A controllable vacuum‐diffusion method for gradual phosphidation of carbon coated metallic Co nanoparticles into Co/CoP Janus nanoparticles is reported. Janus Co/CoP nanoparticles, as typical ...Mott–Schottky electrocatalysts, exhibit excellent hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction performance in various electrolytes across wide pH range along with high durability. The Mott–Schottky Co/CoP catalyst can work as bifunctional electrode materials for overall water splitting in wide pH range and can achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in neutral electrolyte at only 1.51 V.
Mott–Schottky type Janus Co/CoP nanoparticles are constructed by a proof‐of‐concept strategy, promoting the overall water splitting activity as typical Mott–Schottky electrocatalysts. The electron redistribution at the Co/CoP interface significantly and generally boosts the catalytic activity of Janus nanoparticles for both hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction across a wide pH range.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Synthetic molecular robots can execute sophisticated molecular tasks at nanometer resolution. However, a molecular robot capable of controlling cellular behavior remains unexplored. Herein, we report ...a self‐propelled DNA robot operating on the cell membrane to control the migration of a cell. Driven by DNAzyme catalytic activity, the DNA robot could autonomously and stepwise move on the membrane‐floating cell‐surface receptors in a stochastic manner and simultaneously trigger the receptor‐dimerization to activate downstream signaling for cell motility. The cell membrane‐associated continuous motion and operation of a DNA robot allowed for the ultrasensitive regulation of MET/AKT signaling and cytoskeleton remodeling to enhance cell migration. Finally, we designed distinct conditional DNA robots to orthogonally manipulate the cell migration in a coculture of mixed cell populations. We have developed a novel strategy to engineer a cell‐driving molecular robot, representing a promising avenue for precise cell manipulation with nanoscale resolution.
A DNA molecular robot that autonomously walks on the cell membrane to drive the cell motility has been developed. The DNA robot could move stepwise on the membrane‐floating cell‐surface receptors in a stochastic manner and simultaneously trigger the receptor‐dimerization to activate downstream signal pathway regulation of desired cellular behavior.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Functional nanostructured materials have attracted great attention over the past several decades owing to their unique physical and chemical properties, while their applications have been proven to ...be advantageous not only in fundamental scientific areas, but also in many technological fields. Spray pyrolysis (SP), which is particularly facile, effective, highly scalable and suitable for on-line continuous production, offers significant potential for the rational design and synthesis of various functional nanostructured materials with tailorable composition and morphology. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in various functional nanostructured materials synthesized by SP and their potential applications in energy storage and conversion. After a brief introduction to the equipment, components, and working principles of the SP technique, we thoroughly describe the guidelines and strategies for designing particles with controlled morphology, composition, and interior architecture, including hollow structures, dense spheres, yolk-shell structures, core-shell structures, nanoplates, nanorods, nanowires, thin films, and various nanocomposites. Thereafter, we demonstrate their suitability for a wide range of energy storage and conversion applications, including electrode materials for rechargeable batteries, supercapacitors, highly active catalysts for hydrogen production, carbon dioxide reduction and fuel cells, and photoelectric materials for solar cells. Finally, the potential advantages and challenges of SP for the preparation of nanostructured materials are particularly emphasized and discussed, and several perspectives on future research and development directions of SP are highlighted. We expect that this continuous, one-pot, and controllable synthetic technology can serve as a reference for preparing various advanced functional materials for broader applications.
A critical challenge in the commercialization of layer‐structured Ni‐rich materials is the fast capacity drop and voltage fading due to the interfacial instability and bulk structural degradation of ...the cathodes during battery operation. Herein, with the guidance of theoretical calculations of migration energy difference between La and Ti from the surface to the inside of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2, for the first time, Ti‐doped and La4NiLiO8‐coated LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathodes are rationally designed and prepared, via a simple and convenient dual‐modification strategy of synchronous synthesis and in situ modification. Impressively, the dual modified materials show remarkably improved electrochemical performance and largely suppressed voltage fading, even under exertive operational conditions at elevated temperature and under extended cutoff voltage. Further studies reveal that the nanoscale structural degradation on material surfaces and the appearance of intergranular cracks associated with the inconsistent evolution of structural degradation at the particle level can be effectively suppressed by the synergetic effect of the conductive La4NiLiO8 coating layer and the strong TiO bond. The present work demonstrates that our strategy can simultaneously address the two issues with respect to interfacial instability and bulk structural degradation, and it represents a significant progress in the development of advanced cathode materials for high‐performance lithium‐ion batteries.
