Self-Assembly of Epitope-Tagged Proteins and Antibodies for Delivering Biologics to Antigen Presenting Cells.

Inspired by the immune system's own strategy for macrophage activation, we describe here a simple self-assembly strategy for generating artificial immune complexes. The built-in recognition domains in the antibody, viz. the Fab and Fc domains, are judiciously leveraged for cargo conjugation to generate the nanoassembly and macrophage targeting, respectively. A responsive linker is engineered into the nanoassembly for releasing the protein cargo inside the macrophages, while ensuring stability during delivery. The design principles are simple and versatile to be applicable to a range of biologics, from small protein toxins to large enzymes, with high loading capacity. This self-assembly platform has the potential for delivering biologics to immune cells with implications in immunotherapy.

Polyoxometalate Supported Single Transition Metal Atom as a Redox Mediator for Li-O2 Batteries.

Keggin-type polyoxometalate (POM) supported single transition metal (TM) atom (TM1/POM) as an efficient soluble redox mediator for Li-O2 batteries is comprehensively investigated by first-principles calculations. Among the pristine POM and four kinds of TM1/POM (TM = Fe, Co, Ni, and Pt), Co1/POM not only maintains good structural and thermodynamic stability in oxidized and reduced states but also exhibits promising electro(chemical) catalytic performance for both oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in Li-O2 batteries with the lowest Gibbs free energy barriers. Further investigations demonstrate that the moderate binding strength of Li2-xO2 (x = 0, 1, and 2) intermediates on Co1/POM guarantees favorable Li2O2 formation and decomposition. Electronic structure analyses indicate that the introduced Co single atom as an electron transfer bridge can not only efficiently improve the electronic conductivity of POM but also regulate the bonding/antibonding states around the Fermi level of [Co1/POM-Li2O2]ox. The solvent effect on the OER catalytic performance and the electronic properties of [Co1/POM-Li2O2]ox with and without dimethyl sulfoxide solvent are also investigated.

Ionic Layer Epitaxy Growth of Organic/Inorganic Composite Protective Layers for Large-Area Li and Zn Metal Anodes.

Li and Zn metal batteries using organic and aqueous electrolytes, respectively, are desirable next-generation energy storage systems to replace the traditional Li-ion batteries. However, their cycle life and safety performance are severely constrained by a series of issues that are attributed to dendrite growth. To solve these issues, a nanothick ZnO-oleic acid (ZnO-OA) composite protective layer is developed by a facile ionic layer epitaxy method. The ZnO-OA layer provides strong lithophilic and zincophilic properties, which can effectively induce uniform ion deposition. As a result, the ZnO-OA protected Li and Zn metal anodes can cycle stably for over 600 and 1000 h under a large current density of 10 mA cm-2. Employing the ZnO-OA protected anodes, the Li||LiFePO4 cell can maintain a capacity retention of 99.5% after 600 cycles at a 1 C rate and the Zn||MnO2 cell can operate stably for 1000 cycles at 1 A g-1 current density.

Defect-Engineered VS2 Electrocatalysts for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Defective two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides can be effective electrocatalysts for Li-S batteries, but the relationship between defect types and battery performance is unclear. In this work, we designed S vacancy-type SV-VS2 and V self-intercalated-type VI-VS2 and measured their catalytic activities in Li-S batteries. Compared with self-intercalating V atoms, S vacancies accelerated Li+ diffusion and SV-VS2 as a Li+ "reservoir" promoted the sulfur conversion kinetics significantly. In addition, the presence of sulfur vacancies promoted the lithiation behavior of SV-VS2 during discharge, leading to an enhancement of the catalytic ability of SV-VS2. However, this lithiation phenomenon weakened the catalytic activity of VI-VS2. Overall, SV-VS2 had better adsorption and catalytic activity. Li-S batteries with SV-VS2-coated separators delivered high rate performance and excellent cycling stability, with a capacity decay rate of 0.043% over 880 cycles at 1.0 C. This work provides an effective strategy for designing efficient Li-S battery electrocatalysts using defect engineering.

Uniform Zinc Deposition Regulated by a Nitrogen-Doped MXene Artificial Solid Electrolyte Interlayer.

