Molecular Programming Design of Glyconucleic Acid Aptamer with High Stability.

Functional nucleic acids (FNAs), possessing specific biological functions beyond their informational roles, have gained widespread attention in disease therapeutics. However, their clinical application is severely limited by their low serum stability in complex physiological environments. In this work, a precise molecular programming strategy is explored to prepare glyconucleic acid aptamers (GNAAs) with high serum stability.

Mild and rapid construction of Ti electrodes for efficient and corrosion-resistant oxidative catalysis at industrial-grade intensity.

The development of cost-effective and corrosion-resistant catalytic electrodes for chlorine/oxygen evolution reaction (CER/OER) in large-scale industrial applications is a significant challenge. Herein, the sol-gel method is employed to achieve a uniform coating of ruthenium (Ru) doping copper (Cu) on titanium sheet (Ru + 20 %Cu@Ti), and the highly efficient industrial grade stable Ti dimensional stable anode can be quickly constructed at 723.15 K for 2 h.

Colorectal cancer with BRAF V600E mutation: Trends in immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) with BRAF V600E mutation presents a formidable scientific and clinical challenge due to its aggressive nature and poor response to standard therapeutic approaches. BRAF V600E mutation-induced conspicuous activation of the MAPK pathway contributes to the relentless tumor progression. Nevertheless, the efficacy of multi-targeted MAPK pathway inhibition remains suboptimal in clinical practice.

Recent Progress of Multifunctional Molecular Probes for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Theranostics.

Breast cancer (BC) poses a significant threat to women's health, with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) representing one of the most challenging and aggressive subtypes due to the lack of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression. Traditional TNBC treatments often encounter issues such as low drug efficiency, limited tumor enrichment, and substantial side effects. Therefore, it is crucial to explore novel diagnostic and treatment systems for TNBC.

Recent Progress on Second Near-Infrared Emitting Carbon Dots in Biomedicine.

Second near-infrared (NIR-II) carbon dots, with absorption or emission between 1000 and 1700 nm, are gaining increasing attention in the biomaterial field due to their distinctive properties, which include straightforward preparation processes, stable photophysical characteristics, excellent biocompatibility, and low cost. As a result, there is a growing focus on the controlled synthesis and modulation of the photochemical and photophysical properties of NIR-II carbon dots, with the aim to further expand their biomedical applications, a current research hotspot. This account aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in NIR-II carbon dots within the biomedical field.

In situ fabrication of sporoid-like flexible electrodes via Fe-regulated electron density for highly efficient and ultra-stable overall seawater splitting.

Construction of ultra-stable, flexible, efficient and economical catalytic electrodes is of great significance for the seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production. This work is grounded in a one-step mild electroless plating method to construct industrial-grade super-stable overall water splitting (OWS) catalytic electrodes (Fe-NiP@GF) by growing loose and porous spore-like Fe-NiP conductive catalysts in situ on flexible glass fibre (GF) insulating substrates with precise elemental regulation. Cost-effective Fe regulation boosts the electronic conductivity and charge transfer ability to achieve the construction of high intrinsic activity and strong electron density electrodes.

CDs Regulated Sulfur-Based Flexible Electrode with Range pH Values for Efficient and Durable Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

How to mildly structure a high intrinsic activity and stable catalytic electrode to realize long-term catalytic water splitting to produce hydrogen at a wide range of pH values at industrial high current is a challenge. Herein, this work creatively proposes to prepare industrial-grade catalytic electrodes with high efficiency and stability at high current density through carbon quantum dots (CDs) modification nickel sulfide on hydrophilic flexible filter paper via one-step mild chemical plating (denoted as CDs-Ni S @HFP). The intrinsic activity and surface area, electron transfer ability, and corrosion resistance of Ni S material are increased due to the regulation, homogenous, and high concentration doping of CDs.

Resolution of MoS Nanosheets-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation Driven by Nanoscale Intracellular Transformation and Extracellular-Vesicle Shuttles.

Pulmonary exposure to some engineered nanomaterials can cause chronic lesions as a result of unresolved inflammation. Among 2D nanomaterials and graphene, MoS has received tremendous attention in optoelectronics and nanomedicine. Here an integrated approach is proposed to follow up the transformation of MoS nanosheets at the nanoscale and assesss their impact on lung inflammation status over 1 month after a single inhalation in mice.

Molecular elements: novel approaches for molecular building.

Classically, a molecular element (ME) is a pure substance composed of two or more atoms of the same element. However, MEs, in the context of this review, can be any molecules as elements bonded together into the backbone of synthetic oligonucleotides (ONs) with designed sequences and functions, including natural A, T, C, G, U, and unnatural bases. The use of MEs can facilitate the synthesis of designer molecules and smart materials.