Ti‐doped and La4NiLiO8‐coated Ni‐rich layered oxide cathodes are synchronously and in situ synthesized with the guidance of theoretical calculations, which exhibit good surficial stability, fast interfacial kinetic behaviors, suppressed inconsistent structural degradation in combination with markedly improved electrochemical performance. This work opens a new avenue of designing simple modification approaches and advanced cathodes for high‐energy lithium‐ion batteries.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as promising diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in various diseases. However, there is currently a lack of molecular strategies that can effectively use ...disease‐associated extracellular miRNAs as input signals to drive therapeutic functions. Herein, we present a modular and programmable miRNA‐responsive chimeric DNA receptor (miRNA‐CDR) capable of biomarker‐driven therapy. By grafting a miRNA‐responsive DNA nanodevice on a natural membrane receptor via aptamer anchoring, miRNA‐CDR can sense extracellular miRNA levels and autonomously induce dimerization‐mediated receptor activation via the complementary‐mediated strand displacement reaction‐induced dynamic DNA assembly. The sequence programmability of miRNA‐CDR allows it to sense and respond to a user‐defined miRNA with tunable sensitivity. Moreover, the miRNA‐CDR is versatile and customizable to reprogram desirable signaling output via adapting a designated receptor, such as MET and FGFR1. Using a mouse model of drug‐induced acute liver injury (DILI), we demonstrate the functionality of a designer miRNA‐CDR in rewiring the recognition of the DILI‐elevated miR‐122 to promote MET signaling of hepatocytes for biomarker‐driven in situ repair and liver function restoration. Our synthetic miRNA‐CDR platform provides a novel molecular device enabling biomarker‐driven therapeutic cellular response, potentially paving the way for improving the precision of cell therapy in regenerative medicine.
An miRNA‐responsive chimeric DNA receptor (miRNA‐CDR) as a biomarker‐driven therapeutic nanodevice for liver injury repair has been developed. The miRNA‐CDR is highly modular, programmable, and versatile, allowing us to customize sense‐and‐respond programs to diverse user‐defined miRNA inputs with a tunable dynamic range, eliciting orthogonal activation of different receptor tyrosine kinases as signaling outputs, which is ultimately used for miRNA biomarker‐driven acute liver injury repair.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Small‐molecule regulation is a powerful switching tool to manipulate cell signal transduction for a desired function; however, most available methods usually require genetic engineering to endow ...cells with responsiveness to user‐defined small molecules. Herein, we demonstrate a nongenetic approach for small‐molecule‐controlled receptor activation and consequent cell behavior manipulation that is based on DNA‐mediated chemically induced dimerization (D‐CID). D‐CID uses a programmable chemical‐responsive DNA nanodevice to trigger DNA strand displacement and induce the activation of c‐Met, a tyrosine kinase receptor cognate for hepatocyte growth factor, through dimerization. Through the use of various functional nucleic acids, including aptamers and DNAzymes, as recognition modules, the versatility of D‐CID in inducing c‐Met signaling upon addition of various small‐molecular or ionic cues, including ATP, histidine, and Zn2+, is demonstrated. Moreover, owing its multi‐input properties, D‐CID can be used to manipulate the behaviors of multiple cell populations simultaneously in a selective and programmable fashion.
A nongenetic approach for small‐molecule‐controlled receptor activation and consequent cell behavior manipulation by DNA‐mediated chemically induced dimerization (D‐CID) has been developed. Orthogonal artificial receptor/cue D‐CID pairs were used to selectively control cell behavior.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The increasing global contamination of plastics in marine environments is raising public concerns about the potential hazards of microplastics to environmental and human health. Microplastics formed ...by the breakdown of larger plastics are typically irregular in shape. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of spherical or irregular shapes of microplastics on changes in organ distribution, swimming behaviors, gene expression, and enzyme activities in sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus). Both types of microplastics accumulated in the digestive system, causing intestinal distention. However, when compared to spherical microplastics, irregular microplastics decreased swimming behavior (i.e., total distance travelled and maximum velocity) of sheepshead minnow. Both microplastics generated cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), while ROS-related molecular changes (i.e., transcriptional and enzymatic characteristics) differed. This study provides toxicological insights into the impacts of environmentally relevant (fragmented) microplastics on fish and improves our understanding of the environmental effects of microplastics in the ecosystem.
