Penn Engineers have utilized quantum sensors to realize a groundbreaking variation of nuclear quadrupolar resonance (NQR) spectroscopy, a technique traditionally used to detect drugs and explosives or analyze pharmaceuticals.  The new method is so precise that it can detect the NQR signals from individual atoms — a feat once thought unattainable. This unprecedented sensitivity opens the door to breakthroughs in fields like drug development, where understanding molecular interactions at the atomic level is critical.

Chinese scientists proposed a novel imine-to-olefin transformation strategy to synthesize single-crystal sp² carbon-linked covalent organic frameworks (sp²c-COFs).

A recent study, affiliated with South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) appeared in the online version before inclusion in an issue of Angewandte Chemie International Edition on November 21, 2024. This study highlights a groundbreaking development in foldable molecular paths within solid-state frameworks, illuminating their potential for dynamic pore control and transformative applications in molecular metamaterials.

This review has examined recent advancements in hydrogel-based soft bioelectronics for personalized healthcare, focusing on three key challenges: achieving wide-range modulus coverage, balancing multiple functional properties and achieving effective organ fixation. We explored strategies for tuning hydrogel mechanical properties to match diverse tissues, from soft brain to stiff tendons, through innovative network designs. Methods for imparting conductivity to hydrogels, including ionic conductivity, conductive fillers, and conductive polymers, were analyzed for their unique advantages in bioelectronic applications. We highlighted approaches for decoupling mechanical and electrical properties in hydrogels, such as network design strategies incorporating sliding-ring structures to address the brittleness of conductive polymers, and the novel concept of all-hydrogel devices to fundamentally decouple mechanical and electrical performances. These innovations provide potential solutions to the traditional trade-offs between mechanical robustness and electrical conductivity. Beyond electrical interfacing, we discussed hydrogels' potential in acoustic and optical coupling, expanding their functionality in bioelectronics. The review introduced hydrogel self-morphing as an alternative to adhesion-based methods for targeted organ fixation, offering improved conformability and reduced tissue damage. Finally, we categorized and analyzed applications of hydrogel-based bioelectronics in wearable and implantable devices, demonstrating their versatility in personalized healthcare, from epidermal sensing and therapy to neural interfaces and bioadhesives.

This review has examined recent advancements in hydrogel-based soft bioelectronics for personalized healthcare, focusing on three key challenges: achieving wide-range modulus coverage, balancing multiple functional properties and achieving effective organ fixation. We explored strategies for tuning hydrogel mechanical properties to match diverse tissues, from soft brain to stiff tendons, through innovative network designs. Methods for imparting conductivity to hydrogels, including ionic conductivity, conductive fillers, and conductive polymers, were analyzed for their unique advantages in bioelectronic applications. We highlighted approaches for decoupling mechanical and electrical properties in hydrogels, such as network design strategies incorporating sliding-ring structures to address the brittleness of conductive polymers, and the novel concept of all-hydrogel devices to fundamentally decouple mechanical and electrical performances. These innovations provide potential solutions to the traditional trade-offs between mechanical robustness and electrical conductivity. Beyond electrical interfacing, we discussed hydrogels' potential in acoustic and optical coupling, expanding their functionality in bioelectronics. The review introduced hydrogel self-morphing as an alternative to adhesion-based methods for targeted organ fixation, offering improved conformability and reduced tissue damage. Finally, we categorized and analyzed applications of hydrogel-based bioelectronics in wearable and implantable devices, demonstrating their versatility in personalized healthcare, from epidermal sensing and therapy to neural interfaces and bioadhesives.

In a paper published in National Science Review, an international team of scientists introduce a new perspective review on liquid-solid composite materials by exploring confined interface behavior. They explore these materials through the collaborative and complementary design of liquid materials and solid materials within the confined interface, especially focusing on the motion behavior of confined liquids. The article focuses on the frontier development of the confined interface behavior of liquid-solid composites. And it puts forward for the first time the concept and connotation of liquid-based confined interface materials (LCIMs), further discussing the challenges and opportunities in its future development.