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Nanoscale Imaging, Sensing, and Actuation for Biomedical Applications XXI Page 1 PROGRESS IN BIOMEDICAL OPTICS AND IMAGING Vol. 25 No. 43 Volume 12858 Proceedings of SPIE, 1605-7422, V. 12858 SPIE is an international society advancing an interdisciplinary approach to the science and application of light. Nanoscale Imaging, Sensing, and Actuation for Biomedical Applications XXI Dror Fixler Sebastian Wachsmann-Hogiu Editors 28 January 2024 San Francisco, California, United States Sponsored by SPIE Cosponsored by Prizmatix Ltd. (Israel) Published by SPIE Nanoscale Imaging, Sensing, and Actuation for Biomedical Applications XXI, edited by Dror Fixler, Sebastian Wachsmann-Hogiu, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 12858, 1285801 © 2024 SPIE · 1605-7422 · doi: 10.1117/12.3030104 Proc. of SPIE Vol. 12858 1285801-1 Page 2 The papers in this volume were part of the technical conference cited on the …

Organisms use a diverse range of organic-inorganic hybrid materials for a variety of purposes, including mechanical support, navigation and protection. These materials are mostly crystalline and are characterized by unique composition, polymorph, crystallite size, shape and crystallographic orientation. The crystalline biominerals are generally formed through amorphous, hydrated transient minerals, but in some, the amorphous phases are stable and persist. Using a biomimetic approach, we address aspects of biological mineralization in vitro and gain insight into the processes and interactions that play roles in the natural systems, in-vivo. In this work, we demonstrate two essential but conflicting methods that are likely to act simultaneously in many mineralizing systems. These are directed crystal nucleation on organic templates, and on the other hand, crystal inhibition to produce the transient amorphous phase. The experimental method in this project mimics aspects of biomineralization processes of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nucleation. Polydiacetylene (PDA) – a robust, linear conjugated polymer, made from amphiphilic long-chain diacetylene monomers, which upon surface compression, followed by UV polymerization form an ultrathin, stable monolayer structure. PDA simulates the organic template for the CaCO3 crystallization in our experimental system in that it exposed a dense array of acidic groups in well-defined orientation and being a semi-rigid template surface. On PDA templates, calcite crystals nucleate from a (01.2) face and in every single domain of the PDA film they are all coaligned with the crystals' a-axes oriented parallel to …

The development of new nanoparticle-based antibiotics with biocompatible properties is an emerging advance in nanotechnology. This study advocated the development of carbon dots (CDs) doped with nitrogen, nitrogen with sulfur, and nitrogen with boron (N, NS, and NB-CDs). This led to changes in the properties of the CDs, both chemically and biologically. A facile hydrothermal technique was used to synthesize CDs and the formation of CDs was confirmed through various analytical techniques. The CDs had sizes ranging from 3.2 – 4.8 nm and ζ-potential values of +13 to 27 mV. The doped CDs exhibited moderate changes in fluorescence behaviors depending on the excitation wavelength (λex). The N- and NB-doped CDs were effective at eliminating gram-negative pathogens (E. coli and K. pneumoniae), with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 300 µg/mL and 400 µg/mL, respectively. The …

TiO2 material has gained significant attention for large‐scale energy storage due to its abundant, low‐cost, and environmentally friendly properties, as well as the availability of various nanostructures. Phosphorus doping has been established as an effective technique for improving electronic conductivity and managing the slow ionic diffusion kinetics of TiO2. In this study, non‐doped and phosphorus doped TiO2 materials were synthesized using sodium alginate biopolymer as chelating agent. The prepared materials were evaluated as anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). The electrodes exhibit remarkable electrochemical performance, including a high reversible capacity of 235 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C and excellent first coulombic efficiency of 99 %. An integrated approach, combining operando XRD and ex‐situ XAS, comprehensively investigates the relationship between phosphorus doping, material …

In this era of advanced technology and innovation, infectious diseases still cause significant morbidity and mortality, which need to be addressed. Despite overwhelming success in the development of vaccines, transmittable diseases such as tuberculosis and AIDS remain unprotected, and the treatment is challenging due to frequent mutations of the pathogens. Formulations of new or existing drugs with polymeric materials have been explored as a promising new approach. Variations in shape, size, surface charge, internal morphology, and functionalization position polymer particles as a revolutionary material in healthcare. Here, an overview is provided of major diseases along with statistics on infection and death rates, focusing on polymer-based treatments and modes of action. Key issues are discussed in this review pertaining to current challenges and future perspectives.

Living in dynamic environments such as the social domain, where interaction with others determines the reproductive success of individuals, requires the ability to recognize opportunities to obtain natural rewards and cope with challenges that are associated with achieving them. As such, actions that promote survival and reproduction are reinforced by the brain reward system, whereas coping with the challenges associated with obtaining these rewards is mediated by stress-response pathways, the activation of which can impair health and shorten lifespan. While much research has been devoted to understanding mechanisms underlying the way by which natural rewards are processed by the reward system, less attention has been given to the consequences of failure to obtain a desirable reward. As a model system to study the impact of failure to obtain a natural reward, we used the well-established courtship suppression paradigm in Drosophila melanogaster as means to induce repeated failures to obtain sexual reward in male flies. We discovered that beyond the known reduction in courtship actions caused by interaction with non-receptive females, repeated failures to mate induce a stress response characterized by persistent motivation to obtain the sexual reward, reduced male-male social interaction, and enhanced aggression. This frustrative-like state caused by the conflict between high motivation to obtain sexual reward and the inability to fulfill their mating drive impairs the capacity of rejected males to tolerate stressors such as starvation and oxidative stress. We further show that sensitivity to starvation and enhanced social arousal is …

Recurrence time quantifies the duration required for a physical system to return to its initial state, playing a pivotal role in understanding the predictability of complex systems. In quantum systems with subspace measurements, recurrence times are governed by Anandan-Aharonov phases, yielding fractionally quantized recurrence times. However, the fractional quantization phenomenon in interacting quantum systems remains poorly explored. Here, we address this gap by establishing universal lower and upper bounds for recurrence times in interacting spins. Notably, we investigate scenarios where these bounds are approached, shedding light on the speed of quantum processes under monitoring. In specific cases, our findings reveal that the complex many-body system can be effectively mapped onto a dynamical system with a single quasi-particle, leading to the discovery of integer quantized recurrence times. Our research yields a valuable link between recurrence times and the number of dark states in the system, thus providing a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between quantum recurrence, measurements, and interaction effects.

Superoscillatory, band-limited functions oscillate faster than their fastest Fourier component. Superoscillations have been intensively explored recently as they give rise to many out-of-the-spectrum phenomena entailing both fundamental and applied significance. We experimentally demonstrate a form of superoscillations which is manifested by light apparently coming from a source located far away from the actual one. These superoscillations are sensed through sharp transverse shifts in the local wave vector at the minima of a pinhole diffraction pattern. We call this phenomenon “optical ventriloquism.”

The use of piezoelectric nanomaterials combined with ultrasound stimulation is emerging as a promising approach for wirelessly triggering the regeneration of different tissue types. However, it has never been explored for boosting chondrogenesis. Furthermore, the ultrasound stimulation parameters used are often not adequately controlled. In this study, we show that adipose-tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells embedded in a nanocomposite hydrogel containing piezoelectric barium titanate nanoparticles and graphene oxide nanoflakes and stimulated with ultrasound waves with precisely controlled parameters (1 MHz and 250 mW/cm2, for 5 min once every 2 days for 10 days) dramatically boost chondrogenic cell commitment in vitro. Moreover, fibrotic and catabolic factors are strongly down-modulated: proteomic analyses reveal that such stimulation influences biological processes involved in cytoskeleton …

Magnesium batteries have attracted considerable attention as a promising technology for future energy storage because of their capability to undergo multiple charging reactions. However, most oxide materials utilized as hosts for magnesium batteries do not perform well at room temperature or in nonaqueous electrolytes. Herein, a host material, Na0.04MoO3·(H2O)0.49 is successfully developed through the chemical reduction of alpha‐MoO3, which enables magnesium storage reaction in a 0.5 m Mg(ClO4)2/acetonitrile electrolyte at 25 °C. Electrochemical analysis reveals that the cathode material possesses a discharge capacity of 157.4 mAh g−1 at a 0.2 C rate. The Na0.04MoO3·(H2O)0.49 cathode material also exhibits a capacity retention of 93.4% after 100 cycles compared to the first cycle at a 2 C rate, with an average discharge voltage of −0.474 V versus activated carbon (≈2.16 V estimated …