Mild construction of an Fe-B-O based flexible electrode toward highly efficient alkaline simulated seawater splitting.

It is essential to construct self-supporting electrodes based on earth-abundant iron borides in a mild and economical manner for grid-scale hydrogen production. Herein, a series of highly efficient, flexible, robust, and scalable Fe-B-O@FeB modified on hydrophilic cloth (denoted as Fe-B-O@FeB/HC, 10 cm × 10 cm) are fabricated by mild electroless plating. The overpotentials and Tafel slope values for the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions are 59 mV and 57.

Combined Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapy for Cancer Treatment Using a Multifunctional Graphene Oxide.

Graphene oxide (GO) is one of the most studied nanomaterials in many fields, including the biomedical field. Most of the nanomaterials developed for drug delivery and phototherapies are based on noncovalent approaches that lead to an unspecific release of physisorbed molecules in complex biological environments. Therefore, preparing covalently functionalized GO using straightforward and versatile methods is highly valuable.

Correction: Controlled functionalization of carbon nanodots for targeted intracellular production of reactive oxygen species.

Correction for 'Controlled functionalization of carbon nanodots for targeted intracellular production of reactive oxygen species' by Ding-Kun Ji et al., Nanoscale Horiz., 2020, 5, 1240-1249, DOI: .

Comparative Effects of Graphene and Molybdenum Disulfide on Human Macrophage Toxicity.

Graphene and other 2D materials, such as molybdenum disulfide, have been increasingly used in electronics, composites, and biomedicine. In particular, MoS and graphene hybrids have attracted a great interest for applications in the biomedical research, therefore stimulating a pertinent investigation on their safety in immune cells like macrophages, which commonly engulf these materials. In this study, M1 and M2 macrophage viability and activation are mainly found to be unaffected by few-layer graphene (FLG) and MoS at doses up to 50 µg mL .

Is carboxylation an efficient method for graphene oxide functionalization?

Graphene oxide (GO) is one of the most popular materials applied in different research areas thanks to its unique properties. The application of GO requires well-designed protocols to introduce different functionalities on its surface, exploiting the oxygenated groups already present. Due to the complex and unstable chemical environment on the GO surface, it is recommended to perform the functionalization under mild conditions.

Controlled functionalization of carbon nanodots for targeted intracellular production of reactive oxygen species.

Controlled intracellular release of exogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an innovative and efficient strategy for cancer treatment. Well-designed materials, which can produce ROS in targeted cells, minimizing side effects, still need to be explored as new generation nanomedicines. Here, red-emissive carbon nanodots (CNDs) with intrinsic theranostic properties are devised, and further modified with folic acid (FA) ligand through a controlled covalent functionalization for targeted cell imaging and intracellular production of ROS.

Physically-triggered nanosystems based on two-dimensional materials for cancer theranostics.

There is an increasing demand to develop effective methods for treating malignant diseases to improve healthcare in our society. Stimuli-responsive nanosystems, which can respond to internal or external stimuli are promising in cancer therapy and diagnosis due to their functionality and versatility. As a newly emerging class of nanomaterials, two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have attracted huge interest in many different fields including biomedicine due to their unique physical and chemical properties.

Perylenediimide-based glycoclusters as high affinity ligands of bacterial lectins: synthesis, binding studies and anti-adhesive properties.

The synthesis of eight perylenediimide-based glycoclusters was readily performed from hexa- and tetra-propargylated cores through azide-alkyne "click" conjugation. Variations in the carbohydrate epitope (Glc, Gal, Man, Fuc) and the linker arm provided molecular diversity. Interactions with LecA and LecB, two proteins involved in the adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to host tissues, were evaluated by microcalorimetry (ITC).

Supramolecular assembly of fluorogenic glyco-dots from perylenediimide-based glycoclusters for targeted imaging of cancer cells.

Supramolecular self-assembly between perylenediimide-based glycoclusters and a red-emitting fluorophore produces structurally uniform and stable glyco-dots amenable to targeted fluorogenic imaging of liver and triple-negative breast cancer cells.

Targeting Osteocytes to Attenuate Early Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis by Theranostic Upconversion Nanoparticles with Responsive Plumbagin Release.

The early detection and thus treatment of breast cancer bone metastasis remain a big challenge clinically. As the most abundant cells within bone tissue, osteocytes have been found to manipulate the activity of early cancer bone metastasis by its crosstalk with cancer cells and osteoclasts. However, conventional bone-targeting nanomedicine has limited bone-lesion specificity and ignores the vital role of osteocytes during breast cancer bone metastasis.