High-Performance W-Doped Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 Flexible Thermoelectric Films and Generators.

Bi-Sb-Te-based thermoelectric materials have the best room-temperature thermoelectric properties, but their inherent brittleness and rigidity limit their application in the wearable field. In this study, W-doped p-type Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 (W-BST) thin films were prepared using magnetron sputtering on polyimide substrates to create thermoelectric generators (TEGs). Bending tests showed that the thin film has excellent flexibility and mechanical durability, meeting the flexible requirements of wearable devices. W doping can significantly increase the carrier concentration, Seebeck coefficient, and electrical conductivity of BST thin films. At 300 K, the power factor of the W-BST film is 2.25 times higher than that of the undoped film, reaching 13.75 µW cm-1 K-2. First-principles calculations showed that W doping introduces significant impurity peaks in the bandgap, in which W d electrons remarkably hybridize with the Sb and Te p electrons, leading to an improved electrical conductivity of BST films. Furthermore, W doping significantly reduces the work function of BST films, thereby improving the carrier mobility. A TEG module fabricated from four layers of W-BST thin films achieved a maximum output power density of 6.91 mW cm-2 at a temperature difference of 60 K. Application tests showed that the flexible TEG module could power a portable clock using the temperature difference between body temperature and room temperature. At a medium temperature of 439 K, the assembled TEG module can provide a stable output voltage of 1.51 V to power a LED. This study demonstrates the feasibility of combining inorganic thermoelectric materials with flexible substrates to create high-performance flexible TEGs.

Fluoro-Ethylene-Carbonate Plays a Double-Edged Role on the Stability of Si Anode-based Rechargeable Batteries during Cycling and Calendar Aging.

The energy storage density of Li-ion batteries could be improved by replacing graphite anodes with high-capacity Si-based materials, though instabilities have limited their implementation. Performance degradation mechanisms that occur in Si-anodes can be divided into cycling stability (capacity retention after repeated battery cycles) and calendar aging (shelf life). While the cycling stability and improvement strategies have been researched intensively, there is little known about the underlying mechanisms that cause calendar aging. In this work multiple electron microscope techniques were used to explore the mechanism that governs the calendar aging from sub-nanometer-to-electrode scale. Plasma focused ion beam tomography were used to create 3D reconstructions of calendar aged electrodes and revealed the growth of a LiF-rich layer at the interface between the copper current collector and silicon material, which can lead to delamination and increased interfacial impendence. The LiF layer appeared to derive from the fluoro-ethylene-carbonate electrolyte additive, which is commonly used to improve cycling stability in Si-based systems. The results reveal that additives necessary to improve cycling stability can cause performance degradation over the long-term during calendar aging. The results show that high performing, stable system require careful design to simultaneously mitigate both cycling and calendar aging instabilities. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Bioactivities and Synergistic Effect of Elsholtzia ciliata Essential Oil and Its Main Components against Lasioderma serricorne.

Investigations have shown that storage bugs seriously harm grains during storage. In the interim, essential oils (EOs) have been proven to be a good botanical pesticide. The anti-Lasioderma serricorne properties of Elsholtzia ciliata essential oil, which was obtained by steam distillation, were evaluated using DL-limonene, carvone, and their two optical isomer components using contact, repelling, and fumigation techniques. Simultaneously, the fumigation, contact, and repellent activities of carvone and its two optical isomers mixed with DL-limonene against L. serruricorne were evaluated. The results showed that E. ciliata, its main components (R-carvone, DL-limonene), and S-carvone exhibited both fumigations (LC50 = 14.47, 4.42, 20.9 and 3.78 mg/L) and contact (LD50 = 7.31, 4.03, 28.62 and 5.63 µg/adult) activity against L.serricorne. A binary mixture (1:1) of R-carvone and DL-limonene displayed an obvious synergistic effect. A binary mixture (1:1) of carvone and its two optical isomers exhibited an obvious synergistic effect, too. Furthermore, the repellent activity of the EO, carvone, and its two optical isomers, DL-limonene, and a combination of them varied. To stop insect damage during storage, E. ciliata and its components can be utilized as bio-insecticides.

Strong Local Polarization Fluctuations Enabled High Electrostatic Energy Storage in Pb-Free Relaxors.

