Biointerfacing Nanoparticles

In article number 2105237, Dong-Sheng Huang, Tian Yang, and co-workers develop a strategy of targeting therapeutic nanoparticles effectively reversing the immune-inhibiting microenvironment for enhanced PD-L1 checkpoint combination therapy. The platelet membrane cloaked nanoparticles activate the CD8+ T lymphocytes and antigen presentation of dendritic cells as well as the polarization of M1-type macrophages with the application of TIM-3 antibodies. With the collagen deposition, starvation therapy can enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy under a hypoxic microenvironment.

DNAzyme-Functionalized Nanomaterials

In article number 2105439, DNAzymes functionalized with metal–organic frameworks, gold nanoparticles, graphene oxide, and molybdenum disulfide are introduced and summarized in detail by Jabrane Jouha and Hai Xiong. Moreover, the authors focus on their biomedical applications, such as bioimaging, biosensor development, drug delivery, and cancer therapy in recent years.

Topotactic Transitions

In article number 2104356, Lei Cao, Oleg Petracic, and co-workers report the first observation of a novel surface phase in La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO_3-δ epitaxial thin films during the topotactic transition from perovskite to brownmillerite. Given the anisotropic vacancy channels found in the surface phase, the studies not only provide a deeper understanding of oxygen-transport behavior in oxides, but also offer optimal guidance to engineer coordination polyhedra towards desired properties.

Li-Ion Batteries

In article number 2105029, Tharangattu N. Narayanan and co-workers show a single nanowire containing MoS₂/MoO_x regions as a photo-electrode for Li⁺ ion batteries. This inorganic nanowire-based two electrode solar battery can be highly stable in organic electrolytes while ensuring high lithium intercalation area and light–matter interaction volume. This opens up the potential for developing semiconductor heterostructures–based solar batteries where they can ensure stability and good photo-efficiency.

Silicon monoxide (SiO) is researched and applied as a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). It is started from the preparation and microstructure of SiO, and modification is introduced including disproportionation, constructing composites, design of microstructure, different binders, and prelithiation. Also, the advantages and disadvantages are discussed from the perspective of practical application.

Here, DNAzymes functionalized with metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), graphene oxide (GO), and molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) are introduced and summarized in detail. Moreover, the focus is on its biomedical applications, such as bioimaging, biosensor development, drug delivery, and cancer therapy in recent years.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) show unique oxidation state dependent enzyme mimicking activity. This review covers the current update on the proposed anti and pro-oxidant activity of nanoceria and the role of oxidation state, defects, and surface coatings on its activity and biological applications. It summarizes current information and proposes the next agenda of research on nanoceria.

The emerging advances in pyroelectric materials include various structures and performance, potential applications based on the pyroelectric effect.

The biointerfacing antagonizing T-cell Inhibitory nanoparticles (BAT NPs) are synthesized to participate in Hepatocellular carcinoma immunoregulatory therapy and tumor starvation therapy. The platelet membrane acts as a bionic and targeted function. BAT NPs can be combined with PD-L1 checkpoint therapy to activate T cells, promote dendritic cells proliferation and M1 polarization, and the following collagen deposition contributes to starvation therapy.

Towards harnessing the kinetics of oxygen transport in emerging technologies, the evolution of oxygen content is captured in real-time during the topotactic phase transition both at the surface and throughout the bulk. A novel surface phase induced by oxygen deficiency and cation excess is evidenced for the first time, further revealing an anisotropic oxygen migration path.

The working (photo charging) of single nanorod (NR) containing a MoS₂/MoO_x heterostructure based two-electrode photo rechargeable battery. A high-resolution high angle annual dark-field image of the NR is also shown indicating the structure containing both amorphous (MoO_x) and crystalline (MoS₂) regions.

Chemical modification of laser-induced graphene with quaternary pyridinium inverts surface potential, which enables both broad-spectrum antimicrobial (≈100% for bacteria and fungi) and antiviral (≈100% for the human coronavirus HCoV-229E) activities from the synergy of photothermal effect and electrostatic interactions.

