On page 3550, G. Lu, L. Wang, and co-workers report yolk–shell structured periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) nanoparticles simultaneously incorporated with ethane, thioether, and benzene moieties. The unique yolk–shell structure is formed via hydrothermal treatment of triple-hybridized PMOs synthesized using a surfactant-directed sol–gel process. Excellent biobehaviors, bioimaging properties, and high anticancer drug loading capacity endowed by the triple-hybridized groups are demonstrated.

On page 3522, Y. Yu and co-workers fabricate nitrogen-doped ordered mesoporous TiO₂ nanofibers (denoted as N-MTO) by electrospinning and subsequent nitridation treatment. Nitrogen atoms are successfully doped into the TiO₂ lattice, accompanied by the formation of Ti³⁺ and oxygen vacancies, contributing to the improvement of electronic conductivity of TiO₂. When used as an anode for a sodium-ion battery, the N-MTO demonstrates excellent rate capability and superior long cycling performance.

Hollow and non-hollow mesoporous silica nanospheres are synthesized and used for cancer vaccine adjuvants by X. Wang, A. Ito, N. M. Tsuji, and co-workers on page 3510. The hollow structure of mesoporous silica nanospheres significantly promotes cellular uptake of a model cancer antigen by macrophage-like cells in vitro, improves anti-cancer immunity, and increases CD4+ and CD8+ T cell populations in splenocytes of mice in vivo.

Black phosphorus (BP) exhibits extraordinary performance, both in electronics and wide range optoelectronic devices due to its suitable bandgap. The unconventional anisotropy in BP arises from its puckered structure, which makes it an anisotropic material at large magnitude. It also has potential applications in gas sensing at ultralow level detection towards various gases, energy storage devices and thermoelectric applications.

In situ bending tests and dynamic modeling simulations are for the first time revealing the mechanical behavior of copper nanowires (NW) with radially grown fivefold twin structures on the atomic scale. Combining the simulations with the experimental results it is shown that both the twin boundaries (TBs) and the twin center act as dislocation sources. TB migration and L-locks are readily observed in these types of radially grown fivefold-twin structures.

Hollow and non-hollow mesoporous silica nanospheres are synthesized and used for cancer vaccine adjuvants. The hollow structure of mesoporous silica nanospheres significantly promote cellular uptake of a model cancer antigen by macrophage-like cells in vitro, improve anti-cancer immunity, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell populations in splenocytes of mice in vivo.

A rapid, environment-friendly, and cost-effective finishing method has been developed for cotton textiles by using zwitterionic NCO-sulfopropylbetaine as the antibacterial finishing agent through covalent bond. The sulfopropylbetaine-finished cotton textile exhibits durable broad-spectrum antibacterial and nonfouling activity, improved mechanical properties, and enhanced comfort.

Nitrogen-doped ordered mesoporous TiO₂ nanofibers (N-MTO) have been fabricated by electrospinning and subsequent nitridation treatment. The N-doping in TiO₂ leads to the formation of Ti³⁺, resulting in the improved electron conductivity of TiO₂. In addition, one-dimensional (1D) N-MTO nanostructure possesses very short diffusion length of Na⁺/e⁻ in N-MTO, easy access of electrolyte, and high conductivity transport of electrons along the percolating fibers. The N-MTO shows excellent sodium storage performance.

Size-tunable small to ultrasmall Cu₂O nanocubes and octahedra are synthesized in aqueous solution without the introduction of any surfactant. These nanocrystals provide strong evidence of the existence of facet-dependent optical absorption properties of Cu₂O nanoparticles, showing nanocubes always have a more redshifted absorption band than that of octahedra having a similar volume by about 15 nm.

A quasi-liquid solid electrolyte with novel graphene-analogues boron nitride nanosheets confining an ultrahigh concentration of ionic liquids in an interlayer and out-of-layer chamber is presented and possesses a solid state yet with liquid electrolyte merits.

Self-sensitized carbon nitride microspheres, possessing a microsphere core of oxygen-containing carbon nitride and self-sensitized surfaces by covalently linked 1,3,5-triazine based oligomer, exhibit high visible-light activities for H₂ generation with excellent stability. This new type of highly stable self-sensitized metal-free semiconductor opens a new direction of future development of low-cost photocatalysts for efficient and stable solar fuels production.

Yolk–shell-structured periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) nanoparticles simultaneously incorporated with ethane-, thioether-, and benzene-bridged moieties are successfully synthesized for the first time. The PMO nanoparticles have uniform and controllable diameter, large surface area, accessible mesochannels, large pore volume, and excellent biocompatibility. By using the incorporated organic groups, fluorescence imaging probes and stimuli-responsive drug carriers are successfully prepared.

The age of neurons (either induced with chemokine CCL11 or cultured for up to 3 weeks) affects the endocytic uptake of chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles, with impairment of clathrin-mediated endocytosis increasing with age. The neuro-protective effects of chitosan coatings on magnetic nanoparticles are also age-dependent due to reduced intracellular trafficking of magnetic nanoparticles with age.

Modifying the surfaces of ZnO nanoparticles can reduce potential cell toxicity of these widely used particles. The relationship is elucidated between surface chemistry and toxicity by screening 45 modified ZnO nanoparticles for cell toxicity and generating quantitative, predictive computational models. The models can be used to design functional nanomaterials with lower adverse impacts than unmodified nanoparticles.

Efficient biotarget molecule octreotide conjugated nanographene oxide delivers somatostatin receptor-mediated tumor-specific targeting effect as tumor therapy agent. This active targeting offers a remarkably improved cancer-cell-specific cellular uptake, chemo-cytotoxicity, and decreased systemic toxicity, which also enables combined chemo and photothermal therapeutic effect against cancer cells.

High-performance polyethylene glycol (PEG)-ylated upconversion nanoprobes (PEG-UCNP nanoprobes) synthesized through the typical thermal decomposition method are successfully used for multimodal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging including MR angiography and MR perfusion imaging, which possess distinctive advantages compared with clinical Magnevist on the vascular system imaging and the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke.