Reprogramming of Treg cell-derived small extracellular vesicles effectively prevents intestinal inflammation from PANoptosis by blocking mitochondrial oxidative stress.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing immune-mediated inflammatory disorder of the alimentary tract without exact etiology. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) derived from mitochondrial dysfunction impair intestinal barrier function, increase gut permeability, and facilitate immune cell invasion, and, therefore, are considered to have a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of IBD. Here, we reprogrammed regulatory T cell (Treg)-derived exosomes loaded with the antioxidant trace element selenium (Se) and decorated them with the synthetic mitochondria-targeting SS-31 tetrapeptide via a peptide linker.

GSDMB interacts with IGF2BP1 to suppress colorectal cancer progression by modulating DUSP6-ERK pathway.

There is growing evidence that the protein family of Gasdermins (GSDMs) play an essential role during the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, it is not completely clear that how GSDMB, abundantly expressed in epithelial cells of gastrointestinal tract, regulates the tumorigenesis of CRC. A wealth of evidence linking GSDMB to the pathogenesis of cancer has come from genome-wide association studies.

Vertically-stacked W/WC heterojunctions with high electrocatalytic capability for the hydrogen evolution reaction in a wide pH range.

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in water splitting is among the foremost methods to produce clean and green hydrogen from renewable sources. The practical use of the HER technology is however hindered by the high price and/or the relatively low efficiency of the currently used catalysts. Herein, we report a heterostructured W/WC electrocatalyst featuring vertically stacked interfaces and embedded in N-doped porous graphitic carbon (denoted as W/WC@N-PGC) as a high-performance electrocatalyst for the HER in a wide pH range.

Highly Conductive and Stable Composite Polymer Electrolyte with Boron Nitride Nanotubes for All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

All-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs) have emerged as the most promising next-generation energy storage devices. However, the unsatisfactory ionic conductivity of solid electrolytes at room temperature has impeded the advancement of solid-state batteries. In this work, a multifunctional composite solid electrolyte (CSE) is developed by incorporating boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) into polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP).

4-Octyl itaconate blocks GSDMB-mediated pyroptosis and restricts inflammation by inactivating granzyme A.

GSDMB-mediated pyroptosis facilitates a pro-inflammatory immune microenvironment and needs to be tightly regulated to avoid excessive inflammation. Here, we provide evidence that itaconate and its cell-permeable derivative 4-octyl itaconate (4-OI) can significantly inhibit GSDMB-rendered pyroptotic activity independent of Nrf2. 4-OI interferes proteolytic process of GSDMB by directly modifying Cys54, Cys148 and Ser212 on granzyme A (GrzA), a serine protease that site-specifically cleaves the inter-domain linker of GSDMB, instead of interaction with GSDMB, thereby blocking pyroptosis and exerts anti-inflammatory effects.

Long-Lifespan Fibrous Aqueous Ni//Bi Battery Enabled by BiO-BiS Hierarchical Heterostructures.

Bismuth oxide (BiO) materials are considered as great promising anodes for aqueous batteries on account of the high capacity as well as wide potential plateau. Nevertheless, the low conductivity and severe volumetric change of BiO in the course of cycling are the main limiting factors for their application in energy-storage systems. Herein, we propose and design unique hierarchical heterostructures constructed by BiO and BiS nanosheets (NSs) manufactured immediately on the surface of carbon nanotube fibers (CNTFs).

Covalently bridging graphene edges for improving mechanical and electrical properties of fibers.

Assembling graphene sheets into macroscopic fibers with graphitic layers uniaxially aligned along the fiber axis is of both fundamental and technological importance. However, the optimal performance of graphene-based fibers has been far lower than what is expected based on the properties of individual graphene. Here we show that both mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of graphene-based fibers can be significantly improved if bridges are created between graphene edges through covalent conjugating aromatic amide bonds.

High-Fluidity/High-Strength Dual-Layer Gel Electrolytes Enable Ultra-Flexible and Dendrite-Free Fiber-Shaped Aqueous Zinc Metal Battery.

Fiber-shaped aqueous zinc-ion batteries (FAZIBs) with intrinsic safety, highcapacity, and superb omnidirectional flexibility hold promise for wearable energy-supply devices. However, the interfacial separation of fiber-shaped electrodes and electrolytes caused by Zinc (Zn) stripping process and severe Zn dendrites occurring at the folded area under bending condition seriously restricts FAZIBs' practical application. Here, an advanced confinement encapsulation strategy is originally reported to construct dual-layer gel electrolyte consisting of high-fluidity polyvinyl alcohol-Zn acetate inner layer and high-strength Zn alginate outer layer for fiber-shaped Zn anode.

Interfacial Electron Transfer in PbI@Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube van der Waals Heterostructures for High-Stability Self-Powered Photodetectors.

Acquiring a deep insight into the electron transfer mechanism and applications of one-dimensional (1D) van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) has always been a significant challenge. Herein, through direct observation using aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (AC-TEM), we verify the stable formation of a high-quality 1D heterostructure composed of PbI@single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The phenomenon of electron transfer between PbI and SWCNT is elucidated through spectroscopic investigations, including Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Horizontally Arranged Zn Platelet Deposition Regulated by BiO/Bi toward High-Rate and Dendrite-Free 3D Zn Composite Anode.

Aqueous Zn-metal battery is considered as a promising energy-storage system. However, uncontrolled zinc dendrite growth is the main cause of short-circuit failure in aqueous Zn-based batteries. One of the most efficient and convenient strategies to alleviate this issue is to introduce appropriate zincophilic nucleation sites to guide zinc metal deposition and regulate crystal growth.

