Search

Antibodies are critical tools for research into extracellular vesicles (EVs) and other extracellular nanoparticles (ENPs), where they can be used for their identification, characterization, and isolation. However, the lack of a centralized antibody platform where researchers can share validation results thus minimizing wasted personnel time and reagents, has been a significant obstacle. Moreover, because the performance of antibodies varies among assay types and conditions, detailed information on assay variables and protocols is also of value. To facilitate sharing of results on antibodies that are relevant to EV/ENP research, the EV Antibody Database has been developed by the investigators of the Extracellular RNA Communication Consortium (ERCC). Hosted by the ExRNA Portal (https://exrna.org/resources/evabdb/), this interactive database aggregates and shares results from antibodies that have been tested by research groups in the EV/ENP field. Currently, the EV Antibody Database includes modules for antibodies tested for western Blot, EV Flow Cytometry, and EV Sandwich Assays, and holds 110 records contributed by 6 laboratories from the ERCC. Detailed information on antibody sources, assay conditions, and results is provided, including negative results. We encourage ongoing expert input and community feedback to enhance the databases utility, making it a valuable resource for comprehensive validation data on antibodies and protocols in EV biology.

Jian Gao,1 Jiannan Li,2 Zengyou Luo,1 Hongyong Wang,3 Zhiming Ma1 1Department of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Hernia Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Radiotherapy, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Zhiming Ma, Department of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Hernia Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China, Email mazhiming@jlu.edu.cnAbstract: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, non-specific inflammatory condition characterized by recurring inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. However, the existing IBD treatments are ineffective and have serious side effects. The etiology of IBD is multifactorial and encompasses immune, genetic, environmental, dietary, and microbial factors. The nanoparticles (NPs) developed based on specific targeting methodologies exhibit great potential as nanotechnology advances. Nanoparticles are defined as particles between 1 and 100 nm in size. Depending on their size and surface functionality, NPs exhibit different properties. A variety of nanoparticle types have been employed as drug carriers for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with encouraging outcomes observed in experimental models. They increase the bioavailability of drugs and enable targeted drug delivery, promoting localized treatment and thus enhancing efficacy. Nevertheless, numerous challenges persist in the translation from nanomedicine to clinical application, including enhanced formulations and preparation techniques, enhanced drug safety profiles, and so forth. In the future, it will be necessary for scientists and clinicians to collaborate in order to study disease mechanisms, develop new drug delivery strategies, and screen new nanomedicines. Nevertheless, numerous challenges persist in the translation from nanomedicine to clinical application, including enhanced formulations and preparation techniques, enhanced drug safety profiles, and so forth. In the future, it will be necessary for scientists and clinicians to collaborate in order to study disease mechanisms, develop new drug delivery strategies, and screen new nanomedicines.Keywords: nanoparticles, inflammatory bowel diseases, targeted delivery, passive targeting, active targeting, drug delivery system

Highlights Fundamental principles for designing synergistic composite catalysts are reviewed. The synergistic effect between various active sites, promoting electrocatalytic performance in different reactions are highlighted. The challenges and perspectives for multiple active sites catalysts are discussed.

BackgroundThe emergence of nanotechnology has injected new vigor into vaccine research. Nanovaccine research has witnessed exponential growth in recent years; yet, a comprehensive analysis of related publications has been notably absent.ObjectiveThis study utilizes bibliometric methodologies to reveal the evolution of themes and the distribution of nanovaccine research.MethodsUsing tools such as VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Scimago Graphica, Pajek, R-bibliometrix, and R packages for the bibliometric analysis and visualization of literature retrieved from the Web of Science database.ResultsNanovaccine research commenced in 1981. The publication volume exponentially increased, notably in 2021. Leading contributors include the United States, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the “Vaccine”, and researcher Zhao Kai. Other significant contributors comprise China, the University of California, San Diego, Veronique Preat, the Journal of Controlled Release, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The USA functions as a central hub for international cooperation. Financial support plays a pivotal role in driving research advancements. Key themes in highly cited articles include vaccine carrier design, cancer vaccines, nanomaterial properties, and COVID-19 vaccines. Among 7402 keywords, the principal nanocarriers include Chitosan, virus-like particles, gold nanoparticles, PLGA, and lipid nanoparticles. Nanovaccine is primarily intended to address diseases including SARS-CoV-2, cancer, influenza, and HIV. Clustering analysis of co-citation networks identifies 9 primary clusters, vividly illustrating the evolution of research themes over different periods. Co-citation bursts indicate that cancer vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines, and mRNA vaccines are pivotal areas of focus for current and future research in nanovaccines. “candidate vaccines,” “protein nanoparticle,” “cationic lipids,” “ionizable lipids,” “machine learning,” “long-term storage,” “personalized cancer vaccines,” “neoantigens,” “outer membrane vesicles,” “in situ nanovaccine,” and “biomimetic nanotechnologies” stand out as research interest.ConclusionsThis analysis emphasizes the increasing scholarly interest in nanovaccine research and highlights pivotal recent research themes such as cancer and COVID-19 vaccines, with lipid nanoparticle-mRNA vaccines leading novel research directions.

In this study, the critical need for precise and accurate prediction of intra‐tumor heterogeneity related to the enhanced permeability and retention effect and spatial distribution of nanoprobes is addressed for the development of effective nanodrug delivery strategies. Current predictive models are limited in terms of resolution and accuracy, prompting the construction of a high‐resolution prediction network (HRPN) that estimates the microdistribution of quantum dots, factoring in tumor vascular and nuclear features. The HRPN algorithm is trained using 27 780 patches and validated on 4920 patches derived from 4T1 breast cancer whole‐slide images, demonstrating its reliability. The HRPN model exhibits minimal error (mean square error = 1.434, root mean square error = 1.198), satisfactory goodness of fit (R2 = 0.891), and superior image quality (peak signal‐to‐noise ratio = 44.548) when compared to a generative‐adversarial‐network‐structured model. Furthermore, the HRPN model offers improved prediction accuracy, broader prediction intervals, and reduced computational resource requirements. Consequently, the proposed model yields high‐resolution predictions that more closely resemble actual tumor microdistributions, potentially serving as a powerful analytical tool for investigating the spatial relationship between the tumor microenvironment and nanoprobes.

