ABSTRACT Stimuli‐responsive polymer carriers are widely investigated for applications in controlled drug delivery and cancer therapy. In this work, pH‐sensitive alginate (Alg) based microspheres grafted with poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (Alg‐ g ‐p(HEMA)) were developed for the release of paclitaxel (PTX). The PTX‐loaded microspheres were obtained through an emulsion crosslinking process, and their structural and morphological characteristics were examined by FTIR, UV, TG/DSC, SEM, and XRD analyses. Swelling experiments performed under different pH conditions (1.2, 5.5, and 7.4) revealed the highest swelling ratio at pH 7.4, reaching 320.59%. Drug release studies indicated a clear pH dependence, with a cumulative release of 82.29% after 24 h at pH 7.4. Increasing the amount of incorporated drug resulted in higher release percentages, while higher grafting ratios led to enhanced swelling and drug release. The release kinetics of the microspheres were analyzed using zero‐order, first‐order, Higuchi, and Korsmeyer–Peppas models. Modeling with the Korsmeyer–Peppas equation indicated that anomalous (non‐Fickian) transport was the dominant mechanism in most formulations. Biocompatibility was evaluated using cytotoxicity assays with CCD‐19Lu cells, while anticancer activity was assessed with K‐562 cells. The findings demonstrate that Alg‐ g ‐p(HEMA) microspheres represent a promising pH‐sensitive carrier system for sustained and controlled delivery of PTX.
Primary human cells offer the most faithful representation of native human physiology, yet their practical utility is constrained by the difficulty of introducing exogenous genetic material. Electroporation provides a promising non-viral gene delivery approach; however, conventional bulk systems lack the uniformity and integration required for heterogeneous primary cell samples. Here, we present a vortex-assisted electroporation platform integrating size-selective cell trapping with enhanced throughput, parameter optimization across buffer and electrical conditions, and robust delivery of plasmid DNA and in vitro-transcribed mRNA in primary human cells. This integrated platform provides a unified workflow that addresses sample heterogeneity, throughput demands, and delivery efficiency, enabling broader implementation of non-viral gene delivery into primary cells for research and translational applications.
Static phase detuning fundamentally constrains coherent state transfer in asymmetric classical and quantum systems. We introduce a Bloch-sphere formulation for piecewise-coherent modulation that recasts coupled-mode dynamics as geometric trajectories, transforming algebraic control into path optimization. The approach reveals a cone of inaccessibility at the target pole and yields exact geodesic criteria for complete mode conversion in detuned systems. Leveraging this framework, we break time-reversal symmetry to realize a magnet-free optical isolator with near-unity contrast. Furthermore, for detuning larger than coupling between modes, we develop a recursive multi-step protocol enabling deterministic transfer for arbitrary detunings and derive a universal geometric lower bound on the required number of coupling-switching events.
Alexander S. Carney, Juan S. Salcedo-Gallo, Salil K. Bedkihal
et al.
Transmission peak degeneracies (TPDs) have emerged as a promising alternative to exceptional points (EPs) for non-Hermitian sensing, providing square-root frequency splitting without the eigenbasis collapse and associated noise amplification that limit EP sensors. However, existing treatments of TPDs remain fragmented, lacking a unified theoretical framework, systematic figures of merit, or design principles for practical implementation. Here, we develop a comprehensive theory of two-dimensional TPDs that clarifies their relationship to EPs, maps their locations in parameter space, and provides analytic figures of merit for sensor design. We validate our theory using a tunable cavity-magnonics platform with in situ control of mode frequency, dissipation, and complex coupling via an effective synthetic gauge field. Our platform enables systematic exploration of six representative EP-TPD configurations spanning PT-symmetric, anti-PT-symmetric and anyonic-PT-symmetric regimes. Crucially, we show that TPDs, unlike EPs, retain square-root splitting even under nuisance parameter drift through generalized transmission extrema degeneracies (TEDs). We further identify specific robust TPD configurations that minimize the impact of nuisance drift. These findings establish a unified theoretical and experimental framework for TPD-based non-Hermitian sensing.
Leandro Julian Mele, Muhammad Ashraful Alam, Pierpaolo Palestri
A model for the current-voltage characteristic of the junction between an Ion-Sensitive-Membrane and an electrolyte solution is derived and compared with numerical simulations of the Poisson-Nernst-Planck model for ion transport. The expression resembles that of a semiconductor pn junction with a non-ideality factor of 2. The non-ideality correlated to the voltage drop in the electrolyte induced by the re-arrangement of the counter-ions.
