Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks as Solid-State Nanomachines.

Machines have continually developed with the needs of daily life and industrial applications. While the careful design of molecular-scale devices often displays enhanced properties along with mechanical movements, controlling mechanics within solid-state molecular structures remains a significant challenge. Here, we explore the distinct mechanical properties of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) - frameworks that contain hidden mechanical components. Using a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches, we uncover the machine-like capabilities of ZIFs, wherein connected composite building units operate similarly to a mechanical linkage system. Importantly, this research suggests that certain ZIF subunits act as core mechanical components, paving an innovative view for the future design of solid-state molecular machines.

Development of an implantable collamer lens sizing model: a retrospective study using ANTERION swept-source optical coherence tomography and a literature review.

BACKGROUND: Optimal sizing for phakic intraocular lens (EVO-ICL with KS-AquaPort) implantation plays an important role in preventing postoperative complications. We aimed to formulate optimal lens sizing using ocular biometric parameters measured with a Heidelberg anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) device. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 892 eyes of 471 healthy subjects treated with an intraocular collamer lens (ICL) and assigned them to either the development (80%) or validation (20%) set. We built vault prediction models using the development set via classic linear regression methods as well as partial least squares and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression techniques. We evaluated prediction abilities based on the Bayesian information criterion (BIC) to select the best prediction model. The performance was measured using Pearson's correlation coefficient and the mean squared error (MAE) between the achieved and predicted results. RESULTS: Measurements of aqueous depth (AQD), anterior chamber volume, anterior chamber angle (ACA) distance, spur-to-spur distance, crystalline lens thickness (LT), and white-to-white distance from ANTERION were highly associated with the ICL vault. The LASSO model using the AQD, ACA distance, and LT showed the best BIC results for postoperative ICL vault prediction. In the validation dataset, the LASSO model showed the strongest correlation (r = 0.582, P < 0.001) and the lowest MAE (104.7 µm). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to develop a postoperative ICL vault prediction and lens-sizing model based on the ANTERION. As the measurements from ANTERION and other AS-OCT devices are not interchangeable, ANTERION may be used for optimal ICL sizing using our formula. Because our model was developed based on the East Asian population, further studies are needed to explore the role of this prediction model in different populations.

Fenoldopam Mesylate Enhances the Survival of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Under Oxidative Stress and Increases the Therapeutic Function in Acute Kidney Injury.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have gained interest as an alternative therapeutic option for renal diseases, including acute kidney injury (AKI). However, their use is often limited owing to low survival rates in vivo. Fenoldopam mesylate (FD) is a selective dopamine D1 receptor agonist with antioxidative and anti-apoptotic roles. Herein, we investigated whether FD can enhance the survival of MSCs undergoing oxidative stress in vitro. In addition, the therapeutic effect of MSCs and FD-treated MSCs (FD-MSCs) was compared in a mouse model of AKI induced by cisplatin. The survival of MSCs under oxidative stress was augmented by FD treatment. FD induced the phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein and AKT, contributing to enhanced growth compared with untreated MSCs. The expression of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and heme oxygenase-1 was increased by FD treatment, and nuclear translocation of NRF2 was found exclusively in FD-MSCs. FD downregulated BAX expression, increased the mitochondrial membrane potential, reduced reactive oxygen species generation, and decreased the apoptotic death of MSCs induced by oxidative stress. Moreover, renal function and tubular injury were improved in FD-MSCs compared with non-treated MSCs. Furthermore, tubular injury, apoptosis, and macrophage infiltration, as well as the serum level of tumor necrosis factor-α were reduced, while tubular cell proliferation was markedly increased in FD-MSCs compared with MSCs. Our study demonstrated that FD increases the survivability of MSCs in an oxidative environment, and its use may be effective in preparing robust therapeutic MSCs.

