Materials and Interfaces

Welcome to Materials and Interfaces

Younan Xia — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800

Editorial

Welcome to Materials and Interfaces

Younan Xia ^1,2

¹The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; younan.xia@bme.gatech.edu

²School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA

Received: 16 December 2024; Accepted: 17 December 2024; Published: 20 December 2024

On the Surface Compositions of Molybdenum Carbide Nanoparticles for Electrocatalytic Applications

Siying Yu, Hong Yang — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800

Perspective

On the Surface Compositions of Molybdenum Carbide Nanoparticles for Electrocatalytic Applications

Siying Yu and Hong Yang ^*,

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews, Urbana, IL 61801, USA

* Correspondence: hy66@illinois.edu

Received: 28 November 2024; Accepted: 2 December 2024; Published: 6 December 2024

Abstract: Molybdenum carbide has attracted much research attention for its precious metal-like catalytic properties, especially in hydrogen-involved reactions. It possesses rich crystal and surface structures leading to different activity and product selectivity. With advances in nanoengineering and new understanding of their surfaces and interfaces, one can control the transition between different phases and surface structures for molybdenum carbide nanoparticles. In this context, it is essential to understand their surface compositions and structures under operating conditions in addition to their intrinsic ones under ambient conditions without external cues. The necessity of surface study also comes from the mild oxidation brought by passivation in carbide nanoparticles. made using the bottom-up synthesis or solid-gas phase temperature-programmed reduction. In this perspective, we first introduce the relevant crystal structures of molybdenum carbides and highlight the features of the three types of chemical bonding within. We then briefly review the studies of thermodynamically favored surface components and nanostructures for partially oxidized molybdenum carbide nanoparticles based on both experimental and theoretical data. An electrochemical oxidation method is used to illustrate the feasibility in controlling and understanding the surface oxidation. Finally, structure-property relationship is discussed with several recent examples, focusing on the effect of phase dependency on the adsorption energy of reaction intermediates.

Emerging Piezoelectric Metamaterials for Biomedical Applications

Zishuo Yan, Huy Tran, Dezun Ma, Jingwei Xie — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0800

Review

Emerging Piezoelectric Metamaterials for Biomedical Applications

Zishuo Yan ^1,, Huy Tran ^1,, Dezun Ma ¹ and Jingwei Xie ^1,2,*,

¹Department of Surgery-Transplant and Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA

²Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA

* Correspondence: jingwei.xie@unmc.edu

Received: 30 September 2024; Revised: 18 November 2024; Accepted: 20 November 2024; Published: 21 November 2024

Abstract: Emerging piezoelectric metamaterials hold immense promise for biomedical applications by merging the intrinsic electrical properties of piezoelectricity with the precise architecture of metamaterials. This review provides a comprehensive overview of various piezoelectric materials- such as molecular crystals, ceramics, and polymers—known for their exceptional piezoelectric performance and biocompatibility. We explore the advanced engineering approaches, including molecular design, supramolecular packing, and 3D assembly, which enable the customization of piezoelectric properties for targeted biomedical applications. Particular attention is given to the pivotal role of metamaterial structuring in the development of 0D spheres, 1D fibers and tubes, 2D films, and 3D scaffolds. Key biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound healing, and biosensing, are discussed through illustrative examples. Finally, the article addresses critical challenges and future directions, aiming to drive further innovations in piezoelectric biomaterials for next-generation healthcare technologies.

