Evaluation of immune checkpoint inhibitors for colorectal cancer: A network meta­analysis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is challenging to treat due to its high metastatic rate. Recent strategies have focused on combining immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with other treatments. The aim of the present study was to conduct a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the efficacy and adverse effects of different ICI treatments for CRC. A literature search for RCTs was conducted using PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov and Web of Science databases, covering the period from the inception of each database until April 2024. A total of 12 RCTs involving 2,050 participants were selected for inclusion in the analysis. The network meta-analysis employed the MetaInsight tool to assess multiple endpoints. The criteria for study selection were based on the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome and Studies framework as follows: i) Population, patients with CRC; ii) intervention, studies using ICI to treat CRC; iii) comparison, active comparators, including placebo; iv) outcome, overall survival, progression-free survival, objective response rate and adverse events; and v) study design, RCTs. The results of the analysis revealed that programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors significantly improved overall survival time [mean difference (MD), 2.28 months; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.44 to 4.11], while programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors exhibited a superior progression-free survival time (MD, 4.79 months; 95% CI, 3.18 to 6.40) compared with active comparators. However, none of the ICI treatments had significant differences in odds ratios for the objective response rate and adverse events compared with active comparators. These findings indicate that treatment with PD-L1 and PD-1 inhibitors improved the overall survival time and delayed disease progression in patients with CRC. These findings offer valuable insights for future research aimed at improving CRC patient outcomes.

Unveiling the pathogenic and multidrug-resistant profiles of Vibrio alfacsensis: A potential identified threat in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) aquaculture.

Vibrio alfacsensis is traditionally seen as an environmental symbiont within its genus, with no detailedly documented pathogenicity in marine aquaculture to date. This study delves into the largely unexplored pathogenic potential and emerging antibiotic resistance of V. alfacsensis. The VA-1 strain, isolated from recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) effluent of cultured turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), underwent comprehensive analysis including biochemical identification, antibiotic susceptibility testing and reinfection trials. The results confirmed VA-1's pathogenicity and significant multiple antibiotic resistance. VA-1 could induce systemic infection in turbot, with symptoms like kidney enlargement, exhibiting virulence comparable to known Vibrio pathogens, with an LD50 around 2.36 × 106 CFU/fish. VA-1's remarkable resistance phenotype (14/22) suggested potential for genetic exchange and resistance factor acquisition in aquaculture environments. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA sequences and whole-genome sequencing has firmly placed VA-1 within the V. alfacsensis clade, while genome-wide analysis highlights its similarity and diversity in relation to strains from across the globe. VA-1 contained numerous replicons, indicating the possibility for the spread of resistance and virulence genes. This study suggests V. alfacsensis may acquire and transfer pathogenic and resistant traits through horizontal gene transfer, a likelihood intensified by changing environmental and aquaculture conditions, highlighting the need for vigilant pathogen monitoring and new non-antibiotic treatments.

Case investigation on the construction mode of rural landscapes in the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, Mengda National Nature Reserve.

It is vital and challenging to coordinate the protection of natural reserves with rural construction. The rural structure and function were divided during the creation of natural reserves on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau (QTP), throwing the rural structure and functional system and its constituent parts out of balance. According to current research results on the construction mode of rural landscapes, the creation of rural landscapes is unable to address the requirements of villages and encourage the creation of protected areas. Therefore, it has become urgently necessary to conduct research on the rural landscape construction model of the QTP natural reserve. This study focuses on the case study of the construction mode of rural landscapes in the Mengda National Nature Reserve (MNNR) in the QTP. The inherent hierarchical structure relationships between rural landscape types, units and elements were identified. The basic characteristics of residential, production and cultural landscapes and their interdependent structural relationships were described. According to the evidence collected from literature, the rural landscape complex model and spatial optimisation strategy in the MNNR were proposed. It is believed that the rural residential, production and cultural landscape structures of the MNNR cannot effectively realise its living, production and culture function. From a spatial structure level, a rural landscape construction model was proposed based on production landscapes, residential landscapes as characteristics and cultural landscapes as the source. This model is based on agricultural landscapes, features the village and village dwellings and originates from temple landscapes, forming a comprehensive landscape unit that relies on and supports each other among production, residential and cultural landscapes. Emphasising the structural construction of infrastructure, such as transportation roads, network routes, tourism routes and water and electricity networks between the system and the external environment, is essential for promoting the circular relationship between the agricultural community complex in Dazhuang Village and the external system. The model is beneficial to balance the relationship between the rural landscape structure and MNNR function and promote the sustainable development of the relationship between the nature reserve and rural areas.

Natriuretic peptide receptor-C perturbs mitochondrial respiration in white adipose tissue.

Natriuretic peptide receptor-C (NPR-C) is highly expressed in adipose tissues and regulates obesity-related diseases; however, the detailed mechanism remains unknown. In this research, we aimed to explore the potential role of NPR-C in cold exposure and high-fat/high-sugar (HF/HS) diet-induced metabolic changes, especially in regulating white adipose tissue (WAT) mitochondrial function. Our findings showed that NPR-C expression, especially in epididymal WAT (eWAT), was reduced after cold exposure. Global Npr3 (gene encoding NPR-C protein) deficiency led to reduced body weight, increased WAT browning, thermogenesis, and enhanced expression of genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis. RNA-sequencing of eWAT showed that Npr3 deficiency enhanced the expression of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex genes and promoted mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in response to cold exposure. In addition, Npr3 KO mice were able to resist obesity induced by HF/HS diet. Npr3 knockdown in stromal vascular fraction (SVF)-induced white adipocytes promoted the expression of proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α (PGC1α), uncoupling protein one (UCP1), and mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes. Mechanistically, NPR-C inhibited cGMP and calcium signaling in an NPR-B-dependent manner but suppressed cAMP signaling in an NPR-B-independent manner. Moreover, Npr3 knockdown induced browning via AKT and p38 pathway activation, which were attenuated by Npr2 knockdown. Importantly, treatment with the NPR-C-specific antagonist, AP-811, decreased WAT mass and increased PGC-1α, UCP1, and mitochondrial complex expression. Our findings reveal that NPR-C deficiency enhances mitochondrial function and energy expenditure in white adipose tissue, contributing to improved metabolic health and resistance to obesity.

Disease-modifying rdHSV-CA8* non-opioid analgesic gene therapy treats chronic osteoarthritis pain by activating Kv7 voltage-gated potassium channels.

Chronic pain is common in our population, and most of these patients are inadequately treated, making the development of safer analgesics a high priority. Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a primary cause of chronic pain and disability worldwide, and lower extremity OA is a major contributor to loss of quality-adjusted life-years. In this study we tested the hypothesis that a novel JDNI8 replication-defective herpes simplex-1 viral vector (rdHSV) incorporating a modified carbonic anhydrase-8 transgene (CA8*) produces analgesia and treats monoiodoacetate-induced (MIA) chronic knee pain due to OA. We observed transduction of lumbar DRG sensory neurons with these viral constructs (vHCA8*) (~40% of advillin-positive cells and ~ 50% of TrkA-positive cells colocalized with V5-positive cells) using the intra-articular (IA) knee joint (KJ) route of administration. vHCA8* inhibited chronic mechanical OA knee pain induced by MIA was dose- and time-dependent. Mechanical thresholds returned to Baseline by D17 after IA KJ vHCA8* treatment, and exceeded Baseline (analgesia) through D65, whereas negative controls failed to reach Baseline responses. Weight-bearing and automated voluntary wheel running were improved by vHCA8*, but not negative controls. Kv7 voltage-gated potassium channel-specific inhibitor XE-991 reversed vHCA8*-induced analgesia. Using IHC, IA KJ of vHCA8* activated DRG Kv7 channels via dephosphorylation, but negative controls failed to impact Kv7 channels. XE-991 stimulated Kv7.2-7.5 and Kv7.3 phosphorylation using western blotting of differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, which was inhibited by vHCA8* but not by negative controls. The observed prolonged dose-dependent therapeutic effects of IA KJ administration of vHCA8* on MIA-induced chronic KJ pain due to OA is consistent with the specific activation of Kv7 channels in small DRG sensory neurons. Together, these data demonstrate for the first-time local IA KJ administration of vHCA8* produces opioid-independent analgesia in this MIA-induced OA chronic pain model, supporting further therapeutic development.

Functionalized 2D membranes for separations at the 1-nm scale.