Extracellular vesicles from IFN-γ-primed mesenchymal stem cells repress atopic dermatitis in mice.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by immune dysregulation, pruritus, and abnormal epidermal barrier function. Compared with conventional mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived mesenchymal stem cell (iMSC) is recognized as a unique source for producing extracellular vesicles (EVs) because it can be obtained in a scalable manner with an enhanced homogeneity. Stimulation of iMSCs with inflammatory cytokines can improve the immune-regulatory, anti-inflammatory, and tissue-repairing potential of iMSC-derived EVs. RESULTS: Proteome analysis showed that IFN-γ-iMSC-EVs are enriched with protein sets that are involved in regulating interferon responses and inflammatory pathways. In AD mice, expression of interleukin receptors for Th2 cytokines (IL-4Rα/13Rα1/31Rα) and activation of their corresponding intracellular signaling molecules was reduced. IFN-γ-iMSC-EVs decreased itching, which was supported by reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and mast cells in AD mouse skin; reduced IgE receptor expression and thymic stromal lymphopoietin and NF-kB activation; and recovered impaired skin barrier, as evidenced by upregulation of key genes of epidermal differentiation and lipid synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: IFN-γ-iMSC-EVs inhibit Th2-induced immune responses, suppress inflammation, and facilitate skin barrier restoration, contributing to AD improvement.

Circulating RNA Profiling in Postreperfusion Plasma From Kidney Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is inevitable in kidney transplantation (KT) and may lead to impaired tubular epithelial cell function and reduce graft function and survival. Renal IRI is a complex cellular and molecular event; therefore, investigating the genetic or molecular pathways associated with the early phase of KT would improve our understanding of IRI in KT. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in various pathologic events associated with IRI. METHODS: We compared the expression profile of miRNAs extracted from 2 blood plasma samples, 1 from periphery and the other form gonadal veins immediately after reperfusion, in a total 5 cases of KT. RESULTS: We observed that the total RNA yield was higher in postreperfusion plasma and that a subset of miRNAs was upregulated (miR-let-7a-3p, miR-143-3p, and miR-214-3p) or downregulated (let-7d-3p, let-7d-3p, miR-1246, miR-1260b, miR-1290, and miR-130b-3p) in postreperfusion plasma. Gene ontology analyses revealed that these subsets target different biological functions. Twenty-four predicted genes were commonly targeted by the upregulated miRNAs, and gene ontology enrichment and pathway analyses revealed that these were associated with various cellular activities such as signal transduction or with components such as exosomes and membranous organelles. CONCLUSION: We present 2 subsets of miRNAs that were differentially upregulated or downregulated in postreperfusion plasma. Our findings may enhance our understanding of miRNA-mediated early molecular events related to IRI in KT.

Cargo proteins in extracellular vesicles: potential for novel therapeutics in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

BACKGROUND: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are recognized as novel cell-free therapeutics. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remains a critical health problem. Herein, we show that EVs from pan peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonist-primed induced mesenchymal stem cell (pan PPAR-iMSC-EVs) has unique cargo protein signatures, and demonstrate its therapeutic function in NASH. RESULTS: A unique protein signatures were identified in pan PPAR-iMSC-EVs against those from non-stimulated iMSC-EVs. NASH mice receiving pan PPAR-iMSC-EVs showed reduced steatotic changes and ameliorated ER stress and mitochondiral oxidative stress induced by inflammation. Moreover, pan PPAR-iMSC-EVs promoted liver regeneration via inhibiting apoptosis and enhancing proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that our strategy for enriching unique cargo proteins in EVs may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic option for NASH.

Impact of Zr6 Node in a Metal-Organic Framework for Adsorptive Removal of Antibiotics from Water.

Quinolone-based antibiotics commonly detected in surface, ground, and drinking water are difficult to remove and therefore pose a threat as organic contaminants of aqueous environment. We performed adsorptive removal of quinolone antibiotics, nalidixic acid and ofloxacin, using a zirconium-porphyrin-based metal-organic framework (MOF), PCN-224. PCN-224 exhibits the highest adsorption capacities for both nalidixic acid and ofloxacin among those reported for MOFs to date. The accessible metal sites of Zr metal nodes are responsible for efficient adsorptive removal. This study offers a pragmatic approach to design MOFs optimized for adsorptive removal of antibiotics.

Colorimetric determination of phenolic compounds using peroxidase mimics based on biomolecule-free hybrid nanoflowers consisting of graphitic carbon nitride and copper.

