Cascade-Responsive Nanoparticles for Efficient CRISPR/Cas9-Based Glioblastoma Gene Therapy.

CRISPR/Cas9 (CRISPR, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) gene editing technology represents great promise for treating glioblastoma (GBM) due to its potential to permanently eliminate tumor pathogenic genes. Unfortunately, delivering CRISPR to the GBM in a safe and effective manner is challenging. Herein, a glycosylated and cascade-responsive nanoparticle (GCNP) that can effectively cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and activate CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing only in the GBM is designed.

Significantly Enhanced Acidic Oxygen Evolution Reaction Performance of RuO Nanoparticles by Introducing Oxygen Vacancy with Polytetrafluoroethylene.

The supported RuO catalysts are known for their synergistic and interfacial effects, which significantly enhance both catalytic activity and stability. However, polymer-supported RuO catalysts have received limited attention due to challenges associated with poor conductivity. In this study, we successfully synthesized the RuO-polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) catalyst via a facile annealing process.

The association between urinary lead concentration and the likelihood of kidney stones in US adults: a population-based study.

The negative effects of lead exposure on human health have attracted widespread attention. Our present study focused on assessing the relationship between urinary lead levels (ULL) and the risk of kidney stones in US adults. We used data from NHANES 2007-2018 for this cross-sectional study, where participants had complete data on ULL and kidney stones.

Regulation of TADF by Internal and External Heavy Atom Effect in D-A MOF for Heterocrystal based Temperature-Compensated Photonic Device.

The application of temperature-compensated photonic device is hampered by poor accuracy and overly simplistic functions of propagation in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) field. Herein, we report a new library of donor-acceptor metal-organic framework (D-A MOF) with thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) and the fabricating of temperature-compensated photonic device by virtue of the unique temperature response character of TADF emitters. Highly tunable through-space charge transfer (TSCT) of TADF was realized within the D-A MOFs through a novel strategy that synergistically combines the internal heavy atom effect (HAE) with an external HAE, induced by the incorporation of heavy atoms into different components, achieving the regulable photophysical indicators including adjustable PL wavelength (534 to 592 nm) and surging quantum yield (5.

A hybrid meta on-top functional for multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory.

Multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory (MC-PDFT) was proposed a decade ago, but it is still in the early stage of density functional development. MC-PDFT uses functionals that are called on-top functionals; they depend on the density and the on-top pair density. Most MC-PDFT calculations to date have been unoptimized translations of generalized gradient approximations (GGAs) of Kohn-Sham density functional theory (KS-DFT).

High-Pressure Polymerization of Phenol toward Degree-4 Carbon Nanothread.

Saturated sp-carbon nanothreads (CNTh) have garnered significant interest due to their predicted high Young's modulus and thermal conductivity. While the incorporation of heteroatoms into the central ring has been shown to influence the formation of CNTh and yield chemically homogeneous products, the impact of pendant groups on the polymerization process remains underexplored. In this study, we investigate the pressure-induced polymerization of phenol, revealing two phase transitions occurring below 0.

ROS-Responsive Microneedle Patches Enable Peri-Lacrimal Gland Therapeutic Administration for Long-Acting Therapy of Sjögren's Syndrome-Related Dry Eye.

Sjögren's syndrome-related dry eye (SSDE) is a severe dry eye subtype characterized by significant immune cell attacks on the lacrimal gland. However, delivering immunosuppressive drugs to the lacrimal glands for SSDE therapy safely and sustainably poses significant challenges in clinical practice. Herein, a ROS-responsive microneedle patch with detachable functionality (CE-MN) is developed to enable straightforward and minimally invasive administration to the lacrimal gland area by penetrating the periocular skin.

Formamidine as an Easy-On and Easy-Off Linker for Reversible Crosslinking of Two Alkyl Amines in Peptide Stapling and Conjugation.

Amino groups are abundant in both natural and synthetic molecules, offering highly accessible sites for modifying native biorelevant molecules. Despite significant progress with more reactive thiol groups, methods for ligating two amino groups with reversible linkers for bioconjugation applications remain elusive. Herein, we report the use of oxidative decarboxylative condensation of glyoxylic acid to crosslink or ligate two alkyl amines via a compact formamidine linkage, applicable in both intra- and intermolecular contexts.