The ongoing evolution of two-dimensional (2D) material-based membranes has prompted the realization of mass separations at the 1-nm scale due to their well-defined selective nano- and subnanochannels. Strategic membrane functionalization is further found to be key to augmenting channel accuracy and efficiency in distinguishing ions, gases and molecules within this range and is thus trending as a research focus in energy-, resource-, environment- and pharmaceutical-related applications. In this review, we present the fundamentals underpinning functionalized 2D membranes in various separations, elucidating the critical "method-interaction-property" relationship. Starting with an introduction to various functionalization strategies, we focus our discussion on functionalization-induced channel-species interactions and reveal how they shape the transport- and operation-related features of the membrane in different scenarios. We also highlight the limitations and challenges of current functionalized 2D membranes and outline the necessary breakthroughs needed to apply them as reliable and high-performance separation units across industries in the future.

Scutellarein Suppresses the Production of ROS and Inflammatory Mediators of LPS-Activated Bronchial Epithelial Cells and Attenuates Acute Lung Injury in Mice.

Scutellarein is a key active constituent present in many plants, especially in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and Erigeron breviscapus (vant.) Hand-Mazz which possesses both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. It also is the metabolite of scutellarin, with the ability to relieve LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI), strongly suggesting that scutellarein could suppress respiratory inflammation. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of scutellarein on lung inflammation by using LPS-activated BEAS-2B cells (a human bronchial epithelial cell line) and LPS-induced ALI mice. The results showed that scutellarein could reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation through inhibiting the activation of NADPH oxidases, markedly downregulating the transcription and translation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL) 8 in LPS-activated BEAS-2B cells. The mechanism study revealed that it suppressed the phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα, consequently hindering the translocation of p65 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and its subsequent binding to DNA, thereby decreasing NF-κB-regulated gene transcription. Notably, scutellarein had no impact on the activation of AP-1 signaling. In LPS-induced ALI mice, scutellarein significantly decreased IL-6, CCL2, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, attenuated lung injury, and inhibited neutrophil infiltration. Our findings suggest that scutellarein may be a beneficial agent for the treatment of infectious pneumonia by virtue of its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities.

rdHSV-CA8 non-opioid analgesic gene therapy decreases somatosensory neuronal excitability by activating Kv7 voltage-gated potassium channels.

Chronic pain is common and inadequately treated, making the development of safe and effective analgesics a high priority. Our previous data indicate that carbonic anhydrase-8 (CA8) expression in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) mediates analgesia via inhibition of neuronal ER inositol trisphosphate receptor-1 (ITPR1) via subsequent decrease in ER calcium release and reduction of cytoplasmic free calcium, essential to the regulation of neuronal excitability. This study tested the hypothesis that novel JDNI8 replication-defective herpes simplex-1 viral vectors (rdHSV) carrying a CA8 transgene (vHCA8) reduce primary afferent neuronal excitability. Whole-cell current clamp recordings in small DRG neurons showed that vHCA8 transduction caused prolongation of their afterhyperpolarization (AHP), an essential regulator of neuronal excitability. This AHP prolongation was completely reversed by the specific Kv7 channel inhibitor XE-991. Voltage clamp recordings indicate an effect via Kv7 channels in vHCA8-infected small DRG neurons. These data demonstrate for the first time that vHCA8 produces Kv7 channel activation, which decreases neuronal excitability in nociceptors. This suppression of excitability may translate in vivo as non-opioid dependent behavioral- or clinical analgesia, if proven behaviorally and clinically.

Reversible pH-Gated MXene Membranes with Ultrahigh Mono-/Divalent-Ion Selectivity.

Artificial ion channel membranes hold high promise in water treatment, nanofluidics, and energy conversion, but it remains a great challenge to construct such smart membranes with both reversible ion-gating capability and desirable ion selectivity. Herein, we constructed a smart MXene-based membrane via p-phenylenediamine functionalization (MLM-PPD) with highly stable and aligned two-dimensional subnanochannels, which exhibits reversible ion-gating capability and ultrahigh metal ion selectivity similar to biological ion channels. The pH-sensitive groups within the MLM-PPD channel confers excellent reversible Mg2+-gating capability with a pH-switching ratio of up to 100. The mono/divalent metal-ion selectivity up to 1243.8 and 400.9 for K+/Mg2+ and Li+/Mg2+, respectively, outperforms other reported membranes. Theoretical calculations combined with experimental results reveal that the steric hindrance and stronger PPD-ion interactions substantially enhance the energy barrier for divalent metal ions passing through the MLM-PPD, and thus leading to ultrahigh mono/divalent metal-ion selectivity. This work provides a new strategy for developing artificial-ion channel membranes with both reversible ion-gating functionality and high-ion selectivity for various applications.

