We present the very first worldwide ever-reported electrochemical biosensor based on a memristive effect and DNA aptamers. This novel device is developed to propose a completely new approach in cancer diagnostics. In this study, an affinity-based technique is presented for the detection of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) using DNA aptamers. The hysteretic properties of memristive silicon nanowires functionalized with these DNA aptamers provide a label-free and ultrasensitive biodetection technique. The ultrasensitive detection is hereby demonstrated for PSA with a limit of detection down to 23 aM, best ever published value for electrochemical biosensors in PSA detection. The effect of polyelectrolytes on our memristive devices is also reported to further show how positive or negative charges affect the memristive hysteresis. With such an approach, combining memristive nanowires and aptamers, memristive aptamer-based biosensors can be proposed to detect a wide range of cancer markers with unprecedent ultrasensitivities to also address the issue of an early detection of cancer.

Siloxane coatings for surfaces are essential in many scientific and industrial applications. We describe a straightforward gas-phase evaporation technique in inert atmosphere and introduce a practical and reliable silanization protocol adaptable to different silane types. The primary aim of depositing ultrathin siloxane films on surfaces is to enable a reproducible and homogenous surface functionalization without agglomeration effects during the layer formation. To realize high-quality and large-area coatings, it is fundamental to understand the reaction conditions of the silanes, the process of the siloxane layer formation, and the possible influence of the substrate morphology. We used three typical silane types to exemplify the potential and versatility of our process: aminopropyltriethoxysilane, glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, and 1 H,1 H,2 H,2 H-perfluorooctyl-trichlorosilane. The ultrathin siloxane layers, which are generally difficult to characterize, were precisely investigated with high-resolution surface-characterization methods to verify our concept in terms of reproducibility and coating quality. Our results show that this gas-phase evaporation protocol is easily adaptable to all three, widely used silane types also enabling a large-area upscale.

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Nanotechnology-assisted spatiotemporal manipulation of biological events holds great promise in advancing the practice of precision medicine in healthcare systems. The progress in internal and/or external stimuli-responsive nanoplatforms for highly specific cellular regulations and theranostic controls offer potential clinical translations of the revolutionized nanomedicine. To successfully implement this new paradigm, the emerging light-responsive nanoregulators with unparalleled precise cell functions manipulation have gained intensive attention, providing UV-Vis light-triggered photocleavage or photoisomerization studies, as well as near-infrared (NIR) light-mediated deep-tissue applications for stimulating cellular signal cascades and treatment of mortal diseases. This review discusses current developments of light-activatable nanoplatforms for modulations of various cellular events including neuromodulations, stem cell monitoring, immunomanipulation, cancer therapy, and other biological target intervention. In summary, the propagation of light-controlled nanomedicine would place a bright prospect for future medicine.