Latest ArticlesInterstitial hypertension and extracellular matrix (ECM) barriers imposed by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) at the tumor site significantly impede the retention of intratumorally administered oncolytic viruses (OVs) as well as their efficacy in infecting and eradicating tumor cells. Herein, a stable, controllable, and easily prepared hydrogel was developed for employing a differential release strategy to deliver OVs. The oncolytic herpes simplex virus-2 (oH2) particles were loaded within sodium alginate (ALG), together with the small molecule drug PT-100 targeting CAFs. The rapid release of PT-100 functions as an anti-CAFs agent, reducing ECM, and alleviating interstitial pressure at the tumor site. Consequently, the delayed release of oH2 could more effectively invade and eradicate tumor cells while also facilitating enhanced infiltration of immune cells into the tumor microenvironment, thereby establishing an immunologically favorable milieu against tumors. This approach holds significant potential for achieving highly efficient oncolytic virus therapy with minimal toxicity, particularly in tumors rich in stromal components.
Crucial for mediating inflammation and the perception of pain, the ion channel known as transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) holds significant importance. It contributes to the increased production of cytokines in the inflammatory cells of cartilage affected by osteoarthritis and represents a promising target for the treatment of this condition. By leveraging the unique advantages of liposomes, a composite microsphere drug delivery system with stable structural properties and high adaptability can be developed, providing a new strategy for osteoarthritis (OA) drug therapy. The liposomes as drug reservoirs for TRPA1 inhibitors were loaded into hyaluronic acid methacrylate (HAMA) hydrogels to make hydrogel microspheres via microfluidic technology. An in vitro inflammatory chondrocyte model was established with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) to demonstrate HAMA@Lipo@HC's capabilities. A destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) mouse model was also created to evaluate the efficacy of intra-articular injections for treating OA. HAMA@Lipo@HC has a uniform particle-size distribution and is injectable. The drug encapsulation rate was 64.29% ± 2.58%, with a sustained release period of 28 days. Inhibition of TRPA1 via HC-030031 effectively alleviated IL-1β-induced chondrocyte inflammation and matrix degradation. In DMM model OA mice, microspheres showed good long-term sustained drug release properties, improved joint inflammation microenvironment, reduced articular cartilage damage and decreased mechanical nociceptive threshold. This research pioneers the creation of a drug delivery system tailored for delivery into the joint cavity, focusing on TRPA1 as a therapeutic target for osteoarthritis. Additionally, it offers a cutting-edge drug delivery platform aimed at addressing diseases linked to inflammation.
Environmentally friendly slow-release fertilizers are highly desired in sustainable agriculture. Encapsulating fertilizers can routinely achieve controlled releasing performances but suffers from short-term effectiveness or environmental unfriendliness. In this work, a bio-derived shellac incorporated with poly-dodecyl trimethoxysilane (SL-PDTMS) capsule was developed for long-term controlled releasing urea. Due to enhanced hydrophobicity and thus water resistance, the SL-PDTMS encapsulated urea fertilizer (SPEU) demonstrated a long-term effectiveness of 60 d, compared with SL encapsulated urea fertilizer (SEU, 30 d) and pure urea fertilizer (U, 5 min). In addition, SPEU showed a broad pH tolerance from 5.0 to 9.0, covering most various soil pH conditions. In the pot experiments, promoted growth of maize seedlings was observed after applying SPEU, rendering it promising as a high-performance controlled-released fertilizer.
Aqueous proton batteries (APBs) embody a compelling alternative in the realm of economical and reliable energy technologies by virtue of their distinctive "Grotthuss mechanism". Sustainable production and adjustable molecular structure make organic polymers a promising choice for APB electrodes. However, inadequate proton-storage redox capability currently hinders their practical implementation. To address this issue, we introduce a pioneering phenazine-conjugated polymer (PPZ), synthesized through a straightforward polymerization process, marking its debut in APB applications. The inclusion of N-heteroaromatic fused-ring in the extended π-conjugated framework not only prevents the dissolution of redox-active units but also refines the energy bandgap and electronic properties, endowing the PPZ polymer with both structural integrity and enhanced redox activity. Consequently, the PPZ polymer as an electrode material achieves a remarkable proton-storage capacity of 211.5 mAh/g, maintaining a notable capacity of 158.3 mAh/g even under a high rate of 8 A/g with a minimal capacity fade of merely 0.00226% per cycle. The rapid, stable and impressive redox behavior is further elucidated through in-situ techniques and theoretical calculations. Ultimately, we fabricate an APB device featuring satisfactory electrochemical attributes with an extraordinary longevity over 10,000 cycles, thereby affirming its auspicious potential for eminent applications.
