A highly stable multifunctional aptamer for enhancing antitumor immunity against hepatocellular carcinoma by blocking dual immune checkpoints.

T-lymphocytes play a potent role in cancer immunotherapy; while, limited tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) combined with severe immunosuppression always significantly hinder their antitumor immune responses, especially in solid tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we prepared a highly stable multifunctional aptamer for strengthening antitumor immunity against HCC solid tumors through a dual immune checkpoint blockade of CTLA-4 and PD-L1. The engineered multifunctional aptamer (termed P1/C4-bi-apt) can block both CTLA-4/B7 and PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathways and thus enhance the antitumor immune responses.

Visualizing the growth process of sodium microstructures in sodium batteries by in-situ Na MRI and NMR spectroscopy.

The growth of sodium dendrites and the associated solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer is a critical and fundamental issue influencing the safety and cycling lifespan of sodium batteries. In this work, we use in-situ Na magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques, along with an innovative analytical approach, to provide space-resolved and quantitative insights into the formation and evolution of sodium metal microstructures (SMSs; that is, dendritic and mossy Na metal) during the deposition and stripping processes. Our results reveal that the growing SMSs give rise to a linear increase in the overpotential until a transition voltage of 0.

Preparation and characterization of a possible topological insulator BiYO3: experiment versus theory.

The Bi-Y-O system has been investigated by X-ray powder diffraction, electron diffraction, UV-vis and IR experiments. A metastable cubic high temperature phase of BiYO3 with fluorite-type structure has been structurally characterized for the first time and shows a large band gap of ∼ 5.9 eV.

Sulfur- and nitrogen-doped, ferrocene-derived mesoporous carbons with efficient electrochemical reduction of oxygen.

Development of inexpensive and sustainable cathode catalysts that can efficiently catalyze the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of significance in practical application of fuel cells. Herein we report the synthesis of sulfur and nitrogen dual-doped, ordered mesoporous carbon (SN-OMCs), which shows outstanding ORR electrocatalytic properties. The material was synthesized from a surface-templating process of ferrocene within the channel walls of SBA-15 mesoporous silica by carbonization, followed by in situ heteroatomic doping with sulfur- and nitrogen-containing vapors.

Micranthanone A, a new diterpene with an unprecedented carbon skeleton from Rhododendron micranthum.

A new diterpene with an unprecedented carbon skeleton, micranthanone A (1), two new grayanane diterpenoids bearing an unusual 5,6-(3,4-dihydroxylbenzylidene acetal) motif, rhodomicranols A (2) and B (3), and three known grayanane diterpenoids (4-6) were isolated from Rhododendron micranthum. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses, calculated ECD, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The in vitro immunomodulatory activities of 1-6 were evaluated, and a plausible biogenetic pathway for 1 is proposed.

Metal-rich chalcogenides. Synthesis, structure, and bonding of the layered Lu11Te4. Comparison with the similar Sc8Te3 and Ti11Se4.

The high-yield synthesis of Lu11Te4 by reaction of the components and annealing at 1200 degrees C is described. The structure determined by single-crystal diffraction means is monoclinic C2/m, Z = 6, a = 30.412(3) A, b = 3.

[FTIR studies on two compounds containing cyanide].

Two compounds containing cyanide [Ni(1,10-phen)2O2MoS2(CuCN)]n and [ZnCu4 (CN)6(dmf)4]n have been synthesized. The FTIR spectra and the crystal structure of those clusters have also been deal with. The stretching frequency of cyanide is alterable with the different coordinated environments.