Tailoring the Porous Structure of Carbon for Enhanced Oxidative Cleavage and Esterification of C(CO)-C Bonds.

The cleavage and functionalization of carbon-carbon bonds are crucial for the reconstruction and upgrading of organic matrices, particularly in the valorization of biomass, plastics, and fossil resources. However, the inherent kinetic inertness and thermodynamic stability of C-C σ bonds make this process challenging. Herein, we fabricated a glucose-derived defect-rich hierarchical porous carbon as a heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidative cleavage and esterification of C(CO)-C bonds.

Application of deep learning model based on unenhanced chest CT for opportunistic screening of osteoporosis: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: A large number of middle-aged and elderly patients have an insufficient understanding of osteoporosis and its harm. This study aimed to establish and validate a convolutional neural network (CNN) model based on unenhanced chest computed tomography (CT) images of the vertebral body and skeletal muscle for opportunistic screening in patients with osteoporosis.

Materials And Methods: Our team retrospectively collected clinical information from participants who underwent unenhanced chest CT and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examinations between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, at four hospitals.

Aging of Polystyrene Micro/Nanoplastics Enhances Cephalosporin Phototransformation via Structure-Sensitive Interfacial Hydrogen Bonding.

Beyond their roles in adsorbing and transporting pollutants, microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), particularly polystyrene variants (PS-M/NPs), have emerged as potential accelerators for the transformation of coexisting contaminants. This study uncovered a novel environmental phenomenon induced by aged PS-M/NPs and delved into the underlying mechanisms. Our findings revealed that the aged PS-M/NP particles significantly amplified the photodegradation of common cephalosporin antibiotics, and the extent of enhancement was tightly correlated to the molecular structures of cephalosporin antibiotics.

Azithromycin-loaded PLGA microspheres coated with silk fibroin ameliorate inflammation and promote periodontal tissue regeneration.

Periodontitis, a widespread inflammatory disease, is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. While mechanical periodontal therapy benefits the periodontal disease treatment, adjunctive periodontal therapy is also necessary. Topically applied anti-inflammatory agents have gained considerable attention in periodontitis therapy.

Mining functional gene modules by multi-view NMF of phenome-genome association.

Background: Mining functional gene modules from genomic data is an important step to detect gene members of pathways or other relations such as protein-protein interactions. This work explores the plausibility of detecting functional gene modules by factorizing gene-phenotype association matrix from the phenotype ontology data rather than the conventionally used gene expression data. Recently, the hierarchical structure of phenotype ontologies has not been sufficiently utilized in gene clustering while functionally related genes are consistently associated with phenotypes on the same path in phenotype ontologies.

Self-critical strategy adjustment based artificial intelligence method in generating diagnostic reports of respiratory diseases.

Objective: Humanity faces many health challenges, among which respiratory diseases are one of the leading causes of human death. Existing AI-driven pre-diagnosis approaches can enhance the efficiency of diagnosis but still face challenges. For example, single-modal data suffer from information redundancy or loss, difficulty in learning relationships between features, and revealing the obscure characteristics of complex diseases.

Colloids fractionation and characterization of arsenic (As) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in surface water around a closed arsenic mine.

The speciation and mobility of arsenic (As) in waters are largely influenced by the colloids; however, the impacts of colloids with different molecular weights (MWs) in water fractions remain largely unknown. Herein, the surface water was fractionated into three colloidal fractions and truly dissolved fraction via cross-flow ultrafiltration. Total As (As(T)) presented mainly as As(V) and existed primarily in the truly dissolved fraction.

Overlooked risks of photoaging of nitrogenous microplastics with natural organic matter in water: Augmenting the formation of nitrogenous disinfection by-products.

In aqueous environments, microplastics (MPs) undergo photoaging, releasing dissolved organic matter (DOM). Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formation from natural organic matter (NOM) phototransformation has been reported. However, the impact of NOM on the photoaging of MPs (especially nitrogen-containing MPs) and subsequent nitrogenous DBPs (N-DBPs) formation remains unknown.

Noninvasive Assessment of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Prognosis in Gastric Cancer Through Radiomic Features.

