Search Results (182)

In recent decades, flexible electronics have witnessed remarkable advancements in multiple fields, encompassing wearable electronics, human–machine interfaces (HMI), clinical diagnosis, and treatment, etc. Nevertheless, conventional rigid electronic devices are fundamentally constrained by their inherent non-stretchability and poor conformability, limitations that substantially impede their practical applications. In contrast, conductive hydrogels (CHs) for electronic skin (E-skin) and healthcare monitoring have attracted substantial interest owing to outstanding features, including adjustable mechanical properties, intrinsic flexibility, stretchability, transparency, and diverse functional and structural designs. Considerable efforts focus on developing CHs incorporating various conductive materials to enable multifunctional wearable sensors and flexible electrodes, such as metals, carbon, ionic liquids (ILs), MXene, etc. This review presents a comprehensive summary of the recent advancements in CHs, focusing on their classifications and practical applications. Firstly, CHs are categorized into five groups based on the nature of the conductive materials employed. These categories include polymer-based, carbon-based, metal-based, MXene-based, and ionic CHs. Secondly, the promising applications of CHs for electrophysiological signals and healthcare monitoring are discussed in detail, including electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG), electromyogram (EMG), respiratory monitoring, and motion monitoring. Finally, this review concludes with a comprehensive summary of current research progress and prospects regarding CHs in the fields of electronic skin and health monitoring applications. Full article

The topical administration of drugs on the skin by nanovesicular systems can represent a tool to treat skin pathologies. The study of nanovesicle biodistribution after skin administration is crucial to understanding their transdermal potential. A formative study enabled us to investigate the influence of some methods in the production of nanovesicles based on phosphatidylcholine, differing in their ethanol amount. Particularly, both liposomes and ethosomes produced by different methods, i.e., microfluidics and solvent injection, were considered. The evaluation of size distribution, shape and internal morphology was performed using photon correlation spectroscopy, cryogenic electron microscopy, hyperspectral dark-field microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering. Transmission electron microscopy was then used to observe and compare the transdermal passage of selected liposomes and ethosomes applied to human skin explants in a bioreactor. The mean diameters of nanovesicles prepared by the ethanol injection method were smaller with respect to those obtained by microfluidics, measuring roughly 140 and 230 nm, respectively. The uni- or multilamellar ultrastructure of the vesicles was influenced by the solvent injection procedure. Ultrastructural analysis of skin penetration revealed (i) the ability of intact vesicles to cross the different skin layers, with ethosomes produced by the water injection method showing greater transdermal potential and (ii) the role of ethanol as a penetration enhancer. Full article

Background/Objectives: Melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer and is frequently associated with the B-Raf⁶⁰⁰E mutation, which constitutively activates the MAPK signaling pathway. Although selective inhibitors such as Vemurafenib offer clinical benefits, their long-term efficacy is often hindered by resistance mechanisms and adverse effects. In this study, twelve phytochemicals from Brazilian green propolis were evaluated for their potential as selective B-Raf⁶⁰⁰E inhibitors using a computational approach. Methods: Physicochemical, ADME, and electronic properties were assessed, followed by molecular docking using the B-Raf⁶⁰⁰E crystal structure (PDB ID: 3OG7). Redocking validation and 500 ns molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the stability of the ligand-protein complexes, and free energy calculations were then computed. Results: Among the tested compounds, Artepillin C exhibited the strongest binding affinity (−8.17 kcal/mol) in docking and maintained stable interactions with key catalytic residues throughout the simulation, also presenting free energy of binding ΔG of −20.77 kcal/mol. HOMO-LUMO and electrostatic potential analyses further supported its reactivity and selectivity. Notably, Artepillin C remained bound within the ATP-binding site, mimicking several critical interactions observed with Vemurafenib. Results: Among the tested compounds, Artepillin C exhibited the strongest binding affinity (−8.17 kcal/mol) and maintained stable interactions with key catalytic residues throughout the simulation. HOMO-LUMO and electrostatic potential analyses further supported its reactivity and selectivity. Notably, Artepillin C remained bound within the ATP-binding site, mimicking several critical interactions observed with Vemurafenib. Conclusions: These findings indicate that Artepillin C is a promising natural compound for further development as a selective B-Raf⁶⁰⁰E inhibitor and suggest its potential utility in melanoma treatment strategies. This study reinforces the value of natural products as scaffolds for targeted drug design and supports continued experimental validation. Full article

