When AIE meets enzymes.

With the rapid development of physiopathology and the surge in demand for comprehension of micro-scale physiological events, AIE-based bio-probes are found superior in presenting precise and practical results in enzyme imaging and analysis with a high signal-to-noise ratio and non-destructive operation. By delivering enzyme-responding "light-up" fluorescence signals, the visual and real-time tracking of the distribution and activity of intracellular enzymes is accomplished with AIE-based bio-probes. In particular, by combining with modern nano-encapsulation technologies, AIE-based compounds can realize the simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases that are difficult to deal with through traditional strategies. This review summarizes and generalizes the typical AIE-based bio-probes reported recently based on the AIE mechanisms of solubility changes, excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions, expounding their great values in the bio-sensing and bio-medicine field. Advanced enzyme detection and estimation, cell identification, disease diagnosis, and controlled drug release are demonstrated with high confidence and reproducibility. Through the in-depth analysis of these bio-probes' design and working principles, currently existing drawbacks and further future directions are subsequently proposed to promote a more prosperous development of AIE-based enzyme probes.

Nanotechnology for research and treatment of the intestine.

The establishment of intestinal in vitro models is crucial for elucidating intestinal cell-microbe intrinsic connections and interaction mechanisms to advance normalized intestinal diagnosis and precision therapy. This review discusses the application of nanomaterials in mucosal therapy and mechanism research in combination with the study of nanoscaffold in vitro models of the gut. By reviewing the original properties of nanomaterials synthesized by different physicochemical principles and modifying the original properties, the contribution of nanomaterials to solving the problems of short survival period, low cell differentiation rate, and poor reduction ability in traditional intestinal models is explored. According to nanomaterials' different diagnostic mediators and therapeutic targets, the current diagnostic principles in inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal cancer, and other diseases are summarized inductively. In addition, the mechanism of action of nanomedicines in repairing mucosa, inhibiting inflammation, and alleviating the disease process is also discussed. Through such systematic elaboration, it offers a basis for nanomaterials to help advance in vitro research on the intestine and provide precision treatments in the clinic.

Hospitals and Laboratories on Paper-Based Sensors: A Mini Review.

With characters of low cost, portability, easy disposal, and high accuracy, as well as bulky reduced laboratory equipment, paper-based sensors are getting increasing attention for reliable indoor/outdoor onsite detection with nonexpert operation. They have become powerful analysis tools in trace detection with ultra-low detection limits and extremely high accuracy, resulting in their great popularity in medical detection, environmental inspection, and other applications. Herein, we summarize and generalize the recently reported paper-based sensors based on their application for mechanics, biomolecules, food safety, and environmental inspection. Based on the biological, physical, and chemical analytes-sensitive electrical or optical signals, extensive detections of a large number of factors such as humidity, pressure, nucleic acid, protein, sugar, biomarkers, metal ions, and organic/inorganic chemical substances have been reported via paper-based sensors. Challenges faced by the current paper-based sensors from the fundamental problems and practical applications are subsequently analyzed; thus, the future directions of paper-based sensors are specified for their rapid handheld testing.

Fluorescence thermometers: intermediation of fundamental temperature and light.

The rapid advancement of thermal materials and fluorescence spectroscopy has extensively promoted the development of micro-scale fluorescence thermometry in recent years. Based on their advantages of fast response, high sensitivity, simple operation, high spatial resolution, and non-destructive detection, fluorescence thermometers have become powerful analysis tools used to sense temperature fluctuations through fluorescent signals, especially to accurately capture living cells via fluorescent signals and local temperature variations in living bodies, thus providing the most direct means for the in-depth understanding of biological processes in cells. Herein, we systematically categorize the currently reported fluorescence thermometers based on the aspects of fluorescence intensity and wavelength, reveal the intrinsic relationship between fluorescence (intensity and wavelength) and temperature response, expound the applications of fluorescence thermometers in the fields of chemical sensing and biomedicine, and analyze the challenges faced by current fluorescence thermometers based on fundamental problems and practical applications simultaneously, thus highlighting the future directions of fluorescence thermometers.

Mixotrophic acidophiles increase cadmium soluble fraction and phytoextraction efficiency from cadmium contaminated soils.

A profound concern in developing microbially-assisted phytoextraction is that introduced microbes not only remove heavy metals from contaminated soils but also enhance metal uptake into plant tissues from the treated soils. Cadmium (Cd) removal efficiencies were compared after leaching with deionized water (CK), acidified basal salts medium (acid control), cell-free spent medium (spent bioleaching) and mixotrophic acidophiles (two-step bioleaching). Two-step bioleaching using the mixotrophic acidophiles removed 34% of total Cd and 87% of available Cd, significantly more than CK (3% and 4%), acid control (12% and 51%) and spent bioleaching (26% and 75%). Pot experiments of water spinach growing in four treated soils were conducted to evaluate the Cd uptake performance in plants. Notably, the mixotrophic acidophiles increased Cd concentration in plant tissues by 78% compared to the CK group. More interestingly, the mixotrophic acidophiles were not colonized in soils but caused the compositional increase of indigenous microbes such as the genera of Alicyclobacillus, Clostridium sensu strict and Streptacidiphilus. Meanwhile, two-step bioleaching had little effects on soil structure and physicochemical properties determined by the spectroscopy characteristics analysis. These results implied that the mixotrophic acidophiles facilitated the development of microbially-assisted phytoextraction technology.