The functional specificity of ERECTA-family receptors in Arabidopsis stomatal development is ensured by molecular chaperones in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Stomata are epidermal pores that control gas exchange between plants and the atmosphere. In Arabidopsis, the ERECTA family (ERECTAf) receptors, including ERECTA, ERECTA-LIKE 1 (ERL1) and ERL2, redundantly play pivotal roles in enforcing the 'one-cell-spacing' rule. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the functional specificities of receptors are likely associated with their differential subcellular dynamics. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident chaperone complex SDF2-ERdj3B-BiP functions in many aspects of plant development. We employed pharmacological treatments combined with cell biological and biochemical approaches to demonstrate that the abundance of ERECTA was reduced in the erdj3b-1 mutant, but the localization and dynamics of ERECTA were not noticeably affected. By contrast, the erdj3b mutation caused the retention of ERL1/ERL2 in the ER. Furthermore, we found that the function of SDF2-ERdj3B-BiP is implicated with the distinct roles of ERECTAf receptors. Our findings establish that the ERECTAf receptor-mediated signaling in stomatal development is ensured by the activities of the ER quality control system, which preferentially maintains the protein abundance of ERECTA and proper subcellular dynamics of ERL1/ERL2, prior to the receptors reaching their destination - the plasma membrane - to execute their functions.

pH-Responsive Charge Convertible Hyperbranched Poly(ionic liquid) Nanoassembly with High Biocompatibility for Resistance-Free Antimicrobial Applications.

As a potential alternative to antibiotics, hyperbranched poly(ionic liquid)s (HPILs) have demonstrated significant potential in combating bacterial biofilms. However, their high cation density poses a high risk of toxicity, greatly limiting their in vivo applications. In this study, we constructed a biocompatible HPIL (HPIL-Glu) from a hyperbranched polyurea core with modified terminals featuring charge-convertible ionic liquids. These ionic liquid moieties consist of an ammonium-based cation and a gluconate (Glu) organic counter. HPIL-Glu could form a homogeneous nanoassembly in water and exhibited a pH-responsive charge conversion property. Under neutral conditions, Glu shielded the positively charged surface, minimizing the toxicity. In a mildly acidic environment, Glu protonation exposes cationic moieties to biofilm eradication. Comprehensive antimicrobial assessments demonstrate that HPIL-Glu effectively kills bacteria and promotes the healing of bacteria-infected chronic wounds. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to HPIL-Glu does not induce antimicrobial resistance.

Cu-Catalyzed Asymmetric Dicarboxylation of 1,3-Dienes with CO2.

Dicarboxylic acids and derivatives are important building blocks in organic synthesis, biochemistry, and the polymer industry. Although catalytic dicarboxylation with CO2 represents a straightforward and sustainable route to dicarboxylic acids, it is still highly challenging and limited to generation of achiral or racemic dicarboxylic acids. To date, catalytic asymmetric dicarboxylation with CO2 to give chiral dicarboxylic acids has not been reported. Herein, we report the first asymmetric dicarboxylation of 1,3-dienes with CO2 via Cu catalysis. This strategy provides an efficient and environmentally benign route to chiral dicarboxylic acids with high regio-, chemo-, and enantioselectivities. The copper self-relay catalysis, that is, Cu-catalyzed boracarboxylation of 1,3-dienes to give carboxylated allyl boronic ester intermediates and subsequent carboxylation of C-B bonds to give dicarboxylates, is key to the success of this dicarboxylation. Moreover, this protocol exhibits broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, easy product derivatizations, and facile synthesis of chiral liquid crystalline polyester and drug-like scaffolds.

Long-term exposure to the mixture of phthalates induced male reproductive toxicity in rats and the alleviative effects of quercetin.

