Controllable Synthesis of High-Quality Magnetic Topological Insulator MnBiTe and MnBiTe Multilayers by Chemical Vapor Deposition.

With a nontrivial topological band and intrinsic magnetic order, two-dimensional (2D) MnBiTe-family materials exhibit great promise for exploring exotic quantum phenomena and potential applications. However, the synthesis of 2D MnBiTe-family materials via chemical vapor deposition (CVD), which is essential for advancing device applications, still remains a significant challenge since it is difficult to control the reactions among multi-precursors and form pure phases. Here, we report a controllable synthesis of high-quality magnetic topological insulator MnBiTe and MnBiTe multilayers via an evaporation-rate-controlled CVD approach.

Tumor-Specific Protein Induced in Situ Self-Assembly of Peptide Drugs for Synergistic Mitochondria Disruption.

Mitochondria-targeted cancer therapy is an effective method for controlling tumor growth. However, the presence of repair mechanisms in tumor cells in response to mitochondrial damage poses significant challenges for treatment. By taking advantage of intracellular self-assembly technology, a peptide nanomaterial, RC-K-FX, that enters tumor cells in a monomeric form is designed.

Structural-Functional Integrated Graphene-Skinned Aramid Fibers for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

Structural-functional integrated polymer fibers with exciting properties are increasingly important for next-generation technologies. Herein, we report the structural-functional integrated graphene-skinned aramid fiber (GRAF) featuring high conductivity, high strength, and light weight, which is weaved for efficient electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. Graphene was self-assembled onto the surface of aramid fibers through a dip-coating strategy using an aramid polyanion (APA) as the binder and the etchant.

Cell-Penetrating Peptide Induced Superstructures Triggering Highly Efficient Antibacterial Activity.

To endow non-antibacterial molecules with highly efficient bactericide activity is an important but challenging issue. Herein, a kind of cell-penetrating peptide octa-arginine (R8) is found to be effective in activating antibacterial ability when assembling with anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), while individual R8 or SDS shows poor or no antibacterial ability. By combined electrostatic, hydrogen bond, and hydrophobic interactions, R8 and SDS associate into wormlike micelle and lamellar structure by forming supramolecular self-assembling units, depending on their charge ratio (CR).

Carbon-Oxygen Radical Assisted Growth of Defect-Free Graphene Films Using Low-Temperature Chemical Vapor Deposition.

Low-temperature chemical vapor deposition growth of graphene films is a long-term pursuit in the graphene synthesis field because of the low energy consumption, short heating-cooling process and low wrinkle density of as-obtained films. However, insufficient energy supply at low temperature (below 850 °C) usually leads to the difficulty in carbon source dissociation, graphene growth, and defect healing. Herein, a Carbon-Oxygen (C─O) radical assisted strategy is proposed for low-temperature growth of defect-free, wrinkle-free, and single-crystalline graphene films by using methanol precursor.

Hepatic Stellate Cell Membrane-Camouflaged Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery of an Antifibrotic Agent to Hepatic Stellate Cells with Enhanced Antifibrosis Efficacy.

Liver fibrosis is characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins primarily produced by activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The activation of HSCs plays a pivotal role in driving the progression of liver fibrosis. Achieving specific targeted delivery of antifibrotic agents toward activated HSCs remains a formidable challenge.

The Molecular Additive N-Acetyl-L-Phenylalanine Delays the Crystallization and Suppresses the Phase Impurity for Achieving Triple-Cation Perovskite Solar Cells with Efficiency Over 25.

The crystallization process plays an important role in the formation of high-quality perovskite film for achieving efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs), especially in the formation of mixed-cation perovskite film, as there are normally more phase impurities than in pure CH(NH)PbI (FAPbI) film. Herein, a molecular additive strategy, i.e.

Radiative energy transfer enabling upconverted circularly polarized persistent luminescence for multilevel information encryption.

Optically active persistent luminescent materials are highly promising for anticounterfeiting applications due to their distinct luminescent features and the ability to display unique optical polarization properties. Despite significant progress in the development of circularly polarized persistent luminescence (CPPL) materials, the fabrication of upconverted circularly polarized persistent luminescence (UC-CPPL) materials remains a considerable challenge. In this study, we present an efficient strategy to construct UC-CPPL materials by embedding upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and phosphors into chiral nematic liquid crystals (N*LC).

Upper Layer-Modulated Pseudo Planar Heterojunction with Metal Complex Acceptor for Efficient and Stable Organic Photovoltaics.

Modulating self-aggregation and charge transport in the upper acceptor layer of the pseudo planar heterojunction (PPHJ) is crucial for enhancing dielectric constant and suppressing trap density, leading to efficient and stable organic photovoltaics (OPVs). In this work, a metal complex acceptor (MCA), PtAC-Cl, is selectively incorporated into the upper host Y6 layer of PPHJ to regulate morphology and fill trap states. There exists a strong chemical interaction between PtAC-Cl and Y6, which can promote electron transfer.

Circular Adhesion Substrates Inhibiting Cell Polarization and Proliferation via Graded Texture of Geometric Micropatterns.

