Oxygen-defect bismuth oxychloride nanosheets for ultrasonic cavitation effect enhanced sonodynamic and second near-infrared photo-induced therapy of breast cancer.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) relies heavily on the presence of oxygen to induce cell death. Its effectiveness is thus diminished in the hypoxic regions of tumor tissue. To address this issue, the exploration of ultrasound-based synergistic treatment modalities has become a significant research focus. Here, we report an ultrasonic cavitation effect enhanced sonodynamic and 1208 nm photo-induced cancer treatment strategy based on thermoelectric/piezoelectric oxygen-defect bismuth oxychloride nanosheets (BNs) to realize the high-performance eradication of tumors. Upon ultrasonic irradiation, the local high temperature and high pressure generated by the ultrasonic cavitation effect combined with the thermoelectric and piezoelectric effects of BNs create a built-in electric field. This facilitates the separation of carriers, increasing their mobility and extending their lifetimes, thereby greatly improving the effectiveness of SDT and NIR-Ⅱ phototherapy on hypoxia. The Tween-20 modified BNs (TBNs) demonstrate ∼88.6 % elimination rate against deep-seated tumor cells under hypoxic conditions. In vivo experiments confirm the excellent antitumor efficacy of TBNs, achieving complete tumor elimination within 10 days with no recurrences. Furthermore, due to the high X-ray attenuation of Bi and excellent NIR-Ⅱ absorption, TBNs enable precise cancer diagnosis through photoacoustic (PA) imaging and computed tomography (CT).

Nanoscale octopus guiding telomere entanglement: An innovative strategy for inducing apoptosis in cancer cells.

Telomere length plays a crucial role in cellular aging and the risk of diseases. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells can extend their own survival by maintaining telomere stability through telomere maintenance mechanism. Therefore, regulating the lengths of telomeres have emerged as a promising approach for anti-cancer treatment. In this study, we introduce a nanoscale octopus-like structure designed to induce physical entangling of telomere, thereby efficiently triggering telomere dysfunction. The nanoscale octopus, composed of eight-armed PEG (8-arm-PEG), are functionalized with cell penetrating peptide (TAT) to facilitate nuclear entry and are covalently bound to N-Methyl Mesoporphyrin IX (NMM) to target G-quadruplexes (G4s) present in telomeres. The multi-armed configuration of the nanoscale octopus enables targeted binding to multiple G4s, physically disrupting and entangling numerous telomeres, thereby triggering telomere dysfunction. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that the nanoscale octopus significantly inhibits cancer cell proliferation, induces apoptosis through telomere entanglement, and ultimately suppresses tumor growth. This research offers a novel perspective for the development of innovative anti-cancer interventions and provides potential therapeutic options for targeting telomeres.

Harnessing nanomaterials for copper-induced cell death.

Copper (Cu), an essential micronutrient with redox properties, plays a pivotal role in a wide array of pathological and physiological processes across virtually all cell types. Maintaining an optimal copper concentration is critical for cellular survival: insufficient copper levels disrupt respiration and metabolism, while excess copper compromises cell viability, potentially leading to cell death. Similarly, in the context of cancer, copper exhibits a dual role: appropriate amount of copper can promote tumor progression and be an accomplice, yet beyond befitting level, copper can bring about multiple types of cell death, including autophagy, apoptosis, ferroptosis, immunogenic cell death, pyroptosis, and cuproptosis. These forms of cell death are beneficial against cancer progression; however, achieving precise copper regulation within tumors remains a significant challenge in the pursuit of effective cancer therapies. The emergence of nanodrug delivery systems, distinguished by their precise targeting, controlled release, high payload capacity, and the ability to co-deliver multiple agents, has revitalized interest in exploiting copper's precise regulatory capabilities. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of comprehensive review of copper's bidirectional effects on tumorigenesis and the role of copper-based nanomaterials in modulating tumor progression. This paper aims to address this gap by elucidating the complex role in cancer biology and highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target. Through an exploration of copper's dualistic nature and the application of nanotechnology, this review seeks to offer novel insights and guide future research in advancing cancer treatment.

