Search

The human skin inspired soft electronic devices have attracted broadly research attention in the past decades as the promising potential applications in health monitoring and diagnosis, robotics, and prosthetics. The soft wearable piezoresistivity pressure sensor is one of the most attractive candidates for the development of advanced electronic skin for its simple mechanism, compact structure, low cost and power energy consumption and ease of signal acquisition and transforms advantages. In this review, we will explore the recent progress and achievements in the field of piezoresistivity pressure sensor, focusing on the fundamentals of the piezoresistivity pressure sensor and the materials related to the devices, including active materials, substrate materials, and electrode materials. Subsequently, the challenges and outlook are discussed. We list several current challenges perspectives on the development of pressure sensors. Several critical topics for the optimization of the sensitivity and working range of sensing devices toward practical applications are discussed. Finally, perspectives on the slip and force vectors sensors, the developing technologies for multi-function and high-resolution sensor systems and signals process technologies are examined to highlight the near future development tendency in piezoresistivity pressure sensor research field. Keywords: Wearable device, Flexible electronic, Piezoresistivity sensor, E-Skin, Health monitoring

Taurine-upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) has been involved in tumorigenesis of several human cancers, but its precise biological role in bladder cancer remains largely elusive. In this study, we found that TUG1 was upregulated in bladder cancer and the expression of TUG1 was positively and negatively correlated with CCND2 and miR-194-5p, respectively. MiR-194-5p expression was frequently decreased through promoter hypermethylation, while it was epigenetically increased following cisplatin and 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-DC) treatment. Furthermore, knockdown of TUG1 attenuated the expression of epigenetic regulator Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), and it alleviated the promoter hypermethylation of miR-194-5p and induced its expression. Increased miR-194-5p expression or decreased TUG1 expression significantly sensitized bladder cancer cells to cisplatin, inhibited the proliferation, and induced apoptosis. Besides, CCND2 was a direct target of miR-194-5p, while miR-194-5p was regulated by TUG1. CCND2 could partially restore the tumor-suppressive effects on cell proliferation and cisplatin resistance following TUG1 silencing. Additionally, TUG1 expression was correlated with clinical stage, lymphatic metastasis, and patient prognosis. In conclusion, TUG1 promotes bladder cancer cell growth and chemoresistance by regulating CCND2 via EZH2-associated silencing of miR-194-5p. Our study may be conducive to elucidating the molecular mechanism of and providing novel therapeutic target and biomarker for bladder cancer. Keywords: TUG1, chemoresistance, CCND2, miR-194-5p, bladder cancer, cisplatin resistance, methylation, EZH2

Ultra-thin layered structures and modified bandgaps are two efficient strategies to increase the photocatalytic performance of various materials for the semiconductor industry. In the present study, we combined both strategies in one material to form carbon-doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nano-layered structures by the method of melamine thermal condensation, in the presence of different mass ratios of biochar. The characterization showed that the composite with the best ratio retained the g-C3N4 polymeric framework and the bond with g-C3N4. The biochar was established via π-π stacking interactions and ether bond bridges. The π-conjugated electron systems provided from biochar can elevate charge separation efficiency. The ultra-thin structure also curtailed the distance of photogenerated electrons migrating to the surface and enlarge specific surface area of materials. The presence of carbon narrowed the bandgap and increased light absorption at a wider range of wavelengths of g-C3N4. The biochar/melamine ratio of 1:15 presented the best performance, 2.8 and 5 times faster than g-C3N4 degradating Rhodamine and Methyl Orange, respectively. Moreover, the catalyst presented a good stability for 4 cycles. In addition to that, biochar from waste biomass can be considered a sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient option to modify g-C3N4-based photocatalysts.