A Novel Bi-Directional and Bi-Temporal Delivery System for Enhancing Intrasynovial Tendon Repair

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0800

Article

A Novel Bi-Directional and Bi-Temporal Delivery System for Enhancing Intrasynovial Tendon Repair

Yidan Chen ^1,, Seth Kinoshita ^2,, Emily Yan ³, Min Hao ^3,, Hua Shen ^4,, Richard Gelberman ^4,, Stavros Thomopoulos ^5,, and Younan Xia ^2,3,*,

¹ School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA

² School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA

³ The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA

⁴ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA

⁵ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA

* Correspondence: younan.xia@bme.gatech.edu

Received: 24 September 2024; Revised: 8 October 2024; Accepted: 14 October 2024; Published: 18 October 2024

Abstract: Flexor tendon injuries are common and often require surgical repair and prolonged rehabilitation. Successful clinical outcomes depend on the concurrent suppression of adhesions (caused by inflammation) at the tendon surface and promotion of matrix synthesis inside the tendon. Herein, we report a bi-directional and bi-temporal drug delivery system designed to target both the initial inflammatory phase and the subsequent proliferative and remodeling phases of healing to improve outcomes after flexor tendon repair. The system features a multi-layered design with anti-adhesion and pro-matrix factors encapsulated in separate layers of hyaluronate films crosslinked to different degrees to control their direction and rate of release. After validating drug delivery under controlled release, cell culture experiments involving tendon fibroblasts and a Transwell system are conducted to demonstrate the system’s efficacy in modulating local cellular responses. The promising results from this study lay the groundwork for moving this system toward in vivo testing and clinical translation.

Effect of Protein Loading Density on the Structure and Biopreservation Efficacy of Metal-Organic Frameworks

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0800

Article

Effect of Protein Loading Density on the Structure and Biopreservation Efficacy of Metal-Organic Frameworks

Yixuan Wang ^1,2,, Sirimuvva Tadepalli ^3,†,, Harsh Baldi ^1,2,, Jeremiah J. Morrissey ^1,4, and
Srikanth Singamaneni ^1,2,4,*,

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA

²Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA

³Radiation Oncology-Radiation Physics, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA

⁴Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA

* Correspondence: singamaneni@wustl.edu

† Present Affiliation: Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA

Received: 9 September 2024; Revised: 31 October 2024; Accepted: 5 November 2024; Published: 20 November 2024

Abstract: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as attractive bioencapsulants for preserving the structure and function of various biomolecules against harsh environmental conditions. However, the effect of the loading density of the biomolecules on the structure, physical properties, and biopreservation efficacy of MOF crystals remains elusive. We investigated the structure and properties of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-90 crystals as a function of the loading density of a model protein, bovine/human serum albumin (BSA/HSA). We show that the total protein concentration in the MOF growth reaction solution significantly affects the morphology, degree of crystallinity, and biopreservation efficacy of the MOF crystals. The structure integrity and immunologic functionality of albumin remained well-preserved within an optimal protein concentration range of 0.1–1 mg/mL. The proposed optimal range of biomolecule concentration during in situ MOF growth is critical for guiding future research and design endeavors within the rapidly evolving field of MOF-biomedical applications, offering exciting possibilities for biopreservation, drug delivery, and diagnostics.

Silver-Platinum Hollow Nanoparticles as Labels for Colorimetric Lateral Flow Assay

Jinfeng Zhou, Shikuan Shao, Zhiyuan Wei, Xiaohu Xia — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0800

Article

Silver-Platinum Hollow Nanoparticles as Labels for Colorimetric Lateral Flow Assay

Jinfeng Zhou ¹, Shikuan Shao ^1,, Zhiyuan Wei ^1, and Xiaohu Xia ^1,2,*,

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA

²NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA

* Correspondence: xiaohu.xia@ucf.edu

Received: 23 September 2024; Revised: 7 November 2024; Accepted: 12 November 2024; Published: 18 November 2024

Abstract: Colorimetric lateral flow assay (CLFA) has been a widely recognized point-of-care testing technology over the past few decades. Driven by the increasing demand in various biomedical applications, it is urgently needed to develop CLFAs with high sensitivities and low costs. In this work, we report a type of CLFA that relies on unique colorimetric labels—silver-platinum hollow nanoparticles (Ag-Pt HNPs). The Ag-Pt HNPs possess intrinsic enzyme-like catalytic activities, providing the Ag-Pt HNP-based CLFA with strong color signal and thus a high sensitivity. Meanwhile, the Ag-Pt HNPs have hollow interiors and are mainly composed of less expensive silver, making the Ag-Pt HNP-based CLFA cost-effective. Using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as a model disease biomarker, the Ag-Pt HNP-based CLFA achieved a high sensitivity with a detection limit at the low picogram-per-milliliter level. Potential application of the CLFA in clinical diagnosis was demonstrated by detecting PSA from human serum samples.

