Fluorine Doping Mediated Epitaxial Growth of NaREF on TiO for Boosting NIR Light Utilization in Bioimaging and Photodynamic Therapy.

By integrating TiO with rare earth upconversion nanocrystals (NaREF), efficient energy transfer can be achieved between the two subunits under near-infrared (NIR) excitation, which hold tremendous potential in the fields of photocatalysis, photodynamic therapy (PDT), etc. However, in the previous studies, the combination of TiO with NaREF is a non-epitaxial random blending mode, resulting in a diminished energy transfer efficiency between the NaREF and TiO. Herein, we present a fluorine doping-mediated epitaxial growth strategy for the synthesis of TiO-NaREF heteronanocrystals (HNCs).

Black Titania Janus Mesoporous Nanomotor for Enhanced Tumor Penetration and Near-Infrared Light-Triggered Photodynamic Therapy.

Thanks to their excellent photoelectric characteristics to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) under the light-activation process, TiO nanomaterials have shown significant potential in photodynamic therapy (PDT) for solid tumors. Nevertheless, the limited penetration depth of TiO-based photosensitizers and excitation sources (UV/visible light) for PDT remains a formidable challenge when confronted with complex tumor microenvironments (TMEs). Here, we present a HO-driven black TiO mesoporous nanomotor with near-infrared (NIR) light absorption capability and autonomous navigation ability, which effectively enhances solid tumor penetration in NIR light-triggered PDT.

Implanting Colloidal Nanoparticles into Single-Crystalline Zeolites for Catalytic Dehydration.

The encapsulation of functional colloidal nanoparticles (100 nm) into single-crystalline ZSM-5 zeolites, aiming to create uniform core-shell structures, is a highly sought-after yet formidable objective due to significant lattice mismatch and distinct crystallization properties. In this study, we demonstrate the fabrication of a core-shell structured single-crystal zeolite encompassing an FeO colloidal core via a novel confinement stepwise crystallization methodology. By engineering a confined nanocavity, anchoring nucleation sites, and executing stepwise crystallization, we have successfully encapsulated colloidal nanoparticles (CN) within single-crystal zeolites.

Tandem Chemistry with Janus Mesopores Accelerator for Efficient Aqueous Batteries.

A reliable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the metallic Zn anode is imperative for stable Zn-based aqueous batteries. However, the incompatible Zn-ion reduction processes, scilicet simultaneous adsorption (capture) and desolvation (repulsion) of Zn(HO), raise kinetics and stability challenges for the design of SEI. Here, we demonstrate a tandem chemistry strategy to decouple and accelerate the concurrent adsorption and desolvation processes of the Zn cluster at the inner Helmholtz layer.

Boosted Oxygen Kinetics of Hierarchically Mesoporous MoC/C for High-current-density Zn-air Battery.

The high-current-density Zn-air battery shows big prospects in next-generation energy technologies, while sluggish O reaction and diffusion kinetics barricade the applications. Herein, the sequential assembly is innovatively demonstrated for hierarchically mesoporous molybdenum carbides/carbon microspheres with a tunable thickness of mesoporous carbon layers (Meso-MoC/C-x, where x represents the thickness). The optimum Meso-MoC/C-14 composites (≈2 µm in diameter) are composed of mesoporous nanosheets (≈38 nm in thickness), which possess bilateral mesoporous carbon layers (≈14 nm in thickness), inner MoC/C layers (≈8 nm in thickness) with orthorhombic MoC nanoparticles (≈2 nm in diameter), a high surface area of ≈426 m g, and open mesopores (≈6.

Visible Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye and Pharmaceutical Wastes over Ternary NiO/Ag/TiO Heterojunction.

Ternary NiO/Ag/TiO heterojunction photocatalyst was prepared by deposition coprecipitation for visible light photocatalytic applications. Physicochemical properties of the synthesized NiO/Ag/TiO composite were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area measurement method, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy technique, and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy. The results suggest that the well-dispersed small metallic silver nanoparticles (<3 nm) facilitate electron transfer and bridge nickel oxide and titanium oxide.

Emulsion-oriented assembly for Janus double-spherical mesoporous nanoparticles as biological logic gates.

The ability of Janus nanoparticles to establish biological logic systems has been widely exploited, yet conventional non/uni-porous Janus nanoparticles are unable to fully mimic biological communications. Here we demonstrate an emulsion-oriented assembly approach for the fabrication of highly uniform Janus double-spherical MSN&mPDA (MSN, mesoporous silica nanoparticle; mPDA, mesoporous polydopamine) nanoparticles. The delicate Janus nanoparticle possesses a spherical MSN with a diameter of ~150 nm and an mPDA hemisphere with a diameter of ~120 nm.

