Gozde Ozaydin Ince

Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) interfaces offer antibody-level selectivity without bioreceptor instability, yet their integration into transistor-based sensors remains limited. In this study, we present a novel multiplex field-effect transistor (FET) biosensor platform based on molecularly imprinted polypyrrole (PPy) nanotubes, synthesized through a template-assisted vapor deposition polymerization technique. The molecular imprinting process was employed to create specific recognition sites for the ovarian cancer biomarkers HE4 and CA125, enabling selective and sensitive detection of both biomarkers simultaneously. The molecularly imprinted PPy (MIP) nanotubes were fabricated with high uniformity, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) verified the chemical composition. The dual channel FET showed sensitivities of 0.06 (U mL⁻¹)⁻¹ for CA125 and 0.22 pM⁻¹ for HE4, limits of detection of 0.4 U mL⁻¹ and 0.2 pM, and linear ranges of 0.1–25 U mL⁻¹ (CA125) and 0.05–10 pM (HE4). Selectivity factors of 11.3 and 23.7 were obtained for the CA125 sensor and the HE4 sensor, respectively, indicating high specificity of the imprinted sensors for their respective target biomarkers. By combining vapor deposited MIP nanotubes with a compact FET architecture, our work offers a promising approach for route toward early, point of care diagnosis through the simultaneous quantification of multiple cancer biomarkers.

Reliable prediction of swelling and degradation behavior of hydrogels used in biomedical applications due to the simultaneous and nonlinear effects of multiple parameters is a critical requirement in hydrogel design. However, conventional experimental approaches present significant limitations in multiparameter systems due to high time consumption and experimental costs. In this study, the structural, swelling, and degradation characteristics of poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan (PVA/CS) composite hydrogels synthesized using a physical cross-linking method based on freeze–thaw (F–T) cycles with varying chitosan contents and F–T cycle numbers were systematically investigated. To prioritize biocompatibility, the hydrogels were produced without the use of chemical cross-linking agents, and the effects of pH-sensitive behavior, network density, and structural stability were examined in detail. FT-IR analyses confirmed the formation of hydrogen bonding interactions and an IPN-like network structure between PVA and chitosan chains, while SEM observations revealed significant changes in pore morphology depending on chitosan content and the number of F–T cycles. The swelling capacities of the hydrogels were found to vary between 4.02 and 26.28 g water/g polymer, whereas degradation ratios ranged from 3.38% to 37.36%, depending on the environmental pH, chitosan concentration, and F–T cycle number. The experimentally obtained nonlinear swelling and degradation data were further modeled using an artificial neural network (ANN) approach, and the behaviors were predicted with high accuracy (R > 0.99). The results demonstrate that ANN-based modeling provides a reliable and efficient design and optimization tool for multiparameter hydrogel systems by significantly reducing experimental workload.

The field of corneal cell sheet engineering has evolved rapidly in the last decade; however, challenges related to transplantation into target tissue still exist, necessitating a new approach to integrate cell sheet technology onto a contact lens surface. In this study, a novel surface‐modified contact lens was developed for corneal regenerative medicine to ensure the easy and safe integration of cell sheets into the target tissue. The lens surface was coated with a thermo‐responsive polymer using the initiated chemical vapor deposition technique, facilitating the separation of tissue‐integrated cell sheets from the coated lens surface by simply lowering the temperature. BEAS‐2B and L929 cells, along with human limbal epithelial cells, were cultured on a crosslinked poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)‐coated lens, providing temperature sensitivity for 14 days. At the end of the incubation period, the cultured cells were harvested as intact monolayer cell sheets through a simple temperature reduction, without enzymatic treatment or additional surgical procedures. Rapid and complete delamination of the cells planted and incubated on the coated lens surface was achieved at room temperature. Therapeutic contact lenses modified with cell sheet technology allowed targeted delivery of cells to the affected area of the cornea.

With the increasing use of implantable patches in biomedical applications, the significance of surface modification techniques in improving biocompatibility, enhancing adhesion, and regulating drug release has grown. A significant challenge that these methods must address is ensuring that the process does not harm the delicate fibers or therapeutic agents they contain. Here, we report surface functionalization of implantable, curcumin loaded Polycaprolactone (PCL) patches with pH‐responsive poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐4‐vinylpyridine), p(HEMA‐co‐4VP) polymer thin film. The polymer was coated on the patch surface via photo‐initiated chemical vapor deposition (piCVD) where the polymerization was initiated by the UV degradation of the initiator tert‐butyl peroxide (TBPO) and the monomer HEMA. Additionally, the piCVD method was utilized to crosslink the HEMA without the use of additional crosslinkers. The pH‐responsiveness of the coating was achieved by incorporating 4VP into the copolymer structure. The effect of the coating was demonstrated through degradation and drug release studies. The presence of the polymer coating decelerated the fiber degradation and the pH‐dependent swelling of the coating allowed for the control of drug release rates from the patches. The innovative use of piCVD as a coating method provides a platform for advancing tailored surface modifications in various biomedical applications.

Seventy percent of global electricity is generated by steam-cycle power plants. A hydrophobic condenser surface within these plants could boost overall cycle efficiency by 2%. In 2022, this enhancement equates to an additional electrical power generation of 1000 TWh annually, or 83% of the global solar electricity production. Furthermore, this efficiency increase reduces CO₂ emissions by 460 million tons /year with a decreased use of 2 trillion gallons of cooling water per year. However, the main challenge with hydrophobic surfaces is their poor durability. Here, we show that solid microscale-thick fluorinated diamond-like carbon (F-DLC) possesses mechanical and thermal properties that ensure durability in moist, abrasive, and thermally harsh conditions. The F-DLC coating achieves this without relying on atmospheric interactions, infused lubricants, self-healing strategies, or sacrificial surface designs. Through tailored substrate adhesion and multilayer deposition, we develop a pinhole-free F-DLC coating with low surface energy and comparable Young’s modulus to metals. In a three-year steam condensation experiment, the F-DLC coating maintains hydrophobicity, resulting in sustained and improved dropwise condensation on multiple metallic substrates. Our findings provide a promising solution to hydrophobic material fragility and can enhance the sustainability of renewable and non-renewable energy sources.

Changes in weather conditions and lifestyle lead to an annual increase in the amount of lung cancer, and therefore it is one of the three most common types of cancer, making it important to find an appropriate treatment method. This research aims to introduce a new smart nano-drug delivery system with antibacterial and anticancer capabilities that could be applied for the treatment of lung cancer. It is composed of a niosomal carrier containing curcumin as an anticancer drug and is coated with a chitosan polymeric shell, alongside Rose Bengal (RB) as a photosensitizer with an antibacterial feature. The characterization results confirmed the successful fabrication of lipid-polymeric carriers with a size of nearly 80 nm and encapsulation efficiency of about 97% and 98% for curcumin and RB, respectively. It had the Korsmeyer–Peppas release pattern model with pH and temperature responsivity so that nearly 60% and 35% of RB and curcumin were released at 37 °C and pH 5.5. Moreover, it showed nearly 50% toxicity against lung cancer cells over 72 h and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli. Accordingly, this nanoformulation could be considered a candidate for the treatment of lung cancer; however, in vivo studies are needed for better confirmation.