Nanobiocatalysis: Approach and Applications in Drug Development and Sensing.

Enzymes play a pivotal role in the human body, but their potential is not limited to just that. Scientists have successfully modified these enzymes as nanobiocatalysts or nanozymes for industrial or commercial use, either in the food, medicine, biotech or even textile industries. These nanobiocatalysts and nanozymes offer several advantages over enzymes, like better stability, improved shelf-life, increased percentage yield, and reuse potential, which is very difficult with normal enzymes. The various techniques of NBC synthesis using immobilization techniques like adsorption, covalent binding, affinity immobilization, and entrapment methods are briefly discussed. The enzymes are either entrapped or adsorbed on the nanocarrier matrices, which can be nanofibers, nanoporous carriers, or nanocontainers as nanobiocatalysts. We also highlight the challenges the nanobiocatalyst overcomes in the industrial production of some drugs like sitagliptin, montelukast, pregabalin, and atorvastatin. Also, the inactivation of an organophosphate or opioid poisoning treating agent, SSOPOX nanohybrid, is discussed in this paper. Nanozymes are intrinsic enzyme-like compounds, and they also show wide application in themselves. Their GQD/AGNP nanohybrid shows antibacterial potential; they can also be utilized in optical sensing to detect small molecules, ions, nucleic acids, proteins, and cancer cells. In this paper, various applications of these NBCs have been discussed, and their potential applications with examples are also mentioned. Nanoenzymes can address targeted drug delivery via the controlled release of drugs to increase the efficacy of anticancer drugs that minimize damage to healthy tissue or cells.

Efficient electroreduction of carbon dioxide to formate enabled by bismuth nanosheets enriched dual VBi0 vacancy.

The electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2ER) into formate presents a compelling solution for mitigating dependence on fossil energy and green utilization of CO2. Bismuth (Bi) has been gaining recognition as a promising catalyst material for the CO2ER to formate. The performance of Bi catalysts (named as Bi-V) can be significantly improved when they possess single metal atom vacancy. However, creating larger-sized metal atom vacancies within Bi catalysts remains a significant challenge. In this work, Bi nanosheets with dual VBi0 vacancy (Bi-DV) were synthesized utilizing in situ electrochemical transformation, using BiOBr nanosheets with triple vacancy associates (VBi″'VO··VBi″', VBi″' and VO·· denote the Bi3+ and O2- vacancy, respectively) as a template. The obtained Bi-DV achieved higher CO2ER activity than Bi-V, showing Faradaic efficiency for formate production of >92% from -0.9 to -1.2 VRHE in an H-type cell, and the partial current density of formate reached up to 755 mA/cm2 in a flow cell. The comprehensive characterizations coupled with density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the dual VBi0 vacancy on the surface of Bi-DV expedite the reaction kinetics toward CO2ER, by reducing the thermodynamic barrier of *OCHO intermediate formation. This research provides critical insights into the potential of large atom vacancies to enhance electrocatalysis performance.

In situ growth of iron incorporated Ni3S2 nanosheet on nickel foam in mediating electron transfer to peroxymonosulfate for pollutant abatement.

Catalytic oxidation of organic pollutants is a well-known and effective technique for pollutant abatement. Unfortunately, this method is significantly hindered in practical applications by the low efficiency and difficult recovery of the catalysts in a powdery form. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) framework of Fe-incorporated Ni3S2 nanosheets in-situ grown on Ni foam (Fe-Ni3S2@NF) was fabricated by a facile two-step hydrothermal process and applied to trigger peroxymonosulfate (PMS) oxidation of organic compounds in water. A homogeneous growth environment enabled the uniform and scalable growth of Fe-Ni3S2 nanosheets on the Ni foam. Fe-Ni3S2@NF possessed outstanding activity and durability in activating PMS, as it effectively facilitated electron transfer from organic pollutants to PMS. Fe-Ni3S2@NF initially supplied electrons to PMS, causing the catalyst to undergo oxidation, and subsequently accepted electrons from organic compounds, returning to its initial state. The introduction of Fe into the Ni3S2 lattice enhanced electrical conductivity, promoting mediated electron transfer between PMS and organic compounds. The 3D conductive Ni foam provided an ideal platform for the nucleation and growth of Fe-Ni3S2, accelerating pollutant abatement due to its porous structure and high conductivity. Furthermore, its monolithic nature simplified the catalyst recycling process. A continuous flow packed-bed reactor by encapsulating Fe-Ni3S2@NF catalyst achieved complete pollutant abatement with continuous operation for 240 h, highlighting its immense potential for practical environmental remediation. This study presents a facile synthesis method for creating a novel type of monolithic catalyst with high activity and durability for decontamination through Fenton-like processes.

