Sodium superoxide is considered the preferred discharge product for sodium-air batteries (SABs) due to the reversible electrochemistry of the O2/O2− redox pair and the consequent low charge overpotential. However, air cathodes of SABs based on mono-metal systems have not yet achieved optimal adsorption of the discharge products, leading to suboptimal performance of SABs. In this study, we present FeCo bimetallic alloy particles anchored on carbon nanotubes (FeCo/C) as a demonstration of a bimetal-based air cathode for SABs. Na-air batteries with FeCo/C cathode can achieve a low overpotential gap of 500 mV, a high discharge capacity of 3392.20 mAh g−1, and excellent cyclic stability over 200 cycles (800 h). Ex-situ spectroscopy confirms the successful formation of sodium superoxide as the main discharge product, establishing a clear correlation between excellent performance and discharge product composition and verifying the effectiveness of the bimetallic alloy cathode. Theoretical calculations further reveal that the bimetallic-based air cathode exhibits improved adsorption of sodium superoxide, significantly enhancing the performance of SABs. This work pioneers the use of bimetal alloy strategies to optimize discharge products in SABs, paving the way for their practical application.
{"title":"Bimetallic Alloy Air Cathode Promoting Superoxide Formation for High-Performance Na-Air Batteries","authors":"Wenwen Yin, Xing Zhi, Yanyan Li, Jiawei Ma, Bernt Johannessen, Fangxi Xie, Mingmei Wu","doi":"10.1002/smll.202500109","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202500109","url":null,"abstract":"Sodium superoxide is considered the preferred discharge product for sodium-air batteries (SABs) due to the reversible electrochemistry of the O<sub>2</sub>/O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> redox pair and the consequent low charge overpotential. However, air cathodes of SABs based on mono-metal systems have not yet achieved optimal adsorption of the discharge products, leading to suboptimal performance of SABs. In this study, we present FeCo bimetallic alloy particles anchored on carbon nanotubes (FeCo/C) as a demonstration of a bimetal-based air cathode for SABs. Na-air batteries with FeCo/C cathode can achieve a low overpotential gap of 500 mV, a high discharge capacity of 3392.20 mAh g<sup>−1</sup>, and excellent cyclic stability over 200 cycles (800 h). Ex-situ spectroscopy confirms the successful formation of sodium superoxide as the main discharge product, establishing a clear correlation between excellent performance and discharge product composition and verifying the effectiveness of the bimetallic alloy cathode. Theoretical calculations further reveal that the bimetallic-based air cathode exhibits improved adsorption of sodium superoxide, significantly enhancing the performance of SABs. This work pioneers the use of bimetal alloy strategies to optimize discharge products in SABs, paving the way for their practical application.","PeriodicalId":228,"journal":{"name":"Small","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143538709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jie Liu, Zichun Song, Jing Luo, To Ngai, Guanqing Sun
Pickering emulsions have garnered significant attention for their ability to facilitate the controlled and effective delivery of active ingredients across various sectors, including drug release, agriculture, cosmetics, and interfacial catalysis. However, achieving the release of encapsulated active substances typically requires the disruption of emulsion droplets, making programmable release a notable challenge. This study develops a colloidal layer with nanogates at the oil-water interface of Pickering emulsion, utilizing UV light as a non-contact, remote stimulus to enable effective programmable release of encapsulated active substances. By alternating UV and visible light irradiation, this work induces cis-trans isomerization of azobenzene molecules on silica particles, allowing the gaps between colloidal particles to open and close. This demonstrated a promising nanogate effect under UV irradiation, facilitating the programmable release of active substance (perylene) from the Pickering emulsion droplets. This Pickering emulsion system offers precise control over the release amount of perylene by adjusting the colloidal particle size and the duration of UV–visible light exposure, all while maintaining emulsion stability. The successful implementation of this strategy presents a promising platform for non-invasive, programmable release of active substances across diverse applications in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical fields.