Vibration attenuation has played a crucial role in engineering structure, wherein metamaterials have found escalated usage. These structures can be cleverly built to be lightweight and have negative mass properties, which can attenuate waves at specific frequency bands. The first part studies wave propagation in meta-beam with coupled acoustic black holes and local resonators, whereas the second part discusses multi-stable nonlinear oscillators in a 1D metamaterial chain.
Joachim P. Leibold, Nick R. von Grafenstein, Xiaoxun Chen
et al.
Optically active solid-state spin systems play an important role in quantum technologies. We introduce a new readout scheme, termed Time to Space (T2S) encoding which decouples spin manipulation from optical readout both temporally and spatially. This is achieved by controlling the spin state within a region of interest, followed by rapid scanning of the optical readout position using an acousto-optic modulator. Time tracking allows the optical readout position to be encoded as a function of time. Using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center ensembles in diamond, we first demonstrate that the T2S scheme enables correlated experiments for efficient common mode noise cancellation in various nano- and microscale sensing scenarios. In the second example, we show highly scalable multi-pixel imaging that does not require a camera and has the potential to accelerate data acquisition by several hundred times compared to conventional scanning methods. We anticipate widespread adoption of this technique, as it requires no additional components beyond those commonly used in optically addressable spin systems.
Spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC), especially in non-linear waveguides, serves as an important process to generate quantum states of light with desired properties. In this work, we report on a design of a strongly dispersive, singly poled thin film lithium niobate (TFLN) waveguide geometry which acts as a convertible source of photon pairs across telecom band with tunable spectral properties. Through our simulations, we demonstrate that by using this optimized waveguide geometry, two completely different yet desirable type II phase-matched SPDC processes are enabled using a single poling period. One process generates spectrally correlated non-degenerate photon pairs with one photon at 1310 nm (telecom O band) and the other at 1550 nm (telecom C band). The second SPDC process results in spectrally uncorrelated photon pairs in telecom C band at 1533 nm and 1567 nm respectively.We attribute this versatility of TFLN waveguide to its strong dispersion properties and make a comparative study with the existing weakly dispersive waveguide platforms. We believe that such a versatile source of photon pairs will serve as an important ingredient in various quantum optical tasks which require photons at different telecom bands and desired spectral properties.
Khadija El Anouz, Abderrahim El Allati, Farhan Saif
We show the quantum correlation between two coupled hybrid optomechanical cavities by quantifying the non-classical correlation using Gaussian quantum discord. This involves analyzing and solving Heisenberg Langevin equations to obtain the (12*12)dimensional covariance matrix of this system. Based on the experimentalist conditions, we simulate quantum correlation of bipartite steady-state with continuous conditions using Guassian quantum discord. We know that the generation of quantum correlation and its robustness essentially depend on the physical parameters of the system. We provide the stability analysis by means of the RuthsHurwitz criterion to confirm the choices made during the analysis of quantum discord dynamics.
Extending the spin-dephasing time (T2*) of perfectly aligned nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in large-volume chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamonds leads to enhanced DC magnetic sensitivity. However, T2* of the NV centers is significantly reduced by the stress distribution in the diamond film as its thickness increases. To overcome this issue, we developed a method to mitigate the stress distribution in the CVD diamond films, leading to a T2* extension of the ensemble NV centers. CVD diamond films of approximately 50 μm thickness with perfectly aligned NV centers were formed on (111) diamond substrates with misorientation angles of 2.0, 3.7, 5.0, and 10°. We found that T2* of the ensemble of NV centers increased to approach the value limited only by the electron and nuclear spin bath with increasing the misorientation angle. Microscopic stress measurements revealed that the stress distribution was highly inhomogeneous along the depth direction in the CVD diamond film at low misorientation angles, whereas the inhomogeneity was largely suppressed on highly misoriented substrates. The reduced stress distribution possibly originates from the reduction of the dislocation density in the CVD diamond. This study provides an important method for synthesizing high-quality diamond materials for use in highly sensitive quantum sensors.