Electrostatic energy-storage ceramic capacitors are essential components of modern electrified power systems. However, improving their energy-storage density while maintaining high efficiency to facilitate cutting-edge miniaturized and integrated applications remains an ongoing challenge. Herein, we report a record-high energy-storage density of 20.3 J cm-3 together with a high efficiency of 89.3% achieved by constructing a relaxor ferroelectric state with strongly enhanced local polarization fluctuations. This is realized by incorporating highly polarizable, heterovalent, and large-sized Zn and Nb ions into a Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-BaTiO3 ferroelectric matrix with very strong tetragonal distortion. Element-specific local structure analysis revealed that the foreign ions strengthen the magnitude of the unit-cell polarization vectors while simultaneously reducing their orientation anisotropy and forming strong fluctuations in both magnitude and orientation within 1-3 nm polar clusters. This leads to a particularly high polarization variation (ΔP) of 72 µC cm-2, low hysteresis, and a high effective polarization coefficient at a high breakdown strength of 80 kV mm-1. This work has surpassed the current energy density limit of 20 J cm-3 in bulk Pb-free ceramics and has demonstrated that controlling the local structure via the chemical composition design can open up new possibilities for exploring relaxors with high energy-storage performance.

A bacterial cellulose/polyvinyl alcohol/nitro graphene oxide double layer network hydrogel efficiency antibacterial and promotes wound healing.

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was chemically modified utilizing concentrated nitric acid to produce a nitrated graphene oxide derivative (NGO) with enhanced oxidation level, improved dispersibility, and increased antibacterial activity. A double-layer composite hydrogel material (BC/PVA/NGO) with a core-shell structure was fabricated by utilizing bacterial cellulose (BC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) binary composite hydrogel scaffold as the inner network template, and hydrophilic polymer (PVA) loaded with antibacterial material (NGO) as the outer network. The fabrication process involved physical crosslinking based on repeated freezing and thawing. The resulting BC/PVA/NGO hydrogel exhibited a porous structure, favorable mechanical properties, antibacterial efficacy, and biocompatibility. Subsequently, the performance of BC/PVA/NGO hydrogel in promoting wound healing was evaluated using a mouse skin injury model. The findings demonstrated that the BC/PVA/NGO hydrogel treatment group facilitated improved wound healing in the mouse skin injury model compared to the control group and the BC/PVA group. This enhanced wound healing capability was attributed primarily to the excellent antibacterial and tissue repair properties of the BC/PVA/NGO hydrogel.

Optical coherence tomography angiography for detection of microvascular changes in early diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in detecting early intraocular microvascular changes in diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic study search was performed on PubMed, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, ranging from January 2012 to March 2023. Controlled studies compared diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with non-diabetic retinopathy (NDR) or patients with mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (mild NPDR) to healthy people. These studies included parameters of OCTA such as foveal avascular zone (FAZ), vessel density of superficial capillary plexus (VDscp), vessel density of deep capillary plexus (VDdcp), and peripapillary VD. The relevant effect model was used according to the heterogeneity, and the mean difference and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 18 studies with 2101 eyes were eventually included in this meta-analysis. Our results demonstrated that early alterations of VDscp, VDdcp, and peripapillary VD in NDR patients had a significant difference compared with healthy people by OCTA (VDscp: WMD = -1.34, 95% CI: -1.99 to -0.68, P < 0.0001. VDdcp: WMD = -2.00, 95% CI: -2.95 to -1.04, P < 0.0001. Peripapillary VD: WMD = -1.07, 95% CI: -1.70 to -0.43, P = 0.0010). However, there was no statistically significant difference in total FAZ between them (WMD = -0.00, 95% CI: -0.02-0.01, P = 0.84). In addition, for patients with mild NPDR, OCTA could illustrate prominent changes in VDscp, VDdcp, and total FAZ compared with healthy people (VDscp: WMD = -6.11, 95% CI: -9.90 to -2.32, P = 0.002. VDdcp: WMD = -4.26, 95% CI: -5.95 to -2.57, P < 0.00001. FAZ: WMD = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01-0.11, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In diabetic patients with or without retinopathy, the parameters of OCTA such as VDscp, VDdcp, and peripapillary vessel density were demonstrated as potential biomarkers in monitoring the early alterations of retinal microangiopathy, while total FAZ may have no significant changes in diabetic patients without retinopathy.

In vivo imaging reveals a synchronized correlation among neurotransmitter dynamics during propofol and sevoflurane anesthesia.

