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Additional file 1: Fig. S1. SEM images of H–Mn–Cu NFs after incubation for (a) 0, (b) 12, (c) 24, (d) 48, and (e) 72 h. Insets represent high-resolution SEM images. Fig. S2. Elemental mapping of H–Mn–Cu NFs. Fig. S3. (a) XRD pattern and (b) FT-IR spectra of MnO2 NFs, amine-functionalized (APTES)-MnO2 NFs, Cu3(PO4)2 precipitates, and H–Mn–Cu NFs. (c) BET surface areas of MnO2 NFs, APTES-MnO2 NFs, and H–Mn–Cu NFs. Fig. S4. XPS full scan spectrum of H-Mn-Cu NFs. Fig. S5. High-resolution XPS spectra of Cu for (a) H-Mn-Cu NFs and (b) Cu3(PO4)2 precipitates, and Mn for (c) H-Mn-Cu NFs and (d) bare MnO2 NFs. Fig. S6. Effects of (a) pH and (b) temperature on laccase-like activity of H–Mn–Cu NFs. Fig. S7. Comparison of stabilities between H–Mn–Cu NFs and free laccase in the following ranges: (a) pH, (b) temperature, (c) ionic concentration (NaCl), and (d) incubation period under shaking conditions. Fig. S8. Steady-state kinetic assays of (a) H–Mn–Cu NFs and (c) free laccase for epinephrine and their corresponding Lineweaver–Burk plots (b and d). Fig. S9. Comparison of laccase-like dopamine-detecting activity of H-Mn-Cu NFs with those of control samples. Fig. S10. Dose–response curves and corresponding linear calibration plots for determining (a, b) dopamine and (c, d) epinephrine using a well plate-based assay with free laccase. Fig. S11. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for H-Mn-Cu NFs-mediated degradation of (a) CV, (b) NR, and (c) RB at different incubation time of 0 h, 24 h, and 48 h. Fig. S12. Comparison of color signals of the H–Mn–Cu NF-incorporated paper microfluidic device for detecting both dopamine and epinephrine with those of controls [MnO2 NFs, Cu3(PO4)2 precipitates, and free laccase]. Fig. S13. Optimization of the wax barrier thickness of the paper microfluidic device to prevent flow leakage. (a) Paper devices after printing, (b) paper devices after wax melting, and (c) paper devices after adding a colored reagent (rhodamine B dye). The barrier thicknesses from top-left to down-right were 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, and 0.9 mm. Among these, 0.7 mm was used in this study. Fig. S14. Optimization of the reaction time for dopamine and epinephrine detection by H–Mn–Cu NF-incorporated paper microfluidic devices. Paper devices (a) before adding 4-AP, (b) after adding 4-AP, and for detecting dopamine and epinephrine (20 µM) during the reaction for (c) 0 min, (d) 2 min, (e) 5 min, (f) 10 min, (g) 15 min, (h) 20 min, (i) 25 min, and (j) 30 min. Among these, a 10 min reaction was used in this study. Fig. S15. Optimization of the employed concentrations of (a) 4-AP and (b) H–Mn–Cu NFs to prepare the H–Mn–Cu NF-incorporated paper microfluidic device for dopamine detection (20 µM). Consequently, 5 mg mL-1 4-AP and 10 mg mL-1 H–Mn–Cu NFs were used in this study. Fig. S16 Long-term storage stability of the H–Mn–Cu NF-incorporated paper microfluidic device at RT. Table S1. Comparison of the linear range and LOD values of H-Mn-Cu NFs with those of recent colorimetric assays for dopamine and epinephrine. Table S2. Detection precision of the H–Mn–Cu NF-based paper microfluidic device for the determination of dopamine and epinephrine levels in spiked human serum samples.

Hye Su Kim,1 Ha-Kyoung Kwon,2 Dong Hoon Lee,1 Thao Nguyen Le,1 Hye-Jin Park,2 Moon Il Kim1 1Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi 13120, Republic of Korea; 2Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi 13120, Republic of KoreaCorrespondence: Moon Il KimDepartment of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnamdae-ro, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi 13120, Republic of KoreaTel +82 31 750 8563Fax +82 31 750 4748Email moonil@gachon.ac.krIntroduction: Hair growth-promoting herbal extract mixtures (4HGF) exhibits significant anti-inflammatory activities relevant to promoting hair growth; however, its efficacy in patients with hair loss has been limited majorly due to its low penetration ability into hair follicles. Herein, we prepared hydrogels via dropwise addition of poly(γ-glutamic acid) (PGA) solution containing 4HGF into chitosan (CS) solution, resulting in quick formation of ∼400 nm-sized hydrogel particles through electrostatic interaction-derived ionic gelation with over 50% encapsulation efficiency of 4HGF (PGA-4HGF).Methods: The size and morphology of PGA-4HGF were characterized by TEM, SEM, and dynamic light scattering analyses. Encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of 4HGF within PGA-4HGF, as well as in vitro release profiles were determined by simply measuring the characteristic absorbance of 4HGF. Penetrating efficiency of PGA-4HGF was evaluated by tracking the respective fluorescence through model porcine skin with confocal laser microscope system. By treating PGA-4HGF on telogenic mice and dermal papilla cells (DPCs), we evaluated the size of hair bulbs in mice, as well as morphological changes in DPCs.Results: Negligible and sustained release of entrapped 4HGF from the hydrogel nanoparticles were observed under acidic and physiological pH conditions, respectively, which is quite advantageous to control their release and prolong their hair growth-promoting effect. The hydrogel nanoparticles were penetrable through the porcine skin after incubation with or without shaking. After treating telogenic mice and DPCs with PGA-4HGF, we detected enlargement of hair bulbs and remarkable shape changes, respectively, thereby showing its potential in induction of hair growth.Conclusion: These results suggest that the hydrogel nanoparticle formulation developed in this study can be employed as a potential approach for the preservation of hair growth-promoting compounds, their delivery of into hair follicles, and enhancing hair growth.Keywords: hair growth, poly(γ-glutamic acid), chitosan, hydrogel nanoparticle, cosmeceutical

Recently, nanomaterial-based enzyme mimetics (nanozymes) have attracted enormous interest. They exhibit unique advantages such as excellent robustness, stability, and low-cost production with easy scale-up, which are critically needed as an alternative to natural enzymes. These nanozymes exhibit natural enzyme-like activity and have been applied to various kinds of detection and treatment methods for biomolecules such as DNA, proteins, cells, and small molecules including glucose. To highlight progress in the field of nanozymes, this review discusses recent nanozyme-based research results and their applications for the development of novel biosensor, immunoassay, cancer diagnostics, therapeutics, and environmental engineering technologies. Current challenges and future prospects of nanozymes for widespread use in biotechnology are also discussed.

Microbial cell arrays have attracted consistent attention for their ability to provide unique global data on target analytes at low cost, their capacity for readily detectable and robust cell growth in diverse environments, their high degree of convenience, and their capacity for multiplexing via incorporation of molecularly tailored reporter cells. To highlight recent progress in the field of microbial cell arrays, this review discusses research on genetic engineering of reporter cells, technologies for patterning live cells on solid surfaces, cellular immobilization in different polymers, and studies on their application in environmental monitoring, disease diagnostics, and other related fields. On the basis of these results, we discuss current challenges and future prospects for novel microbial cell arrays, which show promise for use as potent tools for unraveling complex biological processes.