Structure and phase engineering afforded gradient manganese dioxide composites for impedance matching toward electromagnetic wave absorption

Impedance mismatch severely limits the performance of electromagnetic (EM) microwave absorber materials. Aiming at addressing this issue, this study proposes a strategy combining structure and phase engineering to design gradient manganese dioxide (MnO2) core@shell composites. The core of the composites comprises cadmium (Cd)-doped α-MnO2 nanowires, synthesized via a self-assembly process achieved using the hydrothermal method, which possess remarkable dielectric attenuation capability that can effectively consume EM energy. The shell comprised α-MnO2 nanosheets, which serve as a matching layer and introduce interfaces and defects that further enhance EM energy attenuation; notably, these α-MnO2 nanosheets are formed through calcination-induced phase transition of δ-MnO2 nanosheets grown on the core nanowire surface. The uniform growth of nanosheets on nanowires is facilitated by the low lattice mismatch between α-MnO2 and δ-MnO2. The resulting Cd-doped α-MnO2 nanowire@α-MnO2 nanosheet composites deliver remarkable absorption performance; the minimum reflection loss can reach - 50.50 dB and effective absorption bandwidth reaches 5.44 GHz in the Ku band, which are attributed to optimized synergy between attenuation and impedance matching, dipole polarization enhancement through heteroatom doping, and interfacial polarization at the core-shell interface. This study provides a novel approach to designing advanced EM absorption materials.

Chiral nanoassembly remodels tumor microenvironment through non-oxygen-dependent depletion lactate for effective photodynamic immunotherapy

Targeting lactate metabolism in tumor microenvironment (TME) has emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing immunotherapy. However, the commonly used strategy of lactate oxidation by lactate oxidase consumes oxygen, exacerbating tumor hypoxia and hindering immunotherapy. Here, we present a novel tumor-targeting, near infrared light-activated and TME-responsive chiral nanoassembly (Zn-UCMB) for enhancing photodynamic triggered immunogenic cell death (ICD) through a nonoxygen-dependent depletion of lactate. In the moderately acidic TME, the chiral Zn complex liberated from the Zn-UCMB selectively coordinates with l-lactate, leading to the depletion of lactate. Additionally, the Zn-UCMB facilitates the decomposition of H2O2 into O2, which significantly enhances the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and triggers a robust ICD effect. Moreover, the nonoxygen-dependent depletion of lactate can reprogram the TME by reducing the expression of HIF-1α, decreasing VEGF expression, and mitigating immunosuppressive conditions. This prompts the phenotypic transformation of tumor-associated macrophages from M2 to M1. Consequently, Zn-UCMB not only enhances the efficacy of PDT but also elicits a potent ICD during 980 nm laser irradiation, thereby effectively suppressing tumor growth and metastasis. The findings offer a novel approach to overcome the limitations of existing lactate metabolism-targeting strategies and provide a promising therapeutic option for enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Facile lipid nanoparticle size engineering approach via controllable fusion induced by depletion forces

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are among the most promising drug delivery carriers in research and development, with one major clinical application being messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. Current LNP production methods have the limit of generating low polydispersity index (PDI; PDI < 0.1) only for relatively small particles (<100 nm). It is known that larger LNPs have desirable properties, for example, particles with diameters in the 100 to 200 nm range have good immunogenicity. Yet, these larger particles' large PDI limits their clinical translation because of concerns about manufacturing reproducibility and possible side effects. We report here a facile approach to produce large and monodisperse (100-200 nm, PDI < 0.1) LNPs. The approach is based on adding 10 kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG) to a solution containing smaller LNPs. We show that PEG-induced depletion forces lead to the fusion of LNPs to form particles of approximately double the original size while keeping the same starting PDI. We discuss the fusion mechanism and show the parameters it depends on. In particular, we show that the fusion leads to a decrease in the fraction of empty LNPs. We show that the purification for PEG after fusion is simple and complete, thus, we believe that this is a method for the production of large LNP with low PDI that has a lot of potential to find industrial use.

Boosted photocatalytic activity via photothermal-assisted triphase photocatalysis over an electrospun interpenetrating mat

Photocatalysis has been extensively researched as a promising environmental technology in the past years. Despite great efforts have been made in catalyst engineering, the core challenge in the photocatalytic process still lies in achieving efficient light absorption and interfacial carriers' transfer. In this study, we propose a "self-floated" interpenetrating fiber system for photothermal-assisted triphase photocatalysis, consisting of commercial P25-TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and carbon black (CB) NPs by employing hydrophobic polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) fibers as support. The photons beyond the bandgap of P25-TiO2 NPs are converted to facilitate a localized heating effect which promotes free radical reaction, meanwhile a fast oxygen diffusion is realized at the solid (photocatalysts)-liquid(water)-gas(air) triphase interface by functionalizing surface of fibers. Removal of the polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) component facilitates exposure of hydrophilic P25-TiO2 NPs on the hydrophobic PMMA fibers. This, in turn, enhances the wetting properties and increase the specific surface area available for photocatalytic reaction. Based on the photothermal effect, effective exposure of the catalytic active sites and construction of the triphase reaction interface, the proposed system exhibits ∼19 times increase of first-order kinetic reaction rate constant (k) for salicylic acid (SA) degradation. The interpenetrating fibers also perform superior stability over 10 times cycling tests with a degradation efficiency >90 % and feasible use of sunlight, demonstrating potentials for scale-up photocatalytic applications by combing with a large-scale and convenient electrospinning.

Acidity-unlocked glucose oxidase as drug vector to boost intratumor copper homeostatic imbalance-enhanced cuproptosis for metastasis inhibition and anti-tumor immunity

As one of the key tools of biocatalysis, natural enzymes have received extensive attention due to their unique activity. However, the non-selective catalysis and early leakage induced by delivery dependency of natural enzymes can cause side effects on normal tissues. Moreover, although cuproptosis is an emerging tumor-inhibiting programmed cell death, the occurrence of cuproptosis leads to high expression of Cu-dependent lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2), which promotes tumor metastasis. Herein, in order to intelligently regulate the "OFF-to-ON" catalytic activity of glucose oxidase (a natural enzyme called GOx) and simultaneously inhibit tumor metastasis caused by Cu imbalance, an acidity-unlocked GOx system drug carrier was constructed by co-assembling Cu ions and omeprazole (OPZ) on GOx exposing sulfhydryl and hydrophobic pockets. The GOx activity is significantly inhibited due to the coordination of Cu ions with sulfhydryl groups and the interaction of hydrophobic small molecule OPZ with hydrophobic bags, which results in specificity for tumor cells and ensures the safety of GOx in blood circulation. Meanwhile, dysregulation of intracellular Cu homeostasis that impairs the Cu-dependence of LOXL2 not only inhibits critical signaling during epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling to prevent tumor metastasis, but also exacerbates enhanced cuproptosis induced by tumor metabolic stress, thereby reversing the immunosuppressive microenvironment. This strategy of acidity-unlocked the catalytic function of natural enzymes and LOXL2 activity inhibition provides a novel option for enhancing cuproptosis to inhibit tumor metastasis and anti-tumor immunity.

Catalytic preference-enabled exclusive bimodal detection of methyl-paraoxon in complex food matrices using double site-synergized organophosphorus hydrolase-mimetic fluorescent nanozymes

Pesticide sensing crucially safeguards food safety and public health against environmental and health hazards. While oxidoreductase-type nanozymes (peroxidase and oxidase) have been widely used in optical pesticide detection, their susceptibility to redox interference as well as poor target specificity limits practical applications. To overcome the deficiencies, here we developed Ca2+-chelated 2-aminoterephthalic acid on nanosized ceria (Ca-ATPA@CeO2) as an organophosphorus hydrolase mimic. This design integrates stable fluorescence and dual-site catalytic activity to specifically detect methyl-paraoxon (MP) in complex food matrices. The synergy between Ca2+ (hard Lewis acid) and CeO2 creates dual active sites to catalyze MP hydrolysis into yellow p-nitrophenol (pNP), and the latter quenches nanozyme fluorescence via inner filter effect. The system enables cross-validated quantification of MP in complex samples, eliminating redox interference through target-specific catalysis. The bimodal "on" colorimetric (pNP color signal) and "off" fluorescence (nanozyme fluorescence intensity) detection achieved linear ranges within 1-200 μM, providing detection limits of 1.43 μM and 0.087 μM, respectively. Our work proposes a reliable strategy for selective MP detection that can avoid redox interference, also providing a simple yet efficient design of high-activity fluorescent hydrolase mimics with broadened applications in food safety analysis and beyond.

