Small Methods最新文献

Phage therapy presents a promising solution for combating multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections and other bacteria-related diseases, attributed to their innate ability to target and lyse bacteria. Recent clinical successes, particularly in treating MDR-related respiratory and post-surgical infections, validated the therapeutic potential of phage therapy. However, the complex microenvironment within the human body poses significant challenges to phage activity and efficacy in vivo. To overcome these barriers, recent advances in phage engineering have aimed to enhance targeting accuracy, improve stability and survivability, and explore synergistic combinations with other therapeutic modalities. This review provides a comprehensive overview of phage therapy, emphasizing the application of engineered phages in antibacterial therapy, tumor therapy, and vaccine development. Furthermore, the review highlights the current challenges and future trends for advancing phage therapy toward broader clinical applications.

The burgeoning advancements in near-eye display devices intensify attention to ultra-high-resolution display technology. Due to the outstanding properties including high color purity, low turn-on voltage, solution processability, etc., quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) are among the most promising candidates for next-generation displays. This study proposes a novel strategy to construct QLED devices with designable patterns by adjusting the energy level alignment and corresponding carrier transport behavior. As a proof-of-concept, patterned hole injection layers (HIL) based on photosensitive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) composite are prepared by direct photolithography. Noteworthily, the red QLED devices with optimized photolithographic HIL exhibit an increased external quantum efficiency, from 17.2% to 18.4%, and an extended operational lifetime (T₉₅ at 1,000 cd m^-2), from 471 to 827 h. Subsequently, three primary color QLED devices with above 3,300 DPI (dot per inch) are successfully achieved by utilizing pixelated HIL, paving the technical foundation for developing ultra-high resolution QLED displays.

The continuous advancement of electronic devices, driven by trends toward miniaturization, reduced weight, higher integration, and multifunctionality, imposes stringent requirements on the performance of electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbing materials. Traditional EMW absorbers, such as metals, face significant drawbacks, including high density and rigidity, which limit their broader application in EMW absorption. To overcome these issues, cellulose is employed as the matrix, incorporating nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as functional fillers. The ferrite/CNT/cellulose aerogels (NCCAs) are fabricated through ionic crosslinking and room-temperature drying techniques. The results show that the porous structure of NCCA enhances multiple scattering and energy dissipation pathways for EMWs, while CNTs provide excellent electrical dissipation. The content of NiFe₂O₄ nanocrystals strongly influences the aerogel's saturation magnetization and the electromagnetic parameters of the NCCAs, primarily owing to their superior dielectric and magnetic loss properties. Notably, when the content of NiFe₂O₄ nanocrystals is 4% of the cellulose mass, the NCCA achieves the lowest reflection loss of -66.53 dB at 16.11 GHz, and lower than most reported ferrite-based EMW absorbers. This work provides valuable insights and guidance for the design of novel aerogel-based EMW absorbers with lightweight properties, strong absorption intensities, and broad absorption frequency bands.

Photosynthesis has garnered significant interest due to its potential for retrofitting and its intrinsic enzyme-mediated metabolic processes, which can convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into biomass powered by solar energy. However, natural photosynthesis is limited by factors such as low photosynthetic efficiency and constraints on the range of output products. To address these issues, researchers have developed various strategies for designing and engineering photosynthetic systems. These strategies include nanomaterial-assisted approaches to enhance light absorption and accelerate electron transfer, microfluidic technologies for precise manipulation of enzyme modules, synthetic biology techniques to optimize metabolic pathways, and photo-bioelectrochemical systems (PBESs) for efficient utilization of photosynthetic electrons. Inspired by these, numerous applications have emerged in the fields of artificial organelles, promotion of hypoxic tissue healing, bioproduction, and environmental production and sustainability. This review provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles of photosynthesis, encompassing light and carbon reactions. Additionally, it offers an overview of recent strategies for the design, structuring, and engineering of photosynthetic systems, while discussing several applications of photosynthesis. Finally, this review highlights the potential of engineered photosynthetic systems to address challenges in energy and matter conversion across various fields, offering insights into the future of sustainable, photosynthesis-based technologies.

Tumor heterogeneity and interaction with tumor microenvironment play a crucial role in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) resistance in breast cancer (BRCA). Unraveling this dynamic interaction may help uncover novel therapeutic targets. Here, dynamic changes in tumor states and cellular composition are systemically characterized using 175,825 single-cell transcriptomics from naïve and post-treatment biopsies of BRCA patients receiving NAC. CDK16⁺ tumors are identified featured with luminal progenitor cell (LPC)-like tumor cells enriched in the triple-negative subtype of BRCA, associated with chemo-resistance. Integrating single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), spatial transcriptomics, and six independent public gene expression profiles that underwent chemotherapy revealed that POSTN⁺ cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are closely localized and interacted with CDK16⁺ LPC-like tumor cells to promote chemo-resistance. In vivo, CDK16 knockdown in tumor cells combined with chemotherapy significantly enhanced therapeutic efficacy. This in-house scRNA-seq from a mouse model validated that CDK16 knockdown reduced the LPC-like tumor cell signature, and the interaction of tumor featured with LPC-like tumor cells and POSTN⁺ CAFs. Together, the systematically integrated analyses uncovered an interaction network of CDK16⁺ tumor and POSTN⁺ CAFs that contributed to NAC- resistance, providing a new strategy for targeting CDK16 to enhance chemotherapy efficacy.

Infected bone defects are a growing global health issue, with risks including bone destruction, disability, and even death. The main clinical challenge is the difficulty in simultaneously achieving effective antibacterial action and promoting bone regeneration. Calcination at 800°C induces a phase transition from cubic (C-BSTO) to polarized tetragonal (T-BSTO), imparting piezoelectric properties. Subsequent treatment with sodium borohydride generates oxygen vacancies, enhancing polarization and piezoelectric performance. The synthesized T-BSTO-V_o achieves 99.83% antibacterial efficiency against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) under 1.5 W cm² ultrasound (US) irradiation for 20 min. Mild US irradiation activates a piezoelectric signal, promoting Schwann cell (SC) neurogenic differentiation via PI3K-AKT signaling and intracellular Ca²⁺ elevation. Further studies showed that the synergy of the neurotransmitter of SCs and piezoelectric electric signal increased the osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Consequently, US-irradiated T-BSTO-V_o effectively promotes the innervated bone regeneration in the MRSA-infected bone defect model through rapidly killing bacteria, modulating the immune microenvironment. This study offers a new approach for developing bioactive sonosensitizers through phase/defect engineering, and treats MRSA-infected bone defects through enhanced piezocatalytic effect and innervated bone regeneration.

The magnetic field as a "non-contact" external field can instantaneously affect the separation and migration of photogenerated carriers during the photocatalytic reaction. This facilitates the large-scale industrial application of photocatalysis technology. Consequently, the potential for using external magnetic fields to enhance photocatalysis in environmental pollution control and clean energy production has received significant attention. Herein, the principle of the magnetic field acting on photocatalytic reaction is discussed, including spin polarization, the Lorentz force, negative magnetoresistance, and electromotive force. In particular, the typical reaction devices and magnetic field settings involved in current research on magnetic field-assisted photocatalysis are exhibited. Meanwhile, the performance of magnetic field-assisted photocatalysis in specific applications is presented. The efficiency and experimental parameters of catalysts are classified and organized by their specific application fields. It is highlighted to summarize and interpret the mechanisms underlying magnetic field-assisted photocatalysis presented in previous studies, along with the latest validation techniques. Finally, the challenges and potential opportunities are discussed. This review offers valuable insights and guidance for the design and development of innovative magnetic field-assisted photocatalytic systems, thereby accelerating the industrial application of photocatalytic technology.

Metal halide perovskite nanocrystals (PeNCs) have emerged as promising materials for next-generation light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) due to their outstanding optical properties. However, synthesis challenges such as rapid crystallization often introduce defects that degrade device performance. Herein, a dual-ligand approach employing trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) and phenylphosphinic acid (PPIA) is introduced to coordinate Pb²⁺ ions, effectively slowing the crystallization process and minimizing defect formation. The obtained PeNCs exhibit a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) of 93%. Additionally, the PPIA ligand enhances electrical conductivity via π-electron resonance, enabling more efficient charge transport in FAPbBr₃ films. As a result, the optimized PeLEDs achieve a peak external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 24.2% and a luminance of 32 840 cd m^{- 2}, significantly outperforming the control devices, which exhibit an EQE of 12.1% and a luminance of 1577 cd m^{- 2}. Furthermore, the operational lifetime of the optimized PeLEDs is 5.3 times longer than that of the control devices. These findings offer a promising pathway for advancing the performance and stability of PeLEDs.

Tumor immunotherapy, which utilizes the immune system to fight cancer, represents a revolutionary method for cancer treatment. Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) copolymer has emerged as a promising material for tumor immunotherapy due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatility in drug delivery. By tuning the size, shape, and surface properties of PLGA-based systems, researchers have improved their ability to align with the requirements for diverse tumor immunotherapy modalities. In this review, the basic properties of the PLGA materials are first introduced and further the principal forms of the PLGA systems for controlled release are summarized and delivery applications are targeted. In addition, recent advances in the use of PLGA delivery systems are highlighted to enhance antitumor immune responses in terms of tumor vaccines, immunogenic cell death-mediated immune responses, tumor microenvironment modulation, and combination immunotherapies. Finally, prospects for the future research and clinical translation of PLGA materials are proposed.

The inherent risks of fluid leakage, combustion, and explosive reactions constitute major impediments to the widespread commercial deployment of lithium battery technologies. To solve these problems, solid-state electrolytes presenting the advantages of non-leakage, good thermal stability, non-volatilization, low spontaneous combustion or explosion risk have been proposed. However, one of the key issues for solid electrolytes is the ultra-low ionic conductivity. To improve the ionic conductivity, new materials are being developed with complex procedures or more exotic, high-cost materials. Actually, the performance of solid electrolytes can be strategically enhanced through rational structural design and customized fabrication strategies. Recently, the combination of 3D printing techniques with solid-state batteries has been regarded as an efficient solution for the future energy crisis, and therefore, much research effort has been spent on it. This article reviewed the research advances around the integration of 3D printing with solid electrolytes. The advantages of various solid electrolytes and major 3D printing techniques are summarized at first. Subsequently, this review examines the integration of 3D printing technologies in the fabrication of diverse solid electrolytes, analyzing their implementation through case studies of solid-state battery applications. Finally, the challenges and prospective for future 3D printing of solid electrolytes are outlined.