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Carboxylesterase (CES), a main hydrolysis enzyme family in the human body, plays a crucial role in drug metabolism. Among them, CES1 and CES2 are the primary subtypes, and each exhibits distinct distribution and functions. However, convenient and non-invasive methods for distinguishing them and the real-time monitoring of CES2 are relatively rare, hindering the further understanding of physiological functions and underlying mechanisms. In this study, we have designed, synthesized, and evaluated the first selective bioluminescent probe (CBP 1) for CES2 with high sensitivity, high specificity and rapid reactivity. This probe offers a promising approach for the real-time detection of CES2 and its dynamic fluctuations both in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report a multiple regulation strategy towards an all-in-one NiCuMo/MoOx heterostructure for the HOR, which exhibits ultrahigh HOR activity (j@0.05V = 4.63 mA cm−2) and excellent durability for almost 24 h for the synergistic regulation of Mo and Cu on the Ni electrode. This study provides a new strategy for designing efficient non-noble metal-based HOR catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In organic solar cells (OSCs), the vast majority of photovoltaic materials are concentrated in unipolar materials, but bifunctional small molecule materials that can work as donors and acceptors have rarely been studied and their photovoltaic performance severely lags behind that of their unipolar counterparts. Herein, a novel A–DA′D–A small molecule material with an electron-deficient core as the central unit and rhodanine as the terminal group, namely BPM1, was designed and synthesized. BPM1 exhibits strong absorption in the range from 400 nm to 660 nm and possesses the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level of −5.38 eV and −3.61 eV, respectively. More importantly, BPM1 displays bipolar charge transport properties, with an electron and hole mobility of 6.10 × 10−4 and 4.68 × 10−4 cm2 V−1 s−1, respectively. Therefore, BPM1 can work as a donor and acceptor for OSC applications. As an acceptor, paired with the donor P3HT, the BPM1 based devices showed a superior power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.1% with a high open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.09 V. On the other hand, as a donor, blending with the acceptor Y6, the BPM1 based devices exhibited an optimal PCE of 10.5%. Ternary devices based on BPM1:PM7:Y6 (1 : 0.1 : 1, w/w) showed an excellent PCE of 14.8% with an improved short circuit current density (Jsc) and fill factor (FF). Notably, either as a donor or an acceptor, the PCEs are the highest values for OSCs based on bifunctional materials. This work may provide a new insight for the design of high-efficiency organic photovoltaic materials and promote the development of bifunctional small molecule materials for OSC applications in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore a novel colorimetric biosensor with high sensibility and selectivity, a new Wells–Dawson-type polyoxometalate (POM)-based metal–organic framework (MOF) with an eightfold helix, [Cu9(FKZ)12(H2O)8][H3P2W18O62]2·4H2O (CuFKZP2W18) (HFKZ = 1-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,1-bis[(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl] ethanol), was successfully synthesized; then, polypyrrole (PPy) was introduced to fabricate CuFKZP2W18/PPy(n) nanocomposites (n = 7%, 15%, 30%) via a facile in situ oxidation polymerization process. All the results indicate that CuFKZP2W18/PPy(15%) as a colorimetric biosensor exhibits lower limits of detection (0.07 μM towards H2O2 and 0.627 μM towards ascorbic acid), smaller Km values (0.106 mM for H2O2 and 0.042 mM for o-phenylenediamine) and higher sensitivity (0.0227 1 μM−1 towards H2O2 and 0.0025 1 μM−1 to ascorbic acid) than most reported enzyme mimetics to the best of our knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first polyoxometalate (POM)-containing nanocage based metal–organic framework (Zn-POMCF) was synthesized by a surfactant-assisted method. In contrast to the Zn-based metal–organic framework (Zn-MOF), the cooperative assembly of POM and a Zn/trz macrocycle gave rise to high stability and good electrochemical ability of the Zn-POMCF in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elevated concentrations of organohalogen contaminants in the endangered St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE) belugas have prompted the hypothesis that aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activity may be a contributor towards their potential adverse effects. While indirect associations between AhR and contaminant levels have been reported in SLE beluga tissues, AhR activity was never directly measured. Using bioassays and nontargeted analysis, this study contrasted AhR activity and agonist profiles between pooled tissue extracts of endangered SLE and non-threatened Arctic belugas. Tissue extracts of SLE belugas exhibited significantly higher overall AhR activity than that of Arctic belugas, with a 2000s SLE beluga liver extract exerting significantly higher activity than blubber extracts of SLE and Arctic belugas from the same time period. Contrary to our expectations, well-known AhR agonists detected by nontargeted analysis, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), were only minor contributors to the observed AhR activity. Instead, Tox21 suspect screening identified more polar chemicals, such as dyes and natural indoles, as potential contributors. Notably, the natural product bromoindole was selectively detected in SLE beluga liver at high abundance and was further confirmed as an AhR agonist. These findings highlighted the significance of the AhR-mediated toxicity pathway in belugas and underscored the importance of novel AhR agonists, particularly polar compounds, in its induction.

Herein, we report a multiple regulation strategy towards an all-in-one NiCuMo/MoO x heterostructure for the HOR, which exhibits ultrahigh HOR activity ( j @0.05V = 4.63 mA cm -2 ) and excellent durability for almost 24 h for the synergistic regulation of Mo and Cu on the Ni electrode. This study provides a new strategy for designing efficient non-noble metal-based HOR catalysts.