Silver niobate/platinum piezoelectric heterojunction enhancing intra-tumoral infiltration of immune cells for transforming "cold tumor" into "hot tumor"

Cancer immunotherapy represents a promising strategy, however, its efficacy is often hindered by high tumor interstitial fluid pressure (TIFP) due to fluid retention, and strong solid stress (SS) caused by the excessive proliferation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). These factors limit the infiltration of immune cells into the deeper layers of tumors, thereby reducing the efficacy of immunotherapy. In this study, we designed an innovative AgNbO3/Pt@HA (ANPH) Schottky heterojunction system to induce ultrasound (US)-triggered piezocatalytic reactions for cancer therapy, which catalyze the water decomposition in the tumor interstitial fluid to produce H2, therefore, resulting in a 48.16 % reduction in TIFP. Furthermore, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by the system eliminated 59.4 % of CAFs, reducing the tumor extracellular matrix and SS by 44.07 %. This reduction facilitated a 3.95-fold and 3-fold increase in quantities of intratumoral CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, respectively, and transformed "cold tumors" into "hot tumors" to activate systemic immune responses. The growth of primary, distal, and metastatic tumors was significantly inhibited. This study demonstrates effective reductions in intratumoral TIFP and SS, promoting immune cell infiltration and thereby enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy through US-triggered piezocatalytic reactions, which establishes a new paradigm of the application of nanocatalytic medicine.

Ultrasensitive magnetic nanomechanical biosensors for simultaneous detection of multiple cardiovascular disease biomarkers in a single blood drop

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death, and the early prevention of CVD is considered the most useful and cost-effective intervention strategy, highlighting the critical need for frequent and long-term monitoring cardiac abnormalities. However, traditional blood test methods often require considerable volumes of blood (>10 mL), which could burden physical health, especially for individuals in poor health. Here, we report a novel magnetic nanomechanical sensor (MNS) capable of simultaneously detecting multiple CVD biomarkers (brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase MB (CK-MB)) in a single drop of blood (<1 μL). Relying on the force-sensitive microcantilevers and robust magnetic force, MNS can directly detect blood samples with a detection sensitivity for BNP as low as 0.1 pg/mL. Moreover, we improved the MNS sensitivity by reducing nonspecific adsorption and focusing the force on specific locations on the sensor surface. The effectiveness of the MNS was demonstrated through the detection of samples from clinical CVD patients and healthy individuals. Given its ultrasensitive, trace-sample requirement, and ability to monitor multiple biomarkers, the MNS holds significant potential for frequent and long-term monitoring-not only for CVD but also for the prevention and management of other chronic diseases.

Using signal off-to-on strategy for designing precise and ultrasensitive biosensor towards hepatocellular carcinoma through protein variant detection based on biocompatible bimetallic MOF

The high mortality rate of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an ever-increasing worldwide concern. Fortunately, the newest research has found that the proportion of a protein variant in total alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) over 10 % can accurately predict the incidence of HCC. Therefore, a signal off-to-on strategy was designed for developing a novel precise and ultrasensitive biosensor towards HCC through protein variant detection based on bimetallic metal-organic framework (MOF). In this study, the biocompatible Fe2Ni-MOF was used as an electrochemically immobilized carrier, which provided abundant active sites and exhibited a synergistic effect between Fe and Ni ions for dramatically promoting the electron transfer and improving the electrochemical reduction efficiency, prominently facilitating signal amplification of the biosensing platform. Then, we designed a novel ordered labeling method to distinguish AFP-L3 from overall AFP and introduced a signal off-to-on strategy for achieving highly efficient determination of AFP-L3 %. This proposed biosensor demonstrated a satisfactory linear range, along with a very low detection limit of 69 pg/mL for AFP-L3, which was far below the medically relevant threshold level. Furthermore, the adopted biosensor presented preeminent specificity, and favorable reproducibility.

Decoy oligodeoxynucleotides targeting STATs in non-cancer gene therapy

The Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) protein family is crucial for organizing the epigenetic configuration of immune cells and controlling various fundamental cell physiological functions including apoptosis, development, inflammation, immunological responses, and cell proliferation and differentiation. The human genome has seven known STAT genes, named 1, 2, 3, 4, 5a, 5b, and 6. Aberrant activation of STAT signaling pathways is associated with many human disorders, particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), making these proteins promising therapeutic targets. Improved understanding of altered and pathological gene expression and its role in the pathophysiology of various hereditary and acquired disorders has enabled the development of novel treatment approaches based on gene expression modulation. One such promising development is the oligodeoxynucleotide decoy method, which may allow researchers to specifically influence gene activation or repression. Various oligodeoxynucleotide decoys target STATs and affect the expression of its downstream genes. We summarized cell culture and preclinical research, which evaluated the effects of oligodeoxynucleotide decoys target STATs in different types of non-cancer illnesses.

Water-stable perovskite/metallic nanocomposites-based SERS aptasensor for detection of neuron-specific enolase

Perovskite/metallic heterojunction-based surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates have been proven to be capable of providing Raman enhancement. However, the inherent water instability and poor dispersibility of perovskite/metallic nanocomposites-based SERS substrates pose significant challenges to their application in aqueous environments. Herein, polydopamine (PDA)-encapsulated cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr3) adsorbing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), termed as CsPbBr3@PDA@AuNPs, is prepared as SERS substrate, which exhibits excellent water stability and SERS activity. Dopamine as organic ligand not only passivates surface defects during the growth of perovskite nanocrystals, but also forms porous PDA protective layer, effectively preventing degradation of perovskite in aqueous medium. Meanwhile, PDA with abundant functional groups and conjugated π structure will adsorb AuNPs and promote electron flow between CsPbBr3 and AuNPs, resulting in strong SERS activity. Based on the results, a SERS aptasensor has been fabricated by conjugation between CsPbBr3@PDA@AuNPs and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), which is composed of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) aptamer and partial complementary signal-stranded DNA (ssDNA). The working strategy of as-fabricated SERS aptasensor is based on the conformational change (of ssDNA)-triggered Raman response for the detection of NSE. Upon the addition of NSE, the specific binding of NSE aptamers to NSE can convert rigid dsDNA into a flexible ssDNA, and the Cy5 signal molecule modified at the end of ssDNA will close to CsPbBr3@PDA@AuNPs SERS substrate, generating significant Raman signals with the lower limit of detection (1.02 pg/mL) of NSE. The SERS aptasensor has broad application prospect in the field of life/medicine science fields (e.g. early diagnosis and screening of disease).

Engineering low-cost multifunctional carbon interface layer with hydrophobic negative surface and oriented zinc deposition dynamics for dendrite-free zinc ion batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are ideal for next-generation energy storage due to low cost, safety, and eco-friendliness, but Zn anode issues like dendrites, hydrogen evolution, and corrosion limit their lifespan. This study engineers a low-cost multifunctional nitrogen-doped porous carbon (NC) interface layer with a three-dimensional (3D) zincophilic structure and a hydrophobic, negatively charged surface for Zn anode. Its conductive 3D structure enables the uniform distribution of the electric field, suppressing dendrite formation and promoting even Zn2+ deposition. On the one hand, the hydrophobic surface minimizes water-zinc interactions, while on the other hand, the negative charge facilitates selective Zn2+ transport and repels sulfate anions, thereby significantly reducing hydrogen evolution and corrosion. Additionally, rich zincophilic sites not only lower the deposition overpotential but also induce (002) crystal-oriented growth, further stabilizing the interface and extending battery life. As a result, symmetric cells assembled with NC-coated Zn electrodes exhibit an impressive cycling life of over 2800 h at a current density of 2 mA cm-2. At higher current densities (10 and 20 mA cm-2), the cells maintain cycling lifetimes of over 1300 and 1000 h, respectively, demonstrating exceptional stability. This work is expected to provide a simple, practical and scalable strategy for developing efficient and stable AZIBs.

