Themed collection Celebrating George Whitesides’ 85th birthday

A post-pandemic perspective on paper-based microfluidics by George Whitesides and collaborators. Sketch generated by artificial intelligence using an original photograph courtesy of Volker Steger (Science Photo Library).

Supercapatteries represent the ultimate coexistence of high power and high energy density in a single energy storage device. This review highlights the importance of quantitative criteria that differentiate supercapatteries from hybrid capacitors.

This comprehensive review explores the emerging field of bioinspired hydrovoltaic electricity generators from elementary bioinspired materials to smart bioinspired structures and living bioinspired devices.

The molecular recognition of peptides and proteins by cucurbit[n]uril synthetic receptors in aqueous solution occurs with high affinity and with selectivity that is predictive from the sequence of amino acids and has enabled many applications.

Paper-based microfluidic devices offer a low-cost platform for biological and environmental detection. This tutorial review shows that initiated chemical vapor deposition can be used to modify these devices with functional polymers.

Coordination bonds between molecular entities and the surface of inorganic nanoparticles are an efficient tool to tune both the structural morphology and the photoelectrical properties of nanostructured hybrid materials.

Self-assembly in nano- to micro-fabrication is a frugal approach to advanced electro-optical devices.

Spatiotemporal control of acid- and base-producing enzymatic reactions using audible sound enables the creation of alternating disparate pH domains in a solution.

A dynamic molecular switch with 3 different functionalities makes it possible to reconfigure devices at molecular length scales and to access different memory states by simply changing the applied voltage.

Multiple-unit interlocking assembly strategy has provided a method for accelerating the constructing of stable DNA nanostructures with the potential for numerous applications.

A non-radioactive, radical method is reported as a screening tool for radiolytic degradation. Similar degradation products and trends are observed between this newly developed, higher-throughput assay and traditional gamma radiolysis.

We characterized two 3D supramolecular structures formed from derivatives of cyanuric acid and melamine in water. Introduction of one methyl group in melamine disrupts H-bonding and alters the arrangement of the layers in these structures.

An electrochemical sensing platform demonstrates the difference in NaCl uptake between salt-resistant and tolerant varieties of tomato and wild tomato seedlings.

We report two Cu(I)-tren host molecules with unusual air-stability, as revealed by strong preference for axial CO binding over bent O₂.

Temporal network analysis reveal when feedback interactions emerge in an out-of-equilibrium reaction network. This method could be broadly applied to provide data-driven analysis of experimentally-designed chemical reaction networks.

Redox catalysts play a critical role in chemical looping oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (CL-ODH).

A dynamic satellite–parent liposome network was developed to explore molecular transfer and quantitative microreactions through environmental stimuli, offering a platform to mimic multicellular systems in vitro.

Incorporating mixed flexible-rigid backbones into molecular junctions can dynamically block tunneling currents and enhance rectification.

A containerless chemical reaction observed in a levitating droplet cluster for the first time is used for information processing.

Dendritic cell-targeted mRNA–PNP vaccines.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering was used to resolve the chemical species, including chloride ions, on the surface of Ag nanocrystals in their original reaction solution, avoiding changes to the surface while eliminating possible artifacts.

Digital microfluidics enables processing of large sample volumes (up to 100 μL) with low bead counts (as few as 5000) in single molecule array assays.

A soft actuator has finally met with a paper-based microfluidic device. Called the microfluidic paper-based analytical soft actuator (μPAC), μPAC serves as a unique actuating platform for chemical sensing.

TapeTech is a flexible, adhesive-based microfluidic connectivity solution that streamlines fluidic integration with organ-on-a-chip devices by providing leak-proof sealing, mitigating pressure surges, and enabling rapid, cost-effective customization.

While sharing a common, hinge-like motion, steric congestion created by isopropyl groups reduces the barrier to hinging by ∼1.5 kcal mol⁻¹ over macrocycles with less cumbersome substitutions.

Mucin-decorated plasma membrane-derived vesicles are characterized before and after dispersing them in aqueous liquid crystals to reveal the influence of mucin density on vesicle size and membrane mechanical properties.

This work reports aqueous extractions from a copper-glass ceramic powder to make a novel antimicrobial (AM) Cu(I)-containing additive for colorless water-based coatings. The additive in three coating types, gave high AM efficacy and low color impact.

Multi-ring, thiophene based heterocycles participate in discrete non-covalent interactions that dictate crystal packing of conjugated molecules, which also form a variety of polymorphs with different optical properties.

We developed an automated, portable, label-free microfluidic device that utilizes image processing algorithms to recognize patient-derived tumor organoids of specific sizes and microvalve-controlled deflection for efficient sorting and collection.

Advanced textile-based microfluidic devices were fabricated by machine stitching, using only commercially available textiles and yarns. These devices perform advanced 3D microfluidics, and electrochemical sensing using stitched gold-coated yarns.

The thermoelectric ZT of organic thin-films can be significantly boosted by increasing their surface roughness. Herein, a soft-templating method produced a nanorough thin film of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):Tosylate with a ZT equal to 0.99.

Nanobodies OT2.4 and OT2.6 bind with conformational specificity to recombinant tau oligomers over monomeric and fibrillar tau. These nanobodies recognize tau oligomers present in brain samples from Alzheimer's disease patients.

Biphenyl-capped phosphopeptides instruct cell aggregation into spheroids, with minimal effective concentrations below 10 μM. Key factors driving morphogenesis include the self-assembly ability and dynamic shapeshifting of the peptide assemblies.

This work presents PRECISE, a device that integrates plasma separation and nucleic acid extraction, enabling streamlined sample preparation of whole blood for point-of-care diagnostics without external equipment or electricity.

