Performance of Active-Quenching SPAD Array Based on the Tri-State Gates of FPGA and Packaged with Bare Chip Stacking.

The performance of an active-quenching single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array that is based on the tri-state gates of a field programmable gate array (FPGA) is presented. The array is implemented by stacking a bare 4 × 4 N-on-P SPAD array on a bare FPGA die, and the electrodes of the SPAD pixels and the I/O ports of the FPGA are connected through wire bonding within the same package. The active quenching action on each SPAD pixel is performed by using the properties of the tri-state gates of the FPGA. Digital signal processing, such as pulse counters, data encoders, and command interactions, is also performed by using the same FPGA. The breakdown voltage of the SPAD pixels, with an active area of 60 µm × 60 µm, is 47.2-48.0 V. When the device is reverse biased at a voltage of ~50.4 V, a response delay of ~50 ns, a dead time of 157 ns, a dark count rate of 2.44 kHz, and an afterpulsing probability of 6.9% are obtained. Its peak photon detection probability (PDP) reaches 17.0% at a peak wavelength of 760 nm and remains above 10% at 900 nm. This hybrid integrated SPAD array is reconfigurable and cost effective.

Nonreciprocal Transport in a Bilayer of MnBi2Te4 and Pt.

MnBi2Te4 (MBT) is the first intrinsic magnetic topological insulator with the interaction of spin-momentum locked surface electrons and intrinsic magnetism, and it exhibits novel magnetic and topological phenomena. Recent studies suggested that the interaction of electrons and magnetism can be affected by the Mn-doped Bi2Te3 phase at the surface due to inevitable structural defects. Here, we report an observation of nonreciprocal transport, that is, current-direction-dependent resistance, in a bilayer composed of antiferromagnetic MBT and nonmagnetic Pt. The emergence of the nonreciprocal response below the Néel temperature confirms a correlation between nonreciprocity and intrinsic magnetism in the surface state of MBT. The angular dependence of the nonreciprocal transport indicates that nonreciprocal response originates from the asymmetry scattering of electrons at the surface of MBT mediated by magnon. Our work provides an insight into nonreciprocity arising from the correlation between magnetism and Dirac surface electrons in intrinsic magnetic topological insulators.

Proximity effect of a two-dimensional van der Waals magnet Fe3GeTe2 on nickel films.

Recent advances in two-dimensional van der Waals (2D vdW) magnets provide new platforms to study their magnetism in reduced dimensions. However, most of the studies performed to date have been limited to low temperatures. Here, we report the proximity effect of a 2D vdW magnet Fe3GeTe2 (FGT) on nickel (Ni) films at room temperature. Ferromagnetic resonance measurements show that FGT can increase the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) and magnetic damping of the adjacent Ni film. Such an interfacial effect is observed at room temperature, and becomes more pronounced as the temperature decreases. A similar effect is also achieved in another 2D heterostructure of Cr2Ge2Te6/Ni, implying its universality in a variety of 2D magnetic materials. Our work provides a new approach for utilizing 2D magnets in spintronics at room temperature.

Opportunities and Challenges of Small Molecule Induced Targeted Protein Degradation.

Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTAC) represents a new type of small molecule induced protein degradation technology that has emerged in recent years. PROTAC uses bifunctional small molecules to induce ubiquitination of target proteins and utilizes intracellular proteasomes for chemical knockdown. It complements the gene editing and RNA interference for protein knockdown. Compared with small molecule inhibitors, PROTAC has shown great advantages in overcoming tumor resistance, affecting the non-enzymatic function of target proteins, degrading undruggable targets, and providing new rapid and reversible chemical knockout tools. At the same time, its challenges and problems also need to be resolved as a fast-developing newchemical biology technology.

Temperature Dependence of Spin-Orbit Torques in Nearly Compensated Tb21Co79 Films by a Topological Insulator Sb2Te3.

Topological insulators (TIs) with spin-momentum-locked metallic surface states can exert giant spin-orbit torques, offering great potential in energy-efficient magnetic memory devices. In this work, temperature (T)-dependent SOT efficiencies are investigated in Sb2Te3/Ta/TbCo heterostructures with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The spin Hall angle θSH is around 0.16 at room temperature (RT), which is much higher than that of the control sample without TI. Moreover, as T decreases from RT down to 10 K, θSH exhibits a conspicuous 5-fold enhancement. Detailed analysis indicates that the θSH enhancement at reduced temperatures mainly results from the improved spin-polarized surface states, as evidenced from the continuously increased ratio of surface-to-bulk conduction. The θSH difference between 20 and 10 nm Sb2Te3 gradually shrinks with the increase of T, which is due to the increase of bulk state contribution. Our findings provide a deep insight into the spin transport mechanisms and robust charge-spin conversion in TIs.