{"title":"Programmable Control of Active Ingredient Release in Pickering Emulsions Using Light","authors":"Jie Liu, Zichun Song, Jing Luo, To Ngai, Guanqing Sun","doi":"10.1002/smll.202412361","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202412361","url":null,"abstract":"Pickering emulsions have garnered significant attention for their ability to facilitate the controlled and effective delivery of active ingredients across various sectors, including drug release, agriculture, cosmetics, and interfacial catalysis. However, achieving the release of encapsulated active substances typically requires the disruption of emulsion droplets, making programmable release a notable challenge. This study develops a colloidal layer with nanogates at the oil-water interface of Pickering emulsion, utilizing UV light as a non-contact, remote stimulus to enable effective programmable release of encapsulated active substances. By alternating UV and visible light irradiation, this work induces cis-trans isomerization of azobenzene molecules on silica particles, allowing the gaps between colloidal particles to open and close. This demonstrated a promising nanogate effect under UV irradiation, facilitating the programmable release of active substance (perylene) from the Pickering emulsion droplets. This Pickering emulsion system offers precise control over the release amount of perylene by adjusting the colloidal particle size and the duration of UV–visible light exposure, all while maintaining emulsion stability. The successful implementation of this strategy presents a promising platform for non-invasive, programmable release of active substances across diverse applications in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical fields.","PeriodicalId":228,"journal":{"name":"Small","volume":"203 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhujun Ai, Huan Cai, Changjin Liu, Yan Zhao, Qing Fu, Ningke Fan, Yujian Li, Siqiao Li, Song Zhou, Chunyang Li, Juan Li, Shijia Ding, Rui Chen
Fluorescent-colorimetric nanoparticles (FCNPs) attract considerable interest as an emerging dual-signal reporter for on-site qualitative/quantitative point-of-care testing. However, the suboptimal signaling components and self-assembled structure lacking physical isolation in traditional FCNPs result in low fluorescence brightness, poor stability, and strong internal filtration effect (IFE), which severely limits their wide application in lateral flow assay (LFA). Here, ordered self-assembly for hydrophobic upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) is developed using 3D porous space magnetic dendritic mesoporous silica (MS), stepwise surface silanization, and polydopamine (PDA) flexible scaffold modification to fabricate MS@UCNPs@PDA (MSUD). With rational design, MSUD improves stability and luminescence intensity (131 times higher than quantum dot-based fluorophores), and also eliminates IFE and fluorescence background interference on LFA strips. The detection limits of MSUD-labeled LFA for qualitative and quantitative detection of methamphetamine by naked eye-based colorimetric and smartphone-based fluorescence strategy are 1.047 × 104 pg mL−1 and 47.25 pg mL−1, ≈10- and 2116- times lower than that of gold nanoparticles-LFA, respectively. The practicality of the MSUD-based LFA is validated in 83 urine/hair forensic samples, with the quantitative determination results in good agreement with the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer data. This work presents an innovative strategy for constructing FCNPs, facilitating their progressive development and widespread applications.
{"title":"Ultrasensitive Bi-Mode Lateral-Flow Assay via UCNPs-Based Host-Guest Assembly of Fluorescent-Colorimetric Nanoparticles","authors":"Zhujun Ai, Huan Cai, Changjin Liu, Yan Zhao, Qing Fu, Ningke Fan, Yujian Li, Siqiao Li, Song Zhou, Chunyang Li, Juan Li, Shijia Ding, Rui Chen","doi":"10.1002/smll.202410947","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202410947","url":null,"abstract":"Fluorescent-colorimetric nanoparticles (FCNPs) attract considerable interest as an emerging dual-signal reporter for on-site qualitative/quantitative point-of-care testing. However, the suboptimal signaling components and self-assembled structure lacking physical isolation in traditional FCNPs result in low fluorescence brightness, poor stability, and strong internal filtration effect (IFE), which severely limits their wide application in lateral flow assay (LFA). Here, ordered self-assembly for hydrophobic upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) is developed using 3D porous space magnetic dendritic mesoporous silica (MS), stepwise surface silanization, and polydopamine (PDA) flexible scaffold modification to fabricate MS@UCNPs@PDA (MSUD). With rational design, MSUD improves stability and luminescence intensity (131 times higher than quantum dot-based fluorophores), and also eliminates IFE and fluorescence background interference on LFA strips. The detection limits of MSUD-labeled LFA for qualitative and quantitative detection of methamphetamine by naked eye-based colorimetric and smartphone-based fluorescence strategy are 1.047 × 10<sup>4</sup> pg mL<sup>−1</sup> and 47.25 pg mL<sup>−1</sup>, ≈10- and 2116- times lower than that of gold nanoparticles-LFA, respectively. The practicality of the MSUD-based LFA is validated in 83 urine/hair forensic samples, with the quantitative determination results in good agreement with the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer data. This work presents an innovative strategy for constructing FCNPs, facilitating their progressive development and widespread applications.","PeriodicalId":228,"journal":{"name":"Small","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emmett Hanson, Nabeel Kalla, Ram Jeevan Tharu, Mikail M. Demir, Betul H. Tok, M. Abdullah Canbaz, Mehmet V. Yigit