Phthalates (PEs), such as di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) could cause reproductive and developmental toxicities, while human beings are increasingly exposed to them at low-doses. Phytochemical quercetin (Que) is a flavonoid that has estrogenic effect, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. This study was conducted to assess the alleviative effect of Que. on male reproductive toxicity induced by the mixture of three commonly used PEs (MPEs) at low-dose in rats, and explore the underlying mechanism. Male rats were treated with MPEs (16 mg/kg/day) and/or Que. (50 mg/kg/d) for 91 days. The results showed that MPEs exposure caused male reproductive injuries, such as decreased serum sex hormones levels, abnormal testicular pathological structure, increased abnormal sperm rate and changed expressions of PIWIL1 and PIWIL2. Furthermore, MPEs also changed the expression of steroidogenic proteins in steroid hormone metabolism, including StAR, CYP11A1, CYP17A1, 17ß-HSD, CYP19A1. However, the alterations of these parameters were reversed by Que. MPEs caused male reproductive injuries in rats; Que. inhibited MPEs' male reproductive toxicity, which might relate to the improvement of testosterone biosynthesis.

Evaluating the consistency in different methods for measuring left atrium diameters.

BACKGROUND: The morphological information of the pulmonary vein (PV) and left atrium (LA) is of immense clinical importance for effective atrial fibrillation ablation. The aim of this study is to examine the consistency in different LA diameter measurement techniques. METHODS: Retrospective imaging data from 87 patients diagnosed with PV computed tomography angiography were included. The patients consisted of 50 males and 37 females, with an average age of (60.74 ± 8.70) years. Two physicians independently measured the anteroposterior diameter, long diameter, and transverse diameter of the LA using six different methods. Additionally, we recorded the post-processing time of the images. Physician 1 conducted measurements twice with a one-month interval between the measurements to assess intra-rater reliability. Using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the consistency of each LA diameter measurement by the two physicians was evaluated. We compared the differences in the LA diameter and the time consumed for measurements using different methods. This was done by employing the rank sum test of a randomized block design (Friedman M test) and the q test for pairwise comparisons among multiple relevant samples. RESULTS: (1) The consistency of the measured LA diameter by the two physicians was strong or very strong. (2) There were statistical differences in the anteroposterior diameter, long diameter, and transverse diameter of LA assessed using different methods (χ2 = 222.28, 32.74, 293.83, P < 0.001). (3) Different methods for measuring the diameters of LA required different amounts of time (χ2 = 333.10, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of left atrium (LA) diameter measurements conducted by different physicians were found to be reliable. However, the LA diameters obtained through various techniques exhibited variations. It was observed that measuring LA long diameters using only the VR (volume rendering) picture was the most clinically applicable method.

Unilateral biportal endoscopy via two different approaches for upper lumbar disc herniation: a technical note.

BACKGROUND: The traditional surgical procedures for upper lumbar disc herniation (ULDH) usually lead to frequent complications. We aim to investigate the clinical efficacy of the unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) technique in treating upper lumbar disc herniation (ULDH). METHODS: From January 2020 to December 2021, the clinical data of 28 patients with ULDH treated with the UBE technique were collected and analyzed for surgery time under UBE, postsurgical drainage, postsurgical hospital stay, and complications. The clinical efficacy was evaluated according to the modified MacNab score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and visual analogue scale (VAS) of low back pain and lower limb pain before the surgery; one week, one month, and three months after the surgery; and at the last follow-up. RESULTS: All patients underwent the UBE surgery successfully. The surgery time under UBE for non-fusion cases was 47.50 ± 11.84 min (monosegment) and 75.00 ± 20.66 min (two segments), while that for fusion cases was 77.50 ± 21.02 min. The postsurgical drainage for non-fusion cases was 25.00 ± 13.94 mL (monosegment) and 38.00 ± 11.83 mL (two segments), while that for fusion cases was 71.25 ± 31.72 mL. The postsurgical hospital stay was 8.28 ± 4.22 days. The follow-up time was 15.82 ± 4.54 months. The VAS score for each time period after the surgery was significantly lower (P < 0.05), while the ODI was significantly higher than that before the surgery (P < 0.05). According to the modified MacNab scoring standard, the ratio of excellent to good was 96.43% at the last follow-up. Two patients experienced transient numbness and pain in their lower limbs and no activity disorder after the surgery, and they recovered after conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical effect of UBE technique in treating ULDH was reliable. According to the needs of the disease, the interlaminar approach or paraspinal approach of the UBE technique was selected. This technique took into account the effect of treatment, achieved the purpose of minimal invasiveness, and did not require special instruments. Therefore, it has the potential for clinical application.

