Chitosan gated organic transistors printed on ethyl cellulose as a versatile platform for edible electronics and bioelectronics

Edible electronics is an emerging research field targeting electronic devices that can be safely ingested and directly digested or metabolized by the human body. As such, it paves the way to a whole new family of applications, ranging from ingestible medical devices and biosensors, to smart labelling for food quality monitoring and anti-counterfeiting. Being a newborn research field, many challenges need to be addressed to realize fully edible electronic components. In particular, an extended library of edible electronic materials is required, with suitable electronic properties depending on the target device and compatible with large-area printing processes, to allow scalable and cost-effective manufacturing. In this work, we propose a platform for future low-voltage edible transistors and circuits that comprises an edible chitosan gating medium and inkjet printed inert gold electrodes, compatible with low thermal budget edible substrates, such as ethylcellulose. We report the compatibility of the platform, characterized by critical channel features as low as 10 µm, with different inkjet printed carbon-based semiconductors, including biocompatible polymers present in the picograms range per device. A complementary organic inverter is also demonstrated with the same platform as a proof-of-principle logic gate. The presented results offer a promising approach to future low-voltage edible active circuitry, as well as a testbed for non-toxic printable semiconductors

Towards a Chipless and Wireless Passive System for Real‐Time Encoding of the Bladder Volume

Neurogenic bladder and other lower urinary tract dysfunctions represent a significant health hazard and life‐quality impairment in individuals suffering from neurological disorders. A few implantable and wearable technologies have been proposed to partially recover bladder functionality, mostly based on resistive and capacitive strain gauges designed to be surgically placed inside the pelvic cavity. In this work, an alternative proof‐of‐concept device for monitoring the volumetric changes of the bladder is presented, where the sensing element is based on a capacitive linear encoder integrated with a passive wireless radio‐frequency resonator, which can be remotely interrogated. The sliding mechanism at the core of the proposed system allows a wide sensing range without stringent requirements on materials properties and overall device stability

A n‐type, Stable Electrolyte Gated Organic Transistor Based on a Printed Polymer

Abstract Electrolyte‐gated organic transistors (EGOTs) are promising and versatile devices for next‐generation biosensors, neuromorphic systems, and low‐voltage electronics. They are particularly indicated for applications where stable operation in aqueous environment and cost‐effective manufacturing are required. Indeed, EGOTs can be fabricated through low‐cost, large area, and scalable techniques, such as printing, from a large portfolio of solution processable organic materials, which are often able to stably operate in water or physiological solutions. Despite a large number of solution processable EGOTs have been reported in the literature so far, only a few are based on printed semiconductors, with no examples of digitally printed, i.e., inkjet printed, n‐type devices, which would easily enable complementary architectures. In this work, we propose the first example of a n‐type electrolyte gated organic transistor based on an inkjet printed polymer. The proposed device shows a high stability when operated in water and requires only 3 hours of conditioning to produce a stable response, a much faster dynamic than in the case of printed polymers currently tested for p‐type EGOTs. As a proof‐of‐concept, the proposed printed n‐type EGOT is successfully integrated with a printed single‐walled carbon‐nanotubes based p‐type device in a logic inverter, demonstrating the possibility to build simple water‐gated digital electronic circuits

A sub-150-nanometre-thick and ultraconformable solution-processed all-organic transistor

: Recent advancements in the field of electronics have paved the way to the development of new applications, such as tattoo electronics, where the employment of ultraconformable devices is required, typically achievable with a significant reduction in their total thickness. Organic materials can be considered enablers, owing to the possibility of depositing films with thicknesses at the nanometric scale, even from solution. However, available processes do not allow obtaining devices with thicknesses below hundreds of nanometres, thus setting a limit. Here, we show an all-organic field effect transistor that is less than 150 nm thick and that is fabricated through a fully solution-based approach. Such unprecedented thickness permits the device to conformally adhere onto nonplanar surfaces, such as human skin, and to be bent to a radius lower than 1 μm, thereby overcoming another limitation for field-effect transistors and representing a fundamental advancement in the field of ultrathin and tattoo electronics

Spine surgery after the COVID-19 emergency: An algorithm for management of elective surgical cases

Introduction. During the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, all non-urgent surgical procedures including elective spine surgery were performed. Now many countries have passed over the epidemic peak and the time to organize re-opening of non-essential activities has come. After the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the viral outbreak is supposed to reduce but will not reasonably disappear until a vaccine is available. Resuming elective spine surgery while ensuring safety for patients and healthcare workers has become an issue of critical importance. We propose a simple algorithm with the aim to help worldwide spine surgeons in management of elective spine surgery cases after the COVID-19 emergency ensuring safety for patients and healthcare workers. Methods. An expert panel composed by Spine Surgeons, Neurosurgeons, Anesthesiologists and Intensivists with direct experience in COVID-19 management developed an algorithm for management of elective spine surgery based on evidence-based indications. The algorithm has been used for management of hospital admissions of undelayable spine surgery cases during the COVID-19 emergency period. Data regarding COVID-19 nosocomial transmission on patients and healthcare workers have been retrospectively reviewed and reported. Results. Hospital admissions of 159 patients have been managed according to the proposed algorithm. Since the application of the protocol, we have not reported COVID-19 nosocomial transmission in our department. Conclusions. According to our preliminary results, we think that the proposed algorithm may successfully help management of spinal elective surgical patients in the post-COVID-19 emergency era, avoiding unnecessary risks for patients and healthcare workers

