bims-enlima Biomed News
on Engineered living materials
Issue of 2025–11–09
forty-one papers selected by
Rahul Kumar, Tallinna Tehnikaülikool
  1. Biomimetic self-reinforcing recyclable biomass-derived inherently-safe sustainable materials.
  2. Zwitterionic Photocurable Resin for High-Resolution 3D Printing of Ultralow-Fouling Microstructures.
  3. Hydrogel formulations for sustained-release of broadly neutralizing antibodies.
  4. Microfluidic networks using isotachophoresis.
  5. Non-integer-dimensional architected materials enabling synergistic acoustic, mechanical, and fluid coupling.
  6. Toughening 3D printed elastomers using mechanophore crosslinkers.
  7. Multi-Material Droplet-Based Hydrogel Threads for Extrusion 3D Printing.
  8. Strong and flexible graphene oxide paper for humidity responsive origami metamaterials.
  9. Intracompartmental 3D Printing of Enzymatically Active Organelle Mimics.
  10. Programmable probiotics as next-generation living therapeutics: bridging synthetic biology and precision medicine.
  11. Enabling global access to potent subunit vaccines with a simple and scalable injectable hydrogel platform.
  12. Dynamically autofocused 3D pulsed laser micromachining enables advanced 3D bioelectronics.
  13. Programmable Anisotropic Hydrogels for Biomedicine: From Precise Design to Advanced Applications.
  14. Embedded 3D Printing of Newtonian Fluids in Elasto-viscoplastic Matrix.
  15. Hairy Gels: Mimicking the Hair-Covered Architecture and Responses of Animal and Plant Tissues.
  16. Modular Assembly of Lipid Nanoparticles for Targeted mRNA Therapeutics and Vaccines.
  17. Mechanical non-reciprocity programmed by shear jamming in soft composite solids.
  18. 3D Printing of Bicontinuous Nanoparticle-Stabilized Emulsion Gels via Co-Solvent Removal.
  19. Self-disassembling supramolecular hydrogel from functionalized ultrashort peptides without external stimuli.
  20. Frontal Polymerization-Enabled 3D Printing of Recyclable High-Performance Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers.
  21. Mechanomedicine Platforms: Engineering Hydrogel Mechanics for Next-Generation Vaccines.
  22. High-throughput printing of functionally gradient material from self-propagation.
  23. Regulation of therapeutic protein release in response to circadian biomarkers.
  24. The dynamic duo: Calcium signaling and ultrasound modulation of cellular viscoelasticity: Comment on "Viscoelastic mechanics of living cells" by Zhou et al.
  25. Hydrolytically stable, functionalizable, and tunable zwitterionic hydrogels for 3D cell culture within a non-fouling microenvironment.
  26. Multifunctional Thermoplastic Paper Enabled by Plant-Cell-Derived Additives: A Paradigm of Paper-Based "Modern Alchemy".
  27. ESPRESSO: spatiotemporal omics based on organelle phenotyping.
  28. Solvent-Induced Triradial Pattern Formation on Solid-Supported Viscoelastic Thin Films and Gels.
  29. Fibrillar Bundles as Fibrous Filler Materials for Attaining Cell Anisotropy in Bioprinting.
  30. Supramolecular chemical recycling of dynamic polymers.
  31. Spatially confined hydration for robust underwater adhesion.
  32. 3D Bioprinting Enzyme-Bacteria Symbionts for Lactic Acid Production from Cellulose Bioconversion.
  33. Zwitterionic Microgel Scaffolds Support Matrix Accumulation by Regulating Protein Adsorption.
  34. Ultra-High-Throughput Viscoelastic Squeezing for Mechanoporation and Efficient Intercellular Delivery.
  35. Vector-stimuli-responsive magnetorheological fibrous materials.
  36. DNA Glass: Encasing Diffraction-Quality, Mesoporous DNA Crystals in Architected Silica.
  37. Photo-PISA Driven In Situ Encapsulation of Nanocluster-Based Sensors within Stimuli-Responsive Polymersomes for AND Logic Gate Sensing.
  38. Stretchable complementary integrated electronics based on elastic dual-type transistors.
  39. Supramolecular assembly of unstructured peptides into rigid bundlemer polymers.
  40. Tailoring Architecture and Properties of Biodegradable Aliphatic-Aromatic Copolyesters via Interfacial Polymerization.
  41. Signal propagation in reversible digital mechanics.
  1. Nat Commun. 2025 Nov 03. 16(1): 9683
    Biomimetic self-reinforcing recyclable biomass-derived inherently-safe sustainable materials.
    Rui-Zhi Wu, Xing-Liang Li, Huan-Sheng Cai, Ning Zhao, Fu-Gui Wang, Ke-Rui Ye, Xiu-Li Wang, Yu-Zhong Wang, Teng Fu.
      Biomass-derived recyclable materials that can replace petrochemical-derived plastics are highly sought for a sustainable future. However, incumbent materials often face performance deterioration challenges owing to the aging issues after use in the environment. Here, we present a self-reinforcing, recyclable, unprecedented polyester material derived entirely from biomass lignin and soybeans, mimicking the self-reinforcement mechanism of biological systems. Our material leverages a [2 + 2]-cycloaddition reaction mediated by aromatic π-conjugated vinylidene structures, enhancing performance under ultraviolet light, hygrothermal conditions, and external electric fields. Specifically, the tensile strength, elongation at break, and anti-ultraviolet efficiency can be enhanced to 103 MPa, 560%, and 73%, respectively, far surpassing those of known biomass-derived materials and engineered plastics. Additionally, the material demonstrates outstanding insulativity, barrier properties, flame retardancy, solvent resistance, and recyclability, meeting the demands of sustainable green new energy material. Our strategy for this self-reinforcing biomass recyclable material provides rich possibilities for designing next-generation sustainable materials.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64664-9
  2. Small Methods. 2025 Nov 04. e01222
    Zwitterionic Photocurable Resin for High-Resolution 3D Printing of Ultralow-Fouling Microstructures.
    Kun Wang, Natalie Hwee, Wade Degraff, Sophia M Biener, Sijia Huang, Longsheng Feng, Seth Watts, William L Smith, Bo Wang, Sourav Chatterjee, Tae Wook Heo, Jianchao Ye, Gang Cheng, Juergen Biener, Sangil Kim.
      High-resolution 3D printing technologies are enabling a new generation of microstructured materials for applications where biocompatibility is critical. However, most conventional 3D-printable resins yield materials that exhibit trade-offs between antifouling properties and mechanical robustness, limiting their applicability in living systems. In nature, zwitterionic surface groups form tightly bound hydration layers that act as effective barriers against protein and cell attachment. Inspired by this strategy, a zwitterionic acrylamide-based photoresist-carboxybetaine di-methacrylamide (CBDA)-is developed for projection-based vat photopolymerization, enabling the fabrication of complex microarchitectures with exceptional antifouling properties. The bifunctional monomer allows the formation of dense, cross-linked networks that resist swelling while maintaining a high density of zwitterionic groups. Printed structures exhibit strong resistance to protein and cell adhesion, as confirmed by porcine blood assays, alongside robust mechanical performance. As a demonstration, a tubular structure featuring a negative Poisson's ratio lattice is printed to showcase structural fidelity and versatility. This resin formulation offers a broadly applicable strategy for fabricating microscale devices and surfaces where antifouling performance and structural integrity are both essential-spanning biomedical interfaces, soft robotics, and beyond.
    Keywords:  3D printing; metamaterial; projection stereolithography; ultralow‐fouling materials; zwitterionic photoresist
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202501222
  3. J Control Release. 2025 Oct 31. pii: S0168-3659(25)00963-0. [Epub ahead of print] 114349
    Hydrogel formulations for sustained-release of broadly neutralizing antibodies.
    Carolyn K Jons, Catherine M Kasse, Bryan T Mayer, Ollivier Hyrien, Samya Sen, Emily L Meany, Andrea I d'Aquino, Priya Ganesh, Noah Eckman, Changxin Dong, Jerry Yan, Leslee T Nguyen, Vanessa M Doulames, Ye Eun Song, Olivia M Saouaf, Christian M Williams, Shoshana C Williams, Jesus Paredes, Rajeev Raghavan, Martina Palomares, Michael Alpert, Nicole L Yates, Georgia D Tomaras, Michael S Seaman, Michael Farzan, Eric A Appel.
      Sustained serum levels of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) are crucial for effective passive immunization against infectious diseases as protection persists only while these bnAbs remain at adequate concentrations within the body. Current obstacles, such as poor pharmacokinetics (PK) and burdensome administration, must be overcome to make bnAbs a viable option for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis. In this work, we explore how a polymer-nanoparticle (PNP) hydrogel depot technology can be engineered to prolong protein delivery and enable drug exposure on the order of weeks to months. In-vivo studies in mice and rats demonstrate extended protein release compared to bolus administration, and modeling efforts predict the impact of both the elimination half-life of the active pharmaceutical ingredient and hydrogel depot volume on overall pharmacokinetics. Moreover, flow cytometry characterization reveals that immune cell infiltration into the hydrogel depot can result in faster-than-expected release of antibody cargo on account of active transport via cellular uptake. We then demonstrate that co-formulation of antibodies with an anti-inflammatory agent reduces cellular infiltration and resulting active transport, further extending delivery and pharmacokinetics. Finally, multicompartmental modeling predicts the human PK profiles of clinically relevant HIV bnAbs delivered via subcutaneous hydrogel injection. These findings aid in the development of next generation hydrogel materials that stabilize and slowly release bnAbs for long-term pre-exposure immunoprophylaxis.
    Keywords:  Antibodies; BnAbs; Hydrogels; Pharmacokinetics; Sustained release
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2025.114349
  4. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Nov 11. 122(45): e2511724122
    Microfluidic networks using isotachophoresis.
    Alexandre S Avaro, Shahab Mirjalili, Andrew D Griffiths, Juan G Santiago.
      The development of microfluidic technologies has enabled chemical and biological analysis systems with increased functionality, complexity, and parallelization. These functionalities often drive the creation and control of complex and dynamic fluidic architectures. Introduced here is a class of microfluidic network based on isotachophoresis (ITP), an electrokinetic process that can extract and purify samples, selectively transport, mix, and aliquot (split) samples in a system with no moving parts. Presented is a theoretical framework to describe these networks. The framework relies on the coupling between a one-dimensional description of ITP and two-dimensional, transient graphs to describe the dynamic evolution of ITP networks. We leverage this framework to create numerical simulations of branched ITP circuits. We build, control, and experimentally study a variety of ITP networks. These systems automatically split and merge ITP zones, enabling complex sample manipulation with minimal external control. The model captures the experimentally observed sample dynamics. We demonstrate an example system where an ITP network is used to control and quantify parallel CRISPR-Cas enzymatic reactions. The methods described here are generally applicable to highly complex topologies and may offer a basis for easily reconfigurable, electric field-driven microfluidic systems. Networks generally offer broad potential for automated chemical and biochemical analysis and lab-on-a-chip integration.
    Keywords:  electrophoresis; integrated devices; isotachophoresis; microfluidics; networks
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2511724122
  5. Mater Horiz. 2025 Nov 03.
    Non-integer-dimensional architected materials enabling synergistic acoustic, mechanical, and fluid coupling.
    Zichao Guo, Ziping Lei, Kexin Zeng, Yiman Chen, Zhonggang Wang, Zheng Fan, Zhendong Li.
      Architected materials have long struggled to achieve true multifunctionality, as attempts to combine acoustic insulation, mechanical robustness, and ventilation often rely on hybridized or modular designs that compromise scalability. Here we introduce a dimension-driven strategy that exploits non-integer-dimensional architected materials (NDAMs) to achieve multifunctional integration within a single topological framework. As a proof of concept, Menger sponge-inspired NDAMs were fabricated by high-resolution additive manufacturing, demonstrating three capabilities: broadband acoustic insulation through self-similarity induced scattering and resonance, tunable mechanical energy absorption via stress redistribution, and enhanced airflow efficiency enabled by drag-reducing multiscale channels. These functionalities arise intrinsically from fractal hierarchy, without reliance on material heterogeneity or external hybridization. Crucially, the dimensional parameter serves as a scalable and fabrication-accessible handle, bridging abstract fractional geometry with real-world engineering. This work establishes NDAMs as a powerful design axis for next-generation multifunctional metamaterials, with potential applications in aerospace, transport, and biomedical systems.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1039/d5mh01768h
  6. Soft Matter. 2025 Nov 03.
    Toughening 3D printed elastomers using mechanophore crosslinkers.
    Ana Paula Kitos Vasconcelos, Nicholas J Van Zee, Allison Rattay, Aileen Y Sun, Yunxin Yao, S Cem Millik, Claire J Ogilvie, Ayokunle Olanrewaju, Stephen L Craig, Alshakim Nelson.
      Elastomeric materials are widely used in industrial application sectors including construction, automotives, soft robotics, and biomedicine. Light-based three-dimensional (3D) printing enables the manufacturing of elastomeric polymer networks with geometric and functional customizability beyond the capabilities of traditional manufacturing methods. These 3D printed polymer networks often suffer from premature mechanical failure of the material that limits their viability in load-bearing applications. One approach to toughen elastomers is to employ non-covalent additives as sacrificial bonds in the polymer network; however, this toughness enhancement comes with a trade-off in the stiffness of the resultant object. Herein, we use a 1 : 1 substitution of cyclobutane-based mechanophores as scissile covalent crosslinks in 3D printed poly(methoxyethylacrylate) networks to enhance the material toughness without compromising stiffness. These crosslinkers increased the material's toughness in tensile and tearing tests without altering its stiffness or appearance. The enhanced toughness and tear resistance of these elastomers enabled bonding operations such as stitching and suturing. The results suggest that mechanophores offer a promising route to toughen 3D printed elastomers.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1039/d5sm00904a
  7. Small Methods. 2025 Nov 02. e00928
    Multi-Material Droplet-Based Hydrogel Threads for Extrusion 3D Printing.
    Dor Tillinger, Nicholas X Armendarez, Joseph S Najem.
      Multi-material 3D printing holds significant promise for fabricating complex structures, but is hindered by viscosity incompatibility and material cross-contamination. These limitations stem from the two dominant printing methods: extrusion and inkjet. Extrusion printing enables precise deposition of high-viscosity materials but suffers from cross-contamination. In contrast, inkjet printing effectively manages low-viscosity inks in distinct material compartments, but lacks precision, scalability, and accurate droplet placement. This study introduces a multi-material hydrogel thread fabrication technique that integrates the strengths of both methods. The threads consist of distinct, aqueous hydrogel droplets generated using a microfluidic chip within an oil stream and brought into contact through a continuous oil siphoning region. Phospholipids in the oil phase prevent droplet fusion while promoting adhesion by forming phospholipid bilayers between neighboring droplets. These assembled threads are then deposited using a 3-axis stage and cured into stable hydrogel structures. The technique's ability to achieve high-resolution structures is demonstrated by successfully printing Hilbert curve-based patterns. This printing approach for soft, multi-material structures enables precise material deposition, minimizes cross-contamination, and facilitates effective compartmentalization, thereby bridging the gap between extrusion and inkjet printing. It enables scalable production of complex structures with diverse properties for applications in tissue engineering, soft robotics, and biofabrication.
    Keywords:  droplet interface bilayers; droplet‐based printing; hydrogels; microfluidics; multifunctional materials; multi‐material 3D printing; oil siphoning
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202500928
  8. Mater Horiz. 2025 Nov 04.
    Strong and flexible graphene oxide paper for humidity responsive origami metamaterials.
    Yiwen Chen, Jun Cai, Alireza Seyedkanani, Abdolhamid Akbarzadeh, Marta Cerruti.
      Origami, the art of paper folding, can transform sheets into three-dimensional (3D) configurations and reshape deployed structures into folded forms, inspiring the design of deployable and multifunctional structures. Graphene oxide (GO) flakes can be assembled into papers that are promising substrates to fabricate actuators because of their light weight, high surface area for integration of functional components, and responsiveness to stimuli. In this work, we develop macroscopic deployable GO origamis with anisotropic mechanical properties, structural bistability, and humidity-responsive deformations. To produce strong yet flexible GO papers, we propose a high-throughput fabrication method by drop-casting GO suspensions on a wet cellulose substrate. The cellulose allows retaining water within the GO flakes during evaporation, enhancing the flexibility and toughness of the resulting GO paper. We fabricate GO Miura-ori and Kresling origamis that unfold in humid environments and fold upon water evaporation, thanks to the hygroscopic expansion of GO combined with the 3D origami design. This enables the creation of programmable, multifunctional structures that serve as actuators in a two-digit humidity signaling device. The deployable GO origamis, powered by origami engineering and the humidity responsiveness of graphene materials, offer new opportunities for the design of next-generation graphene metamaterials and responsive soft robots.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1039/d5mh01681a
  9. ACS Nano. 2025 Nov 06.
    Intracompartmental 3D Printing of Enzymatically Active Organelle Mimics.
    Yiğitcan Sümbelli, Anna C Jäkel, Madelief A M Verwiel, Nadia A Erkamp, Alexander F Mason, Friedrich C Simmel, Jan C M van Hest, Alexander B Cook.
      Introducing subcellular structures in artificial cells is a key step in mimicking the structure and role of organelles, which are instrumental in compartmentalizing cellular reaction networks. Despite the variety of strategies to include subcellular features within artificial cell models, achieving spatial and morphological control over these compartments remains challenging. In this study, we engineered 3D-printed subcellular compartments within terpolymer-stabilized coacervate-based artificial cells. Coacervate-forming charged polymers were functionalized with methacrylate moieties, enabling the fabrication of a variety of architectures within droplets through photoinitiated radical polymerization. The addition of a Ni-NTA functional methacrylate monomer to the coacervates led to its sequestration upon polymerization in these subcellular regions. As a result, the compartments were able to uptake and concentrate His6-tagged mTurquoise and β-galactosidase protein cargo molecules, despite the increase in viscosity that was induced upon polymerization. Following this affinity-based interaction approach, we demonstrated the region-specific localization of an enzymatic reaction within the artificial cells.
    Keywords:  3D printing; artificial cell; artificial organelle; coacervate; compartmentalization; photopolymerization
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c14167
  10. Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2025 Nov 03. pii: S0958-1669(25)00119-3. [Epub ahead of print]96 103375
    Programmable probiotics as next-generation living therapeutics: bridging synthetic biology and precision medicine.
    Na Li, Lijie Yin, Jia Wang, Jing Zhang, Yaojun Tong.
      Engineered probiotics are rapidly redefining what's possible for living therapeutics. Instead of acting passively, these microbes can now home to disease sites, sense local signals, and deliver precisely the therapeutic activities our patients need - directly in situ and for extended periods. With the help of modular genetic circuits, synthetic biology is transforming once-commensal bacteria into sophisticated, programmable medicines. In this review, we highlight how these designer microbes are tackling inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic conditions, and cancer, and we offer a critical look at the strategies underpinning their safety, efficacy, and clinical translation. We also discuss the translational bottlenecks, such as biocontainment, regulatory complexity, and microbiome variability, that must be overcome as these living medicines move from concept toward routine clinical use. Ultimately, programmable probiotics stand poised to reshape pharmaceutical biotechnology, sitting squarely at the intersection of microbiology, engineering, and precision medicine.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103375
  11. Biomater Sci. 2025 Nov 05.
    Enabling global access to potent subunit vaccines with a simple and scalable injectable hydrogel platform.
    Priya Ganesh, Alexander N Prossnitz, Carolyn K Jons, Noah Eckman, Alakesh Alakesh, Ye Eun Song, Samya Sen, Eric A Appel.
      Vaccines have been crucial to dramatic improvements in global health in recent decades, yet next-generation vaccine technologies remain out of reach for much of the world. In particular, there are two overarching global needs: (i) develop vaccines eliciting more potent and durable immune responses, especially to reduce incidence of highly communicable diseases, and (ii) enable simple and cost-efficient formulation to maximize global access. Here, we develop an injectable hydrogel depot technology prepared through physical mixing of commercially available, generally recognized as safe (GRAS) polymers that can be formulated with subunit vaccine components to improve immune responses compared to standard vaccine formulations. We demonstrate that these hydrogels are shear-thinning and rapidly self-healing, enabling facile administration via injection, and they exhibit high yield stresses required for robust in vivo depot formation post-injection. These rheological properties prolong release of subunit vaccine cargo over a period of weeks, both in vitro and in vivo, and synchronize release kinetics across physicochemically distinct vaccine components (antigens and adjuvants). When used for formulation of subunit vaccines against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and H5N1 influenza, these hydrogels enhance potency and durability of immune responses. This vaccine formulation technology can improve protection against current and potential future pandemic pathogens.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1039/d5bm01131k
  12. Sci Adv. 2025 Nov 07. 11(45): eadz4084
    Dynamically autofocused 3D pulsed laser micromachining enables advanced 3D bioelectronics.
    Massimo Mariello, Joseph G Troughton, Yixuan Leng, Ziming Wang, Nuzli Karam, Lawrence Coles, José González-Martínez, Kawsar Ali, Daniel J Rogers, Madeline Lancaster, Christopher M Proctor.
      Advancing next-generation bioelectronic interfaces requires devices that are soft, miniaturized, and seamlessly integrated with biological tissues. However, conventional fabrication methods, primarily based on UV photolithography, struggle to meet these needs, relying on hazardous chemicals, labor-intensive processes, and planar, layer-by-layer construction. To overcome these limits, we introduce dynamically autofocused 3D pulsed laser micromachining (d-3DPLM) using a nanosecond pulsed near-infrared laser. This approach enables rapid, cost-effective structuring of diverse materials, including thin films, metal foils, and bulk metal blocks, supporting monolithic, multilayer bioelectronics with complex 3D architectures such as microneedles and deployable elements. d-3DPLM achieves high-resolution ablation and patterning for conformable and functional device geometries. Demonstrated applications include electro-haptic patches, in vitro multielectrode diagnostic arrays, and wireless contact lenses for red light therapy. By broadening the design and manufacturing landscape for bioelectronic systems, this versatile method paves the way for improved performance, unique functionality, and enhanced integration with living tissue.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adz4084
  13. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2025 Nov 06.
    Programmable Anisotropic Hydrogels for Biomedicine: From Precise Design to Advanced Applications.
    Fengli Zhang, Zijian Gao, Lushan Sun, Zhaohui Jin, Yong Liu, Mingqiong Tong, Yanyan Zhao, Xubao Jiang, Xiangling Gu.
      Anisotropic hydrogels have emerged as a groundbreaking class of biomaterials, exhibiting remarkable potential in biomedical applications owing to their directionally dependent physical, chemical, and biological properties. This review comprehensively explores recent advancements in the design, fabrication, and functional applications of biomedical anisotropic hydrogels, with a focus on their unique structural and performance characteristics. We systematically analyze both natural and synthetic polymer matrices, highlighting key materials such as chitosan, sodium alginate, and polyacrylamide, and their roles in achieving tailored mechanical, electrical, and biocompatible properties. Advanced preparation techniques, including template-directed synthesis, external field-driven methods (e.g., electric, magnetic, and shear fields), and 3D printing, are critically evaluated for their ability to precisely engineer anisotropic microstructures. Furthermore, we discuss cutting-edge testing methodologies to characterize these hydrogels, emphasizing microscopic imaging, mechanical rheology, and biosafety assessments. The intelligent responsiveness of anisotropic hydrogels to stimuli such as light, temperature, and pH is also examined, showcasing their adaptability for dynamic applications. Finally, we highlight their potential in tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound dressing, and health monitoring, while addressing current challenges and future prospects. This review underscores the pivotal role of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing anisotropic hydrogels toward clinical translation and next-generation biomedical innovations.