The development of a paper-based genome detection assay using target-responsive DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (DFN-1) is presented. The reported nanoclusters exhibit intrinsic fluorescence, which is regulated by the cleavage of the DNA template surrounding the silver core. To enable the nanoclusters to respond to a specific genome, CRISPR-Cas12a is employed for highly specific and programmable digestion of the nanoclusters. Upon detection of the target, the DNA template is cleaved by the CRISPR-Cas12a complex, leading to a reduction in fluorescence. This assay successfully demonstrates for the detection of the Salmonella genome in the liquid phase and on 2 mm solid filter paper discs. By altering only the crRNA in the CRISPR complex, the assay is programmed to detect two different Salmonella serotypes. The selectivity of the assay is evaluated in DNA mixtures with and without the target genomic fragments. The assay also demonstrates the detection of as little as 33 copies of the full Salmonella genome by incorporating an isothermal amplification step. Furthermore, 60 unknown samples with different target content in standard 344 well plates are evaluated. The results are analyzed using custom-developed machine-learning algorithms, successfully detecting the presence of the target with 100% prediction accuracy.
{"title":"CRISPR-Responsive Reprogrammable Label-Free Fluorescent Nanoclusters for ML-Assisted Pathogenic Genome Detection on Solid Substrates","authors":"Emmett Hanson, Nabeel Kalla, Ram Jeevan Tharu, Mikail M. Demir, Betul H. Tok, M. Abdullah Canbaz, Mehmet V. Yigit","doi":"10.1002/smll.202500784","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202500784","url":null,"abstract":"The development of a paper-based genome detection assay using target-responsive DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (DFN-1) is presented. The reported nanoclusters exhibit intrinsic fluorescence, which is regulated by the cleavage of the DNA template surrounding the silver core. To enable the nanoclusters to respond to a specific genome, CRISPR-Cas12a is employed for highly specific and programmable digestion of the nanoclusters. Upon detection of the target, the DNA template is cleaved by the CRISPR-Cas12a complex, leading to a reduction in fluorescence. This assay successfully demonstrates for the detection of the <i>Salmonella </i>genome in the liquid phase and on 2 mm solid filter paper discs. By altering only the crRNA in the CRISPR complex, the assay is programmed to detect two different <i>Salmonella</i> serotypes. The selectivity of the assay is evaluated in DNA mixtures with and without the target genomic fragments. The assay also demonstrates the detection of as little as 33 copies of the full <i>Salmonella</i> genome by incorporating an isothermal amplification step. Furthermore, 60 unknown samples with different target content in standard 344 well plates are evaluated. The results are analyzed using custom-developed machine-learning algorithms, successfully detecting the presence of the target with 100% prediction accuracy.","PeriodicalId":228,"journal":{"name":"Small","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Melina I. Feldhof, Simon Walber, Sandro Sperzel, Susanne Boye, Ulla I.M. Gerling-Driessen, Laura Hartmann
Protein-polymer-based materials demonstrate high potential in advanced applications. However, controlled combinations of multiple proteins and polymers to obtain multimaterial systems is limited due to the complexity of retaining protein structure and function and achieving high structural control for the polymers simultaneously. Here, the first combination of a rebridging agent and thiol-induced, light-activated controlled radical polymerization (TIRP) is introduced to directly enable site-specific conjugation of two different polymers to native proteins. Specifically, poly(N-isopropyacrylamide) (pNIPAM) is attached to bovine serum albumin (BSA), followed by incorporation of a new rebridging agent, and initiating a second TIRP to introduce a glycopolymer, giving highly defined pNIPAM-BSA-glycopolymer conjugates. Above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), nanoparticles with a glycopolymer corona are formed. The addition of a glycan-specific lectin leads to the formation of a second protein corona and so-called multilayer nanoparticles. Depending on the sequence of stimuli, the particles can either undergo a step-wise or one-step disassembly. Furthermore, by controlling the ratio of binding/non-binding glycopolymers in the multilayer nanoparticles, either distinct nanoparticles or large clusters can be formed. Thus, dual-responsive multilayered polymer-protein nanoparticles are now accessible with controlled and programmable material properties such as assembly and disassembly while maintaining the protein's native structure and thus function.
