Attention:The NSF Public Access Repository (PAR) system and access will be unavailable from 11:00 PM ET on Thursday, October 15th until 12:00 AM ET on Friday, October 16th due to maintenance. We apologize for the inconvenience.


Search for: All records

Creators/Authors contains: "Wang, Zizheng"

Note: When clicking on a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) number, you will be taken to an external site maintained by the publisher. Some full text articles may not yet be available without a charge during the embargo (administrative interval).
What is a DOI Number?

Some links on this page may take you to non-federal websites. Their policies may differ from this site.

  1. Free, publicly-accessible full text available November 1, 2026
  2. Abstract Liquid metals (LMs), renowned for their high conductivity and large deformability, find increasing applications including in flexible electronics and soft robotics. One critical process in these applications is the precise patterning of LMs into desired shapes. Yet, existing LM patterning techniques predominantly focus on 2D patterns due to challenges posed by the inherent fluidity and leakage of LMs. Here, we introduce an approach that bypasses these limitations, enabling the creation of complex 3D leakage‐free LM structures. This is achieved through mechanical programming of 2D magnetically immobilized LM paste formed via incorporating magnetic particles into LMs. Such composite effectively resists leakage due to the combined effect of strong magnetic inter‐attraction within the porous magnetic networks and the high surface tension of LMs, while retaining the high conductivity. Diverse freestanding magnetic LM structures, obtained upon LM solidification at ambient temperature, dynamically morph between their 2D and various 3D configurations through multiple cycles of induction heating and magnetic‐assisted reprogramming, featuring large compression resistance and self‐healing capabilities. Potential applications of these leakage‐resistant, shape‐adaptable structures are demonstrated through a helical magnetic LM antenna, which showcases its efficiency in wireless communication and energy harvesting. 
    more » « less
    Free, publicly-accessible full text available November 1, 2026
  3. Background: Recently, the in vitro blood–brain barrier (BBB) models derived from human pluripotent stem cells have been given extensive attention in therapeutics due to the implications they have with the health of the central nervous system. It is essential to create an accurate BBB model in vitro in order to better understand the properties of the BBB, and how it can respond to inflammatory stimulation and be passed by targeted or non-targeted cell therapeutics, more specifically extracellular vesicles. Methods: Brain-specific pericytes (iPCs) were differentiated from iPSK3 cells using dual SMAD signaling inhibitors and Wnt activation plus fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2). The derived cells were characterized by immunostaining, flow cytometry, and RT-PCR. In parallel, blood vessels organoids were derived using Wnt activation, BMP4, FGF2, VEGF, and SB431542. The organoids were replated and treated with retinoic acid to enhance the blood–brain barrier (BBB) features in the differentiated brain endothelial cells (iECs). Co-culture was performed for iPCs and iECs in the transwell system and 3D microfluidics channels. Results: The derived iPCs expressed common markers PDGFRb and NG2, and brain-specific genes FOXF2 , ABCC9 , KCNJ8 , and ZIC1 . The derived iECs expressed common endothelial cell markers CD31, VE-cadherin, and BBB-associated genes BRCP , GLUT-1 , PGP , ABCC1 , OCLN , and SLC2A1 . The co-culture of the two cell types responded to the stimulation of amyloid β42 oligomers by the upregulation of the expression of TNFa , IL6 , NFKB , Casp3 , SOD2 , and TP53 . The co-culture also showed the property of trans-endothelial electrical resistance. The proof of concept vascularization strategy was demonstrated in a 3D microfluidics-based device. Conclusion: The derived iPCs and iECs have brain-specific properties, and the co-culture of iPCs and iECs provides an in vitro BBB model that show inflammatory response. This study has significance in establishing micro-physiological systems for neurological disease modeling and drug screening. 
    more » « less