Weakly Solvating Electrolytes for Safe and Fast-Charging Sodium Metal Batteries.

Electrolytes for high-performance sodium metal batteries (SMBs) are expected to have high electrode compatibility, low solvation energy, and nonflammability. However, conventional flammable carbonate ester electrolytes show high Na desolvation energy and poor compatibility with sodium metal anodes, leading to slow Faradaic reactions and significant degradation of SMBs. Herein, we report a weakly solvating electrolytes (WSEs) design developed by an ionized ether-induced solvent molecule polarization strategy.

Regulated Li Solvation via Competitive Coordination Mechanism of Organic Cations for High Voltage and Fast Charging Lithium Metal Batteries.

Li solvation exerted a decisive effect on electrolyte physicochemical properties. Suitable tuning for Li solvation enabled batteries to achieve unexpected performance. Here, we introduced inert organic cations to compete with Li for combining electrolyte molecules to modulate Li coordination in the electrolyte.

In situ growth of curcumin-loaded cellulose composite film for real-time monitoring of food freshness in smart packaging.

Visual pH-responsive packaging material is particularly important in food supply chain safety monitoring due to their non-destructive monitoring method and intuitive result. However, it has always been limited by the instability performance of pH-response components and carriers, which further hinders its wide food safety application. To address these challenges, we selected cellulose with remarkable biocompatibility and mechanical properties as the carrier, and high pH-responsive curcumin to develop a smart packaging material (RC/GC composite film) with real-time food safety monitoring.

Efficient cellulose dissolution and derivatization enabled by oxalic/sulfuric acid for high-performance cellulose films as food packaging.

The performance of cellulose-based materials is highly dependent on the choice of solvent systems. Exceptionally, cellulose dissolution and derivatization by efficient solvent have been considered as a key factor for large-scale industrial applications of cellulose. However, cellulose dissolution and derivatization often requires harsh reaction conditions, high energy consumption, and complex solubilizing, resulting in environmental impacts and low practical value.

In Situ Electrochemical Polymerization of Cathode Electrolyte Interphase Enabling High-Performance Lithium Metal Batteries.

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) with high-voltage nickel-rich cathodes show great potential as energy storage devices due to their exceptional capacity and power density. However, the detrimental parasitic side reactions at the cathode electrolyte interface result in rapid capacity decay. Herein, a polymerizable electrolyte additive, pyrrole-1-propionic acid (PA), which can be in situ electrochemically polymerized on the cathode surface and involved in forming cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) film during cycling is proposed.

Chaotropic Effect-Boosted Thermogalvanic Ionogel Thermocells for All-Weather Power Generation.

Ionic thermocells convert heat into electricity and are promising power sources for electronic devices. However, discontinuous and small electricity output limits practical use under varying environmental conditions. Here, a thermogalvanic ionogel with a high Seebeck coefficient (32.

Next-generation self-adhesive dressings: Highly stretchable, antibacterial, and UV-shielding properties enabled by tannic acid-coated cellulose nanocrystals.

Hydrogels with excellent high-water uptake and flexibility have great potential for wound dressing. However, pure hydrogels without fiber skeleton faced poor water retention, weak fatigue resistance, and mechanical strength to hinder the development of the dressing as next-generation functional dressings. We prepared an ultrafast gelation (6 s) Fe/TA-CNC hydrogel (CTFG hydrogel) based on a self-catalytic system and bilayer self-assembled composites.

Multi-functional nanocellulose based nanocomposites for biodegradable food packaging: Hybridization, fabrication, key properties and application.

Nowadays, non-degradable plastic packaging materials have caused serious environmental pollution, posing a threat to human health and development. Renewable eco-friendly nanocellulose hybrid (NCs-hybrid) composites as an ideal alternative to petroleum-based plastic food packaging have been extensively reported in recent years. NCs-hybrids include metal, metal oxides, organic frameworks (MOFs), plants, and active compounds.

Integrated Moist-Thermoelectric Generator for Efficient Waste Steam Energy Utilization.