General anesthesia is widely applied in clinical practice. However, the precise mechanism of loss of consciousness induced by general anesthetics remains unknown. Here, we measured the dynamics of five neurotransmitters, including γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and dopamine, in the medial prefrontal cortex and primary visual cortex of C57BL/6 mice through in vivo fiber photometry and genetically encoded neurotransmitter sensors under anesthesia to reveal the mechanism of general anesthesia from a neurotransmitter perspective. Results revealed that the concentrations of γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine increased in the cortex during propofol-induced loss of consciousness. Dopamine levels did not change following the hypnotic dose of propofol but increased significantly following surgical doses of propofol anesthesia. Notably, the concentrations of the five neurotransmitters generally decreased during sevoflurane-induced loss of consciousness. Furthermore, the neurotransmitter dynamic networks were not synchronized in the non-anesthesia groups but were highly synchronized in the anesthetic groups. These findings suggest that neurotransmitter dynamic network synchronization may cause anesthetic-induced loss of consciousness.

Elastic Properties of Low-Dimensional Single-Crystalline Dielectric Oxides through Controlled Large-Area Wrinkle Generation.

Freestanding single-crystalline SrTiO3 membranes, as high-κ dielectrics, hold significant promise as the gate dielectric in two-dimensional (2D) flexible electronics. Nevertheless, the mechanical properties of the SrTiO3 membranes, such as elasticity, remain a critical piece of the puzzle to adequately address the viability of their applications in flexible devices. Here, we report statistical analysis on plane-strain effective Young's modulus of large-area SrTiO3 membranes (5 × 5 mm2) over a series of thicknesses (from 6.5 to 32.2 nm), taking advantage of a highly efficient buckling-based method, which reveals its evident thickness-dependent behavior ranging from 46.01 to 227.17 GPa. Based on microscopic and theoretical results, we elucidate these thickness-dependent behaviors and statistical data deviation with a bilayer model, which consists of a surface layer and a bulk-like layer. The analytical results show that the ∼3.1 nm surface layer has a significant elastic softening compared to the bulk-like layer, while the extracted modulus of the bulk-like layer shows a variation of ∼40 GPa. This variation is considered as a combined contribution from oxygen deficiency presenting in SrTiO3 membranes, and the alignment between applied strain and the crystal orientation. Upon comparison of the extracted elastic properties and electrostatic control capability to those of other typical gate dielectrics, the superior performance of single-crystalline SrTiO3 membranes has been revealed in the context of flexible gate dielectrics, indicating the significant potential of their application in high-performance flexible 2D electronics.

OTULIN of exosomes derived from Schwann cells promotes peripheral nerve injury repair by regulating macrophage polarization via deubiquitination of ERBB2.

A significant public health burden is peripheral nerve damage (PNI), which is frequently brought on by trauma. Macrophages were essential to the effective regeneration of nerves and restoration of function. It is still not entirely understood how macrophages and Schwann cells interact after damage during remyelination. Here, we established an inflammatory model in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and a rat sciatic nerve damage model to investigate the possible relationship between lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced exosomes derived from Schwann cells (LPS SCs-Exos) and peripheral nerve repair. The pro-inflammatory macrophage was changed into a pro-regeneration macrophage by LPS SC-Exos. Notably, it was discovered that SC-Exos had a substantial enrichment of OTULIN. OTULIN was a key mediator in the regulatory effects of LPS SC-Exos by deubiquitinating ERBB2 and preventing its degradation. The local injection of SC-Exos into the nerve damage site led in a faster functional recovery, axon regeneration and remyelination, and an increased M2 macrophage polarization, whereas OTULIN knockdown reversed these effects in vivo. Our results indicate that LPS SC-Exos may offer a therapeutic avenue for peripheral nerve regeneration by promoting macrophage polarization toward an M2 phenotype through the shuttling of OTULIN and deubiquitination of ERBB2. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: OTULIN protein from SC-Exos mediated the macrophages polarization and axonal growth in BMDMs through promoting ubiquitination of ERBB2 and triggering the degradation of ERBB2. The findings offered prospective therapeutic hints for PNI therapy approaches that target axonal regrowth.

Exploration of identifying individual tumor tissue based on probabilistic model.