Efficient photodegradation of perfluoroalkyl substances under visible light by hexagonal ZnIn2S4 nanosheets.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are typical persistent organic pollutants, and their removal is urgently required but challenging. Photocatalysis has shown potential in PFASs degradation due to the redox capabilities of photoinduced charge carriers in photocatalysts. Herein, hexagonal ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) nanosheets were synthesized by a one-pot oil bath method and were well characterized by a series of techniques. In the degradation of sodium p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzenesulfonate (OBS), one kind of representative PFASs, the as-synthesized ZIS showed activity superior to P25 TiO2 under both simulated sunlight and visible-light irradiation. The good photocatalytic performance was attributed to the enhanced light absorption and facilitated charge separation. The pH conditions were found crucial in the photocatalytic process by influencing the OBS adsorption on the ZIS surface. Photogenerated e- and h+ were the main active species involved in OBS degradation in the ZIS system. This work confirmed the feasibility and could provide mechanistic insights into the degradation and defluorination of PFASs by visible-light photocatalysis.

Nanomaterials-based aptasensors for rapid detection and early warning of key food contaminants: A review.

The frequent occurrence of food safety incidents has aroused public concern about food safety and key contaminants. Foodborne pathogen contamination, pesticide residues, heavy metal residues, and other food safety problems will significantly impact human health. Therefore, developing efficient and sensitive detection method to ensure food safety early warning is paramount. The aptamer-based sensor (aptasensor) is a novel analytical tool with strong targeting, high sensitivity, low cost, etc. It has been extensively utilized in the pharmaceutical industry, biomedicine, environmental engineering, food safety detection, and in other diverse fields. This work reviewed the latest research progress of aptasensors for food analysis and detection, mainly introducing their application in detecting various key food contaminants. Subsequently, the sensing mechanism and performance of aptasensors are discussed. Finally, the review will examine the challenges and opportunities related to aptasensors for detecting major contaminants in food, and advance implementation of aptasensors in food safety and detection.

Investigation of Mirabegron-loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Improved Bioabsorption: Formulation, Statistical Optimization, and In-Vivo Evaluation.

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a usual medical syndrome that affects the bladder, and Mirabegron (MBG) is preferred medicine for its control. Currently, available marketed formulations (MYRBETRIQ® granules and MYRBETRIQ® ER tablets) suffer from low bioavailability (29-35%) hampering their therapeutic effectiveness and compromising patient compliance. By creating MBG nanostructured lipid carriers (MBG-NLCs) for improved systemic availability and drug release, specifically in oral administration of OAB treatment, this study aimed to address these issues. MBG-NLCs were fabricated using a hot-melt ultrasonication technique. MBG-GMS; MBG-oleic acid interaction was assessed by in silico molecular docking. QbD relied on the concentration of Span 80 (X1) and homogenizer speed (X2) as critical material attribute (CMA) and critical process parameter (CPP) respectively, while critical quality attributes (CQA) such as particle size (Y1) and cumulative drug release at 24 h (Y2) were estimated as dependent variables. 32 factorial design was utilized to investigate the interconnection in variables that are dependent and independents. Optimized MBG-NLCs with a particle size of 194.4 ± 2.25 nm were suitable for lymphatic uptake. A PDI score of 0.275 ± 0.02 and zeta potential of -36.2 ± 0.721 mV indicated a uniform monodisperse system with stable dispersion properties. MBG-NLCs exhibited entrapment efficiency of 77.3 ± 1.17% and a sustained release in SIF of 94.75 ± 1.60% for 24 h. MBG-NLCs exhibited the Higuchi model with diffusion as a release mechanism. A pharmacokinetic study in Wistar rats exhibited a 1.67-fold higher bioavailability as compared to MBG suspension. Hence, MBG-NLCs hold promise for treating OAB by improving MBG's oral bio absorption.

