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Copper ions (Cu2+) play an indispensable role in both the human body and eco-environment, so it is crucial to create simple, highly sensitive and selective sensors to recognize Cu2+ ions. In this work, three efficient iridium(III) complexes, [(L1)2Ir(Czdtc)] (Ir1, L1 = 6-phenylnicotinaldehyde), [(L2)2Ir(Czdtc)] (Ir2, L2 = 6-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)nicotinaldehyde) and [(L3)2Ir(Czdtc)] (Ir3, L3 = 6-(4-methoxyphenyl)nicotinaldehyde) comprising a four-membered Ir–S–C–S ring backbone with 9H-carbazole-9-carbodithioate (Czdtc) as ancillary ligands, were synthesized within 10 minutes at room temperature, and developed as efficient chemical sensors to detect Cu2+ ions. Ir1–Ir3 exhibited broad emission bands peaking between 575 and 593 nm with PLQY in the range of 0.34–0.70 and lifetimes ranging from 1.3 to 1.8 μs. In acetonitrile solution, they showed a sensitive response to Cu2+ ions with a low detection limit on the order of 10−7 M with a stoichiometric ratio of 1 : 1, and distinct colorimetric changes (from orange-red to greenish-yellow) were observed by the naked eye. Nanofibrous films decorated with these complexes fabricated using the electrospinning technology could realize on-site detection of Cu2+ ions, based on an obvious contrasting luminescence color different from the background under a 365 nm UV lamp. Nanofibrous films decorated with the fast synthesized Ir1–Ir3 could be used as solid-phase sensing devices with low-cost, high efficiency and portability, providing a promising prospect for the detection of Cu2+ ions in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunotherapy is recognised as an attractive method for the treatment of cancer, and numerous treatment strategies have emerged over recent years. Investigations of the tumour microenvironment (TME) have led to the identification of many potential therapeutic targets and methods. However, many recently applied immunotherapies are based on previously identified strategies, such as boosting the immune response by combining commonly used stimulators, and the release of drugs through changes in pH. Although methodological improvements such as structural optimisation and combining strategies can be undertaken, applying those novel targets and methods in immunotherapy remains an important goal. In this review, we summarise the latest research on the TME, and discuss how small molecules, immune cells, and their interactions with tumour cells can be regulated in the TME. Additionally, the techniques currently employed for delivery of these agents to the TME are also mentioned. Strategies to modulate cell phenotypes and interactions between immune cells and tumours are mainly discussed. We consider both modulatory and targeting methods aiming to bridge the gap between the TME and chemical modulation thereof. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel STING agonist, CDGSF, ipsilaterally modified with phosphorothioate and fluorine, was synthesized. The phosphorothioate in CDGSF might be a site for covalent conjugation. Injection of CDGSF generated an immunogenic ("hot") tumor microenvironment to suppress melanoma, more efficiently than dithio CDG. In particular, immunization with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using CDGSF as an adjuvant elicited an exceptionally high antibody titer and a robust T cell response, overcoming the drawbacks of aluminum hydroxide. These results highlighted the therapeutic potential of CDGSF for cancer immunotherapy and the adjuvant potential of the STING agonist in the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyanion-type compounds, used as promising cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), have attracted great attention because of their suitable operating voltage, stable framework and good thermal stability. However, they suffer from inherent low conductivity, poor high-rate capability and unsatisfactory cycle stability. Herein, in order to overcome these deficiencies, a feasible strategy, which integrates high conductivity reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with the representative vanadium-based fluorophosphates to form a 3D carbon network constructed in NaVPO4F, is proposed and investigated. Based on microstructural and morphological characterization, the NaVPO4F nanoparticles are successfully synthesized and uniformly embedded in a robust rGO carbon network. Ascribed to the multifunctional structure design, the reaction kinetics of NaVPO4F were significantly improved, as demonstrated by the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry at varied scan rates and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique. Moreover, the hard carbon (HC) and the NaVPO4F@rGO composite are employed as the anode and the cathode, respectively, to fabricate a sodium-ion full battery, which exhibits an excellent high-rate capability (75.1 mA h g−1 at 15C) and an outstanding cycling stability (0.0115% capacity decay per cycle over 1500 cycles at 5C rate). This study provides a feasible and effective method to develop high-performance polyanion-type electrode materials for SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycosylation of amyloidogenic proteins enhances their solubility and reduces propensity for aggregation. We therefore, prepared tryptophan–glucosamine conjugates to modulate aggregation of tau-derived PHF6-peptide. Combined in vitro and in silico approaches indicated that these conjugates inhibited oligomerization and fibril formation of PHF6 and disrupted its preformed fibrils at very low concentration. These effects mainly arise from the glucopyranoside moiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic lithium protection plays a crucial role on improving the electrochemical properties of Li-anode-based batteries. Herein, for an advanced Li//graphite dual-ion battery, constructing a robust and conductive film of carbon nanofibers on a Li anode effectively achieves dendrite-free Li growth and hence significantly enhances the long-life cyclic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic di-GMP (CDG) was applied to MUC1 glycopeptide-based cancer vaccines with physical mixing and built-in (at 2′-OH of CDG) strategies for activating the STING pathway. CDG in both strategies behaved as a potent immunostimulant and contributed to high titers of IgG antibodies and the expression of multiple cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coaxial nanotubes are a significant class of nanoscale building blocks for advanced electrodes of secondary batteries. Herein, one-dimensional (1D) coaxial double nanotubes (DNTs) consisting of α-MnSe inner tubes and N-doped carbon (N–C) outer tubes (abbreviated as α-MnSe@N–C DNTs) are successfully prepared and are demonstrated to be promising anode material for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries (LIBs/NIBs). When used in LIBs, it was revealed by ex situ XRD/HRTEM studies and electrode kinetics that a new electrochemical α→β phase transition plays a crucial role in improving the cycling stability. As a result, the α-MnSe@N–C DNTs electrode delivers a high Li-storage capacity (800 mA h g−1 at 50 mA g−1), excellent rate capability (405 mA h g−1 at 14 A g−1) and ultra-long cycling stability (a high capacity retention of 87.2% even after 9000 cycles at 2 A g−1) with retained 1D morphology. In addition, the outer N–C nanotube can effectively protect the active α-MnSe inner nanotube to realize such outstanding electrochemical properties owing to the high electrical conductivity and particular 1D coaxial nanoarchitecture of the inner nanotube. Moreover, α-MnSe@N–C DNTs also exhibit excellent Li/Na-storage properties and full-cell performances when coupled with commercial LiFePO4 and LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 cathodes in LIBs as well as with the Na3V2(PO4)2O2F cathode in NIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel palladium nanoparticle (NP)-metalated porous organic ligand (Pd NPs/POL-xantphos) has been prepared for the chemoselective decarbonylation of aldehydes. This heterogenous catalyst not only has excellent catalytic activity and chemoselectivity, but also holds high activity after 10 runs of reuse. The effective usage of this method is demonstrated through the synthesis of biofuels such as furfuryl alcohol (FFA) via the highly chemoselective decarbonylation of biomass-derived 5-hydroxy-methylfurfural (HMF) with a TON up to 1540. More importantly, 9-fluorenone could be obtained in one step through the decarbonylation of 2-bromobenzaldehyde by using this heterogeneous catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]