Proton exchange-membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is a clean and efficient type of energy storage device. However, the sluggish reaction rate of the cathode oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has been a significant problem in its development. This review reports the recent progress of advanced electrocatalysts focusing on the interface/surface electronic structure and exploring the synergistic relationship of precious-based and non-precious metal-based catalysts and support materials. The support materials contain non-metal (C/N/Si, etc.) and metal-based structures, which have demonstrated a crucial role in the synergistic enhancement of electrocatalytic properties, especially for high-temperature fuel cell systems. To improve the strong interaction, some exciting synergistic strategies by doping and coating heterogeneous elements or connecting polymeric ligands containing carbon and nitrogen were also shown herein. Besides the typical role of the crystal surface, phase structure, lattice strain, etc., the evolution of structure-performance relations was also highlighted in real-time tests. The advanced in situ characterization techniques were also reviewed to emphasize the accurate structure-performance relations. Finally, the challenge and prospect for developing the ORR electrocatalysts were concluded for commercial applications in low- and high-temperature fuel cell systems.

Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) offers a three-dimensional, nonimmunogenic scaffold, enriched with bioactive components, making it a suitable candidate for tissue regeneration. Although dECM-based scaffolds have been successfully implemented in preclinical and clinical settings within tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, the mechanisms of tissue remodeling and functional restoration are not fully understood. This review critically assesses the state-of-the-art in dECM scaffolds, including decellularization techniques for various tissues, quality control and cross-linking. It highlights the functional properties of dECM components and their latest applications in multiorgan tissue engineering and biomedicine. Additionally, the review addresses current challenges and limitations of decellularized scaffolds and offers perspectives on future directions in the field.

Jellyfish stings have become a common injury among fishermen and divers. Severe jellyfish stings couldworsen cardiac function and even cause cardiac complications, ultimately leading to cardiac failure (CF). Currently, there are no effective drugs available. Single cell sequencing revealed alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AAG), an energy regulatory protein targeting to glycogen, was highly expressed in jellyfish stings-induced CF patients. However, the mechanism remains elusive. It is postulated that AAG could increase glycogen metabolism, protecting against jellyfish stings-induced CF. AAGdeletion exacerbated CF, while exogenous and endogenous AAG ameliorated CF. AAG also rescued the decline triggered by the AAGknockout (KO). Intriguingly, AAG improved cardiac function and metabolic adaptation by glycogen-driven ATP production, shifting mitochondrial/glycolytic ATP production towards glycolysis. Sorted by single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcription technology, CC-chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1α) were differentially expressed. Mechanistically, CCR5 inhibitor MVC abolished AAG’s protective effect and PGC-1α overexpression. Collectively, jellyfish stings-induced CF was ameliorated through AAG-mediated glycogen-driven ATP production, promoting glycolytic/mitochondrial metabolic switches to rely energetically primarily on glycolysis, which might serve as a therapeutic target of CF.

Fluorescence-assisted tools based on organic molecules have been extensively applied to interrogate complex biological processes in a non-invasive manner with good sensitivity, high resolution, and rich contrast. However, the signal-to-noise ratio is an essential factor to be reckoned with during collecting images for high fidelity. In view of this, the wash-free strategy is proven as a promising and important approach to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, thus a thorough introduction is presented in the current review about wash-free fluorescent tools based on organic molecules. Firstly, generalization and summarization of the principles for designing wash-freemolecular fluorescent tools (WFTs) aremade. Subsequently, tomake the thought ofmolecule designmore legible, a wash-free strategy is highlighted in recent studies from four diverse but tightly binding aspects: (1) special chemical structures, (2) molecular interactions, (3) bio-orthogonal reactions, (4) abiotic reactions. Meanwhile, biomedical applications including bioimaging, biodetection, and therapy, are ready to be accompanied by. Finally, the prospects for WFTs are elaborated and discussed. This review is a timely conclusion about wash-free strategy in the fluorescence-guided biomedical applications, which may bring WFTs to the forefront and accelerate their extensive applications in biology and medicine.

