1
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Peng L, Ding J, Liu M, Yang X, Sui G. Liquid metal nanoparticles as photo-initiators for preparation of transparent hydrogel with adjustable mechanical properties. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 672:415-422. [PMID: 38850866 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
To achieve rapid preparation of hydrogels without using conventional chemical initiators, a stable suspension of eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) liquid metal nanoparticles is explored by probe-sonicating the metal in an aqueous solution. Liquid metal suspension was sonicated to serve as a photo-initiator for acrylamide polymerization and produce hydrogels. The initiation effect comes from the fact that liquid metal suspension after sonication can produce a large number of free radicals when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, leading to initiation. The changes of liquid metal nanodroplets under UV light irradiation have been systematically investigated. Further, the liquid metal colloidal solutions were used to prepare hydrogels with the same transparency and adjustable mechanical properties as the samples initiated by commercial photo-initiators. This work shows the great application potential of liquid metal in the preparation of hydrogels and provides a new technical idea for the design of multifunctional hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing100029, China
| | - Jingze Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing100029, China
| | - Manyi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing100029, China
| | - Xiaoping Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing100029, China
| | - Gang Sui
- State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing100029, China.
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2
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Agarwal R, Mohamad A. Gallium-based liquid metals as smart responsive materials: Morphological forms and stimuli characterization. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 329:103183. [PMID: 38788305 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2024.103183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Gallium-based liquid metals (GaLMs) have garnered monumental attention from the scientific community due to their diverse actuation characteristics. These metals possess remarkable characteristics, including high surface tension, excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, phase transformation behaviour, minimal viscosity and vapour pressure, lack of toxicity, and biocompatibility. In addition, GaLMs have melting points that are either lower or near room temperature, making them incredibly beneficial when compared to solid metals since they can be easily deformed. Thus, there has been significant progress in developing multifunctional devices using GaLMs, including bio-devices, flexible and self-healing circuits, and actuators. Despite numerous reports on these liquid metals (LMs), there is an urgent need for consolidated and coherent literature regarding their actuation principles linked to the targeted application. This will ensure that the reader gets the flavour of physics behind the actuation mechanism and how it can be utilized in diverse fields. Moreover, the actuation mechanism has been scattered in the literature, and thus, the primary motive of this review is to provide a one-stop solution for the actuation mechanism and the associated dynamics while directing the readers to specialized literature. Thus, addressing this issue, we thoroughly examine and present a detailed account of the actuation mechanisms of GaLMs while highlighting the science behind them. We also discuss the various morphologies of GaLMs and their crucial physical characteristics which decide their targeted application. Furthermore, we also delve into commonly held beliefs about GaLMs in the literature, such as their toxicity and antibacterial properties, to offer readers a more accurate understanding. Finally, we have explored several key unanswered aspects of the LM that should be explored in future research. The core strength of this review lies in its simplistic approach in offering a starting point for researchers venturing this innovative field, while we make use of existing literature to develop a comprehensive understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Agarwal
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Abdulmajeed Mohamad
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
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3
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Wang S, Lv Y. Silica-coated liquid metal nanoparticles with different stiffness for cellular uptake-enhanced tumor photothermal therapy. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2024; 161:213872. [PMID: 38733802 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2024.213872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Cells can sense the mechanical stimulation of nanoparticles (NPs) and then regulate the cellular uptake process. The enhanced endocytosis efficiency can improve the concentration of NPs in tumor cells significantly, which is the key prerequisite for achieving efficient biological performance. However, the preparation methods of NPs with flexible and tunable stiffness are relatively limited, and the impact of stiffness property on their interaction with tumor cells remains unclear. In this study, soft liquid metal (LM) core was coated with hard silica layer, the obtained core-shell NPs with a wide range of Young's modulus (130.5 ± 25.6 MPa - 1729.2 ± 146.7 MPa) were prepared by adjusting the amount of silica. It was found that the NPs with higher stiffness exhibited superior cellular uptake efficiency and lysosomal escape ability compared to the NPs with lower stiffness. The silica layer not only affected the stiffness, but also improved the photothermal stability of the LM NPs. Both in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated that the NPs with higher stiffness displayed significantly enhanced tumor hyperthermia capability. This work may provide a paradigm for the preparation of NPs with varying stiffness and offer insights into the role of the mechanical property of NPs in their delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Wang
- Mechanobiology and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, PR China
| | - Yonggang Lv
- State Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials and Advanced Processing Technologies, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan, 430200, PR China.
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4
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Kim JH, Kim S, Dickey MD, So JH, Koo HJ. Interface of gallium-based liquid metals: oxide skin, wetting, and applications. NANOSCALE HORIZONS 2024; 9:1099-1119. [PMID: 38716614 DOI: 10.1039/d4nh00067f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Gallium-based liquid metals (GaLMs) are promising for a variety of applications-especially as a component material for soft devices-due to their fluidic nature, low toxicity and reactivity, and high electrical and thermal conductivity comparable to solid counterparts. Understanding the interfacial properties and behaviors of GaLMs in different environments is crucial for most applications. When exposed to air or water, GaLMs form a gallium oxide layer with nanoscale thickness. This "oxide nano-skin" passivates the metal surface and allows for the formation of stable microstructures and films despite the high-surface tension of liquid metal. The oxide skin easily adheres to most smooth surfaces. While it enables effective printing and patterning of the GaLMs, it can also make the metals challenging to handle because it adheres to most surfaces. The oxide also affects the interfacial electrical resistance of the metals. Its formation, thickness, and composition can be chemically or electrochemically controlled, altering the physical, chemical, and electrical properties of the metal interface. Without the oxide, GaLMs wet metallic surfaces but do not wet non-metallic substrates such as polymers. The topography of the underlying surface further influences the wetting characteristics of the metals. This review outlines the interfacial attributes of GaLMs in air, water, and other environments and discusses relevant applications based on interfacial engineering. The effect of surface topography on the wetting behaviors of the GaLMs is also discussed. Finally, we suggest important research topics for a better understanding of the GaLMs interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Hye Kim
- Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Seoul National University of Science & Technology, 232 Gongneung-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01811, Republic of Korea
| | - Sooyoung Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.
| | - Michael D Dickey
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.
| | - Ju-Hee So
- Material & Component Convergence R&D Department, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Ansan-si, 15588, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyung-Jun Koo
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Seoul National University of Science & Technology, 232 Gongneung-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01811, Republic of Korea.
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5
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McHendrie R, Nguyen NH, Nguyen MT, Fallahnezhad K, Vasilev K, Truong VK, Hashemi R. Development of Novel Antibacterial Ti-Nb-Ga Alloys with Low Stiffness for Medical Implant Applications. J Funct Biomater 2024; 15:167. [PMID: 38921540 PMCID: PMC11204729 DOI: 10.3390/jfb15060167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
With the rising demand for medical implants and the dominance of implant-associated failures including infections, extensive research has been prompted into the development of novel biomaterials that can offer desirable characteristics. This study develops and evaluates new titanium-based alloys containing gallium additions with the aim of offering beneficial antibacterial properties while having a reduced stiffness level to minimise the effect of stress shielding when in contact with bone. The focus is on the microstructure, mechanical properties, antimicrobial activity, and cytocompatibility to inform the suitability of the designed alloys as biometals. Novel Ti-33Nb-xGa alloys (x = 3, 5 wt%) were produced via casting followed by homogenisation treatment, where all results were compared to the currently employed alloy Ti-6Al-4V. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) results depicted a single beta (β) phase microstructure in both Ga-containing alloys, where Ti-33Nb-5Ga was also dominated by dendritic alpha (α) phase grains in a β-phase matrix. EDS analysis indicated that the α-phase dendrites in Ti-33Nb-5Ga were enriched with titanium, while the β-phase was richer in niobium and gallium elements. Mechanical properties were measured using nanoindentation and microhardness methods, where the Young's modulus for Ti-33Nb-3Ga and Ti-33Nb-5Ga was found to be 75.4 ± 2.4 and 67.2 ± 1.6 GPa, respectively, a significant reduction of 37% and 44% with respect to Ti-6Al-4V. This reduction helps address the disproportionate Young's modulus between titanium implant components and cortical bone. Importantly, both alloys successfully achieved superior antimicrobial properties against Gram-negative P. aeruginosa and Gram-positive S. aureus bacteria. Antibacterial efficacy was noted at up to 90 ± 5% for the 3 wt% alloy and 95 ± 3% for the 5 wt% alloy. These findings signify a substantial enhancement of the antimicrobial performance when compared to Ti-6Al-4V which exhibited very small rates (up to 6.3 ± 1.5%). No cytotoxicity was observed in hGF cell lines over 24 h. Cell morphology and cytoskeleton distribution appeared to depict typical morphology with a prominent nucleus, elongated fibroblastic spindle-shaped morphology, and F-actin filamentous stress fibres in a well-defined structure of parallel bundles along the cellular axis. The developed alloys in this work have shown very promising results and are suggested to be further examined towards the use of orthopaedic implant components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhianna McHendrie
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Tonsley, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Ngoc Huu Nguyen
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Manh Tuong Nguyen
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Khosro Fallahnezhad
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Tonsley, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Krasimir Vasilev
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Vi Khanh Truong
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Reza Hashemi
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Tonsley, SA 5042, Australia
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6
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Handschuh-Wang S, Wang T, Zhang Z, Liu F, Han P, Liu X. Long-Term Corrosion of Eutectic Gallium, Indium, and Tin (EGaInSn) Interfacing with Diamond. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:2683. [PMID: 38893946 PMCID: PMC11174033 DOI: 10.3390/ma17112683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Thermal transport is of grave importance in many high-value applications. Heat dissipation can be improved by utilizing liquid metals as thermal interface materials. Yet, liquid metals exhibit corrosivity towards many metals used for heat sinks, such as aluminum, and other electrical devices (i.e., copper). The compatibility of the liquid metal with the heat sink or device material as well as its long-term stability are important performance variables for thermal management systems. Herein, the compatibility of the liquid metal Galinstan, a eutectic alloy of gallium, indium, and tin, with diamond coatings and the stability of the liquid metal in this environment are scrutinized. The liquid metal did not penetrate the diamond coating nor corrode it. However, the liquid metal solidified with the progression of time, starting from the second year. After 4 years of aging, the liquid metal on all samples solidified, which cannot be explained by the dissolution of aluminum from the titanium alloy. In contrast, the solidification arose from oxidation by oxygen, followed by hydrolysis to GaOOH due to the humidity in the air. The hydrolysis led to dealloying, where In and Sn remained an alloy while Ga separated as GaOOH. This hydrolysis has implications for many devices based on gallium alloys and should be considered during the design phase of liquid metal-enabled products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Handschuh-Wang
- College of New Materials and New Energies, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China; (Z.Z.); (F.L.); (X.L.)
| | - Tao Wang
- Advanced Materials Group Co., Ltd., Fusionopolis Link #06-07, Nexus One-North, Singapore 138543, Singapore;
- Advanced Energy Storage Technology Center, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zongyan Zhang
- College of New Materials and New Energies, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China; (Z.Z.); (F.L.); (X.L.)
| | - Fucheng Liu
- College of New Materials and New Energies, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China; (Z.Z.); (F.L.); (X.L.)
| | - Peigang Han
- College of New Materials and New Energies, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China; (Z.Z.); (F.L.); (X.L.)
| | - Xiaorui Liu
- College of New Materials and New Energies, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China; (Z.Z.); (F.L.); (X.L.)
