Most organic polymeric materials have high flammability, for which the large amounts of smoke, toxic gases, heat, and melt drips produced during their burning cause immeasurable damages to human life ...and property every year. Despite some desirable results having been achieved by conventional flame‐retardant methods, their application is encountering more and more difficulties with the ever‐increasing high flame‐retardant requirements such as high flame‐retardant efficiency, great persistence, low release of heat, smoke, and toxic gases, and more importantly not deteriorating or even enhancing the overall properties of polymers. Under such condition, some advanced flame‐retardant methods have been developed in the past years based on “all‐in‐one” intumescence, nanotechnology, in situ reinforcement, intrinsic char formation, plasma treatment, biomimetic coatings, etc., which have provided potential solutions to the dilemma of conventional flame‐retardant methods. This review briefly outlines the development, application, and problems of conventional flame‐retardant methods, including bulk‐additive, bulk‐copolymerization, and surface treatment, and focuses on the raise, development, and potential application of advanced flame‐retardant methods. The future development of flame‐retardant methods is further discussed.
Flame‐retardant methods for polymeric materials are reviewed with particular focus on advanced flame‐retardant methods developed in recent years. Both the advantages and drawbacks of these methods are discussed, and prospects for the future development of flame‐retardant methods are presented. It is hoped that this review will guide the development of flame‐retardant polymeric materials.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
More and more studies have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a critical regulatory role in many cancers. However, the potential molecular mechanism of circRNAs in prostate cancer (PCa) remains ...largely unknown.
Differentially expressed circRNAs were identified by RNA sequencing. The expression of hsa_circ_0003258 was evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR and RNA in situ hybridization. The impacts of hsa_circ_0003258 on the metastasis of PCa cells were investigated by a series of in vitro and in vivo assays. Lastly, the underlying mechanism of hsa_circ_0003258 was revealed by Western blot, biotin-labeled RNA pulldown, RNA immunoprecipitation, luciferase assays and rescue experiments.
Increased expression of hsa_circ_0003258 was found in PCa tissues and was associated with advanced TNM stage and ISUP grade. Overexpression of hsa_circ_0003258 promoted PCa cell migration by inducing epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) in vitro as well as tumor metastasis in vivo, while knockdown of hsa_circ_0003258 exerts the opposite effect. Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0003258 could elevate the expression of Rho GTPase activating protein 5 (ARHGAP5) via sponging miR-653-5p. In addition, hsa_circ_0003258 physically binds to insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) in the cytoplasm and enhanced HDAC4 mRNA stability, in which it activates ERK signalling pathway, then triggers EMT programming and finally accelerates the metastasis of PCa.
Upregulation of hsa_circ_0003258 drives tumor progression through both hsa_circ_0003258/miR-653-5p/ARHGAP5 axis and hsa_circ_0003258/IGF2BP3 /HDAC4 axis. Hsa_circ_0003258 may act as a promising biomarker for metastasis of PCa and an attractive target for PCa intervention.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Although multifunctional, flexible, and wearable textiles with integrated smart electronics have attracted tremendous attention in recent years, it is still an issue to balance new functionalities ...with the inherent performances of the textile substrates. 2D early transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes) are considered as ideal nanosheets for fabricating multifunctional and flexible textiles on the basis of their superb intrinsic electrical conductivity, tunable surface chemistry, and layered structure. Herein, highly conductive and hydrophobic textiles with exceptional electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding efficiency and excellent Joule heating performance are fabricated by depositing in situ polymerized polypyrrole (PPy) modified MXene sheets onto poly(ethylene terephthalate) textiles followed by a silicone coating. The resultant multifunctional textile exhibits high electrical conductivity of ≈1000 S m−1 in conjunction with an exceptional EMI shielding efficiency of ≈90 dB at a thickness of 1.3 mm. The thin silicone coating renders the hydrophilic PPy/MXene‐decorated textile hydrophobic, leading to an excellent water‐resistant feature while retaining a satisfactory air permeability of the textile. Interestingly, the multifunctional textile also exhibits an excellent moderate voltage‐driven Joule heating performance. Thus, the deposition of PPy‐modified MXene followed by silicone coating creates a multifunctional textile that holds great promise for wearable intelligent garments, EMI shielding, and personal heating applications.