Nanozyme Decorated Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheet for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy Against Hypoxic Tumor.

Introduction: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted increasing attention in the clinical treatment of epidermal and luminal tumors. However, the PDT efficacy in practice is severely impeded by tumor hypoxia and the adverse factors associated with hydrophobic photosensitizers (PSs), including low delivery capacity, poor photoactivity and limited ROS diffusion. In this study, Pt nanozymes decorated two-dimensional (2D) porphyrin metal-organic framework (MOF) nanosheets (PMOF@HA) were fabricated and investigated to conquer the obstacles of PDT against hypoxic tumors. Materials and Methods: PMOF@HA was synthesized by the coordination of transition metal iron (Zr4+) and PS (TCPP), in situ generation of Pt nanozyme and surface modification with hyaluronic acid (HA). The abilities of hypoxic relief and ROS generation were evaluated by detecting the changes of O2 and 1O2 concentration. The cellular uptake was investigated using flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The SMMC-7721 cells and the subcutaneous tumor-bearing mice were used to demonstrate the PDT efficacy of PMOF@HA in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Results: Benefiting from the 2D structure and inherent properties of MOF materials, the prepared PMOF@HA could not only serve as nano-PS with high PS loading but also ensure the rational distance between PS molecules to avoid aggregation-induced quenching, enhance the photosensitive activity and promote the rapid diffusion of generated radical oxide species (ROS). Meanwhile, Pt nanozymes with catalase-like activity effectively catalyzed intratumoral overproduced H2O2 into O2 to alleviate tumor hypoxia. Additionally, PMOF@HA, with the help of externally coated HA, significantly improved the stability and increased the cell uptake by CD44 overexpressed tumor cells to strengthen O2 self-supply and PDT efficacy. Conclusion: This study provided a new strategy of integrating 2D porphyrin MOF nanosheets with nanozymes to conquer the obstacles of PDT against hypoxic tumors.

Exploring carbon catenoids and their applications for encapsulation of carbon nanostructures.

Carbon nanostructures of various shapes are among materials that have been extensively studied due to their unique chemical and physical properties. In this paper, we propose a new geometry of carbon nanostructures known as molecular carbon catenoid to compare with theoretical catenoid found from minimising the Willmore energy functional. Since applications of this structure include electron and molecular transport, this paper mathematically models the energetic behaviour of an atom and a spherical molecule entering a catenoid using the Lennard-Jones potential and a continuum approach. The suction energy is also obtained to determine the size of catenoid suitable for encapsulation of various structures. Results shown for theoretical catenoid using continuum modelling approach are found to be in good agreement with numerical simulations for molecular carbon catenoid.

Immunogenicity of Brucella Trivalent Immunogen-Containing Polyethyleneimine Nanostructure Targeted with LPS in a Mouse Model.

Brucella is a facultative intracellular gram-negative coccobacillus. It is nonsporulating and reproduced in macrophage phagosomes. The use of nanostructures as drug and vaccine carriers has recently received attention due to their ability to control the release profile and protect the drug molecules. This study presents a suitable nano-polyethyleneimine formulation to be used as an immunoadjuvant and LPS along with trivalent candidate antigens of TF, BP26, and omp31 to selectively stimulate the immune response. After designing and evaluating the immunogenic structure by databases and bioinformatics software, recombinant protein cloning and gene expression were performed in Escherichia coli BL21 bacteria. This protein was extracted from the cultured cells, purified by Ni-NTA column. After placing the antigen inside the polyethyleneimine nanostructure, various properties of the nanoparticles, including their size, zeta potential, and retention rate for injection and inhalation of mice, diffusion efficacy, and antigen binding evaluation were evaluated. Mice were treated with different groups of antigens and nanoparticles on days 0, 10, 24, and 38. Two weeks after the last injection, the level of cytokines were investigated in spleen cells, including IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-12. The serum concentration of IgG2a and IgG1 antibodies were also assessed. The response was consistent with significant production of IgG1, IgG2a, IFN-γ21, IL-12, and IL-4 compared to the controls (P < 0.05). Compared to the positive and negative control groups, recombinant protein and nanoparticles showed a good response in subsequent injections with live bacterial strains. The present study also revealed the potential of the developed recombinant protein as a candidate in the design and manufacture of subunit vaccines against Brucella species. This protein stimulates cellular and humoral immune responses compared to the positive control groups. These findings can be useful in the prevention and control of brucellosis and pave the way for further research by researchers around the world.

Chondroitin Sulfate for Cartilage Regeneration, Administered Topically Using a Nanostructured Formulation.

In the pharmaceutical sector, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) are vital for drug delivery incorporating a lipid core. Chondroitin sulfate (CHON) is crucial for cartilage health. It is often used in osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. Due to conflicting results from clinical trials on CHON's efficacy in OA treatment, there has been a shift toward exploring effective topical systems utilizing nanotechnology. This study aimed to optimize a solid lipid nanoparticle formulation aiming to enhance CHON permeation for OA therapy. A 3 × 3 × 2 Design of these experiments determined the ideal parameters: a CHON concentration of 0.4 mg/mL, operating at 20,000 rpm speed, and processing for 10 min for SLN production. Transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed the nanoparticles' spherical morphology, ensuring crucial uniformity for efficient drug delivery. Cell viability assessments showed no significant cytotoxicity within the tested parameters, indicating a safe profile for potential clinical application. The cell internalization assay indicates successful internalization at 1.5 h and 24 h post-treatment. Biopharmaceutical studies supported SLNs, indicating them to be effective CHON carriers through the skin, showcasing improved skin permeation and CHON retention compared to conventional methods. In summary, this study successfully optimized SLN formulation for efficient CHON transport through pig ear skin with no cellular toxicity, highlighting SLNs' potential as promising carriers to enhance CHON delivery in OA treatment and advance nanotechnology-based therapeutic strategies in pharmaceutical formulations.

Graphene-Oxide Peptide-Containing Materials for Biomedical Applications.

This review explores the application of graphene-based materials (GBMs) in biomedicine, focusing on graphene oxide (GO) and its interactions with peptides and proteins. GO, a versatile nanomaterial with oxygen-containing functional groups, holds significant potential for biomedical applications but faces challenges related to toxicity and environmental impact. Peptides and proteins can be functionalized on GO surfaces through various methods, including non-covalent interactions such as π-π stacking, electrostatic forces, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals forces, as well as covalent bonding through reactions involving amide bond formation, esterification, thiol chemistry, and click chemistry. These approaches enhance GO's functionality in several key areas: biosensing for sensitive biomarker detection, theranostic imaging that integrates diagnostics and therapy for real-time treatment monitoring, and targeted cancer therapy where GO can deliver drugs directly to tumor sites while being tracked by imaging techniques like MRI and photoacoustic imaging. Additionally, GO-based scaffolds are advancing tissue engineering and aiding tissues' bone, muscle, and nerve tissue regeneration, while their antimicrobial properties are improving infection-resistant medical devices. Despite its potential, addressing challenges related to stability and scalability is essential to fully harness the benefits of GBMs in healthcare.

Carbon Nitride Nanosheets as an Adhesive Layer for Stable Growth of Vertically-Ordered Mesoporous Silica Film on a Glassy Carbon Electrode and Their Application for CA15-3 Immunosensor.