The incorporation of selenium into tacrine derivatives has been explored as a novel strategy to enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing toxicity in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. This study utilized computational and experimental approaches, including Density Functional Theory (DFT), molecular docking, pharmacokinetic profiling, and toxicological predictions, to evaluate the potential of these derivatives. The selenium-modified compounds demonstrated improved electronic properties, such as narrower HOMO–LUMO gaps and optimized electronegativity, resulting in enhanced stability and reactivity. Pharmacokinetic analyses revealed favorable absorption, distribution, and blood–brain barrier penetration, while toxicological assessments indicated reduced hepatotoxicity and skin sensitization risks compared to tacrine. Molecular docking and dynamic simulations highlighted strong and stable interactions of the derivatives with critical enzymes, including acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and beta-secretases (BACE1 and BACE2). Compounds 12 and 13, in particular, emerged as the most promising candidates due to their superior stability and binding affinity. These findings underscore the potential of selenium-modified tacrine derivatives as safer and more effective therapeutic agents for Alzheimer’s disease, warranting further experimental validation. Full article

Background/Objectives: In hospital settings, the wide variability of acute and complex chronic conditions—among both adult and pediatric patients—requires advanced approaches to detect early signs of clinical deterioration and the risk of transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU). Nursing diagnoses (NDs), standardized representations of patient responses to actual or potential health problems, reflect nursing complexity. However, most studies have focused on the total number of NDs rather than the individual role each diagnosis may play in relation to outcomes such as ICU transfer. This study aimed to identify and rank the specific NDs most strongly associated with ICU transfers in hospitalized adult and pediatric patients. Methods: A retrospective, monocentric observational study was conducted using electronic health records from an Italian tertiary hospital. The dataset included 42,735 patients (40,649 adults and 2086 pediatric), and sociodemographic, clinical, and nursing data were collected. A random forest model was applied to assess the predictive relevance (i.e., variable importance) of individual NDs in relation to ICU transfers. Results: Among adult patients, the NDs most strongly associated with ICU transfer were Physical mobility impairment, Injury risk, Skin integrity impairment risk, Acute pain, and Fall risk. In the pediatric population, Acute pain, Injury risk, Sleep pattern disturbance, Skin integrity impairment risk, and Airway clearance impairment emerged as the NDs most frequently linked to ICU transfer. The models showed good performance and generalizability, with stable out-of-bag and validation errors across iterations. Conclusions: A prioritized ranking of NDs appears to be associated with ICU transfers, suggesting their potential utility as early warning indicators of clinical deterioration. Patients presenting with high-risk diagnostic profiles should be prioritized for enhanced clinical surveillance and proactive intervention, as they may represent vulnerable populations. Full article

Electronic skin (E-skin) refers to a portable medical or health electronic device that can be worn directly on the human body and can carry out perception, recording, analysis, regulation, intervention and even treatment of diseases or maintenance of health status through software support. Its main features include wearability, real-time monitoring, convenience, etc. E-skin is convenient for users to wear for a long time and continuously monitors the user’s physiological health data (such as heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose, etc.) in real time. Health monitoring can be performed anytime and anywhere without frequent visits to hospitals or clinics. E-skin integrates multiple sensors and intelligent algorithms to automatically analyze data and provide health advice and early warning. It has broad application prospects in the medical field. With the increasing demand for E-skin, the development of multifunctional integrated E-skin with low power consumption and even autonomous energy has become a common goal of many researchers. This paper outlines the latest progress in the application of E-skin in physiological monitoring, disease treatment, human–computer interaction and other fields. The existing problems and development prospects in this field are presented. Full article