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•Microplastics accumulated in the digestive system and influenced swimming behaviors of fish.•Microplastics caused transcriptional changes in ROS-related genes and changed their enzymatic levels and activities.•Physiological and biochemical toxicity differed according to the shape of microplastic.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Owing to the diversity and ease of preparation of nanomaterials, the rational nanocarriers with a rational design have become increasingly popular in medical researches. Although nanoparticle-based ...drug delivery exhibits great potential, there are some challenges facing like rapid plasma clearance, triggering or aggravation of immune response, etc. Herein, cell-based targeted drug delivery systems have drawn more and more attention owing to low immunogenicity and intrinsic mutation rate, and innate ability to allow targeted delivery. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used in gene and drug delivery. The use of MSCs is a promising approach for the development of gene transfer systems and drug loading strategies because of their intrinsic properties, including homing ability and tumor tropism. By combining the inherent cell properties and merits of synthetic nanoparticles (NPs), cell membrane coated NPs emerge as the time requires. Overall, we provide a comprehensive overview of the utility of MSCs in drug and gene delivery as well as MSC membrane coated nanoparticles for therapy and drug delivery, aiming to figure out the significant room for development and highlight the potential future directions.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Bioactive peptides (BAPs) play a crucial physiological role in human health. To exert their biological effects after oral administration, BAPs have to be transported across the human intestinal ...barrier into the blood circulation system, and must reach their targets in an intact or active form. However, few reviews have summarized current understanding of BAP transport to exhibit activities (bioavailability) and its knowledge gaps.
To obtain a better insight into BAP absorption and aid the design of improved functional foods for humans, this review summarizes and discusses the mechanistic transport pathways, modulatory factors, human studies, solutions to improve the bioavailability, and future perspectives of BAPs.
Both passive (paracellular and passive transcellular diffusion) and active (transporter and transcytosis) routes are possible involved in the BAP transport process, which can be influenced by various properties of peptides, including hydrophobicity, charge, size, molecular weight, amino acid sequence, stability, and enzymatic degradation. Peptidase-resistant BAPs can be transported into the bloodstream at concentrations in the micromolar range and remain intact for several minutes to hours to excise bioactivities. Studies of the effects of BAPs in humans are required, and the bioavailability of BAPs will be at the forefront of future functional food research.
•Transport mechanisms of bioactive peptide are reviewed.•Both passive and active routes may be involved in transporting bioactive peptides.•Transport can be affected by various properties of bioactive peptides.•Bioactive peptides are transported intact into human blood to exert bioactivities.•More studies on the bioavailability of BAPs are required.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Heterogeneous catalysts of inexpensive and reusable transition-metal are attractive alternatives to homogeneous catalysts; the relatively low activity of transition-metal nanoparticles has become the ...main hurdle for their practical applications. Here, the de novo design of a Mott–Schottky-type heterogeneous catalyst is reported to boost the activity of a transition-metal nanocatalyst through electron transfer at the metal/nitrogen-doped carbon interface. The Mott–Schottky catalyst of nitrogen-rich carbon-coated cobalt nanoparticles (Co@NC) was prepared through direct polycondensation of simple organic molecules and inorganic metal salts in the presence of g-C3N4 powder. The Co@NC with controllable nitrogen content and thus tunable Fermi energy and catalytic activity exhibited a high turnover frequency (TOF) value (8.12 mol methyl benzoate mol–1 Co h–1) for the direct, base-free, aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohols to methyl benzoate; this TOF is 30-fold higher than those of the state-of-the-art transition-metal-based nanocatalysts reported in the literature. The presented efficient Mott–Schottky catalyst can trigger the synthesis of a series of alkyl esters and even diesters in high yields.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
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