{"title":"Site-Specific Polymer-Protein-Polymer Conjugates for the Preparation of Dual Responsive Multilayer Nanoparticles","authors":"Melina I. Feldhof, Simon Walber, Sandro Sperzel, Susanne Boye, Ulla I.M. Gerling-Driessen, Laura Hartmann","doi":"10.1002/smll.202500531","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202500531","url":null,"abstract":"Protein-polymer-based materials demonstrate high potential in advanced applications. However, controlled combinations of multiple proteins and polymers to obtain multimaterial systems is limited due to the complexity of retaining protein structure and function and achieving high structural control for the polymers simultaneously. Here, the first combination of a rebridging agent and thiol-induced, light-activated controlled radical polymerization (TIRP) is introduced to directly enable site-specific conjugation of two different polymers to native proteins. Specifically, poly(<i>N</i>-isopropyacrylamide) (pNIPAM) is attached to bovine serum albumin (BSA), followed by incorporation of a new rebridging agent, and initiating a second TIRP to introduce a glycopolymer, giving highly defined pNIPAM-BSA-glycopolymer conjugates. Above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), nanoparticles with a glycopolymer corona are formed. The addition of a glycan-specific lectin leads to the formation of a second protein corona and so-called multilayer nanoparticles. Depending on the sequence of stimuli, the particles can either undergo a step-wise or one-step disassembly. Furthermore, by controlling the ratio of binding/non-binding glycopolymers in the multilayer nanoparticles, either distinct nanoparticles or large clusters can be formed. Thus, dual-responsive multilayered polymer-protein nanoparticles are now accessible with controlled and programmable material properties such as assembly and disassembly while maintaining the protein's native structure and thus function.","PeriodicalId":228,"journal":{"name":"Small","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bin Zhao, Xiayu Qiu, Yu Song, Shulong Li, Kun Zhang, Zihao Mou, Qingyuan Wang, Beibei Zhang, Zhijun Wang
Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to high-value-added chemicals represents a promising strategy for effective CO2 utilization, and rationally regulating the electronic structure of the catalyst is the key to enhancing photocatalytic performance. Herein, it is demonstrated that in situ doping of atomic indium into the lattice of the Cu2MoS4 catalyst results in remarkable enhancements in photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance. A record gas product yield of 104.1 µmol·g−1·h−1 is achieved under visible light irradiation (>420 nm), accompanied by a generation rate of 35.3 µmol·g−1·h−1 for ethylene. Detailed experimental analyses and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the low electronegativity of indium atoms induces asymmetric charge redistribution near the doping sites. This effect facilitates the adsorption and dissociation of CO2 molecules at the charge-enriched Mo sites, as well as the subsequent generation of key intermediates (*COCOH) toward ethylene formation. This work advances understanding of the potential mechanism between the electronic structure of the active site and photocatalytic performance, providing valuable insights into fabricating advanced materials for CO2 conversion into solar fuels.
