The Royal Society of Chemistry最新文献

Melanin-inspired materials are being increasingly utilized across diverse areas, with their unique light absorption properties playing a decisive role in multiple domains. However, constrained by the structural complexity, effective strategies for controlling their light absorption properties remain limited, which mainly focus on modulating intramolecular conjugation through molecular doping. Nevertheless, these strategies have hit a bottleneck in regulating the light absorption properties due to constraints in doping levels and the oversight of the critical potential for modulating intermolecular conjugation. In this work, we proposed a modular and facile method to prepare a series of melanin-like polymers with excellent ultraviolet (UV) absorption properties through the direct polymerization of tyrosine-oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) conjugates. Detailed structural analysis revealed that the introduction of OEG chains into the resulting polymers could disrupt the intramolecular conjugations by inhibiting the oxidation and cyclization of phenolic units and simultaneously restricting the intermolecular conjugations through steric hindrance that prevented tight packing of the oligomers. These synergistic effects significantly increased the energy bandgap of the polymers, effectively suppressing the redshift in their absorption spectra and ultimately enhancing the UV absorption. These melanin-like polymers with boosted UV absorption capabilities demonstrated excellent performance in the efficient protection of photosensitive pesticides.

Ice accumulation presents persistent challenges across critical infrastructure sectors, including aviation, energy transmission, transportation, and telecommunications. With the advancement of nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have emerged as powerful components for the design of high-performance anti-icing and deicing coatings. Owing to their exceptional thermal, electrical, and surface properties, CNTs enable both passive (e.g., superhydrophobic) and active (e.g., photothermal, electrothermal) strategies for ice mitigation. This review critically examines the integration of pristine and chemically modified CNTs into functional coatings, highlighting synthesis approaches, surface engineering, performance metrics, and operational mechanisms - reported from 2016 to 2025. Particular emphasis is placed on the correlation between coating efficacy and the physicochemical characteristics of CNT surfaces, interpreted through the framework of Hansen Solubility Parameters (HSPs) as a predictive tool for CNT-matrix compatibility and icephobic performance. By mapping structure-function relationships and identifying synergistic design strategies, this work provides a comprehensive perspective on the future development of scalable, durable, and climate-resilient CNT-based anti-icing and deicing technologies.

It is essential to harness energy from every available source to meet the rapidly growing demand. Motion-assisted energy harvesting is an emerging and promising technique to achieve this. Mechanical friction between two surfaces generates charge separation, which results in an electric current that can be captured as usable energy. This principle is utilized in a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which relies on surfaces with appropriate charge characteristics. In this work, we present a novel approach to create a negatively charged surface by using bromine- and oxygen-rich broken frameworks of a 3D covalent organic framework (3D-COF) on a PAN surface (TamDbta-PAN). The TamDbta-PAN was fabricated through in situ dripping of TamDbta broken framework spheres from a water-ethylacetate interface onto a PAN surface. Notably, this functionally rich TamDbta-PAN serves as an effective tribonegative layer when paired with a tribopositive nylon-11 layer, achieving a high power density of 2342 mW m^-2 and demonstrating efficient energy harvesting from mechanical friction.

Biomass conversion into fuels and chemicals holds great promise for sustainable development, yet its efficient valorization remains hindered by the intrinsic complexity of polymeric structures and oxygen-rich functionalities. While thermocatalysis specializes in depolymerization and electrocatalysis enables precise redox control, both face fundamental limitations when used alone. Thermoelectric catalysis has recently emerged as a transformative strategy to resolve this trade-off by synergistically integrating thermal and electrical energy. More than a simple integration of techniques, this strategy represents a paradigm shift in catalyst design: from creating static, heat-tolerant materials to engineering adaptive, field-responsive systems. In this framework, temperature is reimagined as a precision tool for modulating electronic structure and driving in situ catalyst evolution. This tutorial review systematically builds on this concept, starting from mechanistic fundamentals and a comparison of cascade and coupled architectures to highlight different design logics. We then present a multi-scale electrode design roadmap: from atomic-scale active sites to mesoscale transport control and intrinsically responsive materials, showcasing how these strategies can unlock energy-efficient pathways for the concurrent production of value-added chemicals and hydrogen. The review concludes by outlining critical challenges for industrial relevance, including control of fluid flow and heat/mass transfer in non-Newtonian electrolyte suspensions, the operational stability and durability of thermoelectrocatalytic reactors, and process integration and evaluation.

In red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.), ellagitannins constitute the predominant class of polyphenols, accounting for 53-76% of the total polyphenolic content, and their health-promoting potential is becoming increasingly evident. This review systematically delineates the chemical structures of ellagitannins, extraction and analytical techniques, in vivo metabolic pathways, and their multiple biological activities. It aims to provide the food science and nutrition community with an authoritative reference on ellagitannins in red raspberry and to guide their development and application as core ingredients for next-generation functional foods and nutraceuticals.