    Keywords:  anisotropic hydrogel; biocompatibility; biomedical; health monitoring; tissue engineering
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5c12804
  14. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2025 Nov 07.
    Embedded 3D Printing of Newtonian Fluids in Elasto-viscoplastic Matrix.
    Hyejoon Jun, Junil Ryu, Jikang Kong, Minkyun Noh, Hyoungsoo Kim.
      Embedded 3D printing (EM3D) enables freeform patterning of soft materials by extruding ink into a yield-stress supporting matrix. While prior studies have focused on viscoplastic or shear-thinning inks, printing Newtonian fluids─such as silicone oil and liquid metal─remains challenging due to (i) matrix yielding induced by needle motion and (ii) Rayleigh-Plateau (RP) instability driven by interfacial tension. In this study, we investigate the EM3D of Newtonian inks with extremely low surface tension (silicone oil) and extremely high surface tension (Galinstan liquid metal), embedded in an elasto-viscoplastic Laponite matrix. Flow visualization with particle image velocimetry reveals that matrix yielding around the needle scales with (γ̇c/γ̇Y )1/3, where γ̇c = U/d is the characteristic shear rate and γ̇Y = 2πfγY is the yield threshold derived from amplitude sweep rheology. We demonstrate that printing orthogonal to a straight-needle aggravates matrix yielding and compromises print fidelity. To resolve this issue, we propose a bent-needle geometry, which reduces the yielded region and improves filament stability by minimizing stress propagation along the needle path. To address RP instability, we derive a theoretical stability criterion that balances interfacial tension Γ and yields stress τY, given by τY ∝ Γ/d. This prediction is experimentally validated using Newtonian inks with distinct interfacial tensions (35 mN/m for silicone oil and 345 mN/m for Galinstan). Our findings provide a unified design framework for Newtonian-ink EM3D, incorporating both rheological and geometric strategies to overcome flow-induced instability. This work expands the accessible material space for EM3D by providing fundamental insights into fluid-matrix interactions, offering practical guidelines for reliable printing of Newtonian inks in soft electronics and bioprinting applications.
    Keywords:  Embedded 3D printing; Flow visualization; Liquid metal; Newtonian liquid printing; Printing stability; Rayleigh−Plateau instability; Yield stress fluid
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5c16150
  15. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2025 Nov 05.
    Hairy Gels: Mimicking the Hair-Covered Architecture and Responses of Animal and Plant Tissues.
    Brady C Zarket, Hanchu Wang, Faraz A Burni, Srinivasa R Raghavan.
      Many animal and plant tissues are covered with slender hairs or filaments (called cilia, villi, tentacles, etc.). The hairs have important functions, which include protection from external elements, adhesion to prey, or increased absorption of nutrients. Here, we present a technique to create soft materials covered by hairs. Both the base and the hairs are hydrogels (i.e., aqueous polymer networks). The hairs are grown from the base by an "inside-out" polymerization guided by a template. By carefully selecting the monomers and cross-linkers for the polymerization, we control the chemistry as well as the mechanical properties of the base and the hairs. Moreover, we can tune all geometric parameters, including the hair diameter, length, and spacing. Hairs increase the surface area of the base gel by 10-fold, allowing a hairy gel to absorb solutes much faster than a bare gel. We also create patterns of different hairs on the same surface, including hairs that respond to stimuli such as magnetic fields. Lastly, we induce hair-covered gels to fold into tubes upon exposure to a stimulus (viz. a change in solvent quality). In the folded tube, the hairs can decorate the outer or inner surface. Folding of hairy gels mimics the folding of sundew plant leaves to trap prey.
    Keywords:  Biomimetic materials; gel folding; nature-inspired materials; stimuli-responsive materials
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5c14817
  16. Adv Mater. 2025 Nov 02. e09199
    Modular Assembly of Lipid Nanoparticles for Targeted mRNA Therapeutics and Vaccines.
    Hu Xu, Tianyao Li, Min Li, Jingxin Zhang, Ziwei Zhang, Yi Weng, Dengwang Luo, Chao Yang, Jing Guo, Yongqin Liu, Yue Zhang, Jun Zhang, Keyu Sun, Jianxun Qi, Daming Wang, George F Gao, Guangyu Zhao, Yuhong Cao.
      Targeted mRNA delivery remains a key challenge for lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), as existing surface functionalization strategies often suffer from uncontrolled cross-linking, aggregation, and immunogenicity. Conventional tetrameric streptavidin-biotin coupling, while biochemically robust, has limited translational potential due to its multivalency and poor structural control. Here, a monomeric streptavidin (mSA)-based modular assembly platform is presented that enables rapid, stable, and customizable functionalization of LNPs. The monovalent design of mSA prevents aggregation and significantly reduces immunogenicity compared with conventional streptavidin. By fusing mSA to Fc-binding domains (Z and C), universal linkers are created that can directly bind unmodified commercial antibodies, allowing plug-and-play construction of targeted LNPs without chemical modification. This approach supports interchangeable antigen or antibody labeling, yielding monodisperse and reproducible nanoparticles. Demonstrated across diverse therapeutic contexts-including virus-like nanoparticle vaccines, tumor-targeted mRNA therapy, and efficient transfection of primary mouse T cells (up to 98%)-the platform offers a generalizable and clinically adaptable strategy for precise mRNA delivery and vaccine development.
    Keywords:  lipid nanoparticles; mRNA therapeutics; mRNA vaccines; protein engineering; targeted delivery
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202509199
  17. Nat Mater. 2025 Nov 07.
    Mechanical non-reciprocity programmed by shear jamming in soft composite solids.
    Chang Xu, Shuaihu Wang, Hong Wang, Xu Liu, Zemin Liu, Yiqiu Zhao, Wenqi Hu, Qin Xu.
      Mechanical non-reciprocity, manifested as asymmetric responses to opposing mechanical stimuli, has traditionally been achieved through intricate structural nonlinearities in metamaterials. However, continuum solids with inherent non-reciprocal mechanics remain underexplored, despite their potential in applications such as wave guiding, robotics and adaptive materials. Here we engineer non-reciprocal mechanics in soft composite solids by using the shear jamming transition from granular physics. Through the control of the interplay between inclusion contact networks and matrix elasticity, we achieve tunable, direction-dependent asymmetry in both shear and normal mechanical responses. In addition to static regimes, we demonstrate programmable non-reciprocal dynamics by combining responsive magnetic profiles with the anisotropic characteristics of shear-jammed systems. This method enables asymmetric spatiotemporal control over motion transmission, a previously challenging feat in soft materials. Our work establishes a strategy for designing non-reciprocal matter, bridging granular physics with soft material engineering to realize functionalities essential for mechano-intelligent systems.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-025-02407-3
  18. Small. 2025 Nov 03. e04718
    3D Printing of Bicontinuous Nanoparticle-Stabilized Emulsion Gels via Co-Solvent Removal.
    Philip R Iaccarino, Damilola Lawal, Jordan R Raney, Kathleen J Stebe, Daeyeon Lee.
      Bicontinuous emulsion gels are mixtures with interpenetrating arrangements of two immiscible liquids stabilized with particles. The structures of such gels are readily made into simple macroscale geometries, like sheets and fibers; however, achieving more complex macroscopic structures while maintaining control over microscopic features and morphological bicontinuity remains a challenge. In this study, the ability to fabricate complex 3D structures of bicontinuous emulsion gels using direct ink writing (DIW) is demonstrated. The emulsion precursors are formulated with a mixture of hydrophilic and hydrophobic fumed silica particles; these precursors exhibit shear-thinning and yield stress behavior necessary for DIW. The thixotropic nature of the precursor further promotes the formation of bicontinuous emulsion gels through vaporization-induced phase separation and stabilization through both interfacial jamming and bulk stabilization mechanisms. This fabrication technique enables the creation of functional bicontinuous structures with complex architectures, paving the way for application in biomedical implants, catalytic reactors, and beyond.
    Keywords:  bigels; bijels; direct ink write; hierarchical materials; multiphasic inks
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202504718
  19. Soft Matter. 2025 Nov 05.
    Self-disassembling supramolecular hydrogel from functionalized ultrashort peptides without external stimuli.