Fluorinated solvent enhances room-temperature solid-state lithium batteries by weakening Li+ ion and PEO chain interactions

Polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based solid-state batteries have attracted extensive attention due to their scalable processing, flexible and soft interface contact, and excellent compatibility with lithium metal. The low ionic conductivity at room temperature, caused by the strong interaction between PEO chains and lithium ions, however, limits its practical application. Herein, taking the PEO-PAN dual-matrix polymer electrolyte as an example, a weak coordinated solvation structure is enabled by fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) as a co-solvent during electrolyte preparation. The tiny residual FEC is demonstrated to weaken the interaction between lithium ions and PEO chains while competitively dissociating lithium salts with the residual solvent and anions. In addition, the incorporation of FEC enhances the dispersion of LATP nanoparticle fillers, which reduces the crystallinity of PEO. Furthermore, the anion-derived LiF-rich solid-electrolyte interphase significantly suppresses the formation of lithium dendrites. Consequently, the prepared PEO-PAN-LATP-LiTFSI-5 % FEC (PPLLF) composite solid polymer exhibits an ambient ionic conductivity of ∼ 1 × 10-4 S cm-1 and enables stable cycling for over 450 h in a Li||Li symmetrical battery at room temperature. The assembled Li|PPLLF|LFP full battery delivers a specific capacity of 137.6 mAh/g after 300 cycles at 0.2C, further demonstrating the effectiveness of the solvation manipulation strategy.

Anti-fouling array paper-based device for rapid and accurate discrimination of foodborne pathogens in real samples

Foodborne pathogens contamination can cause serious food safety incidents. Early and rapid detection of foodborne pathogens is very important. Paper-based devices have been applied for on-site rapid detection of foodborne pathogens due to their cheapness and portability. However, the paper-based foodborne pathogen detection devices for real samples often receive interference, resulting in inaccurate detection results. In this study, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was modified on the surface of nitrocellulose membrane to construct anti-fouling sensing interface. Through array design, the anti-fouling array paper-based device (APAD) with multiple detection channels was constructed. The naked eye cut-off limits of the APAD were 102 colony forming units (cfu)/mL, 102 cfu/mL, and 103 cfu/mL for Staphylococcus aureus in orange juice, Escherichia coli O157: H7 in milk and orange juice, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in soy sauce, respectively. The above results indicate that the APAD has good practical application potential in food safety.

Nanomechanical systems for the rapid detection of HIV-1 p24 antigen

Early detection of HIV is crucial for reducing transmission and ensuring timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART), significantly improving patient outcomes. Although diagnostic tests have advanced from first-generation antibody detection assays to fourth-generation immunoassays that detect both HIV antibodies and the p24 antigen, these are limited to clinical labs. Their longer processing times, high costs, and the requirement for multiple patient visits highlight the need for rapid, affordable point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. This study introduces a nanomechanical cantilever-based biosensor for the rapid detection of HIV-1 p24 antigen, a key marker for early diagnosis. The platform demonstrated remarkable sensitivity, detecting p24 at concentrations as low as 100 fg/mL in solution and 1 pg/mL in human serum, and was quantitative within several orders of magnitude. After functionalizing the microcantilevers with two broadly cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies (ANT-152 and C65690M), the system was able to detect p24 from a wide range of HIV-1 subtypes. Furthermore, this biosensor was found to be compatible with various blood processing methods and with a direct electronic output. This platform's high sensitivity, specificity, and applicability across multiple HIV subtypes underscores its potential for future development into a next-generation POC diagnostic tool.

Rational design and structure-activity relationship of random copolymers for enhanced siRNA delivery

HYPOTHESIS

Cationic polymers and their derivatives have garnered significant interest as advanced vectors for siRNA delivery. Recently, we developed a robust diblock copolymer featuring an innovative binding block and a stealth block that work synergistically to facilitate efficient delivery of biotherapeutics. However, the fundamental mechanisms underlying its superior delivery capacity remain to be fully elucidated.

EXPERIMENTS

Since the binding block dominantly regulate the delivery performance, we synthesized a series of adapted copolymers, P(AAPBAm-co-DMAPMAn), by solely incorporating the key involved units, namely 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid (AAPBA) and N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)methacrylamide (DMAPMA). We thoroughly varied the block combinations, sequences and lengths, and investigated their effects on siRNA delivery.

FINDINGS

AAPBA and DMAPMA can bound to siRNA through reversible ester bonds and electrostatic interactions, respectively. The former enhanced siRNA release due to its responsive properties, while the cationic DMAPMA promoted endosomal escape of the complexes through its inherent interaction with membrane. Notably, only the rational combination of 20 units of each monomer, defined as copolymer P(AAPBA20-co-DMAPMA20), integrated the multiple yet balanced functions that sequentially promoted siRNA loading, endocytosis, endosome escape, and cytoplasmic release, ultimately leading to superior gene silencing. The clarified structure-activity relationships and revealed principles are valuable for the rational design of novel polymeric vectors to improve siRNA delivery and therapeutic applications.

Co-assembly of antimicrobial polypeptoids/carbon dots for internal-external cooperated sterilization

Bacterial infections have emerged as a significant global public health challenge that requires urgent attention. In the research of popular antimicrobial agents, antimicrobial peptide mimics with good properties have the disadvantage of high toxicity, and nanomaterials with metal-doped carbon dots as the most representative have the problems of easy agglomeration and insufficient bactericidal effect. Herein, combined therapeutic strategy was proposed to reach the best compromise and sterilization effects. We employed an electrostatic co-assembly strategy to combine nanomaterials iron-doped carbon dots (Fe-CDs) and antimicrobial polypeptoids Poly(N-allylglycine) modified with thiol-terminated amines (PNAG66-NH2), resulting in the creation of the antimicrobial composite Fe-CDs-PNAG66-NH2. Through electrostatic adsorption, the composite disrupts the electrostatic environment of the bacterial outer membrane, alters its permeability, and triggers an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) to rapidly kill 99.999% of Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) within 10 min. It exhibited negligible cytotoxicity to normal cells. Furthermore, in vivo experiments demonstrated that Fe-CDs-PNAG66-NH2 accelerated the healing of infected wounds, reduced inflammation. The present study demonstrates that the efficient bactericidal properties of the complexes are triggered by the synergistic action of nanomaterials and antimicrobial polypeptoids, which provides a new strategy to achieve safe and efficient broad-spectrum bactericidal activity in antimicrobial aspects.

Calcium peroxide functionalized mesoporous polydopamine nanoparticles triggered calcium overload for synergistic tumor gas/photothermal therapy

Cancer remains a significant global health challenge due to its high mortality rates and the limitations of conventional therapies, which are often associated with severe side effects and limited efficacy. Calcium (Ca2+) overload therapy has emerged as a promising strategy for inducing tumor cell apoptosis. However, existing methods that rely on direct Ca2+ delivery often face limited efficacy due to tumor adaptation mechanisms. In this study, we developed a multifunctional nanoparticle system (MLCH NPs) that synergistically combines Ca2+ overload, gas therapy (GT), and photothermal therapy (PTT). This nanoparticle system was based on mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) nanoparticles loaded with l-arginine (LA) and calcium peroxide (CaO2), with hyaluronic acid (HA) modification to ensure tumor targeting and protect CaO2 from premature degradation. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), MLCH NPs released Ca2+, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and nitric oxide (NO), creating a self-sustaining Ca2+-H2O2-NO cycle that induced oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and sustained Ca2+ overload, leading to tumor cell apoptosis. The nanoparticles also harnessed the photothermal effect under 808 nm near-infrared irradiation to amplify NO and Ca2+ release, enhancing oxidative stress and sensitizing tumor cells. Both in vitro and in vivo studies confirmed that MLCH NPs significantly suppressed tumor progression through the synergistic effects of Ca2+ overload, GT, and PTT. This study proposes a novel platform for Ca2+/NO co-delivery and offers a promising approach for enhancing tumor therapies based on Ca2+ overload.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of quinolinyl-ureido-phenyl-hydrazide derivatives and quinolinyl-hydrazide derivatives as anticancer agents targeting Nur77-mediated ferroptosis