Alleviative effect of quercetin against reproductive toxicity induced by chronic exposure to the mixture of phthalates in male rats.

Phthalates (PEs) are widely used plasticizers in polymer products, and humans are increasingly exposed to them. This study was designed to investigate the alleviative effect of phytochemicals quercetin (Que) against male reproductive toxicity caused by the mixture of three commonly used PEs (MPEs), and further to explore the underlying mechanism. Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly and evenly divided into control group, Que group, MPEs group and MPEs+Que group (n = 12); The oral exposure doses of MPEs and Que were 450 mg/kg/d and 50 mg/kg/d, respectively. After 91 days of continuous intervention, compared with control group, the testes weight, epididymis weight, serum sex hormones, and anogenital distance were significantly decreased in MPEs group (P < 0.05); Testicular histopathological observation showed that all seminiferous tubules were atrophy, leydig cells were hyperplasia, spermatogenic cells growth were arrested in MPEs group. Ultrastructural observation of testicular germ cells showed that the edges of the nuclear membranes were indistinct, and the mitochondria were severely damaged with the cristae disrupted, decreased or even disappeared in MPEs group. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis showed that testicular CYP11A1, CYP17A1 and 17ß-HSD were up-regulated, while StAR, PIWIL1 and PIWIL2 were down-regulated in MPEs group (P < 0.05); However, the alterations of these parameters were restored in MPEs+Que group. The results indicated MPEs disturbed steroid hormone metabolism, and caused male reproductive injuries; whereas, Que could inhibit MPEs' male reproductive toxicity, which might relate to the restored regulation of steroid hormone metabolism.

Ameliorative effects of zinc and vitamin E against phthalates-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats.

OBJECTIVE: Phthalates (PEs) could cause reproductive harm to males. A mixture of three widely used PEs (MPEs) was used to investigate the ameliorative effects of zinc (Zn) and vitamin E (VE) against male reproductive toxicity. METHODS: Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10). Rats in MPEs group were orally treated with 160 mg/kg/d MPEs, while rats in MPEs combined Zn and/or VE groups were treated with 160 mg/kg/d MPEs plus 25 mg/kg/d Zn and/or 25 mg/kg/d VE. After intervention for 70 days, it's was measured of male reproductive organs' weight, histopathological observation of sperms and testes, serum hormones, PIWI proteins and steroidogenic proteins. RESULTS: Compared with control, anogenital distance, testes weight, epididymides weight, and sex hormones were significantly decreased, while the sperm malformation rate was markedly increased in MPEs group (p < .05); the testicular tissues were injured in MPEs group with disordered and decreased spermatids, and arrested spermatogenesis. PIWIL1, PIWIL2, StAR, CYP11A1 and CYP19A1 were down-regulated in MPEs group (p < .05). However, the alterations of these parameters were restored in MPEs combined Zn and/or VE groups (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Zn and/or VE improved steroid hormone metabolism, and inhibited MPEs' male reproductive toxicity.

How to improve the energy-saving performance of China's transport sector? An input-output perspective.

The transport sector proves a major energy consumer in China, but improving energy-saving performance in China's provincial transport sector from the lifecycle perspective remains unresolved. Thus, this study employs the environmentally extended multi-region input-output (MRIO) method, structural path analysis, and the newest MRIO table of China from 2017, to investigate how to improve the energy-saving performance from final demand structure, supply chain, and pathway perspectives. The relevant results are threefold. (1) Regarding the final demand structure level, the embodied energy consumption of China's transport sector is predominantly driven by investment from the production side, while that of the consumption side is primarily caused by exports. (2) At the supply chain level, production-side embodied energy consumption primarily occurs along a three-echelon supply chain, while that from the consumption side mostly occurs via a two-echelon supply chain. (3) At the pathway level, the production-side energy-saving performance of China's provincial transport sector is dominated by two pathways along the construction sector, including transport sector → construction sector → final demands, and transport sector → intermediate inputs → construction sector → final demands, while that of the consumption side is chiefly determined by three pathways along internal transportation chains.

Atropisomeric Carboxylic Acids Synthesis via Nickel-Catalyzed Enantioconvergent Carboxylation of Aza-Biaryl Triflates with CO2.

Upgrading CO2 to value-added chiral molecules via catalytic asymmetric C-C bond formation is a highly important yet challenging task. Although great progress on the formation of centrally chiral carboxylic acids has been achieved, catalytic construction of axially chiral carboxylic acids with CO2 has never been reported to date. Herein, we report the first catalytic asymmetric synthesis of axially chiral carboxylic acids with CO2, which is enabled by nickel-catalyzed dynamic kinetic asymmetric reductive carboxylation of racemic aza-biaryl triflates. A variety of important axially chiral carboxylic acids, which are valuable but difficult to obtain via catalysis, are generated in an enantioconvergent version. This new methodology features good functional group tolerance, easy to scale-up, facile transformation and avoids cumbersome steps, handling organometallic reagents and using stoichiometric chiral materials. Mechanistic investigations indicate a dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation process induced by chiral nickel catalysis.

Polarization-insensitive phase-modulated metasurface using single thermally stimulated vanadium dioxide chip.

Considering that typically more than two pin diodes or other tunable elements are required in the unit cell of polarization-insensitive reconfigurable metasurfaces (RMs), this paper proposes a new approach to design a polarization-insensitive RM unit using only one VO2 chip. A polarization-insensitive phase-modulated metasurface (PMM) using single VO2 chip is presented. The surface layer is composed of an outer ring and an inner cross, with a VO2 chip loaded at the connection of the cross. As the VO2 chip can be connected with the metal patch on all sides, only one VO2 chip is used in this polarization-insensitive design. By thermally controlling VO2 chips switch between low-resistance and high-resistance states, the PMM achieves a 1-bit phase shift within 180° ± 37° from 7.85 to 15 GHz. A prototype is fabricated and measured, and the measured results have verified the correction of the design and analysis of the designed PMM.

Improvement of optical properties of InGaN-based red multiple quantum wells.

The realization of red-emitting InGaN quantum well (QW) is a hot issue in current nitride semiconductor research. It has been shown that using a low-Indium (In)-content pre-well layer is an effective method to improve the crystal quality of red QWs. On the other hand, keeping uniform composition distribution at higher In content in red QWs is an urgent problem to be solved. In this work, the optical properties of blue pre-QW and red QWs with different well width and growth conditions are investigated by photoluminescence (PL). The results prove that the higher-In-content blue pre-QW is beneficial to effectively relieve the residual stress. Meanwhile, higher growth temperature and growth rate can improve the uniformity of In content and the crystal quality of red QWs, enhancing the PL emission intensity. Possible physical process of stress evolution and the model of In fluctuation in the subsequent red QW are discussed. This study provides a useful reference for the development of InGaN-based red emission materials and devices.

Polysaccharides from Hemerocallis citrina Baroni Inhibit the Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Regulating the Wnt/ß-Catenin Pathway.

Hemerocallis citrina Baroni is an edible plant with anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and anticancer activities. However, studies on H. citrina polysaccharides are limited. In this study, a polysaccharide named HcBPS2 was isolated and purified from H. citrina. Monosaccharide component analysis showed that HcBPS2 was composed of rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, glucose, xylose, mannose, galacturonic acid, and glucuronic acid. Notably, HcBPS2 significantly inhibited human hepatoma cell proliferation, but had little effect on human normal liver cells (HL-7702). Mechanism investigations indicated HcBPS2 suppressed human hepatoma cell growth through the induction of G2/M phase arrest and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in human hepatoma cells. In addition, the data revealed that HcBPS2 treatment led to the inactivation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, which then gave rise to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human hepatoma cancer cells. Collectively, these findings suggested that HcBPS2 may serve as a therapeutic agent against liver cancer.

Multifunctional nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery and diagnostic applications of lymph nodes metastasis: a review of recent trends and future perspectives.

Lymph node metastasis is a frequent occurrence in a variety of tumour forms and poses an enormous challenge to cancer treatment. This process is critical to the development of the disease and is frequently linked to a poor prognosis. Over 90% of cancerous cells move through lymph nodes, making them important entry routes for the spread of cancer cells. The prognosis of cancer patients is significantly impacted by lymph node metastases, which also affects treatment choices. Targeting lymph node metastases presents numerous difficulties for conventional medication delivery techniques. It is still very difficult to selectively target cancer cells in lymph nodes without risking injury to healthy organs and unforeseen consequences. Additionally, systemic delivery of drugs is hampered by the slow flow rate of lymphatic vessels. Chemotherapeutic medicines' poor solubility and stability further reduce their effectiveness when taken orally. Additionally, the extracellular matrix that surrounds lymph node tumours is extensive, which makes it difficult for conventional pharmaceutical delivery systems to reach cancer cells. The development of nanocarriers for precise drug delivery to LNs has attracted a lot of interest to overcome these obstacles. Most solid tumours first spread through the lymphatic system, hence effective drug administration to these tissues is essential for better therapeutic results. Nanocarriers have several benefits, including the capacity to pass through barriers like blood-brain barriers and membranes to reach the lymphatic system. High medication dosages can be enclosed thanks to the physicochemical characteristics of nanocarriers, such as their higher surface-to-volume ratio. Additionally, ligands, antibodies, polymers, or biological molecules can be attached to nanocarrier surfaces to change their properties, allowing for the targeted delivery of lymph node epithelial cells. This use of nanocarriers for drug delivery maximizes on-target effects and related adverse effects while improving the effectiveness of medication delivery to target locations. More research and development in this field is needed to optimize nanocarrier design, increase targeting capabilities, and expand clinical applications for better cancer care.

Compact on-chip crystalline resonator integration with etching of tapered fiber waveguide.

Whispering-gallery-mode crystalline resonators currently maintain the best quality factor (Q) record; however, compact on-chip packaging is still a challenge, although various coupling architectures have been developed. Here, a chemical etching method is proposed to fabricate a miniaturized tapered fiber waveguide on silicon substrate. The Marangoni effect is implemented to reduce the surface roughness of the cone region. The optical loss of 0.1 dB/mm is obtained, and the Q of the on-chip crystalline resonator exceeds 108. Additionally, thermoelectric cooler (TEC) is implanted in the package to actively customize the temperature, and the temperature response of 18 pm/°C is consistent with the theoretical calculation.

Sandwich structure magnetometer with a high sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio based on an ultrahigh-Q CaF2 resonator.

Whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators with an ultrahigh quality (Q) factor provide an extremely high resolution for high-precision sensing. However, it is difficult to use them directly in magnetic sensors because of the transparency to the magnetic field. In this paper, a sandwich structure consisting of a neodymium iron boron magnet and calcium fluoride resonator with a Q factor of 109 is proposed. The experimental results show that, compared with the conventional magnetometer, the signal-to-noise ratio of the optical WGM magnetometer reaches 62 dB, with the direct current sensitivity of 42.59 MHz/mT and the AC sensitivity of 794p T H z -1/2 at 42 kHz.

Momordica charantia polysaccharide ameliorates D-galactose-induced aging through the Nrf2/ß-Catenin signaling pathway.

Aging is widely thought to be associated with oxidative stress. Momordica charantia (MC) is a classic vegetable and traditional herbal medicine widely consumed in Asia, and M. charantia polysaccharide (MCP) is the main bioactive ingredient of MC. We previously reported an antioxidative and neuroprotective effect of MCP in models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and hemorrhage injury. However, the role played by MCP in neurodegenerative diseases, especially during aging, remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of MCP against oxidative stress and brain damage in a D-galactose-induced aging model (DGAM). The Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate the spatial memory function of model rats. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured and telomerase activity was determined. The results showed that MCP treatment attenuated spatial memory dysfunction induced by D-galactose. In addition, MCP increased antioxidant capacity by decreasing MDA and increasing SOD and GSH levels. MCP treatment also improved telomerase activity in aging rats. Mechanistically, MCP promoted the entry of both Nrf2 and ß-Catenin into the nucleus, which is the hallmark of antioxidation signaling pathway activation. This study highlights a role played by MCP in ameliorating aging-induced oxidative stress injury and reversing the decline in learning and memory capacity. Our work provides evidence that MCP administration might be a potential antiaging strategy.