Piezocatalytic ZnS: Mn²⁺ Nanocrystals for Enhanced Organic Dye Degradation

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0800

Article

Piezocatalytic ZnS: Mn²⁺ Nanocrystals for Enhanced Organic Dye Degradation

Zhongxiang Wang ^1,, Elizaveta Tiukalova ^2,, Youyi Tai ^3,, Miaofang Chi ^2,, Jin Nam ^3,*, and
Yadong Yin ^1,*,

¹Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA

²Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA

³Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA

* Correspondence: jnam@engr.ucr.edu (J.N.); yadong.yin@ucr.edu (Y.Y.)

Received: 15 October 2024; Revised: 20 November 2024; Accepted: 21 November 2024; Published: 22 November 2024

Abstract: Piezocatalysis, an emerging approach that harnesses mechanical energy to drive chemical reactions, has garnered significant attention due to its potential applications in diverse fields, particularly in environmental remediation. Its broader application, however, is often hindered by the low efficiency of existing piezocatalytic materials. Here, we report the synthesis of Mn2+-doped ZnS nanocrystals with improved piezoelectric properties using an emulsion-based colloidal assembly technique. Through well-controlled Mn2+ doping, these nanocrystals demonstrate high piezocatalytic activity for degrading organic dyes under ultrasonic vibration. The optimal performance is achieved with 3% Mn2+ doping, outperforming many existing piezocatalysts. Mechanistic studies reveal the generation of reactive oxygen species as the primary driving force for degradation. Notably, pre-excitation with UV light further boosts the piezocatalytic efficiency of these metal ion-doped ZnS nanocrystals by filling electron trap states, leading to improved overall performance. This research paves the way for developing high-performance piezocatalysts, expanding the potential of piezocatalysis for a wide range of applications.

Cathodic Corrosion-Induced Structural Evolution of CuNi Electrocatalysts for Enhanced CO₂ Reduction

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800

Article

Cathodic Corrosion-Induced Structural Evolution of CuNi Electrocatalysts for Enhanced CO₂ Reduction

Wenjin Sun ^1,†, Bokki Min ^2,†, Maoyu Wang ³, Xue Han ⁴, Qiang Gao ^1,, Sooyeon Hwang ^5,, Hua Zhou ^3, and Huiyuan Zhu ^1,2,*,

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA

²Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA

³Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA

⁴Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA

⁵Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA

* Correspondence: kkx8js@virginia.com

† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Received: 22 October 2024; Revised: 25 November 2024; Accepted: 27 November 2024; Published: 4 December 2024

Abstract: The electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) has attracted significant attention as a promising strategy for storing intermittent energy in chemical bonds while sustainably producing value-added chemicals and fuels. Copper-based bimetallic catalysts are particularly appealing for CO₂RR due to their unique ability to generate multi-carbon products. While substantial effort has been devoted to developing new catalysts, the evolution of bimetallic systems under operational conditions remains underexplored. In this work, we synthesized a series of Cu_xNi_1−x nanoparticles and investigated their structural evolution during CO₂RR. Due to the higher oxophilicity of Ni compared to Cu, the particles tend to become Ni-enriched at the surface upon air exposure, promoting the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). At negative activation potentials, cathodic corrosion has been observed in Cu_xNi_1−x nanoparticles, leading to the significant Ni loss and the formation of irregularly shaped Cu nanoparticles with increased defects. This structural evolution, driven by cathodic corrosion, shifts the electrolysis from HER toward CO₂ reduction, significantly enhancing the Faradaic efficiency of multi-carbon products (C₂₊).