A promising strategy to fabricate 2D molecular crystals with a controlled packing using an interfacial technique is introduced. The conformation of molecules within the 2D crystals concomitantly leads to the reduced singlet-triplet energy-gap and strong spin-orbit coupling for the room temperature phosphorescence. This fabrication process allows large scale 2D crystals formation on solid substrates to realize sophisticated optoelectronic devices.

By integrating the localized chemodynamic therapy, the as-prepared CHFH can high efficiently eliminate bacteria via photothermal therapy at low temperature, which has no obvious damage to the normal tissues and cells. The CHFH-based Band aid is further applied to promote wound healing of bacterially infected mice in vivo, realizing efficient debridement and improving tissue reconstruction.

A unique yolk-shell structure of Fe₂O₃ nanotube@hollow Co₉S₈ nanocage@C is rationally designed and synthesized via engineering a Fe₂O₃ nanotube@ZIF-67 core-shell structure followed by chemical etching/anion exchange and carbonization at high temperature in sequence. This material exhibits outstanding electrocatalytic activity and stability for alkaline oxygen evolution reaction, and good high-rate capability as anode material of Li-ions batteries.

In order to explore a supercapacitor with high energy and desired stability at high temperature, BCN nanotubes (BCNNTs) are in situ grown on carbon fibers by optimizing the ratio of B and N for the first time. The symmetric supercapacitor based on the self-supporting BCNNTs electrodes in ionic liquid of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMIM·BF₄) exhibits splendid cycling stability at 100 °C.

A novel and simple Ligand Anchoring Group MEdiated RAdioLabeling (LAGMERAL) method for effectively labeling functional inorganic nanoparticles with metal radioisotopes has been developed. The LAGMERAL method positions the radiometal ions at the root of the particle ligands, which cross-link the ligands through the unique diphosphate anchoring groups, leading to robust radiolabeling stability both in vitro and in vivo.

A joint experiment-theory investigation is conducted to unveil the fracture mechanics of grain boundaries (GBs) in low-symmetry monolayer rhenium disulfide at the single-atom level. GBs having different Re chain alignment with respect to the GB orientation display disparate crack behaviors, indicating the GB type-dependent mechanical failure in anisotropic 2D polycrystals, which gives fundamental insights into GB engineering.

Boosting discharge capacity and mitigating structural instability in Na₃V₂(PO₄)₂F₃ is achieved through conformal coating the surface by TiO₂ through atomic layer deposition. The ultrathin protection layer shields the surface of Na₃V₂(PO₄)₂F₃ which endows with negligible volume expansion, significantly less formation of carbonates, and decomposition of electrolyte.

Complex 3D hollow xerogels with aligned CNCs are prepared from dynamic hydrogels by mechanical stretching and air-drying process. Their mechanical properties are revealed for the first time to be controlled by changing the morphology of the initial hydrogels and the mechanical stretching ratios. Both the aligned CNCs on the nanoscale and the geometry of the xerogels affect the mechanical properties.

A bifocal contact lens is demonstrated for glucose sensing under physiological conditions. The Fresnel lens imprinted on the glucose-responsive hydrogel creates an additional focal length for the spherical monovision contact lens. Focusing efficiency and focal length of the Fresnel lens are altered by changing glucose concentrations in tears. Consequently, the reflected optical power can be used for glucose measurements.

Germanium sulfide (GeS) van der Waals nanowires are of interest for twistronics due to their tunable interlayer twist. Using Bi as a vapor–liquid–solid growth catalyst extends the accessible diameters of GeS nanowires down to ≈15 nm while maintaining tens of µm in length. The ultrathin nanowires carry screw dislocations, are chiral, achieve high twist rates, and show pronounced quantum confinement.

