Essentially water-free polymerized crystalline colloidal array composites having tunable radiation diffracting properties

The present invention is directed to a composite having tunable radiation diffracting properties which includes a flexible, water-free polymeric matrix and a crystalline colloidal array of particles having a lattice spacing, the array being embedded in the polymeric matrix and the lattice spacing changing responsive to stress applied to the polymeric matrix, thereby causing the radiation diffracting properties to change, wherein the polymeric matrix, the lattice spacing and the radiation diffracting properties all return to their original state essentially immediately upon removal of the stress. The present inventive composite is preferably made by a process, which involves forming a preliminary hydrogel polymerized crystalline colloidal array (PCCA), dehydrating the PCCA, and then forming a final, encapsulating polymeric matrix

Essentially water-free polymerized crystalline colloidal array composites having tunable radiation diffracting properties and process for making

The present invention is directed to a composite having tunable radiation diffracting properties which includes a flexible, water-free polymeric matrix and a crystalline colloidal array of particles having a lattice spacing, the array being embedded in the polymeric matrix and the lattice spacing changing responsive to stress applied to the polymeric matrix, thereby causing the radiation diffracting properties to change, wherein the polymeric matrix, the lattice spacing and the radiation diffracting properties all return to their original state essentially immediately upon removal of the stress. The present inventive composite is preferably made by a process, which involves forming a preliminary hydrogel polymerized crystalline colloidal array (PCCA), dehydrating the PCCA, and then forming a final, encapsulating polymeric matrix

Electrochromic inks including conducting polymer colloidal nanocomposites, devices including the electrochromic inks and methods of forming same

Disclosed are electrochromic inks and devices incorporating the inks as well as methods for forming the inks and the devices. The disclosed inks include a dispersion of colloidal nanocomposite particles in a liquid carrier. The colloidal nanocomposites of the disclosed inks include nanoparticle templates, e.g., silica nanoparticles, and an intrinsically conductive polymer polymerized at the template nanoparticles. The inks can include a dispersion of the colloidal nanocomposites in a liquid carrier such as an aprotic polar organic solvent. The disclosed inks can be formulated to be utilized in any desired printing process such as inkjet printing processes. Products encompassed by the invention include all-polymer electronic, optic, photonic, electro-optic, and energy devices such as sensors, OFETs, RFID tags, printed circuit board, electrochromic devices, non-volatile memory devices, photovoltaics, and the like

Conducting Polymer Ink

Disclosed are conductive polymer inks and methods for forming the inks. The disclosed inks include a dispersion of conductive core/shell nanoparticles. The core/shell nanoparticles include a polymeric core and a shell formed of a conducting polymer. The inks can include a dispersion of the core/shell nanoparticles in a liquid carrier, such as an alcohol. The disclosed inks can be formulated to high viscosities and can be utilized in high-speed printing processes including rotogravure and flexographic printing processes. Products encompassed by the disclosure include polymer devices such as sensors, OFETs, RFID tags, printed circuit board, electrochromic devices, non-volatile memory devices, photovoltaics, and the like

Chemical compositions comprising crystalline colloidal arrays

Crystalline colloidal arrays (CCA) which have been encapsulated in a polymer matrix to produce more robust polymerized crystalline colloidal arrays (PCCA) are provided. The PCCA\u27s of the present invention can be in the form of a hydrogel which can be compatible for use with a biological system. The polymer matrix of the PCCA is formed of polymerized poly(ethylene glycol) based monomer units which can provide a desired functionality to the PCCA. The PCCA can be formed to exhibit a photonic bandgap at a certain wavelength. The photonic bandgap can be capable of shifting upon some form of environmental stimulation rendering the PCCA suitable for many optical applications, including active photonic switching and sensory applications

Human and mouse essentiality screens as a resource for disease gene discovery

The identification of causal variants in sequencing studies remains a considerable challenge that can be partially addressed by new gene-specific knowledge. Here, we integrate measures of how essential a gene is to supporting life, as inferred from viability and phenotyping screens performed on knockout mice by the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium and essentiality screens carried out on human cell lines. We propose a cross-species gene classification across the Full Spectrum of Intolerance to Loss-of-function (FUSIL) and demonstrate that genes in five mutually exclusive FUSIL categories have differing biological properties. Most notably, Mendelian disease genes, particularly those associated with developmental disorders, are highly overrepresented among genes non-essential for cell survival but required for organism development. After screening developmental disorder cases from three independent disease sequencing consortia, we identify potentially pathogenic variants in genes not previously associated with rare diseases. We therefore propose FUSIL as an efficient approach for disease gene discovery. Discovery of causal variants for monogenic disorders has been facilitated by whole exome and genome sequencing, but does not provide a diagnosis for all patients. Here, the authors propose a Full Spectrum of Intolerance to Loss-of-Function (FUSIL) categorization that integrates gene essentiality information to aid disease gene discovery

