Our Emerging Investigator Series features exceptional work by early-career nanoscience and nanotechnology researchers. Read Dr Siwen Zhang’s Emerging Investigator Series article ‘PVP pre-intercalation engineering combined with the V4+/V5+ dual-valence modulation strategy for energy storage in aqueous zinc-ion batteries’ (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NH00236B) and read more about him in the interview below.
The construction of nano-drug carriers based on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has demonstrated significant therapeutic potential. Similarly, supramolecular therapeutic systems utilizing host–guest interactions have emerged as promising in nanomedicine. Building upon these approaches, we designed a size-controllable, multi-responsive supramolecular DNA nanogel (SDN) based on host–guest recognition for dual-drug co-delivery in cancer combination therapy. The nanogel incorporates doxorubicin (DOX, a chemotherapeutic agent) and methylene blue (MB, a photosensitizer). The assembly of SDN is driven by cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), which selectively binds two MB molecules—one from each of two Y-shaped DNA building blocks—forming a 1 : 2 host–guest complex that crosslinks the structures into a nanogel network. Meanwhile, the double-stranded DNA scaffold efficiently encapsulates DOX via intercalation, enabling SDN@DOX to co-deliver both drugs in a precisely controlled ratio. Notably, MB's photodynamic activity is initially suppressed upon CB[8] binding. However, upon cellular uptake, SDN@DOX responds to overexpressed spermine or specific peptide sequences in the tumor microenvironment, triggering MB release and restoring its photodynamic function. Concurrently, DNase I-mediated DNA degradation liberates DOX, enabling synergistic chemo-photodynamic therapy (PDT). In vitro studies confirmed that SDN@DOX enhances reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in cancer cells and achieves superior therapeutic efficacy through combined PDT and chemotherapy. This stimuli-responsive, dual-drug delivery system offers a potentially robust and controllable platform for precision cancer treatment.
The photocatalytic conversion of methane (CH4) into high-value multicarbon (C2+) products under ambient conditions provides a highly promising approach for the transformation of the energy structure and environmental protection. However, the high C–H bond dissociation energy of CH4 and the overoxidation of methyl radical (˙CH3) intermediates greatly limit the conversion of CH4 to C2+ products. Herein, we demonstrate a metal–organic framework (MOF) crystal engineering strategy to synthesize a MOF-derived PdO/TiO2 nanocomposite for photocatalytic nonoxidative coupling of methane (NOCM), achieving high selectivity and activity in the conversion of CH4 to ethane (C2H6). Mechanistic investigations reveal that the spatially separated active sites for C–H bond cleavage and C–C coupling contribute to the efficient conversion of CH4 to C2H6. Specifically, the lattice oxygen captures the photogenerated holes, leading to the formation of oxygen radical anions (˙O−), which activate the C–H bond and generate ˙CH3 intermediates. PdO stabilizes ˙CH3 intermediates, effectively inhibiting the overoxidation of ˙CH3, and thereby promoting the C–C coupling process. This work opens a new avenue for the rational design of efficient MOF-derived photocatalysts for NOCM.
DNA nanocarriers have been utilized for delivering a variety of functional cargo molecules, demonstrating unique properties such as designable and programmable structures, site-specific functionality, and superior biocompatibility. However, nucleic acid nanocarriers present significant limitations when it comes to loading small molecule drugs. Covalent integration of small molecule drugs into nucleic acid nanocarriers usually requires complex organic chemical reactions. Here we report a new method that enables the noncovalent and precise loading of small molecule drugs onto DNA nanocarriers. This is achieved through the formation of small molecule-mediated non-canonical base pairing. As a proof of principle, we successfully loaded cordycepin into aptamer-functionalized DNA nanoparticles and achieved a significant therapeutic effect in melanoma-bearing mice. This approach expands the range of small molecule drugs that can be loaded onto DNA nanostructures, particularly benefiting the synergistic therapy that combines small molecule drugs with nucleic acid drugs.
Logic inverters, which lay the foundation for the functionality of large-scale integrated circuits, are achieved using anti-ambipolar transistors (AATs) based on two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals heterojunctions (vdWH). However, the impact of the doping strategy on the figures of merit of logic inverters based on 2D vdWH AATs has not been comprehensively analyzed. Herein, 2D free-standing GeSxSe1−x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.73) with precisely tunable composition was grown to fabricate GeSxSe1−x/SnS2 vdWH AATs to achieve an optimal logic inverter. By leveraging elemental modulation in GeSxSe1−x, the proposed vdWH was tuned from type-II to type-III band alignment, allowing for a distinctive tunneling process at various bias conditions. The proposed devices with poor S content exhibited a better peak-to-valley ratio of 6.6 × 103 at x = 0.29 and a maximum peak current of 1.4 × 10−7 A at x = 0. Furthermore, the inverter built with the GeSxSe1−x/SnS2 device achieved the highest voltage gain of 8.83 at x = 0.29, while the device with an S-rich AAT delivered a low static power of 12.1 pW, which is attributed to the optimization of band engineering and the low driving voltage under the bottom h-BN/Au structure. This work contributes insights into the expansion of alloy engineering in the construction of high-performance multi-valued logic inverters.