Industrial waste steam is one of the major sources of global energy losses. Therefore, the collection and conversion of waste steam energy into electricity have aroused great interest. Here, a "two-in-one" strategy is reported that combines thermoelectric and moist-electric generation mechanisms for a highly efficient flexible moist-thermoelectric generator (MTEG).

Immunogenicity of a spike protein subunit-based COVID-19 vaccine with broad protection against various SARS-CoV-2 variants in animal studies.

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has profound impacts on human life and global economy since the outbreak in 2019. With the new variants continue to emerge with greater immune escaping capability, the protectivity of the available vaccines is compromised. Therefore, development a vaccine that is capable of inducing immunity against variants including omicron strains is in urgent need.

Thermo-sensitive composite microspheres incorporating cellulose nanocrystals for regulated drug release kinetics.

Thermo-sensitive composite microspheres (TPCP) were developed to achieve the on-demand release of drugs. The TPCP microspheres were synthesized using Oil-in-Water (O/W) emulsion evaporation technique and then impregnated with thermo-sensitive polyethylene glycol (PEG). The addition of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) significantly enhance thermal stability, crystallization ability, and surface hydrophilicity of TPCP microspheres due to heterogeneous nucleation effect and hydrogen bonding interaction, resulting in stable microsphere structure.

Preclinical Studies of OBI-999: A Novel Globo H-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate.

Globo H (GH), a hexasaccharide, is expressed at low levels in normal tissues but is highly expressed in multiple cancer types, rendering it a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. OBI-999, a novel antibody-drug conjugate, is derived from a conjugation of a GH-specific mAb with a monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) payload through a site-specific ThioBridge and a cleavable linker. OBI-999 high homogeneity with a drug-to-antibody ratio of 4 (>95%) was achieved using ThioBridge.

p21-Activated kinase 3 promotes cancer stem cell phenotypes through activating the Akt-GSK3β-β-catenin signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer cells.

Relative to several other p21-activated kinase (PAK) family members, the role of PAK3 in regulating cancer cell functions remains unclear. Our study obtained evidence that PAK3 regulates the Akt-GSK3β-β-catenin signaling by acting as Ser-Akt kinase in several pancreatic cancer cell lines. Specifically, knockdown of PAK3 or overexpression of dominant-negative PAK3 inhibited the phosphorylation of Ser-Akt and GSK3β, resulting in the proteasomal degradation of β-catenin.

Inhibition of Jak/STAT signaling reduces the activation of pancreatic stellate cells in vitro and limits caerulein-induced chronic pancreatitis in vivo.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a fibro-inflammatory disease leading to pain, maldigestion, and pancreatic insufficiency. No therapeutic options exist due to a limited understanding of the biology of CP pathology. Recent findings implicate pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) as prominent mediators of inflammatory and fibrotic processes during CP.

Integrin-linked kinase as a novel molecular switch of the IL-6-NF-κB signaling loop in breast cancer.

Substantial evidence has clearly demonstrated the role of the IL-6-NF-κB signaling loop in promoting aggressive phenotypes in breast cancer. However, the exact mechanism by which this inflammatory loop is regulated remains to be defined. Here, we report that integrin-linked kinase (ILK) acts as a molecular switch for this feedback loop.

Integrin-linked kinase affects signaling pathways and migration in thyroid cancer cells and is a potential therapeutic target.

Background: Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is a serine-threonine kinase that regulates interactions between the cell and the extracellular matrix. In many cancers, overexpression of ILK leads to increased cell proliferation, motility, and invasion. We hypothesized that ILK functions as a regulator of viability and migration in thyroid cancer cells.

Alginate/Poly(γ-glutamic Acid) Base Biocompatible Gel for Bone Tissue Engineering.

