Latest ArticlesChemodynamic therapy (CDT), defined as an in situ oxidative stress response catalyzed by the Fenton or Fenton-like reactions to generate cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals (•OH) at tumor sites, exhibits conspicuous inhibition of tumor growth. It has attracted extensive attention for its outstanding edge in effectiveness, lower systemic toxicity and side effects, sustainability, low cost and convenience. However, the inconformity of harsh Fenton reaction conditions and tumor microenvironment hamper its further development, based on which, numerous researchers have made efforts in further improving the efficiency of CDT. In this review, we expounded antitumor capacity of CDT in mechanism, together with its limitation, and then summarized and came up with several strategies to enhance CDT involved tumor therapy strategies by 1) improving catalytic efficiency; 2) increasing hydrogen peroxide levels at tumor sites; 3) reducing glutathione levels at tumor sites; 4) applying external energy intervention; 5) amplifying the distribution of hydroxyl radicals at tumor sites; and 6) combination therapy. Eventually, the perspectives and challenges of CDT are further discussed to encourage more in-depth studies and rational reflections.
Biomedicine is one of the fastest growing areas of additive manufacturing. Especially, in the field of in vitro diagnostics (IVD), contributions of 3D printing include ⅰ) rapid prototyping and iterative IVD proof-of-concept designing ranging from materials, devices to system integration; ⅱ) conceptual design simplification and improved practicality of IVD products; ⅲ) shifting the IVD applications from centralized labs to point-of-care testing (POCT). In this review, the latest developments of 3D printing and its advantages in IVD applications are summarized. A series of 3D-printed objects for IVD applications, including single-function modules, multi-function devices which integrate several single-function modules for specific analytical applications such as sample pre-treatment and chemo-/bio-sensing, and all-in-one systems which integrate multi-function devices and the instrument operating them, are analyzed from the perspective of functional integration. The current and potential commercial applications of 3D-printed objects in the IVD field are highlighted. The features of 3D printing, especially rapid prototyping and low start-up, enable the easy fabrication of bespoke modules, devices and systems for a range of analytical applications, and broadens the commercial IVD prospects.
Droplet-based microfluidics enables the generation of uniform microdroplets at picoliter or nanoliter scale with high frequency (~kHz) under precise control. The droplets can function as bioreactors for versatile chemical/biological study and analysis. Taking advantage of the discrete compartment with a confined volume, (1) isolation and manipulation of a single cell, (2) improvement of in-droplet effective concentrations, (3) elimination of heterogeneous population effects, (4) diminution of contamination risks can be achieved, making it a powerful tool for rapid, sensitive, and high-throughput detection and analysis of bacteria, even for rare or unculturable strains in conventional methods. This mini-review will focus on the generation and manipulation of micro-droplets and bacteria detection and analysis carried out by droplet-based microfluidics. Finally, applications with high potential of droplet-based bacteria analysis are briefly introduced. Due to the advantages of rapid, sensitive, high throughput, and compatibility with rare and unculturable bacteria in conventional methods, droplet-based microfluidics has tremendous potential of providing novel solutions for biological medicine, microbiological engineering, environmental ecology, etc.
DNA methylation represents a major type of DNA modifications that play key roles in diverse biological processes. With the recent development of highly selective and sensitive bioanalytical techniques, N6-methyladenine (6mA) has been characterized as an important internal DNA modification dynamically occurring in multiple eukaryotes including humans. Increasing evidence has indicated that 6mA may act as a novel epigenetic modification involved in regulation of development, stress response and diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. We review herein the recent advances in the detection and functional studies of 6mA modification, with special emphasis on its biological consequences and human health relevance as well as its dynamic regulation by various types of methyltransferases, demethylases and 6mA-binding proteins. It can be envisaged that further chemical and biological studies of 6mA modification will lead to a better understanding about its potentially important roles in normal and pathological biological processes.
Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction (CO2RR) plays an important role in solving the problem of high concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere and realizing carbon cycle. Core-shell structure has many unique features including tandem catalysis, lattice strain effect, defect engineering, which exhibit great potential in electrocatalysis. In this review, we focus on the advanced core-shell metal-based catalysts (CMCs) for electrochemical CO2RR. The recent progress of CMCs in electrocatalytic CO2RR is described as the following aspects: (1) The mechanism of electrochemical CO2RR and evaluation parameters of electrocatalyst performance, (2) preparation methods of core-shell metal catalysts and core-shell structural advantages and (3) advanced CMCs towards electrochemical CO2RR. Finally, we make a brief conclusion and propose the opportunities and challenges in the field of electrochemical CO2RR.
The increase of atmospheric CO2 concentration has caused many environmental issues. Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) has been considered as a promising strategy to mitigate these challenges. The electrocatalysts with a low overpotential, high Faradaic efficiency, and excellent selectivity are of great significance for the CO2RR. Carbon-based materials including metal-free carbon catalysts and metal-based carbon catalysts have shown great potential in the CO2RR, owing to the tailorable porous structures, abundant natural resources, resistance to acids and bases, high-temperature stability, and environmental friendliness. In this review, various carbon materials including graphene, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots, porous carbon, and MOF-derived catalysts, etc., for the CO2RR have been summarized. Particularly, recent progress in terms of the mechanism and pathway of CO2 conversion has been comprehensively reviewed. Finally, the opportunities and challenges of carbon-based electrocatalysts for the CO2RR are proposed.
Two-dimensional (2D) layered materials provide a promising alternative solution for overcoming the scaling limits in conventional Si-based devices. However, practical applications of 2D materials are facing crucial bottlenecks, particularly that arising from the instability under ambient condition. The studies of degradation mechanisms and protecting strategies for overcoming the ambient instability of 2D materials have attracted extensive research attentions, both experimentally and theoretically. This review attempts to provide an overview on the recent progress of the encapsulation strategies for 2D materials. The encapsulation strategies of mechanical transfer, polymer capping, atomic layer deposition, in-situ oxidation, and surface functionalization are systematically discussed for improving the ambient stability of 2D materials. In addition, the current advances in air-stable and high-performance 2D materials-based field effect transistors (FETs) and photodetectors assisted by the encapsulation strategies are outlined. Furthermore, the future directions of encapsulation techniques of 2D materials for FETs and photodetectors applications are suggested.
With the development of nanotechnology and materials science, bioinspired nanochannels appeared by mimicking the intelligent functions of biological ion channels. They have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years due to their controllable structure and tunable chemical properties. Inspired by the layered microstructure of nacre, 2D layered materials as excellent matrix material of nanochannel come into our field of vision. Bionic nanochannels based on 2D materials have the advantages of facile preparation, tunable channel size and length, easy expansion, and modification, etc. Therefore, the 2D layered nanofluid system based on bionic nanochannels from 2D layered materials has great potential in biomimetic microsensors, membrane separations, energy conversion, and so on. In this paper, we focus on the construction and application of bionic nanochannels based on 2D layer materials. First, a basic understanding of nanochannels based on 2D materials is briefly introduced, we also present the property of the 2D materials and construction strategies of bionic nanochannels. Subsequently, the application of these nanochannels in responsive channels and energy conversion is discussed. The unsolved challenges and prospects of 2D materials-based nanochannels are proposed in the end.
Complex coordinated functional groups [MAxBy] (M = Central coordination element; A, B = P, O, S, Se, F, Cl, Br or I) are composed of different types of anions A, B jointly linked to the same central cation M, which are in high potential to tune the physical properties of materials, e.g., second-order susceptibility, energy gaps and birefringence. Recently, Compound containing complex coordinated functional groups have attracted great attention in the nonlinear optical (NLO) field and a large number of this type crystals exhibit promising NLO performance. However, the inherent relationship between ionic group structure and optical properties of complex coordinated NLO materials have not been systematically studied. This article systematically summarizes complex coordinated NLO materials in recent five years from the perspective of the internal relationship between crystal structure and optical properties. In addition, we propose the ideal combination and arrangement modes for structural building units, and also reveal the influence of complex coordinated functional groups [MAxBy] toward the NLO response, optical band gap and phase matching ability of complex coordinated NLO materials.