Neurotransmitter-Mimicking Nanovesicles Facilitate Postoperative Glioblastoma Stem Cell-Specific Treatment for Preventing Tumor Recurrence.

Survival quality of glioblastoma (GBM) patients remains undesirable despite the aggressive multimodal treatment methods implemented, which are strongly associated with tumor recurrence after surgical resection. Self-renewal and strong tumourigenic capacity of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) at the narrow margin of the incision are essential factors driving tumor secondary strikes. Currently, the challenges in treating postoperative residual GSCs are mainly due to the lack of materials for incision and GSCs targeting.

X-ray-activated nanoscintillators integrated with tumor-associated neutrophils polarization for improved radiotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Radiotherapy, employing high-energy rays to precisely target and eradicate tumor cells, plays a pivotal role in the treatment of various malignancies. Despite its therapeutic potential, the effectiveness of radiotherapy is hindered by the tumor's inherent low radiosensitivity and the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Here we present an innovative approach that integrates peroxynitrite (ONOO)-mediated radiosensitization with the tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) polarization for the reversal of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), greatly amplifying the potency of radiotherapy.

Integrated analysis of metabolome, lipidome, and gut microbiome reveals the immunomodulation of Astragali radix in healthy human subjects.

Background: As a typical medicinal food homology species, Chinese herbal medicine Astragali radix (AR) has been widely used to regulate the human immune system worldwide. However, the human immunomodulation of AR and its corresponding mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods: First, following a fortnight successive AR administration, the changes in immune cytokines and immune cells from 20 healthy human subjects were used as immune indicators to characterize the immunomodulatory effects of AR.

Cascade-Activatable Nanoprodrug System Augments Sonochemotherapy of Bladder Cancer.

Sonochemotherapy (SCT) has emerged as a powerful modality for cancer treatment by triggering excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and controlled release of chemotherapeutic agents under ultrasound. However, achieving spatiotemporally controlled release of chemotherapeutic agents during ROS generation is still an enormous challenge. In this work, we developed a cascade-activated nanoprodrug () system that utilizes a reversible covalent Schiff base mixed with a hypoxia-activatable camptothecin (CPT) prodrug.

Chemical Synthesis of ~1 nm Multilevel Capacitor-like Particles with Atomic Precision.

Can the chemically synthesized nanoparticles act as nanodevices or nanomachines? Herein, we demonstrated this feasibility. A novel nanocluster (ultrasmall nanoparticle) [AuCd(m-MBT)][N(CH)] (AuCd in short, m-MBTH: m-methylbenzenethiol) obtained via developing a synthesis method has a cannula-like structure of the outer shell and an internal sleeve, revealed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Natural population analysis (NPA) charge calculations, charge carrier transport of AuCd (during which an intra-nanocluster anti-galvanic reaction was observed) after unneutral charging using NaBH as well as voltammetry proved the capacitor-like character of AuCd.

Integrating lipidomics, 16S rRNA sequencing, and network pharmacology to explore the mechanism of Qikui granule in treating diabetic kidney disease mice.

Qikui granule (QKG), a hospital preparation of traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used for diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in clinical practice. However, its holistic therapeutic effects and the underlying therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, the integrated analysis of network pharmacology, 16S rRNA sequencing, and non-targeted lipidomics was performed to explore the anti-DKD effects of QKG and the underlying mechanisms in db/db mouse DKD model.

Pulling the Rug Out from Under: Biomechanical Microenvironment Remodeling for Induction of Hepatic Stellate Cell Quiescence.

Hepatic fibrosis progresses concomitantly with a variety of biomechanical alternations, especially increased liver stiffness. These biomechanical alterations have long been considered as pathological consequences. Recently, growing evidence proposes that these alternations result in the fibrotic biomechanical microenvironment, which drives the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Research of a 0.14 THz Dual-Cavity Parallel Structure Extended Interaction Oscillator.

This paper presents a method to enhance extended interaction oscillator (EIO) output power based on a dual-cavity parallel structure (DCPS). This stucture consists of two conventional ladder-line structures in parallel through a connecting structure, which improves the coupling efficiency between the cavities. The dual output power fusion structure employs an H-T type combiner as the output coupler, which can effectively combine the two input waves in phase to further increase the output power.

The Landscape of Smart Biomaterial-Based Hydrogen Therapy.

Hydrogen (H) therapy is an emerging, novel, and safe therapeutic modality that uses molecular hydrogen for effective treatment. However, the impact of H therapy is limited because hydrogen molecules predominantly depend on the systemic administration of H gas, which cannot accumulate at the lesion site with high concentration, thus leading to limited targeting and utilization. Biomaterials are developed to specifically deliver H and control its release.

HortGenome Search Engine, a universal genomic search engine for horticultural crops.

Horticultural crops comprising fruit, vegetable, ornamental, beverage, medicinal and aromatic plants play essential roles in food security and human health, as well as landscaping. With the advances of sequencing technologies, genomes for hundreds of horticultural crops have been deciphered in recent years, providing a basis for understanding gene functions and regulatory networks and for the improvement of horticultural crops. However, these valuable genomic data are scattered in warehouses with various complex searching and displaying strategies, which increases learning and usage costs and makes comparative and functional genomic analyses across different horticultural crops very challenging.

A haplotype-resolved genome assembly of Malus domestica 'Red Fuji'.