In this era of advanced technology and innovation, infectious diseases still cause significant morbidity and mortality, which need to be addressed. Despite overwhelming success in the development of vaccines, transmittable diseases such as tuberculosis and AIDS remain unprotected, and the treatment is challenging due to frequent mutations of the pathogens. Formulations of new or existing drugs with polymeric materials have been explored as a promising new approach. Variations in shape, size, surface charge, internal morphology, and functionalization position polymer particles as a revolutionary material in healthcare. Here, an overview is provided of major diseases along with statistics on infection and death rates, focusing on polymer-based treatments and modes of action. Key issues are discussed in this review pertaining to current challenges and future perspectives.

The non-Markovian continuous-time random walk model, featuring fat-tailed waiting times and narrow distributed displacements with a non-zero mean, is a well studied model for anomalous diffusion. Using an analytical approach, we recently demonstrated how a fractional space advection diffusion asymmetry equation, usually associated with Markovian Lévy flights, describes the spreading of a packet of particles. Since we use Gaussian statistics for jump lengths though fat-tailed distribution of waiting times, the appearance of fractional space derivatives in the kinetic equation demands explanations provided in this manuscript. As applications we analyse the spreading of tracers in two dimensions, breakthrough curves investigated in the field of contamination spreading in hydrology and first passage time statistics. We present a subordination scheme valid for the case when the mean waiting time is finite and the …

Considering the growing interest in magnetic materials for unconventional computing, data storage, and sensor applications, there is active research not only on material synthesis but also characterisation of their properties. In addition to structural and integral magnetic characterisations, imaging of magnetization patterns, current distributions and magnetic fields at nano- and microscale is of major importance to understand the material responses and qualify them for specific applications. In this roadmap, we aim to cover a broad portfolio of techniques to perform nano- and microscale magnetic imaging using SQUIDs, spin center and Hall effect magnetometries, scanning probe microscopies, x-ray- and electron-based methods as well as magnetooptics and nanoMRI. The roadmap is aimed as a single access point of information for experts in the field as well as the young generation of students outlining prospects of …

The hexatic phase is an intermediate stage in the melting process of a 2D crystal due to topological defects. Recently, this exotic phase was experimentally identified in the vortex lattice of 2D weakly disordered superconducting MoGe by scanning tunneling microscopic measurements. Here, we study this vortex state by the Nernst effect, which is an effective and sensitive tool to detect vortex motion, especially in the superconducting fluctuation regime. We find a surprising Nernst sign reversal at the melting transition of the hexatic phase. We propose that they are a consequence of vortex dislocations in the hexatic state which diffuse preferably from the cold to hot.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are among the most common bacterial infections associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased healthcare expenditures. Despite recent advances in the prevention and treatment of these infections, there are still many challenges remaining, among them the creation of a durable catheter coating, which prevents bacterial biofilm formation. The current work reports on a method of protecting medical tubing endowed with antibiofilm properties. Silicone catheters coated sonochemically with ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) demonstrated excellent antibiofilm effects. Toward approval by the European Medicines Agency, it was realized that the ZnO coating would not withstand the regulatory requirements of avoiding dissolution for 14 days in artificial urine examination. Namely, after exposure to urine for 14 days, the coating amount was reduced by 90%. Additional …

