The Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes on the Attenuation of Dry Eye Disease in Sjögren Syndrome Animal Model.

Background: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease delineated by excessive lymphocyte infiltration to the lacrimal or salivary glands, leading to dry eye and dry mouth. Exosomes secreted from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are known to have anti-inflammatory and tissue regeneration abilities. This study endeavored to demonstrate the effect of MSC-derived exosomes on the clinical parameter of dry eyes and associated pathology in SS mouse model.

Cell-Stress-Free Percutaneous Bioelectrodes.

Wearable bioelectronics have advanced dramatically over the past decade, yet remain constrained by their superficial placement on the skin, which renders them vulnerable to environmental fluctuations and mechanical instability. Existing microneedle (MN) electrodes offer minimally invasive access to dermal tissue, but their rigid, bulky design-often 100 times larger and 10,000 times stiffer than dermal fibroblasts-induces pain, tissue damage, and chronic inflammation, limiting their long-term applicability. Here, a cell-stress-free percutaneous bioelectrode is presented, comprising an ultrathin (<2 µm), soft MN (sMN) that dynamically softens via an effervescent structural transformation after insertion.

Real-Time Visualisation of Reaction Kinetics and Dynamics: Single-Molecule Insights into the Iminium-Catalysed Diels-Alder Reaction.

Investigation of the fundamental microscopic processes occurring in organic reactions is essential for optimising both organocatalysts and synthetic strategies. In this study, single-molecule fluorescence microscopy was employed to study the Diels-Alder reaction catalysed by a first-generation MacMillan catalyst, providing direct insights into its kinetic dynamics. This reaction proceeds via a series of reversible processes under equilibrium conditions (S ⇄ IM ⇄ IM → P, IM and IM: N,O-acetal and iminium ion intermediates, respectively).

Sign-reversed anomalous Nernst effect with matched Seebeck coefficient in lanthanide-iron alloys for the direct sensing of heat flux.

Heat flux sensors based on the anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) have emerged as a promising solution for achieving thin and flexible designs. ANE-based heat flux sensors typically employ thermopile structures composed of two ANE materials with opposite signs, connected in series to enhance sensing performance. However, a mismatch in the Seebeck coefficient between the two ANE materials causes a considerable offset voltage due to the Seebeck effect (SE) under oblique heat flux.

Survey on sampling conditioned brain images and imaging measures with generative models.

Generative models have become innovative tools across various domains, including neuroscience, where they enable the synthesis of realistic brain imaging data that captures complex anatomical and functional patterns. These models, such as Variational Autoencoders (VAEs), Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), and diffusion models, leverage deep learning to generate high-quality brain images while maintaining biological and clinical relevance. These models address critical challenges in brain imaging, e.

Source-specific contamination process revealed by mercury isotope analyses and hydrodynamic modeling in an estuary.

While mercury (Hg) concentration and isotope analyses play pivotal roles in understanding contamination levels and Hg sources, complex hydrodynamics often obscure Hg transport pathways from source to sink. We applied hydrodynamic modeling with Hg stable isotopes to unravel source-specific contamination processes and propose effective management strategies in an estuarine system (Yeongil Bay) impacted by Hg-contaminated riverine input (Hyeongsan River) in Korea. Sediment isotope data revealed contributions of three sources: legacy Hg from the river, regional background Hg, and atmospheric Hg sources.

Self-Regulating Hydrogel Actuators.

Self-regulating hydrogels represent the next generation in the development of soft materials with active, adaptive, autonomous, and intelligent behavior inspired by sophisticated biological systems. Nature provides exemplary demonstrations of such self-regulating behaviors, including muscle tissue's precise biochemical and mechanical feedback mechanisms, and coordinated cellular chemotaxis driven by dynamic biochemical signaling. Building upon these natural examples, self-regulating hydrogels are capable of spontaneously modulating their structural and functional states through integrated negative feedback loops.

Gut microbial production of imidazole propionate drives Parkinson's pathologies.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the selective degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic neurons and aggregation of α-synuclein. Emerging evidence implicates the gut microbiome in PD, with microbial metabolites proposed as potential pathological mediators. However, the specific microbes and metabolites involved, and whether gut-derived metabolites can reach the brain to directly induce neurodegeneration, remain unclear.

Unusual Ferromagnetic Band Evolution and High Curie Temperature in Monolayer 1T-CrTe on Bilayer Graphene.

