Materials Horizons最新文献

Implantable fiber sensors are emerging as viable platforms for continuous in situ monitoring of physiological signals, yet their clinical translation remains limited. The core challenge lies not only in balancing mechanical compliance, electrical reliability, analytical specificity, and long-term stability but also in maintaining these properties at the tissue-device interface throughout chronic implantation. Biomimetic hierarchical architectures, which are common in living systems, have provided a practical route by enabling structural and functional integration across multiple scales. In this review, we summarize recent progress in biomimetic design principles for improving the performance of implantable fiber sensors. We first discuss bioinspired hierarchically structured conductive fiber substrates that combine conductivity, flexibility, and resistance to cyclic deformation. We then focus on bioinspired interfaces, membranes, and surface coatings to improve sensitivity, regulate mass transport, and suppress biofouling. Finally, we address mechanically adaptive and self-stabilizing interphases and discuss biosafety, biocompatibility evaluation, and postprocessing compatibility for the clinical translation of these sensing systems. Overall, this review aims to provide actionable biomimetic design insights that can accelerate the development of next-generation implantable fiber sensors with improved long-term performance and clinical applicability.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as promising therapeutic agents for restoring ovarian function and fertility in chemotherapy-induced premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). However, their limited ovarian targeting capacity and inefficient mitochondrial delivery have substantially constrained their therapeutic efficacy. Here, we present a biomimetic, dual-targeted EV platform derived from Lycium barbarum (TPP-GCM-LBEVs) and demonstrate its therapeutic potential in a mouse POI model. Hybridization with granulosa cell membranes (GCMs) confers intrinsic ovarian-homing capability, whereas subsequent surface conjugation with triphenylphosphonium (TPP) promotes mitochondrial targeting following cellular uptake. TPP-GCM-LBEVs efficiently target granulosa cells and their mitochondria in vitro and in vivo, with cellular internalization mediated predominantly by caveolae- and lipid-raft-dependent endocytosis. Subsequently, TPP-GCM-LBEVs restore mitochondrial ultrastructure and bioenergetic function in granulosa cells, thereby re-establishing ovarian redox and metabolic homeostasis. This mitochondrial rescue enhances the paracrine metabolic support provided to oocytes, thereby improving oocyte quality and developmental competence. Consistent with these effects, treatment with TPP-GCM-LBEVs rescues follicular development, ovarian endocrine function, and natural fertility in POI mice. Collectively, this cross-species, dual-targeted, plant-derived EV strategy provides a translatable and effective therapeutic framework for POI, with broader implications for mitochondria-associated reproductive ageing.

Shape-reconfigurable optical materials are promising for camouflage, sensing, and anti-counterfeiting, yet most existing systems produce only a single optical output and suffer from optical instability during deformation. Herein, a bioinspired tri-state optical gel (TOG) is fabricated by photopolymerization, incorporating SiO₂ photonic nanoparticles, SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺,Dy³⁺ phosphors and phase-change polymers. Phase-change components enable the gel to fix its geometry at low temperatures and to undergo programmable 2D-to-3D reshaping upon heating. Notably, the thermally tunable gel displays three distinct optical states under different illumination conditions: structural color under natural light, UV-triggered fluorescence and persistent phosphorescence. This work integrates programmable shape morphing and triple optical signals in a single gel, offering a facile route toward advanced dynamic optical composites.

