High photodegradation and antibacterial activity of BN–Ag/TiO2 composite nanofibers under visible light

To develop material with good photocatalytic properties for organic compound degradation and bacterial removal, we produced Ag/TiO₂ and BN–Ag/TiO₂ composite nanofibers that included controlled amounts of boron nitride (BN) nanosheets and silver (Ag).

Isotachophoresis applied to biomolecular reactions

This review discusses research developments and applications of isotachophoresis (ITP) to the initiation, control, and acceleration of chemical reactions, emphasizing reactions involving biomolecular reactants such as nucleic acids, proteins, and live cells. ITP is a versatile technique which requires no specific geometric design or material, and is compatible with a wide range of microfluidic and automated platforms. Though ITP has traditionally been used as a purification and separation technique, recent years have seen its emergence as a method to automate and speed up chemical reactions. ITP has been used to demonstrate up to 14 000-fold acceleration of nucleic acid assays, and has been used to enhance lateral flow and other immunoassays, and even whole bacterial cell detection assays. We here classify these studies into two categories: homogeneous (all reactants in solution) and heterogeneous (at least one reactant immobilized on a solid surface) assay configurations. For each category, we review and describe physical modeling and scaling of ITP-aided reaction assays, and elucidate key principles in ITP assay design. We summarize experimental advances, and identify common threads and approaches which researchers have used to optimize assay performance. Lastly, we propose unaddressed challenges and opportunities that could further improve these applications of ITP.

A rapidly-prototyped microfluidic device for size-based nucleic acid fractionation using isotachophoresis

We present a novel microfluidic device for size-based nucleic acid (NA) fractionation using isotachophoresis (ITP) and an ionic spacer.

Tunable properties of GO-doped CoFe2O4 nanofibers elaborated by electrospinning

We report on the synthesis of cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) nanofibers doped with graphene oxide (GO) via the electrospinning technique and the study of their chemical, structural and magnetic properties.

A modified allomone collecting apparatus

A modified allomone collecting apparatus was designed that could be used under water with a scuba tank. This apparatus provides a simple method of obtaining naturally secreted chemicals from benthic marine organisms at scuba depths, for the first time without the necessity of using a bilge pump. Organic material from Sep-paks in the allomone collector confirmed the release of secondary metabolites from a soft coral into the surrounding water.