    Anagha C Unnikrishnan, Harini Parthiban, Ganesh Shanmugam.
      An ultrashort peptide-based supramolecular hydrogel exhibits a unique self-disassembling behaviour, driven by dynamic reorganization of its supramolecular architecture, transitioning from a kinetically entrapped fibrillar network to thermodynamically stable nanoparticle assemblies. Exploring such hydrogel systems provides insights into their underlying molecular mechanisms and unlocks potential avenues for materials applications.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1039/d5sm00900f
  20. Adv Mater. 2025 Nov 05. e15033
    Frontal Polymerization-Enabled 3D Printing of Recyclable High-Performance Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers.
    Siqi Huang, Zhuangpeng Chen, Zhijie Feng, Hongchao Zhao, Langlang Ye, Lingkai Weng, Zhixiang Xie, Shenghua Liu, Dazhi Jiang, Wenduo Chen.
      Thermoset composites often face a challenging trade-off between recyclability and high performance. In this study, an innovative closed-loop manufacturing approach that integrates frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerization (FROMP) with 3D printing to produce fully recyclable carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (c-CFRPs) is presented. A self-propagating FROMP-enabled direct ink writing (DIW) printing technology is developed, enabling in situ curing within seconds. This breakthrough eliminates the need for post-processing and reduces energy consumption by two orders of magnitude compared to traditional autoclave methods. By copolymerizing dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) with a commercial spiroacetal monomer (≤3 wt.%), acid-degradable resins that retain the tensile strength of conventional thermosets are introduced while allowing for matrix depolymerization under mild conditions. The DCPD-based c-CFRPs demonstrate remarkable tensile strengths of up to 817 MPa and glass transition temperatures exceeding 160 °C. In a significant advancement, the recovered carbon fibers retain their pristine morphology and over 95% of their original mechanical properties, enabling repeated recycling without performance loss. Additionally, recovered oligomers can be repolymerized into new resins, further enhancing sustainability. This work presents a groundbreaking solution for high-performance composite manufacturing, addressing critical energy and waste challenges in the thermoset industry.
    Keywords:  3D printing; DCPD; carbon fiber‐reinforced polymers; frontal ring‐opening metathesis polymerization; recycling
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202515033
  21. Adv Mater. 2025 Nov 02. e13783
    Mechanomedicine Platforms: Engineering Hydrogel Mechanics for Next-Generation Vaccines.
    Mengsi Yang, Jin Tian, Kai Qu, Zhao Wei, Feng Xu, Hui Guo.
      Traditional vaccines face significant limitations, including rapid antigen degradation, weak immune responses, limited durability, and complex logistics requiring cold-chain storage. Mechanomedicine, which leverages engineered hydrogels with precisely tunable mechanical properties, offers innovative solutions by creating stable antigen reservoirs that prolong antigen release and enhance immune activation. Emerging research has highlighted key mechanotransduction pathways, including integrins, Piezo1 channels, and yes-associated protein/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (YAP/TAZ) signaling, through which immune cells respond to mechanical cues from the hydrogel matrix. By systematically adjusting hydrogel stiffness, viscoelasticity, porosity, and degradation kinetics, researchers can optimize antigen presentation, amplify germinal center responses, and simplify delivery routes, significantly improving vaccine thermostability and patient compliance. Integrating biophysical insights, materials science, and immunology, mechanomedicine may support vaccines that deliver potent, durable immunity, greater accessibility, and improved equity. This review highlights the interdisciplinary potential of mechanically engineered hydrogels as a platform to improve global vaccination strategies.
    Keywords:  hydrogel vaccine; immunoengineering; mechanical microenvironment; mechanobiology; mechanomedicine
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202513783
  22. Nat Commun. 2025 Nov 03. 16(1): 9706
    High-throughput printing of functionally gradient material from self-propagation.
    Yan Zhang, Yuqiang Liu, Guangzhen Ren, Chen Yu.
      While combinatorial deposition techniques have accelerated the screening and understanding of materials, the creation of multi-material integration and gradient libraries is limited by mixing and distribution challenges. Here we show arbitrarily formable 3D-printable precursor materials, which are precisely formulated with their compositions by high-throughput techniques to achieve multiple degrees of freedom, efficiently realizing multi-scale, multi-component, and high-throughput printing. Meanwhile, a highly adaptive self-propagating-energy deposition technique based on a redox reaction between the precursors has been established, reducing the dependence on specific equipment and processes. We have realized printing strategies for multiple copper-based composites and multicomponent gradient materials, making possible multiple metallic and nonmetallic compounds as well as multigradient materials with multiple compositions and structures with simultaneous gradient properties. Multi-gradient materials are able to be printed synchronously during the printing process, avoiding structural defects such as thermal accumulation and cracks through thermal stacking between gradients, which cannot be obtained by conventional manufacturing methods.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65189-x
  23. Nat Commun. 2025 Nov 06. 16(1): 9812
    Regulation of therapeutic protein release in response to circadian biomarkers.
    Nik Franko, Shichao Li, Silvia Galvan, Zsoka Csorba, Ana Palma Teixeira, Mingqi Xie, Martin Fussenegger.
      The human circadian clock integrates external environmental changes and internal physiological signals to generate natural oscillations of secreted endocrine signals to regulate diverse biological processes. Here, we explore human receptors responsive to molecules displaying in vivo oscillatory patterns and identify melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A) as a promising molecular sensor to trigger transgene expression. We engineer a melatonin-inducible gene switch consisting of ectopically expressed MTNR1A linked to an amplifier module utilizing the native Gαs protein-mediated cell signaling cascade, which involves adenylyl cyclase, cAMP, protein kinase A and the cAMP-responsive transcription factor CREB, to drive transgene expression from a synthetic promoter. This system operates within the physiological melatonin concentration range, selectively responding to night-phase levels of the diurnal rhythm, while remaining unresponsive to day-phase levels. Such temporal control suggests its potential for personalized cell- and gene-based therapies requiring once-per-day dosing regimen. As proof-of-concept, we show that alginate-encapsulated engineered cells implanted in C3H/HeJ male mice can translate circadian inputs or clinically licensed MTNR1A agonists into regulated GLP-1 expression as a therapeutic output exclusively secreted during nighttime, highlighting potential as an experimental cell therapy for obesity-dependent type-2 diabetes.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64761-9
  24. Phys Life Rev. 2025 Nov 01. pii: S1571-0645(25)00160-5. [Epub ahead of print]55 232-234
    The dynamic duo: Calcium signaling and ultrasound modulation of cellular viscoelasticity: Comment on "Viscoelastic mechanics of living cells" by Zhou et al.
    Fenfang Li.
      
    Keywords:  Calcium signaling; Cell mechanotransduction; Non-invasive control; Ultrasound modulation; Viscoelasticity
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plrev.2025.11.001
  25. Biomaterials. 2025 Oct 31. pii: S0142-9612(25)00744-6. [Epub ahead of print]328 123825
    Hydrolytically stable, functionalizable, and tunable zwitterionic hydrogels for 3D cell culture within a non-fouling microenvironment.
    Di Liu, Erica K Wagner, Shaili Lakhotia, Haoxuan He, Amy D Laflin, Pingchuan Liu, Srishti Khetan, Chenjue Tang, Shuibing Chen, Shaoyi Jiang.
      Zwitterionic hydrogels are promising scaffolds for 3D cell culture due to their strong hydration and resistance to non-specific protein adsorption. Unlike animal-derived matrices like Matrigel, they provide a chemically defined, biologically clean environment for cell growth and differentiation. However, their broader use is hindered by challenges in polymer synthesis and gelation, including poor hydrolytic stability, low yield, slow gelation, and limited stiffness. We report a highly efficient method for synthesizing functional poly(carboxybetaine) (PCB), yielding star-shaped zwitterionic polymers with superior hydrolytic stability, excellent end-group functionalization, and the ability to form hydrogels with tunable stiffness under physiological conditions. The resulting hydrogels incorporate both enzyme-degradable and cell-adhesive peptides, enabling direct encapsulation and release of hPSCs and supporting the culture of various cell types. 3D culture of hPSCs in this system demonstrates robust performance and ease of use, highlighting its potential as a chemically defined, high-performance alternative to Matrigel for 3D cell culture.
