Toward Scalable Fabrication of Hierarchical Silica Capsules with Integrated Micro-, Meso-, and Macropores

Microcluster colloidosomes for hemostat delivery into complex wounds: A platform inspired by the attack action of torpedoes

Complex yet lethal wounds with uncontrollable bleeding hinder conventional hemostats from clotting blood at the source or deep sites of injury vasculature, thereby causing massive blood loss and significantly increased mortality. Inspired by the attack action of torpedoes, we synthesized microcluster (MC) colloidosomes equipped with magnetic-mediated navigation and "blast" systems to deliver hemostats into the cavity of vase-type wounds. CaCO₃/Fe₂O₃ (CF) microparticles functionalized with Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) modified polyelectrolyte multilayers were co-assembled with oppositely charged zwitterionic carbon dots (CDs) to form MC colloidosomes, which were loaded with thrombin and protonated tranexamic acid (TXA-NH₃ ⁺). The composite microparticles moved against blood flow under magnetic mediation and simultaneously disassembled for the burst release of thrombin stimulated by TXA-NH₃ ⁺. The CO₂ bubbles generated during disassembly produced a "blast" that propelled thrombin into the wound cavity. Severe bleeding in a vase-type hemorrhage model in the rabbit liver was rapidly controlled within ∼60 s. Furthermore, in vivo subcutaneous muscle and liver implantation models demonstrated excellent biodegradability of MC colloidosomes. This study is the first to propose a novel strategy based on the principle of torpedoes for transporting hemostats into vase-type wounds to achieve rapid hemostasis, creating a new paradigm for combating trauma treatment.

Surface Morphology-Enhanced Delivery of Bioinspired Eco-Friendly Microcapsules

We report the development of novel mineralized protein microcapsules to address critical challenges in the environmental impact and performance of consumer, pharmaceutical, agrochemical, cosmetic, and paint products. We designed environment-friendly capsules composed of proteins and biominerals as an alternative to solid microplastic particles or core-shell capsules made of nonbiodegradable synthetic polymeric resins. We synthesized mineralized capsule surface morphologies to mimic the features of natural pollens, which dramatically improved the deposition of high value-added fragrance chemicals on target substrates in realistic application conditions. A mechanistic model accurately captures the observed enhanced deposition behavior and shows how surface features generate an adhesive torque that resists shear detachment. Mineralized protein capsule performance is shown to depend both on material selection that determines van der Waals attraction and on capsule-substrate energy landscapes as parameterized by a geometric taxonomy for surface morphologies. These findings have broad implications for engineering multifunctional environmentally friendly delivery systems.

Reversible synthesis of structured MOF-to-metal oxide nanorods

MIL-53(Al) forms uniform, 1D structures when produced from insoluble metal sources. Pyrolysis of these structures forms new alumina-based nanorods that extend up to 5 μm in one dimension. No external template or structure–direction is required.

Preparation of multicompartment silica-gelatin nanoparticles with self-decomposability as drug containers for cancer therapy in vitro

We demonstrate multicompartment silica-gelatin nanoparticles (MSGNs), using gelatin doped CaCO₃ particles as templates, with self-decomposability in response to body temperature as drug carriers for cancer therapy in vitro.

Multi-template synthesis of hierarchically porous carbon spheres with potential application in supercapacitors

Hierarchical porous carbon spheres with tuneable pore sizes were successfully fabricated by simply templating hierarchical silica capsules and triblock copolymer.

CO2-in-PEG emulsion-templating synthesis of poly(acrylamide) with controllable porosity and their use as efficient catalyst supports

Porous poly(acrylamide)s nanoparticles prepared from CO₂-in-PEG emulsions have high catalytic activity for benzene hydrogenation reaction.