Variations in the tumor genome can result in allelic changes compared to the reference profile of its homogenous body source on genetic markers. This brings a challenge to source identification of tumor samples, such as clinically collected pathological paraffin-embedded tissue and sections. In this study, a probabilistic model was developed for calculating likelihood ratio (LR) to tackle this issue, which utilizes short tandem repeat (STR) genotyping data. The core of the model is to consider tumor tissue as a mixture of normal and tumor cells and introduce the incidence of STR variants (φ) and the percentage of normal cells (Mxn) as a priori parameters when performing calculations. The relationship between LR values and φ or Mxn was also investigated. Analysis of tumor samples and reference blood samples from 17 colorectal cancer patients showed that all samples had Log 10(LR) values greater than 1014. In the non-contributor test, 99.9% of the quartiles had Log 10(LR) values less than 0. When the defense's hypothesis took into account the possibility that the tumor samples came from the patient's relatives, LR greater than 0 was still obtained. Furthermore, this study revealed that LR values increased with decreasing φ and increasing Mxn. Finally, LR interval value was provided for each tumor sample by considering the confidence interval of Mxn. The probabilistic model proposed in this paper could deal with the possibility of tumor allele variability and offers an evaluation of the strength of evidence for determining tumor origin in clinical practice and forensic identification.

Novel sustainable steel fiber reinforced preplaced aggregate concrete incorporating Portland limestone cement.

This study proposes a novel approach by adding Portland limestone cement (PLC) to preplaced aggregate steel fiber reinforced concrete (PASFRC) to create a sustainable concrete that minimizes CO2 emissions and cement manufacturing energy usage. The method involves injected a flowable grout after premixing and preplacing steel-fibers and aggregates in the formwork. This study evaluates the mechanical properties of a novel sustainable concrete that uses PLC and steel fibers. To achieve the intended objective, long and short end-hooked steel fibers of 1%, 2%, 3%, and 6% were incorporated in PASFRC. Also, Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine the data. Results indicated that PLC and higher fiber doses increased the mechanical properties of PAC. At 90 days, PASFRC mixtures containing 6% long steel fibers demonstrated superior compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths, registering the highest values of 49.8 MPa, 7.7 MPa, and 10.9 MPa, respectively and differed by 188%, 166%, and 290%, respectively from fiberless PAC. The study confirmed the suitability and effectiveness of using PLC with steel fibers in PAC which significantly improved the mechanical properties of PASFRC. This was verified through analytical analysis and new empirical equations were proposed to predict the mechanical properties of PASFRC.

MRI radiomics nomogram integrating postoperative adjuvant treatments in recurrence risk prediction for patients with early-stage cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Adjuvant treatments are valuable to decrease the recurrence rate and improve survival for early-stage cervical cancer patients (ESCC), Therefore, recurrence risk evaluation is critical for the choice of postoperative treatment. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based radiomics nomogram integrating postoperative adjuvant treatments was constructed and validated externally to improve the recurrence risk prediction for ESCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 212 ESCC patients underwent surgery and adjuvant treatments from three centers were enrolled and divided into the training, internal validation, and external validation cohorts. Their clinical data, pretreatment T2-weighted images (T2WI) were retrieved and analyzed. Radiomics models were constructed using machine learning methods with features extracted and screen from sagittal and axial T2WI. A nomogram for recurrence prediction was build and evaluated using multivariable logistic regression analysis integrating radiomic signature and adjuvant treatments. RESULTS: A total of 8 radiomic features were screened out of 1020 extracted features. The extreme gradient boosting (XGboost) model based on MRI radiomic features performed best in recurrence prediction with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.833, 0.822 in the internal and external validation cohorts, respectively. The nomogram integrating radiomic signature and clinical factors achieved an AUC of 0.806, 0.718 in the internal and external validation cohorts, respectively, for recurrence risk prediction for ESCC. CONCLUSION: In this study, the nomogram integrating T2WI radiomic signature and clinical factors is valuable to predict the recurrence risk, thereby allowing timely planning for effective treatments for ESCC with high risk of recurrence.

Fangyukangsuan granules ameliorate hyperuricemia and modulate gut microbiota in rats.

Hyperuricaemia (HUA) is a metabolic disorder characterised by high blood uric acid (UA) levels; moreover, HUA severity is closely related to the gut microbiota. HUA is also a risk factor for renal damage, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia; however, current treatments are associated with detrimental side effects. Alternatively, Fangyukangsuan granules are a natural product with UA-reducing properties. To examine their efficacy in HUA, the binding of small molecules in Fangyukangsuan granules to xanthine oxidase (XOD), a key factor in UA metabolism, was investigated via molecular simulation, and the effects of oral Fangyukangsuan granule administration on serum biochemical indices and intestinal microorganisms in HUA-model rats were examined. Overall, 24 small molecules in Fangyukangsuan granules could bind to XOD. Serum UA, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and XOD levels were decreased in rats treated with Fangyukangsuan granules compared to those in untreated HUA-model rats. Moreover, Fangyukangsuan granules restored the intestinal microbial structure in HUA-model rats. Functional analysis of the gut microbiota revealed decreased amino acid biosynthesis and increased fermentation of pyruvate into short-chain fatty acids in Fangyukangsuan granule-treated rats. Together, these findings demonstrate that Fangyukangsuan granules have anti-hyperuricaemic and regulatory effects on the gut microbiota and may be a therapeutic candidate for HUA.

Analysis of the impact of immunotherapy efficacy and safety in patients with gastric cancer and liver metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common type of cancer and has the fourth highest death rate among all cancers. There is a lack of studies examining the impact of liver metastases on the effectiveness of immunotherapy in individuals diagnosed with GC. AIM: To investigate the influence of liver metastases on the effectiveness and safety of immunotherapy in patients with advanced GC. METHODS: This retrospective investigation collected clinical data of patients with advanced stomach cancer who had immunotherapy at our hospital from February 2021 to January 2023. The baseline attributes were compared using either the Chi-square test or the Fisher exact probability method. The chi-square test and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were employed to assess the therapeutic efficacy and survival duration in GC patients with and without liver metastases. RESULTS: The analysis comprised 48 patients diagnosed with advanced GC, who were categorized into two groups: A liver metastasis cohort (n = 20) and a non-liver metastatic cohort (n = 28). Patients with liver metastasis exhibited a more deteriorated physical condition compared to those without liver metastasis. The objective response rates in the cohort with metastasis and the cohort without metastasis were 15.0% and 35.7% (P > 0.05), respectively. Similarly, the disease control rates in these two cohorts were 65.0% and 82.1% (P > 0.05), respectively. The median progression-free survival was 5.0 months in one group and 11.2 months in the other group, with a hazard ratio of 0.40 and a significance level (P) less than 0.05. The median overall survival was 12.0 months in one group and 19.0 months in the other group, with a significance level (P) greater than 0.05. CONCLUSION: Immunotherapy is less effective in GC patients with liver metastases compared to those without liver metastasis.

The chromosomal-scale genome sequencing and assembly of Athetis lepigone.

Athetis lepigone is an emerging highly polyphagous insect pest reported to cause crop damage in several European and Asian countries. However, our understanding of its genetic adaptation mechanisms has been limited due to lack of high-quality genetic resources. In this study, we present a chromosomal-level genome of A. lepigone, representing the first species in the genus of Athetis. We employed PacBio long-read sequencing and Hi-C technologies to generate 612.49 Mb genome assembly which contains 42.43% repeat sequences with a scaffold N50 of 20.9 Mb. The contigs were successfully clustered into 31 chromosomal-size scaffolds with 37% GC content. BUSCO assessment revealed a genome completeness of 97.4% with 96.3 identified as core Arthropoda single copy orthologs. Among the 17,322 genes that were predicted, 15,965 genes were functionally annotated, representing a coverage of 92.17%. Furthermore, we revealed 106 P450, 37 GST, 27 UGT, and 74 COE gene families in the genome of A. lepigone. This genome provides a significant and invaluable genomic resource for further research across the entire genus of Athetis.

Tailoring Solvation Solvent in Localized High-Concentration Electrolytes for Lithium||Sulfurized Polyacrylonitrile.

Sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) is a promising cathode material for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries due to its significantly reduced polysulfide (PS) dissolution compared to that of elemental S cathodes. Although conventional carbonate-based electrolytes are stable with SPAN electrodes, they are unstable with Li metal anodes. Recently, localized high-concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) have been developed to improve the stability of Li anodes. Here, we report a new strategy to further improve the performance of Li||SPAN batteries by replacing the conventional solvating solvent 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) in LHCEs with a new solvating solvent, 1,2-diethoxyethane (DEE). The new optimal DEE-LHCE exhibits less reactivity against Li2S2, alleviates PS dissolution, forms a better cathode-electrolyte interphase layer on the SPAN cathode, and enhances SPAN structural reversibility even at elevated temperatures (45 °C). Compared to DME-LHCE, DEE-LHCE with the same salt and diluent leads to better performance in Li||SPAN batteries (with 82.9% capacity retention after 300 cycles at 45 °C), preservation of the SPAN cathode structure, and suppression of volume change of the Li metal anode. A similar strategy on tailoring the solvating solvents in LHCEs can also be used in other rechargeable batteries to improve their electrochemical performances.

