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The conformation of calmodulin (CaM) changes from closed configuration to open one, converting to a claviform dumbbell-shaped biomolecule upon Ca2+-binding. A hybrid probe of graphene oxide (GO) cationic conjugated polymer for detection of the conformation transition of CaM by using FRET technique is demonstrated. The stronger hydrophobic interaction and weaker electrostatic repulsion leads to more CaM adsorption to the surface of GO upon binding with Ca2+ than that of CaM in the absence of Ca2+ (apoCaM), resulting in much farther proximity between poly[(9,9-bis(6′- N, N, N-trimethy­lammonium)hexyl)-fluorenylene phenylene dibromide] (PFP) and green fluorescent protein labeled at the N-terminus of CaM and therefore much weaker FRET efficiency for PFP/Ca2+/CaM in comparison with that of PFP/apoCaM in the presence of GO. Notably, the assembly of CaM with GO is quantitatively and reversibly controlled by Ca2+ ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multifunctional photothermal therapy (PTT) platform with the ability to selectively kill bacteria over mammalian cells has received widespread attention recently. Herein, we prepared graphene oxide-amino(polyethyleneglycol) (GO-PEG-NH2) while using the hydrophobic interaction between heptadecyl end groups of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[amino(polyethyleneglycol)] (DSPE-PEG-NH2) and graphene oxide (GO). Based on GO-PEG-NH2, the versatile PTT system was constructed with simultaneous selective recognition, capturing, and photothermal killing of bacteria. When the cells undergo bacterial infection, owing to the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains and positively charged amino groups, GO-PEG-NH2 can specifically recognize and capture bacteria in the presence of cells. Meanwhile, the stable photothermal performance of GO-PEG-NH2 enables the captured bacteria to be efficiently photothermally ablated upon the irradiation of 808 nm laser. Besides, the GO-PEG-NH2 is highly stable in various biological media and it exhibits low cytotoxicity, suggesting that it holds great promise for biological applications. This work provides new insight into graphene-based materials as a PTT agent for the development of new therapeutic platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ideal flexible piezoresistive sensor should possess high sensitivity as well as wide sensing range, and provide a stable and excellent response under different deformation, such as local and integral strain. However, these properties are difficult to achieve simultaneously with conventional all‐polymer‐filled composite, as tuning of one material component always causes the unpredictable change of multiple properties. Here, a strategy is developed to realize a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) based three‐dimensional (3D) microarchitecture, where the electrical conductivity and mechanical elasticity of the composite can be tuned simultaneously by only varying the rGO weight fraction. The analysis of coupled properties tuning effect shows that the device applied in local deformation reveals a greater dependence on electrical property, which prefers to low rGO weight fraction and displays a high sensitivity of 0.72 kPa−1 in the 10 kPa linear region. The sensor used for integral deformation is dominated by the mechanical property, which prefers to high rGO weight fraction and shows a gauge factor of 2517 at tensile strain of 100%, far superior to that previously reported. The rationally designed 3D microarchitecture is scalable, low cost, and promising in human–computer interactions, including but not limited to human health monitoring and intelligent wearable keyboards. The reduced graphene oxide based 3D microarchitecture demonstrates the sensitivity of conductive elastomer composite can be coupled optimized by electrical and mechanical properties. The sensors based on low filler ratio show high sensitivity in local deformation, while the ones in high ratio display more sensitive response of integral deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel and unconventional hybrid material consisting of graphene oxide (GO) and positively charged organic polymer for detection of the conformation transition of calmodulin by using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technique is developed on page 4412 by C. Xing, Y. Zhan, S. Wang, and co‐workers. This effort provides first example of how FRET technique can be used with GO and optical functional materials to detect CaM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The (0D/3D)MoSe 2 @HrGO hybrid is prepared via confinement synthesis strategy. • The (0D/3D)MoSe 2 @HrGO hybrid promotes the kinetics of aqueous Zn-Te battery. • The aqueous Zn-Te battery with (0D/3D)MoSe 2 @HrGO hybrid show excellent performance. • The conversion mechanism is explore via ex situ characterizations. Aqueous zinc-tellurium (Zn-Te) batteries based on conversion reactions between Zn and Te have sparked significant interest due to their cost-effectiveness, high theoretical specific capacity and outstanding safety features. Nevertheless, the sluggish kinetics pose a barrier to the advancement of aqueous Zn-Te batteries. In this study, zero-dimension (0D) nanodots and three-dimensional (3D) nanoflowers molybdenum diselenide (MoSe 2) are in situ grown on the holey reduced graphene oxide (HrGO) by a confinement synthesis strategy. Benefiting from the simultaneous presence of (0D/3D)MoSe 2 , excellent conductivity of holey reduced graphene oxide and unique hierarchical structure, the (0D/3D)MoSe 2 @HrGO hybrid greatly promotes the redox kinetics between Zn and Te conversion. Consequently, the constructed aqueous Zn-Te batteries equipped with a Te@(0D/3D)MoSe 2 @HrGO cathode demonstrate remarkable specific capacity (reaching 505 mAh/g at a current density of 0.15 A/g) along with outstanding long-term cycling stability. Additionally, the underlying conversion mechanism has been meticulously explored through extensive analytical techniques. This research introduces an innovative approach to boost the electrochemical performance of aqueous zinc-tellurium batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Capacitive deionization has attracted wide concern on account of its high energy efficiency, low manufacturing cost and environmental friendliness. Nevertheless, the development of capacitive deionization is still impeded because of the scarcity of suitable electrode materials with superior performance. Herein, we successfully prepared the two-dimensional (2D) titanium carbide (Ti 3 C 2 T x) MXene/ reduced graphene oxide (rGO) superlattice heterostructure by a facile electrostatic self-assembly strategy and systematically investigated its performance as capacitive deionized electrode materials. The unique 2D/2D superlattice heterostructure not only effectively alleviates the self-stacking problem of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene nanosheets, but also endows the heterostructure with superior conductivity and fast ion diffusion rate. As a result, the MXene/rGO superlattice heterostructure exhibits an outstanding salt (Na+) adsorption capacity (48 mg g −1) at 1.2 V significantly superior to pristine Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene nanosheets, along with outstanding long-term cycling performance. Furthermore, the mechanism involved was elucidated through comprehensive characterizations. Therefore, this study offers a new pathway for designing high-performance electrode materials for capacitive deionization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]