Hybrid nanoflowers consisting of graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) and copper were successfully constructed without the involvement of any biomolecule, by simply mixing them at room temperature to induce proper self-assembly to achieve a flower-like morphology. The resulting biomolecule-free GCN-copper hybrid nanoflowers (GCN-Cu NFs) exhibited an apparent peroxidase-mimicking activity, possibly owing to the synergistic effect from the coordination of GCN and copper, as well as their large surface area, which increased the number of catalytic reaction sites. The peroxidase-mimicking GCN-Cu NFs were then employed in the colorimetric determination of selected phenolic compounds hydroquinone (HQ), methylhydroquinone (MHQ), and catechol (CC). For samples without phenolic compounds, GCN-Cu NFs catalyzed the oxidation of the peroxidase substrate 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2, producing an intense blue color signal. Conversely, in the presence of phenolic compounds, the oxidation of TMB was inhibited, resulting in a significant reduction of the color signal. Using this strategy, HQ, MHQ, and CC were selectively and sensitively determined in a linear range up to 100 µM with detection limits down to 0.82, 0.27, and 0.36 µM, respectively. The practical utility of this assay system was also validated by using it to detect phenolic compounds spiked in tap water, yielding a good recovery of 97.1-108.9% and coefficient of variation below 3.0%, demonstrating the excellent reliability and reproducibility of this strategy. Colorimetric determination of phenolic compounds using peroxidase mimics based on biomolecule-free hybrid nanoflowers consisting of graphitic carbon nitride and copper.

Microcrystal Electron Diffraction Elucidates Water-Specific Polymorphism-Induced Emission Enhancement of Bis-arylacylhydrazone.

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) phenomena have gained intense interest over the last decades because of its importance in solid-state emission. However, the elucidation of a working mechanism is difficult owing to the limited characterization methods on solid-state molecules, further complicated if dynamic structural changes occur. Here, a series of bis-arylacylhydrazones (BAHs) were synthesized, for which their AIE properties are only turned on by the reversible adsorption of water molecules. We used microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) to determine the molecular structures of two BAHs directly from bulk powders (without attempting to grow crystals) prepared in the absence or presence of water adsorption. This study reveals the unambiguous characterization of the dependence of crystal packing on the specific cocrystallization with hydrates. The structural analysis demonstrates that water molecules form strong hydrogen bonds with three neighboring BAH-1, resulting in the almost complete planarization and restriction of the intramolecular rotation of the molecule. MicroED plays an important role in providing a decisive clue for the reversible polymorphism changes induced by the adsorption of water molecules, regulating emissive properties.

Mantle cell lymphoma with gastrointestinal involvement and the role of endoscopic examinations.

BACKGROUND: Studies on gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) are lacking. We investigated the clinical characteristics and prognosis of MCL with GI tract involvement. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 64 patients diagnosed with MCL from January 2009 to April 2017. At the time of MCL diagnosis, patients who were identified to have GI involvement by endoscopic or radiologic examination were assigned to the GI-MCL group. The other patients were assigned to the non GI-MCL group. RESULTS: The GI-MCL group included 28 patients (43.8%). The most common endoscopic finding of MCL was lymphomatous polyposis (20/28, 71.4%). The GI-MCL group had higher stage and International Prognostic Index status (P = 0.012 and P = 0.003, respectively). Among the total 51 GI lesions in the GI-MCL group, 31.4% (16/51) were detected only by endoscopic examinations and were not detected on CT or PET-CT. The cumulative incidence of recurrence was higher in the GI-MCL group compared with the non GI-MCL group but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.082). Stage (HR 1.994, 95% CI 1.007-3.948) and auto PBSCT (HR 0.133, 95% CI 0.041-0.437) were identified as independent predictive factors for recurrence. Recurrences at GI tract were identified in 59.1% (13/22) and 11.1% (2/18) of the GI-MCL and non GI-MCL group, respectively. Among 15 GI tract recurrences, five recurrences were detected only with endoscopic examinations. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopy can reveal the GI involvement of MCL that is not visualized by radiological imaging. Endoscopic examinations are recommended during staging workup and the follow-up period of MCL patients.