    Keywords:  3D cell culture; Human pluripotent stem cells; Zwitterionic hydrogels; poly(carboxybetaine)
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2025.123825
  26. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2025 Nov 05. e06157
    Multifunctional Thermoplastic Paper Enabled by Plant-Cell-Derived Additives: A Paradigm of Paper-Based "Modern Alchemy".
    Xiaoyan Yu, Jie Zhou, Jianqiang Li, Hongyang Yuan, Xueren Qian, Yonghao Ni, Zhibin He, Chaoji Chen, Jing Shen.
      Papermaking, an ancient yet remarkable invention, hinges on the formation of a network of plant cells. With the growing demand for bio-derived alternatives to non-renewable resources and difficult-to-degrade plastics, enhancing the functional attributes of cellulosic paper is essential to broaden its applications. Here, a facile approach is introduced to upgrade conventional cellulosic paper into an advanced thermoplastic biomaterial, endowed with ductility, wet-strength, gas and liquid barrier functionalities, and antistatic properties. The concept is grounded in the specialized area of papermaking wet-end chemistry and chemical additives and employs plant-cell-derived cellulosic additives, prepared via ring-opening-based heterogenous chemical engineering of paper-grade pulp with microstructurally porous cell walls comprising fibrils, which are then formed upon dissolution in an aqueous "non-derivatizing" solvent, for engineering the paper through a process that somehow mimics the industrial surface sizing. The utilization of additives initiates a form of paper-based "modern alchemy", which involves the encapsulation of fibers with ring-opening-engineered cellulosic structures, solvent-induced fiber annealing, bridging of interfiber gaps, film-forming, porosity reduction, structural densification, enhanced internal bonding, paper surface smoothening, etc. The engineered paper can be facilely reshaped through hot-pressing for 3D forming and recyclable applications. Additionally, their dissolution in a cellulosic solution yields functional additives for diverse applications, offering another avenue for recycling. This work offers insights into designing paper-based thermoplastic materials using sustainable additives.
    Keywords:  biomass; bioplastics; cellulosic materials; papermaking wet‐end chemistry and chemical additives; paper‐based advanced materials; pulp and paper industry
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202506157
  27. Nat Methods. 2025 Nov 03.
    ESPRESSO: spatiotemporal omics based on organelle phenotyping.
    Lorenzo Scipioni, Giulia Tedeschi, Mariana X Navarro, Yunlong Y Jia, Songning Zhu, Lila P Halbers, Melody Di Bona, Scott X Atwood, Jennifer A Prescher, Enrico Gratton, Michelle A Digman.
      Omics technologies such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics methods, have been instrumental in improving our understanding of complex biological systems by providing high-dimensional phenotypes of cell populations and single cells. Despite fast-paced advancements, these methods are limited in their ability to include a temporal dimension. Here, we introduce ESPRESSO (Environmental Sensor Phenotyping RElayed by Subcellular Structures and Organelles), a technique that provides single-cell, high-dimensional phenotyping resolved in space and time. ESPRESSO combines fluorescent labeling, advanced microscopy and image and data analysis methods to extract morphological and functional information from organelles at the single-cell level. We validate ESPRESSO's methodology and its application across numerous cellular systems for the analysis of cell type, stress response, differentiation and immune cell polarization. We show that ESPRESSO can correlate phenotype changes with gene expression, and demonstrate its applicability to 3D cultures, offering a path to improved spatially and temporally resolved biological exploration of cellular states.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-025-02863-4
  28. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2025 Nov 04.
    Solvent-Induced Triradial Pattern Formation on Solid-Supported Viscoelastic Thin Films and Gels.
    Fan Zhao, Surjyasish Mitra, Minmin Xu, Jianlin Yao, Sushanta K Mitra, Boxin Zhao.
      Solvent-driven surface instabilities in soft materials offer a powerful route to generate spontaneous patterns without external templating; yet the mechanisms governing their emergence, evolution, and long-term modulation remain elusive. Here, we uncover the time-dependent formation of quasi-periodic triradial patterns on the surface of thin, soft silicone-based viscous films undergoing hexane extraction and drying. Using dual-wavelength reflection interference contrast microscopy, we observe a reproducible morphological progression: from shallow circular domains at short extraction times to a well-defined array of triradial, three-armed patterns at longer durations, driven by the buildup of internal stress, surface-to-bulk modulus gradients, and network densification. Systematic studies across silicone elastomers and gels reveal that while the triradial patterning is broadly conserved, its geometry is tunable by factors such as cross-link density and solvent retention. These results establish a general mechanism of solvent-mediated pattern formation in soft silicone-based viscous films and offer a potential route for designing dynamic and programmable surface architectures through controlled solvent processing.
    Keywords:  silicone gel; solvent-induced patterning; swelling-induced instability; triradial surface structure; viscous elastomer
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5c14678
  29. Adv Healthc Mater. 2025 Nov 07. e03767
    Fibrillar Bundles as Fibrous Filler Materials for Attaining Cell Anisotropy in Bioprinting.
    Sven Heilig, Zan Lamberger, Lys Sprenger, Vivien Priebe, Camilla Mussoni, Denitsa Docheva, Kristina Andelovic, Jürgen Groll, Sahar Salehi, Gregor Lang, Matthias Ryma.
      Cellular alignment is essential for the function of anisotropic tissues such as skeletal muscle, tendon, cardiac, or neuronal tissues, where cell polarization governs mechanical integrity and signal transduction. However, engineering 3D tissue constructs with anisotropic extracellular microenvironments remains challenging, especially in larger constructs, which are commonly fabricated using extrusion-based bioprinting of cell-laden hydrogels, also known as bioinks. Here, a new class of bioprintable fibrous filler materials, fibrillar bundles, is presented that can be incorporated into bioinks and harness shear forces during extrusion bioprinting to achieve in situ alignment without the need for additional processing steps. These fibril bundles consist of multiple submicrometer fibrils fused into a larger bundle. They support robust cell adhesion and effectively promote polarization and alignment across multiple cell types. When incorporated into bioinks and printed with muscle cells, the fibrillar bundles enhance cellular alignment, and quantitative analysis confirms the directional growth of multinuclear myotubes and their morphological maturation. This approach offers a scalable and integrative solution for inducing anisotropy within 3D biofabricated tissues, holding promise for applications in muscle tissue engineering and beyond.
    Keywords:  bioprinting; fibers; filler materials; melt electrofibrillation; muscle alignment
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202503767
  30. Nat Nanotechnol. 2025 Nov 05.
    Supramolecular chemical recycling of dynamic polymers.
    Yuanxin Deng, Ling Liu, Hong-Xi Luo, He Tian, Da-Hui Qu, Ben L Feringa, Qi Zhang.
      Current chemical approaches for recycling synthetic plastics rely on either catalytic reactions to break covalent bonds or introducing weaker bonds in the plastic structure. In the former approach, depolymerization remains an energetically demanding step due to the thermodynamic stability of the plastic, whereas in the latter approach, the recyclability of plastic usually compromises mechanical properties. Here we present a supramolecular chemistry principle that results in a catalyst-free and solvent-free polymer-to-monomer transformation of a series of kinetically stable poly(disulfide)s. The coupling of two dynamic chemical equilibria-H-bond self-assembed stacking of the sidechains and dynamic covalent polymerization of the backbone-reversibly regulates the monomer-polymer equilibrium through simple solvation/desolvation cycles. Following this principle, we synthesize thermodynamically metastable, yet kinetically stable, poly(disulfide)s with high crystallinity and tunable mechanical properties. Upon mild thermal activation at 120 °C, the plastic can be readily recycled into crystalline monomers with quantitative yields and monomer purity >90%. The monomers can then be used to regenerate origin-quality polymers. Our findings offer a supramolecular route for designing closed-loop recyclable synthetic polymers.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-025-02041-9
  31. Sci Adv. 2025 Nov 07. 11(45): eaea3097
    Spatially confined hydration for robust underwater adhesion.
    Gang Lu, Rui Ma, Jian Lu, Yuanhao Chang, Ming Li, Eduardo Saiz.
      Underwater adhesion has long been limited by interfacial water's paradoxical role as both bonding mediator and failure initiator. We present a confined hydration adhesive tape (CHAT) that harnesses water as a molecular architect through spatial hydration management. By confining water penetration to sub-8-micrometer depths, we create a dynamic interface where hydration-activated hydrogen bonds enable adaptive, high-density interfacial connections, and hydrophobic nanodomains maintain bulk integrity via entropic water exclusion. This orchestrated hydration yields an interfacial toughness of 6 kilojoules per square meter (>1.8× literature benchmarks; 1.4 to 3.8× commercial tapes), while preserving stability across harsh conditions (pH 1 and 13, 3.5% saline). Multiscale experiments and simulations reveal water's triple role as a hydrogen bond catalyst at the interface, a dynamical reorganizer of supramolecular networks, and a mechanical decoupler of interfacial adhesion/bulk cohesion. By establishing interfacial water as a design variable rather than a compromise, CHAT opens avenues for marine, biomedical, and industrial applications where water-resistant adhesion is critical.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aea3097
  32. Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Nov 03.
    3D Bioprinting Enzyme-Bacteria Symbionts for Lactic Acid Production from Cellulose Bioconversion.
    Ke-Wan Li, Meng-Jie Luo, Yixuan Wang, Xiao-Li Liu, Meng Liu, Xingyu Wang, Jinyou Shen, Yang Mu.
      Bioconversion of waste cellulosic biomass into high-value chemicals holds significant potential, although traditional cocultures face challenges such as microbial competition and poor spatial organization, which limit stability and efficiency. Herein, we, for the first time, created enzyme-bacteria symbionts with customized geometric configurations using a three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting platform for efficient lactic acid production from cellulose. To facilitate 3D printing, a biocompatible and tunable dual-network functional living bioink was developed with optimized rheological properties, enabling meticulous manipulation of the spatial arrangement and density of active components. By optimizing spatial niches, the design featuring an inner cellulase layer and an outer bacteria layer improved lactic acid production efficiency during cellulose bioconversion. At an optimal enzyme loading of 35 U/mL, the maximum lactic acid yield of 6.55 ± 0.34 g/L was achieved using 3D-bioprinted symbionts with 17.5 g/L cellulose as the sole carbon source. Importantly, reaction-diffusion simulations clearly revealed the spatial and radial distributions of the intermediate product glucose and the final product lactic acid within the enzyme-bacteria symbionts. This work establishes a new design paradigm for engineered living materials, providing a scalable platform for diverse waste-to-product conversions and practical pathways for implementing circular bioeconomy principles.
    Keywords:  3D bioprinting; bioconversion; cellulosic biomass; enzyme-bacteria symbionts; reaction-diffusion stimulation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c08210
  33. Adv Healthc Mater. 2025 Nov 07. e03483
    Zwitterionic Microgel Scaffolds Support Matrix Accumulation by Regulating Protein Adsorption.
    Erika E Wheeler, Ayla N Apsey, J Kent Leach.
      Substrate charge influences protein adsorption, cell adhesion, and biocompatibility. Hydrogels formed from zwitterionic polymers, which possess balanced cationic and anionic groups, are advantageous due to their high levels of hydration, ability to resist non-specific protein adsorption, high biocompatibility, and non-immunogenicity. Compared to bulk hydrogels, microgel-based scaffolds enhance cell proliferation, migration, cell-matrix interaction, and nutrient transport. However, previous studies using zwitterionic microgel scaffolds have not fully characterized how substrate charge influences cell behaviors such as viability, spreading, and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. In this study, microgels using polymers with various functional groups that imbue distinct substrate charges and emulsion-based microfluidics are fabricated. Charged proteins adsorbed more to substrates with an opposing charge. When seeding human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) into microgel annealed scaffolds, we observed differences in cell viability and cell spreading as a function of substrate charge, with zwitterionic polymers best promoting viability and spreading. Lastly, it is found that zwitterionic microgel scaffolds maintained ECM accumulation in inflammatory conditions, while ECM deposition decreased in scaffolds formed from nonionic or negatively charged polymers. These data demonstrate that substrate charge influences protein adsorption, MSC adhesion, and subsequent ECM deposition, highlighting its importance in designing macroporous scaffolds for tissue engineering.
    Keywords:  Zwitterionic hydrogels; extracellular matrix; mesenchymal stromal cells; microgels; protein adsorption
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202503483
  34. Small. 2025 Nov 06. e07981
    Ultra-High-Throughput Viscoelastic Squeezing for Mechanoporation and Efficient Intercellular Delivery.
    Rashin Mohammadi, Irma Sakic, Ankit Jain, Prerit Mathur, Tobias Weiss, Andrew J deMello, Stavros Stavrakis, Mohammad Asghari.
      Cell-based therapies have transformed the treatment landscape for a range of diseases, leveraging both genome modification and cell reprogramming to create targeted treatments. Such therapies rely on the efficient internalization of biomolecules into living cells. Unfortunately, existing cargo delivery methods, such as those based on viral vectors and electroporation, are often compromised by cytotoxicity, poor delivery efficiencies, and low throughput. To overcome these limitations, a viscoelastic squeezing methodology is presented that uses viscoelastic microfluidics to perform mechanoporation in a rapid and contact-free manner. Through the control of the flow rates of a sample stream containing cells and cargo and a surrounding viscoelastic sheath flow, the width of a "virtual channel" formed between the two streams can be regulated. Elastic forces generated within this virtual channel are then used to deform contained cells and internalize user-defined payloads. The effectiveness and utility of the platform are assessed through the delivery of mRNA, plasmid DNA, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR-Cas9) ribonucleoprotein complexes into a variety of cell lines. Data confirms that viscoelastic squeezing provides for enhanced delivery efficiencies when compared to conventional poration techniques, whilst maintaining high cell viabilities and throughputs of 20 million cells per minute, and thus represents a powerful tool for cellular engineering.
    Keywords:  cell squeezing; cell transfection; intracellular delivery; mechanoporation; microfluidics
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202507981
  35. Nature. 2025 Nov 05.
    Vector-stimuli-responsive magnetorheological fibrous materials.
    Junhong Pu, Haiqiong Li, Jin Liu, Ke Li, Xiaoming Tao.
      Fibrous materials that provide reversible actuation1,2 or adapt mechanical properties3,4 in response to external stimuli hold great promise for smart textiles5, soft robotics6 and wearable technologies7. Although considerable progress has been made in creating fibrous materials responsive to scalar stimuli such as voltage8, temperature6, humidity2 and ion concentration9, these technologies often lack directional controllability and functional diversity10-14. Here we report a class of vector-stimuli-responsive magnetorheological fibrous materials, guided by our engineering model integrating the structural mechanics of textiles with the magnetics of soft magnetic materials. We mass-produced soft magnetic polymer composite fibres with optimized mechanical and magnetic properties, which we then assembled into concentric helical yarns. These yarns exhibited pronounced bending and stiffening properties controlled by the direction and magnitude of magnetic fields, allowing for customized fabrics with various actuation and stiffening functionalities. We demonstrated innovative smart textiles derived from those fabrics, including an active ventilation fabric for personal moisture management, an integrated conformable gripper for handling objects of varying shapes and stiffness, and a compact remote-controllable haptic finger glove that replicates the sensation of fabric hardness and smoothness. Our work provides insights into stimuli-responsive fibrous materials, elevating them from scalar to sophisticated vector control, heralding an era of smart textile innovation.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09706-4
  36. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2025 Nov 02. e16745
    DNA Glass: Encasing Diffraction-Quality, Mesoporous DNA Crystals in Architected Silica.
    Hajar Al-Zarah, Vidya R Singh, Karol Woloszyn, Lara Perren, Judah Klingsberg, Gregor Posnjak, Tim Liedl, Trinanjana Mandal, Chengde Mao, Joshua Hihath, Yoel P Ohayon, James W Canary, Satoshi Habuchi, Ruojie Sha, Simon Vecchioni.