An efficient and scalable dip‐coating approach for the fabrication of flexible multifunctional transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes)‐derived textiles by decorating polypyrrole‐modified MXene sheets onto polyethylene terephthalate textiles followed by silicone coating is reported. The highly conductive and hydrophobic textiles show exceptional electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency, outstanding water‐resistant feature, and excellent Joule heating performances.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Although flexible and multifunctional textiles are promising for wearable electronics and portable device applications, the main issue is to endow textiles with multifunctionalities while maintaining ...their innate flexible and porous features. Herein, a vacuum‐assisted layer‐by‐layer assembly technique is demonstrated to conformally deposit electrically conductive substances on textiles for developing multifunctional and flexible textiles with superb electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performances, superhydrophobicity, and highly sensitive humidity response. The formed leaf‐like nanostructure is composed of silver nanowires (AgNWs) as the highly conductive skeleton (vein) and transition metal carbide/carbonitride (MXene) nanosheets as the lamina. The presence of MXene protects AgNWs from oxidation and enhances the combination of AgNWs with the fabric substrate, and the transformation of its functional groups leads to self‐derived hydrophobicity. The flexible and multifunctional textile exhibits a low sheet resistance of 0.8 Ω sq−1, outstanding EMI shielding efficiency of 54 dB in the X‐band at a small thickness of 120 µm, and highly sensitive humidity responses, while retaining its satisfactory porosity and permeability. The self‐derived hydrophobicity with a large contact angle of >140° is achieved by aging the hydrophilic MXene coated silk. The wearable multifunctional textiles are highly promising for applications in intelligent garments, humidity sensors, actuators, and EMI shielding.
A biomimetic leaf‐like nanostructure composed of a 1D AgNWs skeleton (vein) and 2D MXene as the lamina is fabricated via vacuum‐assisted layer‐by‐layer assembly for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, humidity monitoring, and self‐derived hydrophobicity. The (MA1)10 silk presents an exceptional EMI shielding effectiveness of ≈90 dB at 12.4 GHz at a thickness of 480 µm, and the MXene‐coated textile induces a hydrophilic‐to‐hydrophobic transition, generating a large contact angle of >140°.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The fire detection plays a critical role in the maintenance of public security. Previous approaches of early fire warning, based on smoke or temperature response must be set in the proximity of a ...fire. They cannot provide the additional information of fire location or size and are susceptible to complicated situations. It is still a big challenge to make rapid and accurate early fire warning in precombustion because of the lack of reliable alarm signals. Herein, a precursor molecular sensor (PMS) is designed and synthesized that can present the chemical structure transformation to form phthalocyanines (Pcs) and release a color change signal at about 180 °C, learning from the plant chlorophyll metabolism. Further, the PMS is assembled to an early fire warning component (EWC) and an intelligent image recognition algorithm is introduced for unburned fire detection. The EWC generates a colorful alarm within 20 s at 275 °C. Therefore, the facile PMS provides a reliable real‐time monitoring strategy to the early fire warning detection in precombustion.
A bioinspired color changing molecular sensor is designed to achieve early fire detection based on transformation of phthalonitrile to phthalocyanine, learning from the plant chlorophyll metabolism. An intelligent image recognition algorithm is applied and the sensor generates colorful alarm within 20 s at 275 °C. This study provides a reliable real‐time monitoring strategy to the early fire detection in precombustion.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Due to its excellent performance, aerogel is considered to be an especially promising new material. Cellulose is a renewable and biodegradable natural polymer. Aerogel prepared using cellulose has ...the renewability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability of cellulose, while also having other advantages, such as low density, high porosity, and a large specific surface area. Thus, it can be applied for many purposes in the areas of adsorption and oil/water separation, thermal insulation, and biomedical applications, as well as many other fields. There are three types of cellulose aerogels: natural cellulose aerogels (nanocellulose aerogels and bacterial cellulose aerogels), regenerated cellulose aerogels, and aerogels made from cellulose derivatives. In this paper, more than 200 articles were reviewed to summarize the properties of these three types of cellulose aerogels, as well as the technologies used in their preparation, such as the sol⁻gel process and gel drying. In addition, the applications of different types of cellulose aerogels were also introduced.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Light‐weight and high‐performance electromagnetic interference (EMI)‐shielding epoxy nanocomposites are prepared by an infiltration method using a 3D carbon nanotube (CNT) sponge as the 3D ...reinforcement and conducting framework. The preformed, highly porous, and electrically conducting framework acts as a highway for electron transport and can resist a high external loading to protect the epoxy nanocomposite. Consequently, a remarkable conductivity of 148 S m−1 and an outstanding EMI shielding effectiveness of around 33 dB in the X‐band are achieved for the epoxy nanocomposite with 0.66 wt% of CNT sponge, which is higher than that achieved for epoxy nanocomposites with 20 wt% of conventional CNTs. More importantly, the CNT sponge provides a dual advantage over conventional CNTs in its prominent reinforcement and toughening of the epoxy composite. Only 0.66 wt% of CNT sponge significantly increases the flexural and tensile strengths by 102% and 64%, respectively, as compared to those of neat epoxy. Moreover, the nanocomposite shows a 250% increase in tensile toughness and a 97% increase in elongation at break. These results indicate that CNT sponge is an ideal functional component for mechanically strong and high‐performance EMI‐shielding nanocomposites.
