Engineered Niobium Carbide MXenzyme-Integrated Self-Adaptive Coatings Inhibiting Periprosthetic Osteolysis by Orchestrating Osteogenesis-Osteoclastogenesis Balance.

Periprosthetic osteolysis induced by the ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear particles is a major complication associated with the sustained service of artificial joint prostheses and often necessitates revision surgery. Therefore, a smart implant with direct prevention and repair abilities is urgently developed to avoid painful revision surgery. Herein, we fabricate a phosphatidylserine- and polyethylenimine-engineered niobium carbide (Nb2C) MXenzyme-coated micro/nanostructured titanium implant (PPN@MNTi) that inhibits UHMWPE particle-induced periprosthetic osteolysis. The specific mechanism by which PPN@MNTi operates involves the bioresponsive release of nanosheets from the MNTi substrate within an osteolysis microenvironment, initiated by the cleavage of a thioketal-dopamine molecule sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Subsequently, functionalized Nb2C MXenzyme could target macrophages and escape from lysosomes, effectively scavenging intracellular ROS through its antioxidant nanozyme-mimicking activities. This further achieves the suppression of osteoclastogenesis by inhibiting NF-κB/MAPK and autophagy signaling pathways. Simultaneously, based on the synergistic effect of MXenzyme-integrated coatings and micro/nanostructured topography, the designed implant promotes the osteogenic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells to regulate bone homeostasis, further achieving advanced osseointegration and alleviable periprosthetic osteolysis in vivo. This study provides a precise prevention and repair strategy of periprosthetic osteolysis, offering a paradigm for the development of smart orthopedic implants.

Niobium-based single-atom catalyst promoted fractionation of lignocellulose in choline chloride-lactic acid deep eutectic solvent.

Pretreatment is the key step to convert lignocelluloses to sustainable biofuels, biochemicals or biomaterials. In this study, a green pretreatment method based on choline chloride-lactic acid deep eutectic solvent (ChCl-LA) and niobium-based single-atom catalyst (Nb/CN) was developed for the fractionation of corn straw and further enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. With this strategy, significant lignin removal of 96.5 % could be achieved when corn straw was pretreated by ChCl-LA (1:2) DES over Nb/CN under 120 °C for 6 h. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulose-enriched fraction (CEF) presented high glucose yield of 92.7 % and xylose yield of 67.5 %. In-depth investigations verified that the high yields of fractions and monosaccharides was attributed to the preliminary fractionation by DES and the deep fractionation by Nb/CN. Significantly, compared to other reported soluble catalysts, the synthesized single-atom catalyst displayed excellent reusability by simple filtration and enzymatic hydrolysis. The recyclability experiments showed that the combination of ChCl-LA DES and Nb/CN could be repeated at least three times for corn straw fractionation, moreover, the combination displayed remarkable feedstock adaptability.

Surface modification of the laser powder bed-fused Ti-Zr-Nb scaffolds by dynamic chemical etching and Ag nanoparticles decoration.

Metallic lattice scaffolds are designed to mimic the architecture and mechanical properties of bone tissue and their surface compatibility is of primary importance. This study presents a novel surface modification protocol for metallic lattice scaffolds printed from a superelastic Ti-Zr-Nb alloy. This protocol consists of dynamic chemical etching (DCE) followed by silver nanoparticles (AgNP) decoration. DCE, using an 1HF + 3HNO3 + 12H2O23% based solution, was used to remove partially-fused particles from the surfaces of different as-built lattice structures (rhombic dodecahedron, sheet gyroid, and Voronoi polyhedra). Subsequently, an antibacterial coating was synthesized on the surface of the scaffolds by a controlled (20 min at a fixed volume flowrate of 500 mL/min) pumping of the functionalization solutions (NaBH4 (2 mg/mL) and AgNO3 (1 mg/mL)) through the porous structures. Following these treatments, the scaffolds' surfaces were found to be densely populated with Ag nanoparticles and their agglomerates, and manifested an excellent antibacterial effect (Ag ion release rate of 4-8 ppm) suppressing the growth of both E. coli and B. subtilis bacteria up to 99 %. The scaffold extracts showed no cytotoxicity and did not affect cell proliferation, indicating their safety for subsequent use as implants. A cytocompatibility assessment using MG-63 spheroids demonstrated good attachment, spreading, and active migration of cells on the scaffold surface (over 96 % of living cells), confirming their biotolerance. These findings suggest the promise of this surface modification approach for developing superelastic Ti-Zr-Nb scaffolds with superior antibacterial properties and biocompatibility, making them highly suitable for bone implant applications.