In the recent decade, targeting ferroptosis for cancer therapy has attracted remarkable attention. Interestingly, the transcriptional regulator Nur77, a promising therapeutic target in cancer, has been recently identified as a crucial regulator of ferroptosis. However, no ferroptosis inducer targeting Nur77 has been reported currently. In this study, we built upon our prior research on Nur77 modulator 4-PQBH to design and synthesize four series of new compounds, with the objective of developing novel Nur77-mediated ferroptosis inducers. Among them, compound 8f exhibited the most potency against the tested cancer cell lines, including human estrogen positive breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer cell lines, while displaying lower toxicity towards human normal cell lines HaCaT and MCF-10A (IC50> 50 μM). Furthermore, 8f demonstrated superior Nur77-binding activity in comparison to the reference compound Csn-B, and it has the capacity to activate the Nur77-driven luciferase activity and increase the protein level of Nur77. Remarkably, 8f induced an increase in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and lipid peroxidation, concurrently with a reduction in the expression of GPX4 protein, culminating in the induction of ferroptosis in a Nur77-dependent manner. In vivo, 8f treatment has been observed to significantly suppress MCF7 xenograft tumor growth. Consequently, a novel ferroptosis inducer targeting Nur77 (8f) is first reported as a potent anti-EPBC agent, providing may serve as a promising lead for further drug development targeting Nur77-mediated ferroptosis.

A novel SERRS approach for the highly sensitive detection of bilirubin levels in urine

Bilirubin, as a major component of human bile and a byproduct of red blood cell metabolism, plays an essential role in diagnosing jaundice and assessing liver function. Surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) is a highly sensitive detection technique that emerged from the synergy of resonance Raman spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). This technology not only provides molecular fingerprint information but also offers rapid detection, interference resistance, and high selectivity, making it particularly suitable for specific biological system detection. Herein, we have developed an innovative SERRS technique for efficiently measuring bilirubin levels in urine. This method involves precisely adjusting the pH of sodium nitrite to 1, oxidizing bilirubin to biliverdin. Subsequently, a portable Raman spectrometer with an excitation wavelength of 785 nm is used to emit its resonance Raman signal, achieving high-sensitivity and selective rapid detection. Through this approach, we have achieved the quantification of a wide linear dynamic range spanning from 860 nmol/L to 34.2 μmol/L, characterized by an excellent correlation coefficient of 0.99 and a remarkably low detection limit of 860 pmol/L, which is significantly below that of traditional detection methods. Moreover, in the analysis of real samples, minimal pre-treatment is required to achieve high sensitivity and expedited detection. The entire procedure is completed in merely 1 min, with recovery rates falling between 80 % and 100 %. This approach paves the way for the specific and rapid detection of biomarkers using Raman spectroscopy.

Multifunctional nanozymes: Promising applications in clinical diagnosis and cancer treatment

Cancer remains one of the greatest challenges in modern medicine. Traditional chemotherapy drugs often cause severe side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, neurotoxicity, liver damage, and nephrotoxicity. In addition to these adverse effects, high recurrence and metastasis rates following treatment pose significant challenges for clinicians. There is an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies to improve cancer treatment outcomes. In this context, nanozymes-artificial enzyme mimetics-have attracted considerable attention due to their unique advantages, including potent tumor-killing effects, enhanced biocompatibility, and reduced toxicity. Notably, nanozymes can dynamically monitor tumors through imaging and tracing. The multifunctional nanozyme (MN) is a promising research focus, integrating multiple catalytic activities, signal enhancement, sensing capabilities, and diverse modifications within a single nanozyme system. MNs can selectively target tumor regions, facilitating synergistic effects with other cancer therapies while enabling real-time imaging and tumor tracking. In this review, we first categorize MNs based on their composition and structural characteristics. We then discuss the primary mechanisms by which MNs exert their anticancer effects. Additionally, we review three types of MN biosensors and four MN-based therapeutic approaches applied in cancer treatment. Finally, we highlight the current challenges in MN research and provide an outlook on future developments in this field.

Durable asymmetric silk fabric with rapid heat conduction, spectral selectivity and sweat transfer capabilities for effective personal thermal-moisture management

Silk fabric (SF) is a high-end textile frequently utilized in summer apparel. However, its ultraviolet absorption reduces the solar energy reflection, and the inherent hydrophilicity impedes effective sweat evaporation, thereby significantly compromising thermal-moisture comfort. Herein, we fabricated a multifunctional Janus SF with rapid heat dissipation, unidirectional moisture conduction and radiative cooling capabilities through a feasible two-step process. Briefly, hydrophilic Al2O3 nanoparticles were covalently anchored on the outer side (A-side) of Janus SF, whereas a hydrophobic boron nitride (BN) nanosheet-doped layer was fabricated on the inner side (B-side) via polycondensation reaction. The optimized Janus SF demonstrated exceptional solar reflectivity (93.62 %) and infrared emissivity (92.08 %), alongside enhanced thermal conductivities (1.45 W/K/m in-plane and 0.182 W/K/m through-plane). Additionally, the wettability gradient between the hydrophilic A-side and hydrophobic B-side provided a robust driving force for moisture transport, endowing Janus SF with a distinguished unidirectional transportation index of 809.43 % and a satisfactory water evaporation rate of 88.49 g/(m2·h), thereby ensuring prolonged thermal-moisture comfort. Notably, this Janus fabric displayed remarkable outdoor practical cooling effect (∼5.6 °C) compared to bare skin, accompanying with good biocompatibility and outstanding wearability. Overall, such durable, scalable and multifunctional Janus SF provides innovative inspiration for designing next-generation passive cooling fabrics.

Targeted delivery systems of siRNA based on ionizable lipid nanoparticles and cationic polymer vectors

As an emerging therapeutic tool, small interfering RNA (siRNA) had the capability to down-regulate nearly all human mRNAs via sequence-specific gene silencing. Numerous studies have demonstrated the substantial potential of siRNA in the treatment of broad classes of diseases. With the discovery and development of various delivery systems and chemical modifications, six siRNA-based drugs have been approved by 2024. The utilization of siRNA-based therapeutics has significantly propelled efforts to combat a wide array of previously incurable diseases and advanced at a rapid pace, particularly with the help of potent targeted delivery systems. Despite encountering several extracellular and intracellular challenges, the efficiency of siRNA delivery has been gradually enhanced. Currently, targeted strategies aimed at improving potency and reducing toxicity played a crucial role in the druggability of siRNA. This review focused on recent advancements on ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and cationic polymer (CP) vectors applied for targeted siRNA delivery. Based on various types of targeted modifications, we primarily described delivery systems modified with receptor ligands, peptides, antibodies, aptamers and amino acids. Finally, we discussed the challenges and opportunities associated with siRNA delivery systems based on ionizable LNPs and CPs vectors.

Cuproptosis nanoprodrug-initiated self-promoted cascade reactions for postoperative tumor therapy

Cancer metastasis and recurrence remain a regular cause of postoperative death in patients, implying that extra consolidation treatment strategies are needed. Here, a cuproptosis nanoprodrug, termed as Lipo@CP@DQ NPs, is developed to initiate self-promoted cascade reactions to achieve the combinational effect of cuproptosis, in situ chemotherapy, and oxidative stress amplification for effectively suppressing tumor recurrence and metastasis after postoperative treatment. Lipo@CP@DQ NPs are fabricated by loading copper peroxides (Cu2O2, CP) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-repsonsive prodrug DQ into liposomal nanoparticles. Lipo@CP@DQ NPs rapidly dissociate in the acidic tumor microenvironment to release copper ions, H2O2, and prodrug DQ. Subsequently, the excessive accumulation of Cu ions induces cuproptosis and produces highly cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Meanwhile, the self-supplied H2O2 catalyzes the decomposition of DQ to diethyldithiocarbamate (DTC), which is chelated with self-supplied Cu ions to form the anticancer compound, Cu(DTC)2. The another decomposition product, quinone methide (QM), acts as a glutathione (GSH) scavenger for oxidative stress amplification. The synergistic effect of Lipo@CP@DQ NPs-mediated cuproptosis, in situ chemotherapy, and oxidative stress amplification effectively inhibits the growth and postoperative recurrence of triple-negative breast cancer. This work furnishes a strategy for developing cuproptosis-based nanomedicines for effective antitumor treatment after surgery.