Bone tumors, particularly osteosarcoma, are prevalent among children and adolescents. This ailment has emerged as the second most frequent cause of cancer-related mortality in adolescents. Conventional treatment methods comprise extensive surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Consequently, the management of bone tumors and bone regeneration poses significant clinical challenges. Photothermal tumor therapy has attracted considerable attention owing to its minimal invasiveness and high selectivity. However, key challenges have limited its widespread clinical use. Enhancing the tumor specificity of photosensitizers through targeting or localized activation holds potential for better outcomes with fewer adverse effects. Combinations with chemotherapies or immunotherapies also present avenues for improvement. In this review, we provide an overview of the most recent strategies aimed at overcoming the limitations of photothermal therapy (PTT), along with current research directions in the context of bone tumors, including (1) target strategies, (2) photothermal therapy combined with multiple therapies (immunotherapies, chemotherapies, and chemodynamic therapies, magnetic, and photodynamic therapies), and (3) bifunctional scaffolds for photothermal therapy and bone regeneration. We delve into the pros and cons of these combination methods and explore current research focal points. Lastly, we address the challenges and prospects of photothermal combination therapy.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the primary microorganism involved in ethanol production, is hindered by the accumulation of ethanol, leading to reduced ethanol production. In this study, we employed histidine-modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles (His-Fe3O4) for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, as a method to enhance ethanol yield during the S. cerevisiae fermentation process. The results demonstrated that exposing S. cerevisiae cells to Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) led to increased cell proliferation and glucose consumption. Moreover, the introduction of His-Fe3O4 significantly boosted ethanol content by 17.3% (p < 0.05) during fermentation. Subsequent findings indicated that the increase in ethanol content was associated with enhanced ethanol tolerance and improved electron transport efficiency. This study provided evidence for the positive effects of His-Fe3O4 on S. cerevisiae cells and proposed a straightforward approach to enhance ethanol production in S. cerevisiae fermentation. The mediation of improved ethanol tolerance offers significant potential in the fermentation and bioenergy sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lycorine is a kind of natural active ingredient with a strong antitumor effect. In this study, folate ligand-conjugated polyethylene glycol-block-poly(l-lactide) (PEG-PLLA) nanoparticles (FA-PEG-PLLA NPs) were designed to deliver lycorine to enhance its anti-glioma activity. The successful preparation of the FA-PEG-PLLA polymer was confirmed by 1H-NMR, FT-IR, XRD, TGA, and DSC. The optimal formulation for LYC@FA-PEG-PLLA NPs was determined by response surface analysis as follows: sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) of 1%, carrier material of 0.03 g, organic phase volume of 3 mL, and ultrasonic power of 20%. The LYC@FA-PEG-PLLA NPs exhibited an encapsulation efficiency of 83.58% and a particle size of 49.71 nm, demonstrating good stability. Hemolysis experiments, MTT assays, and cell scratch assays revealed excellent biocompatibility of FA-PEG-PLLA and superior anti-glioma activity of LYC@FA-PEG-PLLA NPs compared to the raw drug. Additionally, cell apoptosis assays, ROS experiments, and western blot analysis demonstrated that LYC@FA-PEG-PLLA NPs contributed to cell apoptosis by inducing ROS generation and increasing the expression of NF-κB inhibitory protein IκBα. These results suggested that LYC@FA-PEG-PLLA NPs hold promise for glioma treatment.

Regulation of excessive inflammation and impaired cell proliferation is crucial for healing diabetic wounds. Although plant‐to‐mammalian regulation offers effective approaches for chronic wound management, the development of a potent plant‐based therapeutic presents challenges. This study aims to validate the efficacy of turmeric‐derived nanoparticles (TDNPs) loaded with natural bioactive compounds. TDNPs can alleviate oxidative stress, promote fibroblast proliferation and migration, and reprogram macrophage polarization. Restoration of the fibroblast–macrophage communication network by TDNPs stimulates cellular regeneration, in turn enhancing diabetic wound healing. To address diabetic wound management, TDNPs are loaded in an ultralight‐weight, high swelling ratio, breathable aerogel (AG) constructed with cellulose nanofibers and sodium alginate backbones to obtain TDNPs@AG (TAG). TAG features wound shape‐customized accessibility, water‐adaptable tissue adhesiveness, and capacity for sustained release of TDNPs, exhibiting outstanding performance in facilitating in vivo diabetic wound healing. This study highlights the potential of TDNPs in regenerative medicine and their applicability as a promising solution for wound healing in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using nanocatalysts to catalyze water electrolysis for hydrogen production is an ideal solution to address the energy crisis. The most well-adopted fabrication methods for nanocatalysts are tube furnace annealing, Hydrothermal method, etc., hardly satisfying the trade-off among coarsening, dispersity, and particle size due to mutual restrictions. Herein, a universal, ultrafast and facile cellulose nanometer whiskers-high temperature shock (CNW-HTS) method was reported for fabricating a library of ultrafine metal nanoparticles with uniform dispersion and narrow size distribution. The metal-anchor functional groups in CNW (i.e., –OH and –COOH) and the characteristics of the HTS method for ultrafast heating and powerful quenching synergistically contribute to the successful synthesis of metal nanoparticles. As an initial demonstration, the as-prepared Pt nanocatalyst (η10 ​mA ​cm−2 ​= ​51.8 ​mV) shows more excellent catalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance than the Pt catalyst prepared in the tubular furnace (η10 ​mA ​cm−2 ​= ​169.4 ​mV). This rapid and universal CNW-HTS method can pave the way for nanomanufacturing to produce high-quality metal nanoparticles, thereby expanding applications of energy conversion and electrocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Antarctic krill peptide (AKP) has gained considerable interest because of its multiple biological functions. However, its application may be limited by its poor stability and susceptibility to degradation. Encapsulation of AKP using a nanoparticle delivery system is an effective way to overcome these problems. In the present study, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and chitosan (CS) were used as delivery vehicles to encapsulate AKP.The results revealed that the particle size (83.3 ± 4.4–222.4 ± 32.7 nm) and zeta‐potential (35.1 ± 0.7–45.0 ± 2.7 mV) of nanoparticles (NPs) increased with the increasing content of BSA, but the polydispersity index decreased (1.000 ± 0.002 to 0.306 ± 0.011). Hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions were the main forces to form BSA/CS‐AKP NPs. X‐ray diffraction revealed that AKP was encapsulated by BSA/CS. Scanning electron microscopy images exhibited that the NPs were spherical in shape, uniform in size and tightly bound. BSA/CS‐AKP NPs exhibited excellent stability in the pH range (2–5) and after 15 days of storage, and could hinder the release of AKP in simulated gastric environment and promote the release of AKP in simulated intestinal environment. After simulated digestion, the hypoglycemic activity of encapsulated AKP was better than that of unencapsulated AKP.Our results revealed that the BSA/CS showed great potential for protecting and delivering AKP. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A silica supported FeCoNiCuRu high-entropy alloy (HEA) nanoparticle catalyst was prepared using a simple organic ligand chelate assisted thermal-reduction method. The organic ligand tannin is utilized to chelate Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Ru, facilitating the formation of HEAs with a homogeneous distribution of metal elements. The FeCoNiCuRu HEA nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed on the silica with an average size of approximately 17 nm. The formation of the HEA significantly enhances electron transfer among the individual metals within the silica supported FeCoNiCuRu catalysts. The silica supported FeCoNiCuRu HEA nanoparticle catalysts demonstrate superior hydrogenation performance for selective hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, in comparison to both silica supported monometallic catalysts and their mixture. This simple organic ligand chelate assisted thermal-reduction method provides a universal strategy for generating HEA catalysts with uniform dispersion for a wide range of catalysis applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) holographic microscopy exploits surface plasmon wave as illumination and acquires both SPR intensity and phase images. It detects extremely tiny variations of weakly interacting objects owing to high sensitivity and has been applied in cell biology, material science, surface chemistry, etc. However, it is very challenging to solve the problem of poor spatial resolution due to the transverse propagation of surface plasmon wave. In this paper, an azimuthal scanning excitation method is proposed in SPR holographic microscopy to improve the spatial resolution by engineering the Fourier spectra of SPR images from dual‐arc to circular shape. The study modulates the light field with spatial position, wavevector, and polarization to realize azimuthal scanning excitation of SPR. Systematic experiments of dielectric spheres, nanowires, two‐dimension materials, and complex nanostructure are conducted to show the resolution improvement with one order of magnitude, the higher detection sensitivity of SPR phase than that of SPR intensity, and the necessities of both of high‐resolution SPR intensity and phase images to retrieve sample information in certain scenarios. Benefiting from the high detection sensitivity and spatial resolution, the proposed microscopy will find wide applications in nanoparticle analysis, low‐dimensional material characterization, and imaging extremely thin or transparent samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory factors and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are risk factors for atherosclerosis. Many existing therapies use ROS-sensitive delivery systems to alleviate atherosclerosis, which achieved certain efficacy, but cannot eliminate excessive ROS. Moreover, the potential biological safety concerns of carrier materials through chemical synthesis cannot be ignored. Herein, an amphiphilic low molecular weight heparin- lipoic acid conjugate (LMWH-LA) was used as a ROS-sensitive carrier material, which consisted of injectable drug molecules used clinically, avoiding unknown side effects. LMWH-LA and curcumin (Cur) self-assembled to form LLC nanoparticles (LLC NPs) with LMWH as shell and LA/Cur as core, in which LMWH could target P-selectin on plaque endothelial cells and competitively block the migration of monocytes to endothelial cells to inhibit the origin of ROS and inflammatory factors, and LA could be oxidized to trigger hydrophilic-hydrophobic transformation and accelerate the release of Cur. Cur released within plaques further exerted anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, thereby suppressing ROS and inflammatory factors. We used ultrasound imaging, pathology and serum analysis to evaluate the therapeutic effect of nanoparticles on atherosclerotic plaques in apoe−/− mice, and the results showed that LLC showed significant anti-atherosclerotic effects. Our finding provided a promising therapeutic nanomedicine for the treatment of atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is closely related to lysosomal dysfunction and ferroptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs), for which effective treatments are urgently needed. Although selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have emerged as promising candidates for AKI therapy, their underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the effect of SeNPs on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced ferroptosis and lysosomal dysfunction in TECs in vitro and evaluated their efficacy in a murine model of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-AKI. We observed that H/R-induced ferroptosis was accompanied by lysosomal Fe2+ accumulation and dysfunction in TECs, which was ameliorated by SeNPs administration. Furthermore, SeNPs protected C57BL/6 mice against I/R-induced inflammation and ferroptosis. Mechanistically, we found that lysosomal Fe2+ accumulation and ferroptosis were associated with the excessive activation of NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy, a process mitigated by SeNPs through the upregulation of X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1). Downregulation of XBP1 promoted ferritinophagy and partially counteracted the protective effects of SeNPs on ferroptosis inhibition in TECs. Overall, our findings revealed a novel role for SeNPs in modulating ferritinophagy, thereby improving lysosomal function and attenuating ferroptosis of TECs in I/R-AKI. These results provide evidence for the potential application of SeNPs as therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of AKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Excessive inflammation is a major cause of implant failure. The surface morphology, hydrophilicity, and loading of biomaterials are major properties modulating anti-inflammatory macrophage activation. This paper investigates the regulatory effects of modifying the surface of Titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNTs) with graphene oxide (GO) on the polarization of mouse monocyte macrophages (RAW264.7). Methods: TNT was produced by the anodic oxidation of titanium. GO was subsequently electrodeposited on the TNT to obtain a TNT–GO composite. The samples were characterised through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. RAW264.7 cells were separately seeded onto the surface of three groups of samples: pure Ti, TNT, and TNT–GO. Under the condition of lipopolysaccharide stimulation, the influence of the sample surfaces on the gene expression profiles was investigated through RNA sequence analysis. In addition, cell spreading was observed through SEM, cell adhesion and proliferation were analysed using the CCK8 assay, and the expression of inflammation-related factors was investigated by ELISA and cellular immunofluorescence staining. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the RAW264.7 cells on the surface of the three groups was detected via immunofluorescence staining. Results: The CCK8 results indicated that the adhesion and proliferation of the RAW264.7 cells were reduced on the TNT and TNT–GO surfaces. ELISA results revealed significant differences in the pro-inflammatory factors tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 secretion among the three groups at 24 h (p < 0.05). The secretion of pro-inflammatory factors significantly reduced and the expression of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 increased on the TNT and TNT–GO surfaces. The RNA sequencing, ELISA, and cell immunofluorescence staining test results suggested that the inflammatory response of M1 polarization was reduced and the M2 polarization of macrophages was induced on the TNT–GO surface, which may be attributed to the reduction in ROS production. Conclusions: Under lipopolysaccharide stimulation, the inflammatory response of the RAW264.7 cells was reduced and the M2 polarization of macrophages was promoted on the TNT–GO surface, which may be caused by the reduced ROS production. Consequently, the designed TNT–GO material is promising for implants owing to its excellent inflammation regulation ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: ZnO nanoparticles (nps) among metal oxide (MOs) are proven to be essential electron transporting layers (ETLs) applied in organic solar cells (OSCs). However, intrinsic defects, interfacial charge recombination, and catalytic behavior towards the active layer restrict the applications of ZnO nps for efficient and long‐term stable OSCs. The commonly available biomolecule cytidine 5'‐monophosphate (CMP‐OH) with phosphonic acid, its salt cytidine 5'‐monophosphate disodium salt (CMP‐ONa) with a phosphate group as an anchoring group and conjugated terminal functional in both analogous molecules provide carrier transfer bridge at bottom interface of the active layer. Systematized theoretical investigations and characterizations have discovered the multi‐site coordination of CMP‐OH towards acceptor molecules and ZnO nps. The dual‐side alignment of CMP analogous molecules hinders interfacial charge recombination and enhances charge transfer potential at once. Inevitably, PM6:L8‐BO‐based OSCs with modified ETL obtain 18.13% efficiency, 12% higher than that of unmodified nps. Besides higher efficiency, CMP‐OH‐based OSC devices illustrate remarkably improved thermal stability for 500 h at 85 °C with 72% of initial PCE and operation stability for 2000 h with 90.1% of initial PCE. This work reveals the passivation mechanism of multi‐anchoring groups towards MOs and single‐functional groups towards the active layer to optimize the interface for efficient and highly stable OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing environmentally friendly and high‐performing viable waterproof and breathable membranes (WBMs) is critical but significantly challenging. Herein, we combine electrospinning and electro‐spraying methods. First, elastic thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is used as the polymer, and poly(methylhydrosiloxane) (PMHS) with low surface energy is introduced to prepare TPU/PMHS fiber‐based membranes by electrospinning. Electro‐spraying is performed using a dilute solution of TPU/PMHS/SiO2, with fluorine‐free hydrophobic SiO2 nanoparticles introduced to facilitate the construction of a rough lotus‐leaf‐like surface structure, ultimately obtaining TPU/PMHS/SiO2 WBMs with bead‐on‐string fiber binary structures and a strong