Vertically ordered mesoporous silica films (VMSF) are a class of porous materials composed of ultrasmall pores and ultrathin perpendicular nanochannels, which are attractive in the areas of electroanalytical sensors and molecular separation. However, VMSF easily falls off from the carbonaceous electrodes and thereby impacts their broad applications. Herein, carbon nitride nanosheets (CNNS) were served as an adhesive layer for stable growth of VMSF on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE). CNNS bearing plentiful oxygen-containing groups can covalently bind with silanol groups of VMSF, effectively promoting the stability of VMSF on the GCE surface. Benefiting from numerous open nanopores of VMSF, modification of VMSF's external surface with carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA15-3)-specific antibody allows the target-controlled transport of electrochemical probes through the internal silica nanochannels, yielding sensitive quantitative detection of CA15-3 with a broad detection range of 1 mU/mL to 1000 U/mL and a low limit of detection of 0.47 mU/mL. Furthermore, the proposed VMSF/CNNS/GCE immunosensor is capable of highly selective and accurate determination of CA15-3 in spiked serum samples, which offers a simple and effective electrochemical strategy for detection of various practical biomarkers in complicated biological specimens.

Hydrogel Capacitors Based on MoS2 Nanosheets and Applications in Glucose Monitoring.

Non-invasive/minimally invasive continuous monitoring of blood glucose and blood glucose administration have a high impact on chronic disease management in diabetic patients, but the existing technology is yet to achieve the above two purposes at the same time. Therefore, this study proposes a microfluidic microneedle patch based on 3D printing technology and an integrated control system design for blood glucose measurement, and a drug delivery control circuit based on a 555 chip. The proposed method provides an improved preparation of a PVA-PEG-MoS2 nanosheet hydrogel, making use of its dielectric properties to fabricate a microcapacitor and then embedding it in a microfluidic chip. When MoS2 nanosheets react with interstitial liquid glucose (and during the calibration process), the permittivity of the hydrogel is changed, resulting in changes in the capacitance of the capacitor. By converting the capacitance change into the square-wave period change in the output of the 555 chip with the control circuit design accordingly, the minimally invasive continuous measurement of blood glucose and the controlled release of hypoglycemic drugs are realized. In this study, the cross-linking structure of MoS2 nanosheets in hydrogel was examined using infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods. Moreover, the critical doping mass fraction of MoS2 nanosheets was determined to be 2% via the measurement of the dielectric constant. Meanwhile, the circuit design and the relationship between the pulse cycle and glucose concentration is validated. The results show that, compared with capacitors in series, the microcapacitors embedded in microfluidic channels can be connected in parallel to obtain better linearized blood glucose measurement results.

Food nanotechnology: opportunities and challenges.

Food nanotechnology, which applies nanotechnology to food systems ranging from food production to food processing, packaging, and transportation, provides tremendous opportunities for conventional food science and industry innovation and improvement. Although great progress and rapid growth have been achieved in food nanotechnology research owing to the unique food features rendered by nanotechnology, at a fundamental level, food nanotechnology is still in its initial stages and the potential adverse effects of nanomaterials are still a controversial problem that attract public attention. Food-derived nanomaterials, compared to some inorganic nanoparticles and synthetic organic macromolecules, can be digested rapidly and produce similar digestion products to those produced normally, which become the mainstream and trend for food nanotechnology in practical applications, and are expected to be a vital tool for addressing the security problem and easing public concerns. These food-derived materials enable the favourable characteristics of nanostructures to be combined with the safety, biocompatibility, and bioactivity of natural food. Very recently, diverse food-derived nanomaterials have been explored and widely applied in multiple fields. Herein, we thoroughly summarize the fabrication and development of nanomaterials for use in food technology, as well as the recent advances in the improvement of food quality, revolutionizing food supply, and boosting food industries based on foodborne nanomaterials. The current challenges in food nanotechnology are also discussed. We hope this review can provide a detailed reference for experts and food manufacturers and inspire researchers to participate in the development of food nanotechnology for highly efficient food industry growth.

