Microneedles: multifunctional devices for drug delivery, body fluid extraction, and bio-sensing.

Microneedles represent a miniaturized mechanical structure with versatile applications, including transdermal drug delivery, vaccination, body-fluid extraction, and bio-sensing. Over the past two decades, microneedle-based devices have garnered considerable attention in the biomedicine field, exhibiting the potential for mitigating patient discomfort, enhancing treatment adherence, avoiding first-pass effects, and facilitating precise therapeutic interventions. As an application-oriented technology, the innovation of microneedles is generally carried out in response to a specific demand.

The Evolution of Microfluidic-Based Drug-Loading Techniques for Cells and Their Derivatives.

Conventional drug delivery techniques face challenges related to targeting and adverse reactions. Recent years have witnessed significant advancements in nanoparticle-based drug carriers. Nevertheless, concerns persist regarding their safety and insufficient metabolism.

A stepwise multi-stage continuous dielectrophoresis separation microfluidic chip with microfilter structures.

The separation of target microparticles using microfluidic systems owns extensive applications in biomedical, chemical, and materials science fields. Integration of microfluidic sorting systems employing dielectrophoresis (DEP) technology has been widely investigated. However, enhancing separation efficiency, purity, stability, and integration remains a pressing issue.

Time and Space Dual-Blockade Strategy for Highly Invasive Nature of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Enhanced Sonodynamic Therapy Based on Fe-MOF Nanoplatforms.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), due to its high malignant degree and strong invasion ability, leads to poor prognosis and easy recurrence, so effectively curbing the invasion of TNBC is the key to obtaining the ideal therapeutic effect. Herein, a therapeutic strategy is developed that curbs high invasions of TNBC by inhibiting cell physiological activity and disrupting tumor cell structural function to achieve the time and space dual-blockade. The time blockade is caused by the breakthrough of the tumor-reducing blockade based on the ferroptosis process and the oxidation-toxic free radicals generated by enhanced sonodynamic therapy (SDT).

A Fully Elastic Wearable Electrochemical Sweat Detection System of Tree-Bionic Microfluidic Structure for Real-Time Monitoring.

Fresh sweat contains a diverse range of physiological indicators that can effectively reflect changes in the body. However, existing wearable sweat detection systems face challenges in efficiently collecting and detecting fresh sweat in real-time. Additionally, they often lack the necessary deformation capabilities, resulting in discomfort for the wearer.

MnO Coated Mesoporous PdPt Nanoprobes for Scavenging Reactive Oxygen Species and Solving Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury.

As one of the most widely used drugs, acetaminophen, is the leading cause of acute liver injury. In addition, acetaminophen-induced liver injury (AILI) has a strong relationship with the overproduced reactive oxygen species, which can be effectively eliminated by nanozymes. To address these challenges, mesoporous PdPt@MnO nanoprobes (PPM NPs) mimicking peroxide, catalase, and superoxide dismutase-like properties are synthesized.

Metal-organic frameworks based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy technique for ultra-sensitive biomedical trace detection.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted widespread interest due to their unique and unprecedented advantages in microstructures and properties. Besides, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technology has also rapidly developed into a powerful fingerprint spectroscopic technique that can provide rapid, non-invasive, non-destructive, and ultra-sensitive detection, even down to single molecular level. Consequently, a considerable amount of researchers combined MOFs with the SERS technique to further improve the sensing performance and broaden the applications of SERS substrates.

Two-Photon Nanoprobe for NIR-II Imaging of Tumour and Biosafety Evaluation.

How to develop near-infrared second window (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) fluorescent nanoprobes with a uniform size, strong fluorescence signal and good biosafety owns great clinical requirement. Herein we reported that a two photon fluorescent nanoprobe was developed via encapsulating NIR-II-fluorescent molecules into DSPE-PEG, which was effectively endocytosized by cancer cells, and achieved strong NIR-II fluorescence imaging in cancer cells and cancer cell-beard mice models. Prepared NIR-II-fluorescent nanoprobe exhibited rapid metabolism and excellent biocompatibility.