water repellency. The results indicate that the TPU/PMHS/SiO2 WBMs comprise a three‐dimensional porous structure formed by randomly arranged fibers and a lotus biomimetic structure consisting of bead‐like fibers, providing the membrane with excellent mechanical properties and waterproof breathability, including a tensile strength of 15.8 MPa, static water pressure of 33 kPa, water vapor transmission rate of 5169 g m−2 d−1, and contact angle of 142°. Additionally, the fiber membrane exhibits an excellent strain recovery after 1000 cycles of cyclic stretching under 100% strain, verifying the excellent elastic properties of the TPU/PMHS/SiO2 WBMs. This simple preparation process and unique composite structure can facilitate the design and preparation of environmentally friendly, waterproof, and breathable materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Fundamental principles for designing synergistic composite catalysts are reviewed. The synergistic effect between various active sites, promoting electrocatalytic performance in different reactions are highlighted. The challenges and perspectives for multiple active sites catalysts are discussed. Combining single atoms with clusters or nanoparticles is an emerging tactic to design efficient electrocatalysts. Both synergy effect and high atomic utilization of active sites in the composite catalysts result in enhanced electrocatalytic performance, simultaneously provide a radical analysis of the interrelationship between structure and activity. In this review, the recent advances of single-atomic site catalysts coupled with clusters or nanoparticles are emphasized. Firstly, the synthetic strategies, characterization, dynamics and types of single atoms coupled with clusters/nanoparticles are introduced, and then the key factors controlling the structure of the composite catalysts are discussed. Next, several clean energy catalytic reactions performed over the synergistic composite catalysts are illustrated. Eventually, the encountering challenges and recommendations for the future advancement of synergistic structure in energy-transformation electrocatalysis are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tribological behaviors of nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted widespread attention in the fields of nano‐lubrication and ultra‐precision manufacturing. The frictional and dynamic behaviors of SiO2 NPs acting with the single asperity were studied on silicon surface utilizing atomic force microscope. The friction forces of NPs, both static and kinetic, exhibit an initial decrease followed by an increase as the normal load increases (0–300 nN). The nonmonotonic load‐dependence of friction behavior corresponds to the dynamic transformation of "sliding‐rolling‐sliding" motion state of the manipulated NPs, which can be predicted by a Double‐Hertz model and further confirmed by nanoindentation‐marked NPs. This research has a significant implication for regulating dynamic behaviors of NPs in contemporary three‐body abrasive tribology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is challenging to produce soft polymer materials with high surface area and nanoscale morphology that can be used for continuous flow water treatment in a processable, versatile, and stable manner. Here, we manufactured a processable Ag@CMPA-bph and used it to treat pollutants in wastewater at continuous flow conditions. The aerogel was prepared by a simple reduction method of CMP matrix and Ag metal precursors. Thermogravimetric analysis and electron microscopy showed that the aerogel had excellent thermal stability and distribution of fine Ag nanoparticles. The synthesized aerogel inherits the controllable properties of the CMP matrix and can be tailored to a specific shape for installation into the water treatment unit. In continuous flow conditions, this aerogel shows excellent catalytic activity to efficiently treat the combined pollutant containing p-nitrophenol and methyl orange (p-NP&MO), which can reach a removal rate of more than 99 % at the flow rate of 0.6 L h-1. Furthermore, the Ag@CMPA-bph can also be used for continuous flow treatment of pollutants in river water sample and shows robust anti-pollution load capacity and catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CRISPR-Cas12a with robust trans-cleavage activity were employed to mitigate background fluorescence signal, achieving sensitive detection of miRNA-21. The activation of trans-cleavage activity of Cas12a was achieved by utilizing cDNA as a trigger. Upon the presence of target miRNA-21, cDNA hybridizes with it forming a DNA/RNA double-stranded structure. Exonuclease III (ExoIII) facilitates the degradation of cDNA, releasing the target for subsequent cycles. Due to cDNA degradation, the trans-cleavage activity of Cas12a remains unactivated and does not disrupt the synthesis template of copper nanoparticles. Addition of Cu2+ and AA leads to the formation of highly fluorescent copper nanoparticles. Conversely, in absence of miRNA-21, intact cDNA activates trans-cleavage activity of Cas12a, resulting in degradation of the synthesis template and failure in synthesizing fluorescent copper nanoparticles. This method exhibits excellent selectivity with a low limit of detection (LOD) at 5 pM. Furthermore, we successfully applied this approach to determine miRNA-21 in cell lysates and human serum samples, providing a new approach for sensitive determination of biomarkers in biochemical research and disease diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) raises concerns regarding their potential toxic effects on human health. Although more and more researches have confirmed the toxic effects of ZnO NPs, limited attention has been given to their impact on the early embryonic nervous system. This study aimed to explore the impact of exposure to ZnO NPs on early neurogenesis and explore its underlying mechanisms. We conducted experiments here to confirm the hypothesis that exposure to ZnO NPs causes neural tube defects in early embryonic development. We first used mouse and chicken embryos to confirm that ZnO NPs and the Zn2+ they release are able to penetrate the placental barrier, influence fetal growth and result in incomplete neural tube closure. Using SH-SY5Y cells, we determined that ZnO NPs-induced incomplete neural tube closure was caused by activation of various cell death modes, including ferroptosis, apoptosis and autophagy. Moreover, dissolved Zn2+ played a role in triggering widespread cell death. ZnO NPs were accumulated within mitochondria after entering cells, damaging mitochondrial function and resulting in the over production of reactive oxygen species, ultimately inducing cellular oxidative stress. The N-acetylcysteine (NAC) exhibits significant efficacy in mitigating cellular oxidative stress, thereby alleviating the cytotoxicity and neurotoxicity brought about by ZnO NPs. These findings indicated that the exposure of ZnO NPs in early embryonic development can induce cell death through oxidative stress, resulting in a reduced number of cells involved in early neural tube closure and ultimately resulting in incomplete neural tube closure during embryo development. The findings of this study could raise public awareness regarding the potential risks associated with the exposure and use of ZnO NPs in early pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early angiogenesis provides nutrient supply for bone tissue repair, and insufficient angiogenesis will lead tissue engineering failure. Lanthanide metal nanoparticles (LM NPs) are the preferred materials for tissue engineering and can effectively promote angiogenesis. Holmium oxide nanoparticles (HNPs) are LM NPs with the function of bone tissue "tracking" labelling. Preliminary studies have shown that HNPs has potential of promote angiogenesis, but the specific role and mechanism remain unclear. This limits the biological application of HNPs. Results: In this study, we confirmed that HNPs promoted early vessel formation, especially that of H-type vessels in vivo, thereby accelerating bone tissue repair. Moreover, HNPs promoted angiogenesis by increasing cell migration, which was mediated by filopodia extension in vitro. At the molecular level, HNPs interact with the membrane protein EphrinB2 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and phosphorylated EphrinB2 can bind and activate VAV2, which is an activator of the filopodia regulatory protein CDC42. When these three molecules were inhibited separately, angiogenesis was reduced. Conclusion: Overall, our study confirmed that HNPs increased cell migration to promote angiogenesis for the first time, which is beneficial for bone repair. The EphrinB2/VAV2/CDC42 signalling pathway regulates cell migration, which is an important target of angiogenesis. Thus, HNPs are a new candidate biomaterial for tissue engineering, providing new insights into their biological application. Article highlights: Holmium oxide nanoparticles (HNPs) promote angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. HNPs increase cell migration by mediate filopodia extension, thus promote angiogenesis. HNPs interact with EphrinB2 to promote its phosphorylation. EphrinB2 interacts with and activates VAV2. VAV2 activates CDC42 to promote endothelial cell migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a promising target for cancer immunotherapy, but delivering therapeutic agents to TAMs within the tumor microenvironment (TME) is challenging. In this study, a photosensitive, dual-targeting nanoparticle system (M.RGD@Cr-CTS-siYTHDF1 NPs) was developed. The structure includes a shell of DSPE-modified RGD peptides targeting integrin receptors on tumor cells and carboxymethyl mannose targeting CD206 receptors on macrophages, with a core of chitosan adsorbing m6A reading protein YTHDF1 siRNA and chromium nanoparticles (Cr NPs). The approach is specifically designed to target TAM and cancer cells, utilizing the photothermal effect of Cr NPs to disrupt the TME and deliver siYTHDF1 to TAM. In experiments with tumor-bearing mice, M.RGD@Cr-CTS-siYTHDF1 NPs, when exposed to laser irradiation, effectively killed tumor cells, disrupted the TME, delivered siYTHDF1 to TAMs, silenced the YTHDF1 gene, and shifted the STAT3-STAT1 equilibrium by reducing STAT3 and enhancing STAT1 expression. This reprogramming of TAMs towards an anti-tumor phenotype led to a pro-immunogenic TME state. The strategy also suppressed immunosuppressive IL-10 production, increased expression of immunostimulatory factors (IL-12 and IFN-γ), boosted CD8 + T cell infiltration and M1-type TAMs, and reduced Tregs and M2-type TAMs within the TME. In conclusion, the dual-targeting M.RGD@Cr-CTS-siYTHDF1 NPs, integrating dual-targeting capabilities with photothermal therapy (PTT) and RNA interference, offer a promising approach for molecular targeted cancer immunotherapy with potential for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd), as the most prevalent heavy metal contaminant poses serious risks to plants, humans, and the environment. The ubiquity of this toxic metal is continuously increasing due to the rapid discharge of industrial and mining effluents and the excessive use of chemical fertilizers. Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a novel strategy to alleviate Cd toxicity. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have become the most important NPs used to mitigate the toxicity of abiotic stresses and improve crop productivity. The plants quickly absorb Cd, which subsequently disrupts plant physiological and biochemical processes and increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which causes the oxidation of cellular structures and significant growth losses. Besides this, Cd toxicity also disrupts leaf osmotic pressure, nutrient uptake, membrane stability, chlorophyll synthesis, and enzyme activities, leading to a serious reduction in growth and biomass productivity. Though plants possess an excellent defense mechanism to counteract Cd toxicity, this is not enough to counter higher concentrations of Cd toxicity. Applying Zn-NPs has proven to have significant potential in mitigating the toxic effects of Cd. ZnO-NPs improve chlorophyll synthesis, photosynthetic efficiency, membrane stability, nutrient uptake, and gene expression, which can help to counter toxic effects of Cd stress. Additionally, ZnO-NPs also help to reduce Cd absorption and accumulation in plants, and the complex relationship between ZnO-NPs, osmolytes, hormones, and secondary metabolites plays an important role in Cd tolerance. Thus, this review concentrates on exploring the diverse mechanisms by which ZnO nanoparticles can alleviate Cd toxicity in plants. In the end, this review has identified various research gaps that need addressing to ensure the promising future of ZnO-NPs in mitigating Cd toxicity. The findings of this review contribute to gaining a deeper understanding of the role of ZnO-NPs in combating Cd toxicity to promote safer and sustainable crop production by remediating Cd-polluted soils. This also allows for the development of eco-friendly approaches to remediate Cd-polluted soils to improve soil fertility and environmental quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxide supports play a crucial role in anchoring and promoting the active metal species by geometric confinement and chemical interaction. The design and synthesis of the well-defined oxide support with specific morphology such as size, shape, and exposed facets have attracted extensive research efforts, which directly reflects on their catalytic performance. In this study, using an Au/CeO2-nanorod model catalyst, we demonstrate an edge effect on the Au/CeO2 interfacial structure, which shows a prominent effect on the structure–performance relationship in the CO oxidation reaction. This specific "edge-interface" structure features an "edge-on" Au nanoparticles position on rod-shaped CeO2 support, confirmed by atomic-scale electron microscopy characterization, which introduces additional degrees of freedom in coordination environment, chemical state, bond length, and strength. Combined with theocratical calculations and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) investigations, we confirmed that this "edge-interface" has distinct adsorption properties due to the change of O vacancy formation energy as well as the chemical states of Au resulting from the electron transfer and redistribution between the metal and the support. These results demonstrate a non-conventional geometric effect of rod-shaped supported metal catalysts on the catalytic performance, which could provide insights into the atomic-precise utilization of catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tandem reactions are one of the effective measures for efficiently utilizing ammonia borane for organic conversion. However, in conventional reaction systems, mismatched reaction rates or too-long reaction times will cause excessive pressure in the reaction vessel, wastage of the hydrogen source, or reduction of the reaction efficiency. Therefore, higher requirements are proposed for the reaction system to utilize ammonia borane fully and rapidly for organic conversion. Herein, a novel Pickering emulsion stabilized by nanoparticles, which include emulsifying particles and hydrophilic particles, was developed as the reaction system for series-parallel catalysis. The emulsifying particles were carboxyl-modified silica nanoparticles loaded with Pd, and were endowed with pH-responsiveness, and catalysis and emulsification properties, and adsorbed at the oil–water interface of the emulsion. The hydrophilic particles were silica nanoparticles loaded with Pd and dispersed in a continuous phase. Ammonia borane released hydrogen in the water phase, while water-soluble organic matter and oil-soluble organic matter were hydrogenated in the water phase and oil phase, respectively. The reaction rates of dehydrogenation and hydrogenation were very close, resulting in efficient use of ammonia borane. The conversions of styrene and 2,5-dihydrofuran (2,5-DHF) reached as high as 95.42% and 96.08%, respectively. In addition, since the emulsions were endowed with pH-sensitivity, this enabled oil–water separation using a simple strategy. After 5 cycles, there was still a high conversion rate of organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocrystalline carbonyl iron (CI) particles are promising microwave absorbents at elevated temperature, whereas their excessive grain boundary energy leads to the growth of nanograins and a deterioration in permeability. In this work, we report a strategy to enhance the thermal stability of the grains and microwave absorption of CI particles by doping a SiBaFe alloy. Grain growth was effectively inhibited by the pinning effect of SiBaFe alloy nanoparticles at the grain boundaries. After heat treatment at 600 °C, the grain size of CI particles increased from ~10 nm to 85.1 nm, while that of CI/SiBaFe particles was only 32.0 nm; with the temperature rising to 700 °C, the grain size of CI particles sharply increased to 158.1 nm, while that of CI/SiBaFe particles was only 40.8 nm. Excellent stability in saturation magnetization and microwave absorption was also achieved in CI/SiBaFe particles. After heat treatment at 600 °C, the flaky CI/SiBaFe particles exhibited reflection loss below −10 dB over 7.01~10.11 GHz and a minimum of −14.92 dB when the thickness of their paraffin-based composite was 1.5 mm. We provided a low-cost and efficient kinetic strategy to stabilize the grain size in nanoscale and microwave absorption for nanocrystalline magnetic absorbents working at elevated temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel biomass-based magnetic nanoparticle (Fe3O4-P-CMC/PAMAM) was synthesized by crosslinking carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) and poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM), followed by phosphorylation with the incorporation of magnetic ferric oxide nanoparticles. The characterization results verified the successful functionalization and structural integrity of the adsorbents with a surface area of ca. 43 m2/g. Batch adsorption experiments revealed that the adsorbent exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 1513.47 mg·g−1 for U(VI) at pH 5.5 and 298.15 K, with Fe3O4-P-CMC/G1.5-2 showing the highest affinity among the series. The adsorption kinetics adhered to a pseudo-second-order model (R2 = 0.99, qe,exp = 463.81 mg·g−1, k2 = 2.15×10−2 g·mg−1·min−1), indicating a chemically driven process. Thermodynamic analysis suggested that the adsorption was endothermic and spontaneous (ΔH° = 14.71 kJ·mol−1, ΔG° = −50.63 kJ·mol−1, 298. 