      Self-assembling DNA crystals have emerged over the last two decades as an efficient and effective means of organizing matter at the nanoscale, but functionalization of these lattices has proved challenging as physiological buffer conditions are required to maintain structural integrity. In this manuscript, we demonstrate the silicification of mesoporous DNA crystals using sol-gel chemistry. We identify reaction conditions that produce the minimum coating thickness to confer environmental protection, and we subsequently measure this protective ability to various stressors, including heat, low ionic strength solution, organic solvents, and unprotected freezing. By soaking metal ions and dyes into the lattice after silica coating, we demonstrate that the crystals maintain their pores and that the major groove of the DNA can still be used as a sequence-specific template for chemical reactions. We image a library of different crystal motifs by electron microscopy, and we perform X-ray diffraction on these crystals, both with and without cryoprotection, to determine the structure of the DNA frame, underscoring the conserved molecular order after coating. We anticipate these mesoporous silica composites will find use in applications involving extreme, nonphysiological conditions and in experiments which utilize the DNA glass described here as a template for chemical reactions on the internal surface of architected materials.
    Keywords:  DNA nanotechnology; Nanomaterials; Silicification; Sol–gel; Surface chemistry
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202516745
  37. ACS Sens. 2025 Nov 02.
    Photo-PISA Driven In Situ Encapsulation of Nanocluster-Based Sensors within Stimuli-Responsive Polymersomes for AND Logic Gate Sensing.
    Kaili Chen, Colleen N Loynachan, Chalaisorn Thanapongpibul, Junni Zhang, Liyun Ma, Jonathan Yeow, Adrian Najer, Molly M Stevens.
      Colorimetric sensing is a widely utilized analytical technique due to its simplicity, accessibility, rapid response, and broad applicability in medical diagnostics. However, improving the sensitivity and specificity of these assays remains a critical challenge in complex disease states, especially when sensing endogenous enzymes as biomarkers. In this study, we have developed a hierarchical AND logic gate dual-sensing platform that integrates peptide-templated, catalytically active gold nanoclusters (AuNCs), acting as nanozymes tethered to a carrier protein (AuNC-protein complex nanosensor), and loads them within pH-responsive polymersomes synthesized via in situ photoinitiated polymerization-induced self-assembly (photo-PISA). Under physiological conditions, the AuNC-protein complex is stably encapsulated within the enzyme-impermeable polymersome but becomes released under acidic conditions. In the presence of a target enzyme, the AuNCs can then be cleaved from the supramolecular protein complex, separated, and quantified by a colorimetric readout, yielding a positive signal only when the sensor encounters both an acidic environment and the target enzyme. This AND logic gate design minimizes background signals and enhances specificity, making it particularly suitable for complex biological environments. We envision future use of this system for dual-responsive in vivo sensing of overexpressed enzymes in acidic tumor or inflammatory microenvironments, with a simple colorimetric urinary readout.
    Keywords:  catalytic gold nanocluster; enzyme-responsive; pH-responsive; photoinitiated polymerization-induced self-assembly; polymersome
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.5c02685
  38. Sci Adv. 2025 Nov 07. 11(45): eaea1867
    Stretchable complementary integrated electronics based on elastic dual-type transistors.
    Yongcao Zhang, Kyoseung Sim, Hyunseok Shim, Faheem Ershad, Shubham Patel, Yingshi Guan, Cunjiang Yu.
      Complementary integrated circuits in an elastic format are essential for systems toward emerging applications in wearable health monitors, soft robotics, and implantable medical devices. However, their development is very nascent, largely owing to the imbalance of p- and n-type elastic transistors. Here, we report fully stretchable complementary integrated electronics combining elastic n-type transistors based on metallic carbon nanotube (CNT)-oped poly{[N,N'-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-naphthalene-1,4,5,8-bis(dicarboximide)-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,5'-(2,2'-bithiophene)} with p-type transistors using semiconducting CNT networks. The layered elastomer-semiconductor-elastomer architecture provides both type transistors with stable, well-matched electrical characteristics up to 50% strain. Using these components, we demonstrate stretchable digital logic gates-including inverters, NAND, and NOR-which retain function under large strain. As a system-level demonstration, a complementary inverter active matrix integrated with a single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerator array realizes a stretchable tactile sensing skin. The stretchable complementary integrated electronics demonstrated here hold promise in many fields, particularly these require seamless integration with dynamic living systems.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aea1867
  39. Nanoscale. 2025 Nov 04.
    Supramolecular assembly of unstructured peptides into rigid bundlemer polymers.
    Joshua E Meisenhelter, Matthew Langenstein, Jacquelyn E Blum, Dai-Bei Yang, Darrin J Pochan, Jeffery G Saven, Christopher J Kloxin.
      Unstructured, designed 15-residue peptide sequences conjugated between their N-termini through thiol-maleimide click chemistry yield coiled-coil, rod-like polymers with widths of 2 nm and lengths exceeding 5 μm. The assembly process enables supramolecular polymer formation and is distinct from previously reported step-growth polymerization of well-structured coiled coils.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1039/d5nr03269e
  40. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2025 Nov 06.
    Tailoring Architecture and Properties of Biodegradable Aliphatic-Aromatic Copolyesters via Interfacial Polymerization.
    Sara E Branovsky, Isabelle L Behrman, Benjamin R Hirschboeck, Daniel de Castro Assumpção, Eleanor C Grosvenor, Danielle Tullman-Ercek, Kenneth R Shull, Cécile A C Chazot.
      Aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters (AAPEs) are widely used in biodegradable packaging due to their balance of thermal stability and enzymatic degradability. However, their synthesis is often hindered by time-consuming protocols, prolonged reactions, and reliance on expensive metal catalysts. Herein, we introduce stirred interfacial polymerization as a rapid, open-air method to synthesize poly(p-phenylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PPAT) with tunable aliphaticity. We compare the use of chloroform, a conventional organic solvent for interfacial polymerization, with ethyl acetate, a more environmentally friendly alternative. Regardless of the solvent used, we achieved reaction yields that matched or exceeded those of traditional step-growth synthesis methods. Increasing the concentration of phase transfer catalyst enhances the incorporation of the aliphatic monomer, promoting a shift from a random to a more block-like copolymer structure. PPAT powder can be readily heat-pressed into semicrystalline films with degradation onset temperatures between 263 and 310 °C and tailored elastic moduli and hardness values. Furthermore, increased aliphaticity significantly improved enzymatic degradation by PETase, with films containing ∼60% of poly(p-phenylene adipate) units showing over 50% mass loss within 400 h. This work outlines an efficient synthetic pathway for producing enzymatically degradable AAPEs with tailored backbone structures, crystallinity, and thermomechanical properties.
    Keywords:  biodegradable polyester; copolymerization; interfacial polymerization; sustainable chemistry
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5c13712
  41. Mater Horiz. 2025 Nov 04.
    Signal propagation in reversible digital mechanics.
    Hilary A Johnson, Robert M Panas, Amin Farzaneh, Frederick Sun, Logan Bekker, John Cortes, Melika Ahmadi, Julie Mancini, Andrew J Pascall, Jonathan B Hopkins.
      Digital mechanics explores information processing through binary, mechanical circuits. This work demonstrates a flexural, mechanical integrated circuit (m-IC) that achieves reversible, non-reciprocal signal propagation through integrated AND logic and memory. Our approach exploits sequential bistable transitions with symmetric energy wells, tunable stiffness, impedance matching, and AND gate non-linearity, to enable signal propagation, repeatability, and reversibility. We present a generalized model of logic kinematics and energetics, validated experimentally, to study energy flows, quantify energetic limits, and identify operating regimes for reversible logic. Macro-scale experiments confirm propagation dynamics, and new fabrication methods extend the architecture to micro-scale devices. By achieving controlled, reversible signal transmission across interconnected logic and memory, this work establishes a scalable platform for robust mechanical computing and adaptive sensing.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1039/d5mh00509d
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