Storage of Na in 2D SnS for Na ion batteries: a DFT prediction.

The high demand for renewable and clean energy has driven the exploration of advanced energy storage systems. Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are considered to be potential substitutes for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) because they are manufactured from raw materials that are cheap, less toxic, and abundantly available. Recent developments have demonstrated that two-dimensional (2D) materials have gained increasing interest as electrode candidates for efficient SIBs because of their enormous surface area and sufficient accommodating sites for the storage of Na ions.

Versatile synthesis of dendritic mesoporous rare earth-based nanoparticles.

Rare earth-based nanomaterials that have abundant optical, magnetic, and catalytic characteristics have many applications. The controllable introduction of mesoporous channels can further enhance its performance, such as exposing more active sites of rare earth and improving the loading capacity, yet remains a challenge. Here, we report a universal viscosity-mediated assembly strategy and successfully endowed rare earth-based nanoparticles with central divergent dendritic mesopores.

Hierarchical Confinement Effect with Zincophilic and Spatial Traps Stabilized Zn-Based Aqueous Battery.

Zn-based aqueous batteries (ZABs) have been regarded as promising candidates for safe and large-scale energy storage in the "post-Li" era. However, kinetics and stability problems of Zn capture cannot be concomitantly regulated, especially at high rates and loadings. Herein, a hierarchical confinement strategy is proposed to design zincophilic and spatial traps through a host of porous Co-embedded carbon cages (denoted as CoCC).

MXene (TiCT)/Cellulose Acetate Mixed-Matrix Membrane Enhances Fouling Resistance and Rejection in the Crossflow Filtration Process.

Obstacles in the membrane-based separation field are mainly related to membrane fouling. This study involved the synthesis and utilization of covalently crosslinked MXene/cellulose acetate mixed matrix membranes with MXene at different concentrations (CCAM-0% to CCAM-12%) for water purification applications. The membranes' water flux, dye, and protein rejection performances were compared using dead-end (DE) and crossflow (CF) filtration.

Enzyme-Based Mesoporous Nanomotors with Near-Infrared Optical Brakes.

As one of the most important parameters of the nanomotors' motion, precise speed control of enzyme-based nanomotors is highly desirable in many bioapplications. However, owing to the stable physiological environment, it is still very difficult to in situ manipulate the motion of the enzyme-based nanomotors. Herein, inspired by the brakes on vehicles, the near-infrared (NIR) "optical brakes" are introduced in the glucose-driven enzyme-based mesoporous nanomotors to realize remote speed regulation for the first time.

Streamlined Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles with Tunable Curvature from Interfacial Dynamic-Migration Strategy for Nanomotors.

Streamlined architectures with a low fluid-resistance coefficient have been receiving great attention in various fields. However, it is still a great challenge to synthesize streamlined architecture with tunable surface curvature at the nanoscale. Herein, we report a facile interfacial dynamic migration strategy for the synthesis of streamlined mesoporous nanotadpoles with varied architectures.

A comprehensive review summarizing the recent biomedical applications of functionalized carbon nanofibers.

Since the discovery and fabrication of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) over a decade ago, scientists foster to discover novel myriad potential applications for this material in both biomedicine and industry. The unique economic viability, mechanical, electrical, optical, thermal, and structural properties of CNFs led to their rapid emergence. CNFs become an artificial intelligence platform for different uses, including a wide range of biomedical applications.

Mesoporous silica coated carbon nanofibers reduce embryotoxicity via ERK and JNK pathways.

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have been implicated in biomedical applications, yet, they are still considered as a potential hazard. Conversely, mesoporous silica is a biocompatible compound that has been used in various biomedical applications. In this regard, we recently reported that CNFs induce significant toxicity on the early stage of embryogenesis in addition to the inhibition of its angiogenesis.

Significant Toxic Effect of Carbon Nanofibers at the Early Stage of Embryogenesis.

Implementation of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in biomedical applications have successful outcomes, however, they are still considered as a potential hazard. We herein used avian embryos at 3 days and its chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) at 6 days of incubation to evaluate the impact of synthesized CNFs on the early stage of embryogenesis and angiogenesis. Our data point out that 50 g/embryo concentration of CNFs provoke adverse effects as 75% of CNFs-exposed embryos die within 1-5 days after exposure compared with their matched controls.