Living in dynamic environments such as the social domain, where interaction with others determines the reproductive success of individuals, requires the ability to recognize opportunities to obtain natural rewards and cope with challenges that are associated with achieving them. As such, actions that promote survival and reproduction are reinforced by the brain reward system, whereas coping with the challenges associated with obtaining these rewards is mediated by stress-response pathways, the activation of which can impair health and shorten lifespan. While much research has been devoted to understanding mechanisms underlying the way by which natural rewards are processed by the reward system, less attention has been given to the consequences of failure to obtain a desirable reward. As a model system to study the impact of failure to obtain a natural reward, we used the well-established courtship suppression paradigm in Drosophila melanogaster as means to induce repeated failures to obtain sexual reward in male flies. We discovered that beyond the known reduction in courtship actions caused by interaction with non-receptive females, repeated failures to mate induce a stress response characterized by persistent motivation to obtain the sexual reward, reduced male-male social interaction, and enhanced aggression. This frustrative-like state caused by the conflict between high motivation to obtain sexual reward and the inability to fulfill their mating drive impairs the capacity of rejected males to tolerate stressors such as starvation and oxidative stress. We further show that sensitivity to starvation and enhanced social arousal is …

Platinum group metal (PGM)-free catalysts are promising candidates to replace PGM catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells. While methodologies to determine the number of active sites are under intense development, experimentally quantifying the parameters governing the kinetics of the reaction remains rare, albeit its potential for paving the pathways for future catalysts development. The use of transient voltammetry to probe electrocatalytic reactions by varying the measurement timescales and quantifying the reaction parameters via detailed microkinetic models has shown immense success in uncovering hidden mechanistic insights, connecting theory and experiments. Here we present the application of Fourier-transformed alternating-current voltammetry for analysis of the oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysis on a model PGM-free catalyst, iron-phthalocyanine, to decipher the kinetic and …

Protocols of quantum information processing are the foundation of quantum technology, allowing to share secrets at a distance for secure communication (quantum key distribution), to teleport quantum states, and to implement quantum computation. While various protocols have already been realized, and even commercialized, the throughput and processing speed of standard protocols is generally low, limited by the narrow electronic bandwidth of the measurement apparatus in the MHz-to-GHz range, which is orders-of-magnitude lower than the optical bandwidth of available quantum optical sources (10-100 THz). We present a general concept and methods to process quantum information in parallel over multiplexed frequency channels using parametric homodyne detection for measurement of all the channels simultaneously, thereby harnessing the optical bandwidth for quantum information in an efficient …

Organic solid electrolytes for rechargeable batteries are usually produced by dissolving or suspending all components and casting. For decades, acetonitrile has been widely used despite its rapid reaction with alkali metals, forming toxic products such as cyanide. Using large amounts of acetonitrile for industrial applications may pose health and environmental concerns. In addition, researchers claim that even if the solid electrolyte membranes contain residual trace water, this may positively affect the transport properties of Na ions in PEO, and those batteries with electrolytes containing trace water showed significantly improved electrochemical performance. Here, an aqueous medium was considered for casting solid polymer electrolyte membranes. Na ions conducting membranes produced with water were characterized and compared to traditional ones, produced with organic solvents. Spectral studies and …

The development of new nanoparticle-based antibiotics with biocompatible properties is an emerging advance in nanotechnology. This study advocated the development of carbon dots (CDs) doped with nitrogen, nitrogen with sulfur, and nitrogen with boron (N, NS, and NB-CDs). This led to changes in the properties of the CDs, both chemically and biologically. A facile hydrothermal technique was used to synthesize CDs and the formation of CDs was confirmed through various analytical techniques. The CDs had sizes ranging from 3.2 – 4.8 nm and ζ-potential values of +13 to 27 mV. The doped CDs exhibited moderate changes in fluorescence behaviors depending on the excitation wavelength (λex). The N- and NB-doped CDs were effective at eliminating gram-negative pathogens (E. coli and K. pneumoniae), with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 300 µg/mL and 400 µg/mL, respectively. The …

A major hypothesis for the etiology of type 1 diabetes (T1D) postulates initiation by viral infection, leading to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated interferon response and inflammation; however, a causal virus has not been identified. Here, we use a mouse model, corroborated with human islet data, to demonstrate that endogenous dsRNA in beta cells can lead to a diabetogenic immune response, thus identifying a virus-independent mechanism for T1D initiation. We found that disruption of the RNA editing enzyme adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADAR) in beta cells triggers a massive interferon response, islet inflammation, and beta cell failure and destruction, with features bearing striking similarity to early-stage human T1D. Glycolysis via calcium enhances the interferon response, suggesting an actionable vicious cycle of inflammation and increased beta cell workload.