Defective hierarchical porous copper-based metal-organic frameworks synthesised via facile acid etching strategy

Introducing hierarchical pore structure to microporous materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can be beneficial for reactions where the rate of reaction is limited by low rates of diffusion or high pressure drop. This advantageous pore structure can be obtained by defect formation, mostly via post-synthetic acid etching, which has been studied extensively on water-stable MOFs. Here we show that a water-unstable HKUST-1 MOF can also be modified in a corresponding manner by using phosphoric acid as a size-selective etching agent and a mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide and methanol as a dilute solvent. Interestingly, we demonstrate that the etching process which is time- and acidity- dependent, can result in formation of defective HKUST-1 with extra interconnected hexagonal macropores without compromising on the bulk crystallinity. These findings suggest an intelligent scalable synthetic method for formation of hierarchical porosity in MOFs that are prone to hydrolysis, for improved molecular accessibility and diffusion for catalysis.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figure

Vagus nerve stimulation: State of the art of stimulation and recording strategies to address autonomic function neuromodulation

International audienceObjective. Neural signals along the vagus nerve (VN) drive many somatic and autonomic functions. The clinical interest of VN stimulation (VNS) is thus potentially huge and has already been demonstrated in epilepsy. However, side effects are often elicited, in addition to the targeted neuromodulation. Approach. This review examines the state of the art of VNS applied to two emerging modulations of autonomic function: heart failure and obesity, especially morbid obesity. Main results. We report that VNS may benefit from improved stimulation delivery using very advanced technologies. However, most of the results from fundamental animal studies still need to be demonstrated in humans

Self-healing composite coating fabricated with a cystamine crosslinked cellulose nanocrystal stabilized Pickering emulsion

A gelled Pickering emulsion system was fabricated by first stabilizing linseed oil droplets in water with dialdehyde cellulose nanocrystals (DACNCs) and then cross-linking with cystamine. Cross-linking of the DACNCs was shown to occur by a reaction between the amine groups on cystamine and the aldehyde groups on the CNCs, causing gelation of the nanocellulose suspension. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the cystamine-cross-linked CNCs (cysCNCs), demonstrating their presence. Transmission electron microscopy images evidenced that cross-linking between cysCNCs took place. This cross-linking was utilized in a linseed oil-in-water Pickering emulsion system, creating a novel gelled Pickering emulsion system. The rheological properties of both DACNC suspensions and nanocellulose-stabilized Pickering emulsions were monitored during the cross-linking reaction. Dynamic light scattering and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) of the Pickering emulsion before gelling imaged CNC-stabilized oil droplets along with isolated CNC rods and CNC clusters, which had not been adsorbed to the oil droplet surfaces. Atomic force microscopy imaging of the air-dried gelled Pickering emulsion also demonstrated the presence of free CNCs alongside the oil droplets and the cross-linked CNC network directly at the oil-water interface on the oil droplet surfaces. Finally, these gelled Pickering emulsions were mixed with poly(vinyl alcohol) solutions and fabricated into self-healing composite coating systems. These self-healing composite coatings were then scratched and viewed under both an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope before and after self-healing. The linseed oil was demonstrated to leak into the scratches, healing the gap automatically and giving a practical approach for a variety of potential applications

Multicolor photoluminescent carbon dots à la carte for biomedical applications

Dual-emission fluorescence probes that provide high sensitivity are key for biomedical diagnostic applications. Nontoxic carbon dots (CDs) are an emerging alternative to traditional fluorescent probes; however, robust and reproducible synthetic strategies are still needed to access materials with controlled emission profiles and improved fluorescence quantum yields (FQYs). Herein, we report a practical and general synthetic strategy to access dual-emission CDs with FQYs as high as 0.67 and green/blue, yellow/blue, or red/blue excitation-dependent emission profiles using common starting materials such as citric acid, cysteine, and co-dopants to bias the synthetic pathway. Structural and physicochemical analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance, absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in addition to transmission electron and atomic force microscopy (TEM and AFM) is used to elucidate the material’s composition which is responsible for the unique observed photoluminescence properties. Moreover, the utility of the probes is demonstrated in the clinical setting by the synthesis of green/blue emitting antibody-CD conjugates which are used for the immunohistochemical staining of human brain tissues of glioblastoma patients, showing detection under two different emission channels