Effect of Functional Progressive Resistance Exercise on Lower Extremity Structure, Muscle Tone, Dynamic Balance and Functional Ability in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of functional progressive resistance exercise (FPRE) on muscle tone, dynamic balance and functional ability in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Twenty-five subjects were randomized into two groups: the FPRE group (n = 13) and the control group (n = 12). The experimental group participated in an FPRE program for 30 min per day, three times per week for six weeks. Knee extensor strength, rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI), muscle tone, dynamic balance, and functional ability was evaluated. The results showed statistically significant time × group interaction effects on the dominant side for knee extensor strength and cross-sectional area (CSA) in RUSI (p < 0.05). On both sides for thickness of the quadriceps (TQ) in RUSI, muscle tone and dynamic balance were statistically significant time × group interaction effects (p < 0.05). Additionally, knee extensor strength, CSA, TQ in RUS, muscle tone, dynamic balance and gross motor function measure (GMFM) in functional ability were significantly increased between pre- and post-intervention within the FPRE group (p < 0.05). The results suggest that FPRE is both feasible and beneficial for improving muscle tone, dynamic balance and functional ability in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Increased incidence of metachronous gastric neoplasm after endoscopic resection in patients with synchronous gastric neoplasm.

BACKGROUND: Recurrence risk is a major concern after endoscopic resection (ER) of gastric neoplasms. This study was to compare metachronous risk in patients with and without synchronous neoplasms after complete ER. METHODS: After ER for gastric neoplasms, patients were divided into those with and without synchronous neoplasm. The metachronous risk of gastric neoplasms was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After ER of 678 cancers and 891 adenomas, synchronous neoplasm was found in 11.8% of cancers and 11.4% of adenomas. In the multiple (n = 182) and the single group (n = 1387), metachronous neoplasms occurred in 18.1 and 8.6%, respectively (HR 2.40; 95% CI, 1.62-3.34). When the pathology of the recurred lesion was limited to cancer, metachronous risk was also significantly higher in the multiple than in the single group (HR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.17-3.85). In the recurred pathology of the multiple group, cancer development was frequently observed in patients with cancer compared to those with only adenomas in the synchronous lesion (67.0% vs. 13.0%, respectively; P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that metachronous risk was significantly higher in patients with synchronous gastric neoplasms after ER. Therefore, meticulous examination is important in patients with synchronous neoplasm.

Multifunctional N-P-doped carbon dots for regulation of apoptosis and autophagy in B16F10 melanoma cancer cells and in vitro imaging applications.

Rationale: The present study reports the multifunctional anticancer activity against B16F10 melanoma cancer cells and the bioimaging ability of fluorescent nitrogen-phosphorous-doped carbon dots (NPCDs). Methods: The NPCDs were synthesized using a single-step, thermal treatment and were characterized by TEM, XPS, fluorescence and UV-Vis spectroscopy, and FTIR analysis. The anticancer efficacy of NPCDs was confirmed by using cell viability assay, morphological evaluation, fluorescent live-dead cell assay, mitochondrial potential assay, ROS production, RT-PCR, western-blot analysis, siRNA transfection, and cellular bioimaging ability. Results: The NPCDs inhibited the proliferation of B16F10 melanoma cancer cells after 24 h of treatment and induced apoptosis, as confirmed by the presence of fragmented nuclei, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, and elevated levels of reactive oxygen species. The NPCDs treatment further elevated the levels of pro-apoptotic factors and down-regulated the level of Bcl2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) that weakened the mitochondrial membrane, and activated proteases such as caspases. Treatment with NPCDs also resulted in dose-dependent cell cycle arrest, as indicated by reduced cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-2, -4, and -6 protein levels and an enhanced level of p21. More importantly, the NPCDs induced the activation of autophagy by upregulating the protein expression levels of LC3-II and ATG-5 (autophagy-related-5) and by downregulating p62 level, validated by knockdown of ATG-5. Additionally, owing to their excellent luminescence property, these NPCDs were also applicable in cellular bioimaging, as evidenced by the microscopic fluorescence imaging of B16F10 melanoma cells. Conclusion: Based on these findings, we conclude that our newly synthesized NPCDs induced cell cycle arrest, autophagy, and apoptosis in B16F10 melanoma cells and presented good cellular bioimaging capability.

