Nanoscale octopus guiding telomere entanglement: An innovative strategy for inducing apoptosis in cancer cells.

Telomere length plays a crucial role in cellular aging and the risk of diseases. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells can extend their own survival by maintaining telomere stability through telomere maintenance mechanism. Therefore, regulating the lengths of telomeres have emerged as a promising approach for anti-cancer treatment. In this study, we introduce a nanoscale octopus-like structure designed to induce physical entangling of telomere, thereby efficiently triggering telomere dysfunction. The nanoscale octopus, composed of eight-armed PEG (8-arm-PEG), are functionalized with cell penetrating peptide (TAT) to facilitate nuclear entry and are covalently bound to N-Methyl Mesoporphyrin IX (NMM) to target G-quadruplexes (G4s) present in telomeres. The multi-armed configuration of the nanoscale octopus enables targeted binding to multiple G4s, physically disrupting and entangling numerous telomeres, thereby triggering telomere dysfunction. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that the nanoscale octopus significantly inhibits cancer cell proliferation, induces apoptosis through telomere entanglement, and ultimately suppresses tumor growth. This research offers a novel perspective for the development of innovative anti-cancer interventions and provides potential therapeutic options for targeting telomeres.

Flow Cytometry Sorting for Random Access in DNA Data Storage: Encapsulation for Enhanced Stability and Sequence Integrity of DNA.

As digital data undergo explosive growth, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has emerged as a promising storage medium due to its high density, longevity, and ease of replication, offering vast potential in data storage solutions. This study focuses on the protection and retrieval of data during the DNA storage process, developing a technique that employs flow cytometry sorting (FCS) to segregate multicolored fluorescent DNA microparticles encoded with data and facilitating efficient random access. Moreover, the encapsulated fluorescent DNA microparticles, formed through layer-by-layer self-assembly, preserve structural and sequence integrity even under harsh conditions while also supporting a high-density DNA payload. Experimental results have shown that the encoded data can still be successfully recovered from encapsulated DNA microparticles following de-encapsulation. We also successfully demonstrated the automated encapsulation process of fluorescent DNA microparticles using a microfluidic chip. This research provides an innovative approach to the long-term stability and random readability of DNA data storage.

Visualization of Biomolecular Radiation Damage at the Single-Particle Level Using Lanthanide-Sensitized DNA Origami.

Precise monitoring of biomolecular radiation damage is crucial for understanding X-ray-induced cell injury and improving the accuracy of clinical radiotherapy. We present the design and performance of lanthanide-DNA-origami nanodosimeters for directly visualizing radiation damage at the single-particle level. Lanthanide ions (Tb3+ or Eu3+) coordinated with DNA origami nanosensors enhance the sensitivity of X-ray irradiation. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed morphological changes in Eu3+-sensitized DNA origami upon X-ray irradiation, indicating damage caused by ionization-generated electrons and free radicals. We further demonstrated the practical applicability of Eu3+-DNA-origami integrated chips in precisely monitoring radiation-mediated cancer radiotherapy. Quantitative results showed consistent trends with flow cytometry and histological examination under comparable X-ray irradiation doses, providing an affordable and user-friendly visualization tool for preclinical applications. These findings provide new insights into the impact of heavy metals on radiation-induced biomolecular damage and pave the way for future research in developing nanoscale radiation sensors for precise clinical radiography.

Dual-Action Calcium Monoaluminate Enabled Room-Temperature Curing of Inorganic Phosphate-Based High-Temperature Adhesive.

High-temperature adhesives find extensive application in diverse domains, encompassing repairs, production processes, and material joining. However, achieving their curing at ambient temperatures remains a formidable challenge due to the inherent requirement of elevated temperatures, typically exceeding 500 °C, for the curing reaction. To overcome this limitation, in this study, we developed a distinctive inorganic phosphate-based composite adhesive by incorporating dual-functional calcium monoaluminate (CA) into a traditional adhesive blend comprising Al(H2PO4)3 and MgO. This distinctive approach significantly diminishes the curing temperature, enabling it to occur at room temperature. Firstly, CA's facile hydration reaction effectively scavenges surrounding water molecules, thereby accelerating the dehydration curing process of Al(H2PO4)3. Secondly, as hydration is an exothermic process, it locally generates heat around the Al(H2PO4)3, fostering optimal conditions for its curing reaction. Moreover, the adhesive's strength is substantially bolstered through the strategic inclusion of Nano-Al2O3 (enhancing the availability of reaction sites) and Nano-SiO2 (improving overall stability). As a demonstration, the adhesive formulation with added CA containing 2% Nano-Al2O3 and 2% Nano-SiO2 achieved a remarkable tensile strength of 32.48 MPa at room temperature, underscoring its potential as an efficient solution for various practical adhesive applications. The adhesive prepared in this study harnesses the hydration properties of CA to absorb moisture and release substantial heat, introducing a novel method for ambient temperature curing. This development promises to broaden its applications in refractory materials, coatings, and equipment repair.

New secondary metabolites produced by an engineered strain Streptomyces sp. XZQH13OEΔastC.

Two previously undescribed alkaloids (1-2), five known alkaloids (3-7) and five cyclodipeptides (8-12) were obtained from an ansatrienin-producing mutant strain Streptomyces sp. XZQH13OEΔ astC. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of the 1D, 2D NMR and ESI HRMS data and by comparison with the reported data. The antibacterial activities of compounds 1-12 were evaluated.

Enhanced Hydrogen Production via Photothermal-Coupled Ultrasound Pyrolysis of Waste Bio-Oil.

The creation of hydrogen using the lower-cost feedstock, waste organics (WOs), e. g. kitchen waste bio-oil, is a win-win solution, because it can both solve energy problems and reduce environmental pollution. Ultrasound has received considerable interest in organic decomposition; however, the application of ultrasound alone is not a good choice for the hydrogen production from WOs, because of the energy consumption and efficiency. To boost the hydrogen production based on ultrasonic cavitation cracking of bio-oil, photothermal materials are introduced into the hydrogen production system to form localized hot spots. Materials carbon black (CB), carbon nanotubes (CNT), and silicon dioxide (SiO2) all exhibit significant enhancing effects on the hydrogen production from bio-oil, and the CB exhibits the most significant strengthening effect among these materials. When the dosage of CB is 5 mg, hydrogen production rate is 180.1 µmol h-1, representing a notable 1.7-fold increase compared to the production rate without CB. In the presence of light and ultrasound, the hydrogen production rate can be increased by 66.7-fold compared to the situation where only light is present without ultrasound.

Advancing Chlorophyll Photostability: Dual Physicochemical Protection via Ce-Doped Hydrotalcite Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Pigments.

In pursuit of enhancing the photostability of chlorophyll, a novel organic-inorganic hybrid pigment has been synthesized via a supramolecular intercalation assembly method, incorporating cerium-ion-doped hydrotalcite as the host matrix and chlorophyll as the intercalated guest molecule. This innovative pigment amalgamates the vivid coloration properties of organic dyes with the robust stability characteristic of inorganic substances. Determined from the detailed investigation of the structural evolution of chlorophyll during photodegradation, the dual physicochemical protection mechanism is critical to the advancement of chlorophyll photostability. It leverages the oxygen barrier attributes of the hydrotalcite's laminate structure and the ultraviolet light absorption and scattering capabilities of CeO2 nanoparticles formed in situ. Furthermore, Ce-doping introduces a redox cycle between Ce4+ and Ce3+ ions, which serves as a chemical defense by neutralizing reactive oxygen species that emerge during chlorophyll degradation. This multifaceted approach results in a substantial enhancement of photostability, with the hybrid pigment containing 0.3 Ce doped content, demonstrating a mere 5.90% alteration in reflectance at the 635 nm peak after 250 h of UV-accelerated aging. This breakthrough provides a dual physicochemical protective strategy that not only significantly prolongs the lifespan of chlorophyll pigments but also holds potential for broadening their application scope in various industries, including plastics and coatings, where color fastness and durability are paramount.

