Themed collection Jessica Winter – Editor-in-Chief’s Picks

Liquid crystal polymer (LCP) actuators with complex and multiple actuations becomes a hot topic recently. Here, we summarize efforts made for achieving the goals, and furthermore, propose an outlook for LCP actuators with higher intelligence.

For present-day technological advancements, the MXene family is a highly investigated material in the family of van der Waals heterostructures.

NiO–Ti₃C₂T_x MXene-modified flexible laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrode for the separate and concurrent analysis of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), and uric acid (UA) in human sweat.

Lipid droplet staining, along with monitoring verapamil-induced lipophagy, highlights the dynamic interplay between lipid droplets and mitochondria.

Peptide hydrogels are gaining much interest as 3D cell-laden matrices for cell culture. Here, a tunable protocol based on a metal chelator is proposed to disassemble peptide hydrogels and extract living cells for downstream biological applications.

Membrane active peptides (MAPs) can provide novel means to trigger the release of liposome encapsulated drugs to improve the efficacy of liposomal drug delivery systems.

A hydrophobic drug loading method for extracellular vesicles without using organic solvents was developed by a supramolecular chemistry-based exchange reaction.

Cannabidiol (CBD) has been reported to have a plethora of therapeutic opportunities in many diseases.

In this study, the in-bath coaxial printing technique was used to recapitulate the diameter and wall thickness of a human coronary artery. The resulting tubular structure was cultured using pumpless perfusion and exhibited stentable properties.

This study aims to develop a biomimetic nano-drug delivery system (nano-DDS) by employing a macrophage cell membrane camouflaging strategy to modify lyotropic liquid crystal nanoparticles (LLC-NPs).

3D-printable and photo-curable poly(urethane)-based supramolecular hydrogels were developed. Furthermore, host–guest complexes and polymer amphiphilicity were successfully exploited for drug loading and protection.

The authors discovered a synergistic browning effect from cysteine–lysine and cysteine–arginine pairs among 190 binary amino acid pairs. They engineered zwitterionic nanoparticles with potential as a nano-antioxidant and for polynucleotide delivery.

This study presents a mechanically robust and stable poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)/alginate hydrogel loaded with estrogen. The hydrogel significantly promotes vaginal wound healing in a rat vaginal loss model.

This study introduces dendritic microparticles from PLGA and PLGA-b-PEG for oral antifungal delivery. They adhere to oral surfaces, offer sustained release, and prevent biofilms, while being biodegradable, promising for treating oral infections.

We report shape-specific hydrogel microparticles acting as enzymatic microreactors by encapsulating the enzyme β-lactamase that catalyzes the conversion of nitrocefin into the hydrolyzed red product.

A light-controllable delivery method based on the tetraphenylethene derivative was developed to improve the intracellular delivery of charged molecules. It does not require chemical modification of drugs and is applicable to a variety of cell lines.

Two highly biocompatible nanosystems have been designed, synthesized, characterized, and demonstrated in vitro for enhanced 2-photon photodynamic therapy (2p-PDT) of adrenergic disorders.

Conductive gradient hydrogels (CGGs) allow preferential differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) toward oligodendrocyte lineage in the center while neuronal lineage at the edge of the scaffold under electrical stimulation.

The study demonstrates how bioinspired peptides, selected via phage display, mimic sea urchin proteins, influencing the formation of CaCO₃ crystals. Charged peptides play a crucial role in shaping these crystals.

Divergent synthesis of stimuli-responsive biomaterials with varied sizes and topologies for potential applications in cancer theranostics, tissue engineering, and catalysis.

Two novel nanoparticles based on Pt-containing coordination networks, produced by a green method, reveal important radioenhancement activity on cancerous cells.

A novel two-phase delivery system containing methacrylic acid-based nanoparticles was developed for the controlled release of therapeutic proteins. Release rates of model proteins were tuned through modulation of nanoparticle properties.

Benzoboroxole-modified magnetic nanoparticles are designed for oriented immobilization and density control of the targeting agents to obtain enhanced cellular uptake efficiency.

A microneedle patch has been developed to bridge the gap between H₂O₂ self-supplying chemodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy, resulting in enhanced therapy of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Multifunctional black phosphorus (BP) hydrogel nerve growth conduits (NGCs) loaded with neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) were fabricated to support peripheral-nerve regeneration.