Skin is the largest organ of the human body and holds the functions of sensing, protecting, and regulating. Since ancient times, people have decorated their skin by painting themselves, cutting, and using accessories to express their personality and aesthetic consciousness as a kind of artistic expression, one that shows the development and change of aesthetic consciousness. However, there are concerns regarding the inconvenience, high time cost, and negative body perception with traditional tattoos. In addition, the trend of skin decoration has gradually withdrawn due to a lack of intelligent interaction. In response to these problems, we proposed a wearable electronic skin tattoo that offers a novel means of communication and emotional expression for individuals with communication impairments, WABEIT. The tattoo uses skin-friendly PDMS as the base material, combines multi-mode sensing components such as silver wire circuit, a programmable Surface-Mounted Device (SMD), a thin-film-pressure sensor, and a heart rate sensor, and combines the embedded development board Arduino Nano for intelligent interaction, forming a wearable electronic interactive tattoo capable of sensing the environment, human–computer interaction, and the changeable performance of intelligent perception. The sensor is also equipped with a mobile power supply to support portability. The advantages of WABEIT are as follows: first, it avoids the pain, allergy, and long production process of traditional tattoos. Second, the patterns can adapt to different needs and generate feedback for users, which can effectively express personal emotions. Thirdly, the facility of removal reduces social discrimination and occupational constraints, which is especially suitable for East Asia. Experimental results indicate that the device exhibits a high sensitivity in signal response, a wide variety of pattern changes, and reliable interactive capabilities. The study demonstrates that the proposed design philosophy and implementation strategy can be generalized to the interactive design of other wearable devices, thereby providing novel insights and methodologies for human–computer interaction, electronic devices, and sensor applications. Full article

E-skin is an integrated electronic system that can mimic the perceptual ability of human skin. Traditional analysis methods struggle to handle complex e-skin data, which include time series and multiple patterns, especially when dealing with intricate signals and real-time responses. Recently, deep learning techniques, such as the convolutional neural network, recurrent neural network, and transformer methods, provide effective solutions that can automatically extract data features and recognize patterns, significantly improving the analysis of e-skin data. Deep learning is not only capable of handling multimodal data but can also provide real-time response and personalized predictions in dynamic environments. Nevertheless, problems such as insufficient data annotation and high demand for computational resources still limit the application of e-skin. Optimizing deep learning algorithms, improving computational efficiency, and exploring hardware–algorithm co-designing will be the key to future development. This review aims to present the deep learning techniques applied in e-skin and provide inspiration for subsequent researchers. We first summarize the sources and characteristics of e-skin data and review the deep learning models applicable to e-skin data and their applications in data analysis. Additionally, we discuss the use of deep learning in e-skin, particularly in health monitoring and human–machine interactions, and we explore the current challenges and future development directions. Full article

To increase the stability of selenium in nano state and further improve its antioxidant and skin whitening ability, Bombyx batryticatus polypeptide (BBPP) was prepared. The optimum synthesis conditions of Bombyx batryticatus polypeptide nano-selenium (BBPP-SeNPs) were determined by a double-peak method. BBPP-SeNPs were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and particle size analysis (PSS). The 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), superoxide anion free radical scavenging rate, and total antioxidant capacity of BBPP, vitamin C (VC), and BBPP-SeNPs were measured for comparison. The inhibitory ability of BBPP and BBPP-SeNPs on tyrosinase was measured. Using mouse modeling, the skin whitening ability of VC and BBPP-SeNPs was measured. The results showed that the optimal conditions were obtained when the concentration of BBPP was 0.16 mg/mL, sodium selenite was 0.01 mol/L, ultrasound was carried out for 30 min, ascorbic acid was added in 0.04 mol/L, and stirring temperature was 20 °C for 4 h. The antioxidant capacity of BBPP-SeNPs has significantly improved. It can be observed that BBPP-SeNPs has obvious scavenging ability on skin-reactive oxygen species through a Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) staining section. Through Hematoxylin–Eosin (H&E) staining, it can be proven that BBPP-SeNPs has a high security threshold. Full article