15 K), with increasing adsorption capacity at higher temperatures. The adsorbent demonstrated significant selectivity for U(VI) in the presence of competing cations, with Fe3O4-P-CMC/G1.5-2 showing a high selectivity coefficient. The performed desorption and reusability tests indicated that the adsorbent could be effectively regenerated using 1M HCl, maintaining its adsorption capacity after five cycles. XPS analysis highlighted the role of phosphonate and amino groups in the complexation with uranyl ions, and validated the existence of bimodal U4f peaks at 380.1 eV and 390.1 eV belonging to U 4f7/2 and U 4f5/2. The results of this study underscore the promise of the developed adsorbent as an effective and selective material for the treatment of uranium-contaminated wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are extracellular vesicles with diameters ranging from 30 to 150 nm, harboring proteins and nucleic acids that reflect their source cells and act as vital mediators of intercellular communication. The comprehensive analysis of sEVs is hindered by the complex composition of biofluids that contain various extracellular vesicles. Conventional separation methods, such as ultracentrifugation and immunoaffinity capture, face routine challenges in operation complexity, cost, and compromised recovery rates. Microfluidic technologies, particularly viscoelastic microfluidics, offer a promising alternative for sEV separation due to its field-free nature, fast and simple operation procedure, and minimal sample consumption. In this context, we here introduce an innovative viscoelastic approach designed to exploit the viscosity gradient-induced force with size-dependent characteristics, thereby enabling the efficient separation of nano-sized particles and sEVs from larger impurities. We first seek to illustrate the underlying mechanism of the viscosity gradient-induced force, followed by experimental validation with fluorescent nanoparticles demonstrating separation results consistent with qualitative analysis. We believe that this work is the first to report such viscosity gradient-induced phenomenon in the microfluidic context. The presented approach achieves ∼80% for both target purity and recovery rate. We further demonstrate effective sEV separation using our device to showcase its efficacy in the real biological context, highlighting its potential as a versatile, label-free platform for sEV analysis in both fundamental biological research and clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the wide utility of micellar palladium (Pd) nanoparticle (NP)-catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck reactions in laboratory and industrial synthesis, the easy construction of micellar Pd NPs and the detailed role of surfactants remain the focus of attention. Here, we present a simple and sustainable strategy to construct a nanoreactor by connecting micelles with Pd NPs. This strategy enables us to obtain ultrasmall Pd NPs with an average particle size of 1.8 nm, mainly in situ synthesized by triethylamine (Et3N) reduction and stabilized by chelating with sugar-based surfactant micelles. The first-order kinetic model related to the initial concentration of Pd-based catalyst is established, and the apparent activation energy of this reaction in aqueous micellar solutions is calculated to be 40.49 kJ mol−1. The mechanism of the active species ultrasmall Pd(0) NPs obtained by the reductive elimination of Pd(II) precursors by base was demonstrated. Notably, the recycled aqueous reaction mixture containing the micelles and Pd NPs can be reused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of stable, efficient, and low‐cost catalysts toward ammonia borane hydrolysis is of vital significance for the practical implementation of this hydrogen production technology. Integrating interface engineering and nano‐architecture engineering is a favorable strategy to elevate catalytic performance, as it can modify the electronic structure and provide sufficient active sites simultaneously. In this work, urchin‐like NiCoP/CoP heterostructures are prepared via a three‐step hydrothermal‐oxidation‐phosphorization synthesis route. It is demonstrated that the original Ni/Co molar ratio and the amount of phosphorus are crucial for adjusting the morphology, enhancing the exposed surface area, facilitating charge transfer, and modulating the adsorption and activation of H2O molecules. Consequently, the optimal Ni1Co2P heterostructure displays remarkable catalytic properties in the hydrolysis of ammonia borane with a turnover frequency (TOF) value of 30.3 molH2 ⋅ min−1 ⋅ molmetal−1, a low apparent activation energy of 25.89 kJ ⋅ mol−1, and good stability. Furthermore, by combining infrared spectroscopy and isotope kinetics experiments, a possible mechanism for the hydrolysis of ammonia borane was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Singlet oxygen (1O2) is an exceptional reactive oxygen species in advanced oxidation processes for environmental remediation. Despite single‐atom catalysts (SACs) representing the promising candidate for the selective generation of 1O2 from peroxymonosulfate (PMS), the necessity to meticulously regulate the coordination environment of metal centers poses a significant challenge in the precisely‐controlled synthetic method. Another dilemma to SACs is their high surface free energy, which results in an inherent tendency for the surface migration and aggregation of metal atoms. We here for the first time reported that Ru nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by the facile pyrolysis method behave as robust Fenton‐like catalysts, outperforming Ru SACs, towards efficient activation of PMS to produce 1O2 with nearly 100 % selectivity, remarkably improving the degradation efficiency for target pollutants. Density functional theory calculations have unveiled that the boosted PMS activation can be attributed to two aspects: (i) enhanced adsorption of PMS molecules onto Ru NPs, and (ii) decreased energy barriers by offering adjacent sites for promoted dimerization of *O intermediates into adsorbed 1O2. This study deepens the current understanding of PMS chemistry, and sheds light on the design and optimization of Fenton‐like catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum/tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene/oleic acid (Al/JP-10/OA) nanofluid fuel is considered a potential fuel for aircraft powered by aviation turbine engines. However, an optimized formula for an Al/JP-10/OA system inducing a secondary atomization and micro-explosion effect and improving the burning performance needs to be developed. With this aim, in this work, the combustion characteristics of pure JP-10, JP-10/OA, JP-10/Al, and Al/JP-10/OA were experimentally tested, and a comparative analysis was conducted. Specifically, the influence of the surfactant and nanoparticle concentrations on the combustion characteristics of Al/JP-10/OA nanofluid fuel, including the flame structure, the flame temperature, the burning rate, the secondary atomization and micro-explosion effect, etc., were evaluated in detail. The results demonstrate that the addition of OA surfactant and Al nanoparticles had a significant effect on the burning rate of fuel droplets. The OA had an inhibition effect, while the Al nanoparticles had a promotion effect. As both OA and Al nanoparticles were added to the JP-10, the synergetic effect had to be considered. At the optimum ratio of OA to Al for the best suspension stability, there is a critical Al concentration of 1.0 wt.% from promotion to inhibition with increases in the Al concentration. The addition of OA and Al nanoparticles induced the secondary atomization and micro-explosion, resulting in an unsteady combustion and chaotic flame structure. The transient flame temperature of hundreds of Kelvins increased, the high-temperature flame zone widened, and thus, the energy release was elevated. Therefore, the combustion performance and energy release of Al/JP-10/OA nanofluid fuel can be improved through the secondary atomization and micro-explosion effect induced by the surfactant and nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone tumors, particularly osteosarcoma, are prevalent among children and adolescents. This ailment has emerged as the second most frequent cause of cancer-related mortality in adolescents. Conventional treatment methods comprise extensive surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Consequently, the management of bone tumors and bone regeneration poses significant clinical challenges. Photothermal tumor therapy has attracted considerable attention owing to its minimal invasiveness and high selectivity. However, key challenges have limited its widespread clinical use. Enhancing the tumor specificity of photosensitizers through targeting or localized activation holds potential for better outcomes with fewer adverse effects. Combinations with chemotherapies or immunotherapies also present avenues for improvement. In this review, we provide an overview of the most recent strategies aimed at overcoming the limitations of photothermal therapy (PTT), along