Butterfly-Shaped Folding Synthons for Designing Superselective and Ultrapermeable Artificial Water Channels.

Water transport across biological membranes is essential for life, facilitated by water channel proteins like aquaporins (AQPs). Drawing inspiration from these natural systems, artificial water channels (AWCs) have emerged as transformative tools for advancing industrial and environmental applications. Herein, we report the design and comprehensive characterization of a groundbreaking class of AWCs, derived from unprecedented butterfly-shaped aromatic folding synthons, carefully engineered to emulate the functional attributes of natural AQPs.

Silk Nonwoven Fabric-Based Dressing with Antibacterial and ROS-Scavenging Properties for Modulating Wound Microenvironment and Promoting Diabetic Wound Healing.

The microenvironment of diabetic wounds is exceptionally complex, characterized notably by persistent bacterial infections and the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Traditional treatment methods often fall short of achieving ideal results. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop and implement more advanced and efficient treatment strategies to effectively address the complexity and recalcitrance of diabetic wounds.

Core-Shell Interface Engineering Strategies for Modulating Energy Transfer in Rare Earth-Doped Nanoparticles.

Rare earth-doped nanoparticles (RENPs) are promising biomaterials with substantial potential in biomedical applications. Their multilayered core-shell structure design allows for more diverse uses, such as orthogonal excitation. However, the typical synthesis strategies-one-pot successive layer-by-layer (LBL) method and seed-assisted (SA) method-for creating multilayered RENPs show notable differences in spectral performance.

A Cost-Effective Hemin-Based Artificial Enzyme Allows for Practical Applications.

Nanomaterials excel in mimicking the structure and function of natural enzymes while being far more interesting in terms of structural stability, functional versatility, recyclability, and large-scale preparation. Herein, the story assembles hemin, histidine analogs, and G-quadruplex DNA in a catalytically competent supramolecular assembly referred to as assembly-activated hemin enzyme (AA-heminzyme). The catalytic properties of AA-heminzyme are investigated both in silico (by molecular docking and quantum chemical calculations) and in vitro (notably through a systematic comparison with its natural counterpart horseradish peroxidase, HRP).

Towards promoting wound healing: A near-infrared light-triggered persistently antibacterial, synergistically hemostatic nanoarchitecture-integrated chitosan hydrogel.

The skin, the primary barrier of the body, is inevitably broken. However, the development of materials that facilitate wound healing with sustained antimicrobial, hemostatic, and biocompatible properties remains a formidable challenge. In this article, we prepared a photopolymerizable composite hydrogel consisting of a hydrogel matrix, a hemostatic/antibacterial agent, and a photothermal therapy agent.

Zwitterion-Modified Nanogel Responding to Temperature and Ionic Strength: A Dissipative Particle Dynamics Simulation.

The self-assembly and stimuli-responsive properties of nanogel poly(-isopropylacrylamide) (p(NIPAm)) and zwitterion-modified nanogel poly(-isopropylacrylamide--sulfobetainemethacrylate) (p(NIPAm--SBMA)) were explored by dissipative particle dynamics simulations. Simulation results reveal that for both types of nanogel, it is beneficial to form spherical nanogels at polymer concentrations of 5-10%. When the chain length () elongates from 10 to 40, the sizes of the nanogels enlarge.

Awakening Allies for Breaking Microenvironment Barriers: NIR-II Guided Orthogonal Activation of Tumor-Infiltrating Mast Cells for Efficient Nano-Drug Delivery.

Mast cells (MCs), powerful immune cells that heavily infiltrate cancer cells, play a crucial role in tumor formation. Activated MCs can release histamine and a family of proteases through degranulation effects, concurrently achieving endothelial junction weakening and stromal degradation of the tumor microenvironment, thereby clearing the obstacles for nano-drug infiltration. To achieve precise activation of tumor-infiltrating MCs, orthogonally excited rare earth nanoparticles (ORENP), with two channels, are introduced for the controllable stimulating drugs release wrapped in "photocut tape".

Exocarpium Citri Grandis alleviates the aggravation of NAFLD by mitigating lipid accumulation and iron metabolism disorders.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Exocarpium Citri grandis (ECG, Huajuhong in Chinese), the epicarp of C. grandis 'Tomentosa', has been used for hundreds of years as an anti-inflammatory, expectorant, hypoglycemic, and lipid-lowering medication in China. Nevertheless, there have been few papers that have explored the mechanism behind ECG's hypolipidemic characteristics from the perspective of treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Multifunctional Nanoplatform for Mild Microwave-Enhanced Thermal, Antioxidative, and Chemotherapeutic Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is usually associated with excessive proliferation of M1-type proinflammatory macrophages, resulting in severe hypoxia and excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the joint cavity. Inhibiting M1-type proinflammatory macrophages and/or repolarizing them into M2 phenotype anti-inflammatory cells by alleviating hypoxia and scavenging ROS could be a promising strategy for RA treatment. In this work, a microwave-sensitive metal-organic framework of UiO-66-NH is constructed for coating a nanoenzyme of cerium oxide (CeO) and loading with the drug celastrol (Cel) to give UiO-66-NH/CeO/Cel, which is ultimately wrapped with hyaluronic acid (HA) to form a nanocomposite UiO-66-NH/CeO/Cel@HA (UCCH).