Surface Reconstruction of La0.5Sr0.5CoO3-δ Ceramic toward High Solar Selectivity for High-Temperature Air-Stable Solar-Thermal Conversion.

As a key device for solar energy conversion, solar absorbers play a critical role in improving the operating temperature of concentrated solar power (CSP) systems. However, solar absorbers with high spectral selectivity and good thermal stability at high temperatures in air are still scarce. This study presents a novel surface reconstruction strategy to improve the spectral selectivity of La0.5Sr0.5CoO3-δ (LSC5) for enhanced CSP application. The strategy could efficiently enhance the solar absorptance due to the existence of a high-absorption thin layer composed of nanoparticles on the LSC5 surface. Meanwhile, the crystal facet with low emittance on the LSC5 surface was exposed. Thus, the LSC5 that underwent surface reconstruction achieved a higher solar absorptance (∼0.75) and lower infrared emittance (∼0.19) compared to the original LSC5 (0.63/0.21), representing an improvement of nearly 32%. Additionally, the surface reconstructed LSC5 demonstrated a lower infrared thermographic temperature and a higher solar-thermal conversion equilibrium temperature compared to those of LSC5 and SiC. Moreover, the reconstructed LSC5 could maintain stable performance up to 800 °C in air, which might simplify the complexity of the CSP systems. The surface reconstruction strategy provided a new method to optimize the spectral selectivity of high-temperature stable ceramics, contributing to advancements in solar energy conversion technologies.

Silibinin Induces Both Apoptosis and Necroptosis with Potential Anti-tumor Efficacy in Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer incidence is steadily on the rise, posing a growing threat to human health. The search for therapeutic drugs from natural active substance and elucidating their mechanism have been the focus of anti-tumor research. OBJECTIVE: In our work, Silibinin (SiL) was chosen as a possible substance that could inhibit lung cancer. and its effects on inducing tumor cell death have been studied. METHODS: CCK-8 analysis and morphological observation were used to assess the cytotoxic impacts of SiL on lung cancer cells in vitro. The alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and apoptosis rate of cells were detected by flow cytometry. The level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release out of cells was measured. The expression changes of apoptosis or necroptosis-related proteins were detected using western blotting. Protein interactions among RIPK1, RIPK3 and MLKL were analyzed using the co-immunoprecipitation technique. In vivo, SiL was evaluated for its antitumor effects using LLC tumor-bearing mice with mouse lung cancer. RESULTS: With an increased dose of SiL, the proliferation ability of A549 cells was considerably inhibited, and the accompanying cell morphology changed. The results of flow cytometry showed that after SiL treatment, MMP levels decreased, and the proportion of cells undergoing apoptosis increased. The proteins associated with apoptosis were upregulated and activated. The amount of LDH released from the cells increased following SiL treatment, accompanied by augmented expression and phosphorylation levels of necroptosis-related proteins. The co-IP assay further confirmed necrosome formation induced by SiL. Furthermore, Necrosulfonamide (an MLKL inhibitor) increased the apoptotic rate of SiL-treated cells and aggravated the cytotoxic effect of SiL, indicating that necroptosis blockade could switch cell death to apoptosis and increase the inhibitory effect of SiL on A549 cells. In LLC-bearing mice, gastric administration of SiL significantly inhibited tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS: This study helped clarify the anti-tumor mechanism of SiL against lung cancer, elucidating its role in dual induction of apoptosis and necroptosis. In particular, necroptosis blockade could switch cell death to apoptosis and increase the inhibitory effect of SiL. Our work provided an experimental basis for the research on cell death induced by SiL and revealed its possible applications for improving the management of lung cancer.

A polysubstituted cyclopentane and two glycerol esters from the engineered strain Streptomyces sp. S35-LAL1.

Activation of silencing gene clusters is an important way to discover structurally novel compounds. In this study, three undescribed compounds were obtained from an engineered strain of Streptomyces sp. S35-LAL1. They include a polysubstituted cyclopentane with an unprecedented 10-carbon skeleton (1) and two glycerol esters (2 and 3). The structures of compounds 1-3 were elucidated through analysis of their spectroscopic data including 1D, 2D NMR, optical rotation, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD).