of long-range crystalline CsPb_(2)Br_(5)phase can effectively improve phase purity and promote regular crystal stacking of CsPbBr_(3).Consequently,the inkjet-printed CsPbBr_(3)C-PSCs realized PCEs up to 9.09%,8.59%and 7.81%with active areas of 0.09,0.25,and 1 cm^(2),respectively,demonstrating the upscaling potential of our fabrication method and devices.This high performance is mainly ascribed to the high purity,strong crystal orientation,reduced surface roughness and lower trap states density of the as-printed CsPbBr_(3)films.This work provides insights into the relationship between the phase evolution mechanisms and crystal growth dynamics of cesium lead bromide halide films.