Interfacial-Assembly-Induced In Situ Transformation from Aligned 1D Nanowires to Quasi-2D Nanofilms.

As the dimensionality of materials generally affects their characteristics, thin films composed of low-dimensional nanomaterials, such as nanowires (NWs) or nanoplates, are of great importance in modern engineering. Among various bottom-up film fabrication strategies, interfacial assembly of nanoscale building blocks holds great promise in constructing large-scale aligned thin films, leading to emergent or enhanced collective properties compared to individual building blocks. As for 1D nanostructures, the interfacial self-assembly causes the morphology orientation, effectively achieving anisotropic electrical, thermal, and optical conduction. However, issues such as defects between each nanoscale building block, crystal orientation, and homogeneity constrain the application of ordered films. The precise control of transdimensional synthesis and the formation mechanism from 1D to 2D are rarely reported. To meet this gap, we introduce an interfacial-assembly-induced interfacial synthesis strategy and successfully synthesize quasi-2D nanofilms via the oriented attachment of 1D NWs on the liquid interface. Theoretical sampling and simulation show that NWs on the liquid interface maintain their lowest interaction energy for the ordered crystal plane (110) orientation and then rearrange and attach to the quasi-2D nanofilm. This quasi-2D nanofilm shows enhanced electric conductivity and unique optical properties compared with its corresponding 1D geometry materials. Uncovering these growth pathways of the 1D-to-2D transition provides opportunities for future material design and synthesis at the interface.

Synthesis and structural optimization of oncolytic peptide LTX-315.

Oncolytic peptides represented potential novel candidates for anticancer treatments especially drug-resistant cancer cell lines. One of the most promising and extensively studied is LTX-315, which is considered as the first in class oncolytic peptide and has entered phase I/II clinical trials. Nevertheless, the shortcomings including poor proteolytic stability, moderate anticancer durability and high synthesis costs may hinder the widespread clinical applications of LTX-315. In order to reduce the synthesis costs, as well as develop derivatives possessing both high protease-stability and durable anticancer efficiency, twenty LTX-315-based derived-peptides were designed and efficiently synthesized. Especially, through solid-phase S-alkylation, as well as the optimized peptide cleavage condition, the derived peptides could be prepared with drastically reduced synthesis cost. The in vitro anticancer efficiency, serum stability, anticancer durability, anti-migration activity, and hemolysis effect were systematically investigated. It was found that derived peptide MS-13 exhibited comparable anticancer efficiency and durability to those of LTX-315. Strikingly, the D-type peptide MS-20, which is the enantiomer of MS-13, was demonstrated to possess significantly high proteolytic stability and sustained anticancer durability. In general, the cost-effective synthesis and stability-guided structural optimizations were conducted on LTX-315, affording the highly hydrolysis resistant MS-20 which possessed durable anticancer activity. Meanwhile, this study also provided a reliable reference for the future optimization of anticancer peptides through the solid-phase S-alkylation and L-type to D-type amino acid substitutions.

Diagnostic value of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in ovarian malignant mesothelioma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in ovarian malignant mesothelioma (OMM). METHODS: The clinical and imaging data of 10 pathologically-confirmed OMM patients were analyzed retrospectively. RESULT: (1) The patients were 27 years to 70 years old, with an average age of 57.2 ± 15.4 years. Seven patients reported abdominal distension and pain, 1 reported lower abdominal discomfort and decreased appetite, and 2 patients had no symptoms. (2) Two cases of localized OMM with incomplete semi-annular "capsule" observed around the localized OMM tumors were reported while 8 cases had diffuse OMM in which the tumor parenchyma showed isointense or slightly hypointense on T1WI, inhomogeneous hyperintense on T2WI, and obviously hyperintense on DWI, with obvious inhomogeneous enhancement after enhancement. Diffuse OMM was not mainly composed of ovarian masses and was mainly characterized by mild ovarian enlargement, nodular and irregular thickening of the peritoneum, cloudy omentum, unclear fat gap, and reticular or irregular thickening, which can fuse into a "cake-shape". (3) All 10 patients underwent surgery, while 9 patients underwent systemic chemotherapy or immunotherapy after surgery. All patients with localized OMM survived. Out of the 8 diffuse-type patients, 5 died, 1 was lost to follow-up, and 2 survived. CONCLUSION: OMM has certain clinical and imaging characteristics. There is no liquefaction, calcification, or partition in the tumor. The ovarian enlargement in the diffuse lesion is not significant. The diffuse thickening of the peritoneum and omentum with early appearance of mural nodules and ascites in the upper abdomen, help the diagnosis of OMM.