Melts of semicrystalline homopolymers are classically described as disordered random coils that crystallize into folded-chain lamellar nanocrystals. Here, using ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) as a model system, we show that polymerization induces hierarchical ordering that evolves into liquid-crystalline ordered melts, two-dimensional self-assembled mesocrystals, and intelligent, photonic, and dynamic nanocomposites. Upon static melting, an unusual conformationally ordered orthorhombic phase is retained in the melts of less-crosslinked meso-granules and physically intra-crosslinked meso-fibrils of as-polymerized nascent powders up to a universal order-disorder transition temperature (T_O-D) of approximately 190 °C, after which it transformed into a disorder globular melt. During dynamic shearing, a less-entangled columnar (hexagonal) liquid-crystalline phase forms at 153-176 °C, followed by chain explosion at T_O-D and the formation of temperature-responsive, recoverable, non-equilibrium entangled networks above T_O-D. Isothermal crystallization of these ordered melts generates macroscale and microscale 2D-ordered and randomly 3D organized nanofibrillar superstructures, which impart self-toughening behaviour and ultrahigh impact resistance to UHMWPE. In addition, shape-memory and transparent photonic sheets were fabricated through mesoscale 2D self-assembly from preserved, heterogeneously entangled, intercrosslinked ordered melts under pressure. We further developed self-reinforced monomaterial "eplastomers" with tensile responses ranging from elastomeric to plastic-like through complete nanofibrillation of only 5 wt% less-crosslinked mesoparticles in a polyolefin elastomer matrix and reversible exchange between 1D-ordered nanofibrillar networks and disordered 3D mesogranules. Together, these findings deepen the understanding of semicrystalline polymers and provide a foundation for ultrahigh-performance, 3D-printable intelligent and photonic crystals and sustainable monomaterial dynamic nanocomposites based on reversible entangled nanofibrillar networks.

Osteochondral defects are challenging to repair due to the complex structure of the osteochondral unit. Current clinical methods often fail to achieve long-term cartilage-bone integration. Recent advances in multi-material bioprinting enable the construction of biomimetic scaffolds with graded architectures and region-specific functions. This review summarizes progress in biofabricating osteochondral composite scaffolds, focusing on multi-material bioprinting and zonal microenvironment engineering. Key topics include bioink design, gradient scaffold architectures, hybrid manufacturing, spatiotemporal delivery systems, multicellular biofabrication, vascularization, immunomodulation, and stimuli-responsive biomaterials. We also discuss in vitro and in vivo evaluation approaches and major translational barriers such as mechanical mismatch, long-term stability, scalability, and regulatory issues. The integration of multimaterial bioprinting, adaptive biomaterials, and programmable microenvironments may facilitate the development of osteochondral implants with improved tissue integration and translational potential. Future studies should prioritize long-term osteochondral integration, vascular coordination, manufacturing reproducibility, and clinically relevant validation.

Cellulose photonic materials are highly promising for food packaging and decoration. However, their applications are limited by challenge of simultaneously enhancing structural color and bioactive properties. Inspired by the coloration of blueberries, innovative, colorful, and multifunctional hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) photonic materials synergistically reinforced by natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) and sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC) were designed and characterized in terms of the color regulation mechanism, microstructure, color characteristics, mechanical properties, and antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The NADES differentially induced shifts in the structural color of HPC photonic gels through hydrogen-bonding and electrostatic interactions. Specifically, a blue shift was induced by choline- and acid-based NADES, as well as by NADES containing neither choline nor acids, whereas a red shift was caused only by acid-based NADES without choline. The NADES also differentially affected the responses to temperature, pressure, and tension deformation of the HPC photonic gels, with choline-containing NADES inhibiting their color response. Replacing conventional black absorbers with SCC produced spectral interplay between the characteristic absorption of SCC and the structural reflection of HPC, producing greenish tones and unique colors. The synergistic incorporation of representative NADES and SCC endowed the HPC photonic films with excellent antioxidant and antibacterial properties, while the NADES significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of the films, especially for films containing fructose- and citric acid-based NADES. These multifunctional HPC photonic materials with unique color retain multi-responsiveness and integrate antioxidant and antibacterial activities, color stability, and biodegradability, providing a highly promising platform for active and smart packaging or food coloring applications.

Hydrogels offer considerable promise as flexible sensors. However, maintaining their stable performance in complex underwater environments characterized by high pressure, high salinity, and temperature fluctuations remains a significant challenge. Inspired by the dynamic adaptive capabilities of jellyfish, this study reports a biomimetic composite conductive hydrogel with multi-level environmental responsiveness, synthesized via the copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, and octadecyl methacrylate (OMA), incorporating color-changing microcapsules through a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micelle-confined polymerization strategy. The long alkyl chains of OMA promote hydrophobic association networks inside CTAB micelles, endowing the hydrogel with both high strength and exceptional stretchability (fracture strength of 690 kPa; elongation at break 1370%). This hydrogel achieves multi-parameter, synchronized responses to complex marine conditions: strong temperature sensitivity (-15.344%/°C), an electrical response to water-depth pressure (7.13 kPa^-1, corresponding to 0-500 m water depth), stable tensile responsiveness, and reversible color changes visible to the naked eye. Building on these capabilities, the hydrogel can monitor human motion in conventional settings and also enable underwater sensing and Morse-code-based information transmission, demonstrating substantial potential for applications for underwater communication and emergency rescue applications.