Cancer immunotherapy is the most promisingmethod for tumor therapy, while ferroptosis could activate the immunogenicity of cancer and strengthen the cellular immune response.However, limited by the complex tumormicroenvironment, the abundant glutathione (GSH) and low reactive oxygen species (ROS) seriously weaken ferroptosis and the immune response. Herein, the authors report photothermal metal-phenolic networks (MPNs) supplied with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) by reducing levels of GSH and then trapping the tumor cells in the ferroptosis and immunotherapy cascade loop to eliminate colorectal cancer (CRC). TheMPNs coated with themodel antigen ovalbumin can accumulate at the tumor site,mediate immunogenic cell death (ICD) underNIR irradiation, and initiate tumoricidal immunity. Then the activated CD⁸⁺ T cells would release IFN-γ to inhibit GPX4 and promote the immunogenic ferroptosis induced by Fe³⁺ and BSO. Finally, the tumor cells at intertumoral and intratumoral levels would be involved in the ferroptosis-dominated cancer-immunity circle for CRC eradication, resulting in outstanding therapeutic outcomes in both primary and distant tumormodels. Overall, this strategy employs a photothermal nanoplatformto rapidly stimulate ICD and restrain the oxidation defense system, which provides a promising approach to significantly amplify the “cascade loop” of ferroptosis induction and immunotherapy for treatment of CRC.

Cell behavior is intricately intertwined with the in vivo microenvironment and endogenous pathways. The ability to guide cellular behavior toward specific goals can be achieved by external stimuli, notably electricity, light, ultrasound, and magnetism, simultaneously harnessed through biomaterial-mediated responses. These external triggers become focal points within the body due to interactions with biomaterials, facilitating a range of cellular pathways: electrical signal transmission, biochemical cues, drug release, cell loading, and modulation of mechanical stress. Stimulus-responsive biomaterials hold immense potential in biomedical research, establishing themselves as a pivotal focal point in interdisciplinary pursuits. This comprehensive review systematically elucidates prevalent physical stimuli and their corresponding biomaterial response mechanisms. Moreover, it delves deeply into the application of biomaterials within the domain of biomedicine. A balanced assessment of distinct physical stimulation techniques is provided, along with a discussion of their merits and limitations. The review aims to shed light on the future trajectory of physical stimulus-responsive biomaterials in disease treatment and outline their application prospects and potential for future development. This review is poised to spark novel concepts for advancing intelligent, stimulus-responsive biomaterials.

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) impose an immeasurable burden on individuals and society. While the conventional use of immunosuppressants and disease-modifying drugs has provided partial relief and control, their inevitable side effects and limited efficacy cast a shadow over finding a cure. Promising nucleic acid drugs have shown the potential to exert precise effects at the molecular level, with different classes of nucleic acids having regulatory functions through varying mechanisms. For the better delivery of nucleic acids, safe and effective viral vectors and non-viral delivery systems (including liposomes, polymers, etc.) have been intensively explored. Herein, after describing a range of nucleic acid categories and vectors, we focus on the application of therapeutic nucleic acid delivery in various IMIDs, including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, asthma, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and uveitis.Molecules implicated in inflammation and immune dysregulation are abnormally expressed in a series of IMIDs, and their meticulous modulation through nucleic acid therapy results in varying degrees of remission and improvement of these diseases. By synthesizing findings centered on specific molecular targets, this review delivers a systematic elucidation and perspective towards advancing and utilization of nucleic acid therapeutics for managing IMIDs.

The ability to fabricate an entire smart sensor patchwith read-out electronics using commercial printing techniques may have a wide range of potential applications. Although solution-processed oxide thin film transistors (TFTs) are capable of providing high mobility electron transport, resulting in large ON-state current and power output, there is hardly any literature report that uses the printed oxide TFTs at the sensor interfaces. Here, printed amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide (a-IGZO)-based deep-subthreshold operated TFTs that comprise signal amplifiers and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) that can successfully digitalize the analog sensor signals up to a frequency range of 1 kHz are reported. In addition, exploiting the high current oxide TFTs, a current drive circuit placed after the ADC unit has been found useful in producing easy-to-detect visual recognition of the sensor signal at a predefined threshold crossover. Notably, the entire smart sensor patch is demonstrated to operate at a low supply voltage of ≤2 V, thereby ensuring that it can be an on-chip energy source compatible and standalone detection unit.