CT target scanning in the diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the value of computed tomography (CT) iterative reconstruction technique combined with target scanning in the diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPTP). METHODS: The clinical information and CT examination data of 27 patients with SPTP were retrospectively analyzed, and the general condition and CT performance of the patients were observed. The CT image reconstruction algorithm of all patients used iterative reconstruction technique combined with the application of target scanning technique. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients were included in this study, including 6 males and 21 females, aged 14-72 years with a mean age of 39.6 ± 13.6 years. SPTP was more common in young and middle-aged females, with a low level of tumor markers, dominated by cystic-solid tumors. The combination of CT iterative reconstruction technology and targeted scanning revealed the following: the capsule of SPTP was clear and complete, where calcifications were visible, solid components were progressively enhanced, and rare pancreatic and bile duct dilation was seen. Tumors were cystic-solid in 18 of 27 patients with SPTP, of which the solid components showed isodensity or slightly low-density, with calcifications. The solid components and cyst walls were mildly enhanced during the arterial phase, and were progressively enhanced during the parenchymal phase, portal vein phase, and delayed phase, with their enhancement degree lower than that of normal pancreatic parenchyma, and pancreatic and bile duct dilation was rare. There were no statistical differences in tumor location, morphology, growth pattern, integrity of capsule, cystic or solid, calcifications, and enhancement features between the male group and the female group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The iterative reconstruction combined with target scanning clearly displayed the CT features of tumors, helping the diagnosis and clinical treatment of the disease.

A Novel, Controllable, and Efficient Method for Building Highly Hydrophobic Aerogels.

Aerogels prepared using freeze-drying methods have the potential to be insulation materials or absorbents in the fields of industry, architecture, agriculture, etc., for their low heat conductivity, high specific area, low density, degradability, and low cost. However, their native, poor water resistance caused by the hydrophilicity of their polymer matrix limits their practical application. In this work, a novel, controllable, and efficient templating method was utilized to construct a highly hydrophobic surface for freeze-drying aerogels. The influence of templates on the macroscopic morphology and hydrophobic properties of materials was investigated in detail. This method provided the economical and rapid preparation of a water-resistant aerogel made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and montmorillonite (MMT), putting forward a new direction for the research and development of new, environmentally friendly materials.

Bio-inspired Mechanically Responsive Smart Windows for Visible and Near-Infrared Multiwavelength Spectral Modulation.

Mechanochromic light control technology that can dynamically regulate solar irradiation is recognized as one of the leading candidates for energy-saving windows. However, the lack of spectrally selective modulation ability still hinders its application for different scenarios or individual needs. Here, inspired by the generation of structure color and color change of living organisms, a simple layer-by-layer assembly approach toward large-area fabricating mechanically responsive film for visible and near-infrared multiwavelength spectral modulation smart windows is reported here. The assembled SiO2 nanoparticles and W18O49 nanowires enable the film with an optical modulation rate of up to 42.4% at the wavelength of 550 nm and 18.4% for the near-infrared region, separately, and the typical composite film under 50% stretching shows ≈41.6% modulation rate at the wavelength of 550 nm with NIR modulation rate less than 2.7%. More importantly, the introduction of the multilayer assembly structure not only optimizes the film's optical modulation but also enables the film with high stability during 100 000 stretching cycles. A cooling effect of 21.3 and 6.9 °C for the blackbody and air inside a model house in the real environmental application is achieved. This approach provides theoretical and technical support for the new mechanochromic energy-saving windows.