Reduction of photodynamic damage of blood vessels in the protected region by(–)-epigallocatechin gallate

Photodynamic therapy(PDT)has been increasingly used in the clinical treatment of neoplastic,inflammatory and infectious skin diseases.However,the generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS)may induce undesired side effects in normal tissue surrounding the treatment lesion,which is a big challenge for the clinical application of PDT.To date,(–)-Epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG)has been widely proposed as an antiangiogenic and antitumor agent for the protection of normal tissue from ROS-mediated oxidative damage.This study evaluates the regulation ability of EGCG for photodynamic damage of blood vessels during hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether(Hemoporfin)-mediated PDT.The quenching rate constants of EGCG for the triplet-state Hemoporfin and photosensitized 1O2 generation are determined to be 6.8×10^(8)M^(−1)S^(−1),respectively.The vasoconstriction of blood vessels in the protected region treated with EGCG hydrogel after PDT is lower than that of the control region treated with pure hydrogel,suggesting an efficiently reduced photodamage of Hemoporfin for blood vessels treated with EGCG.This study indicates that EGCG is an efficient quencher for triplet-state Hemoporfin and 1O2,and EGCG could be potentially used to reduce the undesired photodamage of normal tissue in clinical PDT.

Optimal and robust control of population transfer in asymmetric quantum-dot molecules

We present an optimal and robust quantum control method for efficient population transfer in asymmetric double quantum-dot molecules.We derive a long-duration control scheme that allows for highly efficient population transfer by accurately controlling the amplitude of a narrow-bandwidth pulse.To overcome fluctuations in control field parameters,we employ a frequency-domain quantum optimal control theory method to optimize the spectral phase of a single pulse with broad bandwidth while preserving the spectral amplitude.It is shown that this spectral-phase-only optimization approach can successfully identify robust and optimal control fields,leading to efficient population transfer to the target state while concurrently suppressing population transfer to undesired states.The method demonstrates resilience to fluctuations in control field parameters,making it a promising approach for reliable and efficient population transfer in practical applications.

Coupling Au with BO_(x) matrix induced by Closo-boron cluster for electrochemical synthesis of ammonia

Au is considered as one of the most promising catalysts for nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR),however maximizing the activity utilization rate of Au and understanding the synergistic effects between Au and carriers pose ongoing challenges.Herein,we systematically explore the synergistic catalytic effect of incorporating Au with boron clusters for accelerating NRR kinetics.An in-situ abinitio strategy is employed to construct B-doped Au nanoparticles(2-6 nm in diameter)loaded on BO_(x) substrates(AuBO_(x)),in which B not only modulates the surface electronic structure of Au but also forms strong coupling interactions to stabilize the nanoparticles.The electrochemical results show that Au-BO_(x) possesses excellent NRR activity(NH_(3) yield of 48.52μg h^(-1)mg_(cat)^(-1),Faraday efficiency of 56.18%),and exhibits high stability and reproducibility throughout the electrocatalytic NRR process.Theoretical calculations reveal that the introduction of B induces the formation of both Au dangling bond and Au-B coupling bond.which considerably facilitates the hydrogenation of~*N_(2)^(-)~*NH_(3).The present work provides a new avenue for the preparation of metal-boron materials achieved by one-step reduction and doping process,utilizing boron clusters as reducing and stabilizing agents.

Electroluminodynamic therapy for the treatment of drug-resistant pathogen infection

The administration of antibiotics has been the primary strategy for combating bacterial infections[1,2].However,the widespread and excessive use of antibiotics has resulted in the alarming rise of bacterial resistance,posing a significant threat to human health[3–5].Therefore,it is imperative to exploit innovative treatment strategy.

Overcoming the biofilm barrier by cell-like microbubbles for the treatment of biofilm-associated implant infections

Although the advent of antibiotics has significantly improved the quality of life of infected patients,bacterial infections continue to pose a serious threat to public health[1,2].According to a recent report,within the next 30 years,bacterial infections are projected to surpass cancer in terms of lethality rates,resulting in an alarming 10 million deaths annually by 2050 due to the development of bacterial resistance[3].Moreover,the formation of bacterial biofilms hampers the penetration of antibacterial agents and inhibits the host immune response,making biofilm infections extremely challenging to treat[4-7].Hence,the development of innovative antimicrobial biofilm therapeutics is imperative.