Sonodynamic therapy offers a non-invasive approach to induce the death of tumor cells. By harnessing ultrasound waves in tandem with sonosensitizers, this method produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) that inflict oxidative damage upon tumor cells, subsequently causing their demise. Ferroptosis is a regulatory form of cell death that differs from other forms, characterized by iron accumulation, ROS accumulation, and lipid peroxidation. In the presented research, a nanoparticle formulation, parthenolide/ICGCaCO₃@lipid (PTL/ICG-CaCO₃@Lip), has been engineered to amplify ferroptosis in tumor cells, positioning it as a potent agent for sonodynamic cancer immunotherapy. This nanoparticle significantly augments ROS levels within tumor cells, inducing oxidative stress that leads to cell death. The therapeutic potential of PTL/ICG-CaCO₃@Lip, both in vivo and in vitro, has been convincingly demonstrated. Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis insights revealed that PTL/ICG-CaCO₃@Lip facilitates tumor cell ferroptosis by regulating P53 to downregulate SLC7A11 protein expression, thereby inhibiting the glutamate-cystine antiporter system Xc^- and stimulating ACSL4/LPCAT3 pathways. This pioneering work uncovers an innovative strategy for combatting tumors, leveraging enhanced oxidative stress to promote cell ferroptosis, and paves the way for groundbreaking cancer immunotherapeutic interventions.

Yellow light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a wavelength of 570–590 nm can reduce the excitability of peripheral nerves and the sensitivity of the skin, stimulate collagen synthesis, and tighten the skin, which plays an important role in skin rejuvenation. In general, commercial LEDs aremade of phosphor excited by ultraviolet chips. It is very important for the development of yellow light emitters with high luminous efficiency, good stability, and environmental protection. For the first time, a simple organic structural unit (2-methylimidazole, 2-MIM) was used to collect a mixture of two metal precursors (CsI and CuI) and successfully synthesized an all-inorganic lead-free yellow light CsCu2I3 powder in water. The prepared CsCu₂I₃ powder exhibited excellent optical properties and considerable stability. Finally, a phosphor-converted LED (pc-LED) device was fabricated via the CsCu₂I₃ phosphor coated on a 310 nm ultraviolet chip. The pc-LED device’s electroluminescence spectramay be a good fit for the blood’s absorption regions. Therefore, this work provides a facile method for the synthesis of novel lead-free metal halide CsCu₂I₃ powder in eco-friendly solvents. In addition, the stable and efficient CsCu₂I₃ powder shows promising exciting potential applications in photoluminescence and phototherapy fields.

Air pollution is caused by the perilous accumulation of particulate matter (PM) and harmful gas molecules of different sizes. There is an urgent need to develop highly efficient air filtration systems capable of removing particles with a wide size distribution. However, the efficiency of current air filters is compromised by controlling their hierarchical pore size. Inspired by the graded filtration mechanisms in the human respiratory system, microporous ZIF-67 is in situ synthesized on a 3D interconnected network of bamboo cellulose fibers (BCFs) to fabricate a multiscale porous filter with a comprehensive pore size distribution. The macropores between the BCFs, mesopores formed by the BCF microfibers, and micropores within the ZIF-67 synergistically facilitate the removal of particulates of different sizes. The filtration capabilities of PM2.5 and PM0.3 could reach 99.3% and 98.6%, respectively, whereas the adsorption of formaldehyde is 88.7% within 30 min. In addition, the filter exhibits excellent antibacterial properties (99.9%), biodegradability (80.1% degradation after 14 days), thermal stability, and skinfriendly properties (0 irritation). This study may inspire the research of using natural features of renewable resources to design high-performance air-filtration materials for various applications.

Silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) have shown broad application prospects in catalysis, sensing, and biological fields. However, the limited stability ofAgNCs has become the main challenge restricting their practical application in complex environments. Herein, a mussel-inspired, dopamine-assisted self-assembly approach is reported to fabricate 3D AgNC aerogels (PDA/AgNCs), which possess significantly enhanced structural stability and synergistic functional properties. The prepared AgNC aerogels display a hierarchical network structure with an ultrafine ligament size of 10.3 ± 1.2 nm and a high specific surface area of 50.7 m² g^-1. The gelation mechanism is elucidated by in-depth characterization and time-lapse monitoring of the gelation process vis spectroscopic and microscopic approaches. Owing to the distinct features of aerogels and the synergistic effect of AgNCs and PDA, the fabricated aerogels can not only efficiently decolorize dyes with a faster kinetic than individual AgNCs, but also exhibit remarkable broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Consequently, a conceptual water-treatment device is established by depositing PDA/AgNC aerogels on the cotton substrate, which shows good performance in both catalytic dye degradation and bacterial killing in the flowing system. This mussel-inspired self-assembly strategy has great potential in developing robust AgNC-based functional materials, which also provides a new guideline for designing sophisticated materials with integrated functions and synergistic properties.