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7
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Muller B, Feig VR, Colella NS, Traverso G, Hashmi SM. Thiol Coordination Softens Liquid Metal Particles To Improve On-Demand Conductivity. ACS NANO 2024; 18:13768-13780. [PMID: 38745441 PMCID: PMC11140741 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c01988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Achieving tunable rupturing of eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) particles holds great significance in flexible electronic applications, particularly pressure sensors. We tune the mechanosensitivity of EGaIn particles by preparing them in toluene with thiol surfactants and demonstrate an improvement over typical preparations in ethanol. We observe, across multiple length scales, that thiol surfactants and the nonpolar solvent synergistically reduce the applied stress requirements for electromechanical actuation. At the nanoscale, dodecanethiol and propanethiol in toluene suppress gallium oxide growth, as characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Quantitative AFM imaging produces force-indentation curves and height images, while conductive AFM measures current while probing individual EGaIn particles. As the applied force increases, thiolated particles demonstrate intensified softening, rupturing, and stress-induced electrical activation at forces 40% lower than those for bare particles in ethanol. To confirm that thiolation facilitates rupturing at the macroscale, a laser is used to ablate samples of EGaIn particles. Scanning electron microscopy and resistance measurements across macroscopic samples confirm that thiolated EGaIn particles coalesce to exhibit electrical activation at 0.1 W. Particles prepared in ethanol, however, require 3 times higher laser power to demonstrate a similar behavior. This unique collection of advanced techniques demonstrates that our particle synthesis conditions can facilitate on-demand functionality to benefit electronic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin
N. Muller
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern
University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Division
of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Brigham and Women’s
Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- David
H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Vivian R. Feig
- Division
of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Brigham and Women’s
Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- David
H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Nicholas S. Colella
- Center
for Nanoscale Systems, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Giovanni Traverso
- Division
of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Brigham and Women’s
Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- David
H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Sara M. Hashmi
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern
University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department
of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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8
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Nor-Azman NA, Ghasemian MB, Fuchs R, Liu L, Widjajana MS, Yu R, Chiu SH, Idrus-Saidi SA, Flores N, Chi Y, Tang J, Kalantar-Zadeh K. Mechanism behind the Controlled Generation of Liquid Metal Nanoparticles by Mechanical Agitation. ACS NANO 2024; 18:11139-11152. [PMID: 38620061 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c12638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The size-controlled synthesis of liquid metal nanoparticles is necessary in a variety of applications. Sonication is a common method for breaking down bulk liquid metals into small particles, yet the influence of critical factors such as liquid metal composition has remained elusive. Our study employs high-speed imaging to unravel the mechanism of liquid metal particle formation during mechanical agitation. Gallium-based liquid metals, with and without secondary metals of bismuth, indium, and tin, are analyzed to observe the effect of cavitation and surface eruption during sonication and particle release. The impact of the secondary metal inclusion is investigated on liquid metals' surface tension, solution turbidity, and size distribution of the generated particles. Our work evidences that there is an inverse relationship between the surface tension and the ability of liquid metals to be broken down by sonication. We show that even for 0.22 at. % of bismuth in gallium, the surface tension is significantly decreased from 558 to 417 mN/m (measured in Milli-Q water), resulting in an enhanced particle generation rate: 3.6 times increase in turbidity and ∼43% reduction in the size of particles for bismuth in gallium liquid alloy compared to liquid gallium for the same sonication duration. The effect of particles' size on the photocatalysis of the annealed particles is also presented to show the applicability of the process in a proof-of-concept demonstration. This work contributes to a broader understanding of the synthesis of nanoparticles, with controlled size and characteristics, via mechanical agitation of liquid metals for diverse applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur-Adania Nor-Azman
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Mohammad B Ghasemian
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Richard Fuchs
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Li Liu
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Moonika S Widjajana
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Ruohan Yu
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Shih-Hao Chiu
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Shuhada A Idrus-Saidi
- Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor Bahru, Johor 81310, Malaysia
- Centre of Lipids Engineering and Applied Research (CLEAR), Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor Bahru, Johor 81310, Malaysia
| | - Nieves Flores
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Yuan Chi
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Jianbo Tang
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
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9
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Zhu J, Li J, Tong Y, Hu T, Chen Z, Xiao Y, Zhang S, Yang H, Gao M, Pan T, Cheng H, Lin Y. Recent progress in multifunctional, reconfigurable, integrated liquid metal-based stretchable sensors and standalone systems. PROGRESS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE 2024; 142:101228. [PMID: 38745676 PMCID: PMC11090487 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmatsci.2023.101228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Possessing a unique combination of properties that are traditionally contradictory in other natural or synthetical materials, Ga-based liquid metals (LMs) exhibit low mechanical stiffness and flowability like a liquid, with good electrical and thermal conductivity like metal, as well as good biocompatibility and room-temperature phase transformation. These remarkable properties have paved the way for the development of novel reconfigurable or stretchable electronics and devices. Despite these outstanding properties, the easy oxidation, high surface tension, and low rheological viscosity of LMs have presented formidable challenges in high-resolution patterning. To address this challenge, various surface modifications or additives have been employed to tailor the oxidation state, viscosity, and patterning capability of LMs. One effective approach for LM patterning is breaking down LMs into microparticles known as liquid metal particles (LMPs). This facilitates LM patterning using conventional techniques such as stencil, screening, or inkjet printing. Judiciously formulated photo-curable LMP inks or the introduction of an adhesive seed layer combined with a modified lift-off process further provide the micrometer-level LM patterns. Incorporating porous and adhesive substrates in LM-based electronics allows direct interfacing with the skin for robust and long-term monitoring of physiological signals. Combined with self-healing polymers in the form of substrates or composites, LM-based electronics can provide mechanical-robust devices to heal after damage for working in harsh environments. This review provides the latest advances in LM-based composites, fabrication methods, and their novel and unique applications in stretchable or reconfigurable sensors and resulting integrated systems. It is believed that the advancements in LM-based material preparation and high-resolution techniques have opened up opportunities for customized designs of LM-based stretchable sensors, as well as multifunctional, reconfigurable, highly integrated, and even standalone systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Zhu
- School of Material and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Jiaying Li
- School of Material and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Yao Tong
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Suzhou 215011, PR China
| | - Taiqi Hu
- School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, P. R. China
| | - Ziqi Chen
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China
| | - Yang Xiao
- School of Material and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Senhao Zhang
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Suzhou 215011, PR China
| | - Hongbo Yang
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Suzhou 215011, PR China
| | - Min Gao
- School of Material and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Taisong Pan
- School of Material and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Huanyu Cheng
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Yuan Lin
- School of Material and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- Medico-Engineering Cooperation on Applied Medicine Research Center, University of Electronics Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
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10
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Rahmani P, Shojaei A, Sakorikar T, Wang M, Mendoza-Apodaca Y, Dickey MD. Liquid Metal Nanoparticles Physically Hybridized with Cellulose Nanocrystals Initiate and Toughen Hydrogels with Piezoionic Properties. ACS NANO 2024; 18:8038-8050. [PMID: 38437220 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c11063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Liquid metal (LM) particles can serve as initiators, functional fillers, and cross-linkers for hydrogels. Herein, we show that cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) stabilize LM particles in aqueous solutions, such as those used to produce hydrogels. The CNC-coated LM particles initiate free-radical polymerization to form poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) hydrogel with exceptional properties─stretchability ∼2000%, excellent toughness ∼1.8 MJ/m3, mechanical resilience, and efficient self-healing─relative to cross-linked PAA networks polymerized using conventional molecular initiators. FTIR spectroscopy, rheology, and mechanical measurements suggest that physical bonds between PAA and both Ga3+ and LM-CNC particles contribute to the excellent mechanical properties. The gels are used to sense a wide range of strains, such as those associated with human motion, via changes in resistance through the gel. The sensitivity at low strains enables monitoring subtle physiological signals, such as pulse. Without significantly compromising the toughness, soaking the gels in salt solution brings about high ionic conductivity (3.8 S/m), enabling them to detect touch via piezoionic principles; the anions in the gel have higher mobility than cations, resulting in significant charge separation (current ∼30 μA, ∼10 μA/cm2) through the gel in response to touch. These attractive properties are promising for wearable sensors, energy harvesters, and self-powered ionic touch panels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooria Rahmani
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9465, Tehran 14588-89694, Iran
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7905, United States
| | - Akbar Shojaei
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9465, Tehran 14588-89694, Iran
| | - Tushar Sakorikar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7905, United States
| | - Meixiang Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7905, United States
| | - Yuniva Mendoza-Apodaca
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7905, United States
| | - Michael D Dickey
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7905, United States
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11
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Chung KY, Xu B, Tan D, Yang Q, Li Z, Fu H. Naturally Crosslinked Biocompatible Carbonaceous Liquid Metal Aqueous Ink Printing Wearable Electronics for Multi-Sensing and Energy Harvesting. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2024; 16:149. [PMID: 38466478 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01362-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Achieving flexible electronics with comfort and durability comparable to traditional textiles is one of the ultimate pursuits of smart wearables. Ink printing is desirable for e-textile development using a simple and inexpensive process. However, fabricating high-performance atop textiles with good dispersity, stability, biocompatibility, and wearability for high-resolution, large-scale manufacturing, and practical applications has remained challenging. Here, water-based multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-decorated liquid metal (LM) inks are proposed with carbonaceous gallium-indium micro-nanostructure. With the assistance of biopolymers, the sodium alginate-encapsulated LM droplets contain high carboxyl groups which non-covalently crosslink with silk sericin-mediated MWCNTs. E-textile can be prepared subsequently via printing technique and natural waterproof triboelectric coating, enabling good flexibility, hydrophilicity, breathability, wearability, biocompatibility, conductivity, stability, and excellent versatility, without any artificial chemicals. The obtained e-textile can be used in various applications with designable patterns and circuits. Multi-sensing applications of recognizing complex human motions, breathing, phonation, and pressure distribution are demonstrated with repeatable and reliable signals. Self-powered and energy-harvesting capabilities are also presented by driving electronic devices and lighting LEDs. As proof of concept, this work provides new opportunities in a scalable and sustainable way to develop novel wearable electronics and smart clothing for future commercial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- King Yan Chung
- Nanotechnology Center, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingang Xu
- Nanotechnology Center, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, People's Republic of China.
