(Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation)
Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa in Honolulu have unveiled a new technique that could make the manufacture of wearable health sensors more accessible and affordable. Producing these devices often requires specialized facilities and technical expertise, limiting their accessibility and widespread adoption. So, the researchers introduced a low-cost, stencil-based method for producing sensors made from laser-induced graphene, a key material used in wearable sensing. “This advancement allows us to create high-performance wearable sensors with greater precision and at a lower cost,” said Tyler Ray, the researcher who led this study.

(Funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Science Foundation)
Researchers from Penn State, Purdue University, Intel Corporation (Santa Clara, CA), The Kurt J. Lesker Company (Jefferson Hills, PA), and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan have developed a process to produce a “rust-resistant” coating with additional properties ideal for creating faster, more durable electronics. Traditional methods to protect two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor materials from rusting involve oxide-based coatings, but these processes often use water, which can accelerate the oxidation they aim to prevent. The team’s approach was to use amorphous boron nitride as a coating material, which was evenly coated on the 2D materials by using a new two-step atomic layer deposition method.

(Funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation)
Researchers from Texas A&M University have developed molybdenum disulfide nanoflowers that can stimulate mitochondrial regeneration, helping cells generate more energy. According to Akhilesh Gaharwar, one of the researchers involved in this study, the nanoflowers could offer new treatments for muscle dystrophy, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders by increasing ATP production, mitochondrial DNA, and cellular respiration. “This discovery is unique,” said Vishal Gohil, another researcher involved in the study. “We are not just improving mitochondrial function; we are rethinking cellular energy entirely. The potential for regenerative medicine is incredibly exciting.”

(Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation)
Researchers from New York University have begun to explore exosomes, tiny membrane-bound vesicles, as promising tools for wound healing. These nanovesicles carry various biological materials – nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids – allowing them to mediate intercellular communication and influence processes such as tissue repair. By combining them with hydrogels, which are composed of networks of cross-linked polymers, the researchers showed that hydrogel-exosome combinations consistently lead to faster wound closure than either hydrogels or exosomes used alone.

(Funded by the National Science Foundation)
Researchers have developed an innovative nanofibrous membrane to remove microplastics from drinking water. Water filters on the market today can remove some contaminants, but they’re not designed to capture microplastics. The filter membrane is made from polyvinyl alcohol fibers, which are polymers currently used in biomedical applications. The team chose the material because it is low-cost and is not toxic to humans, animals, or plants. “The idea is to design a filter that can be attached to a faucet so it can remove microplastic and lead at the same time from tap water,” said Maryam Salehi, one of the researchers involved in this study.