YADIRA JIMENEZ-FLORES, MARCELA HURTADO, JOSE RAUL MEDINA-LOPEZ
Objective: The aim of this work was to evaluate the pharmaceutical equivalence of metronidazole tablets through the study of hydrodynamics of the flow-through cell (USP Apparatus 4) on the dissolution performance of four commercial formulations (500 mg). The results were compared with those found using the USP basket apparatus. Methods: Experiments were performed with 0.1 N hydrochloric acid (pH 1.2), acetate buffer pH 4.5 and phosphate buffer pH 6.8. A USP Apparatus 4 was used with laminar flow at 16 ml/min and 22.6-mm cells. USP basket apparatus was used with 900 ml of each dissolution medium. The dissolution profiles were compared in terms of the mean dissolution time and dissolution efficiency. Results: Significant differences in MDT and DE values of generic formulations vs. reference with both USP apparatuses were found (*P<0.05) hence, dissolution profiles of metronidazole generic formulations cannot be considered similar to the dissolution profile of the reference. After using some equations to explain the release performance of metronidazole, dissolution data were well adjusted to Peppas-Sahlin and logistic models when the flow-through cell was used. Conclusion: The main problem found with the studied formulations was that generic drug products showed different dissolution performances than the reference, and they did not meet the biowaiver criteria for either class I or class III drugs; therefore, they cannot be considered therapeutic equivalents.
Solar photovoltaics which converts renewable solar energy into electricity have become prominent as a measure to decarbonize electricity generation. The operational carbon footprint of this technology is significantly lower compared to electricity generation using conventional non-renewable fuels. The operationalization of photovoltaic electricity generation however results in significant emissions which are loaded upfront into the atmosphere. An analysis of the embodied energy in Si solar panels manufacturing and installation, and associated CO2 emissions clearly show their global warming potential. Installation of 10 TWp capacity requires 150 Exa Joules of energy and results in 7 to 13 GTons of emissions depending on the embodied energy mix. Particulate and other gaseous emissions as well as water consumption will be additional. These are significant emissions requiring development of alternate low carbon footprint manufacturing technologies and clearly shows the flip side of recent prediction of Terawatt scale photovoltaics.
Titanium nitride is an attractive material for a range of superconducting quantum-circuit applications owing to its low microwave losses, high surface inductance, and chemical stability. The physical properties and device performance, nevertheless, depend strongly on the quality of the materials. Here we focus on the highly crystalline and epitaxial titanium nitride thin films deposited on sapphire substrates using magnetron sputtering at an intermediate temperature (300$^{\circ}$C). We perform a set of systematic and comprehensive material characterization to thoroughly understand the structural, chemical, and transport properties. Microwave losses at low temperatures are studied using patterned microwave resonators, where the best internal quality factor in the single-photon regime is measured to be $3.3\times 10^6$, and $> 1.0\times 10^7$ in the high-power regime. Adjusted with the material filling factor of the resonators, the microwave loss-tangent here compares well with the previously reported best values for superconducting resonators. This work lays the foundation of using epitaxial titanium nitride for low-loss superconducting quantum circuits.
Both exposure of stratum corneum to neutral pH buffers and blockade of acidification mechanisms disturb cutaneous permeability barrier homeostasis and stratum corneum integrity/cohesion, but these approaches all introduce potentially confounding variables. To study the consequences of stratum corneum neutralization, independent of hydration, we applied two chemically unrelated superbases, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine or 1,8-diazabicyclo [5,4,0] undec-7-ene, in propylene glycol:ethanol (7:3) to hairless mouse skin and assessed whether discrete pH changes alone regulate cutaneous permeability barrier function and stratum corneum integrity/cohesion, as well as the responsible mechanisms. Both 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine and 1,8-diazabicyclo [5,4,0] undec-7-ene applications increased skin surface pH in parallel with abnormalities in both barrier homeostasis and stratum corneum integrity/cohesion. The latter was attributable to rapid activation (<20 min) of serine proteases, assessed by in situ zymography, followed by serine-protease-mediated degradation of corneodesmosomes. Western blotting revealed degradation of desmoglein 1, a key corneodesmosome structural protein, in parallel with loss of corneodesmosomes. Coapplication of serine protease inhibitors with the superbase normalized stratum corneum integrity/cohesion. The superbases also delayed permeability barrier recovery, attributable to decreased beta-glucocerebrosidase activity, assessed zymographically, resulting in a lipid-processing defect on electron microscopy. These studies demonstrate unequivocally that stratum corneum neutralization alone provokes stratum corneum functional abnormalities, including aberrant permeability barrier homeostasis and decreased stratum corneum integrity/cohesion, as well as the mechanisms responsible for these abnormalities.