| | - Di Tan
- Nanotechnology Center, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingjun Yang
- Nanotechnology Center, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, People's Republic of China
| | - Zihua Li
- Nanotechnology Center, School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Fu
- Department of Mathematics and Information Technology, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
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12
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Lu G, Ni E, Jiang Y, Wu W, Li H. Room-Temperature Liquid Metals for Flexible Electronic Devices. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2304147. [PMID: 37875665 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Room-temperature gallium-based liquid metals (RT-GaLMs) have garnered significant interest recently owing to their extraordinary combination of fluidity, conductivity, stretchability, self-healing performance, and biocompatibility. They are ideal materials for the manufacture of flexible electronics. By changing the composition and oxidation of RT-GaLMs, physicochemical characteristics of the liquid metal can be adjusted, especially the regulation of rheological, wetting, and adhesion properties. This review highlights the advancements in the liquid metals used in flexible electronics. Meanwhile related characteristics of RT-GaLMs and underlying principles governing their processing and applications for flexible electronics are elucidated. Finally, the diverse applications of RT-GaLMs in self-healing circuits, flexible sensors, energy harvesting devices, and epidermal electronics, are explored. Additionally, the challenges hindering the progress of RT-GaLMs are discussed, while proposing future research directions and potential applications in this emerging field. By presenting a concise and critical analysis, this paper contributes to the advancement of RT-GaLMs as an advanced material applicable for the new generation of flexible electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guixuan Lu
- Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250061, China
| | - Erli Ni
- The Institute for Advanced Studies of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, China
| | - Yanyan Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250061, China
| | - Weikang Wu
- Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250061, China
| | - Hui Li
- Key Laboratory for Liquid-Solid Structural Evolution and Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250061, China
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13
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Wei W, Ai L, Li M, Hou F, Xiong C, Li Y, Wei A. Liquid Metal Encased in Biomimic Polydopamine Armor to Reinforce Photothermal Conversion and Photothermal Stability. Chem Asian J 2024:e202301038. [PMID: 38311860 DOI: 10.1002/asia.202301038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Liquid metal (LM) faces numerous obstacles like spontaneous coalescence, prone oxidizability, and deterioration in photothermal conversion, impeding the potential application as photothermal agent. To tackle these issues, several studies have focused on surface engineering strategy. Developing a feasible and efficient surface engineering strategy is crucial to prevent the aggregation and coalescence of LM, while also ensuring exceptional photothermal conversion and biosecurity. In order to achieve these goals in this work, the biomimetic polydopamine (PDA) armor was chosen to encase a typical LM (eutectic gallium-indium-tin alloy) via self-polymerization. Characterization results showed that the PDA encased LM nanoparticle exhibited enhanced photothermal stability, photothermal conversion, and biosecurity, which could be derived from the following factors: (1) The PDA protective shell acted as an "armor", isolating LM from dissolved oxygen and water, inhibiting heating-accelerated oxidation and shape morphing. (2) The exceptional near-infrared absorption of PDA was conducive to the photothermal conversion. (3) The biomimetic characteristic of polydopamine (PDA) was advantageous for improving the biosecurity. Hence, this work presented a new surface engineering strategy to reinforce LM for photothermal conversion application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), College of Chemistry and Life Science, Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, P. R. China
| | - Libang Ai
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), College of Chemistry and Life Science, Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, P. R. China
- Kunshan Innovation Institute of Xidian University, Suzhou, 215316, P. R. China
| | - Minhao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), College of Chemistry and Life Science, Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, P. R. China
| | - Fengming Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), College of Chemistry and Life Science, Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, P. R. China
| | - Can Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), College of Chemistry and Life Science, Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, P. R. China
- Nantong Institute of Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications Co. Ltd., Nantong, 226001, P. R. China
| | - Yihang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), College of Chemistry and Life Science, Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, P. R. China
| | - Ang Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), College of Chemistry and Life Science, Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, P. R. China
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14
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Yan J, Wang J, Wang X, Pan D, Su C, Wang J, Wang M, Xiong J, Chen Y, Wang L, Xu Y, Chen C, Yang M, Gu Z. Activating Tumor-Selective Liquid Metal Nanomedicine through Galvanic Replacement. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2307817. [PMID: 37948543 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202307817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Advanced chemotherapeutic strategies including prodrug and nanocatalytic medicine have significantly advanced tumor-selective theranostics, but delicate prodrug screening, tedious synthesis, low degradability/biocompatibility of inorganic components, and unsatisfied reaction activity complicate treatment efficacies. Here, the intrinsic anticancer bioactivity of liquid metal nanodroplets (LMNDs) is explored through galvanic replacement. By utilizing a mechano-degradable ligand, the resultant size of the aqueous LMND is unexpectedly controlled as small as ≈20 nm (LMND20). It is demonstrated that LMND20 presents excellent tumor penetration and biocompatibility and activates tumor-selective carrier-to-drug conversion, synchronously depleting Cu2+ ions and producing Ga3+ ions through galvanic replacement. Together with abundant generation of reactive oxygen species, multiple anticancer pathways lead to selective apoptosis and anti-angiogenesis of breast cancer cells. Compared to the preclinical/clinical anticancer drugs of tetrathiomolybdate and Ga(NO3 )3 , LMND20 administration significantly improves the therapeutic efficacy and survival in a BCap-37 xenograft mouse model, yet without obvious side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Yan
- Molecular Imaging Center, Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Jinqiang Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Molecular Imaging Center, Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Donghui Pan
- Molecular Imaging Center, Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China
| | - Chen Su
- Molecular Imaging Center, Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China
| | - Junxia Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Mengzhen Wang
- Molecular Imaging Center, Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China
| | - Jianjun Xiong
- Molecular Imaging Center, Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Research Institute for Reproductive Health and Genetic Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, 214002, China
| | - Lizhen Wang
- Molecular Imaging Center, Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China
| | - Yuping Xu
- Molecular Imaging Center, Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Chongyang Chen
- Molecular Imaging Center, Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China
| | - Min Yang
- Molecular Imaging Center, Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, 214063, China
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Zhen Gu
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery Systems of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
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15
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Krisnadi F, Kim S, Im S, Chacko D, Vong MH, Rykaczewski K, Park S, Dickey MD. Printable Liquid Metal Foams That Grow When Watered. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2308862. [PMID: 38252810 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202308862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Pastes and "foams" containing liquid metal (LM) as the continuous phase (liquid metal foams, LMFs) exhibit metallic properties while displaying paste or putty-like rheological behavior. These properties enable LMFs to be patterned into soft and stretchable electrical and thermal conductors through processes conducted at room temperature, such as printing. The simplest LMFs, featured in this work, are made by stirring LM in air, thereby entraining oxide-lined air "pockets" into the LM. Here, it is reported that mixing small amounts of water (as low as 1 wt%) into such LMFs gives rise to significant foaming by harnessing known reactions that evolve hydrogen and produce oxides. The resulting structures can be ≈4-5× their original volume and possess a fascinating combination of attributes: porosity, electrical conductivity, and responsiveness to environmental conditions. This expansion can be utilized for a type of 4D printing in which patterned conductors "grow," fill cavities, and change shape and density with respect to time. Excessive exposure to water in the long term ultimately consumes the metal in the LMF. However, when exposure to water is controlled, the metallic properties of porous LMFs can be preserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Febby Krisnadi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Seoyeon Kim
- Department of Nano Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, 54896, South Korea
| | - Sooik Im
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Dennis Chacko
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Man Hou Vong
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Konrad Rykaczewski
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Sungjune Park
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, South Korea
| | - Michael D Dickey
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
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16
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Leong M, Parker CJ, Shaw ZL, Huang LZY, Nisbet DR, Daeneke T, Elbourne A, Cheeseman S. Metallic Gallium Droplets Exhibit Poor Antibacterial Properties. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:332-341. [PMID: 38111109 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c15497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
The rise of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria requires new therapeutics to be developed. Several metallic nanoparticles such as those made from silver, copper, and zinc have shown significant antibacterial activity, in part due to metal ion leaching. Ga3+ containing compounds have also been shown to have antibacterial properties. Accordingly, it is estimated that metallic Ga droplets may be antibacterial, and some studies to date have confirmed this. Here, multiple concentrations of Ga droplets were tested against the antibiotic resistant Gram-positive bacteria methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) Despite a high concentration (2 mg/mL), Ga droplets had only modest antibacterial activity against both bacteria after 24 h of interaction. Finally, we demonstrated that Ga droplets were easily functionalized through a galvanic replacement reaction to develop antibacterial particles with copper and silver demonstrating a total detectable reduction of MRSA and >96% reduction ofP. aeruginosa. Altogether, these results contradict previous literature and show that Ga droplets demonstrate no antibacterial activity at concentrations comparable to those of conventional antibiotics and well-established antibacterial nanomaterials and only modest antibacterial activity at very high concentrations. However, we demonstrate that their antibacterial activity can be easily enhanced by functionalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Leong
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Caiden J Parker
- School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Z L Shaw
- School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Louisa Z Y Huang
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - David R Nisbet
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia
- Graeme Clark Institute, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology & Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Services, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Torben Daeneke
- School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Aaron Elbourne
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Samuel Cheeseman
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia
- Graeme Clark Institute, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology & Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Services, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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17
