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Liquid metal is being regarded as a promising material for soft electronics owing to its distinct combination of high electrical conductivity comparable to that of metals and exceptional deformability derived from its liquid state. However, the applicability of liquid metal is still limited due to the difficulty in simultaneously achieving its mechanical stability and initial conductivity. Furthermore, reliable and rapid patterning of stable liquid metal directly on various soft substrates at high-resolution remains a formidable challenge. In this work, meniscus-guided printing of ink containing polyelectrolyte-attached liquid metal microgranular-particle in an aqueous solvent to generate semi-solid-state liquid metal is presented. Liquid metal microgranular-particle printed in the evaporative regime is mechanically stable, initially conductive, and patternable down to 50 μm on various substrates. Demonstrations of the ultrastretchable (~500% strain) electrical circuit, customized e-skin, and zero-waste ECG sensor validate the simplicity, versatility, and reliability of this manufacturing strategy, enabling broad utility in the development of advanced soft electronics. In this article, meniscus-guided printing of polyelectrolyte-attached liquid metal particles to simultaneously achieve mechanical stability and initial electrical conductivity at high resolution is introduced.

Deformable semi-solid liquid metal particles (LMP) have emerged as a promising substitute for rigid conductive fillers due to their excellent electrical properties and stable conductance under strain. However, achieving a compact and robust coating of LMP on fibers remains a persistent challenge, mainly due to the incompatibility of conventional coating techniques with LMP. Additionally, the limited durability and absence of initial electrical conductivity of LMP restrict their widespread application. In this study, we propose a solution process that robustly and compactly assembles mechanically durable and initially conductive LMP on fibers. Specifically, we present a shearing-based deposition of polymer-attached LMP followed by additional coating with CNT-attached LMP to create bi-layer LMP composite with exceptional durability, electrical conductivity, stretchability, and biocompatibility on various fibers. The versatility and reliability of this manufacturing strategy for 1D electronics are demonstrated through the development of sewn electrical circuits, smart clothes, stretchable biointerfaced fiber, and multifunctional fiber probes. The mechanical and electrical properties of liquid-metal particle fibers are limited by incompatible coating techniques. Here, Lee et. al. present a solution shearing-based deposition technique for high performance bi-layer stretchable fibers, showcasing applications in smart clothing and 1D bioelectronics.

Intelligent digital apparel, which integrates electronic functionalities into clothing, represents the future of healthcare and ubiquitous control in wearable devices. Realizing such apparel necessitates developing meter-scale conductive fibers with high toughness, conductivity, stable conductance under deformation, and mechanical durability. In this study, we present a heterostructure printing method capable of producing meter-scale (~50 m) biphasic conductive fibers that meet these criteria. Our approach involves encapsulating deformable liquid metal particles (LMPs) within a functionalized thermoplastic polyurethane matrix. This encapsulation induces in situ assembly of LMPs during fiber formation, creating a heterostructure that seamlessly integrates the matrix’s durability with the LMPs’ superior electrical performance. Unlike rigid conductive materials, deformable LMPs offer stretchability and toughness with a low gauge factor. Through precise twisting using an engineered annealing machine, multiple fiber strands are transformed into robust, electrically stable meter-scale electrodes. This advancement enhances their practicality in various intelligent digital apparel applications, such as stretchable displays, wearable healthcare systems, and digital controls. Meter-scale fabrication of conductive fibers with both electrical and mechanical stability is crucial for the advancement of digital apparel. This study presents a heterostructure printing technique for producing such fibers, accelerating the practical adoption of wearable electronic textiles.

Ultraviolet light (UV) acts as a powerful disinfectant and can prevent contamination of personal hygiene from various contaminated environments. The 222-nm wavelength of UV-C has a highly effective sterilization activity and is safer than 275-nm UV-C. We investigated the irradiation efficacy of 222-nm UV-C against contaminating bacteria and viruses in liquid and fabric environments. We conducted colony-forming unit assays to determine the number of viable cells and a 50% tissue culture infectious dose assay to evaluate the virus titration. A minimum dose of 27 mJ/cm 2 of 222-nm UV-C was required for >95% germicidal activity for gram-negative and -positive bacteria. A 25.1 mJ/cm 2 dose could ensure >95% virucidal activity against low-pathogenic avian influenza virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). In addition, this energy dose of 222-nm UV-C effectively inactivated SARS-CoV-2 variants, Delta and Omicron. These results provide valuable information on the disinfection efficiency of 222-nm UV-C in bacterial and virus-contaminated environments and can also develop into a powerful tool for individual hygiene.

Packaging in stretchable electronics is crucial to protect components from environmental damage while preserving mechanical flexibility and providing electrical insulation. The conventional packaging process involves multiple steps that increase in complexity as the number of circuit layers multiply. In this study, we introduce a self-packaged stretchable printed circuit board enabled by the in situ phase separation of liquid metal particles (LMPs) within various polymer matrices during solution-based printing processes. The ligand-bound LMPs (LB-LMPs), engineered to inhibit oxide growth, undergo in situ sintering, prompting vertical phase separation. This synthesis strategy not only achieves high initial conductivity of the LMPs but also encapsulates them within the polymer matrix, preventing leakage and providing electrical insulation. Our method enables multi-layer circuit printing, eliminating the need for additional activation and packaging processes. Furthermore, by integrating conductive materials into packaging layers for selective electrical conductivity, vertical interconnect accesses and conductive pads can be formed, enabling large-scale, stretchable, and leakage-free multi-layer electrical circuits and bio-interfaces. Conventional stretchable circuit fabrication requires complex packaging to prevent leakage. Here the authors introduce a self packaging stretchable circuit enabled by in situ sintering of ligand-bound liquid metal particles, allowing scalable, leakage-free, multilayer integration.