Ultrasensitive Graphene Field-Effect Biosensors Based on Ferroelectric Polarization of Lithium Niobate for Breast Cancer Marker Detection.

Herein, we present a novel ultrasensitive graphene field-effect transistor (GFET) biosensor based on lithium niobate (LiNbO3) ferroelectric substrate for the application of breast cancer marker detection. The electrical properties of graphene are varied under the electrostatic field, which is generated through the spontaneous polarization of the ferroelectric substrate. It is demonstrated that the properties of interface between graphene and solution are also altered due to the interaction between the electrostatic field and ions. Compared with the graphene field-effect biosensor based on the conventional Si/SiO2 gate structure, our biosensor achieves a higher sensitivity to 64.7 mV/decade and shows a limit of detection down to 1.7 fM (equivalent to 12 fg·mL-1) on the detection of microRNA21 (a breast cancer marker). This innovative design combining GFETs with ferroelectric substrates holds great promise for developing an ultrahigh-sensitivity biosensing platform based on graphene that enables rapid and early disease diagnosis.

Optimizing the cell compatibility and mechanical properties in TiZrNbTa medium-entropy alloy/ß-Ti composites through phase transformation.

Medium-entropy alloys (MEAs) typically exhibit outstanding mechanical properties, but their high Young's modulus results in restricted clinical applications. Mismatched Young's modulus between implant materials and human bones can lead to "stress shielding" effects, leading to implant failure. In contrast, ß-Ti alloys demonstrate a lower Young's modulus compared to MEAs, albeit with lower strength. In the present study, based on the bimodal grain size distribution (BGSD) strategy, a series of high-performance TiZrNbTa/Ti composites are obtained by combining TiZrNbTa MEA powders with nano-scale grain sizes and commercially pure Ti (CP-Ti) powders with micro-scale grain sizes. Concurrently, Zr, Nb, and Ta that are ß-Ti stabilizer elements diffuse into Ti, inducing an isomorphous transformation in Ti from the high Young's modulus α-Ti phase to the low Young's modulus ß-Ti phase at room temperature, optimizing the mechanical biocompatibility. The TiZrNbTa/ß-Ti composite demonstrates a yield strength of 1490 ± 83 MPa, ductility of 20.7 % ± 2.9 %, and Young's modulus of 87.6 ± 1.6 GPa. Notably, the yield strength of the TiZrNbTa/ß-Ti composite surpasses that of sintered CP-Ti by 2.6-fold, and its ductility outperforms TiZrNbTa MEA by 2.3-fold. The Young's modulus of the TiZrNbTa/ß-Ti composite is reduced by 28 % and 36 % compared to sintered CP-Ti and TiZrNbTa MEA, respectively. Additionally, it demonstrates superior biocompatibility compared to CP-Ti plate, sintered CP-Ti, and TiZrNbTa MEA. With a good combination of mechanical properties and biocompatibility, the TiZrNbTa/ß-Ti composite exhibits significant potential for clinical applications as metallic biomaterials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This work combines TiZrNbTa MEA with nano-grains and commercially pure Ti with micro-grains to fabricate a TiZrNbTa/ß-Ti composite with bimodal grain-size, which achieves a yield strength of 1490 ± 83 MPa and a ductility of 20.7 % ± 2.9 %. Adhering to the ISO 10993-5 standard, the TiZrNbTa/ß-Ti composite qualifies as a non-cytotoxic material, achieving a Class 0 cytotoxicity rating and demonstrating outstanding biocompatibility akin to commercially pure Ti. Drawing on element diffusion, Zr, Nb, and Ta serve not only as solvent atoms to achieve solid-solution strengthening but also as stabilizers for the transformation of the ß-Ti crystal structure. This work offers a novel avenue for designing advanced biomedical Ti alloys with elevated strength and plasticity alongside a reduced Young's modulus.