The dendrite growth and side reactions of zinc metal anode in mildly acidic electrolytes seriously hinder the practical application of aqueous zinc-ion battery. To address these issues, an artificial protective layer of nitrogen-doped MXene (NMX) is used to protect the zinc anode. The NMX protective layer has high conductivity and uniformly distributed zincophilic sites, which can not only homogenize the local electric field on the electrode interface but also accelerate the kinetics for Zn deposition. As a result, the NMX protective layer induces uniform zinc deposition and reduces the overpotential of the electrode. Encouragingly, this NMX-protected Zn anode can cycle stably for 1900 h at 1 mA cm-2 and 1 mAh cm-2 . In asymmetric cells, it achieves high cycle reversibility with an average Coulomb efficiency of 99.79% for 4800 cycles at 5 mA cm-2 .

A Multifunctional Organic Electrolyte Additive for Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries Based on Polyaniline Cathode.

The practical applications of aqueous zinc ion batteries are hindered by the formation of dendrites on the anode, the narrow electrochemical window of electrolyte, and the instability of the cathode. To address all these challenges simultaneously, a multi-functional electrolyte additive of 1-phenylethylamine hydrochloride (PEA) is developed for aqueous zinc ion batteries based on polyaniline (PANI) cathode. Experiments and theoretical calculations confirm that the PEA additive can regulate the solvation sheath of Zn2+ and form a protective layer on the surface of the Zn metal anode. This broadens the electrochemical stability window of the aqueous electrolyte and enables uniform deposition of Zn. On the cathode side, the Cl- anions from PEA enter the PANI chain during charge and release fewer water molecules surrounding the oxidized PANI, thus suppressing harmful side reactions. When used in a Zn||PANI battery, this cathode/anode compatible electrolyte exhibits excellent rate performance and long cycle life, making it highly attractive for practical applications.

Optimizing Conjugation Chemistry, Antibody Conjugation Site, and Surface Density in Antibody-Nanogel Conjugates (ANCs) for Cell-Specific Drug Delivery.

Targeted delivery of therapeutics using antibody-nanogel conjugates (ANCs) with a high drug-to-antibody ratio has the potential to overcome some of the inherent limitations of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). ANC platforms with simple preparation methods and precise tunability to evaluate structure-activity relationships will greatly contribute to translating this promise into clinical reality. In this work, using trastuzumab as a model antibody, we demonstrate a block copolymer-based ANC platform that allows highly efficient antibody conjugation and formulation. In addition to showcasing the advantages of using an inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder (iEDDA)-based antibody conjugation, we evaluate the influence of antibody surface density and conjugation site on the nanogels upon the targeting capability of ANCs. We show that compared to traditional strain-promoted alkyne-azide cycloadditions, the preparation of ANCs using iEDDA provides significantly higher efficiency, which results in a shortened reaction time, simplified purification process, and enhanced targeting toward cancer cells. We also find that a site-specific disulfide-rebridging method in antibodies offers similar targeting abilities as the more indiscriminate lysine-based conjugation method. The more efficient bioconjugation using iEDDA allows us to optimize the avidity by fine-tuning the surface density of antibodies on the nanogel. Finally, with trastuzumab-mertansine (DM1) antibody-drug combination, our ANC demonstrates superior activities in vitro compared to the corresponding ADC, further highlighting the potential of ANCs in future clinical translation.

Targeted Drug Delivery Using a Plug-to-Direct Antibody-Nanogel Conjugate.

Targeted drug delivery using antibody-drug conjugates has attracted great attention due to its enhanced therapeutic efficacy compared to traditional chemotherapy. However, the development has been limited due to a low drug-to-antibody ratio and laborious linker-payload optimization. Herein, we present a simple and efficient strategy to combine the favorable features of polymeric nanocarriers with antibodies to generate an antibody-nanogel conjugate (ANC) platform for targeted delivery of cytotoxic agents. Our nanogels stably encapsulate several chemotherapeutic agents with a wide range of mechanisms of action and solubility. We showcase the targetability of ANCs and their selective killing of cancer cells over-expressing disease-relevant antigens such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, epidermal growth factor receptor, and tumor-specific mucin 1, which cover a broad range of breast cancer cell types while maintaining low to no toxicity to non-targeted cells. Overall, our system represents a versatile approach that could impact next-generation nanomedicine in antibody-targeted therapeutics.

Beneficial Effect of Gastrodia elata Blume and Poria cocos Wolf Administration on Acute UVB Irradiation by Alleviating Inflammation through Promoting the Gut-Skin Axis.

Bioactive compounds in some herbs can, directly and indirectly, protect against photoaging. We evaluated the effects of Gastrodia elata Blume (GE) and Poria cocos Wolf (PC) water extracts on ultraviolet (UV) B-induced skin lesions by acute UVB exposure in ICR mice and explored their mechanism of action. After removing the hair on the back of the mice, UVB (280-310 nm) was exposed to the back for 30 min to induce skin damage. Four UVB exposure groups were divided into the following according to the local application (1,3-butanediol extract) on the dorsal skin and oral intake (0.3 g water extract/kg body weight/day): 1,3-butanediol and cellulose(control; UV-Con), retinoic acid (positive-control; UV-Positive), PC extracts (UV-PC), and GE extracts (UV-GE). The fifth group had no UVB exposure with the same treatment as the UV-Con (Normal-control). The erythema, burns, erosion, and wounds of the UV-PC and UV-PC groups were alleviated, and the most significant improvements occurred in the UV-PC group. PC and GE reduced the thickness of the dorsal skin tissue, the penetration of mast cells, and malondialdehyde contents. The mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-13, and IL-4, inflammatory factors, were also reduced significantly in the dorsal skin of the UV-PC and UV-GE groups. UV-PC, UV-GE, and UV-Positive showed improvements in UV-induced intestinal tissue inflammation. UV-Con deteriorated the intestinal morphology, and PC and GE alleviated it. The α-diversity of the fecal microbiota decreased in the UV-control, and UV-PC and UV-GE prevented the decrease. Fecal metagenome analysis revealed increased propionate biosynthesis in the UV-PC group but decreased lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis in the UV-PC and UV-GE groups compared to UV-Con. In conclusion, the local application and intake of PC and GE had significant therapeutic effects on acute UV-induced skin damage by reducing oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines, potentially promoting the gut-microbiota-gut-skin axis.

Hierarchical Porous and Three-Dimensional MXene/SiO2 Hybrid Aerogel through a Sol-Gel Approach for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

A unique porous material, namely, MXene/SiO2 hybrid aerogel, with a high surface area, was prepared via sol-gel and freeze-drying methods. The hierarchical porous hybrid aerogel possesses a three-dimensional integrated network structure of SiO2 cross-link with two-dimensional MXene; it is used not only as a scaffold to prepare sulfur-based cathode material, but also as an efficient functional separator to block the polysulfides shuttle. MXene/SiO2 hybrid aerogel as sulfur carrier exhibits good electrochemical performance, such as high discharge capacities (1007 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C) and stable cycling performance (823 mA h g-1 over 200 cycles at 0.5 C). Furthermore, the battery assembled with hybrid aerogel-modified separator remains at 623 mA h g-1 over 200 cycles at 0.5 C based on the conductive porous framework and abundant functional groups in hybrid aerogel. This work might provide further impetus to explore other applications of MXene-based composite aerogel.

Serum vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 as a potential biomarker in psoriasis.

To discover novel biomarkers of psoriasis, a target-specific antibody array screening of serum samples from psoriasis patients was initially performed. The results revealed that vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) was significantly elevated in the sera of psoriasis patients, compared to healthy controls. Next, ELISA validation studies in a larger cohort of psoriasis patients (N = 73) were conducted, which confirmed that serum VEGFR-3 was indeed significantly increased in patients with psoriasis compared to healthy controls (P < 0.001). Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that serum VEGFR-3 exhibited potential in distinguishing healthy controls from psoriasis patients: area under the curve = 0.85, P < 0.001. In addition, serum levels of VEGFR-3 were correlated with Psoriasis Area Severity Index scores (R = 0.32, P = 0.008) in psoriasis patients. Interestingly, serum VEGFR-3 levels were significantly elevated in psoriatic arthritis compared to non-psoriatic arthritis (P = 0.026). A pilot longitudinal study demonstrated that serum levels of VEGFR-3 could reflect disease progression in psoriasis. Collectively, serum VEGFR-3 may have a clinical value in monitoring disease activity of psoriasis.

[Cumulative risk assessment of phthalates exposure among infants and their mothers in Shanghai].

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the levels of phthalates exposure and cumulative risk assessment among infants and their mothers in Shanghai by phthalate monoesters inurine specimens. METHODS: To collect urine specimens and questionnaires from 152 pairs of infants and mothers in Shanghai and conduct a cross-sectional study. Ten phthalate monoesters were determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectroscopy. To estimate the internal exposure of 6 phthalates by creatininemodel and performe cumulative risk assessment by hazard index( HI). RESULTS: The top five of the concentration level of phthalate monoesters in mothers' urine specimens were mono-isobutyl phthalate( Mi BP), mono-n-butyl phthalate( Mn BP), mono-ethyl phthalate( MEP), mono-methyl phthalate( MMP) and mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate( MEHP), while in infants ', they were Mi BP, Mn BP, MEP, MEHP and mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl phthalate( MECPP). The estimated daily intake( EDI) was calculated according to the concentration of urinary phthalates monoesters. And the DEHP was at the highest level both in mothers and infants, the geometric means( GMs) reached to 6. 64 and 14. 02 µg/(kg·d). While others from high to low were Di BP, Dn BP, DEP, DMP and BBP respectively. HI was used to perform cumulative risk assessment. The proportion of HI over 1 among mothers was 5. 92%, and among infants was 32. 24%. CONCLUSION: There are some health risks of the phthalates exposure among mothers and infants in communities in Shanghai, and the cumulative risks of infants are higher than mothers.

Effect of mesiodistal angulation of the maxillary central incisors on esthetic perceptions of the smile in the frontal view.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of mesiodistal angulation of the maxillary central incisors on the smiling esthetics in young adults. METHODS: Frontal smile photographs of a young man and a young woman were digitally modified to produce 28 smile images that were grouped into 4 series. These images were judged using visual analog scales by 52 orthodontists and 61 laypeople. The effects of the judges' professions, subjects' sexes, and photograph framings on the appreciation of smile esthetics with different mesiodistal angulations of the maxillary central incisors were evaluated. The data were analyzed with paired t tests, Dunnett t tests, and independent samples t tests; statistical significance was set at P <0.05. RESULTS: The images were ranked less attractive as the mesiodistal angulation of the maxillary central incisors increased during smiling. No relationship was found between the judges' professions and the esthetic evaluations of incisal angulation, but the statistical analysis showed that both the subject's sex and the photograph framing were significant variables (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The mesiodistal angulation of the maxillary central incisors plays an essential role in smile esthetics in the frontal view. When formulating treatment plans, orthodontists should never underestimate the influence of mesiodistal angulation on smile attractiveness.

Failure of Lithium-Ion Batteries Accelerated by Gravity.

The safety concerns surrounding lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have garnered increasing attention due to their potential to endanger lives and incur significant financial losses. However, the origins of battery failures are diverse, presenting significant challenges in developing safety measures to mitigate accidental catastrophes. In this study, the aging mechanism of LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2||graphite-based cylindrical 18,650 LIBs stored at room temperature for two years was investigated. It was found that an uneven distribution of electrolytes can be caused by gravity, leading to temperature variations within the battery. Specifically, it was observed that the temperature at the top of the battery was approximately -0.89 °C higher than at the bottom, correlating with an increase in partial internal resistance. Additionally, upon disassembly and analysis of spent batteries, the most significant damage to electrode materials at the top of the battery was observed. These findings suggest that gravity-induced electrolyte insufficiency exacerbates side reactions, particularly at the top of the battery. This study offers a unique perspective on the safety concerns associated with high-energy-density batteries in long-term and large-scale applications.

Polymer Engineering Enables High Linear Capacity Fiber Electrodes by Microenvironment Regulation.

Unlike bulky and rigid traditional power systems, 1D fiber batteries possess appealing features such as flexibility and adaptability, which are promising for use in wearable electronic devices. However, the performance and energy density fiber batteries are limited by the contradiction between ionic transfer and robust structure of fiber electrodes. Herein, these problems are addressed via polymer engineering to regulate the microenvironment in electrodes, realizing high-linear-capacity thick fiber electrodes with excellent cycling performance. The porosity of the electrodes is regulated using polymer crosslink networks designed with various components, and lithium-ion transfer is optimized through ether-abundant polymer chains. Furthermore, reinforced covalent bonding with carbon nanotube networks is established based on the modified functional groups of polymer networks. The multiscale optimizations of the porous structure, ionic transportation, and covalent bonding network enhance the lithium-ion dynamics property and structural stability. Therefore, ultrahigh linear-capacity fiber electrodes (17.8 mAh m-1) can be fabricated on a large scale and exhibit excellent stability (92.8% after 800 cycles), demonstrating obvious superiority among the reported fiber electrodes. Moreover, this study highlights the high effectiveness of polymer regulation in fiber electrodes and offers new avenues for designing next-generation wearable energy-storage systems.

Correction: Expanded graphite incorporated with Li4Ti5O12 nanoparticles as a high-rate lithium-ion battery anode.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D4RA00832D.].

Expanded graphite incorporated with Li4Ti5O12 nanoparticles as a high-rate lithium-ion battery anode.

Due to their small interlayer spacing and a low lithiation potential close to Li+ deposition, current graphite anodes suffer from weak kinetics, and lithium deposition in a fast-charging process, hindering their practical application in high-power lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this work, expanded graphite incorporated with Li4Ti5O12 nanoparticles (EG/LTO) was synthesized via moderate oxidization of artificial graphite following a solution coating process. The EG/LTO has sufficient porosity for fast Li+ diffusion and a dense Li4Ti5O12 layer for decreased interface reaction resistance, resulting in excellent fast-charging properties. EG/LTO presented a high reversible capacity of 272.8 mA h g-1 at 3.74 A g-1 (10C), much higher than that of the original commercial graphite (50.1 mA h g-1 at 10C) and even superior to that of hard carbon. In addition, EG/LTO exhibited capacity retention rate of 98.4% after 500 cycles at 10C, demonstrating high structural stability during a long cycling process. This study provides a protocol for a solution chemistry method to prepare fast-charging graphite anode materials with high stability for high-power LIBs.

Cation-Loaded Porous Mg2+-Zeolite Layer Direct Dendrite-Free Deposition toward Long-Life Lithium Metal Anodes.

Lithium metal, with ultrahigh theoretical specific capacity, is considered as an ideal anode material for the lithium-ion batteries. However, its practical application is severely plagued by the uncontrolled formation of dendritic Li. Here, a cation-loaded porous Mg2+-Zeolite layer is proposed to enable the dendrite-free deposition on the surface of Li metal anode. The skeleton channels of zeolite provide the low coordinated Li+-solvation groups, leading to the faster desolvation process at the interface. Meanwhile, anions-involved solvation sheath induces a stable, inorganic-rich SEI, contributing to the uniform Li+ flux through the interface. Furthermore, the co-deposition of sustained release Mg2+ realizes a new faster migration pathway, which proactively facilitates the uniform diffusion of Li on the lithium substrate. The synergistic modulation of these kinetic processes facilitates the homogeneous Li plating/stripping behavior. Based on this synergistic mechanism, the high-efficiency deposition with cyclic longevity exceeding 2100 h is observed in the symmetric Li/Li cell with Mg2+-Zeolite modified anode at 1 mA cm-2. The pouch cell matched with LiFePO4 cathode fulfills a capacity retention of 88.4% after 100 cycles at a severe current density of 1 C charge/discharge. This synergistic protective mechanism can give new guidance for realizing the safe and high-performance Li metal batteries.

New Quasi-Solid-State Li-SPAN Battery Enhanced by In Situ Thermally Polymerized Gel Polymer Electrolytes.

A lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery is a promising candidate for an electrochemical energy-storage system. However, for a long time, it suffered from the "shuttle effect" of the intermediate products of soluble polysulfides and safety issues concerning the combustible liquid electrolyte and lithium anode. In this work, sulfide polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) is employed as a solid cycled cathode to resolve the "shuttle effect" fundamentally, a gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) based on poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) is matched to the SPAN cathode to minimize the safety concerns, and finally, a quasi-solid-state Li-SPAN battery is combined by an in situ thermal polymerization strategy to improve its adaptability to the existing battery assembly processes. The PEGDA-based GPE achieved at 60 °C for 40 min ensures little damage to the in situ battery, a good electrode-electrolyte interface, a high ionic conductivity of 6.87 × 10-3 S cm-1 at 30 °C, and a wide electrochemical window of 4.53 V. Ultimately, the as-prepared SPAN composite exerts a specific capacity of 1217.3 mAh g-1 after 250 cycles at 0.2 C with a high capacity retention rate of 89.9%. The combination of the SPAN cathode and in situ thermally polymerized PEGDA-based GPE provides a new inspiration for the design of Li-SPAN batteries with both high specific energy and high safety.

Sub-millisecond lithiothermal synthesis of graphitic meso-microporous carbon.

Porous carbons with concurrently high specific surface area and electronic conductivity are desirable by virtue of their desirable electron and ion transport ability, but conventional preparing methods suffer from either low yield or inferior quality carbons. Here we developed a lithiothermal approach to bottom-up synthesize highly meso-microporous graphitized carbon (MGC). The preparation can be finished in a few milliseconds by the self-propagating reaction between polytetrafluoroethylene powder and molten lithium (Li) metal, during which instant ultra-high temperature (>3000 K) was produced. This instantaneous carbon vaporization and condensation at ultra-high temperatures and in ultra-short duration enable the MGC to show a highly graphitized and continuously cross-coupled open pore structure. MGC displays superior electrochemical capacitor performance of exceptional power capability and ultralong-term cyclability. The processes used to make this carbon are readily scalable to industrial levels.