2D van der Waals ferromagnets hold immense promise for spintronic applications due to their controllability and versatility. Despite their significance, the realization and in-depth characterization of ferromagnetic materials in atomically thin single layers, close to the true 2D limit, has been scarce. Here, a successful synthesis of monolayer (ML) 1T-CrTe is reported on a bilayer graphene (BLG) substrate via molecular beam epitaxy.

Low-Voltage-Driven Nonvolatile Electrochemical Active Control of Terahertz Transmission in Conductive-Polymer-Nanoresonator Hybrid Devices.

Active manipulation of terahertz (THz) waves is important for future optoelectronic applications, but most approaches rely on volatile or slow actuation, limiting efficiency and stability. Here, we report a nonvolatile, low-voltage tunable THz transmission device based on electrochemical modulation of a conductive polymer thin film integrated with metallic nanoresonators. A thin film of PEDOT:PSS, deposited via a single-step spin-coating process onto the nanoresonator array, enables efficient modulation of resonance-enhanced THz transmission with a gate voltage of less than 1 V.

Combining Microfluidic Assessment with Encoded Hydrogel Microparticle-Based Immunoassay for Anti-Interleukin Drug Repurposing of Pulmonary Fibrosis Therapy.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a life-threatening disorder characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and progressive dysfunction. The disease progression is closely associated with increased ECM stiffness, which compromises normal tissue mechanics and leads to respiratory failure. Although its etiology is multifactorial, immune-mediated responses are central drivers of fibrotic remodeling through inflammatory cytokine release and aberrant tissue repair.

Prospects of Nanoscience with Nanocrystals: 2025 Edition.

Nanocrystals (NCs) of various compositions have made important contributions to science and technology, with their impact recognized by the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery and synthesis of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). Over four decades of research into NCs has led to numerous advancements in diverse fields, such as optoelectronics, catalysis, energy, medicine, and recently, quantum information and computing. The last 10 years since the predecessor perspective "Prospect of Nanoscience with Nanocrystals" was published in ACS Nano have seen NC research continuously evolve, yielding critical advances in fundamental understanding and practical applications.

Absorbable Adhesive Composite Hemostatic Sponge Based on Decellularized Extracellular Matrix and Mussel Adhesive Protein for Internal Bleeding Control.

Hemostatic biomaterials for internal applications require strong wet adhesion, reasonable degradability, and supportive biocompatibility for wound healing. However, clinically used topical hemostats such as Surgicel and Avitene may induce hemolysis, inflammation, or leave behind residual debris that impairs healing. Bioinspired materials, including decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) and mussel adhesive protein (MAP), have emerged as promising alternatives for their hemostatic potential and biocompatibility.

Unraveling Enhanced Superconductivity in Single-Layer FeSe through Substrate Surface Terminations.

Single-layer FeSe on SrTiO(001) substrates shows a superconducting transition temperature much higher than that of bulk FeSe, which has been attributed to factors such as electron doping, interfacial electron-phonon coupling, and electron correlations. To pinpoint the primary driver, we grew single-layer FeSe films on SrTiO(001) substrates with coexisting TiO and SrO surface terminations. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy revealed a larger superconducting gap (17.

Bench-Stable Copper Complex for Trifluoromethylation and F-Labeling of Aryl Iodides.

Here, we report an efficient and highly active copper complex ([(TMPhen)Cu(I)][OCCFCl]) for the trifluoromethylation of aryl iodides. This bench-stable copper complex converts aryl iodides into their corresponding CF derivatives in high yields within 1 h. The protocol is also well-suited for aromatic [F]trifluoromethylation, offering a rapid and efficient approach for the development of new radiopharmaceuticals within 20 min.

Microfluidic tesla valve sweat patch integrated smartwatch for optical continuous monitoring of glucose, oxygen, and heart rate.

Noninvasive continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) offers a promising alternative to conventional blood-based approaches for diabetes management. Among various body fluids, sweat is an attractive medium to reflect the blood glucose levels in the body. However, technical challenges for the sweat analysis persist due to the low analyte concentrations, potential contamination, and inefficient sampling.

Unscreened Polaron Ordering Against High Electron Density on Mechanically Cleaved Surfaces of WO (001) Films.

The 2D electron gas (2DEG) is a successful testbed for investigating both small and large polarons, governed by enhanced fundamental couplings through dimensional confinement. However, accessible polaronic states are typically limited to low carrier densities, as polarons collapse due to enforced electronic screening at high densities. This has limited exploration into polaron interactions, including bipolaron formation, inter-polaron correlations, and broader collective polaron behaviors.