LnNP@ZIF8 Smart System for In Situ NIR-II Ratiometric Imaging-Based Tumor Drug Resistance Evaluation.

Just-in-time evaluation of drug resistance in situ will greatly facilitate the achievement of precision cancer therapy. The rapid elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the key to chemotherapy. Hence, suppressed ROS production is an important marker for chemotherapy drug resistance.

Photochemically Driven Polymeric Biocompatible and Antimicrobial Thiol-Acrylate Nanocomposite Suitable for Dental Restoration.

The development a photochemically driven polymeric composite for dental restorative materials to restore tooth cavities with antibacterial, biocompatibility, and outstanding mechanical properties is an urgent need for clinical application in stomatology. Herein, a series of polyurethane acrylate (PUA) prepolymers and antibacterial polyurethane acrylate quaternary ammonium salts (PUAQASs) were synthesized, and their mechanical and biological properties were explored. The unique secondary mercaptan with a long shelf life and low odor was used to reduce oxygen inhibition and increase cross-linking density; meanwhile, modified photocurable nano zirconia (nano ZrO) enhances mechanical properties of the nanocomposites and possesses preeminent dispersion in the matrix.

The Exogenous Application of Micro-Nutrient Elements and Amino Acids Improved the Yield, Nutritional Status and Quality of Mango in Arid Regions.

The mango is one of the most valuable and appealing tropical fruits due to its color, aroma, tasteful remarkable flavor, and nutritive value; however, improving the yield and quality of mango is an urgent goal in order to combat global population growth. The application of amino acids and a micronutrient mixture might improve the yield and quality features but further research is still required in arid regions. To study the combined effect of a micronutrient mixture (MM) and amino acids (AA) at different rates, twenty-seven Fagri Kalan mango trees (15 years old) were carefully selected.

Synthesis of zinc hydroxystannate/reduced graphene oxide composites using chitosan to improve poly(vinyl chloride) performance.

Chitosan-modified zinc hydroxystannate (ZHS-CS) was synthesized using the cations of the biomaterial chitosan (CS) and ion replacement strategy. A ZHS-CS and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hybrid flame retardant (ZHS-CS/rGO) was synthesized for use in flexible poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC). Scanning electron microscopy images indicated that ZHS-CS and rGO were evenly dispersed in ZHS-CS/rGO without agglomeration.

Combined Transcriptome and Metabolome analysis of Pitaya fruit unveiled the mechanisms underlying Peel and pulp color formation.

Background: Elucidating the candidate genes and key metabolites responsible for pulp and peel coloration is essential for breeding pitaya fruit with new and improved appeal and high nutritional value. Here, we used transcriptome (RNA-Seq) and metabolome analysis (UPLC-MS/MS) to identify structural and regulatory genes and key metabolites associated with peel and pulp colors in three pitaya fruit types belonging to two different Hylocereus species.

Result: Our combined transcriptome and metabolome analyses suggest that the main strategy for obtaining red color is to increase tyrosine content for downstream steps in the betalain pathway.

A vermicompost and deep tillage system to improve saline-sodic soil quality and wheat productivity.

Land degradation due to soil salinity and sodicity is a serious concern in arid ecosystems. Despite the importance of conservation tillage in carbon sequestration and improving soil properties, its effect on saline-sodic soils under amendment application remains unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the combined effects of inorganic (sulfuric acid and gypsum) and organic (vermicompost) soil amendments and tillage systems (zero, reduced and deep tillage) on saline-sodic soil properties and wheat productivity.

High-Performance Cyanate Ester Resins with Interpenetration Networks for 3D Printing.

As the 3D printing technology is getting more and more popular and useful, demands for materials for 3D printing have increased significantly. Cyanate ester (CE) resin possesses the characteristics of high heat distortion temperature and high glass transition temperature, outstanding mechanical properties, low dielectric constant, and excellent water uptake. However, CE resin has not been widely used in 3D printing of UV curing because it is difficult for photopolymerizable groups to graft onto the chains of CE resin.

The integrated effect of salinity, organic amendments, phosphorus fertilizers, and deficit irrigation on soil properties, phosphorus fractionation and wheat productivity.

Soil degradation due to global warming, water scarcity and diminishing natural resources negatively impacts food security. Soil fertility deterioration, particularly phosphorus (P) deficiency, remains a challenge in the arid and semi-arid regions. In this study, field experiments were conducted in different geographical locations to investigate the effects of organic amendments coupled with P fertilization and irrigation on soil physical-chemical properties, and the growth, yield and quality of wheat.

Transcriptome Profiling Provides Insight into the Genes in Carotenoid Biosynthesis during the Mesocarp and Seed Developmental Stages of Avocado ().

Avocado ( Mill.) is an economically important crop because of its high nutritional value. However, the absence of a sequenced avocado reference genome has hindered investigations of secondary metabolism.

Biochemical and Functional Characterization of Anthocyanidin Reductase (ANR) from L.

Mango ( L.) is abundant in proanthocyanidins (PAs) that are important for human health and plant response to abiotic stresses. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in PA biosynthesis still need to be elucidated.