Currently, numerous biomimetic robots inspired by natural biological systems have been developed. However, creating soft robots with versatile locomotion modes remains a significant challenge. Snakes, as invertebrate reptiles, exhibit diverse and powerful locomotion abilities, including prey constriction, sidewinding, accordion locomotion, and winding climbing, making them a focus of robotics research. In this study, we present a snake-inspired soft robot with an initial coiling structure, fabricated using MXene-cellulose nanofiber ink printed on pre-expanded polyethylene film through direct ink writing technology. The controllable fabrication of initial coiling structure soft robot (ICSBot) has been achieved through theoretical calculations and finite element analysis to predict and analyze the initial structure of ICSBot, and programmable ICSBot has been designed and fabricated. This robot functions as a coiling gripper capable of grasping objects with complex shapes under near infrared light stimulation. Additionally, it demonstrates multi-modal crawling locomotion in various environments, including confined spaces, unstructured terrains, and both inside and outside tubes. These results offer a novel strategy for designing and fabricating coiling-structured soft robots and highlight their potential applications in smart and multifunctional robotics.

In this week’s issue of the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, Prof. Joohoon Kang at Yonsei University and his team provide a comprehensive review that sheds light on how atomically thin 2D materials—especially those processed through solution-based methods—could offer scalable and cost-effective approaches for producing memristors, a type of memory device promising for in-memory and neuromorphic computing hardware.

The leading researcher, Prof. Joohoon Kang, commented: “Our work will serve as a milestone in solution-processed 2D memristor research—being the first review to extensively cover 2D memristors specifically fabricated using solution-based processing, from fundamental principles and materials production to device fabrication, switching mechanisms, and potential applications.”

The developed all-optical signal processing chips pave the way for ultra-low loss, high-speed, high-efficient, high-density information processing in future classical and non-classical communication and computing applications.

Operando recrystallization of ZnO nanoparticle layers has been found to transform disordered films into long-range, defect-passivated nanocrystals. This process enables a shift from hopping to potential band-like electron conduction, achieving on-demand electron injection and improved charge balance in QLEDs. The findings underscore the significance of interfacial chemical reactions and demonstrate that surface-active nanocrystals can be engineered during operation to boost device performance through post-treatment strategies.

Amplification-free, highly sensitive, and specific nucleic acid detection is crucial for health monitoring and diagnosis. The type III CRISPR-Cas10 system, which provides viral immunity through CRISPR-associated protein effectors, enables a new amplification-free nucleic acid diagnostic tool. In this study, we develop a CRISPR-graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) biosensor by combining the type III CRISPR-Cas10 system with GFETs for direct nucleic acid detection. This biosensor exploits the target RNA-activated continuous ssDNA cleavage activity of the dCsm3 CRISPR-Cas10 effector and the high charge density of a hairpin DNA reporter on the GFET channel to achieve label-free, amplification-free, highly sensitive, and specific RNA detection. The CRISPR-GFET biosensor exhibits excellent performance in detecting medium-length RNAs and miRNAs, with detection limits at the aM level and a broad linear range of 10^-15 to 10^-11 M for RNAs and 10^-15 to 10^-9 M for miRNAs. It shows high sensitivity in throat swabs and serum samples, distinguishing between healthy individuals (N = 5) and breast cancer patients (N = 6) without the need for extraction, purification, or amplification. This platform mitigates risks associated with nucleic acid amplification and cross-contamination, making it a versatile and scalable diagnostic tool for molecular diagnostics in human health.

Bimodal pressure sensors capable of simultaneously detecting static and dynamic forces are essential to medical detection and bio-robotics. However, conventional pressure sensors typically integrate multiple operating mechanisms to achieve bimodal detection, leading to complex device architectures and challenges in signal decoupling. In this work, we address these limitations by leveraging the unique piezotronic effect of Y-ion-doped ZnO to develop a bimodal piezotronic sensor (BPS) with a simplified structure and enhanced sensitivity. Through a combination of finite element simulations and experimental validation, we demonstrate that the BPS can effectively monitor both dynamic and static forces, achieving an on/off ratio of 1029, a gauge factor of 23,439 and a static force response duration of up to 600 s, significantly outperforming the performance of conventional piezoelectric sensors. As a proof-of-concept, the BPS demonstrates the continuous monitoring of Achilles tendon behavior under mixed dynamic and static loading conditions. Aided by deep learning algorithms, the system achieves 96% accuracy in identifying Achilles tendon movement patterns, thus enabling warnings for dangerous movements. This work provides a viable strategy for bimodal force monitoring, highlighting its potential in wearable electronics.

A research team led by Prof. WAN Yinhua from the Institute of Process Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has uncovered a surprising new mechanism that fundamentally alters our understanding of ion transport in nanofiltration (NF) membranes and provides critical insights into improving lithium recovery from high-magnesium brines.

A comprehensive review published in Molecular Biomedicine explores the multifaceted roles of mitochondria in various physiological activities, diseases, and therapeutic strategies. This study is conducted by the research team from the Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, the Southwest Jiaotong University, and the West China Second Hospital of Sichuan University. It provides insights into mitochondrial functions, their impact on various diseases, and emerging therapeutic strategies targeting this essential cellular organelle.

Phosphatases have long been considered undruggable, but recent discoveries are changing that perception. Compared to kinases, phosphatases remain underexplored in cancer therapy, despite their critical roles in tumour progression. Dysregulated phosphatases drive tumour growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, immune evasion, therapy resistance, and intracellular communication—through the modulation of oncogenic signaling pathways.

Phosphatases are governed by a complex regulatory system that must be understood to develop effective targeted therapies. However, phosphatases could be broadly categorized as tumour promoters, tumour suppressors, or having dualistic functions.

This review explores the roles of various phosphatases in cancer cells and immune tumour microenviroment, with a focus on their signaling mechanisms and the current latest therapeutic strategies.

The study investigates the interaction between the human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2) and amygdalin, a compound found in peaches, almonds, and apples. To assess the potential of amygdalin, the interaction between HER2 and amygdalin was explored using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Binding energies were evaluated for both the crystal and equilibrated HER2 structures. The effects of water on binding were also assessed. Molecular dynamics simulations analyzed structural changes in HER2, including interdomain distances, hydrogen bond fluctuations, dihedral angle shifts, and residue-residue distances at the dimerization arm. The free energy landscape was constructed to evaluate stability. Binding energies of −33.472 ​kJ/mol and −36.651 ± 0.867 ​kJ/mol were observed for the crystal and equilibrated HER2 structures, respectively, with water further enhancing binding to −41.212,4 ​± ​1.272,7 and −53.513 ± 1.452,3 ​kJ/mol. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed significant conformational changes in HER2, including a reduction in interdomain distance, fluctuations in hydrogen bond lengths, and a shift in dihedral angles from 60° to −30°. The residue-residue distance at the dimerization arm decreased, indicating conformational changes upon binding. The free energy landscape showed a deeper and more defined minimum in the bound state, reflecting enhanced stability. These findings highlight amygdalin’s potential as a therapeutic agent targeting HER2.