Controlled Polymerization of Aniline against Templating Oxide Nanostructures

Matas Simukaitis, Grace Purnell, Zachary Zander, Danielle Kuhn, Yugang Sun — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800

Article

Controlled Polymerization of Aniline against Templating Oxide Nanostructures

Matas Simukaitis ¹, Grace Purnell ¹, Zachary Zander ², Danielle Kuhn ^2, and Yugang Sun ^1,*,

¹Department of Chemistry, Temple University, 1901 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA

²U.S. Army DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center, Research & Technology Directorate, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010, USA

* Correspondence: ygsun@temple.edu

Received: 6 November 2024; Revised: 30 November 2024; Accepted: 3 December 2024; Published: 4 December 2024

Abstract: Conducting polyaniline (PANI) nanotubes with strong broadband optical absorption have been synthesized using single-crystalline MnO2 nanotubes as a solid-state oxidant that can oxidize aniline to induce polymerization in acidic solutions. The smooth surfaces and high crystalline integrity of the MnO2 nanotubes provide the appropriate reactive solid/liquid interface and templating effect to enable the transformation of the MnO2 nanotubes into PANI nanotubes. Such templated chemical transformation can be extended to silica-coated MnO2 nanotubes, allowing the synthesis of silica-coated PANI nanotubes, which are challenging to be synthesized through direct coating silica on PANI nanotubes due to the low wettability between PANI and silica. The versatile chemistry of the outer silica shells opens the possibility of modifying the as-synthesized PANI nanotubes, which usually inconveniently graft other interesting motifs.

Materials and Interfaces

Welcome to Materials and Interfaces

Welcome to Materials and Interfaces

On the Surface Compositions of Molybdenum Carbide Nanoparticles for Electrocatalytic Applications

On the Surface Compositions of Molybdenum Carbide Nanoparticles for Electrocatalytic Applications

Emerging Piezoelectric Metamaterials for Biomedical Applications

Emerging Piezoelectric Metamaterials for Biomedical Applications

A Novel Bi-Directional and Bi-Temporal Delivery System for Enhancing Intrasynovial Tendon Repair

A Novel Bi-Directional and Bi-Temporal Delivery System for Enhancing Intrasynovial Tendon Repair

Effect of Protein Loading Density on the Structure and Biopreservation Efficacy of Metal-Organic Frameworks

Effect of Protein Loading Density on the Structure and Biopreservation Efficacy of Metal-Organic Frameworks

Silver-Platinum Hollow Nanoparticles as Labels for Colorimetric Lateral Flow Assay

Silver-Platinum Hollow Nanoparticles as Labels for Colorimetric Lateral Flow Assay

Piezocatalytic ZnS: Mn2+ Nanocrystals for Enhanced Organic Dye Degradation

Piezocatalytic ZnS: Mn2+ Nanocrystals for Enhanced Organic Dye Degradation

Cathodic Corrosion-Induced Structural Evolution of CuNi Electrocatalysts for Enhanced CO2 Reduction

Cathodic Corrosion-Induced Structural Evolution of CuNi Electrocatalysts for Enhanced CO2 Reduction

Controlled Polymerization of Aniline against Templating Oxide Nanostructures

Controlled Polymerization of Aniline against Templating Oxide Nanostructures

Piezocatalytic ZnS: Mn²⁺ Nanocrystals for Enhanced Organic Dye Degradation

Piezocatalytic ZnS: Mn²⁺ Nanocrystals for Enhanced Organic Dye Degradation

Cathodic Corrosion-Induced Structural Evolution of CuNi Electrocatalysts for Enhanced CO₂ Reduction

Cathodic Corrosion-Induced Structural Evolution of CuNi Electrocatalysts for Enhanced CO₂ Reduction