Organic Near‐Infrared‐Emitting Nanoparticles for X‐Ray Bioimaging: A Nontoxic Alternative Harnessing Förster Resonance Energy Transfer‐Based Sequential Energy Transfer

In the efforts to generate a less toxic X‐Ray bioimaging contrast agent, a fully organic, radioluminescent nanoparticle system that emits in the near‐infrared (NIR) region when excited with an X‐Ray source is synthesized using a two‐step process. First, red‐emitting nanoparticles are fabricated by the emulsion copolymerization of styrene and propargyl acrylate with anthracene, naphthalimide, and rhodamine B methyl methacrylate derivatives. Subsequently, the nanoparticles are modified with silicon phthalocyanine and indocyanine green derivatives via a copper(I)‐catalyzed azide/alkyne cycloaddition “click” reaction. By coupling an organic scintillator with four Förster resonance energy transfer‐pairing dyes, X‐Ray‐induced, multiple, sequential energy transfer is exploited to convert ionizing radiation from an X‐Ray source into NIR light, which is optimal for biomedical imaging. Proof‐of‐concept imaging studies show that the X‐Ray‐induced indocyanine green fluorescence from the particulate system can be visualized through porcine tissue. Additionally, toxicity studies in human embryonic kidney cells indicate that the particles are nontoxic and applicable in vivo

Exploiting multiple percolation in two-terminal memristor to achieve a multitude of resistive states

As the most likely prospect for the construction of neuromorphic networks, the emulation of synaptic responses with memristors has attracted attention in both the microelectronic industries and the academic environment. To that end, a newly synthesized hybrid conjugated polymer with pendant carbazole rings, that is, poly(4-(6-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)hexyl)-4H-dithieno[3,2-b:2 ',3 '-d]pyrrole) (pC6DTP), was employed in the fabrication of a two-terminal memristor with a Al/pC6DTP/ITO configuration where the polymer was electrochemically doped. Signature biological synaptic responses to voltage spikes were demonstrated, such as potentiation & depression and spike timing dependent plasticity. The device was able to be programed through a 1 mV pulse, requiring only 100 fJ of energy. The voltage-dependent conductive nature of the polymer was speculated to occur through two synergistic mechanisms, one associated with the conjugation along the backbone of the conjugated polymer and one mechanism associated with the pendant heterocyclic rings.Gregg-Graniteville Foundation [OIA-1632881, OIA-1655740]; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic Program INTER-EXCELLENCE [LTAUSA19066]; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic Program DKRVO [RP/CPS/2021/005]; National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation (NSF) [OIA-1632881, OIA-1655740]Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, CAPES; Universidade Paranaense, UNIPA

Synthesis and Characterization of Amphiphilic Arenephosphonates as Water-Soluble Micellular Radioluminescent Probes

AbstractThis work describes the synthesis and characterization of a series of arenephosphonic acid salts for use as water soluble down-converters in optogenetic assays.Two phosphonate salts based on anthracene and naphthalene were synthesized throughcleavage of phosphonate esters. A third amphiphilic salt, developed from a long-alkylchain modified naphthalene, was produced in the same manner to demonstrate micelleformation. Two techniques were used to determine if any of the salts showed micellebehavior: 31P NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy. Interestingly, all three compoundsexhibited micelle formation in water. UV-induced fluorescence of NapPONa andAntPONa revealed a secondary emission profile with maximum excitation wavelengthsthat lie on top of the primary emission profile. This secondary emission can be attributedto the emission of the micellular structure based on solid-state fluorescence experiments.Moderate x-ray induced radioluminescence was observed in the solid forms of eachcompound. A solution of amphiphilic NapPONa demonstrated both concentrationdependent and micelle-dependent radioluminescence, indicating the positioning ofaromatic rings in a micelle is inducive to a radioluminescent response. Furthermore, theemission wavelength of this compounds lies on top of the excitation wavelength ofchannelrhodopsin-2, a well-studied optogenetic target.</div