{"title":"Regulating Asymmetric Charge Distribution in Cu2MoS4 Nanosheets for Enhanced Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction","authors":"Bin Zhao, Xiayu Qiu, Yu Song, Shulong Li, Kun Zhang, Zihao Mou, Qingyuan Wang, Beibei Zhang, Zhijun Wang","doi":"10.1002/smll.202500877","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202500877","url":null,"abstract":"Photocatalytic reduction of CO<sub>2</sub> to high-value-added chemicals represents a promising strategy for effective CO<sub>2</sub> utilization, and rationally regulating the electronic structure of the catalyst is the key to enhancing photocatalytic performance. Herein, it is demonstrated that in situ doping of atomic indium into the lattice of the Cu<sub>2</sub>MoS<sub>4</sub> catalyst results in remarkable enhancements in photocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> reduction performance. A record gas product yield of 104.1 µmol·g<sup>−1</sup>·h<sup>−1</sup> is achieved under visible light irradiation (>420 nm), accompanied by a generation rate of 35.3 µmol·g<sup>−1</sup>·h<sup>−1</sup> for ethylene. Detailed experimental analyses and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the low electronegativity of indium atoms induces asymmetric charge redistribution near the doping sites. This effect facilitates the adsorption and dissociation of CO<sub>2</sub> molecules at the charge-enriched Mo sites, as well as the subsequent generation of key intermediates (<sup>*</sup>COCOH) toward ethylene formation. This work advances understanding of the potential mechanism between the electronic structure of the active site and photocatalytic performance, providing valuable insights into fabricating advanced materials for CO<sub>2</sub> conversion into solar fuels.","PeriodicalId":228,"journal":{"name":"Small","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Activatable combined therapeutic strategy exhibits significant potential for the management of malignant tumors. Ensuring the timely and spatially effective release of different therapeutic agents is a great challenge for maximizing the efficacy of combination therapy. Herein, based on the 1,4-and 1,6-elimination behaviors, the study proposes a novel universal single-activated-dual-release platform that can be triggered by various stimulants of interest. As a proof-of-concept, the study develops an example of a synergistic therapy called CyI-Cbl-NTR, which can be selectively activated by nitroreductase (NTR) to release the photosensitizer (CyI-OH) and DNA alkylating agent chlorambucil (Cbl), thereby enabling a combination of chemo- and photodynamic therapy. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments fully demonstrate the remarkable combined therapeutic effect of Cyl-Cbl-NTR and the feasibility of this strategy. This work provides a promising platform for the future development of activatable synergistic therapy.
{"title":"A Universal Single-Activated-Dual-Release Vehicle: Enabling Synergistic Antitumor Therapy","authors":"Jinliang Han, Mingwang Yang, Kang Li, Wenkai Liu, Jiangli Fan, Xiaojun Peng","doi":"10.1002/smll.202410925","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202410925","url":null,"abstract":"Activatable combined therapeutic strategy exhibits significant potential for the management of malignant tumors. Ensuring the timely and spatially effective release of different therapeutic agents is a great challenge for maximizing the efficacy of combination therapy. Herein, based on the 1,4-and 1,6-elimination behaviors, the study proposes a novel universal single-activated-dual-release platform that can be triggered by various stimulants of interest. As a proof-of-concept, the study develops an example of a synergistic therapy called <b>CyI-Cbl-NTR</b>, which can be selectively activated by nitroreductase (NTR) to release the photosensitizer (<b>CyI-OH</b>) and DNA alkylating agent chlorambucil (Cbl), thereby enabling a combination of chemo- and photodynamic therapy. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments fully demonstrate the remarkable combined therapeutic effect of <b>Cyl-Cbl-NTR</b> and the feasibility of this strategy. This work provides a promising platform for the future development of activatable synergistic therapy.","PeriodicalId":228,"journal":{"name":"Small","volume":"49 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539336","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In article number 2405165, Linyong Zhu, Xianjun Chen, and co-workers designed a novel cyan fluorescent RNA (FR) called Myosotis with high cellular brightness and photostability. Myosotis is biorthogonal to Pepper and Clivia FRs, allowing multiplex fluorescence imaging of RNA in live bacteria.
{"title":"Bright and Stable Cyan Fluorescent RNA Enables Multicolor RNA Imaging in Live Escherichia coli (Small 9/2025)","authors":"Li Jiang, Fangting Zuo, Yuanyuan Pan, Ruilong Li, Yajie Shi, Xinyi Huang, Dasheng Zhang, Yingping Zhuang, Yuzheng Zhao, Qiuning Lin, Yi Yang, Linyong Zhu, Xianjun Chen","doi":"10.1002/smll.202570064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202570064","url":null,"abstract":"<p><b>RNA Imaging</b></p><p>In article number 2405165, Linyong Zhu, Xianjun Chen, and co-workers designed a novel cyan fluorescent RNA (FR) called Myosotis with high cellular brightness and photostability. Myosotis is biorthogonal to Pepper and Clivia FRs, allowing multiplex fluorescence imaging of RNA in live bacteria.\u0000\u0000 <figure>\u0000 <div><picture>\u0000 <source></source></picture><p></p>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </figure></p>","PeriodicalId":228,"journal":{"name":"Small","volume":"21 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/smll.202570064","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143554680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) have gained attention due to their potential to improve computational efficiency compared to traditional artificial neural networks. This study investigates the use of dynamic memristors Ta/IGZO/TaOx/Pt combined with peripheral circuits to emulate the leaky integrate-and-fire behavior of neurons, focusing on incorporating a refractory period. The refractory period is crucial as it prevents neurons from becoming overactive and ensures precise timing in signal processing. This improvement allows the memristor to mimic biological neuron behavior more accurately. The memristor's transient resistance exhibits nonlinear I–V hysteresis and changes in response to pulses, enabling functions of integration, leakage, and firing. Additionally, the memristor is configured as an encoder, converting external signals into voltage pulse sequences. Using coding methods, including rate coding and time-to-first-spike (TTFS) coding, the encoder demonstrates improved signal processing, with TTFS occurring within 21 to 62 ms and encoder frequencies from 2500 to 9500 Hz. Experimental results show that this approach enhances SNN performance, making it more suitable for real-time applications and complex temporal signal processing tasks. This research highlights the potential of dynamic memristors to bridge the gap between neurons and artificial neurons, paving the way for more efficient neuromorphic computing systems.