Mitigation of Atmospheric Turbulence in an Optical Free Space Link With an Integrated Photonic Processor

Mitigation of turbulence in a Free Space Optical communication link is demonstrated using an integrated programmable optical processor. 10Gbit/s OOK signals are successfully transmitted on an indoor setup emulating hundreds of meters link

Management of bicalutamide induced gynaecomastia. A randomized study comparing therapy versus prophylaxis with tamoxifen.

Introduction and Objective: Gynaecomastia is a potentially treatment limiting adverse event of antiandrogen monotherapy for prostate cancer. Tamoxifen has shown to be effective in therapy and prophylaxis of gynecomastia and breast pain. However, tamoxifene dosage and treatment duration are not established and debate still exists if prophylaxis is more effective than therapy at the early onset. This randomized study compared the prophylactic activity of tamoxifene at the dose of 10 mg with its therapeutic activity when given at the dose of 20 mg at the early appearance of gynecomastia in patients receiving bicalutamide 150 mg/d for prostate cancer. Methods: Between June 2005 and June 2007, 176 patients (median age 74 years), affected by prostate cancer have been randomized, at the moment of bicalutamide prescription, in to 2 arms according to gynecomastia treatment with tamoxifen. Arm A: Tamoxifen 20 mg/daily given for one year starting at the early onset of gynecomastia (within one month); tamoxifen 10 mg/daily given for one year starting at the prescription of bicalutamide. Routine laboratory exams, testosterone, PSA and follow-up visits were obtained at one month and then 3-monthly. Gynecomastia and breast pain were evaluated by the patients through a self-administered visual analog scale. Moreover, gynecomastia was classified into 4 grades (0-4) by physical examination. Results: At a follow-up between 3 and 24 months, gynecomastia increased in arm A from 34% at 3 months up to 78% after 12 months of bicalutamide therapy. When tamoxifen 20mg was given all patients showed gynecomastia and breast pain reduction, not vanishing, however, in 56% and 34% of cases respectively. Two patients interrupted the treatment after 3 months due to dizziness and 4 (5%) patients did not considered relevant the gynecomastia and did not take the drug. The incidence of gynecomastia and breast pain was significantly reduced (p<0.0001) by tamoxifen 10 mg prophylaxis but not completely abolished. Both gynecomastia and breast pain increased up to 25% after one year of bicalutamide plus tamoxifene administration. No patient interrupted the treatment due to intolerance. No significant difference emerged between the 2 groups in term of PSA response and plasma testosterone levels. Conclusions: Bicalutamide induced gynaecomastia is significantly reduced but not abolished by tamoxifen 10 mg prophylaxis. Gynecomastia and breast pain, although reduced, persists after tamoxifen 20 mg given at the early onset in 56% and 34% of the patients respectively

The University of Padua salivary-based SARS-CoV-2 surveillance program minimized viral transmission during the second and third pandemic wave

Background: The active surveillance of students is proposed as an effective strategy to contain SARS-CoV-2 spread and prevent schools' closure. Saliva for molecular testing is as sensitive as naso-pharyngeal swab (NPS), self-collected and well accepted by participants. This prospective study aimed to verify whether the active surveillance of the Padua University employees by molecular testing of self-collected saliva is an effective and affordable strategy for limiting SARS-CoV-2 spread. Methods: A surveillance program based on self-collection of saliva every 2 weeks (October 2020-June 2021) was conducted. Among 8183 employees of the Padua University, a total of 6284 subjects voluntarily took part in the program. Eight collection points guaranteed the daily distribution and collection of barcoded salivary collection devices, which were delivered to the laboratory by a transport service for molecular testing. Quarantine of positive cases and contact tracing were promptly activated. Results: Among 6284 subjects, 206 individuals were SARS-CoV-2 positive (99 by salivary testing; 107 by NPS performed for contact tracing or symptoms). The cumulative SARS-CoV-2 incidence in this cohort was 3.1%, significantly lower than that of employees not in surveillance (8.0%), in Padua (7.1%) and in the Veneto region (7.2%). Employees with positive saliva results were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms. The levels of serum antibodies after 3 months from the infection were correlated with age and Ct values, being higher in older subjects with greater viral loads. Conclusions: Salivary-based surveillance with contact tracing effectively allowed to limit SARS-CoV-2 contagion, also in a population with a high incidence