A dual-chambered microbial fuel cell with manganese dioxide nano-structured cathode for wastewater treatment.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can generate electricity by breaking down organic molecules through sustainable bio-electrochemical processes and wastewater as an energy source. A novel approach to remediate wastewater containing selenite was studied utilizing a selenite-reducing mixed bacterial culture with a nano manganese oxide modified cathode in the MFCs. The modification enhanced electrochemical catalytic activity, extracellular electron transfer rate, chemical oxygen demand (COD) elimination efficiency, and coulombic efficiency. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-rays analysis were used to examine a manganese dioxide-coated graphite cathode's surface morphology and chemical composition. The manganese dioxide-coated electrode generated up to 69% higher voltage with 150 ppm selenite concentration than the uncoated graphite electrode. The MFC removed up to 80% of the initial COD of 120 mg l-1and achieved a maximum power density of 1.51 W m-2. The study demonstrates that MFCs can effectively treat selenite-containing wastewater, and modifying the cathode can enhance energy production.

Selective regulation of macrophage lipid metabolism via nanomaterials' surface chemistry.

Understanding the interface between nanomaterials and lipoproteins is crucial for gaining insights into their impact on lipoprotein structure and lipid metabolism. Here, we use graphene oxide (GOs) nanosheets as a controlled carbon nanomaterial model to study how surface properties influence lipoprotein corona formation and show that GOs have strong binding affinity with low-density lipoprotein (LDL). We use advanced techniques including X-ray reflectivity, circular dichroism, and molecular simulations to explore the interfacial interactions between GOs and LDL. Specifically, hydrophobic GOs preferentially associate with LDL's lipid components, whereas hydrophilic GOs tend to bind with apolipoproteins. Furthermore, these GOs distinctly modulate a variety of lipid metabolism pathways, including LDL recognition, uptake, hydrolysis, efflux, and lipid droplet formation. This study underscores the importance of structure analysis at the nano-biomolecule interface, emphasizing how nanomaterials' surface properties critically influence cellular lipid metabolism. These insights will inspire the design and application of future biocompatible nanomaterials and nanomedicines.

Graphitic nanoflakes modulate the structure and binding of human amylin.

Human amylin is an inherently disordered protein whose ability to form amyloid fibrils is linked to the onset of type II diabetes. Graphitic nanomaterials have potential in managing amyloid diseases as they can disrupt protein aggregation processes in biological settings, but optimising these materials to prevent fibrillation is challenging. Here, we employ bias-exchange molecular dynamics simulations to systematically study the structure and adsorption preferences of amylin on graphitic nanoflakes that vary in their physical dimensions and surface functionalisation. Our findings reveal that nanoflake size and surface oxidation both influence the structure and adsorption preferences of amylin. The purely hydrophobic substrate of pristine graphene (PG) nanoflakes encourages non-specific protein adsorption, leading to unrestricted lateral mobility once amylin adheres to the surface. Particularly on larger PG nanoflakes, this induces structural changes in amylin that may promote fibril formation, such as the loss of native helical content and an increase in ß-sheet character. In contrast, oxidised graphene nanoflakes form hydrogen bonds between surface oxygen sites and amylin, and as such restricting protein mobility. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) flakes, featuring lower amounts of surface oxidation, are amphiphilic and exhibit substantial regions of bare carbon which promote protein binding and reduced conformational flexibility, leading to conservation of the native structure of amylin. In comparison, graphene oxide (GO) nanoflakes, which are predominantly hydrophilic and have a high degree of surface oxidation, facilitate considerable protein structural variability, resulting in substantial contact area between the protein and GO, and subsequent protein unfolding. Our results indicate that tailoring the size, oxygen concentration and surface patterning of graphitic nanoflakes can lead to specific and robust protein binding, ultimately influencing the likelihood of fibril formation. These atomistic insights provide key design considerations for the development of graphitic nanoflakes that can modulate protein aggregation by sequestering protein monomers in the biological environment and inhibit conformational changes linked to amyloid fibril formation.