Although lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) currently dominate a wide spectrum of energy storage applications, they face challenges such as fast cycle life decay and poor stability that hinder their further application. To address these limitations, element doping has emerged as a prevalent strategy to enhance the discharge capacity and extend the durability of Li-Ni-Co-Mn (LNCM) ternary compounds. This study utilized a machine learning-driven feature screening method to effectively pinpoint four key features crucially impacting the initial discharge capacity (IC) of Li-Ni-Co-Mn (LNCM) ternary cathode materials. These features were also proved highly predictive for the 50th cycle discharge capacity (EC). Additionally, the application of SHAP value analysis yielded an in-depth understanding of the interplay between these features and discharge performance. This insight offers valuable direction for future advancements in the development of LNCM cathode materials, effectively promoting this field toward greater efficiency and sustainability.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a crucial gaseous signaling molecule that regulates various physiological and pathological processes, and may exert an anti-inflammatory and protective role in drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Despite this, understanding the exact relationship between CO and the occurrence and development of DILI remains challenging. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop a reliable and robust tool for the rapid visual detection and assessment of CO in this context. Herein, we presented a novel near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent nanoprobe with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties and excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) characteristics for the detection and imaging of CO both in vitro and in vivo. Simultaneously, the nanoprobe enables self-assembly form nanoaggregates in aqueous media with high biocompatible, which can sense CO in situ through the conversion of yellow-to-red fluorescence facilitated aggregation-induced dual-color fluorescence. What is more, this nanoprobe shows ratiometric respond to CO, which demonstrates excellent stability, high sensitivity (with a detection limit of 12.5 nmol/L), and superior selectivity. Crucially, this nanoprobe enables the visual detection of exogenous and endogenous CO in living cells and tissues affected by DILI, offering a user-friendly tool for real-time visualization of CO in living system. Hence, it holds great promise in advancing our understanding of CO's role.
This study presents an approach to enhanced cancer immunotherapy through the in situ synthesis of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) derived manganese dioxide (MnO2) micro/nano-adjuvants. Addressing the limitations of traditional immunotherapy due to patient variability and the complexity of the tumor microenvironment, our research establishes KMnO4 as a potent immunomodulator that enhances the efficacy of anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (αPD-L1) antibodies. The in situ synthesized MnO2 adjuvants in the tumor exhibit direct interactions with biological systems, leading to the reduction of MnO2 to Mn2+ within the tumor, and thereby improving the microenvironment for immune cell activity. Our in vitro and in vivo models demonstrate KMnO4’s capability to induce concentration-dependent cytotoxicity in tumor cells, triggering DNA damage and apoptosis. It also potentiates immunogenic cell death by upregulating calreticulin and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) on the cell surface. The combination of KMnO4 with αPD-L1 antibodies substantially inhibits tumor growth, promotes dendritic cell maturation, and enhances CD8+ T cell infiltration, resulting in a significant phenotypic shift in tumor-associated macrophages towards a pro-inflammatory M1 profile. Our findings advocate for further research into the long-term efficacy of KMnO4 and its application in diverse tumor models, emphasizing its potential to redefine immune checkpoint blockade therapy and offering a new vista in the fight against cancer.
In this work, the synthesis of uniform zeolitic imidazolate framework-coated Mo-glycerate spheres and their subsequent conversion into hierarchical architecture containing bimetallic selenides heterostructures and nitrogen-doped carbon shell are reported. Selenization temperature plays a significant role in determining the phases, morphology, and lithium-ion storage performance of the composite. Notably, the optimal electrode demonstrates an ultrahigh reversible capacity of 1298.2 mAh/g after 100 cycles at 0.2 A/g and an outstanding rate capability with the capacity still maintained 505.7 mAh/g after 300 cycles at 1.0 A/g, surpassing the calculated theoretical capacity according to individual component and most of the reported MoSe@C- or ZnSe@C-based anodes. Furthermore, ex-situ X-ray diffraction patterns reveal the combined conversion and alloying reaction mechanisms of the composite.
Constructing multi-dimensional hydrogen bond (H-bond) regulated single-molecule systems with multi-emission remains a challenge. Herein, we report the design of a new excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) featured chromophore (HBT-DPI) that shows flexible emission tunability via the multi-dimensional regulation of intra- and intermolecular H-bonds. The feature of switchable intramolecular H-bonds is induced via incorporating several hydrogen bond acceptors and donors into one single HBT-DPI molecule, allowing the "turn on/off" of ESIPT process by forming isomers with distinct intramolecular H-bonds configurations. In response to different external H-bonding environments, the obtained four types of crystal/cocrystals vary in the contents of isomers and the molecular packing modes, which are mainly guided by the intermolecular H-bonds, exhibiting non-emissive features or emissions ranging from green to orange. Utilizing the feature of intermolecular H-bond guided molecular packing, we demonstrate the utility of this fluorescent material for visualizing hydrophobic/hydrophilic areas on large-scale heterogeneous surfaces of modified poly(1,1-difluoroethylene) (PVDF) membranes and quantitatively estimating the surface hydrophobicity, providing a new approach for hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity monitoring and measurement. Overall, this study represents a new design strategy for constructing multi-dimensional hydrogen bond regulated ESIPT-based fluorescent materials that enable multiple emissions and unique applications.
The overuse of surfactants has made them well-known environmental pollutants. So far, it is still a challenge to simultaneously distinguish cationic, anionic, zwitterionic, nonionic surfactants and surfactants with similar structures based on traditional analytical techniques. We developed a high-throughput method for distinguishing various surfactants based on the adaptive emission profile as fingerprints (AEPF). The fluorescence response of the sensor was based on the interaction between surfactants and 1,3-diacetylpyrene (o-DAP) probe. The interaction affected the reversible conversion of free molecules and two aggregates in the solution, thereby changing the relative abundance and the fluorescence intensity ratio of two aggregates emitting different fluorescence. The o-DAP sensor can distinguish four types of surfactants (16 surfactants), especially surfactants of the same type with similar structures. The o-DAP sensor sensitively determined the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 16 surfactants based on the interaction between o-DAP and surfactants. Additionally, the o-DAP sensor can detect and distinguish artificial vesicles made from different surfactants.
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