The Recent Advances in the Mechanical Properties of Self-Standing Two-Dimensional MXene-Based Nanostructures: Deep Insights into the Supercapacitor.

MXenes have emerged as promising materials for various mechanical applications due to their outstanding physicochemical merits, multilayered structures, excellent strength, flexibility, and electrical conductivity. Despite the substantial progress achieved in the rational design of MXenes nanostructures, the tutorial reviews on the mechanical properties of self-standing MXenes were not yet reported to our knowledge. Thus, it is essential to provide timely updates of the mechanical properties of MXenes, due to the explosion of publications in this filed.

Effect of Flow-Induced Shear Stress in Nanomaterial Uptake by Cells: Focus on Targeted Anti-Cancer Therapy.

Recently, nanomedicines have gained a great deal of attention in diverse biomedical applications, including anti-cancer therapy. Being different from normal tissue, the biophysical microenvironment of tumor cells and cancer cell mechanics should be considered for the development of nanostructures as anti-cancer agents. Throughout the last decades, many efforts devoted to investigating the distinct cancer environment and understanding the interactions between tumor cells and have been applied bio-nanomaterials.

Interface Coassembly and Polymerization on Magnetic Colloids: Toward Core-Shell Functional Mesoporous Polymer Microspheres and Their Carbon Derivatives.

Core-shell structured magnetic mesoporous polymer or carbon-based microspheres not only possess the combined merits of magnetic particles and stable mesoporous shell but also provide various organic functional groups for further modification and immobilization of active sites, thus opening up more possibility for various applications. Herein, a bottom-up soft-templating strategy is developed to controllably synthesize core-shell magnetic mesoporous polydopamine microspheres (MMP) and their derivative magnetic mesoporous carbon (MMC) microspheres via an amphiphilic block copolymer-directed interface assembly and polymerization (denoted as abc-DIAP) approach. The obtained uniform MMP microspheres have a well-defined structure consisting of magnetic core, silica middle layer and mesoporous PDA shell, uniform mesopores of 11.

Unveiling One-Pot Template-Free Fabrication of Exquisite Multidimensional PtNi Multicube Nanoarchitectonics for the Efficient Electrochemical Oxidation of Ethanol and Methanol with a Great Tolerance for CO.

Multidimensional bimetallic Pt-based nanoarchitectonics are highly promising in electrochemical energy conversion technologies because of their fancy structural merits and accessible active sites; however, hitherto their precise template-free fabrication remains a great challenge. We report a template-free solvothermal one-pot approach for the rational design of cocentric PtNi multicube nanoarchitectonics via adjusting the oleylamine/oleic acid ratio with curcumin. The obtained multidimensional PtNi multicubes comprise multiple small interlace-stacked nanocube subunits assembled in spatially porous branched nanoarchitectonics and bound by high-index facets.

MXene Nanosheets May Induce Toxic Effect on the Early Stage of Embryogenesis.

MXene (Ti₃C₂T), as a novel 2D material, has produced a great interest due to its promising properties in biomedical applications, nevertheless, there is a lack of studies dedicated to investigate the possible toxic effect of MXene in embryos. Herein, we aim to scrutinize the potential toxicity of MXene nanosheets on the early stage of the embryo as well as angiogenesis. Avian embryos at 3 and 5 days of incubation were used as an experimental model in this investigation.

Unveiling Fabrication and Environmental Remediation of MXene-Based Nanoarchitectures in Toxic Metals Removal from Wastewater: Strategy and Mechanism.

Efficient approaches for toxic metal removal from wastewater have had transformative impacts to mitigating freshwater scarcity. Adsorption is among the most promising purification techniques due to its simplicity, low cost, and high removal efficiency at ambient conditions. MXene-based nanoarchitectures emerged as promising adsorbents in a plethora of toxic metal removal applications.

Synthesis of Podlike Magnetic Mesoporous Silica Nanochains for Use as Enzyme Support and Nanostirrer in Biocatalysis.

Magnetic mesoporous materials have attracted great interest due to their combined property of magnetic nanomaterials and mesoporous materials as well as their potential applications in catalysis, bioenrichment, drug delivery, nanoreactors, etc. In this study, one-dimensional (1D) podlike magnetic mesoporous silica nanochains with tunable hollow space (FeO@nSiO@void@mSiO nanochain named as podlike 1D magnetic mesoporous silica (PL-MMS) nanochain) are rationally synthesized for the first time through a controlled magnetic-induced interface coassembly approach. The obtained PL-MMS possesses a tunable diameter (300-500 nm), large and perpendicular mesopores (8.