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Gels (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023Conductive hydrogels have gained significant attention for their extensive applications in healthcare monitoring, wearable sensors, electronic devices, soft robotics,... (Review)
Review
Conductive hydrogels have gained significant attention for their extensive applications in healthcare monitoring, wearable sensors, electronic devices, soft robotics, energy storage, and human-machine interfaces. To address the limitations of conductive hydrogels, researchers are focused on enhancing properties such as sensitivity, mechanical strength, electrical performance at low temperatures, stability, antibacterial properties, and conductivity. Composite materials, including nanoparticles, nanowires, polymers, and ionic liquids, are incorporated to improve the conductivity and mechanical strength. Biocompatibility and biosafety are emphasized for safe integration with biological tissues. Conductive hydrogels exhibit unique properties such as stretchability, self-healing, wet adhesion, anti-freezing, transparency, UV-shielding, and adjustable mechanical properties, making them suitable for specific applications. Researchers aim to develop multifunctional hydrogels with antibacterial characteristics, self-healing capabilities, transparency, UV-shielding, gas-sensing, and strain-sensitivity.
PubMed: 37504428
DOI: 10.3390/gels9070549 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023is an important Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that is responsible for a variety of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. has become a major public... (Review)
Review
is an important Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that is responsible for a variety of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. has become a major public health issue owing to the rapid global spread of extensively-drug resistant (XDR) and hypervirulent strains. Biofilm formation is an important virulence trait of . A biofilm is an aggregate of microorganisms attached to an inert or living surface by a self-produced exo-polymeric matrix that includes proteins, polysaccharides and extracellular DNA. Bacteria within the biofilm are shielded from antibiotics treatments and host immune responses, making it more difficult to eradicate -induced infection. However, the detailed mechanisms of biofilm formation in are still not clear. Here, we review the factors involved in the biofilm formation of , which might provide new clues to address this clinical challenge.
PubMed: 37744914
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1238482 -
Nano-micro Letters Jul 2023Convincing candidates of flexible (stretchable/compressible) electromagnetic interference shielding nanocomposites are discussed in detail from the views of fabrication,... (Review)
Review
Convincing candidates of flexible (stretchable/compressible) electromagnetic interference shielding nanocomposites are discussed in detail from the views of fabrication, mechanical elasticity and shielding performance. Detailed summary of the relationship between deformation of materials and electromagnetic shielding performance. The future directions and challenges in developing flexible (particularly elastic) shielding nanocomposites are highlighted. With the extensive use of electronic communication technology in integrated circuit systems and wearable devices, electromagnetic interference (EMI) has increased dramatically. The shortcomings of conventional rigid EMI shielding materials include high brittleness, poor comfort, and unsuitability for conforming and deformable applications. Hitherto, flexible (particularly elastic) nanocomposites have attracted enormous interest due to their excellent deformability. However, the current flexible shielding nanocomposites present low mechanical stability and resilience, relatively poor EMI shielding performance, and limited multifunctionality. Herein, the advances in low-dimensional EMI shielding nanomaterials-based elastomers are outlined and a selection of the most remarkable examples is discussed. And the corresponding modification strategies and deformability performance are summarized. Finally, expectations for this quickly increasing sector are discussed, as well as future challenges.
PubMed: 37420119
DOI: 10.1007/s40820-023-01122-5 -
Federal Practitioner : For the Health... Nov 2023To address the COVID-19 pandemic and future threats, VA leadership assembled research and clinical teams to coordinate a unified response, which included creating the VA...
BACKGROUND
To address the COVID-19 pandemic and future threats, VA leadership assembled research and clinical teams to coordinate a unified response, which included creating the VA Science and Health Initiative to Combat Infectious and Emerging Life-Threatening Diseases (VA SHIELD).
OBSERVATIONS
VA SHIELD is a comprehensive specimen and data repository. It links specific types of biospecimens with data regarding genetics, exposure, and disease risk by connecting data sources and the collections of biospecimens across clinical and research environments. Researchers can test novel diagnostic platforms and therapeutics for new and existing diseases, allowing for an expedited, more robust, and informed response. The existing longitudinal disease risk-factor information, records of causal processes, and outcomes data present an unparalleled opportunity to optimize prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of many acute and chronic diseases.
CONCLUSIONS
VA SHIELD will expand to become an enterprise resource for investigators and public health officials. The alignment of basic science, clinical, and translational research goals under one governance is a significant advancement. VA SHIELD has the opportunity to transform the VA research enterprise by creating an entirely new biorepository.
PubMed: 38577305
DOI: 10.12788/fp.0424 -
PLoS Pathogens Aug 2023Among the many oral streptococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) stands out for the capacity of encapsulated strains to cause invasive infection. Spread beyond upper...
Among the many oral streptococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) stands out for the capacity of encapsulated strains to cause invasive infection. Spread beyond upper airways, however, is a biological dead end for the organism, raising the question of the benefits of expending energy to coat its surface in a thick layer of capsular polysaccharide (CPS). In this study, we compare mutants of two serotypes expressing different amounts of CPS and test these in murine models of colonization, invasion infection and transmission. Our analysis of the effect of CPS amount shows that Spn expresses a capsule of sufficient thickness to shield its surface from the deposition of complement and binding of antibody to underlying epitopes. While effective shielding is permissive for invasive infection, its primary contribution to the organism appears to be in the dynamics of colonization. A thicker capsule increases bacterial retention in the nasopharynx, the first event in colonization, and also impedes IL-17-dependent clearance during late colonization. Enhanced colonization is associated with increased opportunity for host-to-host transmission. Additionally, we document substantial differences in CPS amount among clinical isolates of three common serotypes. Together, our findings show that CPS amount is highly variable among Spn and could be an independent determinant affecting host interactions.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Streptococcus; Polysaccharides; Nasopharynx; Nose; Pneumococcal Infections; Bacterial Capsules
PubMed: 37540710
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011509 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023The immune system functions as a sophisticated defense mechanism, shielding the body from harmful pathogenic invaders [...].
The immune system functions as a sophisticated defense mechanism, shielding the body from harmful pathogenic invaders [...].
PubMed: 38003786
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111321