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Huang C, Guo B, Wang X, Cao Q, Zhang D, Huang J, Jiang JZ. Alkali-Ion Batteries by Carbon Encapsulation of Liquid Metal Anode. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2309732. [PMID: 37971044 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202309732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Gallium-based metallic liquids, exhibiting high theoretical capacity, are considered a promising anode material for room-temperature liquid metal alkali-ion batteries. However, electrochemical performances, especially the cyclic stability, of the liquid metal anode for alkali-ion batteries are strongly limited because of the volume expansion and unstable solid electrolyte interphase film of liquid metal. Here, the bottleneck problem is resolved by designing carbon encapsulation on gallium-indium liquid metal nanoparticles (EGaIn@C LMNPs). A superior cycling stability (644 mAh g-1 after 800 cycles at 1.0 A g-1 ) is demonstrated for lithium-ion batteries, and excellent cycle stability (87 mAh g-1 after 2500 cycles at 1.0 A g-1 ) is achieved for sodium-ion batteries by carbon encapsulation of the liquid metal anode. Morphological and phase changes of EGaIn@C LMNPs during the electrochemical reaction process are revealed by in situ transmission electron microscopy measurements in real-time. The origin for the excellent performance is uncovered, that is the EGaIn@C core-shell structure effectively suppresses the non-uniform volume expansion of LMNPs from ≈160% to 127%, improves the electrical conductivity of the LMNPs, and exhibits superior electrochemical kinetics and a self-healing phenomenon. This work paves the way for the applications of room-temperature liquid metal anodes for high-performance alkali-ion batteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghao Huang
- International Center for New-Structured Materials (ICNSM), State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P.R. China
| | - Baiyu Guo
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, P. R. China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- International Center for New-Structured Materials (ICNSM), State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P.R. China
| | - Qingping Cao
- International Center for New-Structured Materials (ICNSM), State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P.R. China
| | - Dongxian Zhang
- International Center for New-Structured Materials (ICNSM), State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P.R. China
| | - Jianyu Huang
- Clean Nano Energy Center, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, P. R. China
| | - Jian-Zhong Jiang
- International Center for New-Structured Materials (ICNSM), State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P.R. China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuyao University of Science and Technology, Fuzhou, 350109, P.R. China
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18
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Xing S, Liu Y. Functional micro-/nanostructured gallium-based liquid metal for biochemical sensing and imaging applications. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 243:115795. [PMID: 37913588 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, liquid metals (LMs) have garnered increasing attention for their expanded applicability, and wide application potential in various research fields. Among them, gallium (Ga)-based LMs exhibit remarkable analytical performance in electrical and optical sensors, thanks to their excellent conductivity, large surface area, biocompatibility, small bandgap, and high elasticity. This review comprehensively summarizes the latest advancements in functional micro-/nanostructured Ga-based LMs for biochemical sensing and imaging applications. Firstly, the electrical, optical, and biocompatible features of Ga-based LM micro-/nanoparticles are briefly discussed, along with the manufacturing and functionalization processes. Subsequently, we demonstrate the utilization of Ga-based LMs in biochemical sensing techniques, encompassing electrochemistry, electrochemiluminescence, optical sensing techniques, and various biomedical imaging. Lastly, we present an insightful perspective on promising research directions and remaining challenges in LM-based biochemical sensing and imaging applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simin Xing
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory for Analytical Methods and Instrumentation, Kay Lab of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory for Analytical Methods and Instrumentation, Kay Lab of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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19
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Zheng J, Solomon MB, Rawal A, Chi Y, Yu R, Liu L, Tang J, Mao G, D'Alessandro DM, Kumar PV, Rahim MA, Kalantar-Zadeh K. Passivation-Free, Liquid-Metal-Based Electrosynthesis of Aluminum Metal-Organic Frameworks Mediated by Light Metal Activation. ACS NANO 2023; 17:25532-25541. [PMID: 38054450 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c09472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
The production of aluminum (Al) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) by electrosynthesis using solid-state Al electrodes always faces significant challenges due to the formation of a passivating aluminum oxide layer in the process. Here, we developed a liquid-metal-based method to electrosynthesize an aluminum Al-MOF (MIL-53). This method uses a liquid-state gallium (Ga) anode as a reservoir and activator for a light metal, Al, in the form of Al-Ga alloys that releases Al3+ for the electrosynthesis of Al-MOFs. Introducing Ga into the system inhibits the formation of aluminum oxide passivation layer and promotes the electrochemical reaction for Al-MOF synthesis. The electrosynthesis using liquid Al-Ga alloy is conducted at ambient temperatures for long durations without requiring pretreatment for aluminum oxide removal. We show that the Al-MOF products synthesized from 0.40 wt % Al in liquid Ga lead to the highest crystallinity and possess a specific surface area greater than 800 m2 g-1 and a low capacity for CO2 adsorption that can be used as a potential matrix for CO2/N2 separation. This work provides evidence that employing liquid-metal electrodes offers a viable pathway to circumvent surface passivation effects that inevitably occur when using conventional solid metals. It also introduces an efficient electrosynthesis method based on liquid metals for producing atomically porous materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiewei Zheng
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Marcello B Solomon
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Aditya Rawal
- Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Yuan Chi
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Ruohan Yu
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Li Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Jianbo Tang
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Guangzhao Mao
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Deanna M D'Alessandro
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Priyank V Kumar
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Md Arifur Rahim
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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20
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Gao S, Yang Y, Falchevskaya AS, Vinogradov VV, Yuan B, Liu J, Sun X. Phase Transition Liquid Metal Enabled Emerging Biomedical Technologies and Applications. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023:e2306692. [PMID: 38145958 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Phase change materials that can absorb or release large amounts of heat during phase transition, play a critical role in many important processes, including heat dissipation, thermal energy storage, and solar energy utilization. In general, phase change materials are usually encapsulated in passive modules to provide assurance for energy management. The shape and mechanical changes of these materials are greatly ignored. An emerging class of phase change materials, liquid metals (LMs) have attracted significant interest beyond thermal management, including in transformable robots, flexible electronics, soft actuators, and biomedicine. Interestingly, the melting point of LM is highly tunable around body temperature, allowing it to experience considerable stiffness change when interacting with human organisms during solid-liquid change, which brings about novel phenomena, applied technologies, and therapeutic methods, such as mechanical destruction of tumors, neural electrode implantation technique, and embolization therapy. This review focuses on the technology, regulation, and application of the phase change process along with diverse changes of LM to facilitate emerging biomedical applications based on the influences of mechanical stiffness change and versatile regulation strategies. Typical applications will also be categorized and summarized. Lastly, the advantages and challenges of using the unique and reversible process for biomedicine will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang Gao
- School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yaxiong Yang
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Aleksandra S Falchevskaya
- International Institute "Solution Chemistry of Advanced Materials and Technologies" (SCAMT), ITMO University, Saint Petersburg, 191002, Russia
| | - Vladimir V Vinogradov
- International Institute "Solution Chemistry of Advanced Materials and Technologies" (SCAMT), ITMO University, Saint Petersburg, 191002, Russia
| | - Bo Yuan
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xuyang Sun
- School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
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21
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Chen J, Tian G, Liang C, Yang D, Zhao Q, Liu Y, Qi D. Liquid metal-hydrogel composites for flexible electronics. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:14353-14369. [PMID: 37916888 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc04198k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
As an emerging functional material, liquid metal-hydrogel composites exhibit excellent biosafety, high electrical conductivity, tunable mechanical properties and good adhesion, thus providing a unique platform for a wide range of flexible electronics applications such as wearable devices, medical devices, actuators, and energy conversion devices. Through different composite methods, liquid metals can be integrated into hydrogel matrices to form multifunctional composite material systems, which further expands the application range of hydrogels. In this paper, we provide a brief overview of the two materials: hydrogels and liquid metals, and discuss the synthesis method of liquid metal-hydrogel composites, focusing on the improvement of the performance of hydrogel materials by liquid metals. In addition, we summarize the research progress of liquid metal-hydrogel composites in the field of flexible electronics, pointing out the current challenges and future prospects of this material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhui Chen
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Science and Engineering for the Multi-modal Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Zhengzhou Research Institute, Harbin Institute of Technology, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Gongwei Tian
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Science and Engineering for the Multi-modal Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Zhengzhou Research Institute, Harbin Institute of Technology, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Cuiyuan Liang
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Science and Engineering for the Multi-modal Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Zhengzhou Research Institute, Harbin Institute of Technology, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Dan Yang
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Science and Engineering for the Multi-modal Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Zhengzhou Research Institute, Harbin Institute of Technology, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Qinyi Zhao
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Science and Engineering for the Multi-modal Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Zhengzhou Research Institute, Harbin Institute of Technology, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Yan Liu
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Science and Engineering for the Multi-modal Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Zhengzhou Research Institute, Harbin Institute of Technology, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Dianpeng Qi
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Science and Engineering for the Multi-modal Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Zhengzhou Research Institute, Harbin Institute of Technology, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
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22
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Wang D, Ye J, Bai Y, Yang F, Zhang J, Rao W, Liu J. Liquid Metal Combinatorics toward Materials Discovery. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2303533. [PMID: 37417920 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202303533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Liquid metals and their derivatives provide several opportunities for fundamental and practical exploration worldwide. However, the increasing number of studies and shortage of desirable materials to fulfill different needs also pose serious challenges. Herein, to address this issue, a generalized theoretical frame that is termed as "Liquid Metal Combinatorics" (LMC) is systematically presented, and summarizes promising candidate technical routes toward new generation material discovery. The major categories of LMC are defined, and eight representative methods for manufacturing advanced materials are outlined. It is illustrated that abundant targeted materials can be efficiently designed and fabricated via LMC through deep physical combinations, chemical reactions, or both among the main bodies of liquid metals, surface chemicals, precipitated ions, and other materials. This represents a large class of powerful, reliable, and modular methods for innovating general materials. The achieved combinatorial materials not only maintained the typical characteristics of liquid metals but also displayed distinct tenability. Furthermore, the fabrication strategies, wide extensibility, and pivotal applications of LMC are classified. Finally, by interpreting the developmental trends in the area, a perspective on the LMC is provided, which warrants its promising future for society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Wang
- Liquid Metal and Cryogenic Biomedical Research Center, Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Jiao Ye
- Liquid Metal and Cryogenic Biomedical Research Center, Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yunlong Bai
- Liquid Metal and Cryogenic Biomedical Research Center, Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Liquid Metal and Cryogenic Biomedical Research Center, Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Liquid Metal and Cryogenic Biomedical Research Center, Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wei Rao