High‐performance electromagnetic interference shielding epoxy nanocomposites are prepared using a preformed highly porous and electrically conductive CNT sponge. The CNT sponge acts as the three‐dimensional conducting framework and as effective reinforcement. Only 0.66 wt% of CNT sponge leads to an outstanding EMI shielding effectiveness of around 33 dB in the X‐band, and vast increments in the flexural strength and tensile toughness are achieved.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Zika virus (ZIKV) has evolved into a global health threat because of its unexpected causal link to microcephaly. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that contemporary epidemic strains have accumulated ...multiple substitutions from their Asian ancestor. Here we show that a single serine-to-asparagine substitution Ser139→Asn139 (S139N) in the viral polyprotein substantially increased ZIKV infectivity in both human and mouse neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and led to more severe microcephaly in the mouse fetus, as well as higher mortality rates in neonatal mice. Evolutionary analysis indicates that the S139N substitution arose before the 2013 outbreak in French Polynesia and has been stably maintained during subsequent spread to the Americas. This functional adaption makes ZIKV more virulent to human NPCs, thus contributing to the increased incidence of microcephaly in recent ZIKV epidemics.
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BFBNIB, NMLJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
Background
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) mediate the infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to facilitate carcinogenesis and development of various types of cancers. However, the ...role of circRNAs in regulating macrophages in prostate cancer (PCa) remains uncertain.
Methods
Differentially expressed circRNAs in PCa were identified by RNA sequencing. The expression of circSMARCC1 was recognized and evaluated using fluorescence in situ hybridization and quantitative real-time PCR. The oncogenic role of circSMARCC1 in PCa tumor proliferation and metastasis was investigated through a series of in vitro and in vivo assays. Finally, Western blot, biotin-labeled RNA pulldown, luciferase assay, rescue experiments, and co-culture experiments with TAMs were conducted to reveal the mechanistic role of circSMARCC1.
Results
CircSMARCC1 was dramatically up-regulated in PCa cells, plasma and tissues. Overexpression of circSMARCC1 promotes tumor proliferation and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo, whereas knockdown of circSMARCC1 exerts the opposite effects. Mechanistically, circSMARCC1 regulates the expression of CC-chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) via sponging miR-1322 and activate PI3K-Akt signaling pathway involved in the proliferation and epithelial mesenchymal transformation. More importantly, high expression of circSMARCC1 was positively associated with colonization of CD68
+
/CD163
+
/CD206
+
TAMs in tumor microenvironment. In addition, overexpression of circSMARCC1 facilitates the expression of CD163 in macrophages through the CCL20-CCR6 axis, induces TAMs infiltration and M2 polarization, thereby leading to PCa progression.
Conclusions
CircSMARCC1 up-regulates the chemokine CCL20 secretion by sponging miR-1322, which is involved in the crosstalk between tumor cells and TAMs by targeting CCL20/CCR6 signaling to promote progression of PCa.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The development of circularly polarized electroluminescence (CPEL) is currently hampered by the high difficulty and cost in the syntheses of suitable chiral materials and the notorious chirality ...diminishment issue in electrical devices. Herein, diastereomeric IrIII and RuII complexes with chiral (±)‐camphorsulfonate counteranions are readily synthesized and used as the active materials in circularly polarized light‐emitting electrochemical cells to generate promising CPELs. The addition of the chiral ionic liquid (±)‐1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazole camphorsulfonate into the active layer significantly improves the device performance and the electroluminescence dissymmetry factors (≈10−3), in stark contrast to the very weak circularly polarized photoluminescence of the spin‐coated films of these diastereomeric complexes. Control experiments with enantiopure IrIII complexes suggest that the chiral anions play a dominant role in the electrically‐induced amplification of CPELs.
By using a chiral anion strategy, electrically amplified circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) is realized in light‐emitting electrochemical cells of readily obtained diastereomeric ionic transition‐metal complexes. The addition of a chiral ionic liquid (IL) into the active layer significantly improves the device performance and the electroluminescence dissymmetry factors.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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