Additional file 1 of Wearable CNTs-based humidity sensors with high sensitivity and flexibility for real-time multiple respiratory monitoring

Additional file 1. Information on the characterization of CNT@CPM nanocomposites and the flexible sensor coated with CNT@CPM, including shell thickness distribution graph, schematic illustration, water contact angle results, XPS test, FT-IR spectra, Raman spectra, EDS results, humidity sensor traits table, EIS curves, I-V characteristics, CV curves, long-term stability results and actual performance videos of humidity sensing

Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites with Highly Enhanced Strength and Conductivity for Flexible Electric Circuits

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have an important role in nanotechnology due to their unique properties, retaining the inherent material flexibility, superior strength, and electrical conductivity, unless the bottleneck of CNTs persists and the aggregated structure is overcome. Here, we report on the highly enhanced mechanical and electrical properties of the CNT–chitosan nanocomposites through homogeneous dispersion of CNTs into chitosan solution using a high-pressure homogenizer. The optimal condition is a 50% (w/w) chitosan–CNT film, providing about 7 nm thickness of homogeneous chitosan layer on CNTs, a good tensile strength of 51 MPa, high electrical conductivity under 16 Ω/sq, and a stable bending and folding performance. This CNT–chitosan nanocomposite with highly enhanced properties is an amenable material to fabricate structures of various shapes such as films, sensors, and circuits and also enables a simple and cost-effective approach to improve the performance of a device that presents the first flexible and soft electric circuits yet reported using only CNT–chitosan as the conductor

Triple Hit with Drug Carriers: pH- and Temperature-Responsive Theranostics for Multimodal Chemo- and Photothermal Therapy and Diagnostic Applications

Currently there is a strong need for new drug delivery systems, which enable targeted and controlled function in delivering drugs while satisfying highly sensitive imaging modality for early detection of the disease symptoms and damaged sites. To meet these criteria we develop a system that integrates therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities (theranostics). Importantly, therapeutic efficacy of the system is enhanced by exploiting synergies between nanoparticles, drug, and hyperthermia. At the core of our innovation is near-infrared (NIR) responsive gold nanorods (Au) coated with drug reservoirsmesoporous silica shell (mSi)that is capped with thermoresponsive polymer. Such design of theranostics allows the detection of the system using computed tomography (CT), while finely controlled release of the drug is achieved by external trigger, NIR light irradiationON/OFF switch. Doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded into mSi formed on the gold core (Au@mSi-DOX). Pores were then capped with the temperature-sensitive poly­(<i>N</i>-isopropylacrylamide)-based <i>N</i>-butyl imidazolium copolymer (poly­(NIPAAm-<i>co</i>-BVIm)) resulting in a hybrid systemAu@mSi-DOX@P. A 5 min exposure to NIR induces polymer transition, which triggers the drug release (pores opening), increases local temperature above 43 °C (hyperthermia), and upregulates particle uptake (polymer becomes hydrophilic). The DOX release is also triggered by drop in pH enabling localized drug release when particles are taken up by cancer cells. Importantly, the synergies between chemo- and photothermal therapy for DOX-loaded theranostics were confirmed. Furthermore, higher X-ray attenuation value of the theranostics was confirmed via X-ray CT test indicating that the nanoparticles act as contrast agent and can be detected by CT

Multifunctional Hybrid Nanocarrier: Magnetic CNTs Ensheathed with Mesoporous Silica for Drug Delivery and Imaging System

Here we communicate the development of a novel multifunctional hybrid nanomaterial, magnetic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) ensheathed with mesoporous silica, for the simultaneous applications of drug delivery and imaging. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were first decorated onto the multiwalled CNTs, which was then layered with mesoporous silica (<i>m</i>SiO₂) to facilitate the loading of bioactive molecules to a large quantity while exerting magnetic properties. The hybrid nanomaterial showed a high mesoporosity due to the surface-layered <i>m</i>SiO₂, and excellent magnetic properties, including magnetic resonance imaging in vitro and in vivo. The mesoporous and magnetic hybrid nanocarriers showed high loading capacity for therapeutic molecules including drug gentamicin and protein cytochrome C. In particular, genetic molecule siRNA was effectively loaded and then released over a period of days to a week. Furthermore, the hybrid nanocarriers exhibited a high cell uptake rate through magnetism, while eliciting favorable biological efficacy within the cells. This novel hybrid multifunctional nanocarrier may be potentially applicable as drug delivery and imaging systems