Design and synthesis of water-soluble grifolin prodrugs for DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) down-regulation.

DNA methylation and gene silencing play indispensable roles in the epigenetic landscape and gene expression. DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), a member of the DNMT family, which catalyzes the addition of methyl groups on DNA has been identified to have a close relationship with tumorigenesis. But DNMT1 inhibitors are rare except for the highly toxic nucleoside derivates. Grifolin is a unique natural product which down-regulates DNMT1 and has low toxicity. However, the poor solubility and stability of grifolin limit its application. Herein, we synthesized PEG5-Grifolin as a water-miscible prodrug of grifolin. The half-life of PEG5-Grifolin at 25 °C was considerably extended, revealing excellent stability. Meanwhile, PEG5-Grifolin suppressed tumor growth of by downregulating DNMT1 and reactivating the expression of several tumor suppressor genes in vivo. PEG5-Grifolin might be a promising demethylation agent for DNMT1 associated diseases and benefit much against various types of DNMT1 associated cancer.

Improving Tumor Targeting of Exosomal Membrane-Coated Polymeric Nanoparticles by Conjugation with Aptamers.

The coating of natural cellular or exosomal membranes (EMs) onto polymeric nanoparticles has become essential in extending the circulation half-time of nanoparticles by escaping from immune surveillance. Here we report on the surface modification of EM-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles by AS1411 aptamers (AS-EP) for improved tumor targeting. The combination of microfluidic sonication and cholesterol-modified aptamer functionalization allows for assembly of AS-EP within 10 min. The resulting AS-EP shows a prolonged in vivo circulation time benefiting from the natural properties of exosomes and exhibits high tumor targeting efficiency through specific binding of AS1411 aptamers to nucleolin on the membrane of tumor cells. Moreover, intravenous administration of AS-EP to mice will not result in abnormal pathology or hemolysis. This work opens up opportunities to fabricate and functionalize biomembrane-coated nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery applications.

Plasticity in designing PROTACs for selective and potent degradation of HDAC6.

HDAC6 (histone deacetylase 6) catalyses the deacetylation of non-histone substrates, and plays important roles in cell migration, protein degradation and other cellular processes. Here we report that CRBN-recruiting PROTAC NH2, which introduces pomalidomide at the benzene ring of Nex A, reaches comparable degradation efficiency of HDAC6 compared to aliphatic-chain-introducing PROTAC NP8.

Correction to: Developing potent PROTACs tools for selective degradation of HDAC6 protein.

In the original publication the title of X axis in figure 1G is incorrectly published as "Compound (µmol/L)". The correct title of X axis in figure 1G should be read as "Compound (nmol/L)".

Ultrahigh-photoresponsive UV photodetector based on a BP/ReS2 heterostructure p-n diode.

The van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure, made up of two dissimilar two-dimensional materials held together by van der Waals interactions, has excellent electronic and optoelectronic properties as it provides a superior interface quality without the lattice mismatch problem. Here, we report the development and photoresponse characteristics of a p-n diode based on a stacked black phosphorus (BP) and rhenium disulfide (ReS2) heterojunction. The heterojunction showed a clear gate-tunable rectifying behavior similar to that of the conventional p-n junction diode. Under UV illumination, the BP/ReS2 p-n diode displayed a high photoresponsivity of 4120 A W-1 and we were able to modify the photoresponse properties by adjusting the back gate voltage. Moreover, an investigation of various channel lengths yielded the highest photoresponsivity of 11 811 A W-1 for a BP length of 1 µm. These results suggested vdW 2D materials to be promising for developing advanced heterojunction devices for nano-optoelectronics.

A novel Ag(i)-calix[4]arene coordination polymer for the sensitive detection and efficient photodegradation of nitrobenzene in aqueous solution.

Nitrobenzene (NB) is a widespread and highly toxic organic pollutant in water, and consequently its detection and removal have attracted considerable attention. In the present study, we designed and synthesized a novel coordination polymer, [AgL0.5(NO3)]n (1), {L = 25,26,27,28-tetra[(3-pyridylmethyl)oxy]calix[4]arene}, from AgNO3 and a tetra-pyridyl-functionalized calix[4]arene ligand, which possessed a 2D network based on [Ag4L(NO3)4] units. The 1-modified glassy carbon electrode (1/GCE) exhibited good electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of NB, offering the selective detection of NB in a wide linear range (1-2450 µM) and a low detection limit (0.62 µM). Furthermore, it displayed excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of NB in aqueous solution under UV light. The kinetics of the catalytic degradation reaction and the stability of the catalyst were also studied. These results indicated that compound 1 is a favorable material for the effective determination and degradation of NB, which makes it a promising candidate in both monitoring water quality and treating wastewater.