The oral mucosa is the first site of contact with food allergens, yet the influence of food matrices and oral processing on allergen release remains poorly understood. This study investigated the roles of bread matrix and mastication behaviors in the oral bio-accessibility of wheat allergens. Volunteers consumed breads with distinct structural profiles (baked, steamed, baguette; with/without shortening) under video monitoring. Results showed that the bread matrix did not alter the types of released proteins but significantly modulated their IgE-reactivity. The addition of shortening enhanced IgE-binding capacity, suggesting a lipid-mediated modulation of allergen release is likely through emulsion formation. Oral processing parameters correlated strongly with bolus properties and allergen immunoreactivity, highlighting that individual mastication behaviors personalize the exposure dose. High-molecular-weight (MW) and low-MW glutenin, serpin, GAPDH, and α-amylase inhibitors were identified as the primary bio-accessible wheat allergens released in the oral phase. This study provides a new perspective on the initial exposure pathway of wheat allergens from the novel lens of allergen-matrix interactions.

Lycium ruthenicum Murr. (LRM) is rich in spermidine derivatives (SPDs) that exhibit diverse bioactivities. This study systematically characterized the structural profiles and anti-aging mechanisms of LRM-derived caffeoyl-SPDs using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS, semi-preparative HPLC purification, and Caenorhabditis elegans models. LRM extracts, predominantly containing non-glycosylated caffeoyl-SPDs and anthocyanins, significantly delayed aging in worms by reducing lipofuscin accumulation, scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities. These effects were validated using a caffeoyl-SPD-enriched fraction purified by semi-preparative HPLC and the standard compound N1, N10-dicaffeoyl spermidine, confirming that caffeoyl-SPDs are key anti-aging and antioxidant constituents. Network pharmacology predicted six key pathways, with qRT-PCR validating insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) pathway modulation through daf-2 downregulation and daf-16 upregulation. Further genetic experiments in daf-2 and daf-16 mutants revealed a dual mechanism: a DAF-16-independent capacity to lower ROS, coupled with a strict DAF-16 dependence for inducing antioxidant enzymes. This work establishes LRM-derived caffeoyl-SPDs as promising anti-aging agents and provides mechanistic insights into how caffeoylation confers enhanced bioactivity to the spermidine scaffold.

Resistant starch (RS) stabilizes postprandial blood glucose levels through multiple mechanisms and offers distinct advantages in preventing and managing metabolic diseases such as diabetes. This study introduces a novel plant exosome-starch composite system, combining Tartary buckwheat starch (TBS) and ginger exosomes (GELNs), referred to as the TBS-GELNs composite resistant starch (GTBS). Multi-scale physicochemical analysis revealed the molecular interaction mechanisms: composite formation significantly altered the microstructure of gelatinized starch. GELNs interacted with TBS through hydrogen bonds, enhancing starch crystallinity and short-range ordering, thus reducing its digestibility. The metabolic effects of GTBS on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice were further examined. The results indicated that GTBS markedly decreased fasting blood glucose and lipid levels, alleviated some organ damage, and improved gut microbiota composition by enhancing the structure and abundance of beneficial bacterial populations. This study provides novel insights and a theoretical basis for the regulation of postprandial blood glucose via composite starch-based biomolecules, offering promising strategies for developing staple food products that integrate nutritional value with biological activity.

The Hippo pathway has attracted scientific interest as a target for anti-inflammation and anti-cancer therapy. Our objective was to elucidate and compare the potential anti-inflammatory mechanism of digested whole flour (DWF), total protein extract (TPE), lunasin-free total protein extract (LFP), and enriched lunasin protein extract (ELPE) from wild-type soybean (Glycine soja) on the Hippo pathway, using a human monocytic cell (THP-1) as a model. ELPE (56% to 73% purity) showed increased lunasin concentrations (52-87 mg g^-1 of defatted flour, DF) compared to TPE (16-33 mg g^-1, DF). TPE significantly decreased IL-6, MCP-1, and TNF-α production (96%, 76%, and 52%). G. soja inhibited IL-6 production (74%-98%) more effectively compared to MCP-1 (6%-99%). ELPE and TPE significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased the expression of dephosphorylated YAP1 and increased phosphorylated YAP1 (p ≤ 0.05). ELPE significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05) cytoplasmic YAP1 retention. G. soja proteins and peptides inhibited inflammation by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and MCP-1, phosphorylating YAP1 and LATS1/2, and increasing YAP1 cytoplasmic retention, thus activating the Hippo pathway. The results suggest that soybean proteins and peptides inhibited inflammation through the Hippo pathway, offering novel developments of functional food ingredients or supplements for a healthier diet.

The pursuit of single-phase multiferroics that operate at room temperature remains a significant challenge due to the mutual exclusiveness of ferroelectricity and magnetism in most materials. LaFeO₃ (LFO), a classic antiferromagnet, is non-ferroelectric in its bulk form. Herein, we demonstrate the creation of room-temperature ferroelectricity in epitaxial LFO thin films via a defect-engineering strategy. By modulating the oxygen partial pressure during growth, we deliberately introduce cationic off-stoichiometry, leading to the formation of La_Fe and Fe_La antisite defects. A combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy, positive-up-negative-down measurements, and density functional theory calculations confirms that these antisite defects are the microscopic origin of a polar R3c phase, which gives rise to intrinsic switchable ferroelectricity. Furthermore, piezoresponse force microscopy under applied magnetic fields reveals a noticeable magnetoelectric coupling. This work not only unveils a novel mechanism for activating multiferroicity in LFO but also establishes cationic antisite engineering as a general paradigm for designing multifunctional properties in the rare earth orthoferrite family.