FeMo6 integrated covalent organic frameworks: Peroxidase-mimetic colorimetric biosensors for multivariate sensing hydrogen peroxide and ascorbic acid in serum and beverages

An efficient and readable sensor is desirable for food safety and diagnosis. Herein, a homogeneous mimicking enzyme was constructed by encapsulating polyoxometalate (NH₄)₃[FeMo₆O₁₈(OH)₆]·6H₂O (FeMo6) into the covalent organic framework (FeMo6@COF). Coordinating the spatial confinement effect of COF, FeMo6 exhibited superior peroxide-like activity to catalyze H2O2 to O2-• which achieved the "on-off" consecutive sensing of H2O2 and AA via a readable colorimetric mode, with the limit of detection (LOD) at 30 μM and 0.35 μM, respectively. A convenient smartphone assistant platform was established and realized rapid, portable, visual monitoring of AA with LOD of 0.06 μM, and satisfied recoveries with 96.88-104.65 % in human serum and 98.37-107.61 % in commercial beverages. Furthermore, a logic gate circuit was designed to illustrate the potential utilization of combining the intelligent facilities with the experiment. This strategy provides efficient, swift, convenient sensor FeMo6@COF with great potential contribution in food safety and diagnosis.

Biosensor-based methods for exosome detection with applications to disease diagnosis

Exosomes are nanoscale extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by most eukaryotic cells and can be found in nearly all human body fluids. Increasing evidence has revealed their pivotal roles in intercellular communication, and their active participation in myriad physiological and pathological activities. Exosomes' functions rely on their contents that are closely correlated with the biological characteristics of parental cells, which may provide a rich resource of molecular information for accurate and detailed diagnosis of a diverse array of diseases, such as differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, early detection and subtyping of various tumors. As a category of sensitive detection devices, biosensors can fully reveal the molecular information and convert them into actionable clinical information. In this review, recent advances in biosensor-based methods for the detection of exosomes are summarized. We have described the fabrication of various biosensors based on the analysis of exosomal proteins, RNAs or glycans for accurate diagnosis, with respect to their elaborate recognition designs, signal amplification strategies, sensing properties, as well as their application potential. The challenges along with corresponding technologies in the future development and clinical translation of these biosensors are also discussed.

Laser-induced PdCu alloy catalysts for highly efficient and stable electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia

The electrochemical reduction reaction of nitrate (NO3RR) to ammonia is an environmentally friendly approach that can treat wastewater as well as find an alternative to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process. The use of adhesives partially to adhere to the NO3RR electrocatalysts, leading to sluggish kinetics, poor stability and poor scalability. Herein, we report the synthesis of PdCu alloy catalysts via a direct laser writing method, demonstrating their exceptional performance in the electrochemical reduction of nitrate. The Pd0.55Cu0.45 alloy exhibited a remarkable ammonia production rate of 30.55 mg h-1 cm-2 under neutral electrolyte conditions and maintained stable operation for over 1500 h. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental analyses revealed that the PdCu alloy's enhanced activity stems from its lower energy barrier for the rate-determining step (*NO → *NOH) and improved mass transfer capabilities. The alloy's electronic properties and geometric configuration, fine-tuned by the laser-induced synthesis method, facilitate the conversion of NO2- and suppress the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), thereby significantly enhancing the selectivity and activity of the NO3RR process. This study provides a sustainable and efficient pathway for ammonia synthesis and offers insights into the design of advanced catalysts for environmental and energy applications.

Bioactive electrospun Poly(p-dioxanone)/bioactive glass Hierarchical structured fibrous membrane for enhanced dura mater regeneration and integration

This study presents a dual-layer artificial dura mater, a hierarchically structured fibrous membrane composed of poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO) and bioactive glass (BG), fabricated using electrospinning and melt-casting techniques. Designed to address the challenges of dura mater repair, the membrane features a dense outer PPDO layer for mechanical resilience and an electrospun inner layer embedded with BG to enable controlled ion release, promoting tissue regeneration and angiogenesis. We evaluated the fibrous membrane's surface morphology, mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, and in vitro degradation, demonstrating that increasing BG content enhances hydrophilicity, reduces crystallinity, and modulates degradation kinetics. In vitro assays using L929 fibroblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells reveal that the PPDO/BG membrane not only supports cell adhesion and proliferation but also fosters a pro-angiogenic environment through the controlled release of bioactive silicon ions. In vivo implantation in a rat dura mater defect model further validates its therapeutic potential, showing reduced adhesion, improved tissue integration, and enhanced vascularization, with the PBD-3 variant exhibiting superior performance due to its optimized BG composition. The synergistic effects of bioactive ion release, mechanical stability, and biocompatibility establish the PPDO/BG membrane as a highly promising dura mater substitute, offering a bioengineered solution for neurosurgical applications aimed at functional tissue regeneration.

TPCs: FROM PLANT TO HUMAN

In 2005, the Arabidopsis thaliana two-pore channel TPC1 channel was identified as a vacuolar Ca2+-release channel. In 2009, three independent groups published studies on mammalian TPCs as nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP)-activated endolysosomal Ca2+ release channels, results that were eventually challenged by two other groups, claiming mammalian TPCs to be phosphatidylinositol-3,5-bisphosphate [PI(3,5)P2]-activated Na+ channels. By now this dispute seems to have been largely reconciled. Lipophilic small molecule agonists of TPC2, mimicking either the NAADP or the PI(3,5)P2 mode of channel activation, revealed, together with structural evidence, that TPC2 can change its selectivity for Ca2+ versus Na+ in a ligand-dependent fashion (N- vs. P-type activation). Furthermore, the NAADP-binding proteins Jupiter microtubule-associated homolog 2 protein (JPT2) and Lsm12 were discovered, corroborating the hypothesis that NAADP activation of TPCs only works in the presence of these auxiliary NAADP-binding proteins. Pathophysiologically, loss or gain of function of TPCs has effects on autophagy, exocytosis, endocytosis, and intracellular trafficking, e.g., LDL cholesterol trafficking leading to fatty liver disease or viral and bacterial toxin trafficking, corroborating the roles of TPCs in infectious diseases such as Ebola or COVID-19. Defects in the trafficking of epidermal growth factor receptor and β1-integrin suggested roles in cancer. In neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease models, P-type activation of TPC2 was found to have beneficial effects on both in vitro and in vivo hallmarks of Niemann-Pick disease type C1, Batten disease, and mucolipidosis type IV. Here, we cover the latest on the structure, function, physiology, and pathophysiology of these channels with a focus initially on plants followed by mammalian TPCs, and we discuss their potential as drug targets, including currently available pharmacology.

Emerging prodrug and nano-drug delivery strategies for the detection and elimination of senescent tumor cells

Tumor cellular senescence, characterized by reversible cell cycle arrest following anti-cancer therapies, presents a complex paradigm in oncology. Given that senescent tumor cells may promote angiogenesis, tumorigenesis, and metastasis, selective killing senescent cells (SCs)-a strategy termed senotherapy-has emerged as a promising approach to improve cancer treatment. However, the clinical implementation of senotherapy faces significant hurdles, including lack of precise methods for SCs identification and the potential for adverse effects associated with highly cytotoxic senolytic agents. In this account, we elucidate recent advancement in developing novel approaches for the detection and selective elimination of SCs, encompassing prodrugs, nanoparticles, and other cutting-edge drug delivery systems such as PROTAC technology and CAR T cell therapy. Furthermore, we explore the paradoxical nature of SCs, which can induce growth arrest in adjacent neoplastic cells and recruit immunomodulatory cells that contribute to tumor suppression. Therefore, we utilize SCs membrane as vehicles to elicit antitumor immunity and potentially augment existing anti-cancer therapies. Finally, the opportunities and challenges are put forward to facilitate the development and clinical transformation of SCs detection, elimination or utilization.

Synergistic effects of paclitaxel and platelet-superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for targeted chemo-hyperthermia therapy against breast cancer

Due to the limited therapeutic efficacy and side effects associated with conventional chemotherapy, researchers have turned their attention to developing targeted drug delivery systems using advanced nanotechnology. Coating nanoparticles (NPs) with cell membranes is a promising strategy because it extends their circulation times and allows them to selectively adhere to damaged vessel sites through the platelet membrane surface, thereby enhancing tumor uptake. Herein, we have developed a biomimetic drug delivery system consisting of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) coated by platelet membranes (PM) for carrying Paclitaxel (PTX) to exploit the synergism effect of chemotherapy and magnetic hyperthermia. Controlled-release PTX nanoparticles exhibited consistent behavior over time, indicating no significant difference in release between SPION/PTX and SPION/PTX/PM at pH 7.4. However, at pH 5.5, improved release was observed, specifically a 1.4-fold increase for SPION/PTX/PM. The confocal and flow cytometry results showed an enhancement in the cellular uptake of SPION/PTX/PM nanoparticles, with an average fluorescence intensity of 142 ± 12.5. MTT results showed superior cytotoxic effects for SPION/PTX/PM compared to SPION/PTX and free PTX, showing an IC50 value of 5 μg/mL after 48 h of treatment. Furthermore, the IC50 decreased to 1 μg/mL when an alternating magnetic field was applied. Hence, the in vivo results and histopathological staining showed that the SPION/PTX/PM-AMF treatment group exhibited the highest rate of tumor growth inhibition, reaching nearly 92.14 %. These findings highlight the potential of using platelet membrane-coated nanoparticles for targeted delivery, combining magnetic hyperthermia and chemotherapy to minimize chemotherapy's undesirable effects while maximizing therapeutic outcomes.

Investigating of the physico-chemistry thiolated dextran derivatives

The study aimed to create redox-responsive dextran carriers for controlled hydrophobic molecule release using glutathione, a natural cellular reducing agent, by modifying dextran with a thiol derivative. Investigating the impact of different hydrophobic length on the molecular self-organization of polysaccharide derivatives into nanoparticles helped to understand their roles in this process. The study demonstrated that thiolated dextran particles can be used as emulsifier and can effectively encapsulated hydrophobic molecules like Nile red dye, with the disulfide linkage being cleaved by glutathione under physiological conditions for rapid release. Additionally, the dextran-based particles were found to be non-toxic to living cells.

Multiplexed engineering of cytochrome P450 enzymes for promoting terpenoid synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell factories: A review

Terpenoids, also known as isoprenoids, represent the largest and most structurally diverse family of natural products, and their biosynthesis is closely related to cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450s). Given the limitations of direct extraction from natural resources, such as low productivity and environmental concerns, heterologous expression of P450s in microbial cell factories has emerged as a promising, efficient, and sustainable strategy for terpenoid production. The yeast expression system is a preferred selection for terpenoid synthesis because of its inner membrane system, which is required for eukaryotic P450 expression, and the inherent mevalonate pathway providing precursors for terpenoid synthesis. In this review, we discuss the advanced strategies used to enhance the local enzyme concentration and catalytic properties of P450s in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with a focus on recent developments in metabolic and protein engineering. Expression enhancement and subcellular compartmentalization are specifically employed to increase the local enzyme concentration, whereas cofactor, redox partner, and enzyme engineering are utilized to improve the catalytic efficiency and substrate specificity of P450s. Subsequently, we discuss the application of P450s for the pathway engineering of terpenoid synthesis and whole-cell biotransformation, which are profitable for the industrial application of P450s in S. cerevisiae chassis. Finally, we explore the potential of using computational and artificial intelligence technologies to rationally design and construct high-performance cell factories, which offer promising pathways for future terpenoid biosynthesis.

Zn-DHM nanozymes regulate metabolic and immune homeostasis for early diabetic wound therapy

Diabetic wounds heal slowly or incompletely because of the microenvironment of hyperglycemia, high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), excessive inflammation, metabolic disorders and immune dysregulation, and the therapeutic effect is limited only by disruption of the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-inflammation cascade cycle. Here, a novel metal-polyphenolic nanozyme (Zn-DHM NPs) synthesized by the coordination of Zn2+ with dihydromyricetin (DHM) was designed, which not only has a superior ability to scavenge ROS and promote cell proliferation and migration but also functions in the regulation of metabolism and immune homeostasis. In vitro and in vivo experiments and RNA sequencing analyses revealed that Zn-DHM NPs could increase the levels of intracellular SOD and CAT enzymes to scavenge ROS and maintain the level of the mitochondrial membrane potential to reduce apoptosis. In terms of glucose metabolism, Zn-DHM NPs downregulated excessive levels of intracellular glucose and HK2, inhibited excessive glycolysis and downregulated the AGE-RAGE pathway to restore cellular function. In terms of immune regulation, Zn-DHM NPs not only downregulate M1/M2 levels to promote tissue repair but also maintain Th17/Treg homeostasis, downregulate the IL-17 signaling pathway to reduce inflammation, and upregulate FOXP3 to maintain immune homeostasis, thereby promoting early wound healing in diabetic mice. The development of Zn-DHM NPs provides a new therapeutic target to promote early healing of diabetic wounds.

Dynamic switching circuit modulated by intramolecular conformation transition of DNA translator for versatile fluorescence biosensors

It might be intriguing and desirable to explore the stimuli-responsive modulation of dynamic switching circuit (DSC) for constructing versatile fluorescence biosensors via two-step sequential independent displacement reactions. Here, a switchable DNA translator (DT) encoding three functional modules is proposed to implement DSC for interpreting specific Key triggers (i.e. DNA segment, miRNA or small molecule) by activating intramolecular conformation transition. Upon presenting Key to regulate strand displacement, the Lock-blocked DT is liberated and self-folded into "active" on-state hairpin structure, so that two ended toeholds are oriented closely to execute proximal hybridization cooperatively for Key-responsive signal readout. Benefited from fast kinetics, efficient transduction, simplified operation and flexible programming, the Key-actuated DSC strategy achieved label-free assay of various target species by employing tunable Ag nanocluster as fluorescent reporter adjacent to or away from hemin/G-quadruplex complexes, which would be more potential and applicable in versatile fluorescence biosensors, identifiable cell imaging or customized tasks than typical strand displacements.

High-efficiency detection of APE1 using a defective PAM-driven CRISPR-Cas12a self-catalytic biosensor

The trans-cleavage activity of the CRISPR-Cas system offers tremendous potential for developing highly sensitive and selective molecular diagnostic tools. However, conventional methods often face challenges such as limited catalytic efficiency of single Cas proteins and the necessity of complex multi-enzyme preamplification steps. To address these limitations, we present a novel defective PAM-mediated CRISPR-Cas12a self-catalytic signal amplification strategy, termed DEP-Cas-APE, for the rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) activity. This approach integrates defective PAM-modified DNA probes to synergize Cas12a trans-cleavage with self-catalytic circuit, achieving efficient signal transformation and amplification under isothermal, one-step conditions. We systematically investigated the influence of defective PAM sequences containing apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites on Cas12a activation and validated the feasibility of the DEP-Cas-APE strategy in detecting APE1. Under optimized conditions, DEP-Cas-APE achieved a detection limit as low as 7.66 × 10-8 U μL-1 within 30 min using a simple isothermal reaction. Additionally, we developed a point-of-care testing (POCT) platform by integrating DEP-Cas-APE with a colorimetric assay based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), enabling portable, equipment-free detection. This sensitive and selective strategy successfully detected APE1 in complex biological samples, including serum from lung cancer patients, and demonstrated the ability to distinguish cancerous from normal samples. DEP-Cas-APE represents a robust and versatile platform for advancing CRISPR-Cas12a biosensing technologies, offering new opportunities for molecular diagnostics and clinical research.

Antimicrobial peptides in nematode secretions - Unveiling biotechnological opportunities for therapeutics and beyond

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic nematodes threaten food security and affect human health and animal welfare globally. Current anthelmintics for use in humans and livestock are challenged by continuous re-infections and the emergence and spread of multidrug resistance, underscoring an urgent need to identify novel control targets for therapeutic exploitation. Recent evidence has highlighted the occurrence of complex interplay between GI parasitic nematodes of humans and livestock and the resident host gut microbiota. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) found within nematode biofluids have emerged as potential effectors of these interactions. This review delves into the occurrence, structure, and function of nematode AMPs, highlighting their potential as targets for drug discovery and development. We argue that an integrated approach combining advanced analytical techniques, scalable production methods, and innovative experimental models is needed to unlock the full potential of nematode AMPs and pave the way for the discovery and development of sustainable parasite control strategies.