Metasurface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy is used to characterize the classical, crossover, and quantum regimes of a colloidal metasurface as a function of gap distance.

Nanostructured Pt catalysts are prone to re-structuring mechanisms in the conditions generated during H₂ fuel cell operation. Thin (∼3 nm thick) niobia coatings effectively stabilized the Pt structure and activity under these aggressive conditions.

The performance of molecular diodes can approach the performance of semiconductor devices but predictive structure–property design remains challenging. We show that the performance can be improved by optimizing  several intertwined parameters.

This paper describes large-area molecular tunneling junctions comprising self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of light-harvesting protein complexes using eutectic Ga–In (EGaIn) as a top contact.

We investigate the emergence of Turing patterns in a system growing as a rotating spiral in two dimensions, utilizing the photosensitivity of the chlorine dioxide–iodine–malonic acid (CDIMA) reaction to control the growth process.

AI is revolutionizing medicine by enhancing diagnostics and patient care. Our study showed ML and DL AI models excel in microchip testing, underscoring AI's potential to improve precision medicine and POC diagnostics.

A reusable and cost-effective paper-in-polymer-pond (PiPP) hybrid microfluidic microplate with unique features for ultrasensitive and high-throughput multiplexed detection of disease biomarkers within an hour without using specialized instruments.

We develop a model for and explore the effects of compressibility in pneumatically actuated microfluidic circuit elements and experimentally validate the model with a positively pressurized microfluidic air oscillator.

This paper describes the fabrication of an antifouling and antiviral superhydrophobic elastomer by combining 3D printing and a peptide-based coating.

Monodisperse polymer microspheres with tailored surface morphologies were produced using microfluidics and interfacial instability. These unique surface structures enhanced drug release, presenting diverse options for drug delivery systems.

A fluorescence-based pH-shift assay allows determination of the activity of a wide range of enzymes, demonstrated by the high-throughput screening of directed evolution libraries of transketolase on 3-hydroxyaldehydes.

Distinguishing ET and PCET processes is challenging. This paper used “protein charge ladders” to show that PCET occurs at the non-redox “structural” zinc sight of SOD1, when a Cu ion displaces Zn.

Efficient folding of a disulfide-containing protein, bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, BPTI, can be achieved by rescuing protein kinetic traps via growth type pathways, instead of the traditional rearrangement type with glutathione disulfide, GSSG.

Chemical language models can be fine-tuned to predict properties, like water solubility, given molecular inputs. This work investigates how these predictions may be explained.

The lab-on-a-lollipop device collects and analyzes saliva in less than two minutes, making non-invasive saliva-based diagnostics more engaging and less uncomfortable.

Soft, skin-interfaced microfluidic colorimetric devices measure ketone concentration in sweat.

The branch-convergence structure can reduce the flow width of each liquid, thereby decreasing the diffusion distances required for mixing.

Our work introduces a simple strategy for tailoring hierarchical anisotropy in microactuators using thermoresponsive liquid crystalline elastomers, thereby enabling versatile multimodal actuation.

3D structures of cells suspended in hydrogels are maintained under constant perfusion in a self-contained unit. The continuous flow delivery system (CFDS) expands upon previous work with paper and supported gel slab scaffolds.

Integration of 3D Printed Mg²⁺-ISE into a 3D printed microfluidic device for next-generation point-of-care diagnostic devices.

This study describes a calibration-free device and method based on the resistive pulse sensing (RPS) principle for characterization of size distribution of extracellular vesicles (EVs).

The paper introduces a photobleaching strategy for producing multiple bead populations on flow cytometry to accelerate and facilitate the discovery of antibody-binding pairs using a pooled antibody cross-testing assay.

An electrochemical microcentrifuge tube cap (ElectrochemCap) for integrated (bio)electroanalysis is demonstrated with a LAMP amplification reaction and its subsequent electrochemical detection. Adaptations for different containers are also presented.

Sputum of cystic fibrosis patients shows increased viscoelastic properties due to disulfide crosslinking. Treatment with the mucolytic polymer dPGS-SH reduces disulfide crosslinks, leading to decreased viscoelasticity in sputum samples.

A paper-based platform quantifies essential soil macronutrients (nitrate, magnesium, calcium, ammonium) using colorimetry and a smartphone. This device enhances soil fertility assessment, supporting precision agriculture and boosting food production.

Halogenated non-innocent vanadium(V) Schiff base mono-substituted catecholates have a low stability and anti-proliferative properties similar to vanadate. A linear correlation between complex redox potential and the catechol pK_a was observed.

3D cardiac muscle rings are proposed as autonomously driving actuators. We develop the biohybrid self-beating actuator powered by the cardiac muscle rings and confirm its periodic antagonistic beating motion with culture.

By locating the point of photo-scission close to the surface, the stability of the surface layer can be significantly reduced to permit substitution reactions after irradiation.

The surface oxidation of molybdenum carbide nanoparticles was controlled by the electrochemical method. The impact of surface oxidation on catalytic properties was studied by both spectroscopic and computational methods.

Stepwise temperature modulation was realized by the photothermal conversion process, which enabled the growth of complex architectures of CaCO₃ that are composed of multiple polymorphic phases.

Deformable, elastic materials that buckle in response to external stimuli can display “snap-through”, which involves a transition between different, stable buckled states.

VT-MAP, a novel in vitro platform, offers better physiological reflection through the vascularized organoid. This advancement supports drug assessment with deeper insights into cancer biology through correlation between morphology and drug effects.

Through a strategic polymer engineering design, this paper shows that self-immolative poly(phthalaldehyde) (PPA) can be employed as a responsive debonding-on-demand adhesive for the detection of fluorides and acids in liquid and solid states.