Therapeutic potential of stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles in osteoarthritis: preclinical study findings.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized particles secreted by almost all cell types, and they mediate various biological processes via cell-to-cell communication. Compared with parental cells for therapeutic purposes, stem cell-derived EVs have several advantages such as reduced risk of rejection, less oncogenic potential, ease of long-term storage, lower chance of thromboembolism, and readiness for immediate use. Recent studies have demonstrated that EVs from stem cells, mostly from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from various tissues, have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, and proliferative role in injured organs including osteoarthritic lesions. Herein, we provide a review about the up-to-date studies in preclinical application of stem cell-derived EVs in osteoarthritis animal arthritis models.

Rosette-shaped graphitic carbon nitride acts as a peroxidase mimic in a wide pH range for fluorescence-based determination of glucose with glucose oxidase.

Rosette-shaped graphitic carbon nitride (rosette-GCN) is described as a promising alternative to natural peroxidase for its application to fluorescence-based glucose assays. Rosette-GCN was synthesized via a rapid reaction between melamine and cyanuric acid for 10 min at 35 °C, followed by thermal calcination for 4 h. Importantly, rosette-GCN possesses a peroxidase-like activity, producing intense fluorescence from the oxidation of Amplex UltraRed in the presence of H2O2 over a broad pH-range of, including neutral pH; the peroxidase activity of rosette-GCN was ~ 10-fold higher than that of conventional bulk-GCN. This enhancement of peroxidase activity is presumed to occur because rosette-GCN has a significantly larger surface area and higher porosity while preserving its unique graphitic structure. Based on the high peroxidase activity of rosette-GCN along with the catalytic action of glucose oxidase (GOx), glucose was reliably determined down to 1.2 µM with a dynamic linear concentration range of 5.0 to 275.0 µM under neutral pH conditions. Practical utility of this strategy was also successfully demonstrated by determining the glucose levels in serum samples. This work highlights the advantages of GCNs synthesized via rapid methods but with unique structures for the preparation of enzyme-mimicking catalysts, thus extending their applications to the diagnostics field and other biotechnological fields. Graphical abstract.

Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high triglycerides lipid profile in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: Associations with disease activity and disability.

BACKGROUND: Altered lipid metabolism is a feature of systemic autoimmune diseases. Dyslipidemia is associated with the disease activity and progression in patients with multiple sclerosis. However, in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), changes in the lipid profile and the associations between specific lipid levels and disease activity/disability are unknown. METHODS: Serum samples (N = 148) were collected from 53 patients with aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-positive NMOSD when they were not treated with lipid lowering agents. Fasting lipid (total cholesterol, triglyceride [TG], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) levels were compared between 39 patients with NMOSD, not taking steroids, and 142 age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched healthy controls. In addition, we analyzed the differences in the lipid profile between attack and remission samples and the associations between lipid profiles and clinical outcome in all 148 samples from 53 patients. The generalized estimating equation was used. RESULTS: Patients with NMOSD showed lower HDL-C and higher TG levels compared to healthy controls (p = 0.017 and p < 0.001, respectively). HDL-C level was significantly lower during attack than remission (ß = -7.851; p = 0.035), and TG level had positive correlation with EDSS scores (ß = 0.014; p = 0.002) regardless of disease activity status. However, enhanced lesions on magnetic resonance imaging were not associated with lipid profiles. CONCLUSION: Dyslipidemia with low HDL-C and high TG correlated disease activity and disability in AQP4-positive NMOSD. It remains to be elucidated whether altered lipid metabolism contributes to deleterious immune response, possibly through inflammation, or is secondary to neurological disability in NMOSD.

Solid-State Emissive Metallo-Supramolecular Assemblies of Quinoline-Based Acyl Hydrazone.