A highly contagious virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, caused the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants have been reported to circulate throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 symptoms include respiratory symptoms, fever, muscle pain, and breathing difficulty. In addition, up to 30% of COVID-19 patients experience neurological complications such as headaches, nausea, stroke, and anosmia. However, the neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2 infection remains largely unknown. This study investigated the neurotropic patterns between the B1.617.2 (Delta) and Hu-1 variants (Wuhan, early strain) in K18-hACE2 mice. Despite both the variants inducing similar pathogenic patterns in various organs, B1.617.2-infected K18-hACE2 mice demonstrated a higher range of disease phenotypes such as weight loss, lethality, and conjunctivitis when compared to those in Hu-1-infected mice. In addition, histopathological analysis revealed that B1.617.2 infects the brain of K18-hACE2 mice more rapidly and effectively than Hu-1. Finally, we discovered that, in B1.617.2-infected mice, the early activation of various signature genes involved innate cytokines and that the necrosis-related response was most pronounced than that in Hu-1-infected mice. The present findings indicate the neuroinvasive properties of SARS-CoV-2 variants in K18-hACE2 mice and link them to fatal neuro-dissemination during the disease onset.

Crude polysaccharides, extracted from two seaweed species (Hizikia fusiforme and Sargassum horneri) and Haliotis discus hannai (abalone) viscera, were evaluated for their inhibitory effect against SARS-CoV-2 propagation. Plaque titration revealed that these crude polysaccharides efficiently inhibited SARS-CoV-2 propagation with IC50 values ranging from 0.35 to 4.37 μg/mL. The crude polysaccharide of H. fusiforme showed the strongest antiviral effect, with IC50 of 0.35 μg/mL, followed by S. horneri and abalone viscera with IC50 of 0.56 and 4.37 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, immunofluorescence assay, western blot, and quantitative RT-PCR analysis verified that these polysaccharides could inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication. In Vero E6 cells, treatment with these crude polysaccharides before or after viral infection strongly inhibited the expression level of SARS-CoV-2 spikes, nucleocapsid proteins, and RNA copies of RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase and nucleocapsid. These results show that these crude marine polysaccharides effectively inhibit SARS-CoV-2 propagation by interference with viral entry.

Background and Objectives: Persistent exposure to airborne fine dust (FD) particles contributing to air pollution has been linked to various human health issues, including respiratory inflammation, allergies, and skin diseases. We aimed to identify potential seaweed anti-inflammatory bioactive reagents and determine their effects on systemic inflammatory responses induced by FD particles. Materials and Methods: While exploring anti-inflammatory bioactive reagents, we purified compounds with potential anti-inflammatory effects from the seaweed extracts of Ecklonia cava, Ecklonia stolonifera, and Codium fragile. Structural analyses of the purified compounds siphonaxanthin (Sx), fucoxanthin (Fx), dieckol (Dk), and phlorofucofuroeckol-A (PFF-A) were performed using NMR and LC-MS/MS. Results: Notably, these compounds, especially PFF-A, showed significant protective effects against FD-induced inflammatory responses in RAW 264.7 cells without cytotoxicity. Further investigation of inflammatory-associated signaling demonstrated that PFF-A inhibited IL-1β expression by modulating the NF-κB/MAPK signal pathway in FD-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, gene profiling revealed the early activation of various signature genes involved in the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines using gene profiling. Treatment with PFF-A markedly reduced the expression levels of pro-inflammatory and apoptosis-related genes and even elevated the Bmp gene families. Conclusions: These results suggested that PFF-A is a potential natural therapeutic candidate for managing FD-induced inflammatory response.

This retrospective study reports the isolation and characterization of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from a household cat in South Korea. The cat, which was presented with respiratory symptoms, was identified during a retrospective analysis of samples collected between April 2021 and March 2022. Genomic sequencing revealed that the isolated virus belonged to the Omicron variant (BA.1), coinciding with its global emergence in early 2022. This case study provides evidence for the potential of direct human-to-cat transmission of the Omicron variant in South Korea during its period of widespread circulation. Our findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in both human and animal populations to track viral evolution and potential spillover events.

Fiber-based electronic devices (FEDs) exhibit high flexibility, low weight, and excellent integrability into wearable, implantable, and robotic systems. Recent advances have enabled applications in sensing, energy harvesting, and storage, and active functions. Despite this progress, challenges such as mechanical fatigue, interfacial delamination, and signal instability remain. This review offers key challenges and perspectives on the future of FEDs as interactive, autonomous platforms for next-generation electronics in healthcare, robotics, and beyond.