Screen and validation of tyrosine kinase genes capable of regulating the cell migration. A.

<p>Self-assembled cell microarray screen of genes capable of regulating the migration of Hela cells by use of esiRNA tyrosine kinase library. <b>B.</b> Validation of the esiRNA screen results by use of siRNAs and transwell assay.</p

The normalization of esiRNA products.

<p><b>A.</b> A range of initial amounts of DNA template were assayed (100, 10, 1, and 0.1 ng, each in 5 µL in volume). After the immobilization and transcription steps, the variation of transcription products was within 20%. The final esiRNA products had a variation of less than 10% when the initial amount of DNA templates was in the range of 0.1–100 ng. <b>B</b>. Eight esiRNA products were manufactured in parallel. The standard deviation among these eight products was approximately 3%.</p

The silencing specificity and efficiency of esiRNAs. A.

<p>Fifteen GFP esiRNAs generated in parallel potently inhibited the fluorescent signal in cells cotransfected with GFP-encoding vectors; in contrast, five PLAU esiRNAs had no effect on the fluorescent intensity compared to control experiments. <b>B. & C.</b> Quantitative analysis of the silencing efficiency of esiRNA products. The qRT-PCR results showed that esiRNAs manufactured on the magnetic beads can efficiently inhibit expression levels of the respective genes. A western blot assay showed that esiRNAs targeting TP53, TGFB1, PLAU, or TGFBR2 inhibited therespective protein expression levels by up to approximately 50%.</p

Manufacture of esiRNA by means of a magnetic bead-integrated chip.

<p><b>A.</b> The schematic diagram shows the chip composed of a microwell array and magnetic beads coated with streptavidin. <b>B.</b> Large-scale manufacture of esiRNAs can be divided into three steps: target amplification and immobilization, transcription, and enzymatic digestion. <b>C.</b> Confirmation of PCR reactions using biotinylated or non-biotinylated primers. Amplification products (left), transcription products (middle), or esiRNA products (right) are detected only when biotinylated DNA primers are used. B: biotinylated primers.</p

Dual Function of UV/Ozone Plasma-Treated Polymer in Polymer/Metal Hybrid Electrodes and Semitransparent Polymer Solar Cells

In this work, high-performance inverted indium tin oxide (ITO)-free semitransparent polymer solar cells are comprehensively investigated using a novel polymer/metal hybrid transparent electrode. The electrical and optical characteristics of hybrid electrodes are significantly enhanced by introducing UV/ozone plasma treatment on the polymer poly­[(9,9-bis­(3′-(<i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylamino)­propyl)-2,7-fluorene)-<i>alt</i>-2,7-(9,9-dioctylfluorene)] (PFN), which is functioned as both a seed layer for ultrathin Ag metal electrode and an optical spacer for transparent devices. The optimized sheet resistance of PFN/Ag (12 nm) hybrid electrode is only half of the commercial ITO (9.4 vs 20.0 Ω sq^–1) and the high wavelength-dependent reflectance of hybrid electrode helps to increase the ITO-free device short-circuit current density. Furthermore, the interface property between PFN and ultrathin Ag is analyzed in detail and the optical field distribution is calculated for comparison. A high power conversion efficiency of 5.02%, which is increased by 35% compared to that of the ITO-based device, is achieved in the ITO-free semitransparent device in conjunction with an excellent average visible transmittance above 28% that is higher than the benchmark of 25% for power-generating window, indicating its great potential in building integrated photovoltaic systems in the future. Furthermore, the strategy is successfully developed for other polymer systems, suggesting the universal applicability for plastic electronics

Differentiation of Bone Marrow Stem Cells into Schwann Cells for the Promotion of Neurite Outgrowth on Electrospun Fibers

Seeding nerve guidance conduits with Schwann cells can improve the outcome of peripheral nerve injury repair. Bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) represent a good choice of cell source as they can differentiate into Schwann cells under appropriate conditions. In this work, we systematically investigated the differentiation of BMSCs into Schwann cells on scaffolds comprising electrospun fibers. We changed the alignment, diameter, and surface properties of the fibers to optimize the differentiation efficiency. The uniaxial alignment of fibers not only promoted the differentiation of BMSCs into Schwann cells but also dictated the morphology and alignment of the derived cells. Coating the surface of aligned fibers with laminin further enhanced the differentiation and thus increased the secretion of neurotrophins. When co-cultured with PC12 cells or chick dorsal root ganglion, the as-derived Schwann cells were able to promote the outgrowth of neurites from cell bodies and direct their extension along the fibers, demonstrating the positive impacts of both the neurotrophic effect and the morphological contact guidance. This work offers a promising strategy for integrating fiber guidance with stem cell therapy to augment peripheral nerve injury repair

Roll-to-Roll Slot-Die-Printed Polymer Solar Cells by Self-Assembly

Extremely simplified one-step roll-to-roll slot-die-printed flexible indium tin oxide (ITO)-free polymer solar cells (PSCs) are demonstrated based on the ternary blends of electron-donor polymer thieno­[3,4-<i>b</i>]­thiophene/benzodithiophene, electron-acceptor fullerene [6,6]-phenyl-C₇₁-butyric acid methyl ester, and electron-extracting polymer poly­[(9,9-bis­(3′-(<i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylamino)­propyl)-2,7-fluorene)-<i>alt</i>-2,7-(9,9-dioctylfluorene)] (PFN) at room temperature (RT) in ambient air. The flexible ITO-free PSC exhibits a comparable power conversion efficiency (PCE) with the device employing complicated two-step slot-die printing (5.29% vs 5.41%), which indicates that PFN molecules can migrate from the ternary nanocomposite toward the Ag cathode via vertical self-assembly during the one-step slot-die printing process in air. To confirm the migration of PFN, the morphology and elemental analysis as well as charge transport of different active layers are investigated by the in situ transient film drying process, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, contact angle and surface energy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, impedance spectroscopy, transient photovoltage and transient photocurrent, and laser-beam-induced current. Moreover, the good air and mechanical stability of the flexible device with a decent PCE achieved in 1 cm² PSCs at RT in air suggests the feasibility of energy-saving and time-saving one-step slot-die printing to large-scale roll-to-roll manufacture in the future