BaTiO_(3)@Au nanoheterostructure suppresses triple-negative breast cancer by persistently disrupting mitochondrial energy metabolism

Abnormal metabolism has become a potential target for highly malignant and invasive triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC)due to its relatively low response to traditional therapeutics.The existing metabolic interventions demonstrated unsatisfactory therapeutic outcomes and potential systemic toxicity,resulting from the metabolic instability and limited targeting ability of inhibitors as well as complex tumor microenvironment.To address these limitations,here we developed a robust pyroelectric BaTiO_(3)@Au core–shell nanostructure(BTO@Au)to selectively and persistently block energy generation of tumor cells.Stimulated by near-infrared(NIR)laser,the Au shell could generate heat to activate the BaTiO_(3)core to produce reactive oxygen species(ROS)regardless of the constrained microenvironment,thus prominently inhibits mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation(OXPHOS)and reduces ATP production to induce TNBC cell apoptosis.The therapeutic effects have been well demonstrated in vitro and in vivo,paving a new way for the development of metabolic interventions.

Recent progress in thermoelectric nanocomposites based on solution-synthesized nanoheterostructures

Thermoelectric materials, which can convert waste heat into electricity, have received increasing research interest in recent years. This paper describes the recent progress in thermoelectric nanocomposites based on solution-synthesized nanoheterostructures. We start our discussion with the strategies of improving the power factor of a given material by using nanoheterostructures. Then we discuss the methods of decreasing thermal conductivity. Finally, we highlight a way of decoupling power factor and thermal conductivity, namely, incorporating phase-transition materials into a nanowire heterostructure. We have explored the lead telluride-copper telluride thermoelectric nanowire heterostructure in this work. Future possible ways to improve the figure of merit are discussed at the end of this paper.

Electric field induced magnetization reversal in magnet/insulator nanoheterostructure

Electric-field control of magnetization reversal is promising for lowpower spintronics.Here in a magnet/insulator nanoheterostructure which is the fundamental unit of magnetic tunneling junction in spintronics,we demonstrate the electric field induced 180°magne-tization switching through a multiscale study combining firstprinciples calculations and finite-temperature magnetization dynamics.In the model nanoheterostructure MgO/Fe/Cu with insu-lator MgO,soft nanomagnet Fe and capping layer Cu,through firstprinciples calculations we find its magnetocrystalline anisotropy linearly varying with the electric field.Using finite-temperature magnetization dynamics which is informed by the first-principles results,we disclose that a room-temperature 180°magnetization switching with switching probability higher than 90%is achievable by controlling the electric-field pulse and the nanoheterostructure size.The 180°switching could be fast realized within 5 ns.This study is useful for the design of low-power,fast,and miniaturized nanoscale electric-field-controlled spintronics.