Ding Weng

Synthesis of Ultralong Copper Nanowires for High-Performance Transparent Electrodes

Cu nanowires hold great promise for the fabrication of low-cost transparent electrodes. However, their current synthesis is mainly performed in aqueous media with poor nanowire dispersibility. We report herein the novel synthesis of ultralong single-crystalline Cu nanowires with excellent dispersibility, providing an excellent candidate material for high-performance transparent electrode fabrication.

Efficient fabrication of field electron emitters from the multiwalled carbon nanotube yarns

An efficient method has been developed to fabricate field electron emitters by cutting a continuous multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) yarn into segments. The cross section of each segment was composed of open-ended MWNTs which serve as field emitters. The emission current can reach several milliamperes, and the emitters can work stably for a long time. The excellent field emission properties are attributed to the large enhancement factor over 100 000, dense emitting centers, and the robust structure. The emitters might be easily manipulated and assembled into devices, such as electron guns, x-ray tubes, pixel tubes, etc.

High-performance aqueous supercapacitors based on hierarchically porous graphitized carbon

Aqueous supercapacitors were fabricated using hierarchically porous graphitized carbon as the anode and metal oxide as the cathode, exhibiting high energy and high power densities for cost-effective energy storage.

Better lithium-ion storage materials made through hierarchical assemblies of active nanorods and nanocrystals

Lithium-ion storage materials with significantly improved performance were developed through the hierarchical assemblies of vanadium-based oxide (V2O5 and LiV3O8) nanorods or iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanocrystals using an efficient, continuous aerosol-spray process. Such hierarchically porous spheres, which were made from networks of low-dimension building blocks, result in materials with reduced ion-diffusion length, fast electrolyte diffusion, and structural robustness. Due to their unique hierarchical structure, these spheres exhibit high lithium storage capacity, excellent cycling stability and good rate capability. This work presents a novel synthesis approach toward better lithium-ion storage materials.

Nanoparticle drug delivery systems and three-dimensional cell cultures in cancer treatments and research

Being a great threat to human health, with no permanent cure yet, better treatment and further research in cancer are inevitable. Nanoparticle drug delivery systems (NDDSs), especially pH-sensitive NDDSs, such as lipid-based, polymeric, and mesoporous silica nanoparticles have played a significant role in cancer treatments. Further, three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures models, which include tumor spheroid models, microfluidic systems, and matrix/scaffolds-based 3D tumor, better mimic the tumor microenvironment than the conventional two-dimensional cultures, making it possible to better understand the disease while serving as a useful in vitro model for future research. The present review mainly focuses on such 3D cell cultures and drug delivery systems that are applied in cancer research and treatments.

Visible light powered self-disinfecting coatings for influenza viruses

Influenza A viruses, the pathogens responsible for the recent swine flu outbreak and many historical pandemics, remain a threat to the public health. We report herein the fabrication of self-disinfecting surfaces from photoactive building nanocrystals, which can inactivate influenza viruses rapidly, spontaneously and continuously under visible light illumination.

Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine

The Stanford Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (SCBRM) program is dedicated to doctoral education that translates basic science to clinical applications, typically referred to as Translational Science, and of intense interest internationally in medical schools and universities. Our doctoral program provides exceptional didactic education and research experience in the basic sciences underlying stem cell biology. In addition, program participants will receive specialized training in the development and clinical application of discoveries in the basic sciences to achieve regenerative therapies. Thus, our graduates will be uniquely positioned to develop successful translational careers in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, and will emerge prepared to deliver on their passion to improve the human condition. The core curriculum is combined with unique research and clinical/professional immersion rotations to provide opportunities for doctoral students to specialize in the broad subject of translational medicine and yet focus specifically on fundamentals of SCBRM. The curriculum combines education in genetics and developmental biology with an introductory laboratory-based stem cell course, an advanced course in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, and a clinical rotation with alternative opportunities in law, business and/or engineering.

Nanogels for biomedical applications: Drug delivery, imaging, tissue engineering, and biosensors

Nanogels have attracted much attention in the recent decades due to the combined properties of nanotechnology and cross-linking gel-like materials. These nanogels show great biocompatibility and biodegradability both in vitro and in vivo studies and have been widely used into biomedical science in terms of imaging, diagnostics, drug delivery, tissue engineering, biosensors, etc. The physicochemical properties (sizes, shapes, charges, and surface chemistries) can be easily tuned, which offer nanogels many advantages as nanocarrier for delivery of small molecules, proteins, genes, and other therapies. Incorporation of nanoparticles with a scaffold or hydrogel provides the ability to manipulate nanoscale parameters of scaffold for the development of 3D printing technology in the field of tissue engineering. In addition, these nanogels can sense and respond to environmental stimuli such as temperature, pH, light, mechanical stress, electric, magnetic field and glucose concentration. The special properties and simultaneously possesses characteristic of hydrogel and nanoparticle system make them potential candidates for sensory elements of biosensor.