Acoustic generation of orbital currents.

In solids, the crystal field couples the electronic orbital degree of freedom to the lattice. This coupling suggests that an excitation of lattice dynamics could trigger the dynamics of orbital angular momentum of electrons, thereby generating orbital currents-a flow of electronic orbital angular momentum. However, the interplay between orbital currents and lattice dynamics has been elusive.

Dopamine D2 receptor modulation of insulin receptor signaling in the central amygdala: implications for compulsive-like eating behavior.

Compulsive eating behavior, characterized by the excessive intake of palatable high-sugar and high-fat foods despite negative consequences, may be associated with dysfunctional dopamine system, specifically involving the dopamine D2 receptors (D2Rs). Here, we demonstrate that D2Rs regulate insulin receptor (InsR) signaling in the central amygdala, and this interaction plays a critical role in the persistent, compulsive-like palatable food-seeking behavior. The specific ablation of D2Rs in the CeA markedly enhances compulsive-like eating despite adverse consequences.

Genetic analysis of non-syndromic peg lateralis using whole-exome sequencing.

Introduction: Although peg-shaped lateral incisors are a common dental anomaly, the genetic mechanisms governing peg lateralis are poorly understood, particularly in cases where other associated anomalies are absent. Here, we aimed to identify potential candidate genes contributing to the development of non-syndromic peg lateralis via whole-exome sequencing (WES).

Methods: Saliva samples were collected from 20 unrelated Korean individuals with non-syndromic peg lateralis.

Smarter biopsy decisions in thyroid nodules via dual-modal photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging.

Thyroid nodules are primarily diagnosed using ultrasound imaging (USI), but its low specificity leads to unnecessary fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs). In particular, USI's limited ability to differentiate follicular neoplasms from benign nodules contributes to suboptimal biopsy decision-making. We propose a dual-modal imaging approach that combines multiparametric photoacoustic imaging (PAI) and USI to support smarter biopsy decisions.

Structures and energetics of protonated bipyridine-cucurbituril complex isomers in the gas phase.

We investigated the gas-phase isomerism and stability of host-guest complexes formed between cucurbiturils (CB[6] and CB[7]) and three ,'-bipyridine regioisomers ( = 2, 3, and 4), focusing on how molecular geometry and charge distribution influence complex formation. Ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry and collision-induced dissociation experiments, supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, reveal distinct inclusion and exclusion complex isomers. Singly-protonated bipyridines tend to form exclusion complexes with CB[6], while doubly-protonated forms enable stable inclusion through enhanced charge-portal interactions.

Versatile High-Performance SWNT Electrodes Enabled by Glycerol-Doped PEDOT:PSS Interfacial Engineering.

This paper reports improvements made to the performance of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) electrodes by integrating a glycerol-doped PEDOT:PSS (PEGL) layer, resulting in a novel material termed SWGL. The PEGL layer addresses key challenges in SWNT electrodes, including poor adhesion, low work function, and limited catalytic activity, by acting as an adhesive interface, carrier injection layer, and catalyst. Through a series of spin-coating and rinsing processes, SWGL films are prepared, exhibiting significantly improved adhesion to inorganic substrates, enhanced electrical conductivity, and stability under thermal treatment.

Atomistic and data-driven modeling of laser-induced graphene formation on sustainable polymer substrates.

Wood-based substrates-known for their renewability, abundance, and surface functionalization potential-have recently gained attention as polymers for laser-induced graphene (LIG) synthesis because of their environmentally friendly attributes. These environment-friendly properties also make them pollution-free and easy to dispose of after use. However, the formation of LIG on wood substrates lacks robust theoretical support, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, which are a potential theoretical framework, are time-consuming and computationally intensive.

Semiconducting Nanomaterials for Intrinsically Stretchable Field-Effect Transistors.

Developing intrinsically stretchable field-effect transistors (FETs) is critical for enabling next-generation flexible, wearable, and bio-integrated electronic systems. Unlike conventional stretchable devices that rely primarily on geometric engineering of rigid materials, intrinsically stretchable FETs involve materials that inherently withstand large mechanical deformation while preserving their electronic performance. Although significant progress is achieved in the field of stretchable devices, further innovation in semiconductor materials and compatible process technologies remains essential for advancing the field.