- Liquid Metal and Cryogenic Biomedical Research Center, Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Liquid Metal and Cryogenic Biomedical Research Center, Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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Truong VK, Hayles A, Bright R, Luu TQ, Dickey MD, Kalantar-Zadeh K, Vasilev K. Gallium Liquid Metal: Nanotoolbox for Antimicrobial Applications. ACS NANO 2023; 17:14406-14423. [PMID: 37506260 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c06486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
The proliferation of drug resistance in microbial pathogens poses a significant threat to human health. Hence, treatment measures are essential to surmount this growing problem. In this context, liquid metal nanoparticles are promising. Gallium, a post-transition metal notable for being a liquid at physiological temperature, has drawn attention for its distinctive properties, high antimicrobial efficacy, and low toxicity. Moreover, gallium nanoparticles demonstrate anti-inflammatory properties in immune cells. Gallium can alloy with other metals and be prepared in various composites to modify and tailor its characteristics and functionality. More importantly, the bactericidal mechanism of gallium liquid metal could sidestep the threat of emerging drug resistance mechanisms. Building on this rationale, gallium-based liquid metal nanoparticles can enable impactful and innovative strategic pathways in the battle against antimicrobial resistance. This review outlines the characteristics of gallium-based liquid metals at the nanoscale and their corresponding antimicrobial mechanisms to provide a comprehensive yet succinct overview of their current antimicrobial applications. In addition, challenges and opportunities that require further research efforts have been identified and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vi Khanh Truong
- Biomedical Nanoengineering Laboratory, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia
| | - Andrew Hayles
- Biomedical Nanoengineering Laboratory, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia
| | - Richard Bright
- Biomedical Nanoengineering Laboratory, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia
| | - Trong Quan Luu
- Biomedical Nanoengineering Laboratory, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia
| | - Michael D Dickey
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Krasimir Vasilev
- Biomedical Nanoengineering Laboratory, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia
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24
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Li X, Jiang M, Du Y, Ding X, Xiao C, Wang Y, Yang Y, Zhuo Y, Zheng K, Liu X, Chen L, Gong Y, Tian X, Zhang X. Self-healing liquid metal hydrogel for human-computer interaction and infrared camouflage. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2023; 10:2945-2957. [PMID: 37165676 DOI: 10.1039/d3mh00341h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Due to their mechanical flexibility, conductive hydrogels have been widely investigated in the fields of flexible electronics and soft robots, but their non-negligible disadvantages, such as poor toughness and limited self-healing, severally restrict their practical application. Herein, gallium indium alloy (EGaIn) is utilized to initiate the polymerization and simultaneously serve as flexible fillers to construct a super-stretchable and self-healing liquid metal/polyvinyl alcohol/p(acrylamide-co-octadecyl methacrylate) (liquid metal/PVA/P(AAm-co-SMA)) double network hydrogel (LM hydrogel). The synergistic effect of the rigid PVA microcrystal network and the ductile P(AAm-co-SMA) hydrophobic network, together with the ionic coordination and hydrogen bonds between polymer networks (multiple physical cross-links), endow the LM hydrogel with excellent super-stretchability (2000%), toughness (3.00 MJ m-3), notch resistance, and self-healing property (healing efficiency > 99% at 25 °C after 24 h). The LM hydrogel exhibits sensitive strain sensing behavior, allowing human-computer interaction to achieve motion recognition and health monitoring. Significantly, owing to the excellent photothermal effect and low infrared emissivity of EGaIn, the LM hydrogel reveals great potential in infrared camouflage. The work of self-healing conductive liquid metal hydrogels will promote the research and practical application of hydrogels and liquid metal in intelligent devices and military fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Li
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Institute of Solid State Physics, HFIPS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Miao Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Institute of Solid State Physics, HFIPS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yiming Du
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Institute of Solid State Physics, HFIPS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Xin Ding
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Institute of Solid State Physics, HFIPS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
| | - Chao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Institute of Solid State Physics, HFIPS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
| | - Yanyan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Institute of Solid State Physics, HFIPS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
| | - Yanyu Yang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
| | - Yizhi Zhuo
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Institute of Solid State Physics, HFIPS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
| | - Kang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Institute of Solid State Physics, HFIPS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
| | - Xianglan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Institute of Solid State Physics, HFIPS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
| | - Lin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Institute of Solid State Physics, HFIPS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
| | - Yi Gong
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Institute of Solid State Physics, HFIPS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
| | - Xingyou Tian
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Institute of Solid State Physics, HFIPS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Xian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic and Energy Conservation Materials, Institute of Solid State Physics, HFIPS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
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Wang D, Yu Z, Qi Y, Hu K, Zhou T, Liu J, Rao W. Liquid Metal Nanoplatform Based Autologous Cancer Vaccines. ACS NANO 2023; 17:13278-13295. [PMID: 37253081 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c00941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic cancer vaccines have been vigorously sought to bolster host adaptive immunity against metastatic cancers, but tumor heterogeneity, ineffective antigen utilization, and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment hinder their clinical applications. Autologous antigen adsorbability and stimulus-release carrier coupling with immunoadjuvant capacity are urgent for personalized cancer vaccines. Here, we propose a perspective strategy of using a multipotent gallium-based liquid metal (LM) nanoplatform for personalized in situ cancer vaccines (ISCVs). The antigen-capturing and immunostimulatory LM nanoplatform can not only effectively destroy orthotopic tumors to generate multifarious autologous antigens upon external energy stimulation (photothermal/photodynamic effect) but also capture and transport antigens into dendritic cells (DCs) to enhance antigen utilization (adequate DCs uptake, antigen-endo/lysosomal escape) and facilitate DCs activation (mimic alum immunoadjuvant capacity), which ultimately awaken systemic antitumor immunity (expand cytotoxic T lymphocytes and modulate tumor microenvironment). With immune checkpoint blockade (anti-PD-L1) to further relieve the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, the positive tumoricidal immunity feedback loop was established to effectively eliminate orthotopic tumors, inhibit abscopal tumor growth, relapse, and metastasis as well as tumor-specific prevention. Collectively, this study demonstrates the potential of a multipotent LM nanoplatform for personalized ISCVs, which will open frontier exploration of LM-based immunostimulatory biomaterials and may encourage further investigation of precise individualized immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Wang
- Liquid Metal and Cryogenic Biomedical Research Center, Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhongyang Yu
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
- Oncology Department, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100078, China
| | - Yuxia Qi
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
- Oncology Department, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100078, China
| | - Kaiwen Hu
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
- Oncology Department, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100078, China
| | - Tian Zhou
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
- Oncology Department, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100078, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Liquid Metal and Cryogenic Biomedical Research Center, Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Wei Rao
- Liquid Metal and Cryogenic Biomedical Research Center, Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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26
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Kim S, Kang S, Lee J. High-Thermal-Conductivity and High-Fluidity Heat Transfer Emulsion with 89 wt % Suspended Liquid Metal Microdroplets. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:17748-17757. [PMID: 37251162 PMCID: PMC10210168 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c00487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Colloidal suspensions of thermally conductive particles in a carrier fluid are considered promising heat transfer fluids for various thermal energy transfer applications, such as transportation, plants, electronics, and renewable energy systems. The thermal conductivity (k) of the particle-suspended fluids can be improved substantially by increasing the concentration of conductive particles above a "thermal percolation threshold," which is limited because of the vitrification of the resulting fluid at the high particle loadings. In this study, eutectic Ga-In liquid metal (LM) was employed as a soft high-k filler dispersed as microdroplets at high loadings in paraffin oil (as a carrier fluid) to produce an emulsion-type heat transfer fluid with the combined advantages of high thermal conductivity and high fluidity. Two types of the LM-in-oil emulsions, which were produced via the probe-sonication and rotor-stator homogenization (RSH) methods, demonstrated significant improvements in k, i.e., Δk ∼409 and ∼261%, respectively, at the maximum investigated LM loading of 50 vol % (∼89 wt %), attributed to the enhanced heat transport via high-k LM fillers above the percolation threshold. Despite the high filler loading, the RSH-produced emulsion retained remarkably high fluidity, with a relatively low viscosity increase and no yield stress, demonstrating its potential as a circulatable heat transfer fluid.
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27
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Kumar VB, Gedanken A, Porat Z. Sonochemistry of molten gallium. ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2023; 95:106364. [PMID: 36990048 PMCID: PMC10457574 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2023.106364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
This review article summarizes the comprehensive work that was done in our laboratory in recent years, as-well-as other reports, on the various aspects of sonochemistry of molten gallium. The low mp (29.8 °C) of gallium enables its melting in warm water, aqueous solutions and organic liquids. This opened a new research direction that focused on the chemical and physical properties of gallium particles that were formed in such media. It includes their interactions with water and with organic and inorganic solutes in aqueous solutions and with carbon nanoparticles. Formation of nanoparticles of liquid gallium alloys was also reported.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aharon Gedanken
- Department of Chemistry and the BINA Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Ze'ev Porat
- Department of Chemistry, Nuclear Research Center-Negev, P.O. Box 9001, Be'er-Sheva 84190, Israel; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel.
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28
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Liu L, Corma A. Bimetallic Sites for Catalysis: From Binuclear Metal Sites to Bimetallic Nanoclusters and Nanoparticles. Chem Rev 2023; 123:4855-4933. [PMID: 36971499 PMCID: PMC10141355 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Heterogeneous bimetallic catalysts have broad applications in industrial processes, but achieving a fundamental understanding on the nature of the active sites in bimetallic catalysts at the atomic and molecular level is very challenging due to the structural complexity of the bimetallic catalysts. Comparing the structural features and the catalytic performances of different bimetallic entities will favor the formation of a unified understanding of the structure-reactivity relationships in heterogeneous bimetallic catalysts and thereby facilitate the upgrading of the current bimetallic catalysts. In this review, we will discuss the geometric and electronic structures of three representative types of bimetallic catalysts (bimetallic binuclear sites, bimetallic nanoclusters, and nanoparticles) and then summarize the synthesis methodologies and characterization techniques for different bimetallic entities, with emphasis on the recent progress made in the past decade. The catalytic applications of supported bimetallic binuclear sites, bimetallic nanoclusters, and nanoparticles for a series of important reactions are discussed. Finally, we will discuss the future research directions of catalysis based on supported bimetallic catalysts and, more generally, the prospective developments of heterogeneous catalysis in both fundamental research and practical applications.