The 'Red Fuji' apple (Malus domestica), is one of the most important and popular economic crops worldwide in the fruit industry. Using PacBio HiFi long reads and Hi-C reads, we assembled a high-quality haplotype-resolved genome of 'Red Fuji', with sizes of 668.7 and 668.

Concomitant Near-Infrared Photothermy and Photoluminescence of Rod-Shaped Au(PET) and Au(PET) Synthesized Concurrently.

Gold nanoclusters exhibiting concomitant photothermy (PT) and photoluminescence (PL) under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation are rarely reported, and some fundamental issues remain unresolved for such materials. Herein, we concurrently synthesized two novel rod-shaped Au nanoclusters, Au(PET) and Au(PET) (PET = 2-phenylethanethiolate), and precisely revealed that their kernels were 4 × 4 × 6 and 5 × 4 × 6 face-centered cubic (fcc) structures, respectively, based on the numbers of Au layers in the [100], [010], and [001] directions. Following the structural growth mode from Au(PET) to Au(PET), we predicted six more novel nanoclusters.

Degradation and enhanced oil recovery potential of Alcanivorax borkumensis through production of bio-enzyme and bio-surfactant.

Microbial enhanced oil recovery (EOR) has become the focus of oilfield research due to its low cost, environmental friendliness and sustainability. The degradation and EOR capacity of A. borkumensis through the production of bio-enzyme and bio-surfactant were first investigated in this study.

Numerical Simulation of Proppant Transport in Major and Branching Fractures Based on CFD-DEM.

This research investigated the effect of branching fracture, proppant, and fracturing fluid on proppant transport based on the CFD-DEM coupling model. The obtained results show that the balance height of embankment in the major fracture decreases gradually with increasing angle between major and branching fractures, while it increases gradually in the branching fracture. This is because the additional resistance of fracturing fluid flow at the joint increases with increasing angle, leading to the decrease of the fracturing fluid velocity.

Bottom-Up Construction of Metal-Organic Framework Loricae on Metal Nanoclusters with Consecutive Single Nonmetal Atom Tuning for Tailored Catalysis.

The introduction of single or multiple heterometal atoms into metal nanoparticles is a well-known strategy for altering their structures (compositions) and properties. However, surface single nonmetal atom doping is challenging and rarely reported. For the first time, we have developed synthetic methods, realizing "surgery"-like, successive surface single nonmetal atom doping, replacement, and addition for ultrasmall metal nanoparticles (metal nanoclusters, NCs), and successfully synthesized and characterized three novel bcc metal NCs AuI(S-Adm), AuS(S-Adm), and AuIS(S-Adm) (S-Adm: 1-adamantanethiolate).

Ultraconformable Integrated Wireless Charging Micro-Supercapacitor Skin.

Conformable and wireless charging energy storage devices play important roles in enabling the fast development of wearable, non-contact soft electronics. However, current wireless charging power sources are still restricted by limited flexural angles and fragile connection of components, resulting in the failure expression of performance and constraining their further applications in health monitoring wearables and moveable artificial limbs. Herein, we present an ultracompatible skin-like integrated wireless charging micro-supercapacitor, which building blocks (including electrolyte, electrode and substrate) are all evaporated by liquid precursor.

Chromosomal level genome assemblies of two Malus crabapple cultivars Flame and Royalty.

Malus hybrid 'Flame' and Malus hybrid 'Royalty' are representative ornamental crabapples, rich in flavonoids and serving as the preferred materials for studying the coloration mechanism. We generated two sets of high-quality chromosome-level and haplotype-resolved genome of 'Flame' with sizes of 688.2 Mb and 675.

AcousticRobots: Smart acoustically powered micro-/nanoswimmers for precise biomedical applications.

Although nanotechnology has evolutionarily progressed in biomedical field over the past decades, achieving satisfactory therapeutic effects remains difficult with limited delivery efficiency. Ultrasound could provide a deep penetration and maneuverable actuation to efficiently power micro-/nanoswimmers with little harm, offering an emerging and fascinating alternative to the active delivery platform. Recent advances in novel fabrication, controllable concepts like intelligent swarm and the integration of hybrid propulsions have promoted its function and potential for medical applications.

Enhanced photodynamic therapy through multienzyme-like MOF for cancer treatment.

Overcoming resistance to apoptosis is a major challenge in cancer therapy. Recent research has shown that manipulating mitochondria, the organelles critical for energy metabolism in tumor cells, can increase the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy and trigger apoptosis in tumor cells. However, there is currently insufficient research and effective methods to exploit mitochondrial damage to induce apoptosis in tumor cells and improve the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy.

Non-proteolytic ubiquitination of HBx controls HBV replication.

• The expression level of TRIM21 in patients is negatively correlated with the replication and integration of HBV. • TRIM21 was found to trigger non-proteolytic ubiquitination of X protein of HBV. • This study proposes that the PRYSPRY and RING domains in TRIM21 dimer can form a docking conformation for HBx binding.

pH/GSH dual responsive nanosystem for nitric oxide generation enhanced type I photodynamic therapy.

Tumor hypoxia diminishes the effectiveness of traditional type II photodynamic therapy (PDT) due to oxygen consumption. Type I PDT, which can operate independently of oxygen, is a viable option for treating hypoxic tumors. In this study, we have designed and synthesized JSK@PEG-IR820 NPs that are responsive to the tumor microenvironment (TME) to enhance type I PDT through glutathione (GSH) depletion.