Clinostomum is a genus of parasitic trematodes found worldwide, infecting a wide range of hosts, including freshwater fishes, snails, birds and occasionally humans. In this study, clinostomid metacercariae were collected from Nile tilapia raised in fish farms in the Upper Tana River region, Kenya. The prevalence of infection was 17.2%, with metacercariae infecting the skin, gills and buccal cavity of the fish. Using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular methods targeting both nuclear ribosomal (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) and mitochondrial (COI) regions, the metacercariae were identified as C. cutaneum, C. phalacrocoracis, C. tilapiae and Euclinostomum heterostomum. The three species of Clinostomum have previously been reported to infect fish or piscivorous birds in Kenya, while this is the first report of E. heterostomum in this country. SEM analysis revealed new ultrastructural features of C. cutaneum, including an excretory pore surrounded by minute spiny papillae, an everted cirrus and dome-shaped papillae on the tegumental area around the genital pore. The cirrus lacked basal papillae, showing morphological variation between the adult and metacercarial stages. Our study, therefore, provides new insights into the phenotypic identification of flukes that may be pathogenic to fishes and humans and, therefore, of scientific and practical importance. Full article

Electronic skin (e-skin) is an innovative technology characterized by its flexibility, stretchability, and self-healing properties, designed to biomimic the functionalities of human or animal skin. This technology is well-suited for applications in robotics, prosthetics, and health monitoring since it can sense a wide range of tactile signals, such as humidity, pressure, temperature, and stress. Developing e-skin for wearable devices faces several challenges. One major challenge is the need for soft and stretchable electronic materials, as conventional materials are brittle. Furthermore, the development of skin-like hydrogel devices for wearable electronics faces challenges such as limited functionality, low ambient stability, poor surface adhesion, and relatively high power consumption. Innovation in this area has the potential to pay off. Organizations that invest in and develop innovative e-skin technologies based on biomimetic hydrogels can secure intellectual property rights through patents. This study is dedicated to reviewing the state of the art by presenting what has been patented concerning biomimetic-hydrogel-based e-skin. At the end, a section presents relevant patents to demonstrate the innovation and formulation of such hydrogels as biomimetic materials for e-skin applications. A market overview of e-skins is also presented. This contextualizes the significance of research in biomimetic-hydrogel-based e-skins within the broader commercial landscape. Full article

Rhabdophane, CePO₄∙H₂O, nanoparticles were prepared by mechanochemical synthesis with different durations and thoroughly characterized by various characterization techniques. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the optimal synthesis duration was 15 min, since, in this case, pure rhabdophane is obtained, without traces of contamination by the vessel material. The size of the obtained nanoparticles, as determined from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images, was around 5 nm. According to UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy results, rhabdophane nanoparticles show transparency to visible light and high absorption in the UV region, with a direct bandgap of 3.1 eV. The photocatalytic activity in the Castor oil degradation process and the cytotoxicity for human skin cells were determined and compared to commercial TiO₂ nanoparticles, with rhabdophane nanoparticles exhibiting superior properties. Small particle size, purity, absorption in the UV range, transparency to visible light, low photocatalytic activity, and low cytotoxicity indicated the possibility of prepared rhabdophane application as an inorganic UV filter in photoprotective formulations. Full article

As an innovative branch of electronics, intelligent electronic textiles (e-textiles) have broad prospects in applications such as e-skin, human–computer interaction, and smart homes. However, it is still a challenge to distinguish multiple stimuli in the same e-textile. Herein, we propose a dual-parameter smart e-textile that can detect human pulse and body temperature in real time, with high performance and no signal interference. The doping of SWCNTs in PEDOT:PSS improves the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of the prepared composites, which results in excellent pressure and temperature-sensing properties of the PEDOT:PSS/SWCNTs/CS@PET-textile (PSCP) sensor. The dual-mode sensor has high sensitivity (32.4 kPa⁻¹), fast response time (~21 ms), and excellent durability (>2000 times) in pressure detection. Concurrently, this sensor maintains a high Seebeck coefficient of 25 μV/K in the 0–120 K temperature range with a tremendous linear relationship. Based on impressive dual-mode sensing characteristics and independent temperature-difference- and pressure-sensing mechanisms, smart e-textile sensors realize the real-time simultaneous monitoring of weak pulse signals and human body temperature, showing great potential in medical healthcare. In addition, the potential energy is excited by the temperature gradient between the human skin and the environment, which provides a novel idea for wearable self-powered devices. Full article

Nanofibrous dressing materials with an antitumor function can potentially inhibit recurrence of melanoma following the surgical excision of skin tumors. In this study, hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile (hPAN) nanofibers biofunctionalized with L-carnosine (CAR) and loaded with bio (CAR)-synthesized zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, ZnO/CAR-hPAN (hereafter called ZCPAN), were employed to develop an antimelanoma wound dressing. Inspired by the formulation of the commercial wound healing Zn-CAR complex, i.e., polaprezinc (PLZ), for the first time, we benefitted from the synergy of zinc and CAR to create an antimelanoma nanofibrous wound dressing. According to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, ultrafine ZnO nanoparticles were homogenously distributed throughout the nanofibrous dressing. The ZCPAN nanofiber mat showed a significantly higher toughness (18.7 MJ.m⁻³ vs. 1.4 MJ.m⁻³) and an enhanced elongation at break (stretchability) compared to the neat PAN nanofiber mat (12% vs. 9.5%). Additionally, optical coherence elastography (OCE) measurements indicated that the ZCPAN nanofibrous dressing was as stiff as 50.57 ± 8.17 kPa which is notably larger than that of the PAN nanofibrous dressing, i.e., 24.49 ± 6.83 kPa. The optimum mechanical performance of the ZCPAN nanofibers originates from physicochemical interaction of CAR ligands, hPAN nanofibers, and ZnO nanoparticles through hydrogen bonding, electrostatic bonding, and esterification, as verified using ATR-FTIR. An in vitro cell viability assay using human skin melanoma cells implied that the cells are notably killed in the presence of the ZCPAN nanofibers compared to the PAN nanofibers. Thanks to ROS generating ZnO nanoparticles, this behavior originates from the high reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative damage of melanoma cells, as verified through a CellROX assay. In this regard, an apoptotic cell response to the ZCPAN nanofibers was recorded through an apoptosis assay. Taken together, the ZCPAN nanofibers induce an antimelanoma effect through oxidative stress and thus are a high potential wound dressing material to suppress melanoma regrowth after surgical excision of skin tumors. Full article

Researchers have been investigating the physical and morphological properties of biodegradable polymer and copolymer films, blending them with other chemicals to solve challenges in medical, industrial, and eco-environmental fields. The present study introduces a novel, straightforward method for preparing biodegradable hydrogels based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) for medical applications. The resulting PVA/PVP-based hydrogel uniquely combines the water absorbency, biocompatibility, and biodegradability of the polymer composite. For hygiene products and medical uses, such as wound healing, hydrogen peroxide (HP) was encapsulated in the PVA/PVP hydrogels for controlled release application. Incorporating PVP into PVA significantly enhances the hydrogel water absorbency and improves the mechanical properties. However, to mitigate the disadvantage of high water absorbency which could result in undesired early dissolution, efforts were made to increase the water resistance and the mechanical characteristics of these hydrogels using freeze–thaw (F/T) cycles and chemical crosslinking PVA chains with trisodium trimetaphosphate (STMP). The resulting hydrogels serve as environmentally friendly bio-based polymer blends, broadening their applications in medical and industrial products. The structural and morphological properties of the hydrogel were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), environmental scanning electron microscope analysis (E-SEM), and water-swelling tests. The HP controlled release rate was evaluated through kinetic release experiments using the ex vivo skin model. The antibacterial activity of the hydrogel films was examined on four medically relevant bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with an adapted disk diffusion assay. Using this assay, we also evaluated the antibacterial effect of the hydrogel films over the course of days, demonstrating the HP controlled release from these hydrogels. These findings support further in vivo investigation into controlled HP release systems for improved wound-healing outcomes. Full article