Due to their exceptional charge transport properties, defect tolerance, and solution-processing advantages, metal halide perovskites have become versatile semiconductor materials for optoelectronic applications. As channel materials for field-effect transistors (FETs), perovskites not only achieve high carrier mobility and are compatible with complementary circuit architectures, but their inherent ionic migration and photoresponsive properties also endow devices with memory and photoresponsive functions, rendering them uniquely attractive for neuromorphic computing (enabling low-power operation). However, defects at the dielectric/channel and channel/electrode interfaces still severely limit device performance and reliability. Recently, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have garnered widespread attention as an effective interface modification strategy. Through molecular design and tunable ion-dipole interactions, SAMs can effectively modulate interfacial energy states, suppress defects, and enhance device stability. Herein, a systematic review of the latest advancements in SAMs for perovskite transistors is presented, focusing on their roles in various device architectures and summarizing the structure-function-performance relationships between molecular properties and transistor behavior. Finally, the potential of SAM engineering in achieving robust and controllable interfacial properties is discussed, with the aim of advancing the multifunctional applications of perovskite FETs.

The calls for applying mechanical metamaterials for fall-injury mitigation are growing, yet conventional energy absorption mechanical metamaterials are not well-suited for gravitational, low-velocity, human-scale fall protection. To address these gaps, we propose a programmable centimeter-scale multi-stable tensegrity metamaterial that removes complex prestressing and enhances energy absorption. In our architecture, arrays of bistable units are stacked to form multi-stable "cables" that replace the tensile members in a classic tensegrity structure, simultaneously self-prestressing the structure and dissipating energy through controlled state transitions. Programmability is achieved through a hierarchical design - from the bistable unit to the multi-stable cable and to the full tensegrity structure - guided by a pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) that predicts the mechanical responses. The multi-stable tensegrity metamaterials are prototyped using 3D printing techniques, and experiments show a 3.1× increase in energy absorption compared to a non-tensegrity counterpart, allowing fragile eggs to survive drops from 120 cm, comparable to the center-of-mass height of an adult during a typical fall. In summary, this study establishes a pathway for the design, modelling, and fabrication of programmable multi-stable tensegrity metamaterials tailored to low-velocity, human-scale impact protection, with direct relevance to fall injury.

Vertically stacked electronics require thermal interface adhesives that conduct heat through confined bondlines while retaining adhesion after placement. Yet, highly filled ceramic adhesives are still commonly designed as bulk composites, with performance pursued by increasing filler loading or filler conductivity. This view overlooks how heat transport and adhesion are determined within the formed bondline, where filler connectivity, shear-dependent processability, wetting, and trapped air collectively govern performance. Here, we introduce a rheology-guided bondline densification strategy for multiscale thermally conductive adhesives composed of spherical Al₂O₃, plate-like hBN, fine AlN, and heat-activated polycaprolactone (PCL). The Al₂O₃/hBN architecture was optimized to balance shear-thinning flow, shape retention, and cured-state integrity, while fine AlN reinforced the conductive network. PCL was used as a thermoplastic densification mediator that softens during heat-primed mixing and suppresses microvoids within the ceramic-rich network. This strategy reduced microvoid formation, drove the skeletal density toward the composition-dependent theoretical density, and increased the surface free energy of the cured adhesive. The adhesive showed scale-bridging adaptability, conformally filling microscale roughness while remaining processable into large-area sheets and stamped macroscopic forms. The optimized adhesive achieved a through-plane thermal conductivity of 3.57 W m^-1 K^-1, representing a 2280% enhancement over neat epoxy and a 35% increase over the Al₂O₃/hBN baseline, along with a lap shear strength of 3.704 MPa, corresponding to a 113% improvement over the 20/40 baseline. Mobile-device heat-dissipation and load-bearing demonstrations further confirmed its practical applicability. These results establish bondline densification as a design principle for dense, processable, conformable, and adhesive thermal interfaces.