Tumor microenvironment pH-responsive pentagonal gold prism-based nanoplatform for multimodal imaging and combined therapy of castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Given that there is lack of effective therapies for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), the combination of photothermal (PTT), photodynamic (PDT), and chemical therapy (CT) has emerged as a prominent strategy. Tumor-targeted delivery and controlled release of antitumor drug are key-elements of any combined therapy. Considering these important elements, we designed and constructed tumor microenvironment (TME)-activated nanoprobes (PGP/CaCO@IR820/DTX-HA).

Metal-organic framework engineered corn-like SERS active Ag@Carbon with controllable spacing distance for tracking trace amount of organic compounds.

Probing water-soluble organic compounds via Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique could be helpful to prevent harmful impacts of polluted water. A key limitation of restraining SERS technique in probing these pollutants is the difficulty to control the spacing distance of plasmonic nanoparticles within 10 nm so that SERS effect can be efficiently induced. Herein, a strategy of mass-producing Ag-based SERS active material with tunable spacing distance is reported.

Ultra-homogeneous NIR-II fluorescent self-assembled nanoprobe with AIE properties for photothermal therapy of prostate cancer.

Near-infrared two-zone (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging has attracted attention as a non-invasive imaging technology that provides centimeter-level depth and micron-level resolution. However, producing a NIR-II fluorescent nanoprobe with uniform size, high bio-identical capacity, and fluorescence intensity, while being metabolizable , remains a challenge. We first produce a hydrophobic NIR-II fluorescent molecule with AIE properties, and subject it to ultrasonic and extrusion treatments to generate a DSPE-PEG-encapsulated NIR-II nanoprobe with an ultra-homogeneous particle size.

Remote Tracking Gas Molecular via the Standalone-Like Nanosensor-Based Tele-Monitoring System.

Highlights: A standalone-like smart device that can remotely track the variation of air pollutants in a power-saving way is created; Metal–organic framework-derived hollow polyhedral ZnO was successfully synthesized, allowing the created smart device to be highly selective and to sensitively track the variation of NO concentration; A novel photoluminescence-enhanced Li-Fi telecommunication technique is proposed, offering the created smart device with the capability of long distance wireless communication.

Abstract: Remote tracking the variation of air quality in an effective way will be highly helpful to decrease the health risk of human short- and long-term exposures to air pollution. However, high power consumption and poor sensing performance remain the concerned issues, thereby limiting the scale-up in deploying air quality tracking networks.

Topology Selectivity in On-Surface Dehydrogenative Coupling Reaction: Dendritic Structure Porous Graphene Nanoribbon.

Selective control on the topology of low-dimensional covalent organic nanostructures in on-surface synthesis has been challenging. Herein, with combined scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), we report a successful topology-selective coupling reaction on the Cu(111) surface by tuning the thermal annealing procedure. The precursor employed is 1,3,5-tris(2-bromophenyl)benzene (TBPB), for which Ullmann coupling is impeded due to the intermolecular steric hindrance.

Synthesis of Giant π-Extended Molecular Macrocyclic Rings as Finite Models of Carbon Nanotubes Displaying Enriched Size-Dependent Physical Properties.

Bottom-up synthesis of π-extended macrocyclic carbon rings is promising for constructing length- and diameter-specific carbon nanotubes (CNTs). However, it is still a great challenge to realize size-controllable giant carbon macrocycles. Herein, a tunable synthesis of curved nanographene-based giant π-extended macrocyclic rings (CHBC[n]s; n=8, 6, 4), as finite models of armchair CNTs, is reported.

Through-space π-delocalization in a conjugated macrocycle consisting of [2.2]paracyclophane.

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a [2.2]paracyclophane-containing macrocycle (PCMC) as a new through-space conjugated macrocycle using only benzene groups as the skeleton. For comparison, a diphenylmethane-containing nanohoop macrocycle (DCMC) with a non-conjugated linker was also synthesized.