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29
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Zhang L, Sang Y, Liu Z, Wang W, Liu Z, Deng Q, You Y, Ren J, Qu X. Liquid Metal as Bioinspired and Unusual Modulator in Bioorthogonal Catalysis for Tumor Inhibition Therapy. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202218159. [PMID: 36578232 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202218159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Bioorthogonal catalysis mediated by Pd-based transition metal catalysts has sparked increasing interest in combating diseases. However, the catalytic and therapeutic efficiency of current Pd0 catalysts is unsatisfactory. Herein, inspired by the concept that ligands around metal sites could enable enzymes to catalyze astonishing reactions by changing their electronic environment, a LM-Pd catalyst with liquid metal (LM) as an unusual modulator has been designed to realize efficient bioorthogonal catalysis for tumor inhibition. The LM matrix can serve as a "ligand" to afford an electron-rich environment to stabilize the active Pd0 and promote nucleophilic turnover of the π-allylpalladium species to accelerate the uncaging process. Besides, the photothermal properties of LM can lead to the enhanced removal of tumor cells by photo-enhanced catalysis and photothermal effect. We believe that our work will broaden the application of LM and motivate the design of bioinspired bioorthogonal catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization and Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, 130022, Changchun, Jilin, P. R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100039, Beijing, China
| | - Yanjuan Sang
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization and Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, 130022, Changchun, Jilin, P. R. China
| | - Zhenqi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization and Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, 130022, Changchun, Jilin, P. R. China.,University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wenjie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization and Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, 130022, Changchun, Jilin, P. R. China.,University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhengwei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization and Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, 130022, Changchun, Jilin, P. R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100039, Beijing, China
| | - Qingqing Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization and Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, 130022, Changchun, Jilin, P. R. China.,University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yawen You
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization and Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, 130022, Changchun, Jilin, P. R. China.,University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jinsong Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization and Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, 130022, Changchun, Jilin, P. R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100039, Beijing, China.,University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaogang Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization and Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, 130022, Changchun, Jilin, P. R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100039, Beijing, China.,University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Kim M, Lim H, Ko SH. Liquid Metal Patterning and Unique Properties for Next-Generation Soft Electronics. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2205795. [PMID: 36642850 PMCID: PMC9951389 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202205795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Room-temperature liquid metal (LM)-based electronics is expected to bring advancements in future soft electronics owing to its conductivity, conformability, stretchability, and biocompatibility. However, various difficulties arise when patterning LM because of its rheological features such as fluidity and surface tension. Numerous attempts are made to overcome these difficulties, resulting in various LM-patterning methods. An appropriate choice of patterning method based on comprehensive understanding is necessary to fully utilize the unique properties. Therefore, the authors aim to provide thorough knowledge about patterning methods and unique properties for LM-based future soft electronics. First, essential considerations for LM-patterning are investigated. Then, LM-patterning methods-serial-patterning, parallel-patterning, intermetallic bond-assisted patterning, and molding/microfluidic injection-are categorized and investigated. Finally, perspectives on LM-based soft electronics with unique properties are provided. They include outstanding features of LM such as conformability, biocompatibility, permeability, restorability, and recyclability. Also, they include perspectives on future LM-based soft electronics in various areas such as radio frequency electronics, soft robots, and heterogeneous catalyst. LM-based soft devices are expected to permeate the daily lives if patterning methods and the aforementioned features are analyzed and utilized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minwoo Kim
- Applied Nano and Thermal Science LabDepartment of Mechanical EngineeringSeoul National University1 Gwanak‐ro, Gwanak‐guSeoul08826South Korea
| | - Hyungjun Lim
- Applied Nano and Thermal Science LabDepartment of Mechanical EngineeringSeoul National University1 Gwanak‐ro, Gwanak‐guSeoul08826South Korea
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringPohang University of Science and Technology77 Chungam‐ro, Nam‐guPohang37673South Korea
| | - Seung Hwan Ko
- Applied Nano and Thermal Science LabDepartment of Mechanical EngineeringSeoul National University1 Gwanak‐ro, Gwanak‐guSeoul08826South Korea
- Institute of Advanced Machinery and Design/Institute of Engineering ResearchSeoul National University1 Gwanak‐ro, Gwanak‐guSeoul08826South Korea
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31
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Yang B, Yang Z, Tang L. Recent progress in fiber-based soft electronics enabled by liquid metal. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1178995. [PMID: 37187888 PMCID: PMC10175636 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1178995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft electronics can seamlessly integrate with the human skin which will greatly improve the quality of life in the fields of healthcare monitoring, disease treatment, virtual reality, and human-machine interfaces. Currently, the stretchability of most soft electronics is achieved by incorporating stretchable conductors with elastic substrates. Among stretchable conductors, liquid metals stand out for their metal-grade conductivity, liquid-grade deformability, and relatively low cost. However, the elastic substrates usually composed of silicone rubber, polyurethane, and hydrogels have poor air permeability, and long-term exposure can cause skin redness and irritation. The substrates composed of fibers usually have excellent air permeability due to their high porosity, making them ideal substrates for soft electronics in long-term applications. Fibers can be woven directly into various shapes, or formed into various shapes on the mold by spinning techniques such as electrospinning. Here, we provide an overview of fiber-based soft electronics enabled by liquid metals. An introduction to the spinning technology is provided. Typical applications and patterning strategies of liquid metal are presented. We review the latest progress in the design and fabrication of representative liquid metal fibers and their application in soft electronics such as conductors, sensors, and energy harvesting. Finally, we discuss the challenges of fiber-based soft electronics and provide an outlook on future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Fundamental Research on Biomechanics in Clinical Application, School of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zihan Yang
- Fashion Accessory Art and Engineering College, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Zihan Yang, ; Lixue Tang,
| | - Lixue Tang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Fundamental Research on Biomechanics in Clinical Application, School of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Zihan Yang, ; Lixue Tang,
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Huang Z, Zou S, Liu G. Surface Modification of Liquid Metal with p-Aniline Derivatives toward Bioapplications: Biosensing as an Example. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:56429-56439. [PMID: 36520994 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c10139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
It is a long-lasting research topic to avoid the formation of oxidation layers on gallium-based liquid metals. This study has developed a simple general method for modification of the eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) surface with p-aniline derivatives to introduce a monolayer of organic molecules with versatile functional groups. The binding affinity of carboxylic acid groups, amine groups, or thiol groups with EGaIn is in the order SH > NH2 > COOH. For the first time, it is evidenced that both NH2 and SH groups can coexist on the EGaIn nanoparticle surface with the binding affinities of 30 and 70%, respectively. The formation of these organic molecules on the EGaIn surface antioxidizes and thus stabilizes the EGaIn nanoparticles, while increasing the conductivity of EGaIn significantly. The resulting EGaIn nanoparticles have very good distribution in both ethanol and aqueous solutions and rich surface chemistry, making them suitable for the following attachment of biomolecules such as aptamers, antibodies, or enzymes for biomedical applications. As an example, the EGaIn surface is successfully modified with p-aminobenzoic acid followed by the attachment of an insulin aptamer, which can be used for the electrochemical detection of insulin with the lowest detectable concentration limit of 1 pM. This study reveals the modification of EGaIn nanoparticles with p-aniline derivatives with versatile functional groups to antioxidize EGaIn in a biological environment, opening a door for gallium-based liquid metals toward biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyang Huang
- School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
- Ciechanover Institute of Precision and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Siyi Zou
- School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
- Ciechanover Institute of Precision and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Guozhen Liu
- School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
- Ciechanover Institute of Precision and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
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Dang TKM, Nikzad M, Truong VK, Masood S, Nguyen CK, Sbarski I. Thermomechanical Properties and Fracture Toughness Improvement of Thermosetting Vinyl Ester Using Liquid Metal and Graphene Nanoplatelets. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14245397. [PMID: 36559762 PMCID: PMC9783833 DOI: 10.3390/polym14245397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, a eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) alloy and graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) were employed as reinforcements for a comonomer vinyl ester (cVE) resin at different weight fractions up to 2% via a direct polymerization process. First, the effect of EGaIn on the curing kinetics of cVE was evaluated. The thermal and mechanical properties, and the fracture toughness of two types of cVE composites consisting of EGaIn and GnPs were then studied. The results showed that sub-micron sized EGaIn (≤1 wt.%) could promote the curing reaction of cVE without changing the curing mechanism. However, with further increases in EGaIn loading between 1 and 2 wt.%, the curing reaction rate tends to decrease. Both EGaIn and GnPs showed a significant enhancement in strengthening and toughening the cVE matrix with the presence of filler loading up to 1 wt.%. EGaIn was more effective than GnPs in promoting the flexural and impact strength. An increase of up to 50% and 32% were recorded for these mechanical properties, when EGaln was used, as compared to 46%, and 18% for GnPs, respectively. In contrast, the GnPs/cVE composites exhibited a greater improvement in the fracture toughness and fracture energy by up to 50% and 56% in comparison with those of the EGaIn/cVE ones by up to 32% and 39%, respectively. Furthermore, the stiffness of both the EgaIn/cVE and GnPs/cVE composites showed a significant improvement with an increase of up to 1.76 and 1.83 times in the normalized storage modulus, respectively, while the glass transition temperature (Tg) values remained relatively constant. This work highlights the potential of EGaIn being employed as a filler in creating high-performance thermoset composites, which facilitates its widening applications in many structural and engineering fields, where both higher toughness and stiffness are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanh Kim Mai Dang
- School of Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, P.O. Box 218, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia
| | - Mostafa Nikzad
- School of Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, P.O. Box 218, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia
- Correspondence:
| | - Vi Khanh Truong
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Syed Masood
- School of Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, P.O. Box 218, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia
| | - Chung Kim Nguyen
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Igor Sbarski
- School of Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, P.O. Box 218, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia
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Gan T, Handschuh-Wang S, Shang W, Zhou X. GaOOH Crystallite Growth on Liquid Metal Microdroplets in Water: Influence of the Local Environment. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:14475-14484. [PMID: 36383709 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Gallium-based liquid metals form alloys with a melting point close to or below room temperature. On the surface of these liquid metals, a thin oxide skin is formed once in contact with oxygen, and this oxide skin can be leveraged to stabilize liquid metal micro- and nanodroplets in a liquid. During sonication and storage of these droplets in aqueous solution, gallium oxide hydroxide (GaOOH) forms on these droplets, and given enough time or treatment with heat, a full shape transition and dealloying are observed. In this article, we show that GaOOH can be grown at room temperature and that the growth is dependent on both the local environment and temperature. GaOOH growth on liquid metal microdroplets located at the air/water interface is considerably faster than in the bulk phase. Interestingly, hydrolysis to GaOOH is hampered and stops at 15 °C in bulk water after 6 h. In contrast, hydrolysis commences even at 15 °C for liquid metal microdroplets located at the air/water interface, and full surface coverage is obtained after around 24 h (compared to 12 h at 25 °C at the air/water interface). The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurement suggests that gallium oxide is dissolved and Ga(OH)3 is formed as a precursor that reacts in a downstream reaction toward GaOOH. This improved understanding of the GaOOH formation can be leveraged to control the liquid metal micro- and nanodroplet shape and composition (i.e., for biomedical applications).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiansheng Gan
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Stephan Handschuh-Wang
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenhui Shang
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuechang Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen518060, People's Republic of China
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35
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Parvini E, Hajalilou A, Lopes PA, Tiago MSM, de Almeida AT, Tavakoli M. Triple crosslinking conductive hydrogels with digitally printable and outstanding mechanical stability for high-resolution conformable bioelectronics. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:8486-8503. [PMID: 36321471 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01103d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Soft, conductive, and stretchable hydrogels offer a broad variety of applications, including skin-interfacing electrodes, biomonitoring patches, and electrostimulation. Despite rapid developments over the last decades, a combination of good electrical and mechanical properties, low-cost fabrication, and biocompatibility is yet to be demonstrated. Also, the current methods for deposition and patterning of these hydrogels are manual, and there is a need toward autonomous and digital fabrication techniques. In this work, we demonstrate a novel Gallium (Ga) embedded sodium-alginate-polyacrylamide-LAPONITE® (Ga-SA-PAAM-La) hydrogel, that is ultra-stretchable (Maximum strain tolerance of∼985%), tough (toughness ∼30 kJ m-3), bio-adhesive (adhesion energy ∼216 J m-2), conductive, and digitally printable. Ga nanoparticles are used as radical initiators. By adjusting the sonication parameters, we control the solution viscosity and curing time, thus allowing us to prepare pre-polymers with the desired properties for casting, or digital printing. These hydrogels benefit from a triple-network structure due to the role of Ga droplets as crosslinkers besides BIS (N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide) and LAPONITE®, thus resulting in tough composite hydrogels. The inclusion of LAPONITE® into the hydrogel network improved its electrical conductivity, adhesion, digital printability, and its mechanical properties, (>6× compared to the same hydrogel without LAPONITE®). As electrodes in the electrocardiogram, the signal-to-noise ratio was surprisingly higher than the medical-grade Ag/AgCl electrodes, which are applied for monitoring muscles, heart, respiration, and body joint angle through EMG, ECG, and bioimpedance measurements. The results obtained prove that such digitally printed conductive and tough hydrogels can be used as potential electrodes and sensors in practical applications in the next generation of printed wearable computing devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elahe Parvini
- Institute of Systems and Robotics, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-290, Portugal.
