Anisotropic Hydrogels Constructed via a Novel Bilayer-Co-Gradient Structure Strategy toward Programmable Shape Deformation

The bilayer hydrogel actuators have attracted extensive attention for their unique stimulus-responsive properties. Most of the current research studies only focused on changing the constituent materials of two layers in the fixed bilayer structure to enhance the responsive deformability of bilayer hydrogels without involving the exploration on a structural level, which limited its further development. In this study, we proposed a novel bilayer-co-gradient structure constructed via a simple and low-cost structural programming strategy, which was self-assembled by introducing an embedded gradient structure into a single bilayer structure with the assistance of gradient-dissolved oxygen in nature. This multistructure endowed the hydrogel with a faster bending response than a single bilayer structure due to the synergistic asymmetry of the simple bilayer structure and the embedded gradient structure. It was found that the prepared hydrogels exhibited significantly anisotropic electrical conductivity and swelling properties. Moreover, the stimulus-responsive shape deformation exhibited superior temperature- and pH-based deformation programmability. Additionally, this hydrogel could serve as a hydrogel gripper to perform grasping behavior, which demonstrated that our study opens up a new route for designing and fabricating smart actuators

Taking Orders from Light: Photo-Switchable Working/Inactive Smart Surfaces for Protein and Cell Adhesion

Photoresponsive smart surfaces are promising candidates for a variety of applications in optoelectronics and sensing devices. The use of light as an order signal provides advantages of remote and noninvasive control with high temporal and spatial resolutions. Modification of the photoswitches with target biomacromolecules, such as peptides, DNA, and small molecules including folic acid derivatives and sugars, has recently become a popular strategy to empower the smart surfaces with an improved detection efficiency and specificity. Herein, we report the construction of photoswitchable self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) based on sugar (galactose/mannose)-decorated azobenzene derivatives and determine their photoswitchable, selective protein/cell adhesion performances via electrochemistry. Under alternate UV/vis irradiation, interconvertible high/low recognition and binding affinity toward selective lectins (proteins that recognize sugars) and cells that highly express sugar receptors are achieved. Furthermore, the <i>cis</i>-SAMs with a low binding affinity toward selective proteins and cells also exhibit minimal response toward unselective protein and cell samples, which offers the possibility in avoiding unwanted contamination and consumption of probes prior to functioning for practical applications. Besides, the electrochemical technique used facilitates the development of portable devices based on the smart surfaces for on-demand disease diagnosis

Kaplan-Meier estimates of PSA progression-free survival probability for the 77 patients with clinically localized PCa treated with RP, who were grouped by the baseline serum EPCA level above or below the median value of 15.20 ng/ml.

<p>Kaplan-Meier estimates of PSA progression-free survival probability for the 77 patients with clinically localized PCa treated with RP, who were grouped by the baseline serum EPCA level above or below the median value of 15.20 ng/ml.</p

Clinical and Pathologic Features of 128 Patients with PCa.

<p>Clinical and Pathologic Features of 128 Patients with PCa.</p

Baseline serum levels of EPCA in healthy controls and PCa patients and association of EPCA levels with clinicopathological variables in 128 prostatic carcinomas.

∥<p>Categorized by the median value.</p><p>*Mann-Whitney U test.</p>†<p>Kruskal-Wallis test.</p>‡<p>Including lymph node metastases and distant metastases to bone and liver.</p>§<p>p<0.05, statistically significant.</p

Kaplan-Meier estimates of AIP-free survival probability for the 51 patients with locally advanced and metastatic PCa treated with ADT, who were grouped by the baseline serum EPCA level above or below the median value of 15.20 ng/ml.

<p>Kaplan-Meier estimates of AIP-free survival probability for the 51 patients with locally advanced and metastatic PCa treated with ADT, who were grouped by the baseline serum EPCA level above or below the median value of 15.20 ng/ml.</p

Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses of pre-operative variables for the prediction of biochemical progression after RP for 77 patients with clinically localized PCa.

<p>*Initial PSA levels were categorized as ≥10 ng/ml versus <10 ng/ml.</p>†<p>Clinical stage was categorized as T1 versus T2.</p>‡<p>Gleason score was categorized as grade 2 to 6 versus grade 7 to 10.</p>§<p>p<0.05, statistically significant.</p

Trend in community stability with species diversity.

<p>Trend in community stability with species diversity.</p

Tunable Cyclization Strategy for the Synthesis of Zizaene-, <i>allo</i>-Cedrane-, <i>seco</i>-Kaurane-, and <i>seco</i>-Atesane-Type Skeletons

A versatile Lewis acid-mediated cyclization strategy has been developed for selectively establishing zizaene-, <i>allo</i>-cedrane-, <i>seco</i>-kaurane-, and <i>seco</i>-atesane-type skeletons. The zizaene- and <i>seco</i>-atesane-type skeletons can be obtained in a cascade manner, which involves Diels–Alder reaction of cyclic enones with bis-silyloxy dienes and carbocyclization of yne–enolates through Lewis acid dependent 5- or 6-<i>exo-dig</i> modes. This cyclization strategy was also employed for the core synthesis of tashironin

Species redundancy and functional redundancy showed no relationship.

<p>Species redundancy and functional redundancy showed no relationship.</p