Search

Conductive hydrogels have gained considerable interest in their potential applications in fields such as soft robotics, electronic devices, and wearable technology. However, their widespread use has been limited due to the inherent brittleness of conventional hydrogels. In response to this challenge, we have engineered a multifunctional conductive hydrogel, characterized by dual physical cross-linking networks, using a simple, one-pot method. Our design incorporates acrylamide (AM), lauryl methacrylate (LMA), graphene (GN), silica amino spheres (SiO2-NH2), and 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazole chloride (ILs). Notably, the LMA, SiO2-NH2spheres, and AM play key roles in energy dissipation through hydrophobic association and hydrogen bonding, serving as dynamic cross-linking points. This structural configuration endows our resultant PAM@SiO2-NH2/(ILs-GN) hydrogels with impressive tensile strains, peaking at an extraordinary 15,318%, along with super toughness measuring 51.4 MJ/m3and self-healing capabilities. Moreover, the ILs facilitate effective dispersion of graphene, leading to superior conductivity and stable resistance changes in the hydrogel, with a conductivity measurement of 12 mS/cm. The hydrogel also demonstrates high sensitivity, with a gauge factor of 18.94 at a strain of 1200%. When implemented as a strain sensor, the hydrogel capably monitors a broad spectrum of human movements in real time, capturing both large-scale deformation and minute, nuanced motions. The culmination of these findings suggests the immense potential of our hydrogel sensors for use in flexible electronic skin applications, establishing them as promising candidates for multifunctional sensors and flexible electrodes.

Antibacterial Photodynamic Therapy Successful antibacterial photodynamic treatment relies on a sufficient oxygen supply. Its efficacy will be limited within hypoxic root canals. In article 2302926, Zhimin Zhang and co‐workers develop a composite nanophotosensitizer with oxygen‐supplying capability. Oxygen provides ample substrate for the photosensitizer, drastically improving its antibacterial efficacy under 660 nm red light irradiation and effectively eradicating Enterococcus faecalisbiofilms within root canals.

The successful treatment of persistent and recurrent endodontic infections hinges upon the eradication of residual microorganisms within the root canal system, which urgently needs novel drugs to deliver potent yet gentle antimicrobial effects. Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a promising tool for root canal infection management. Nevertheless, the hypoxic microenvironment within the root canal system significantly limits the efficacy of this treatment. Herein, a nanohybrid drug, Ce6/CaO2/ZIF‐8@polyethylenimine (PEI), is developed using a bottom‐up strategy to self‐supply oxygen for enhanced aPDT. PEI provides a positively charged surface, which enables precise targeting of bacteria. CaO2reacts with H2O to generate O2, which alleviates the hypoxia in the root canal and serves as a substrate for Ce6 under 660 nm laser irradiation, leading to the successful eradication of planktonic Enterococcus faecalis(E. faecalis)and biofilm in vitro and, moreover, the effective elimination of mature E. faecalisbiofilm in situ within the root canal system. This smart design offers a viable alternative for mitigating hypoxia within the root canal system to overcome the restricted efficacy of photosensitizers, providing an exciting prospect for the clinical management of persistent endodontic infection. In this paper, a novel nanoplatform, Ce6/CaO2/ZIF‐8@PEI, is synthesized for amplified antibacterial photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacy within hypoxic root canals. This nanoplatform demonstrates efficient O2‐evolving capabilities with enhanced antibacterial PDT efficacy, which successfully eliminates planktonic Enterococcus faecalisand biofilms in vitro and established biofilms within root canals in situ. This nanoplatform shows promising potential for the management of endodontic infections.