Most melanomas that occur on the skin surface originate from a newly formed nevus and grow outward in a circular pattern and metastasize from the nevus center. Herein, a circular microfabricated substrate is constructed to explore the growth behavior of melanoma cells. Modeling software is used to calculate appropriate parameters, including shape and size, and then the substrates are processed with microfabrication technologies.

Ambipolar Charging Responses of Nanoscale Interfaces.

Low-dimensional -based carbon nanostructures, known for their remarkable transport properties and mechanical behaviors, are widely used as reinforcing phases in polymer composites to enhance their performance. While carbon nanocomposites are promising materials for extreme conditions, the damage mechanisms due to charge injection at the interfaces between carbon nanostructures and polymers remain unclear. Using first-principles calculations, we investigated ambipolar charging and structural responses at the interfaces between industrially relevant polymers and carbon nanotubes or graphene upon electron and hole injection.

Drug nanocrystals: Surface engineering and its applications in targeted delivery.

Drug nanocrystals have received significant attention in drug development due to their enhanced dissolution rate and improved water solubility, making them effective in overcoming issues related to drug hydrophobicity, thereby improving drug bioavailability and treatment effectiveness. Recent advances in preparation techniques have facilitated research on drug surface properties, leading to valuable surface engineering strategies. Surface modification can stabilize drug nanocrystals, making them suitable for versatile drug delivery platforms.

Cooperative Use of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes and Thiols on a Silver Surface: A Synergetic Approach to Surface Modification.

Surface modification through the formation of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) can effectively engineer the physicochemical properties of the surface/material. However, the precise design of multifunctional SAMs at the molecular level is still a major challenge. Here, we jointly use N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and thiols to form multifunctional hetero-SAM systems that demonstrate excellent chemical stability, electrical conductivity, and, in silico, catalytic activity.

Protein corona potentiates the recovery of nanoparticle-induced disrupted tight junctions in endothelial cells.

Nanoparticle interactions with biological systems are intricate processes influenced by various factors, among which the formation of protein corona plays a pivotal role. This research investigates a novel aspect of nanoprotein corona-cell interactions, focusing on the impact of the protein corona on the recovery of disrupted tight junctions in endothelial cells. We demonstrate that the protein corona formed on the surface of star-shaped nanoparticles induces the aggregates of ZO-1, which is quite important for the barriers' integrity.

Fe/Cu Bimetallic Nanozyme Co-Assembled with Lu and Tanshinone for Quadruple-Synergistic Tumor-Specific Therapy.

The co-loading of radionuclides and small-molecule chemotherapeutic drugs as nanotheranostic platforms using nanozymes holds tremendous potential for imaging-guided synergistic therapy. This study presents such nanotheranostic platform (Lu-MFeCu@Tan) via co-assembling Lu radionuclide and tanshinone (Tan) into Fe/Cu dual-metal nanozyme (MFeCu). This platform simultaneously enables single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging and a quadruple-synergistic tumor therapy approach, including internal radioisotope therapy (RIT), catalysis therapy, chemotherapy, and MFeCu-mediated ferroptosis and cuproptosis therapy.

Spatially Controlled MicroRNA Imaging in Mitochondria via Enzymatic Activation of Hybridization Chain Reaction.

Live-cell imaging of RNA in specific subcellular compartments is essential for elucidating the rich repertoire of cellular functions, but it has been limited by a lack of simple, precisely controlled methods. Here such an approach is presented via the combination of hybridization chain reaction and spatially restricted enzymatic activation with organelle-targeted delivery. The system can localize engineered DNA hairpins in the mitochondria, where target RNA-initiated chain reaction of hybridization events is selectively activated by a specific enzyme, enabling amplified RNA imaging with high precision.

Prussian blue nanocages as efficient radical scavengers and photothermal agents for reducing amyloid-beta induced neurotoxicity.

The unusual accumulation of amyloid-beta 1-42 (Aβ) is an essential pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and development of Aβ nanomodulators offers a potentially therapeutic approach to AD. Here, we report facile synthesis of the hollow mesocrystalline Prussian blue nanocages (HMPBs), which serve as versatile Aβ modulators. Due to the hollow nanostructures and large specific surface area, they can effectively inhibit Aβ aggregation by adsorption.

Advanced Preparation Methods and Biomedical Applications of Single-Atom Nanozymes.

Metal nanoparticles with inherent defects can harness biomolecules to catalyze reactions within living organisms, thereby accelerating the advancement of multifunctional diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. In the quest for superior catalytic efficiency and selectivity, atomically dispersed single-atom nanozymes (SANzymes) have garnered significant interest recently. This review concentrates on the development of SANzymes, addressing potential challenges such as fabrication strategies, surface engineering, and structural characteristics.

Unveiling the Antibacterial Mechanism of Gold Nanoparticles by Analyzing Bacterial Metabolism at the Molecular Level.

The threat of drug-resistant bacteria is challenging, and it is urgent to explore new antibiotics. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are known to be a group of promising antibacterial agents for replacing conventional antibiotics. Nevertheless, their antibacterial mechanism remains to be elucidated.