In this paper, a poly(ε-caprolactone)/molybdenum disulfide (PCL/MoS₂) nanofiber membrane with high biocompatibility is prepared for guided bone regeneration (GBR). Under near-infrared-triggered mild photothermal therapy, the PCL/MoS₂ nanofiber membrane exhibits excellent performance in promoting the growth of osteoblasts and repairing bone defects. This study suggests that GBR combined with photothermal therapy can provide new insights into the therapy of bone defects.

A high-crystallized, thin, and dense lithiated polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) based solid state separator is prepared by a solvent-free process with repeated rolling, which is functionized by anions binding and protected by polyethylene (PE) on the anodic side, achieving high voltage and homogenous Li plating.

Noncontact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) with an inert tip can visualize molecules with subatomic resolution. However, discriminating atomic species remains a challenge. Density functional theory is used to simulate nc-AFM images of molecules containing heteroatoms (S, I, and N). It is found that using a CO tip can distinguish S and I from C. For N, using different tip chemistry inverts image contrast and therefore the position of N can be determined.

Introduction of second metal in CoM (M = Ni, Cu, Zn) metal–organic frameworks results in higher oxidation state of Co, and improved electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction.

A kind of novel Co@CoO heterostructure catalyst featuring tunable lattice strain and oxygen vacancy concentration is synthetized, forming strained O_v-rich Co–CoO interfaces in Co@CoO which serve as active sites that efficiently catalyze the aqueous reforming of formaldehyde to produce H₂. Experiments show highly linear correlations between catalytic activities of the interface sites and oxygen vacancy concentration, lattice strain.

This article presents hollow alumina thin-walled atomic force microscopy cantilevers that scan specimens rapidly yet wear down more slowly than their solid silicon counterparts. With wall thicknesses as low as 20 nm, these improvements are attributable to the probes′ robust thin-walled hollow atomic-layer-deposited alumina profiles, which increase their bandwidth in air and provide impact resilience and wear resistance.

Memory device based on polyvinylalcohol-imidazole modified graphene quantum dot (PVA-IMGQD) nanocomposite is fabricated. The damaged active layer achieves complete self-healing in 1 h at a temperature of 50 °C. The self-healing property of the device is attributed to the hydrogen bonding between the imidazole groups of IMGQDs and the hydroxyl groups of PVA macromolecules.

Metal–organic framework derived Mo₂C-PtCu nanoalloy heterostructures on carbon exhibit superior hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalytic performance, which opens up an available direction for development of highly efficient Pt-based and other alloy catalysts toward HER and other electroctalysis.

An efficient autophagy suppressor is constructed for improving the therapeutic effect of low-dose photodynamic therapy, which can perform photoactivated burst release of oligonucleotide drug by self-disassembly of DNA nanostructure to achieve amplified ATG5 gene silencing for enhancing antitumor effect.

Atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveals size-dependent structural transformations in supported gold nanoparticles upon exposure to hydrogen at atmospheric pressure. Molecular dynamics simulations highlight the role of mobile gold atoms in the evolution of particle crystal structure and morphology observed below 4 nm and unveil the unique atomic and electronic structures of hydrogenated gold nanoparticles in this critical size regime.

Dumbbell-like Au–Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles are designed as magnetic nanoprobes to participate in the hydrogen peroxide-mediated assembly of Ag@Au–Fe₃O₄ for magnetic biosensing. Compared with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, this Ag@Au–Fe₃O₄–MRS immunosensor not only improves the sensitivity (21-fold enhancement) but also enhances the stability in the detection of aflatoxin B1, which greatly broaden the applications of magnetic relaxation switching biosensors.

Through rational protein engineering, an effective, genetically fusible connector for site-selective immobilization of enzymes on DNA nanostructures is developed. Due to the greater than tenfold increase in coupling efficiency, a biocatalytic cascade reaction for the stereoselective reduction of carbonyl compounds is established by combining it with an equally efficient orthogonal connector.