An enhancement algorithm for head characteristics of caged chickens detection based on cyclic consistent migration neural network.

The enclosed multistory poultry housing is a type of poultry enclosure widely used in industrial caged chicken breeding. Accurate identification and detection of the comb and eyes of caged chickens in poultry farms using this type of enclosure can enhance managers' understanding of the health of caged chickens. However, the accuracy of image detection of caged chickens will be affected by the enclosure's entrance, which will reduce the precision. Therefore, this paper proposes a cage-gate removal algorithm based on big data and deep learning Cyclic Consistent Migration Neural Network (CCMNN). The method achieves automatic elimination and restoration of some key information in the image through the CCMNN network. The Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM) between the recovered and original images on the test set is 91.14%. Peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) is 25.34dB. To verify the practicability of the proposed method, the performance of the target detection algorithm is analyzed both before and after applying the CCMNN network in detecting the combs and eyes of caged chickens. Different YOLOv8 detection algorithms, including YOLOv8s, YOLOv8n, YOLOv8m, and YOLOv8x, were used to verify the algorithm proposed in this paper. The experimental results demonstrate that compared to images without CCMNN processing, the precision of comb detection of caged chickens is improved by 11, 11.3, 12.8, and 10.2%. Similarly, the precision of eye detection for caged chickens is improved by 2.4, 10.2, 6.8, and 9%. Therefore, more complete outline images of caged chickens can be obtained using this algorithm and the precision in detecting the comb and eyes of caged chickens can be enhanced. These advancements in the algorithm offer valuable insights for future poultry researchers aiming to deploy enhanced detection equipment, thereby contributing to the accurate assessment of poultry production and farm conditions.

Two spirobifluene-based turn-on fluorescent probes for highly selective detection of Cysteine and the applications in cells two-photon fluorescence imaging.

Two spirobifluene-based fluorescent probes SPF1 and SPF2, were designed and synthesized. The probes displayed "turn-on" fluorescence response for Cysteine. One of the challenges in developing a Cysteine probe is to secure high selectivity. SPF1/SPF2 can discriminate Cysteine from GSH as well as Hcy, and showed high substrate selectivity. The detection limit of SPF1 is 36 nM, which is excellent comparing with other optical sensors for Cysteine. The sensing mechanism of SPF1/SPF2 was verified by experimental data and theoretical calculations. There was a good linear relationship between the fluorescence intensity of SPF1/SPF2 and the concentration of Cysteine. The MTT tests indicated that SPF1/SPF2 had low cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility. Theoretical calculations demonstrated that SPF1, SPF2, and their related reaction products with Cysteine exhibited good two-photon absorption properties. Finally, SPF1/SPF2 had been successfully applied to the imaging of Cysteine in living cells under two-photon excitation.

Hydrogel-based immunoregulation of macrophages for tissue repair and regeneration.

The rational design of hydrogel materials to modulate the immune microenvironment has emerged as a pivotal approach in expediting tissue repair and regeneration. Within the immune microenvironment, an array of immune cells exists, with macrophages gaining prominence in the field of tissue repair and regeneration due to their roles in cytokine regulation to promote regeneration, maintain tissue homeostasis, and facilitate repair. Macrophages can be categorized into two types: classically activated M1 (pro-inflammatory) and alternatively activated M2 (anti-inflammatory and pro-repair). By regulating the physical and chemical properties of hydrogels, the phenotypic transformation and cell behavior of macrophages can be effectively controlled, thereby promoting tissue regeneration and repair. A full understanding of the interaction between hydrogels and macrophages can provide new ideas and methods for future tissue engineering and clinical treatment. Therefore, this paper reviews the effects of hydrogel components, hardness, pore size, and surface morphology on cell behaviors such as macrophage proliferation, migration, and phenotypic polarization, and explores the application of hydrogels based on macrophage immune regulation in skin, bone, cartilage, and nerve tissue repair. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of macrophage-based immunomodulatory hydrogels are discussed.