Selective Synthesis of Conjugated Chiral Macrocycles: Sidewall Segments of (-)/(+)-(12,4) Carbon Nanotubes with Strong Circularly Polarized Luminescence.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have unusual physical properties that are valuable for nanotechnology and electronics, but the chemical synthesis of chirality- and diameter-specific CNTs and π-conjugated CNT segments is still a great challenge. Reported here are the selective syntheses, isolations, characterizations, and photophysical properties of two novel chiral conjugated macrocycles ([4]cyclo-2,6-anthracene; [4]CAn ), as (-)/(+)-(12,4) carbon nanotube segments. These conjugated macrocyclic molecules were obtained using a bottom-up assembly approach and subsequent reductive elimination reaction.

From Planar Macrocycle to Cylindrical Molecule: Synthesis and Properties of a Phenanthrene-Based Coronal Nanohoop as a Segment of [6,6]Carbon Nanotube.

Herein, we explore phenanthrene as the building block to synthesize a hoop-shaped [6,6]carbon nanotube segment from a planar macocycle via a Diels-Alder reaction. The phenanthrene-based coronal nanohoop was fully characterized by HR-MS, NMR, and other spectroscopies. In addition, its photophysical properties and the supramolecular interactions between and fullerene C were investigated.

Photoconductive Curved-Nanographene/Fullerene Supramolecular Heterojunctions.

This study presents synthesis and characterizations of two novel curved nanographenes that strongly bind with fullerene C to form photoconductive heterojunctions. Films of the self-assembled curved nanographene/fullerene complexes, which served as the photoconductive layer, generated a significant photocurrent under light irradiation. Gram-scale quantities of these curved nanographenes (TCR and HCR) as the "crown" sidewalls can be incorporated into a carbon nanoring to form molecular crowns, and the molecular structure of C @TCR is determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

A Three-Dimensional Capsule-like Carbon Nanocage as a Segment Model of Capped Zigzag [12,0] Carbon Nanotubes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Complexation with C.

Herein we report the synthesis and photophysical and supramolecular properties of a novel three-dimensional capsule-like hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC)-containing carbon nanocage, tripodal-[2]HBC, which is the first synthetic model of capped zigzag [12,0] carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Tripodal-[2]HBC was synthesized by the palladium-catalyzed coupling of triboryl hexabenzocoronene and L-shaped cyclohexane units, followed by nickel-mediated C-Br/C-Br coupling and subsequent aromatization of the cyclohexane moieties. The physical properties of tripodal-[2]HBC and its supramolecular host-guest interaction with C were further studied by UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy.

Facile three-step synthesis and photophysical properties of [8]-, [9]-, and [12]cyclo-1,4-naphthalene nanorings via platinum-mediated reductive elimination.

Herein we report a facile three-step synthesis of [8]-, [9]-, and [12]cyclo-1,4-naphthalene nanorings as the conjugated segments of carbon nanotubes. The nanorings were created via a platinum-mediated assembly of 1,4-naphthalene-based units and subsequent reductive elimination in the presence of triphenylphosphine. This present platinum-mediated approach is attractive because of its simple three-step process to produce the targeted nanorings in a high overall yield.

A Copper Porphyrin-Based Conjugated Mesoporous Polymer-Derived Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution.

Scalable and robust catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are required for the implementation of water splitting technologies as a globally applicable method of producing renewable hydrogen. Herein, we report nitrogen-enriched porous carbon materials containing copper/copper oxide, derived from copper porphyrin-based conjugated mesoporous polymers (CMPs), as a bifunctional catalyst for both HER and OER. These catalysts have a high surface area, unique tubular structure, and strong synergistic effect of copper/copper oxide and porous carbons, resulting in excellent performance for water splitting.

In situ generated highly active copper oxide catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction at low overpotential in alkaline solutions.

Developing efficient water oxidation catalysts made up of earth-abundant elements has attracted much attention as a step toward for future clean energy production. Herein we report a simple one-step method to generate a low cost copper oxide catalyst film in situ from a copper(ii) ethylenediamine complex. The resulting catalyst has excellent activity toward the oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline solutions.

Robust and highly active copper-based electrocatalyst for hydrogen production at low overpotential in neutral water.

We report here a Cu(0)-based catalyst free of noble metals for the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction in neutral water with an onset overpotential of only 70 mV. This is the lowest reported value among Cu(0)-based catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction in neutral water.