Yuanyuan Shang

Sciatic nerve injury (SNI) is a common form of peripheral nerve injury that often leads to persistent atrophy of denervated skeletal muscle. To address this issue, we developed an implantable electrode made of carbon nanotube fibers (CNTFs) for targeted acupoint electrical stimulation (AES) at the Huantiao acupoint (GB30) in SNI rats. CNTFs offer high tensile strength, excellent electrical conductivity, and proven biocompatibility. Following 21 consecutive days of AES intervention, we evaluated therapeutic effects through behavioral tests, morphological analysis, and biochemical assays. Compared to the SNI group, the AES group showed significantly improved hindlimb motor performance; increased gastrocnemius wet weight ratio; enlarged myofiber cross-sectional area; enhanced muscle histomorphology; reduced expression of pro-inflammatory and atrophy-related markers, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF-1), and muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx)/atrogin-1; and upregulation of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in denervated skeletal muscle. Importantly, histopathological examination and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmed the in vivo biocompatibility of the implanted CNTF electrodes, without chronic inflammation, fibrosis, or systemic toxicity. Electrochemical impedance measurements confirmed that the CNTFs maintained low impedance over the 21-day implantation period, indicating good in vivo stability. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the minimally invasive implantable AES system is an effective therapeutic strategy against SNI-induced muscle atrophy in rats.

Myocardial ischemia (MI) remains a major clinical challenge, and the therapeutic potential of electroacupuncture (EA) is constrained in practice by repeated needle insertion, poor repeatability of acupoint localization, and limited long-term patient compliance. To overcome these barriers, we developed a minimally invasive implantable electroacupuncture (IEA) system based on carbon nanotube fiber (CNTF) electrodes via a minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided procedure to establish a “single-implantation, long-term stimulation” strategy, delivering both sustained mild stimulation and conventional electroacupuncture at the Neiguan (PC6) acupoint. Results demonstrated that CNTFs with a diameter of 20–30 μm, a conductivity of (2.64 ± 0.95) × 10⁵ S/m, a charge storage capacity of 13.09 ± 2.79 mC/cm², and an impedance of 133.48 ± 69.88 Ω at 1 kHz represented the balanced trade-off for performance. Within the 14-day observation period, CNTF implantation at PC6 did not induce obvious local inflammatory infiltration or pathological tissue alterations. In a rat model of isoproterenol-induced MI, the IEA system markedly improved cardiac electrophysiology attenuated cardiac remodeling and reduced serum cTnT levels demonstrating superior therapeutic effects compared with conventional EA. Kinetic analysis of electrophysiological data revealed that daily IEA facilitated faster effect accumulation and consolidation, favoring acute- or subacute-phase management, whereas alternate-day IEA achieved a higher therapeutic ceiling, suggesting its superiority for maximizing long-term functional recovery. These results provided a rationale for session-frequency-personalized therapy. Furthermore, the cardioprotective effect was mediated through the downregulation of the FXR/SHP apoptotic pathway, validated by pharmacological inhibition. This work established a safe, effective, and stable platform that merged advanced bioelectronic materials with traditional acupuncture theory, providing a promising translational solution for the chronic, home-based rehabilitation of heart disease or other diseases, particular for elderly, paralyzed, or those with limited mobility and access to clinical care.

Shape memory composite fiber actuators have been extensively studied due to their excellent flexibility, weavability, actuation performance, and low-cost continuous fabrication. However, integrating both high actuation strain and high actuation stress within a single fiber-based material system remains a key challenge. In this study, we developed a high-performance shape memory composite fiber using a scalable wet-spinning process. The fiber exhibited 15 MPa actuation stress and up to 76% actuation strain within 1 s during thermal shrinkage, along with a high work capacity of 1339 J kg^-1. The electrical actuation achieved through efficient Joule heating also demonstrated 13 MPa actuation stress. Mechanistic analysis revealed excellent interfacial bonding between carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the polymer (polyurethane) matrix. Furthermore, the combined effect of CNTs and crystalline regions promoted tensile alignment of polymer chains, leading to improved mechanical and actuation properties of the fiber. This study demonstrated that the fiber structure enabled integrated actuation and programmed deformation in various 2D/3D configurations, with promising applications in future intelligent soft robotics, wearable devices, and smart textiles.

A free-standing Ni/CNT electrode was fabricated on 3D CNT sponge. It exhibits outstanding OER/HER activity, 1.55 V for overall water splitting, and high stability, serving as an efficient non-precious electrocatalyst.

