Robust Nanoparticle-Derived Lubricious Antibiofilm Coating for Difficult-to-Coat Medical Devices with Intricate Geometry.

A major medical device-associated complication is the biofilm-related infection post-implantation. One promising approach to prevent this is to coat already commercialized medical devices with effective antibiofilm materials. However, developing a robust high-performance antibiofilm coating on devices with a nonflat geometry remains unmet.

Durable Surfaces from Film-Forming Silver Assemblies for Long-Term Zero Bacterial Adhesion without Toxicity.

The long-term prevention of biofilm formation on the surface of indwelling medical devices remains a challenge. Silver has been reutilized in recent years for combating biofilm formation due to its indisputable bactericidal potency; however, the toxicity, low stability, and short-term activity of the current silver coatings have limited their use. Here, we report the development of silver-based film-forming antibacterial engineered (SAFE) assemblies for the generation of durable lubricous antibiofilm surface long-term activity without silver toxicity that was applicable to diverse materials via a highly scalable dip/spray/solution-skinning process.

Percutaneous delivery of self-propelling thrombin-containing powder increases survival from noncompressible truncal hemorrhage in a swine model of coagulopathy and hypothermia.

Background: Noncompressible truncal hemorrhage (NCTH) remains a leading cause of preventable death on the battlefield. Definitively managing severe NCTH requires surgery within the first hour after injury, which is difficult when evacuating casualties from remote and austere environments. During delays to surgery, hemostatic interventions that are performed prehospital can prevent coagulopathy and hemorrhagic shock and increase the likelihood that casualties survive to receive definitive care.

Rheological and clot microstructure evaluation of heparin neutralization by UHRA and protamine.

The current study reports the use of small amplitude oscillatory rheometry to investigate the dynamics of blood clot formation upon heparin neutralization under three different oscillatory frequencies, two of which were mimicking physiological heart rates. We utilized two different heparin antidotes, namely protamine and newly developed universal heparin reversal agent (UHRA-7), at different concentrations to determine the quality of blood clot formed upon heparin neutralization by analyzing several key rheological parameters. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to determine the morphology and microstructure of the blood clot after heparin neutralization to support the rheological observations.

Association Between Aspirin Use and Decreased Risk of Pneumonia in Patients With Cardio-Cerebra-Vascular Ischemic Disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

This study evaluated the association between long-term low-dose aspirin use and decreased risk of pneumonia in patients with cardio-cerebra-vascular ischemic diseases (CCVDs). This retrospective cohort study used records from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database of claims made between 1997 and 2013. After propensity score matching (PSM), patients who took a low dose of aspirin for more than 90 days within 1 year of diagnosis with CCVDs were identified as the exposure group ( = 15,784).

Atomic-Layer Controlled Interfacial Band Engineering at Two-Dimensional Layered PtSe/Si Heterojunctions for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production.

Platinum diselenide (PtSe) is a group-10 two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide that exhibits the most prominent atomic-layer-dependent electronic behavior of "semiconductor-to-semimetal" transition when going from monolayer to bulk form. This work demonstrates an efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) conversion for direct solar-to-hydrogen (H) production based on 2D layered PtSe/Si heterojunction photocathodes. By systematically controlling the number of atomic layers of wafer-scale 2D PtSe films through chemical vapor deposition (CVD), the interfacial band alignments at the 2D layered PtSe/Si heterojunctions can be appropriately engineered.

Temperature-dependent optical and vibrational properties of PtSe thin films.

PtSe has received substantial research attention because of its intriguing physical properties and potential practical applications. In this paper, we investigated the optical properties of bilayer and multilayer PtSe thin films through spectroscopic ellipsometry over a spectral range of 0.73-6.

The influence of hematocrit on the hemodynamics of artificial heart valve using fluid-structure interaction analysis.

Patients with severe aortic stenosis could regain the proper hemodynamic performance and cardiovascular output by restoring the diseased aortic valve with an artificial heart valve replacement. However, given the uniqueness of each patient, the hemodynamic improvements after an aortic valve replacement could vary. The biomechanical and hemodynamical parameters can be influenced by some major factors including the patient's blood pressure and hematocrit.

Distributed Bragg Reflectors as Broadband and Large-Area Platforms for Light-Coupling Enhancement in 2D Transition-Metal Dichalcogenides.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, particularly the direct-gap monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), are currently being developed for various atomically thin optoelectronic devices. However, practical applications are hindered by their low quantum efficiencies in light emissions and absorptions. While photonic cavities and metallic plasmonic structures can significantly enhance the light-matter interactions in TMDs, the narrow spectral resonance and the local hot spots considerably limit the applications when broadband and large area are required.

Influence of dynamic flow conditions on adsorbed plasma protein corona and surface-induced thrombus generation on antifouling brushes.

The information regarding the nature of protein corona (and its changes) and cell binding on biomaterial surface under dynamic conditions is critical to dissect the mechanism of surface-induced thrombosis. In this manuscript, we investigated the nature of protein corona and blood cell binding in heparinized recalcified human plasma, platelet rich plasma and whole blood on three highly hydrophilic antifouling polymer brushes, (poly(N, N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA), poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) and poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide] (PHPMA) using an in vitro blood loop model at comparable arterial and venous flow, and static conditions. A fluid dynamics model was used initially to better understand the resulting flow patterns in a vertical channel containing the substrates to arrive at the placement of the substrates within the blood loop.

Hemodynamic assessments of the ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm using fluid-structure interaction approach.

Current assessment and management of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) rely heavily on the diameter of the ATAA and blood pressure rather than biomechanical and hemodynamic parameters such as arterial wall deformation or wall shear stress. The objective of the current study was to develop an accurate computational method for modeling the mechanical responses of the ATAA to provide additional information in patient evaluations. Fully coupled fluid structure interaction simulations were conducted using data from cases with ATAA with measured geometrical parameters in order to evaluate and analyze the change in biomechanical responses under normotensive and hypertensive conditions.

Cadmium-Free InP/ZnSeS/ZnS Heterostructure-Based Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes with a ZnMgO Electron Transport Layer and a Brightness of Over 10 000 cd m.

Cadmium-free thick-shelled InP/ZnSeS/ZnS quantum dot (QD) was synthesized using the heating-up approach. This quantum dots was used in inverted quantum dots light emitting diode (QLED) devices. The brightness of the inverted QLED device can reach a brightness of over 10 000 cd m , low turn-on voltage (2.