A technique for synthesizing biocompatible hydrogels by cross-linking calcium-form poly(γ-glutamic acid), alginate sodium, and Pluronic F-127 was created, in which alginate can be cross-linked by Ca(2+) from Ca-γ-PGA directly and γ-PGA molecules introduced into the alginate matrix to provide pH sensitivity and hemostasis. Mechanical properties, swelling behavior, and blood compatibility were investigated for each hydrogel compared with alginate and for γ-PGA hydrogel with the sodium form only. Adding F-127 improves mechanical properties efficiently and influences the temperature-sensitive swelling of the hydrogels but also has a minor effect on pH-sensitive swelling and promotes anticoagulation.

Blockade of autophagy reduces pancreatic cancer stem cell activity and potentiates the tumoricidal effect of gemcitabine.

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered responsible for the recurrence and chemoresistance of cancer. Dysregulated autophagy is highly prevalent in many types of cancer including pancreatic cancer and has been implicated in cytoprotection and tumor promotion. This study aimed to investigate the role of autophagy in regulating cancer stemness and chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer.

Hepatic stellate cells secretes type I collagen to trigger epithelial mesenchymal transition of hepatoma cells.

Liver fibrosis is a risk factor for hepatoma. Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a critical role in progression of hepatoma. Resected hepatoma patients with high α-SMA+HSCs infiltration had worse survival, OR: 2.

Concanavalin A/IFN-gamma triggers autophagy-related necrotic hepatocyte death through IRGM1-mediated lysosomal membrane disruption.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), a potent Th1 cytokine with multiple biological functions, can induce autophagy to enhance the clearance of the invading microorganism or cause cell death. We have reported that Concanavalin A (Con A) can cause autophagic cell death in hepatocytes and induce both T cell-dependent and -independent acute hepatitis in immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice, respectively. Although IFN-γ is known to enhance liver injury in Con A-induced hepatitis, its role in autophagy-related hepatocyte death is not clear.

Induction of liver fibrosis in a murine hepatoma model by thioacetamide is associated with enhanced tumor growth and suppressed antitumor immunity.

Liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinomas are two major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and can synergistically interact to expedite the tumor progression. How fibrosis promotes the hepatoma growth remains completely unexplained. Using an in situ murine hepatoma model together with fibrosis induction by thioacetamide (TAA), the hepatoma growth and the immune factors in the fibrotic liver were analyzed.

Endothelial cells are damaged by autophagic induction before hepatocytes in Con A-induced acute hepatitis.

We have reported both T-cell-dependent and -independent hepatitis in immunocompetent and immunodeficiency mice, respectively, after intravenous injection of Con A in mice. The mode of hepatocyte cell death is different: autophagy for T-cell-independent hepatitis in contrast to apoptosis for T-cell-dependent one. In this study, we further demonstrate that liver blood vessels are the first target in both modes.

Dihydrolipoic acid inhibits tetrachlorohydroquinone-induced tumor promotion through prevention of oxidative damage.

alpha-Lipoic acid (LA) has been intensely investigated as a therapeutic agent for several diseases, including hepatic disorder and diabetic polyneuropathy. However, the effects of LA or its reduced form, dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA), on cancer chemoprevention has seldom been studied. Tetrachlorohydroquinone (TCHQ) is a toxic metabolite of pentachlorophenol (PCP) that was proven to be a tumor promoter in our previous study.

High frequency of frameshift mutation on p53 gene in Taiwanese with non small cell lung cancer.

Extensive researches have found that the mutation of p53 tumor suppressor gene is the most frequent event in many human cancers and associated with a poor clinical outcome in lung cancer patients. Because the p53 molecular mutation involved in tumorigenesis of patients with lung cancer in Taiwan remains poorly defined, the aim of this study was to assess the p53 mutation spectrum and possible etiological factors of Taiwan's patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Cancer specimens were obtained surgically from 61 patients with pathologically proven NSCLC.

Bcl-2 overexpression inhibits tetrachlorohydroquinone-induced apoptosis in NIH3T3 cells: a possible mechanism for tumor promotion.

TCHQ is a major carcinogenic metabolite of the widely used wood preservative PCP. Recently, we found that TCHQ was a promoter in a mouse skin carcinogenesis model. However, the mechanism is still not clear.