{"title":"Self-Rectifying Dynamic Memristor Circuits for Periodic LIF Refractory Period Emulation and TTFS/Rate Signal Encoding","authors":"Song-Xian You, Sheng-Jie Hong, Kuan-Ting Chen, Li-Chung Shih, Jen-Sue Chen","doi":"10.1002/smll.202408233","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202408233","url":null,"abstract":"Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) have gained attention due to their potential to improve computational efficiency compared to traditional artificial neural networks. This study investigates the use of dynamic memristors Ta/IGZO/TaO<sub>x</sub>/Pt combined with peripheral circuits to emulate the leaky integrate-and-fire behavior of neurons, focusing on incorporating a refractory period. The refractory period is crucial as it prevents neurons from becoming overactive and ensures precise timing in signal processing. This improvement allows the memristor to mimic biological neuron behavior more accurately. The memristor's transient resistance exhibits nonlinear <i>I–V</i> hysteresis and changes in response to pulses, enabling functions of integration, leakage, and firing. Additionally, the memristor is configured as an encoder, converting external signals into voltage pulse sequences. Using coding methods, including rate coding and time-to-first-spike (TTFS) coding, the encoder demonstrates improved signal processing, with TTFS occurring within 21 to 62 ms and encoder frequencies from 2500 to 9500 Hz. Experimental results show that this approach enhances SNN performance, making it more suitable for real-time applications and complex temporal signal processing tasks. This research highlights the potential of dynamic memristors to bridge the gap between neurons and artificial neurons, paving the way for more efficient neuromorphic computing systems.","PeriodicalId":228,"journal":{"name":"Small","volume":"67 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chao Li, Jiayi Li, Zach Argall-Knapp, Nathan W. Hendrikse, Mehtab A. Farooqui, Bella Raykowski, Anna King, Serratt Nong, Yingguang Liu
Microtumor Model
By leveraging an exclusive liquid repellency (ELR)-underoil open microfluidic system (UOMS), an open microfluidics-based microtumor model for studying tumor cell migration in an in vivo-like confined space and interaction with extracellular matrix was developed. The UOMS microtumor model was tested with the anti-metastatic effect of incyclinide, showing the potential as an ex vivo platform for micrometastasis study and anti-metastasis drug screening. More in article number 2402499, Chao Li, Yingguang Liu, and co-workers.
{"title":"Combining Top-Down and Bottom-Up: An Open Microfluidic Microtumor Model for Investigating Tumor Cell-ECM Interaction and Anti-Metastasis (Small 9/2025)","authors":"Chao Li, Jiayi Li, Zach Argall-Knapp, Nathan W. Hendrikse, Mehtab A. Farooqui, Bella Raykowski, Anna King, Serratt Nong, Yingguang Liu","doi":"10.1002/smll.202570068","DOIUrl":"10.1002/smll.202570068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><b>Microtumor Model</b></p><p>By leveraging an exclusive liquid repellency (ELR)-underoil open microfluidic system (UOMS), an open microfluidics-based microtumor model for studying tumor cell migration in an in vivo-like confined space and interaction with extracellular matrix was developed. The UOMS microtumor model was tested with the anti-metastatic effect of incyclinide, showing the potential as an ex vivo platform for micrometastasis study and anti-metastasis drug screening. More in article number 2402499, Chao Li, Yingguang Liu, and co-workers.\u0000\u0000 <figure>\u0000 <div><picture>\u0000 <source></source></picture><p></p>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </figure></p>","PeriodicalId":228,"journal":{"name":"Small","volume":"21 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/smll.202570068","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143538583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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