| | - Abdollah Hajalilou
- Institute of Systems and Robotics, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-290, Portugal.
| | - Pedro Alhais Lopes
- Institute of Systems and Robotics, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-290, Portugal.
| | - Miguel Soares Maranha Tiago
- Institute of Systems and Robotics, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-290, Portugal.
| | - Anibal T de Almeida
- Institute of Systems and Robotics, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-290, Portugal.
| | - Mahmoud Tavakoli
- Institute of Systems and Robotics, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-290, Portugal.
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36
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Liquid metals: Preparation, surface engineering, and biomedical applications. Coord Chem Rev 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2022.214731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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37
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Crater ER, Tutika R, Moore RB, Bartlett MD. X-ray scattering as an effective tool for characterizing liquid metal composite morphology. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:7762-7772. [PMID: 36205260 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00796g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative analysis of particle size and size distribution is crucial in establishing structure-property relationships of composite materials. An emerging soft composite architecture involves dispersing droplets of liquid metal throughout an elastomer, enabling synergistic properties of metals and soft polymers. The structure of these materials is typically characterized through real-space microscopy and image analysis; however, these techniques rely on magnified images that may not represent the global-averaged size and distribution of the droplets. In this study, we utilize ultra-small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) as a reciprocal-space characterization technique that yields global-averaged dimensions of eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) alloy soft composites. The Unified fit and Monte Carlo scattering methods are applied to determine the particle size and size distributions of the liquid metal droplets in the composites and are shown to be in excellent agreement with results from real-space image analysis. Additionally, all methods indicate that the droplets are getting larger as they are introduced into composites, suggesting that the droplets are agglomerating or possibly coalescing during dispersion. This work demonstrates the viability of X-ray scattering to elucidate structural information about liquid metal droplets for material development for applications in soft robotics, soft electronics, and multifunctional materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin R Crater
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Macromolecules Innovation Institute (MII), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Ravi Tutika
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Soft Materials and Structures Lab, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
- Macromolecules Innovation Institute (MII), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Robert B Moore
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Macromolecules Innovation Institute (MII), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Michael D Bartlett
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Soft Materials and Structures Lab, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
- Macromolecules Innovation Institute (MII), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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38
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Wang L, Lai R, Zhang L, Zeng M, Fu L. Emerging Liquid Metal Biomaterials: From Design to Application. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2201956. [PMID: 35545821 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202201956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Liquid metals (LMs) as emerging biomaterials possess unique advantages including their favorable biosafety, high fluidity, and excellent electrical and thermal conductivities, thus providing a unique platform for a wide range of biomedical applications ranging from drug delivery, tumor therapy, and bioimaging to biosensors. The structural design and functionalization of LMs endow them with enhanced functions such as enhanced targeting ability and stimuli responsiveness, enabling them to achieve better and even multifunctional synergistic therapeutic effects. Herein, the advantages of LMs in biomedicine are presented. The design of LM-based biomaterials with different scales ranging from micro-/nanoscale to macroscale and various components is explored in-depth to promote the understanding of structure-property relationships, guiding their performance optimization and applications. Furthermore, the related advanced progress in the development of LM-based biomaterials in biomedicine is summarized. Current challenges and prospects of LMs in the biomedical field are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luyang Wang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Runze Lai
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Lichen Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Mengqi Zeng
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Lei Fu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
- Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 410013, China
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39
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Yu J, Xia J, Guan X, Xiong G, Zhou H, Yin S, Chen L, Yang Y, Zhang S, Xing Y, Yang P. Self-healing liquid metal confined in carbon nanofibers/carbon nanotubes paper as a free-standing anode for flexible lithium-ion batteries. Electrochim Acta 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.140721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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40
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Akyildiz K, Kim JH, So JH, Koo HJ. Recent progress on micro- and nanoparticles of gallium-based liquid metal: From preparation to applications. J IND ENG CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2022.09.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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41
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Gallium-Based Liquid Metal Materials for Antimicrobial Applications. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9090416. [PMID: 36134962 PMCID: PMC9495447 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9090416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The hazards caused by drug-resistant bacteria are rocketing along with the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. The development of new non-antibiotic antibacterial drugs is urgent. The excellent biocompatibility and diverse multifunctionalities of liquid metal have stimulated the studies of antibacterial application. Several gallium-based antimicrobial agents have been developed based on the mechanism that gallium (a type of liquid metal) ions disorder the normal metabolism of iron ions. Other emerging strategies, such as physical sterilization by directly using LM microparticles to destroy the biofilm of bacteria or thermal destruction via infrared laser irradiation, are gaining increasing attention. Different from traditional antibacterial agents of gallium compounds, the pronounced property of gallium-based liquid metal materials would bring innovation to the antibacterial field. Here, LM-based antimicrobial mechanisms, including iron metabolism disorder, production of reactive oxygen species, thermal injury, and mechanical destruction, are highlighted. Antimicrobial applications of LM-based materials are summarized and divided into five categories, including liquid metal motors, antibacterial fabrics, magnetic field-responsive microparticles, liquid metal films, and liquid metal polymer composites. In addition, future opportunities and challenges towards the development and application of LM-based antimicrobial materials are presented.
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42
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Kim S, Kim S, Hong K, Dickey MD, Park S. Liquid-Metal-Coated Magnetic Particles toward Writable, Nonwettable, Stretchable Circuit Boards, and Directly Assembled Liquid Metal-Elastomer Conductors. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:37110-37119. [PMID: 35930688 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c07618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Liquid metal is a promising conductor material for producing soft and stretchable circuit "boards" that can enable next-generation electronics by electrically connecting and mechanically supporting electronic components. While liquid metal in general can be used to fabricate soft and stretchable circuits, magnetic liquid metal is appealing because it can be used for self-healing electronics and actuators by external magnetic fields. Liquid metal can be rendered into particles that can then be used for sensors and catalysts through sonication. We used this feature to produce "novel" conductive and magnetic particles. Mixing ferromagnetic iron particles into the liquid metal (gallium) produces conductive ferrofluids that can be rendered into gallium-coated iron particles by sonication. The gallium shell of the particles is extremely soft, while the rigid iron core can induce high friction in response to mechanical pressure; thus, hand-sintering of the particles can be used to directly write the conductive traces when the particles are cast as a film on elastic substrates. The surface topography of the particles can be manipulated by forming GaOOH crystals through sonication in DI water, thus resulting in nonwettable circuit boards. These gallium-coated iron particles dispersed in uncured elastomer can be assembled to form conductive microwires with the application of magnetic fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seoyeon Kim
- Department of Polymer-Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
| | - Sihyun Kim
- Department of Polymer-Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
| | - Kyeongmin Hong
- Department of Polymer-Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
| | - Michael D Dickey
- Department of Chemical Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, 911 Partners Way, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Sungjune Park
- Department of Polymer-Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
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43
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Tang D, Wang T, Zhang W, Zhao Z, Zhang L, Qiao Z. Liquid Na/K Alloy Interfacial Synthesis of Functional Porous Carbon at Ambient Temperature. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202203967. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202203967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Duihai Tang
- Institute of Catalysis for Energy and Environment College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shenyang Normal University Shenyang Liaoning 110034 China
| | - Tao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry Jilin University Changchun Jilin 130012 China
| | - Wenting Zhang
- Institute of Catalysis for Energy and Environment College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shenyang Normal University Shenyang Liaoning 110034 China
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Institute of Catalysis for Energy and Environment College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shenyang Normal University Shenyang Liaoning 110034 China
| | - Ling Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials College of Chemistry Jilin University Changchun Jilin 130012 China
| | - Zhen‐An Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry Jilin University Changchun Jilin 130012 China
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44
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Yi B, Ai L, Hou C, Lv D, Cao C, Yao X. Liquid Metal Nanoparticles as a Highly Efficient Photoinitiator to Develop Multifunctional Hydrogel Composites. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:29315-29323. [PMID: 35699106 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c07507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Liquid metal (LM) composites are a class of emerging soft multifunctional materials that are promising for a variety of applications, yet the chemistry properties of LM have not been fully understood. Here, we report that LM nanoparticles can directly perform as a photoinitiator for radical polymerization and the in situ development of highly tough and multifunctional LM hydrogel composites. It is revealed that the photocatalytic activity of LM nanoparticles originates from the oxide layer on LM. Significantly, positively charged metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles are used to stabilize LM nanoparticles in aqueous solutions, where the MOF can anchor on the surface of LM nanoparticles by electrostatic interaction while helping to preserve the unshielded oxide layer, therefore realizing the highly efficient photoinitiation and polymerization. The LM nanoparticle-initiated photopolymerization is shown to develop hydrogel composites featuring excellent stretchability, stimuli responsiveness, and sustained photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic polymerization initiated by LM nanoparticles not only deepens the understanding on the semiconductor properties of the oxide skin on LM but also broadens the application scenarios of multifunctional LM/polymer composites in smart materials, wearable electronics, and soft robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Yi
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Guangzhou International Campus, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 511442, P.R. China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, P.R. China
| | - Liqing Ai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, P.R. China
| | - Changshun Hou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, P.R. China
| | - Dong Lv
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, P.R. China
| | - Chunyan Cao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, P.R. China
| | - Xi Yao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, P.R. China
- City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518000, P.R. China
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45
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Das M, Chakraborty T, Yu Lin C, Fong Lei K, Haur Kao C. Electrochemical detection of acute renal disease biomarker by Galinstan nanoparticles interfaced to bilayer polymeric structured dirhenium heptoxide film. Bioelectrochemistry 2022; 147:108194. [PMID: 35752029 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2022.108194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
This work describes a facile fabrication of an efficient electrochemical sensor utilizing sonication-derived Galinstan nanoparticles (Galinstan NPs) interfaced to annealed dirhenium heptoxide (Re2O7) thin-film on Silicon (Si) for the quantitative detection of the most promising acute renal disease biomarker Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL). Under optimized preconditions, the anti-NGAL antibodies were immobilized on the Galinstan NPs/Re2O7/Si electrode by carbodiimide crosslinking to detect NGAL. The composition, morphology, and structural properties of the electrode were elucidated by various physical characterizations. The sensor obtained a high sensitivity (0.018 µA-1ng-1ml-1, R2 = 0.99) in differential pulse voltammetry and a minimum detection limit (2.14 ng ml-1) in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for a wide range of NGAL concentrations (25-650 ng ml-1) with high selectivity and stability. The intensified performance of the sensor was achieved by the summed-up electron transfer from the Re2O7 film to Galinstan NPs and Galinstan NPs to the electroactive reactants. Additionally, the outer 2D gallium oxide (Ga2O3) layer of Galinstan Nps enhanced the redox activities, whereas the metallic core contributed to the magnificent conductivity. The excellent recovery rates of the sensor for different concentrations of NGAL measured in commercial human serum by the standard addition method assured the feasibility of the sensor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munmun Das
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Titisha Chakraborty
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chan Yu Lin
- Kidney Research Center, Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No.5, Fuxing St., Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City 333, Taiwan ROC
| | - Kin Fong Lei
- Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chyuan Haur Kao
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan, ROC; Kidney Research Center, Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No.5, Fuxing St., Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City 333, Taiwan ROC; Department of Electronic Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, 284 Gungjuan Rd., Taishan Dist., New Taipei City 24301, Taiwan, ROC; Center for Green Technology, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan, ROC.