Taking the 3Rs to a higher level: replacement and reduction of animal testing in life sciences in space research

Human settlements on the Moon, crewed missions to Mars and space tourism will become a reality in the next few decades. Human presence in space, especially for extended periods of time, will therefore steeply increase. However, despite more than 60 years of spaceflight, the mechanisms underlying the effects of the space environment on human physiology are still not fully understood. Animals, ranging in complexity from flies to monkeys, have played a pioneering role in understanding the (patho)physiological outcome of critical environmental factors in space, in particular altered gravity and cosmic radiation. The use of animals in biomedical research is increasingly being criticized because of ethical reasons and limited human relevance. Driven by the 3Rs concept, calling for replacement, reduction and refinement of animal experimentation, major efforts have been focused in the past decades on the development of alternative methods that fully bypass animal testing or so-called new approach methodologies. These new approach methodologies range from simple monolayer cultures of individual primary or stem cells all up to bioprinted 3D organoids and microfluidic chips that recapitulate the complex cellular architecture of organs. Other approaches applied in life sciences in space research contribute to the reduction of animal experimentation. These include methods to mimic space conditions on Earth, such as microgravity and radiation simulators, as well as tools to support the processing, analysis or application of testing results obtained in life sciences in space research, including systems biology, live-cell, high-content and real-time analysis, high-throughput analysis, artificial intelligence and digital twins. The present paper provides an in-depth overview of such methods to replace or reduce animal testing in life sciences in space research.

Hierarchically amorphous cellulose acetate porous membranes with spectral selectivity for all-weather radiative cooling

Passive radiative cooling has emerged as a promising approach for cooling without energy consumption. However, developing all-weather passive radiative cooling materials in response to diverse weather conditions remains a significant challenge, since such materials must simultaneously exhibit semi-emissive and transparent properties in the mid-infrared spectrum and high reflectivity to sunlight. Herein, we present a hierarchically amorphous cellulose acetate porous membranes (HAPM), fabricated using a solvent-template-assisted evaporation-induced phase separation (ST-EIPS) strategy, for all-weather passive radiative cooling. The HAPM exhibits exceptional spectral selectivity that satisfies the stringent spectral requirements for such applications, i.e., 64.1 % emissivity within the atmospheric window (ATW) and 74.5 % transmissivity in the non-ATW range due to its specific molecular backbone, while having 97.5 % solar reflectivity (especially 99.8 % reflectivity in the visible spectrum) enabled by the hierarchical porous structure with multistage scattering. These unique optical properties allow the HAPM to achieve sub-ambient maximal cooling of 15.8 °C under intense solar irradiance and 6.5 °C under cloudy conditions. Furthermore, a radiative cooling house model incorporating the HAPM is demonstrated and exhibits cooling temperatures of 25.0 °C on sunny days and 4.4 °C on cloudy days. This work underscores the potential of cross-scale structurally engineered porous membranes for all-weather radiative cooling applications.

An approach for psoriasis of microneedle patch simultaneously targeting multiple inflammatory cytokines and relapse related T cells

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder affecting approximately 125 million people globally. Topical medications are a cornerstone of current treatment protocols; however, their efficacy in mitigating inflammation is constrained by their predominantly single-target mechanisms. A significant challenge is the lack of pharmaceuticals specifically targeting CD8+ tissue resident memory T (CD8+ TRM) cells, which are the targets in psoriasis relapse. Consequently, relapse rates can soar to 90% post-treatment discontinuation. In this study, we successfully screened a specific macrophage membrane capable of targeting multiple inflammatory factors at psoriatic sites. This membrane was coextruded with etomoxir, a compound that targets CD8+ TRM cells. To enhance drug retention and penetration, we employed a delivery strategy involving PDA and microneedles, resulting in the synthesis of PDA-Etomoxir-Macrophage membrane@microneedle (PEM@m). In vivo, PEM@m exhibited superior efficacy in alleviating psoriasis symptoms and preventing relapse compared to the clinical drug calcipotriol (Cal). Mechanistically, PEM@m broadly inhibits inflammatory signals, and its reduction of CD8+ TRM cells can be associated with decreased activity in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Our study offers a novel and promising approach for the definitive treatment of psoriasis.

Two- and three-dimensional electron imaging of beam-sensitive specimens

Radiation damage is the main factor that determines the spatial resolution of TEM and STEM images of beam-sensitive specimens, its influence being well represented by a dose-limited resolution (DLR). In this review, DLR is defined and evaluated for both thin and thick samples, for all common imaging modes, and for electron-accelerating voltages up to 3 MV. Damage mechanisms are discussed (including beam heating and electrostatic charge accumulation) with an emphasis on recently published work. Experimental methods for reducing beam damage are identified and future lines of investigation are suggested.

One-pot synthesis of transition-metal-sulfides decorated CdS by low-temperature KSCN flux: An effective route to strengthen the interface for enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution

The performance of decorated photocatalysts is highly dependent on the interfacial contact between the cocatalyst and the substrate photocatalyst, which is essentially determined by their fabrication routes. Herein, a simple one-pot preparation method based on low-temperature KSCN flux was developed for the synthesis of sulfide photocatalysts with MS/CdS (MS = CoS2, NiS2, Cu1.8S, SnS2, MoS2, and WS2) as prototypes. The results indicate that a sulfidation of Cd2+ and the cocatalyst precursors can be achieved successively in the reaction system, which facilitates the formation of a welded interface as the cocatalysts can grow epitaxially on the formed CdS surface. The KSCN flux serves not only as a reaction medium but also as S2- precursor. Most of the MS (except for WS2) could be successfully fabricated and deposited in situ on CdS. However, only the transition-metal-sulfides (TMSs, MoS2, CoS2, and NiS2) decorated samples showed enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution reaction (HER) performance and the activities decreased in the order of MoS2 > CoS2 > NiS2. The sample loaded with 1 %MoS2 demonstrated the highest activity, which was 25 times higher than that of the pristine CdS. The superior HER performance could be ascribed to the loading of the active MoS2 sites for HER and the intimate tandem type I (between CdS and 2H-MoS2) and Schottky (between 2H- and 1T-MoS2) junctions for separation of photoinduced charge carriers. Compared to the conventional preparation methods, the developed one-pot flux route demonstrates remarkable advantages in fabricating highly efficient MoS2/CdS photocatalyst besides its convenience, versatility, and scalability. We believe that, in addition to CdS, the developed route can also be applied to synthesize other sulfide-based photocatalysts.

Delivery of cisplatin confined into pure and doped C240 fullerene: A molecular dynamics simulation study

In this research, we have investigated the delivery of cisplatin, as the anti-cancer drug molecule encapsulated into C240 fullerene with maximum equal number of water and carbon dioxide molecules (20H2O+20CO2) by continuously increasing the temperature from 310 to 450 K. We have determined the temperature at which the fullerene broke and the drug molecule released into the outer environment. To examine the effect of B, N, and Si doping of C240 fullerene on the bond break and release temperatures, we have also simulated the 20H2O+20CO2 mixture into 3 % doped (C233B7, C233N7, and C233Si7) and 20 % doped (C192B48, C192N48, and C192Si48) fullerenes at the same temperature range. Our results showed that there is not any bond break and consequently the drug release for the pure fullerene containing 20H2O+20CO2 mixture at any temperature. It is also observed that the N-doped fullerene shows less resistance to the breakdown, especially the C192N48 fullerene. Therefore, this N-doped C192N48 fullerene is more proper compound to use in the nano drug delivery investigations using fullerene. It is also shown that the doping fullerene is a proper way to easily destruct its structure to use in the drug delivery applications. It is also shown that the self-diffusion of the cisplatin molecule is higher in the C192N48 fullerene than the other systems. This result is in agreement with the other results and approves the C192N48 fullerene for the drug delivery purpose.