Bioinformatics analysis revealed the potential crosstalk genes and molecular mechanisms between intracranial aneurysms and periodontitis.

OBJECTIVES: The risk of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) development and rupture is significantly higher in patients with periodontitis (PD), suggesting an association between the two. However, the specific mechanisms of association between these two diseases have not been fully investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we downloaded IAs and PD data from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and functional enrichment analysis was performed. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identified key modules and key crosstalk genes. In addition, the immune cell landscape was assessed and the correlation of key crosstalk genes with each immune cell was calculated. Finally, transcription factors (TFs) regulating key crosstalk genes were explored. RESULTS: 127 overlapping DEGs were identified and functional enrichment analysis highlighted the important role of immune reflection in the pathogenesis of IAs and PD. We identified ITGAX and COL4A2 as key crosstalk genes. In addition, the expression of multiple immune cells was significantly elevated in PDs and IAs compared to controls, and both key crosstalk genes were significantly negatively associated with Macrophages M2. Finally, GATA2 was identified as a potential key transcription factor (TF), which regulates two key crosstalk gene. CONCLUSIONS: The present study identifies key crosstalk genes and TF in PD and IAs, providing new insights for further study of the co-pathogenesis of PD and IAs from an immune and inflammatory perspective. Also, this is the first study to report the above findings.

AhR agonists screening and identification in indoor dust based on non-target chemical analysis by GC-Q-TOFMS and biological effect evaluation referring to ToxCast/Tox21 database.

Numerous studies reported the concentration of agonists of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in indoor dust by target chemical analysis or the biological effects of activating the AhR by indoor extracts, but the major AhR agonists identification in indoor dust were rarely researched. In the present study, the indoor dust samples were collected for 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) assay and both non-targeted and targeted chemical analysis for AhR agonists by gas chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Coupled with non-targeted analysis and toxicity Forecaster (ToxCast)/Tox21 database, 104 ToxCast chemicals were screened to be able to induce EROD response. The combination of targeted chemical analyses and biological effects evaluation indicated that PAHs, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and Cypermethrin might be the important AhR-agonists in different indoor dust and mainly contributed in 1.84%-97.56 % (median: 26.62%) of total observed biological effects through comparing toxic equivalency quotient derived from chemical analysis with biological equivalences derived from bioassay. DBP and cypermethrin seldom reported in the analysis of AhR agonists should raise great concern. In addition, the present results in experiment of synthetic solution of 4 selected AhR-agonists pointed out that some unidentified AhR agonists existed in indoor dust.

Constricted posterior fourchette deformities: Definition, classification and surgical treatment.

BACKGROUND: Labiaplasty is one of the top cosmetic procedures patients are seeking in the past two years. However, treatment of disease in posterior fourchette caused by various etiological factors was less investigated and neglected. METHODS: Three types of posterior fourchette deformity were proposed: (1) Redundant posterior fourchette, (2) Relaxed posterior fourchette, and (3) Constricted posterior fourchette. Local flap transfer technique was applied. Y-V-plasty and 5-Z-Flap-plasty were used to treat web type and tight type of the constricted posterior fourchette, respectively. Follow-ups were arranged on the Internet or at the outpatient clinic. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was utilized to evaluate sexual discomfort in the satisfaction questionnaires during follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients with constricted posterior fourchette deformity from May 2022 to May 2023 were reviewed in the study. Y-V-plasty could decrease VAS in patients with web-type deformity by 4.13 ± 1.46 (p＜0.001). 5-Z-Flap-plasty could decrease VAS in patients with tight-type deformity by 3.76 ± 1.53 (p＜0.05). Satisfaction rates of the web type and tight type were 93.1% (27/29) and 86.7% (13/15) respectively. Complications include two cases of hematoma, one case of persistent pain and two cases of dehiscence. CONCLUSION: Constricted posterior fourchette seriously affects the quality of life. Y-V-plasty and 5-Z-Flap-plasty can be utilized to treat the two subtypes of constricted posterior fourchette, which can effectively reduce the pain score of patients with high satisfaction and few long-term complications.

