Hands are central to nearly every aspect of daily life, so losing an upper limb due to amputation can severely affect a person’s independence. Robotic prostheses offer a promising solution by mimicking many of the functions of a natural arm, leading to an increasing need for advanced prosthetic designs. However, developing an effective robotic hand prosthesis is far from straightforward. It involves several critical steps, including creating accurate models, choosing materials that balance biocompatibility with durability, integrating electronic and sensory components, and perfecting control systems before final production. A key factor in ensuring smooth, natural movements lies in the method of control. One popular approach is to use electromyography (EMG), which relies on electrical signals from the user’s remaining muscle activity to direct the prosthesis. By decoding these signals, we can predict the intended hand and arm motions and translate them into real-time actions. Recent strides in machine learning have made EMG-based control more adaptable, offering users a more intuitive experience. Alongside this, researchers are exploring tactile sensors for enhanced feedback, materials resilient in harsh conditions, and mechanical designs that better replicate the intricacies of a biological limb. This review brings together these advancements, focusing on emerging trends and future directions in robotic upper-limb prosthesis development.

Application of magnetic field upon drying of LiFePO₄ cathode enhances its electrochemical performance. It is further enhanced with Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle additives, thereby reducing polarization and improving conductivity and lithium-ion diffusion.

Introducing small-sized metal nanoparticles directly into biopolymers susceptible to thermal and chemical stimulations remains a significant challenge. Recently, we showed a novel approach to fabricating gold nanoparticles through pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) using a microchip laser (MCL). Despite its lower pulse energy compared to conventional lasers, this technique demonstrates high ablation efficiency, offering the potential to produce composites without compromising the distinctive structure of biopolymers. As a proof of concept, we successfully generated gelatin-stabilized gold nanoparticles with a smaller size (average diameter of approximately 4 nm), while preserving the unchanged circular dichroism (CD) spectra, indicating the retention of gelatin’s unique structure. Extending this technique to the preparation of type I collagen-stabilized gold nanoparticles yielded non-aggregated nanoparticles, although challenges in yield still persist. These results highlight the potential of the microchip laser ablation technique for producing metal nanoparticles within a vulnerable matrix.

External magnetic fields (MF) represent a promising, non-invasive method for enhancing battery performance, yet their impact on sodium-based battery chemistry remains poorly understood. In this novel study, we systematically investigate the electrochemical behaviour of sodium symmetric (Na|Na) and sodium-sulphur (Na|S) half-cells under static magnetic fields ranging from 50 to 450 mT, in the absence of magnetic additives, in order to isolate the effects of the external field itself. Through galvanostatic cycling and impedance spectroscopy, we observe clear MF-dependent changes in interfacial polarisation and charge-transfer resistance, with the most pronounced effects at 250 mT. In Na|Na cells, magnetic field exposure led to more stable potential profiles and reduced polarisation compared to controls, which exhibited signatures of dendrite formation and soft short-circuiting. In Na|S cells, magnetic field application influenced redox behaviour and capacity retention, particularly under moderate-rate cycling (0.5 C), where MF-treated cells delivered higher capacities (~ 100 mAh g⁻¹ more) and improved cycling stability over 100 cycles. Post-mortem analysis revealed differences in separator staining and cathode morphology consistent with moderated migration of sulphur-containing intermediates. These findings demonstrate that magnetic fields, even in the absence of magnetic additives, can noticeably influence interfacial kinetics and ion transport in sodium-based batteries, contributing to a broader understanding of field-assisted electrochemical systems.

Metal nanoparticle/hydrogel composites have attracted attention in the fields of materials science and applied chemistry. In this study, collagen/transition-metal nanoparticle (Col-TMNP) hydrogels are fabricated through radiochemical reduction on collagen-transition metal (Col-TM) gels, which we previously reported. ⁶⁰Co γ-ray irradiation of Col-Au and Col-Pt gels enables the uniform formation of metal nanoparticles within the collagen matrix, eliminating the need for chemical reducing agents. This method applies to a wide range of materials, regardless of their morphology or shape, and enables the synthesis of metal nanoparticles in a non-flowable gel state, which is difficult to achieve using solution-phase chemical reduction. The thus formed Col-AuNP and Col-PtNP gels exhibit enhanced elasticity compared to pristine Col-TM gels due to the formation of a cross-linking network structure by radiation-induced covalent bonds. Furthermore, the photothermal properties of Col-TMNP gels were examined using a Yb:YAG green laser (515 nm), showing a reversible photothermal response.

Introducing small-sized metal nanoparticles directly into biopolymers susceptible to thermal and chemical stimulations remains a significant challenge. Recently, we showed a novel approach to fabricating gold nanoparticles through pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) using a microchip laser (MCL). Despite its lower pulse energy compared to conventional lasers, this technique demonstrates high ablation efficiency, offering the potential to produce composites without compromising the distinctive structure of biopolymers. As a proof of concept, we successfully generated gelatin-stabilized gold nanoparticles with a smaller size (average diameter of approximately 4 nm), while preserving the unchanged circular dichroism (CD) spectra, indicating the retention of gelatin's unique structure. Extending this technique to the preparation of type I collagen-stabilized gold nanoparticles yielded non-aggregated nanoparticles, although challenges in yield still persist. These results highlight the potential of the microchip laser ablation technique for producing metal nanoparticles within a vulnerable matrix.