This DNA computing model integrates sequence programmability with allostery, establishing a conformation-based computing paradigm.

Natural and synthetic multicomponent gels display emergent properties, which implies that they are more than just the sum of their components. This...

Read the full paper: Engineered Human Plasma-Derived Cryogels as a Multifunctional Scaffold to Promote Diabetic Wound Healing

Polypyrrole/polyaniline-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PPy/PANI–PVAl) aerogels were prepared by PPy deposition on PANI–PVAl cryogel substrates by oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD; o-PPy/PANI–PVAl) and chemical deposition in solution (c-PPy/PANI–PVAl). Scanning electron microscopy showed that the macroporous structure (pore size ≈1–20 μm) of the PANI–PVAl precursors was preserved after the modification. Elemental analysis showed that the chemical polymerization approach resulted in the material with a much higher PPy fraction, compared to oCVD (≈35 and ≈3 wt %, respectively), leading also to significantly higher total conducting polymer fraction relative to PVAl (1.45 and 0.47, respectively). Raman mapping supported the results of the elemental analysis, revealing that as a result of the oCVD approach, PPy is mainly deposited on the surface of the material with its presence beyond 75 μm from the surface of the material being significantly limited. On the other hand, in the case of c-PPy/PANI–PVAl aerogel, the PPy distribution throughout the aerogel was uniform, although its protonation/oxidation degree was lower, compared to oCVD. The composition of the composite aerogels was found to affect their performance in Cr(VI) removal. c-PPy/PANI–PVAl had the highest equilibrium fraction of removed Cr(VI), compared to o-PPy/PANI–PVAl and PANI–PVAl (95, 87 and 73%, respectively). The maximum adsorption capacity for c-PPy/PANI–PVAl aerogel, calculated from the Langmuir model (217 mg g–1) was comparable to the corresponding values of the other PANI-, PPy- and PPy/PANI-based materials. The potential for reusability of the modified aerogel for the removal of Cr(VI) from the aqueous medium was assessed for 4 consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles. Therefore, PPy-modified PANI aerogels were shown to be attractive materials for Cr(VI) removal.

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), banned by the Stockholm Convention, pose significant threats to ecosystems and human health due to their carcinog…

Fast recoverable shape memory cryogels (GHP) are prepared by surfactant-stablized bubbles and the modulation of capillary effects. 2D VMTs are incorporated into the cryogels (VMT@GHP) to promote clot...

In a groundbreaking study recently published in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering, researchers led by S.R. Henriques and colleagues have unveiled an innovative approach to combat breast cancer by utilizing locally administered, cytokine-loaded injectable cryogels. This research is crucial as it proposes a method to effectively reprogram tumor-associated macrophages—cells that often facilitate cancer progression—back to a state that promotes anti-tumor immunity.

In an exciting advancement in cancer therapy, researchers have developed a novel approach to target tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which play a critical role in the tumor microenvironment and influence cancer progression. The study, led by a team including Henriques, Glass, and Hoek, focuses on reprogramming these macrophages using cytokine-loaded injectable cryogels specifically designed for breast cancer treatment. The implications of this research are profound, as it could lead to more effective therapies that leverage the body’s immune system to combat cancer.