A DNA-based nanorobot for targeting, hitchhiking, and regulating neutrophils to enhance sepsis therapy

Targeted regulation of neutrophils is an effective approach for treating neutrophil-driven inflammatory diseases, but challenges remain in minimizing off-target effects and extending drug half-life. A DNA-based nanorobot was developed to target neutrophils by using an N-acetyl Pro-Gly-Pro (Ac-PGP) peptide to specifically bind to the C-X-C motif of chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) on neutrophil membranes. This robot (a tetrahedral framework nucleic acid modified with Ac-PGP, APT) identified and hitchhiked neutrophils to accumulate at inflammatory sites and prolong its half-lives, whilst also was internalized to influence the neutrophil cell cycle and maturation process to regulate oxidative stress, inflammation, migration, and recruitment in both in vivo and in vitro inflammation experiments. Consequently, the tissue damage caused by sepsis was greatly reduced. This novel neutrophil-based nanorobot highlights the high precision of targeting and regulating neutrophils, and presents a potential strategy for treating multiple neutrophil-driven diseases.

Enhanced hydrogen production by robust covalent biohybrid based on cell membrane specific click chemistry

The light-driven semiconductor-bacteria hybrid holds great potential for synthesis of diverse solar chemicals and fuels. However, the efficiency of electron transfer between biotic-abiotic interface often suffers from the insufficient robustness of biohybrid, which significantly imped its performance and applications. Here, a highly robust biohybrid was established by specifically and covalently grafting carbon quantum dots (CDs) onto bacterial cell membrane via the copper-catalyzed azide-Alkyne click (CuAAC) reaction. The formation of covalent bonds dramatically enhanced the robustness of hybrid and further shorten the distance of biotic-abiotic interface, endowing long-term stability under different conditions. Consequently, the cell membrane-specific covalent-biohybrid exhibited a 7.3-fold higher hydrogen production due to enhanced system stability, higher load of CDs on the cell surface and direct electron transfer efficiency. This work demonstrated a new and promising approach to improve the robustness and performance of photocatalytic semiconductor-bacteria hybrid system, which would further diversify the toolbox for solar chemicals/fuels production.

A simple post-processing approach induced Interface recombination to construct hollow cubic-shape Prussian blue analogs for biosensing and degradation of aflatoxins B1

Multifunctional Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) have received extensive attention in the detection and degradation of food hazards. However, the development of new structural adjustment strategies to further improve their performance remains a huge challenge. Herein, the "interface recombination" post-processing approach was established to regulate the structure of PBAs using a microwave-assisted solvothermal method combined with acid etching. Hollow cube-shaped M-NiMnFe-PBA with elevated peroxidase-mimetic activity, photothermal effect, and photo-Fenton performance was obtained. Based on M-NiMnFe-PBA, a dual-mode nanoenzyme-linked immunoassay sensing platform was constructed for aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) detection, achieving low detection limits of 4.96 fg/mL in the colorimetric mode and 1.5 pg/mL in the photothermal mode. Due to its admirable photo-Fenton performance, AFB1 was almost completely degraded within 3 h, resulting in a significant reduction in its cytotoxicity. This work provides a new solution for synthetic regulation and property enhancement of PBAs, which promotes their application in control of food hazards.

Heatwave enhance the adaptability of Chlorella pyrenoidosa to zinc oxide nanoparticles: Regulation of interfacial interactions and metabolic mechanisms

Wide application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and increasing frequency of heatwaves (HWs) have posed a great threat to freshwater ecosystems, while phytotoxicity of ZnO NPs mediated by HWs remains unclear. This study aims to link the physiological responses, bio-nano interactions, and metabolic mechanisms of Chlorella pyrenoidosa with ZnO NPs under heat stress. Results demonstrated a temperature-dependent growth inhibition against ZnO NPs, with a higher reduction of growth rate at 24 °C than 28 °C. Accompanied with lower reactive oxidative stress and cell damage at 28 °C, our results indicated that HW could enhance the adaptability of C. pyrenoidosa to ZnO NPs stress. Furthermore, HW induced the variation of algal surface properties, altered interfacial interactions in the bio-nano system, and decreased cellular Zn uptake. Metabolomics analysis supported the temperature-dependent influences of ZnO NPs on C. pyrenoidosa. The phytotoxicity of ZnO NPs was associated with the disturbance of amino acids, fatty acids, and energy metabolic processes, which were mitigated under HW condition, enhancing the responsiveness of algae to the adverse effects. These results emphasize the importance of taking the impacts of HWs into account when evaluating the environmental risks of ZnO NPs.

Extracellular vesicles and the lung: from disease pathogenesis to biomarkers and treatments

Nanosized extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released by all cells to convey cell-to-cell communication. EVs, including exosomes and microvesicles, carry an array of bioactive molecules, such as proteins and RNAs, encapsulated by a membrane lipid bilayer. Epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and various immune cells in the lung contribute to the pool of EVs in the lung microenvironment and carry molecules reflecting their cellular origin. EVs can maintain lung health by regulating immune responses, inducing tissue repair, and maintaining lung homeostasis. They can be detected in lung tissues and biofluids such as bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and blood, offering information about disease processes, and can function as disease biomarkers. Here, we discuss the role of EVs in lung homeostasis and pulmonary diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and lung injury. The mechanistic involvement of EVs in pathogenesis and their potential as disease biomarkers are discussed. Finally, the pulmonary field benefits from EVs as clinical therapeutics in severe pulmonary inflammatory disease, as EVs from mesenchymal stem cells attenuate severe respiratory inflammation in multiple clinical trials. Further, EVs can be engineered to carry therapeutic molecules for enhanced and broadened therapeutic opportunities, such as the anti-inflammatory molecule CD24. Finally, we discuss the emerging opportunity of using different types of EVs for treating severe respiratory conditions.

Bacteriocin isolated from Ralstonia mannitolilytica and bacteriocin-capped silver nanoparticles: Comparative effects on biofilm formation and LuxS Gene's expressions by Proteus mirabilis as an approach to counter MDR catheter infection

Among undesirables in treating certain infections and diseases is the contamination of catheters, especially of the microbes' resistance to drugs. The situation has necessitated the search for alternative antimicrobial agents. Bacteriocin category, antibiotic-originate, peptide-natured, Ralstonia mannitolilytica microbes-produced, bacteriocin material, and the semi-pure bacteriocin capped silver metal nanoparticles (AgNPs) were used for combating the MDR (multi drug resistance) organism, Proteus mirabilis, which is the third-most common cause of UTI (urinary tract infection), and that is linked to catheter use, are being recommended for clinical use with certain development. The crude microbial product was isolated from the microbial entity, Ralstonia mannitolilytica, which grows in crude petroleum-contaminated soil, and was semi-purified for use in the synthesis of the bacteriocin-capped AgNPs. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction, indicating the silver element's presence; field emission scanning electron microscopy, revealing near-spherical but irregular shapes of the bacteriocin-capped AgNPs with a size range of 34-46 nm; and atomic force microscopic analysis, which demonstrated the nanoparticles surface characteristics. The DLS analysis established the negative charge, and an average hydrodynamic size of 51 nm, while the UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis showed the absorption maxima (λmax) at 454 nm. The P. mirabilis isolates were numbered according to MDR detection by the VITEK 2 system (A to J), and the microbes appeared as a pale-coloured colony on MacConkey agar. The biofilm formation screening revealed the highest biofilm-producing isolates, identified as A, B, C, and D. The treatments with both bacteriocin and the bacteriocin-capped AgNPs showed that bacteriocin inhibited the biofilm formation for isolates A, B, and C, but isolate D was less affected, while bacteriocin capped AgNPs inhibited the film formation in isolates A, C, and D more than the bacteriocin alone. However, the activity level was low to moderate. In addition, the LuxS gene-down-regulating effects of bacteriocin and bacteriocin-capped AgNPs were also observed. The expression of the LuxS gene in P. mirabilis was lowered by bacteriocin-capped AgNPs during biofilm formation, while the isolates B and C lowered their expressions of the LuxS gene more effectively when the bacteriocin was used. The study finds the use of bacteriocin and bacteriocin-capped AgNPs of value for developing these products, especially bacteriocin-capped AgNPs, for managing the catheter infections. The products need further development and clinical testings.