High-performance flexible perovskite photodetectors based on single-crystal-like two-dimensional Ruddlesden-Popper thin films

Two-dimensional Ruddlesden-Popper(2DRP)perovskites have attracted intense research interest for optoelectronic applications,due to their tunable optoelectronic properties and better environmental stability than their threedimensional counterparts.Furthermore,high-performance photodetectors based on single-crystal and polycrystalline thin-films 2DRP perovskites have shown great potential for practical application.However,the complex growth process of single-crystal membranes and uncontrollable phase distribution of polycrystalline films hinder the further development of 2DRP perovskites photodetectors.Herein,we report a series of high-performance photodetectors based on single-crystal-like phase-pure 2DRP perovskite films by designing a novel spacer source.Experimental and theoretical evidence demonstrates that phase-pure films substantially suppress defect states and ion migration.These highly sensitive photodetectors show I_(light)/I_(dark) ratio exceeding 3×10^(4),responsivities exceeding 16 A/W,and detectivities exceeding 3×10^(13) Jones,which are higher at least by 1 order than those of traditional mixed-phase thinfilms 2DRP devices(close to the reported single-crystal devices).More importantly,this strategy can significantly enhance the operational stability of optoelectronic devices and pave the way to large-area flexible productions.

The opportunities and challenges of ionic liquids in perovskite solar cells

Metal halide perovskite solar cells(PSCs)have shown great potential to become the next generation of photovoltaic devices due to their simple fabrication techniques,low cost,and soaring power conversion efficiency(PCE).However,mismatched with the quickly updated PCEs,the improvement of device stability is challenging and still remains a critical hurdle in the path to commercialization.Recently,ionic liquids(ILs)have been found to play multiple roles in obtaining efficient and stable PSCs.These ILs usually consist of large organic cations and organic or inorganic anions,which have weak electrostatic attraction and are generally liquid at around 100℃.ILs are almost non-volatile,non-flammable,with high ionic conductivity and excellent thermal and electrochemical stability.The roles of ILs in PSCs vary with their composition,that is,the types of anions and cations.In this review,we summarize the roles of anions and cations in terms of precursor solutions,additives,perovskite/charge transport layer interface engineering,and charge transport layers.This article aims to set up a structure–property-stability-performance correlations conferred by the IL in PSC and provide assistance for the anion and cation selection for improving the quality of perovskite film,optimizing interface contact,reducing defect states,and improving charge extraction and transport characteristics.Finally,the application of IL in PSCs is discussed and prospected.

Anti-Corrosion and Reconstruction of Surface Crystal Plane for Zn Anodes by an Advanced Metal Passivation Technique

For the aqueous Zn-ion battery,dendrite formation,corrosion,and interfacial parasitic reactions are major issues,which greatly inhibits their practical application.How to develop a method of Zn construction or treatment to solve these issues for Zn anodes are still great challenges.Herein,a simple and cheap metal passivation technique is proposed for Zn anodes from a corrosion science perspective.Similar to the metal anticorrosion engineering,the formed interfacial protective layer in a chemical way can sufficiently solve the corrosion issues.Furthermore,the proposed passivity approach can reconstruct Zn surface-preferred crystal planes,exposing more(002)planes and improving surface hydrophilicity,which inhibits the formation of Zn dendrites and hydrogen evolution effectively.As expected,the passivated Zn achieves outstanding cycling life(1914 h)with low voltage polarization(<40 mV).Even at 6 mA cm^(−2) and 3 mA h cm^(−2),it can achieve stable Zn deposition over 460 h.The treated Zn anode coupled with MnO_(2) cathode shows prominently reinforced full batteries service life,making it a potential Zn anode candidate for excellent performance aqueous Zn-ion batteries.The proposed passivation approach provides a guideline for other metal electrodes preparation in various batteries and establishes the connections between corrosion science and batteries.