Influence of Co3O4 Nanostructure Morphology on the Catalytic Degradation of p-Nitrophenol.

The design and fabrication of nanomaterials with controllable morphology and size is of critical importance to achieve excellent catalytic performance in heterogeneous catalysis. In this work, cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanostructures with different morphologies (nanoplates, microflowers, nanorods and nanocubes) were successfully constructed in order to establish the morphology-property-performance relationship of the catalysts. The morphology and structure of the nanostructured Co3O4 were characterized by various techniques, and the catalytic performance of the as-prepared nanostructures was studied by monitoring the reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol in the presence of excess NaBH4. The catalytic performance was found to be strongly dependent on their morphologies. The experimental results show that the pseudo-first-order reaction rate constants for Co3O4 nanostructures with various shapes are, respectively, 1.49 min-1 (nanoplates), 1.40 min-1 (microflowers), 0.78 min-1 (nanorods) and 0.23 min-1 (nanocubes). The Co3O4 nanoplates exhibited the highest catalytic activity among the four nanostructures, due to their largest specific surface area, relatively high total pore volume, best redox properties and abundance of defect sites. The established correlation between morphology, property and catalytic performance in this work will offer valuable insight into the design and application of nanostructured Co3O4 as a potential non-noble metal catalyst for p-nitrophenol reduction.

Deep Tumor Penetrating Gold Nano-Adjuvant for NIR-II-Triggered In Situ Tumor Vaccination.

Local tumor photothermal treatment with the near-infrared light at the second window (NIR-II) is a promising strategy in triggering the in situ tumor vaccination (ISTV) for cancer therapy. However, limited penetration of photothermal agents within tumors seriously limits their spatial effect in generating sufficient tumor-associated antigens, a key factor to the success of ISTV. In this study, a nano-adjuvant system is fabricated based on the NIR-II-absorbable gold nanostars decorated with hyaluronidases and immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotides CpG for ISTV. The nano-adjuvant displays a deep tumor penetration capacity via loosening the dense extracellular matrix of tumors. Upon NIR-II light irradiation, the nano-adjuvant significantly inhibits the tumor growth, induces a cascade of immune responses, generates an obvious adaptive immunity against the re-challenged cancers, boosts the abscopal effect, and completely inhibits the pulmonary metastases. The study highlights an advanced nano-adjuvant formulation featuring deep tumor penetration for NIR-II-triggered ISTV.

Structure-Dependent Nontraditional Intrinsic Fluorescence of Aliphatic Hyperbranched Polyureas.

The nontraditional intrinsic fluorescence (NTIF) of polymers containing heteroatoms has gained considerable attention due to its promising applications in label-free bioimaging. Aliphatic hyperbranched polyureas (aBPUs), which have recently shown great promise in the field of nanomedicine, bear controllable urea groups distributed on the branch points and thus are potential candidate luminogens. However, their NTIF properties and how their structures influence the NTIF properties have not been illustrated yet. Here, we addressed these issues by synthesizing a series of aBPUs with different degrees of branching (DBs) or different modifications. aBPUs exhibited an obvious NTIF phenomenon and with the increase of DBs, the NTIF enhanced as well. Chemical modifications either at the branching ends or in the interior of aBPUs could affect the NTIF performances, which were highly dependent on the types of modification. Disruption of the intra-/intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions decreased the NTIF. In addition, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-modified aBPUs could self-assemble into nanospheres, and the formation of nanoassembly led to 89% enhancement on NTIF compared with the homogeneous solution of aBPUs-PEG in dimethylformamide (DMF). Finally, aBPUs-PEG nanoassembly demonstrated a capability in realizing label-free material imaging in vitro. These results shed light on the rational design of the polymer structures to achieve desired fluorescence with unconventional luminophores.