Development of fluorescence-based sensory materials for metal elements is currently in the mainstream of research due to the simplicity and usability of fluorescence as a method of detection. Herein, we report a novel "bis"-quinoline-based acyl hydrazone-named bQH that could be synthesized by a facile, low-cost method through simple condensation of hydrazide with an aldehyde. This acyl hydrazone showed emissive properties through Zn selective binding, especially in its solid-state, as shown by experiments such as UV-Vis, photoluminescence (PL), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and inductively-coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopies (ICP-OES), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping. The binding modes in which bQH coordinates to Zn2+ was proved to consist of two modes, 1:1 and 1:2 (bQH:Zn2+), where the binding mode was controlled by the Zn2+ ion content. Under the 1:1 binding mode, bQH-Zn2+ complexes formed a polymeric array through the metallo-supramolecular assembly. The resulting bQH-Zn2+ complex maintained its fluorescence in solid-state and exhibited excellent fluorescence intensity as compared to the previously reported quinoline-based acyl hydrazone derivative (mQH).

Shape-controlled assemblies of graphitic carbon nitride polymer for efficient sterilization therapies of water microbial contamination via 2D g-C3N4 under visible light illumination.

Bacterial pathogens of water origin have potential public threats thus suggesting the need of developing efficient and sustainable water disinfection strategies from waterborne pathogens. We set out to synthesize different controlled morphologies of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) polymer, evaluate their comparative effects on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and investigate potential applications in water purification systems. Characterization of the synthesized microstructures of g-C3N4, such as melamine-cyanuric acid (MCA)-based rosette-type, rod-type, 2D hexagonal, and 3D cubic mesoporous silica was accomplished using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The microbial inhibitory potential of 2D g-C3N4 photocatalyst against waterborne Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhimurium was evaluated based on the effective activity of 2D g-C3N4 upon visible light excitations. The microbicidal efficiency of 2D g-C3N4 was evident within 30 min of visible light exposure via direct interaction, while other microstructures of g-C3N4 demonstrated only slight antimicrobial effects after 120 min, with insufficient ROS generation. The antimicrobial and ROS-generating effects of 2D g-C3N4 depended on the type and surface area of the synthesized 2D g-C3N4 material. Considering its availability and excellent disinfection activity, 2D g-C3N4 obtained from simple and convenient facile synthesis is a promising solar-driven photocatalyst for clearing microbial contamination from water.

Highly Flexible and Efficient All-Polymer Solar Cells with High-Viscosity Processing Polymer Additive toward Potential of Stretchable Devices.

Considering the potential applications of all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) as wearable power generators, there is an urgent need to develop photoactive layers that possess intrinsic mechanical endurance, while maintaining a high power-conversion efficiency (PCE).Herein a strategy is demonstrated to simultaneously control the intercalation behavior and nanocrystallite size in the polymer-polymer blend by using a newly developed, high-viscosity polymeric additive, poly(dimethylsiloxane-co-methyl phenethylsiloxane) (PDPS), into the TQ-F:N2200 all-PSC matrix. A mechanically robust 10wt% PDPS blend film with a great toughness was obtained. Our results provide a feasible route for producing high-performance ductile all-PSCs, which can potentially be used to realize stretchable all-PSCs as a linchpin of next-generation electronics.

Visible-light-driven dynamic cancer therapy and imaging using graphitic carbon nitride nanoparticles.

Organic graphitic carbon nitride nanoparticles (NP-g-CN), less than 30 nm in size, were synthesized and evaluated for photodynamic therapy (PDT) and cell imaging applications. NP-g-CN particles were prepared through an intercalation process using a rod-like melamine-cyanuric acid adduct (MCA) as the molecular precursor and a eutectic mixture of LiCl-KCl (45:55 wt%) as the reaction medium for polycondensation. The nano-dimensional NP-g-CN penetrated the malignant tumor cells with minimal hindrance and effectively generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) under visible light irradiation, which could ablate cancer cells. When excited by visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm), NP-g-CN introduced to HeLa and cos-7 cells generated a significant amount of ROS and killed the cancerous cells selectively. The cytotoxicity of NP-g-CN was manipulated by altering the light irradiation and the BP-g-CN caused more damage to the cancer cells than normal cells at low concentrations. As a potential non-toxic organic nanomaterial, the synthesized NP-g-CN are biocompatible with less cytotoxicity than toxic inorganic materials. The combined effects of the high efficacy of ROS generation under visible light irradiation, low toxicity, and bio-compatibility highlight the potential of NP-g-CN for PDT and imaging without further modification.