Thermoelectric characteristics of flexible reduced graphene oxide/silver selenide nanowire composites prepared by a facile vacuum filtration process

The reduced graphene oxide/silver selenide nanowire(rGO/Ag;Se NW)composite powders were fabricated via a wet chemical approach,and then flexible rGO/Ag;Se NW composite film was prepared by a facile vacuum filtration method combined with cold-pressing treatment.A highest power factor of 228.88μW·m;·K;was obtained at 331 K for the cold-pressed rGO/Ag;Se NW composite film with 0.01 wt%r GO.The rGO/Ag;Se NW composite film revealed superior flexibility as the power factor retained 94.62%after bending for 500 times with a bending radius of 4 mm,which might be due to the interwoven network structures of Ag;Se NWs and pliability of r GO as well as nylon membrane.These results demonstrated that the GO/Ag;Se NW composite film has a potential for preparation of flexible thermoelectric devices.

Inverse design and realization of an optical cavity-based displacement transducer with arbitrary responses

Optical cavity has long been critical for a variety of applications ranging from precise measurement to spectral analysis.A number of theories and methods have been successful in describing the optical response of a stratified optical cavity,while the inverse problem,especially the inverse design of a displacement sensitive cavity,remains a significant challenge due to the cost of computation and comprehensive performance requirements.This paper reports a novel inverse design methodology combining the characteristic matrix method,mixed-discrete variables optimization algorithm,and Monte Carlo method-based tolerance analysis.The material characteristics are indexed to enable the mixed-discrete variables optimization,which yields considerable speed and efficiency improvements.This method allows arbitrary response adjustment with technical feasibility and gives a glimpse into the analytical characterization of the optical response.Two entirely different light-displacement responses,including an asymmetric sawtooth-like response and a highly symmetric response,are dug out and experimentally achieved,which fully confirms the validity of the method.The compact Fabry-Perot cavities have a good balance between performance and feasibility,making them promising candidates for displacement transducers.More importantly,the proposed inverse design paves the way for a universal design of optical cavities,or even nanophotonic devices.

Towards Solar-Driven Formation of Robust and Self-Healable Waterborne Polyurethane Containing Disulfide Bonds via in-situ Incorporation of 2D Titanium Carbide MXene

Waterborne polymers are vital for coating industry to reduce carbon emissions.However,formation of robust and self-healable films at ambient temperature remains a challenge owing to high energy cost of film formation process.This work reports a solar-driven film formation of waterborne polyurethanes(WPUs)containing disulfide bonds via in-situ incorporation of 2D titanium carbide(MXene)with ability to convert light to heat.Instead of directly mixed with WPUs,MXene is added to join the reaction with isocyanate-terminated pre-polymer before emulsification process.This approach not only prevents aggregation of MXene in water but stabilizes MXene against thermal degradation which is the key hurdle for mass production of MXene/WPU composites.More importantly,our results show that mechanical performance of WPU films under visible light(100 mW/cm^(2))is overwhelmingly competitive with that processed in oven.Furthermore,the existence of disulfide bonds in PU chains enables fast self-healing of micro-cracks under natural visible light which could vanish completely within 40 min.The fractured specimens were repaired under natural visible light for 2 h,and the self-healing efficiency of tensile strength and elongation at break reached over 94.00%.

Direct evidence for efficient scattering of suprathermal electrons by whistler mode waves in the Martian magnetosphere

Whistler mode waves are critical emissions in magnetized plasmas that usually influence the electron dynamics in a planetary magnetosphere.In this paper,we present a unique event in the Martian magnetosphere in which enhanced whistler mode waves(~10^(−11) V^(2)/m^(2)/Hz)with frequency of 0.1 f_(ce)-0.5 f_(ce) occurred,based on MAVEN data,exactly corresponding to a significant decrease of suprathermal electron fluxes.The diffusion coefficients are calculated by using the observed electric field wave spectra.The pitch angle diffusion coefficient can approach 10^(−2) s^(−1),which is much larger,by~100 times,than the momentum diffusion coefficient,indicating that pitch angle scattering dominates the whistler-electron resonance process.The current results can successfully explain the dropout of the suprathermal electrons in this event.This study provides direct evidence for whistler-driven electron losses in the Martian magnetosphere.