Introduction: Gastric cancer (GC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with delayed diagnosis often limiting effective treatment options. This study introduces a novel, noninvasive radiomics-based approach using [18F] FDG PET/CT (fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography) to predict vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) status and survival in patients with GC. The ability to noninvasively assess these parameters can significantly influence therapeutic decisions and outcomes.

Local Environment-Modulated f-f Transition in Unit-Cell-Sized Lanthanide Ultrathin Nanostructures.

The regulation of the f-f transition is the basis of utilizing the abundant optical properties of lanthanide (Ln), of which the key is to modulate the local environment of Ln ions. Here, we constructed Eu(III)-based unit-cell-sized ultrathin nanowires (UCNWs) with red luminescence and polymer-like behavior, which appears as an ideal carrier for regulating f-f transition. The f-f transition of Eu(III) in UCNWs could be precisely regulated through various ligands.

Mastering the Copolymerization Behavior of Ethyl Cyanoacrylate as Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium-metal Battery Application.

Polymers with strong electron-withdrawing groups (e.g., cyano-containing polymers) are attractive for a wide range of applications due to their high dielectric constant and outstanding electrochemical stability.

Vesicle-Encapsulated Chemosensing Ensembles Allow Monitoring of Transmembrane Uptake Coupled with Enzymatic Reactions.

Compartmentalized models with coupled catalytic networks are considered as "protocells" in the context of research related to the origin of life. To model the kinetics of a simple cellular uptake-metabolism process, we use a compartmentalized protocell system that combines liposome-encapsulated intravesicular reporter pairs with co-encapsulated enzymes to monitor the membrane transport of a substrate (analyte uptake) and its subsequent enzymatic reaction inside the vesicles (metabolism to the product). The intravesicular chemosensing ensembles consist of the macrocycles cucurbit[7]uril or p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene and matching fluorescent dyes to set up suitable reporter pairs.

A Dual-Targeting Biomimetic Nanoplatform Integrates SDT/CDT/Gas Therapy to Boost Synergistic Ferroptosis for Orthotopic Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy.

The development of efficient therapeutic strategies to promote ferroptotic cell death offers significant potential for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. Herein, this study presents an HCC-targeted nanoplatform that integrates bimetallic FeMoO nanoparticles with CO-releasing molecules, and further camouflaged with SP94 peptide-modified macrophage membrane for enhanced ferroptosis-driven multi-modal therapy of HCC. Leveraging the multi-enzyme activities of the multivalent metallic elements, the nanoplatform not only decomposes HO to generate oxygen and alleviate tumor hypoxia but also depletes glutathione to inactivate glutathione peroxides 4, which amplify sonodynamic therapy and ferroptotic tumor death under ultrasound (US) irradiation.

A Y-Shaped Peptide-Based Antifouling Electrochemical Aptasensor for Sensitive Aflatoxin B1 Detection in Food.

Conquering surface fouling of sensors caused by nonspecific adsorption and accumulation of foulants in a food matrix is of significance in accurate food safety analysis. Herein, an antifouling electrochemical aptasensor based on a Y-shaped peptide and nanoporous gold (NPG) for aflatoxin B1 detection in milk, tofu, and rice flour was proposed. The self-designed Y-shaped peptide involves an anchoring segment (-C), a support structure (-PPPP-), and an antifouling domain with two branches (-EK(KSRE)DER-) inspired by two bioactive peptides.

Two-Dimensional Material-Based Nanofluidic Devices and Their Applications.

Nanofluidics is an interdisciplinary field of study that bridges hydrodynamics, statistical physics, chemistry, materials science, biology, and other fields to investigate the transport of fluids and ions on the nanometric scale. The progress in this field, however, has been constrained by challenges in fabricating nanofluidic devices suitable for systematic investigations. Recent advances in two-dimensional (2D) materials have revolutionized the development of nanofluids.

FKBP10 Promotes the Muscle Invasion of Bladder Cancer via Lamin A Dysregulation.

Bladder cancer (BC) is a prevalent urinary malignancy and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is particularly aggressive and associated with poor prognosis. One of MIBC features is the nuclear atypia. However, the molecular mechanism underlying MIBC remains unclear.