Synthesis and characterization of TiNbZrMo medium-entropy bio-composites: Microstructure, mechanical properties, and in vitro degradation.

This study reports the synthesis and characterization of hydroxyapatite (HA)-based bio-composites reinforced with varying amounts (by weight, 1-15 wt.%) of bio-medium entropy alloy (BioMEA) for load-bearing implant applications. BioMEA powders consisting of Ti, Nb, Zr, and Mo were mechanically alloyed for 100 h and subsequently added to HA using powder metallurgy techniques. To show the effect of BioMEA, the microstructure, density, and mechanical tests have been conducted and the synthesized BioMEA was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), x-ray diffractometer (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. In addition, in vitro degradation behavior and bioactivity analyses of bio-composites have been conducted. XRD analysis revealed the formation of BioMEA after 20 h of mechanical alloying. The highest density value of 2.47 g/cm3 was found in 15 wt.% BioMEA-reinforced bio-composite. The addition of BioMEA reinforcement led to a significant increase in hardness and tensile strength values, with the highest values observed at 15 wt.% reinforcement. Compression tests demonstrated a significant increase in compressive strength and deformation capability of the bio-composites with the highest values observed at 15 wt.% BioMEA addition. The highest toughness of 7.68 kJ/m2 was measured in 10 wt.% MEA-reinforced bio-composites. The produced bio-composite materials have an elastic modulus between 3.5-5.5 GPa, which may provide a solution to the stress shielding problems caused by the high elastic modulus of metallic implant materials. The most severe degradation occurred in 15 wt.% MEA-reinforced bio-composites, and the effect of degradation caused a decrease in Ca and an increase in Ti-Ni-Zr-Mo in all bio-composites. These findings suggest that HA/BioMEA bio-composites have the potential to be developed as advanced biomaterials with moderate mechanical and biological properties for load-bearing implant applications.

Unique spatially and temporary-regulated/sex-specific expression of a long ncRNA, Nb-1, suggesting its pleiotropic functions associated with honey bee lifecycle.

Honey bees are social insects, and each colony member has unique morphological and physiological traits associated with their social tasks. Previously, we identified a long non-coding RNA from honey bees, termed Nb-1, whose expression in the brain decreases associated with the age-polyethism of workers and is detected in some neurosecretory cells and octopaminergic neurons, suggesting its role in the regulation of worker labor transition. Herein, we investigated its spatially and temporary-regulated/sex-specific expression. Nb-1 was expressed as an abundant maternal RNA during oogenesis and embryogenesis in both sexes. In addition, Nb-1 was expressed preferentially in the proliferating neuroblasts of the mushroom bodies (a higher-order center of the insect brain) in the pupal brains, suggesting its role in embryogenesis and mushroom body development. On the contrary, Nb-1 was expressed in a drone-specific manner in the pupal and adult retina, suggesting its role in the drone visual development and/or sense. Subcellular localization of Nb-1 in the brain during development differed depending on the cell type. Considering that Nb-1 is conserved only in Apidae, our findings suggest that Nb-1 potentially has pleiotropic functions in the expression of multiple developmental, behavioral, and physiological traits, which are closely associated with the honey bee lifecycle.

Nb-Based Catalysts for the Valorization of Furfural into Valuable Product through in One-Pot Reaction.

Nb-based catalysts supported on porous silica with different textural properties have been synthesized, characterized, and tested in the one-pot reaction of furfural to obtain valuable chemicals. The catalytic results reveal that the presence of fluoride in the synthesis, which limits the growing of the porous silica, limits diffusional problems of the porous silica, obtaining higher conversion values at shorter reaction times. On the other hand, the incorporation of NbOx species in the porous silica provides Lewis acid sites and a small proportion of Brönsted acid sites, in such a way that the main products are alkyl furfuryl ethers, which can be used as fuel additives.

Exploring the Effect of V2O5 and Nb2O5 Content on the Structural, Thermal, and Electrical Characteristics of Sodium Phosphate Glasses and Glass-Ceramics.

Na-V-P-Nb-based materials have gained substantial recognition as cathode materials in high-rate sodium-ion batteries due to their unique properties and compositions, comprising both alkali and transition metal ions, which allow them to exhibit a mixed ionic-polaronic conduction mechanism. In this study, the impact of introducing two transition metal oxides, V2O5 and Nb2O5, on the thermal, (micro)structural, and electrical properties of the 35Na2O-25V2O5-(40 - x)P2O5 - xNb2O5 system is examined. The starting glass shows the highest values of DC conductivity, σDC, reaching 1.45 × 10-8 Ω-1 cm-1 at 303 K, along with a glass transition temperature, Tg, of 371 °C. The incorporation of Nb2O5 influences both σDC and Tg, resulting in non-linear trends, with the lowest values observed for the glass with x = 20 mol%. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements and vibrational spectroscopy results suggest that the observed non-monotonic trend in σDC arises from a diminishing contribution of polaronic conductivity due to the decrease in the relative number of V4+ ions and the introduction of Nb2O5, which disrupts the predominantly mixed vanadate-phosphate network within the starting glasses, consequently impeding polaronic transport. The mechanism of electrical transport is investigated using the model-free Summerfield scaling procedure, revealing the presence of mixed ionic-polaronic conductivity in glasses where x < 10 mol%, whereas for x ≥ 10 mol%, the ionic conductivity mechanism becomes prominent. To assess the impact of the V2O5 content on the electrical transport mechanism, a comparative analysis of two analogue series with varying V2O5 content (10 and 25 mol%) is conducted to evaluate the extent of its polaronic contribution.

Niobium oxyhydroxide as a bioactive agent and reinforcement to a high-viscosity bulk-fill resin composite.

OBJECTIVE: The present in vitro study incorporated niobium oxyhydroxide fillers into an experimental high-viscosity bulk-fill resin composite to improve its mechanical performance and provide it a bioactive potential. METHODOLOGY: Scanning electron microscopy synthesized and characterized 0.5% niobium oxyhydroxide fillers, demonstrating a homogeneous morphology that represented a reinforcement for the feature. Fillers were weighed, gradually added to the experimental resin composite, and homogenized for one minute, forming three groups: BF (experimental high-viscosity bulk-fill resin composite; control), BF0.5 (experimental high-viscosity bulk-fill resin composite modified with 0.5% niobium oxyhydroxide fillers), and BFC (commercial bulk-fill resin composite Beautifil Bulk U, Shofu; positive control). In total, 10 specimens/groups (8 × 2 × 2 mm) underwent flexural strength (FS) tests in a universal testing machine (Instron) (500N). Resin composites were also assessed for Knoop hardness (KH), depth of cure (DoC), degree of conversion (DC), elastic modulus (E), and degree of color change (ΔE). The bioactive potential of the developed resin composite was evaluated after immersing the specimens into a simulated body fluid in vitro solution and assessing them using a Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscope with an attenuated total reflectance accessory. One-way ANOVA, followed by the Tukey's test (p<0.05), determined FS, DC, KH, and ΔE. For DoC, ANOVA was performed, which demonstrated no significant difference between groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The high-viscosity bulk-fill resin composite with 0.5% niobium oxyhydroxide fillers showed promising outcomes as reinforcement agents and performed well for bioactive potential, although less predictable than the commercial resin composite with Giomer technology.

Removal of doxorubicin hydrochloride and crystal violet from aqueous solutions using spray-dried niobium oxide coated with chitosan-activated carbon: Experimental and DFT calculations.

Spray-dried niobium oxide coated with chitosan-activated carbon (NIC) was synthesized and used to remove doxorubicin hydrochloride and crystal violet from aqueous solutions under different parameters such as solution pH (2, 4, 6, and 8), contact time (1 to 9 h), initial concentration (20 to 200 mg L-1), and competing ions (0.1 M of CaCl2 and NaCl). The addition of 5 % chitosan-activated carbon to the matrix of niobium oxide slightly increased the specific surface area from 26 to 30 m2 g-1, with the introduction of a carboxylic functional group. This led to an increase in the amount of adsorbed doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOH) from 30 to 44 mg g-1 and that of crystal violet (CV) from 15 to 32 mg g-1 from the initial respective 100 mg L-1 at pH 8. The data from the concentration study fitted into Liu isotherm having adsorption capacity of 128 and 57 mg g-1 for DOH and CV respectively, while pseudo first and second order are more suitable for adsorption kinetics. The additional functional groups on the IR spectrum of NIC after the adsorption of DOH and CV confirmed the interaction between NIC and the adsorbates' molecules. The mechanism of adsorption was supported by DFT calculations.

Integrated lithium niobate microwave photonic processing engine.

Integrated microwave photonics (MWP) is an intriguing technology for the generation, transmission and manipulation of microwave signals in chip-scale optical systems1,2. In particular, ultrafast processing of analogue signals in the optical domain with high fidelity and low latency could enable a variety of applications such as MWP filters3-5, microwave signal processing6-9 and image recognition10,11. An ideal integrated MWP processing platform should have both an efficient and high-speed electro-optic modulation block to faithfully perform microwave-optic conversion at low power and also a low-loss functional photonic network to implement various signal-processing tasks. Moreover, large-scale, low-cost manufacturability is required to monolithically integrate the two building blocks on the same chip. Here we demonstrate such an integrated MWP processing engine based on a 4 inch wafer-scale thin-film lithium niobate platform. It can perform multipurpose tasks with processing bandwidths of up to 67 GHz at complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible voltages. We achieve ultrafast analogue computation, namely temporal integration and differentiation, at sampling rates of up to 256 giga samples per second, and deploy these functions to showcase three proof-of-concept applications: solving ordinary differential equations, generating ultra-wideband signals and detecting edges in images. We further leverage the image edge detector to realize a photonic-assisted image segmentation model that can effectively outline the boundaries of melanoma lesion in medical diagnostic images. Our ultrafast lithium niobate MWP engine could provide compact, low-latency and cost-effective solutions for future wireless communications, high-resolution radar and photonic artificial intelligence.

Topographical and crystalline change on surface by sandblasting improve flexural and shear bond strength of niobia-modified yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of sandblasting on the physical properties and bond strength of two types of translucent zirconia: niobium-oxide-containing yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals ((Y, Nb)-TZP) and 5 mol% yttria-partially stabilized zirconia (5Y-PSZ). Fully sintered disc specimens were either sandblasted with 125 µm alumina particles or left as-sintered. Surface roughness, crystal phase compositions, and surface morphology were explored. Biaxial flexural strength (n=10) and shear bond strength (SBS) (n=12) were evaluated, including thermocycling conditions. Results indicated a decrease in flexural strength of 5Y-PSZ from 601 to 303 MPa upon sandblasting, while (Y, Nb)-TZP improved from 458 to 544 MPa. Both materials significantly increased SBS after sandblasting (p<0.001). After thermocycling, (Y, Nb)-TZP maintained superior SBS (14.3 MPa) compared to 5Y-PSZ (11.3 MPa) (p<0.001). The study concludes that (Y, Nb)-TZP is preferable for sandblasting applications, particularly for achieving durable bonding without compromising flexural strength.

Isolation of TiNbN wear particles from a coated metal-on-metal bearing: Morphological characterization and in vitro evaluation of cytotoxicity in human osteoblasts.

To improve the wear resistance of articulating metallic joint endoprostheses, the surfaces can be coated with titanium niobium nitride (TiNbN). Under poor tribological conditions or malalignment, wear can occur on these implant surfaces in situ. This study investigated the biological response of human osteoblasts to wear particles generated from TiNbN-coated hip implants. Abrasive particles were generated in a hip simulator according to ISO 14242-1/-2 and extracted with Proteinase K. Particle characteristics were evaluated by electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. Human osteoblasts were exposed to different particle dilutions (1:20, 1:50, and 1:100), and cell viability and gene expression levels of osteogenic markers and inflammatory mediators were analyzed after 4 and 7 days. Using ICP-MS, EDS, and DLS measurements, ~70% of the particles were identified as TiNbN, ranging from 39 to 94 nm. The particles exhibited a flat and subangular morphology. Exposure to particles did not influence cell viability and osteoblastic differentiation capacity. Protein levels of collagen type 1, osteoprotegerin, and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand were almost unaffected. Moreover, the pro-inflammatory response via interleukins 6 and 8 was minor induced after particle contact. A high number of TiNbN wear particles only slightly affected osteoblasts' differentiation ability and inflammatory response compared to metallic particles. Nevertheless, further studies should investigate the role of these particles in peri-implant bone tissue, especially concerning other cell types.

Sol-gel and Pechini niobium modified: synthesis, characterization and application in the 2,4-D herbicide degradation.

In this work, a comparison was made between the synthesis of niobium-based materials (Nb2O5), both in terms of material characterization and catalytic performance. The methods used were chemical mixtures: modified sol-gel and Pechini. The materials were calcined at different temperatures (753, 873 and 993K) and characterized by the following techniques: photoacousticspectroscopy (PAS), zero charge point (pHPZC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The photocatalytic process was carried out to evaluate the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) under UV radiation (250 W mercury vapor lamp) and different experimental conditions. In addition, to better understand the influence of parameters such as pH, catalyst concentration (0.2, 0.5 and 0.8 g L-1) and calcination temperature, a Design of Experiments (DoE) was used. The results indicated that despite having similar structures and phases in the XRD analysis, the morphology presents two distinct surfaces, due to the preparation method. Differences in the synthesis method affected the catalytic activity in the parameters studied. Although the zero charge point values are close (6.18-6.36), we observed differences in the band gap depending on the calcination temperature. In the optimal condition studied, the catalyst prepared by the sol-gel method obtained the best results.

7-Methoxy-13-dehydroxypaxilline: New indole diterpenoid from an endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. Nb 19.

ABSTACTA chemical investigation of the endophyte Penicillium sp. Nb 19, isolated from leaves of the traditionally medical plant Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek., yielded one new indole diterpenoid, 7-methoxy-13-dehydroxypaxilline (1) together with seven known metabolites (2-8). The obtained structure of compound 1 was elucidated by its spectroscopic data. In addition, the absolute configuration of compound 6 was confirmed by ECD for the first time. Compounds 1-6 were evaluated for antitumor activity against MCF-7, HepG2, and HCCC-9810 cell lines.

Effects of impregnation sequence on the NH3-SCR activity and hydrothermal stability of a Ce-Nb/SnO2 catalyst.

Hydrothermal stability is crucial for the practical application of deNOx catalyst on diesel vehicles, for the selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3 (NH3-SCR). SnO2-based materials possess superior hydrothermal stability, which is attractive for the development of NH3-SCR catalyst. In this work, a series of Ce-Nb/SnO2 catalysts, with Ce and Nb loading on SnO2 support, were prepared by impregnation method. It was found that, the NH3-SCR activities and hydrothermal stabilities of the Ce-Nb/SnO2 catalysts significantly varied with the impregnation sequences, and the Ce-Nb(f)/SnO2 catalyst that firstly impregnated Nb and then impregnated Ce exhibited the best performance. The characterization results revealed that Ce-Nb(f)/SnO2 possessed appropriate acidity and redox capability. Furthermore, the strong synergistic effect between Nb and Sn species stabilized the structure and maintained the dispersion of acid sites. This study may provide a new understanding for the effect of impregnation sequence on activity and hydrothermal stability and a new environmental-friendly NH3-SCR catalyst with potential applications for NOx removal from diesel and hydrogen-fueled engines.

Superior functionality of niobium pentoxide nano-rod/tripod photocatalyst synthesized using polyethyleneimine as a soft template for the abatement of methylene blue under UV and visible irradiation.

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) capping agent-cum-template-mediated synthesis of niobium oxide nanoparticles is reported to explore its impact on the resultant morphology, porosity, crystallinity, phase complexation, and thus on the photocatalytic activity. The resultant niobium oxides calcined at 800°C and 1000°C crystallized into highly ordered nano-rod/tripod nanostructure with inter-rod angle <120° having orthorhombic phase and heavily agglomerated rod-like nanostructures having monoclinic crystal phase, respectively. Contrary to the expectations, the nano-rod/tripods showed superior photocatalytic degradation kinetics and high adsorption of methylene blue dye in the hydrocolloid than formerly reported monoclinic nanoparticles. The best adsorption capability and photocatalytic activity are observed for the sample calcined at 800°C, resulting in a combined degradation efficiency of 98.8% of methylene blue dye. The adsorption characteristics, stability of the hydrocolloid system, the existence of oxygen vacancies, and the distinct morphology of the photocatalytic nano-rod/tripods are mainly responsible for this behavior. The process and the performance of unique nanostructure over others presents a superior alternative.

Nanobody-based trispecific T cell engager (Nb-TriTE) enhances therapeutic efficacy by overcoming tumor-mediated immunosuppression.

BACKGROUND: T cell engagers (TCEs) have been established as an emerging modality for hematologic malignancies, but solid tumors remain refractory. However, the upregulation of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) is correlated with T cell dysfunction that confer tumor-mediated immunosuppression. Developing a novel nanobody-based trispecific T cell engager (Nb-TriTE) would be a potential strategy to improve therapeutic efficacy. METHODS: Given the therapeutic potential of nanobodies (Nbs), we first screened Nb targeting fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and successfully generated a Nb-based bispecific T cell engager (Nb-BiTE) targeting FAP. Then, we developed a Nb-TriTE by fusing an anti-PD-1 Nb to the Nb-BiTE. The biological activity and antitumor efficacy of the Nb-TriTE were evaluated in vitro and in both cell line-derived and patient-derived xenograft mouse models. RESULTS: We had for the first time successfully selected a FAP Nb for the generation of novel Nb-BiTE and Nb-TriTE, which showed good binding ability to their targets. Nb-TriTE not only induced robust tumor antigen-specific killing, potent T cell activation and enhanced T cell function in vitro, but also suppressed tumor growth, improved survival and mediated more T cell infiltration than Nb-BiTE in mouse models of different solid tumors without toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: This novel Nb-TriTE provides a promising and universal platform to overcome tumor-mediated immunosuppression and improve patient outcomes in the future.

Unique κ-Ce2Zr2O8 Superstructure Promoting the NOx Adsorption-Selective Catalytic Reduction (AdSCR) Performance of the WO3/CeZrOx Catalyst.

Selective catalytic reduction of NOx by NH3 (NH3-SCR) for diesel emission control at low temperatures is still a great challenge due to the limit of the urea injection threshold and inferior SCR activity of state-of-the-art catalyst systems below 200 °C. Fabricating bifunctional catalysts with both low temperature NOx adsorption-storage capacity and medium-high temperature NOx reduction activity is an effective strategy to solve the issues mentioned above but is rarely investigated. Herein, the WO3/Ce0.68Zr0.32Ox (W/CZ) catalyst containing the κ-Ce2Zr2O8 pyrochlore structure was successfully developed by a simple H2 reduction method, not only showing superior NOx adsorption-storage ability below 180 °C but also exhibiting excellent NH3-SCR activity above 180 °C. The presence of the pyrochlore structure effectively increased the oxygen vacancies on the κ-Ce2Zr2O8-containing W/CZ catalyst with enhanced redox property, which significantly promoted the NOx adsorption-storage as active nitrate species below 180 °C. Upon NH3 introduction above 180 °C, the κ-Ce2Zr2O8-containing W/CZ catalyst showed greatly improved NOx reduction performance, suggesting that the pyrochlore structure played a vital role in improving the NOx adsorption-selective catalytic reduction (AdSCR) performance. This work provides a new perspective for designing bifunctional CeZrOx-based catalysts to efficiently control the NOx emissions from diesel engines during the cold-start process.