with current research directions in the context of bone tumors, including (1) target strategies, (2) photothermal therapy combined with multiple therapies (immunotherapies, chemotherapies, and chemodynamic therapies, magnetic, and photodynamic therapies), and (3) bifunctional scaffolds for photothermal therapy and bone regeneration. We delve into the pros and cons of these combination methods and explore current research focal points. Lastly, we address the challenges and prospects of photothermal combination therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation is the key to determining the performance and lifetime of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). At present, the most effective and promising electrocatalysts for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) are Pt and platinum-based catalysts. Unfortunately, the toxicity of CO intermediates leads to rapid inactivation of the MOR catalyst, further lowering the durability of the MOR. In response to this issue, it has been found that effective screening of good oxygen evolution reaction (OER) active materials and synergistic application with Pt in the MOR can reduce the loss of activity and improve its durability. Based on this strategy, a series of Pt-based MOR catalysts (Pt/Ni, Pt/Co and Pt/NiCo) are synthesized by electrodeposition. The results indicate that the OER activity of Pt/Ni, Pt/Co, and Pt/NiCo is positively correlated with MOR activity and durability. Among the Pt-based MOR catalysts, the ultimate optimized Pt/NiCo exhibits excellent MOR performance, with a good mass activity of 495 A gPt-1, strong CV cycle durability (63.6% activity retained after 5000 cycles), and a long-term operating durability of 15 000 s in alkaline solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulating metal‐metal and metal‐support interactions is one of the potent tools for augmenting catalytic performance. Herein, highly active Co/VN nanoparticles are well dispersed on three‐dimensional porous carbon nanofoam (Co/VN@NC) with the assistance of dicyandiamide. Studies certify that the consequential disordered carbon substrate reinforces the confinement of electrons, while the coupling of diverse components optimizes charge redistribution among species. Besides, theoretical analyses confirm that the regulated electron configuration can significantly tune the binding strength between the active sites and intermediates, thus optimizing reaction energy barriers. Therefore, Co/VN@NC exhibits a competitive potential difference (ΔE, 0.65 V) between the half‐wave potential of ORR and OER potential at 10 mA cm−2, outperforming Pt/C+RuO2 (0.67 V). Further, catalyst‐based aqueous/flexible ZABs present superior performances with peak power densities of 156 and 85 mW cm−2, superior to Pt/C‐based counterparts (128 and 73 mW cm−2). This research provides a pivotal foundation for the evolution of bifunctional catalysts in the energy sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes, with diameters ranging from 30 to 150 nm, are saucer-shaped extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by various type of human cells. They are present in virtually all bodily fluids. Owing to their abundant nucleic acid and protein content, exosomes have emerged as promising biomarkers for noninvasive molecular diagnostics. However, the need for exosome separation purification presents tremendous technical challenges due to their minuscule size. In recent years, microfluidic technology has garnered substantial interest as a promising alternative capable of excellent separation performance, reduced reagent consumption, and lower overall device and operation costs. In this context, we hereby propose a novel microfluidic strategy based on thermally oxidized deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) arrays with tapered shapes to enhance separation performance. We have achieved more than 90% purity in both polystyrene nanoparticle and exosome experiments. The use of thermal oxidation also significantly reduces fabrication complexity by avoiding the use of high-precision lithography. Furthermore, in a simulation model, we attempt to integrate the use of dielectrophoresis (DEP) to overcome the size-based nature of DLD and distinguish particles that are close in size but differ in biochemical compositions (e.g., lipoproteins, exomeres, retroviruses). We believe the proposed strategy heralds a versatile and innovative platform poised to enhance exosome analysis across a spectrum of biochemical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra‐high‐temperature flash Joule‐heating of organometallic precursor‐embedded reduced graphene oxide (rGO) aerogel represents a highly efficient approach for the ultrafast production of nanocatalysts, while such a methodology has been scarcely applied to 3D nanocarbon‐based aerogel monoliths. Herein, we demonstrate the rapid synthesis of MoO2 nanoparticles within the aerogel matrix via a 1‐s high‐temperature flash Joule‐heating process (~1700°C), resulting in the formation of the hybrid MoO2@rGO aerogel with uniformly distributed nanoparticles. Nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis indicates discernible internal microstructural disparities attributed to the additional 1‐s flash‐heating and the substantial generation of MoO2 nanoparticles. This aerogel exhibits exceptional catalytic functionality, achieving up to 99.8% efficiency in converting dibenzothiophene to dibenzothiophene sulfone. Density functional theory calculations provide insights into the catalytic mechanism, revealing that the Mo center shows accumulated electron density contributed from the electron‐rich graphene substrate. This electron density enhancement significantly enhances the catalytic activity, enabling deep desulfurization. The proposed flash nanocatalyst synthesis approach presented here can be extended to fabricate multimetallic nanocatalysts and high‐entropy alloys within the cylindrical aerogel entity, exhibiting great potential for applications in industry‐relevant flow chemistry, electrochemistry, industrial catalysis, and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin 12 (IL-12) is a potent immunostimulatory cytokine mainly produced by antigen-presenting cells (e.g., dendritic cells, macrophages) and plays an important role in innate and adaptive immunity against cancers. Therapies that can synergistically modulate innate immunity and stimulate adaptive anti-tumor responses are of great interest for cancer immunotherapy. Here we investigated the lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated self-replicating RNA (srRNA) encoding IL-12 (referred to as JCXH-211) for the treatment of cancers. Both local (intratumoral) and systemic (intravenous) administration of JCXH-211 in tumor-bearing mice induced a high-level expression of IL-12 in tumor tissues, leading to modulation of tumor microenvironment and systemic activation of antitumor immunity. Particularly, JCXH-211 can inhibit the tumor-infiltration of polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs). When combined with anti-PD1 antibody, it was able to enhance the recruitment of T cells and NK cells into tumors. In multiple mouse solid tumor models, intravenous injection of JCXH-211 not only eradicated large preestablished tumors, but also induced protective immune memory that prevented the growth of rechallenged tumors. Finally, intravenous injection of JCXH-211 did not cause noticeable systemic toxicity in tumor-bearing mice and non-human primates. Thus, our study demonstrated the feasibility of intravenous administration of JCXH-211 for the treatment of advanced cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, two of the biggest obstacles restricting the further development of methanol fuel cells are excessive cost and insufficient catalytic activity of platinum-based catalysts. Herein, platinum nanoparticle supported graphene aerogel (Pt/3DGA) was successfully synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal self-assembly method. The loose three-dimensional structure of the aerogel is stabilized by a simple one-step method, which not only reduces cost compared to the freeze-drying technology, but also optimizes the loading method of nanoparticles. The prepared Pt/3DGA catalyst has a three-dimensional porous structure with a highly cross-linked, large specific surface area, even dispersion of Pt NPs and good electrical conductivity. It is worth noting that its catalytic activity is 438.4 mA/mg with long-term stability, which is consistent with the projected benefits of anodic catalytic systems in methanol fuel cells.. Our study provides an applicable method for synthesizing nano metal particles/graphene-based composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The application of curcumin (Cur) in the food industry is usually limited by its low water solubility and poor stability. This study aimed to fabricate self‐assembled nanoparticles using pea vicilin (7S) through a pH‐shifting method (pH 7–pH 12–pH 7) to develop water‐soluble nanocarriers of Cur. RESULTS: Intrinsic fluorescence, far‐UV circular dichroism spectra and transmission electron microscopy analysis demonstrated that the structure of 7S could be unfolded at pH 12.0 and refolded when the pH shifted to 7.0. The assembled 7S–Cur exhibited a high loading ability of 81.63 μg mg−1 for Cur and homogeneous particle distribution. Cur was encapsulated in the 7S hydrophobic nucleus in an amorphous form and combined through hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding, resulting in the static fluorescence quenching of 7S. Compared with free Cur, the retention rates of Cur in 7S–Cur were approximately 1.12 and 1.70 times higher under UV exposure at 365 nm or heating at 75 °C for 120 min, respectively, as well as 7S–Cur showing approximately 1.50 times higher antioxidant activity. During simulated gastrointestinal experiments, 7S–Cur exhibited a better sustained‐release property than free Cur. CONCLUSION: The self‐assembled 7S nanocarriers prepared using a pH‐shifting method effectively improved the antioxidant activity, environmental stability and sustained‐release property of Cur. Therefore, 7S isolated from pea protein could be used as potential nanocarriers for Cur. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Protein‐based nanoparticles have gained considerable interest in recent years due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and functional properties. However, nanoparticles formed from hydrophobic proteins are prone to instability under environmental stress, which restricts their potential applications. It is therefore of great importance to develop green approaches for the fabrication of hydrophobic protein‐based nanoparticles and to improve their physicochemical performance. RESULTS: Gliadin/shellac complex nanoparticles (168.87 ~ 403.67 nm) with various gliadin/shellac mass ratios (10:0 ~ 5:5) were prepared using a pH‐driven approach. In comparison with gliadin nanoparticles, complex nanoparticles have shown enhanced stability against neutral pH, ions, and boiling. They remained stable under neutral conditions at NaCl concentrations ranging from 0 to 100 mmol L−1 and even when boiled at 100 °C for 90 min. These nanoparticles were capable of effectively reducing oil–water interfacial tension (5 ~ 11 mNm−1) but a higher amount of shellac in the nanoparticles compromised their ability to lower interfacial tension. Moreover, the wettability of the nanoparticles changed as the gliadin/shellac mass ratio changed, leading to a range of three‐phase contact angles from 52.41° to 84.85°. Notably, complex nanoparticles with a gliadin/shellac mass ratio of 8:2 (G/S 8:2) showed a contact angle of 84.85°, which is considered suitable for the Pickering stabilization mechanism. Moreover, these nanoparticles exhibited the highest emulsifying activity of 52.42 m2 g−1 and emulsifying stability of 65.33%. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study revealed that gliadin/shellac complex nanoparticles exhibited excellent resistance to environmental stress and demonstrated superior oil–water interfacial behavior. They have strong potential for further development as food emulsifiers or as nano‐delivery systems for nutraceuticals. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous nanoparticles integrating the advantages of porosity and structural coherence typically possess numerous active sites confined on their surfaces. In this study, porous Co3O4, Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles are synthesised by one-step pyrolysis from metal–organic frameworks (MIL-101 (Fe) and ZIF-67 (Co)) to test the performance of CO oxidation. The prepared porous nanoparticles have uniform and stable porous structures without obvious shrinkage and structural collapse. The best catalytic performance was achieved by the porous Co3O4 nanoparticles, which reached 100% CO conversion at 130 °C without any decay in catalytic activity after 48 h of reaction. DRIFTS results present the mechanism of the CO oxidation by porous Co3O4 nanoparticle catalysis. The excellent catalytic activity of the porous Co3O4 nanoparticles is related to the large specific surface area and surface oxygen vacancies. This work provides a design approach for synthesizing other porous metal oxide nanoparticles and has reference value in the field of CO oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the critical need for precise and accurate prediction of intra‐tumor heterogeneity related to the enhanced permeability and retention effect and spatial distribution of nanoprobes is addressed for the development of effective nanodrug delivery strategies. Current predictive models are limited in terms of resolution and accuracy, prompting the construction of a high‐resolution prediction network (HRPN) that estimates the microdistribution of quantum dots, factoring in tumor vascular and nuclear features. The HRPN algorithm is trained using 27 780 patches and validated on 4920 patches derived from 4T1 breast cancer whole‐slide images, demonstrating its reliability. The HRPN model exhibits minimal error (mean square error = 1.434, root mean square error = 1.198), satisfactory goodness of fit (R2 = 0.891), and superior image quality (peak signal‐to‐noise ratio = 44.548) when compared to a generative‐adversarial‐network‐structured model. Furthermore, the HRPN model offers improved prediction accuracy, broader prediction intervals, and reduced computational resource requirements. Consequently, the proposed model yields high‐resolution predictions that more closely resemble actual tumor microdistributions, potentially serving as a powerful analytical tool for investigating the spatial relationship between the tumor microenvironment and nanoprobes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lycorine is a kind of natural active ingredient with a strong antitumor effect. In this study, folate ligand-conjugated polyethylene glycol-block-poly(l-lactide) (PEG-PLLA) nanoparticles (FA-PEG-PLLA NPs) were designed to deliver lycorine to enhance its anti-glioma activity. The successful preparation of the FA-PEG-PLLA polymer was confirmed by 1H-NMR, FT-IR, XRD, TGA, and DSC. The optimal formulation for LYC@FA-PEG-PLLA NPs was determined by response surface analysis as follows: sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) of 1%, carrier material of 0.03 g, organic phase volume of 3 mL, and ultrasonic power of 20%. The LYC@FA-PEG-PLLA NPs exhibited an encapsulation efficiency of 83.58% and a particle size of 49.71 nm, demonstrating good stability. Hemolysis experiments, MTT assays, and cell scratch assays revealed excellent biocompatibility of FA-PEG-PLLA and superior anti-glioma activity of LYC@FA-PEG-PLLA NPs compared to the raw drug. Additionally, cell apoptosis assays, ROS experiments, and western blot analysis demonstrated that LYC@FA-PEG-PLLA NPs contributed to cell apoptosis by inducing ROS generation and increasing the expression of NF-κB inhibitory protein IκBα. These results suggested that LYC@FA-PEG-PLLA NPs hold promise for glioma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic osteoporosis (DOP) is a significant complication that poses continuous threat to the bone health of patients with diabetes; however, currently, there are no effective treatment strategies. In patients with diabetes, the increased levels of ferroptosis affect the osteogenic commitment and differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), leading to significant skeletal changes. To address this issue, we aimed to target ferroptosis and propose a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of DOP. We synthesized ferroptosis-suppressing nanoparticles, which could deliver curcumin, a natural compound, to the bone marrow using tetrahedral framework nucleic acid (tFNA). This delivery system demonstrated excellent curcumin bioavailability and stability, as well as synergistic properties with tFNA. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that nanoparticles could enhance mitochondrial function by activating the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) pathway, inhibiting ferroptosis, promoting the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in the diabetic microenvironment, reducing trabecular loss, and increasing bone formation. These findings suggest that curcumin-containing DNA tetrahedron-based ferroptosis-suppressing nanoparticles have a promising potential for the treatment of DOP and other ferroptosis-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is pivotal in maintaining neuronal physiology within the brain. This review delves into the alterations of the BBB specifically in the context of geriatric epilepsy. We examine how age-related changes in the BBB contribute to the pathogenesis of epilepsy in the elderly and present significant challenges in pharmacotherapy. Subsequently, we evaluate recent advancements in drug delivery methods targeting the BBB, as well as alternative approaches that could bypass the BBB's restrictive nature. We particularly highlight the use of neurotropic viruses and various synthetic nanoparticles that have been investigated for delivering a range of antiepileptic drugs. Additionally, the advantage and limitation of these diverse delivery methods are discussed. Finally, we analyze the potential efficacy of different drug delivery approaches in the treatment of geriatric epilepsy, aiming to provide insights into more effective management of this condition in the elderly population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]