Electricity generation from carbon dioxide adsorption by spatially nanoconfined ion separation.

Selective ion transport underpins fundamental biological processes for efficient energy conversion and signal propagation. Mimicking these 'ionics' in synthetic nanofluidic channels has been increasingly promising for realizing self-sustained systems by harvesting clean energy from diverse environments, such as light, moisture, salinity gradient, etc. Here, we report a spatially nanoconfined ion separation strategy that enables harvesting electricity from CO2 adsorption. This breakthrough relies on the development of Nanosheet-Agarose Hydrogel (NAH) composite-based generators, wherein the oppositely charged ions are released in water-filled hydrogel channels upon adsorbing CO2. By tuning the ion size and ion-channel interactions, the released cations at the hundred-nanometer scale are spatially confined within the hydrogel network, while ångström-scale anions pass through unhindered. This leads to near-perfect anion/cation separation across the generator with a selectivity (D-/D+) of up to 1.8 × 106, allowing conversion into external electricity. With amplification by connecting multiple as-designed generators, the ion separation-induced electricity reaching 5 V is used to power electronic devices. This study introduces an effective spatial nanoconfinement strategy for widely demanded high-precision ion separation, encouraging a carbon-negative technique with simultaneous CO2 adsorption and energy generation.

The potential crosstalk genes and molecular mechanisms between glioblastoma and periodontitis.

Despite clinical and epidemiological evidence suggestive of a link between glioblastoma (GBM) and periodontitis (PD), the shared mechanisms of gene regulation remain elusive. In this study, we identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that overlap between the GEO datasets GSE4290 [GBM] and GSE10334 [PD]. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted, and key modules were identified using protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The expression levels of CXCR4, LY96, and C3 were found to be significantly elevated in both the test dataset and external validation dataset, making them key crosstalk genes. Additionally, immune cell landscape analysis revealed elevated expression levels of multiple immune cells in GBM and PD compared to controls, with the key crosstalk genes negatively associated with Macrophages M2. FLI1 was identified as a potential key transcription factor (TF) regulating the three key crosstalk genes, with increased expression in the full dataset. These findings contribute to our understanding of the immune and inflammatory aspects of the comorbidity mechanism between GBM and PD.

Current insight into the transient X-zone in the adrenal gland cortex.

Mouse models have been widely used in the study of adrenal gland development and diseases. The X-zone is a unique structure of the mouse adrenal gland and lineage-tracing studies show that the X-zone is a remnant of the fetal adrenal cortex. Although the X-zone is considered analogous to the fetal zone in the human adrenal cortex, the functional significance of the X-zone has remained comparatively more obscure. The X-zone forms during the early postnatal stages of adrenal development and regresses later in a remarkable sexually dimorphic fashion. The formation and regression of the X-zone can be different in mice with different genetic backgrounds. Mouse models with gene mutations, hormone/chemical treatments, and/or gonadectomy can also display an aberrant development of the X-zone or alternatively a dysregulated X-zone regression. These models have shed light on the molecular mechanisms regulating the development and regression of these unique adrenocortical cells. This review paper briefly describes the development of the adrenal gland including the formation and regression processes of the X-zone. It also summarizes and lists mouse models that demonstrate different X-zone phenotypes.

Comprehensive aesthetic corrections of gynecomastia using the reproducible safe and minimally invasive surgical strategy.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive access and fast recovery are trends of gynecomastia surgery. We placed great importance on liposuction and modified original pull-through technique. The purpose of this study was to present a refined surgical strategy for gynecomastia in grade I and II. METHODS: The refined strategy embraced enhanced liposuction to remove the intraglandular fat sufficiently, followed by open resection of gland using the pull-through and bottom-up technique with adjuvant liposuction in the end. Surgical data were recorded and satisfactory questionnaires with 5-point scales were administered during follow-up. RESULTS: Between January 2017 and May 2022, 165 patients underwent enhanced liposuction combined with the pull-through and bottom-up technique for gland excision. Age ranged from 12 to 56 years. The median length of surgery was 100 min. A median of 300 ml of fat was aspirated and a median of 20.8 g of gland was excised. Seventy-seven patients (46.7%) responded the questionnaires at least 6 months postoperatively, and the average overall satisfaction was 4.68 ± 0.52 points. Thirteen sides of breasts developed complications with a rate of 4.0%. CONCLUSION: Enhanced liposuction combined with pull-through and bottom-up technique proved effective to treat grade I and II gynecomastia with minimal scarring and high satisfaction. The refined strategy was simple and safe, and would obtain optimal outcomes even for inexperienced surgeons.

Cross-linking electrospinning.

Although electrospinning (e-spinning) has witnessed rapid development in recent years, it has also been criticized by environmentalists due to the use of organic solvents. Therefore, aqueous e-spinning (green e-spinning) is considered a more attractive technique. However, considering the poor water resistance and mechanical properties of electrospun (e-spun) nanofibers, cross-linking is a perfect solution. In this review, we systematically discuss the cross-linking e-spinning system for the first time, including cross-linking strategies (in situ, liquid immersion, vapor, and spray cross-linking), cross-linking mechanism (physical and chemical cross-linking) of e-spun nanofibers, and the various applications (e.g., tissue engineering, drug delivery, water treatment, food packaging, and sensors) of cross-linked e-spun nanofibers. Among them, we highlight several cross-linking methods, including UV light cross-linking, electron beam cross-linking, glutaraldehyde (and other commonly used cross-linking agents) chemical cross-linking, thermal cross-linking, and enzymatic cross-linking. Finally, we confirm the significance of cross-linking e-spinning and reveal the problems in the construction of this system.

Deep eutectic solvent-infused two-dimensional metal-organic framework membranes as quasi-solid-state electrolytes for wearable micro-supercapacitors.

The burgeoning field of miniaturized and portable electronic devices calls for novel advances in micro-energy storage technology. Micro-supercapacitors (MSC) stand at the forefront of this endeavour, yet unlocking their full potential necessitates the exploration of high-performance electrolytes. Herein, we introduce a strategy that leverages flexible metal-organic framework (MOF, CuTCPP) nanosheet-based membranes to construct quasi-solid-state electrolytes (QSSEs) and enhance the ionic conductivity and electrochemical performance of deep eutectic solvent (DES)-based MSCs. Owing to the multiple nanochannel pathways provided by the porous MOF nanosheets, the ionic conductivity of DES within the nanochannels exhibits a 13-fold increment compared with its bulk counterpart. Furthermore, we engineered MSC harnessing the CuTCPP-DES system, whose performance surpasses that reported for most of the ionic liquid and 2D material-based MSCs. The areal-specific capacitance was 81.3 mF cm-2 at a current density of 0.1 mA cm-2, and the energy density was 45.17 µW h cm-2 at a power density of 8.559 mW cm-2. Notably, the performance of MSCs remains consistent and unaffected, even when subjected to bending. These findings contribute to the exploration and potential optimization of the inherent benefits of MOFs, thereby presenting a paradigm shift in nanoconfined systems for microscale energy storage applications.

Two-dimensional MXene membranes with biomimetic sub-nanochannels for enhanced cation sieving.

Membranes with high ion permeability and selectivity are of considerable interest for sustainable water treatment, resource extraction and energy storage. Herein, inspired by K+ channel of streptomyces A (KcsA K+), we have constructed cation sieving membranes using MXene nanosheets and Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) molecules as building blocks. Numerous negatively charged oxygen atoms of EDTA molecules and 6.0 Å two-dimensional (2D) sub-nanochannel of MXene nanosheets enable biomimetic channel size, chemical groups and tunable charge density for the resulting membranes. The membranes show the capability to recognize monovalent/divalent cations, achieving excellent K+/Mg2+ selectivity of 121.2 using mixed salt solution as the feed, which outperforms other reported membranes under similar testing conditions and transcends the current upper limit. Characterization and simulations indicate that the cation recognition effect of EDTA and partial dehydration effects play critical roles in cations selective sieving and increasing the local charge density within the sub-nanochannel significantly improves cation selectivity. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for ions transport in sub-nanochannels and an alternative strategy for design ions separation membranes.