Gene drugs based on nucleic acid molecules have shown great potential in the treatment of various diseases. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are currently the most advanced carriers for delivering nucleic acids. However, gene therapy fails to meet the clinical needs of organs other than the liver due to accumulation in the liver. Precise delivery of nucleic acids to specific target organs and target cells has become a key challenge in bringing gene therapy to the clinic. In this review, we present the typical composition and targeting properties of LNPs. Then we systematically describe the strategies and research progress to optimize the targeting properties of LNPs from three perspectives: surface modification, formulation optimization, and novel lipid molecule design. This review will further inspire researchers to rationally design targeted LNPs to advance the development of gene therapy.
Gene therapy, as a cutting-edge approach for disease intervention, relies heavily on advancements in gene silencing techniques. For instance, CRISPR-Cas9 has emerged as a leading gene-editing tool due to its ability to introduce precise cuts at specific genomic loci, enabling targeted gene insertion, deletion, or modification. In this study, we developed a simple and effective gene silencing strategy by introducing a nucleic acid self-assembly module into the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of mRNA. This module demonstrated significant gene silencing efficacy in eukaryotic cells through the formation of RNA aggregates. To systematically investigate its regulatory mechanism on translation efficiency through the formation of higher-order RNA structures, we quantitatively analyzed both mRNA and protein expression levels. Furthermore, our modular 3′ UTR sequences can be integrated with classical 5′ UTR elements (e.g., TOP sequences) to construct a multidimensional post-transcriptional regulatory network. This technology expands the diversity of existing UTR element libraries and offers a reservoir of programmable regulatory elements for applications in synthetic biology. It enables the construction of orthogonal combinations of multidimensional elements, tailored to specific gene expression regulation needs.
Spinels represent promising candidates for clean energy electrocatalysis due to their abundance and electronic structure adjustability. However, their intrinsic catalytic activity remains limited. This review analyzes the fundamental correlations between the electronic structure and catalytic performance of spinel-based electrocatalysts. It elucidates the critical roles of coordination geometry, e.g., tetrahedral vs. octahedral sites, and the electronic configuration of active metal centers, including the d-band center position and spin state. The applications of these electronic structure modulation strategies across electrocatalytic reactions, encompassing the oxygen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, nitrogen reduction reaction, nitrate reduction reaction, carbon dioxide reduction reaction, and urea oxidation reaction, were further analyzed. Gaining insights from these diverse reaction systems, this review proposes a generalizable design paradigm for efficient spinel electrocatalysts: coordination engineering–d-band center optimization–spin state modulation. Finally, challenges in electronic-state control and future research frontiers are outlined, providing a robust mechanistic framework for the rational design of spinel electrocatalysts for sustainable energy technologies.
Many studies have been carried out on the effect of the addition of carbon nanotubes on the mechanical properties of polymer-based nanocomposites. A fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of reinforcement and the factors that control mechanical properties has been hampered by the lack of measurements on specimens with well-characterised nanotube microstructures. In the present study we have used a series of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with different aspect ratios (length/diameter) to prepare nanocomposites and determine their mechanical properties as a function of nanotube volume fraction. In addition a similar investigation has been carried out on the effect of MWCNT alignment for one type of nanotube, with nanotube orientation being determined from the quantitative analysis of transmission electron micrographs of microtomed sections of the nanocomposites. The findings have been analysed using a new theory that combines the rule of mixtures with shear lag theory. Overall it is predicted that the stiffness of the nanocomposites depends only upon the aspect ratio, orientation and volume fraction of the MWCNTs and is independent of their Young's modulus. Good agreement is found between the experimental data and theoretical analysis. This is of profound importance for our understanding of the mechanisms of reinforcement of CNT/polymer nanocomposites and points to how the properties of polymer-based nanocomposite systems may be optimised in the future.
Silicon nanowires (Si NWs) hold great promise as high-capacity anode materials for next-generation batteries. However, their application is severely hindered by anisotropic lithiation, which leads to structural failure and rapid capacity fading. Here, we introduce a novel in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) cross-sectional analysis technique that enables real-time visualization and quantitative analysis of the radial structural evolution of one-dimensional (1D) nanomaterials under external stimuli. Applying this method to Si NWs, we uncover a two-tiered mechanism for regulating anisotropic lithiation in Si NWs. First, selecting axial orientations with high in-plane crystallographic symmetry can effectively facilitate uniform lithium (Li) diffusion and suppress directional expansion. Second, rational cross-sectional design, such as faceted-engineered geometries, further suppresses anisotropy by constraining the effective interfacial area and diffusion path length in fast-lithiation directions. These findings provide new insights into the control of anisotropic lithiation and offer a geometry-guided strategy for enhancing the structural stability and performance of Si-based anodes. Moreover, the methodology and anisotropy regulation principles established here are broadly applicable to other 1D nanomaterials.
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