With the rapid development of portable and wearable electronics, flexible fiber‐shaped energy storage devices have emerged as important solutions due to their lightweight nature, long cycle life, and high safety. High‐performance electrode materials are key to enhancing electrochemical performance. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), with their 1D nanostructure, excellent mechanical properties, and ultra‐high tensile strength, are considered ideal for constructing flexible energy storage electrodes, particularly in applications balancing flexibility and electrochemical performance. Recent years have seen significant progress in CNT‐based flexible electrode research. To meet the demand for high‐capacity flexible energy storage, this review focuses on CNT‐based fiber‐shaped devices, which exhibit high capacity and excellent mechanical flexibility. It summarizes recent advancements in energy storage, emphasizing fabrication and modification techniques for fiber electrodes and strategies for improved flexibility and stretchability. Furthermore, the structural design and performance of devices based on preparation methods are elaborated in detail, alongside a discussion of their wearable application potential. This review also addresses core challenges in the field and outlines future research directions for advancing fiber‐shaped energy storage devices.

Conventional carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their composites struggle to simultaneously enhance thermoelectric (TE) and mechanical properties due to complex processing and interfacial issues that hinder practical applications. Here, a composite flexible film (BST/CNT) is prepared through in situ composite and vacuum hot‐pressing. CNT networks prepared by chemical vapor deposition are embedded within the (BiSb) ₂ Te ₃ (BST) matrix via an interfacial mechanical interlocking mechanism, constructing a composite structure characterized by “micro‐scale rigidity and macro‐scale flexibility”. The composite film demonstrates a significantly enhanced Seebeck coefficient of 105.7 µV K ⁻¹ alongside a high tensile strength of 204.3 MPa, achieving a synergistic enhancement in both TE and mechanical properties. In addition, the electrical transport performance of the film shows no significant degradation after 10 000 bending cycles, demonstrating bending stability. The 6‐legged flexible TE generator (F‐TEG) based on these films achieves a maximum output power of 0.36 µW at ΔT = 17.6 K. The film device worn on the forearm generates 1.13 mV with a 2.6 °C ΔT between skin and environment. Simultaneously, the composite films possess temperature sensing performance. This study provides feasible guidance for the design and development of CNT‐based flexible composite TE materials.

Macroscopic carbon nanotube (CNT) assemblies, such as large‐area films and continuous fibers, greatly facilitate their applications in many areas, serving as structural and functional materials. However, when CNT macroscopic assemblies break, traditional methods relying on polymer binders for stacking up and cold pressing result in weakly bonded physical interfaces, severely compromising mechanical stability and electrical reliability. To address this challenge, this study proposed a glassy carbon (GC) nano‐welding strategy, which combined ethanol‐assisted densification and in situ growth of GC nanolayers wrapping around CNTs and filling the porous film to construct a chemically bonded 3D interpenetrating structure, addressing the weak interfacial bonding between contacted films. This approach enhanced the electrical conductivity of the CNT films by 268% and increased the interfacial joint strength by 12.7 times, while also demonstrating exceptional electromagnetic interference shielding performance (66 dB in the X‐band), fast Joule heating response. Mechanistic analysis revealed that interfacial charge transfers synergized with the porous structure to enhance SE. The nano‐welding approach could be useful in CNT film repair and reconstruction for applications in flexible electronics and wearable devices.

In recent years, aqueous Zn-ion batteries have gained significant development due to their advantages of low cost, high safety, and high theoretical capacity. However, their commercialization has been much hindered by the serious dendrite growth and low Coulombic efficiency of Zn electrodes. To address these challenges, a strategy for surface modifying carbon nanotube sponge with polyindium porphyrin (POF-S) is systematically designed and prepared as the multifunctional interface layer for Zn anode. As verified by theoretical calculations and tests, POF-S possesses both hierarchical pore structures and regularly arranged Zn affinity centers. The advantages of organic and inorganic on modulating interfaces are thus effectively combined in POF-S to inhibit dendrite growth, suppress side reaction, and boost high interfacial stability of the Zn anode. The observable influence of the POF-S interface layer promotes the microcrystallized dense deposition, which manifests in two forms of zinc (Zn₍₀₀₂₎ + Zn₍₁₀₁₎) on the anode. The thermodynamic advantages of the Zn₍₀₀₂₎ layer extend the cycling lifespan of the Zn anode to 5000 h under the condition of 1 mA cm^-2/1 mAh cm^-2. And the epitaxial growth advantage of Zn₍₁₀₁₎ makes the electrode capable of maintaining interface stability under larger current (20 mA cm^-2) and deeper charge/discharge (10 mAh cm^-2). Furthermore, the POF-S@Zn//MnO₂ full battery can maintain a specific capacity of more than 120 mAh g^-1 after 2200 cycles at a current of 2 A g^-1.