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46
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Lim T, Ring TA, Zhang H. Chemical Analysis of the Gallium Surface in a Physiologic Buffer. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:6817-6825. [PMID: 35620858 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c03281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Gallium and its alloys have been regarded as one of the promising materials for flexible bioelectronics due to their liquid-like mechanical properties, excellent electrical property, and low toxicity. Although many studies have fabricated bioelectronics from gallium-based liquid metals, gallium surface chemistry in physiologic conditions is rarely investigated. Here, we investigated the chemical change of the gallium surface in a physiologic buffer at 37 °C over 45 days. The gallium ion concentration and pH measurement indicated that the oxidation and corrosion progressed more rapidly in the physiological buffer than in air. Also, the release of gallium ions and protons followed a square root of time growth. Various spectroscopic techniques were used to measure the chemical composition change on the gallium surface. The FT-IR study indicated that the GaOOH-rich gallium surface produced Ga3+ and OH- ions. The XPS study indicated the oxide layer formation within 5 days, and then the contamination layer was deposited over time, which includes different ions and organic materials derived from the physiologic buffer. This study provides a detailed chemical analysis of the gallium surface in a physiological buffer. These fundamental studies would be a cornerstone for understanding the complex interaction between the gallium surface and the biological environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taehwan Lim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
- Advanced Textile R&D Department, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), Ansan, Gyeonggi-do 15588, South Korea
| | - Terry A Ring
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Huanan Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
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47
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Qi Y, Yu Z, Hu K, Wang D, Zhou T, Rao W. Rigid metal/liquid metal nanoparticles: Synthesis and application for locally ablative therapy. NANOMEDICINE : NANOTECHNOLOGY, BIOLOGY, AND MEDICINE 2022; 42:102535. [PMID: 35181527 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2022.102535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Locally ablative therapy, as the main therapy for advanced tumors, has fallen into a bottleneck in recent years. The breakthrough of metal nanoparticles provides a novel approach for ablative therapy. Previous studies have mostly focused on the combined field of rigid metal nanoparticles and ablation. However, with the maturity of the preparation process of liquid metal nanoparticles, liquid metal nanoparticles not only have metallic properties but also have fluid properties, showing the potential to be combined with ablation. At present, there is no review on the combination of liquid metal nanoparticles and ablation. In this article, we first review the preparation, characterization and application characteristics of rigid metal and liquid metal nanoparticles in ablation applications, and then summarize the advantages, disadvantages and possible future development trends of rigid and liquid metal nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxia Qi
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhongyang Yu
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
| | - Kaiwen Hu
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing,, China.
| | - Dawei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Cryo-Biomedical Engineering, Beijing, China.
| | - Tian Zhou
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing,, China.
| | - Wei Rao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Cryo-Biomedical Engineering, Beijing, China.
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48
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Bhagwat S, O'Brien C, Hamza A, Sharma S, Rein C, Sanjaya M, Helmer D, Kotz-Helmer F, Pezeshkpour P, Rapp BE. An On-Chip Liquid Metal Plug Generator. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2201469. [PMID: 35426187 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202201469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Gallium-based liquid metal nonspherical droplets (plugs) have seen increasing demand recently mainly because their high aspect ratios make them beneficial for a wide range of applications, including microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), microfluidics, sensor technology, radio-frequency devices, actuators, and switches. However, reproducibility of the generation of such plugs, as well as precise control over their size, is yet challenging. In this work, a simple on-chip liquid metal plug generator using a commercially available 3D microprinter is presented and the plug generator in poly(dimethylsiloxane) is replicated via soft lithography. Liquid metal plugs are generated via a combination of electrochemical oxidation, design of well-defined constrictions based on Laplace pressure, and the application of modulated voltage control signals. It is shown that plugs of various aspect ratios can be generated reproducibly for channel widths of 0.5, 0.8, and 1.5 mm with constriction widths of 0.1 mm at 6 V. Laplace-pressure-controlled plugs in constricted channels are compared to modulated-voltage-generated plugs in straight channels showing that this technique provides significantly enhanced reproducibility and control over the size and spacing between the plugs. This work paves the way to sub-millimeter liquid metal plugs generated directly on-chip for on-demand MEMS and microfluidic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagar Bhagwat
- Laboratory of Process Technology, NeptunLab, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ciarán O'Brien
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph-Black-Building, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ, UK
| | - Ahmed Hamza
- Laboratory of Process Technology, NeptunLab, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Shatakshi Sharma
- Laboratory of Process Technology, NeptunLab, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christof Rein
- Laboratory of Process Technology, NeptunLab, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Mario Sanjaya
- Laboratory of Process Technology, NeptunLab, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dorothea Helmer
- Laboratory of Process Technology, NeptunLab, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- FIT Freiburg Center of Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Frederik Kotz-Helmer
- Laboratory of Process Technology, NeptunLab, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Pegah Pezeshkpour
- Laboratory of Process Technology, NeptunLab, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bastian E Rapp
- Laboratory of Process Technology, NeptunLab, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- FIT Freiburg Center of Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
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Huang X, Xu T, Shen A, Davis TP, Qiao R, Tang SY. Engineering Polymers via Understanding the Effect of Anchoring Groups for Highly Stable Liquid Metal Nanoparticles. ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS 2022; 5:5959-5971. [PMID: 35655929 PMCID: PMC9150068 DOI: 10.1021/acsanm.1c04138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Liquid metal nanoparticles (LMNPs) have recently attracted much attention as soft functional materials for various biorelated applications. Despite the fact that several reports demonstrate highly stable LMNPs in aqueous solutions or organic solvents, it is still challenging to stabilize LMNPs in biological media with complex ionic environments. LMNPs grafted with functional polymers (polymers/LMNPs) have been fabricated for maintaining their colloidal and chemical stability; however, to the best of our knowledge, no related work has been conducted to systematically investigate the effect of anchoring groups on the stability of LMNPs. Herein, various anchoring groups, including phosphonic acids, trithiolcarbonates, thiols, and carboxylic acids, are incorporated into brush polymers via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization to graft LMNPs. Both the colloidal and chemical stability of such polymer/LMNP systems are then investigated in various biological media. Moreover, the influence of multidentate ligands is also investigated by incorporating different numbers of carboxylic or phosphonic acid into the brush polymers. We discover that increasing the number of anchoring groups enhances the colloidal stability of LMNPs, while polymers bearing phosphonic acids provide the optimum chemical stability for LMNPs due to surface passivation. Thus, polymers bearing multidentate phosphonic acids are desirable to decorate LMNPs to meet complex environments for biological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xumin Huang
- Australian
Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Tianhong Xu
- Australian
Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Ao Shen
- Australian
Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Thomas P. Davis
- Australian
Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Ruirui Qiao
- Australian
Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Shi-Yang Tang
- Department
of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
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50
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Hu Y, Hao X, Chen G, Bian J, Li M, Peng F. Self-Standing, Photothermal-Actuating, and Motion-Monitoring Janus Films One-Pot Synthesized by Green Carboxymethyl Glucomannan/Liquid Metal Nanoinks. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:23717-23725. [PMID: 35544747 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c04796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Downsizing bulk liquid metals (LM) at the nanometer scale with biocompatibility and multifunction is a key process for electronic or medical applications. Here, we report a stable and green LM aqueous colloidal ink by wrapping eutectic gallium-indium alloys (EGaIn) with carboxymethyl glucomannan (CGM) derived from radiata pine chip, which is capable of being prepared into a free-standing, photothermal-actuating, and motion-monitoring Janus film. With the assistance of CGM, the bulk EGaIn was ultrasonicated into stable nanodroplets (∼500 nm) with a typical "core-shell" structure, in which the colloidal inks can be stored for more than 1 week under room temperature. The stable CGM/EGaIn inks can be patterned on different substrates to form coating layers or self-assembled into free-standing Janus films with high mechanical strength and modulus (∼94 MPa and ∼3.8 GPa) by density deposition. Such a Janus film with anisotropic thermal conductivity made it a potential photothermal actuator. In addition, the biocompatible film demonstrated both high conductivity and large resistance variation in response to strain change (gauge factor >500), allowing for human motion monitoring. This work provides a new prospect for the development of biocompatible and high-performance nano-LM materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Hu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiang Hao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Science & Technology of Ministry of Education, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China
| | - Gegu Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jing Bian
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Mingfei Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Feng Peng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
- MOE Engineering Research Center of Forestry Biomass Materials and Bioenergy, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
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