Construction of Medusa-Like Adhesive Carbon Nanotube Array Induced by Deformation of Alumina Sheets.

To change the binary structure of nanotube and nanotube array in vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays, this work deposits regularly arranged amorphous alumina sheets on the classical array growth catalyst (10 nm-thick alumina and 2 nm-thick iron) and obtains an array similar to the Medusa head. Subsequent experiments revealed that these alumina sheets show both unstable and stable qualities during growth: unstable in that they thermally deform and change their newly discovered characteristics of blocking carbon source diffusion, which regulates the nanotube growth order in specific areas; stable in that they withstand the deformation caused by heat and sequential growth of nanotubes, serving as a substrate and buffer layer for Medusa's hair, i.e.

Itaconate inhibits SYK through alkylation and suppresses inflammation against hvKP induced intestinal dysbiosis.

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) is a highly lethal opportunistic pathogen that elicits more severe inflammatory responses compared to classical Klebsiella pneumoniae (cKP). In this study, we investigated the interaction between hvKP infection and the anti-inflammatory immune response gene 1 (IRG1)-itaconate axis. Firstly, we demonstrated the activation of the IRG1-itaconate axis induced by hvKP, with a dependency on SYK signaling rather than STING.

Transition metal nitrides embedded in N-doped porous graphitic Carbon: Applications as electrocatalytic sulfur host materials.

While transition metal nitrides (TMNs) are promising electrocatalysts, their widespread use is challenged by the complex synthetic methodology and a limited understanding of the underlying electrocatalytic mechanisms. Herein, we describe a novel synthesis of TMNs (including MoN, NbN, and ZrN) and explore their potential as electrocatalysts to affect sulfur cathode reactions. The TMNs were prepared in-situ using a process that simultaneously infuses nitrogen-doped porous graphitic carbon (designated as TMN@N-PGC).

Precise Orchestration of Gasdermins' Pore-Forming Function by Posttranslational Modifications in Health and Disease.

Gasdermins (GSDMs) serve as pivotal executors of pyroptosis and play crucial roles in host defence, cytokine secretion, innate immunity, and cancer. However, excessive or inappropriate GSDMs activation is invariably accompanied by exaggerated inflammation and results in tissue damage. In contrast, deficient or impaired activation of GSDMs often fails to promptly eliminate pathogens, leading to the increasing severity of infections.

Fluorescent Fiber-Shaped Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries for Bifunctional Multicolor-Emission/Energy-Storage Textiles.

Wearable smart textiles are natural carriers to enable imperceptible and highly permeable sensing and response to environmental conditions via the system integration of multiple functional fibers. However, the existing massive interfaces between different functional fibers significantly increase the complexity and reduce the wearability of the textile system. Thus, it is significant yet challenging to achieve all-in-one multifunctional fibers for realizing miniaturized and lightweight smart textiles with high reliability.

Metallic W/WO solid-acid catalyst boosts hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline electrolyte.

The lack of available protons severely lowers the activity of alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction process than that in acids, which can be efficiently accelerated by tuning the coverage and chemical environment of protons on catalyst surface. However, the cycling of active sites by proton transfer is largely dependent on the utilization of noble metal catalysts because of the appealing electronic interaction between noble metal atoms and protons. Herein, an all-non-noble W/WO metallic heterostructure serving as an efficient solid-acid catalyst exhibits remarkable hydrogen evolution reaction performance with an ultra-low overpotential of -35 mV at -10 mA/cm and a small Tafel slope (-34 mV/dec), as well as long-term durability of hydrogen production (>50 h) at current densities of -10 and -50 mA/cm in alkaline electrolyte.

Efficient Catalysis of Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Fe O -CoP Heterostructure Nanosheets for Polysulfide Redox Reactions.

The "shuttle effect" and slow redox reactions of Li-S batteries limit their practical application. To solve these problems, a judicious catalyst design for improved battery cycle life and rate performance is essential. Herein, this issue is addressed by modifying the Li-S battery separator using a 2D Fe O -CoP heterostructure that combines the dual functions of polar Fe O and high-conductivity CoP.

Anchoring Polar Organic Molecules in Defective Ammonium Vanadate for High-Performance Flexible Aqueous Zinc-Ion Battery.

Ammonium vanadate (NVO) often has unsatisfactory electrochemical performance due to the irreversible removal of NH during the reaction. Herein, layered DMF-NVO nanoflake arrays (NFAs) grown on highly conductive carbon cloth (CC) are employed as the binder-free cathode (DMF-NVO NFAs/CC), which produces an enlarged interlayer spacing of 12.6 Å (against 9.

CircASPH Enhances Exosomal STING to Facilitate M2 Macrophage Polarization in Colorectal Cancer.

Exosomes are considered a mediator of communication within the tumor microenvironment (TME), which modulates cancer progression through transmitting cargos between cancer cells and other cancer-related cells in TME. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged to be regulators in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, but most of them have not been discussed in CRC. This study aims to investigate the role of circRNA aspartate beta-hydroxylase (circASPH) in CRC progression and its correlation with exosome-mediated TME.

Nonstoichiometric Scandium Oxide Hybridized in N-Doped Porous Graphitic Carbon Promotes the Rate Capability of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Nonstoichiometric compounds are widely used in contemporary energy technologies due to their high surface polarity, tailored electronic structure, high electrical conductivity, and other enhanced properties. However, the preparation of such nonstoichiometric compounds can be complicated and, in some cases, uncontrollable and dangerous. Here, we report a "one-pot" strategy for synthesizing N-doped porous graphitic carbon that is hybridized with nonstoichiometric scandium oxide (denoted as ScO@N-PGC) and show that the composite significantly promotes sulfur cathode kinetics in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries.