Abstract Cyborg insects have been proposed for applications such as urban search and rescue. Body-mounted energy-harvesting devices are critical expanding the range of activity functionality cyborg insects. However, their power outputs limited to less than 1 mW, which is considerably lower those required wireless locomotion control. The area load energy harvesting device impair mobility tiny robots. Here, we describe integration an ultrasoft organic solar cell module on that preserves motion...

It was more than 50 years ago that an appearance of birefringence in alginate gels prepared under cation flow reported for the first time, however, anisotropic structure gel has not been studied detail. In present study, Ca-alginate were within dialysis tubing a high Ca2+-concentration external bath, and optical small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements performed to characterize gel. The observations with crossed polarizers circular revealed molecular orientation perpendicular...

Bone tissues possess excellent mechanical properties such as compatibility between strength and flexibility load bearing owing to the hybridization of organic/inorganic matters with anisotropic structure. To synthetically mimic an structure natural hybrid materials, we carried out hydroxyapatite (HAp) mineralization in stretched tough double network (DN) hydrogels. Anisotropic HAp took place hydrogels, revealed by high brightness synchrotron X-ray scattering transmission electron microscopic...

The substrate specificities of dynein, kinesin, and myosin turnover activity cytoskeletal filament-driven translocation were examined using 15 ATP analogues. dyneins more selective in their utilization than bovine brain kinesin or muscle heavy meromyosin, even different types dyneins, such as 14S 22S dynein from Tetrahymena cilia the beta-heavy chain-containing particle outer-arm sea urchin flagella, could be distinguished by specificities. Although meromyosin both exhibited broad...

We have found that dialysis of 5 mg/mL collagen solution into the phosphate with a pH 7.1 and an ionic strength 151 mM [corrected] at 25 °C results in gel birefringence tubular pores aligned parallel to growth direction gel. The time course averaged diameter during anisotropic gelation was expressed by power law exponent 1/3, suggesting formation is attributed spinodal decomposition-like phase separation. Small angle light scattering patterns high resolution confocal laser scanning...

Substrate physical properties are essential for many physiological events such as embryonic development and 3D tissue formation. Physical of the extracellular matrix viscoelasticity geometrical constraints understood factors that affect cell behaviour. In this study, we focused on relationship between epithelial morphogenesis substrate viscosity. We observed Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells formed structures a viscous (Matrigel). The appear tulip hat. then changed viscosity by genipin...

In order to obtain a gelatin hydrogel crosslinked by reagent-free method, gamma-ray and electron beam radiation was applied porcine, bovine fish gels the products were characterized measuring gel fraction, swelling ratio enzymatic degradability. On increasing dose, fraction increased both degradability decreased. The transition temperature from sol of containing more than 5% mammal gelatins up 90 degrees C when or irradiated 10 kGy. results show that degree crosslinking hydrogels increases...

DNA liquid crystalline gel (LCG) has been newly prepared by a dialysis of concentrated solutions into metal cation solutions. The condition for forming LCG is examined means the insolubilization reaction. shrinking ratio and thickness layer, delta, diameter tube, d0, do not depend on d0. adsorption one carcinogenic agents, acridine orange demonstrated. From experimental results, mechanism DNALCG discussed.

Measurements have been made of the hydrogen ion concentration muscles various marine animals immediately after death and 20–24 hours after. The results obtained are same order as those previously found for frog cat.

DNA liquid crystalline gel (LCG) films have been prepared by immersing aqueous borate solutions sandwiched between two circular glass plates into cobalt chloride solutions. The time courses of the thickness, weight fractions and cations, birefringence turbidity film consisted outer LCG inner amorphous or solution measured. To clarify mechanism process forming LCG, theory based on nonequilibrium thermodynamics with "moving boundary picture" [Langmuir 2005, 21, 8155-8160] was modified, results...

Abstract Cell-containing collagen gels are one of the materials employed in tissue engineering and drug testing. A gel is a useful three-dimensional (3D) scaffold that improves various cell functions compared to traditional two-dimensional plastic substrates. However, owing poor nutrient availability, cells not viable thick gels. Perfusion an effective method for supplying nutrients gel. In this study, we maintained hepatocytes embedded 3D using simple pump-free perfusion culture system with...

Introduction of epithelial lumen-like structures such as blood and lymphatic vessels, well renal tubules, is a prerequisite for successful construction function artificially engineered giant tissues. Here, we demonstrate methodology various by using multichannel collagen gels (MCCGs). MCCGs were prepared used template scaffolds constructing lumen in controlled fashion. The effect NaCl concentration on the structure was investigated confocal laser scanning microscopy along with fluorescent...

Abstract To quantify chiral shape, a tensor describing the particle shape has been proposed. This tensor, named (S‐tensor), is an analog of hydrodynamic that relates rotational and translational motions particles in liquid. The determinant S‐tensor, chirality measure density (CMD), was calculated for tetrahedrons octahedrons. It found CMD opposite sign when mirror images are to each other vanishes they achiral. Therefore, good distinguish images. interaction between discussed terms CMD.

To investigate the effects of pH on structure and properties DNA anisotropic gels their growth process, we have observed morphology gel films prepared from solutions with various initial pH, measured dependences shrinking ratio, birefringence, relaxation modulus as well time courses front pH-change lines. The high inhomogeneous macroscopic structure, large optical anisotropy whereas those low homogeneous small anisotropy. difference at different is attributed to in interaction between...

Adsorption behaviors of acridine orange (AO) and biphenyl (BP) to DNA liquid crystalline gel (LCG) beads in aqueous dispersing solution have been studied theoretically experimentally. A theoretical consideration based on nonequilibrium thermodynamics predicted that the time course adsorption process is expressed with a scaled equation, number adsorbed carcinogen molecules ñ square root immersion t̃, ∝ at early stage, whereas it power law function 1 − (t̃e t̃)3/2 for ñ0 > an exponential...

Alginate gels formed by diffusion of calcium ions into solutions sodium alginate were found to exhibit optical anisotropy depending on preparation conditions. When observed under crossed nicols, the anisotropic showed a birefringence pattern which is characteristic radial orientation polymer chains. Calcium prepared from different concentrations and ion, conditions for formation determined. The gel-formation process was measured monitoring development birefringent layer compared with model...

Mimicking the complicated anisotropic structures of a native tissue is extremely important in engineering. In previous study, we developed an collagen gel scaffold (ACGS) having hierarchical structure and properties gradient. this our objective was to see how cells remodel scaffolds through cells-ACGS interaction. For purpose, cultured osteoblastic on ACGS, which regarded as model system for cells-extracellular matrix (cell-ECM) Changes ACGS-cell composites by cell-ECM interactions...