Accurate quantification of TiO_(2)(B)'s phase purity via Raman spectroscopy

Bronze phase titanium dioxide(TiO_(2)(B))could be a promising high-power anode for lithium ion battery.However,TiO_(2)(B)is a metastable material,so the as-synthesized samples are inevitably accompanied by the existence of anatase phases.It has been found that the TiO_(2)(B)'s purity is positively correlated with its electrochemical performance.Herein,we have established an accurate quantification of the TiO_(2)(B)/anatase ratio,by figuring out the function between the purity of TiO_(2)(B)phase in the high purity range and its Raman spectra features in combination of the calibration by the synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction(XRD).Compared with the time-consuming electrochemical method,the rapid,sensitive and non-destructive features of Raman spectroscopy have made it a promising candidate for determining the purity of TiO_(2)(B).Further,the correlations developed in this work should be instructive in synthesizing pure TiO_(2)(B)and furthermore optimizing its electrochemical charge storage properties.

Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect with Tunable Chern Numbers in High-Temperature 1T-PrN_(2) Monolayer

Quantum anomalous Hall(QAH) insulators have highly potential applications in spintronic device. However,available candidates with tunable Chern numbers and high working temperature are quite rare. Here, we predict a 1T-PrN_(2) monolayer as a stable QAH insulator with high magnetic transition temperature of above 600 K and tunable high Chern numbers of C = ±3 from first-principles calculations. Without spin-orbit coupling(SOC),the 1T-PrN_(2) monolayer is predicted to be a p-state Dirac half metal with high Fermi velocity. Rich topological phases depending on magnetization directions can be found when the SOC is considered. The QAH effect with periodical changes of Chern number(±1) can be produced when the magnetic moment breaks all twofold rotational symmetries in the xy plane. The critical state can be identified as Weyl half semimetals. When the magnetization direction is parallel to the z-axis, the system exhibits high Chern number QAH effect with C = ±3.Our work provides a new material for exploring novel QAH effect and developing high-performance topological devices.

Tailored multifunctional hydrazine derivatives for efficient printable hole-conductive-free mesoscopic perovskite solar cells via enhancing defect passivation

The low-cost and easy large-scale fabrication advantages of printable mesoscopic perovskite solar cells(p-MPSCs)are overshadowed by their limited photovoltaic conversion efficiency(PCE).Here,we introduce the hydrazide derivative of 4-Hydroxybenzoylhydrazine(4-HBH)to improve the PCE of p-MPSCs by inducing enhanced defect passivation.Both carbonyl and hydrazine groups in hydrazide groups present strong interaction with perovskite.The hydroxyl group,as an electron donor group,increases the electron cloud density of the hydrazide group in 4-HBH under the conjugation of the benzene ring,and thus enhances its interaction with perovskite.Additionally,the hydroxy group itself interacts with perovskite and passivates defects synergistically.The hydrazine agents can also reduce I2and suppress the loss of iodine in perovskite films,which inhibits the formation of iodine-related defects.Consequently,p-MPSCs with 4-HBH achieve a high PCE of 19.21%,and present well improved stability.

Senolystics from natural products for extending health and lifespan

Senescence,a multifaceted cellular process,intricately regulates organismal aging by imposing irreversible growth arrest on cells.This phenomenon,characterized by altered gene expression and the accumulation of senescent cells,significantly contributes to age-related physiological decline and the onset of various age-associated pathologies[1].Cellular senescence,the irreversible cessation of cell division,is intricately linked to the aging process in individuals[2].As organisms age,the accumulation of senescent cells increases,contributing to tissue dysfunction and the development of age-related pathologies.Understanding the mechanisms underlying cellular senescence holds promise for elucidating the fundamental processes governing aging and may pave the way for targeted interventions to mitigate age-associated decline[3].

Biomimetic fibril-like injectable hydrogels for wound management

Soft tissue repair and regeneration present a significant clinical challenge.Soft hydrogels have emerged as a promising solution for promoting stem cell differentiation and facilitating soft tissue formation[1].Various materials,including synthetic polymers like polydimethyl siloxane and natural polymers like proteins,have been be used as hydrogel matrix for hydrogel preparation[2,3].However,the limited biodegradability,inhomogeneous network structure,and inadequate mechanical properties of these hydrogels hinder their long-term application in complex environments in vivo.Inspired by the nanostructure of collagen fibrils,Li et al.developed a strategy for creating injectable nanofibrillar hydrogels by combining self-assembly and chemical crosslinking of nanoparticles[4].Moreover,injectable hydrogels offer advantages as implantable materials,including better defect filling and reduced risk of infection compared to prefabricated hydrogels[5].

Integration of flexible,recyclable,and transient gelatin hydrogels toward multifunctional electronics

Facing the challenges posed by exponentially increasing e-waste,the development of recyclable and tran-sient electronics has paved the way to an environmentally-friendly progression strategy,where electron-ics can disintegrate and/or degrade into eco-friendly end products in a controlled way.Natural polymers possess cost and energy efficiency,easy modification,and fast degradation,all of which are ideal prop-erties for transient electronics.Gelatin is especially attractive due to its unique thermoreversible gelation processes,yet its huge potential as a multifunctional electronic material has not been well-researched due to its limited mechanical strength and low conductivity.Herein,we explored versatile applications of gelatin-based hydrogels through the assistance of multifunctional additives like carbon nanotubes to enhance their electromechanical performances.The optimized gelatin hydrogel displays not only a high conductivity of 0.93 S/m,electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of 39.6 dB,and tensile stress tolerance of 263 kPa,but also shows a negative permittivity phenomenon,which may find versatile applications in novel electronics.As a proof of concept,hydrogels were assembled as wearable sensors to sensitively de-tect static and dynamic pressures and strains generated by solids,liquids,and airflow,as well as diverse body movements.Furthermore,the recyclability,biocompatibility,and degradability of gelatin-based hy-drogels were well studied and analyzed.This work outlines a facile method to design multifunctional transient materials for wearable,sustainable,and eco-friendly electronics.

Review of micromachined optical accelerometers:from mg to sub-μg

Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems(MOEMS)accelerometer is a new type of accelerometer which combines the merits of optical measurement and Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems(MEMS)to enable high precision,small volume and anti-electromagnetic disturbance measurement of acceleration.In recent years,with the in-depth research and development of MOEMS accelerometers,the community is flourishing with the possible applications in seismic monitoring,inertial navigation,aerospace and other industrial and military fields.There have been a variety of schemes of MOEMS accelerometers,whereas the performances differ greatly due to different measurement principles and corresponding application requirements.This paper aims to address the pressing issue of the current lack of systematic review of MOEMS accelerometers.According to the optical measurement principle,we divide the MOEMS accelerometers into three categories:the geometric optics based,the wave optics based,and the new optomechanical accelerometers.Regarding the most widely studied category,the wave optics based accelerometers are further divided into four sub-categories,which is based on grating interferometric cavity,Fiber Bragg Grating(FBG),Fabry-Perot cavity,and photonic crystal,respectively.Following a brief introduction to the measurement principles,the typical performances,advantages and disadvantages as well as the potential application scenarios of all kinds of MOEMS accelerometers are discussed on the basis of typical demonstrations.This paper also presents the status and development tendency of MOEMS accelerometers to meet the ever-increasing demand for high-precision acceleration measurement.

Catalysis-based specific detection and inhibition of tyrosinase and their application

Tyrosinase is an important enzyme in controlling the formation of melanin in melanosome,and plays a key role in the pigmentation of hair and skin.The abnormal expression or activation of tyrosinase is associated with several diseases such as albinism,vitiligo,melanoma and Parkinson disease.Excessive deposition of melanin could cause diseases such as freckles and brown spots in the human body,and it is also closely related to browning of fruits and vegetables and insect molting.Detecting and inhibiting the activity of tyrosinase is of extraordinary value in the progress of diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.Therefore,many selective optical detection probes and small molecular inhibitors have been developed,and have made significant contributions to the basic and clinical research on these diseases.In this paper,the detection and inhibition of tyrosinase and their application in whitening products are reviewed,with special emphasis on development of fluorescent probes and inhibitors.Hopefully,this review will help design more efficient and sensitive tyrosinase probes and inhibitors,as well as shed light on novel treatment of diseases such as melanoma.