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Excitation of plasmon can generate strong light absorption and scattering, a giant electromagnetic (EM) field, and hot electrons, thereby offering an effective way to improve the performance of photodetectors. However, the incorporation of plasmonic nanostructures in photodetectors is largely limited by their high fabrication cost, which usually involves tedious time-consuming physical vapor deposition and complex subsequent treatment processes. Herein, we report a low-cost solutionprocessable method to prepare bone-like Au nanoantennas (BLAuNAs) to construct BLAuNAs/ZnO heterostructures for broadband photodetectors, accomplished via interfacial self-assembly of Au NPs, electrochemical treatment, and finally spin coating of BLAuNAs with a ZnO quantum dot (QD) film. The resultant BLAuNAs/ZnO heterostructures not only improve the intrinsic ultraviolet (UV) response of the ZnO QD film but also extend the photoresponse to the visible region because of interband transitionderived high-energy electrons, plasmon-derived hot electrons, and EM field enhancement effects. Therefore, under 365 and 532 nm light illumination, the responsivity of the photodetector made from the optimized BLAuNA2/ZnO heterostructures is 61.4 mA W-1 (B3.8 times higher than that of its counterpart made from pure ZnO QDs) and 0.049 mA W-1, respectively. This study presents an allsolution approach for the fabrication of photodetectors from plasmonic metal/semiconductor heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a microfluidic sample introduction approach based on a novel flow control mechanism, hydrodynamic gated injection. It has the advantages of easy and flexible flow control, similar to its analog, electrokinetic gated injection, but exhibits the unique properties of strong driving force and good biocompatibility, ideal for applications involving live biological samples. Theories for hydrodynamic gating were proposed and validated by both numerical simulations and flow visualization experiments. An investigation with fluorescein revealed that pico-liter samples can be injected with high repeatability (RSD 95%. We expect the developed method to be potentially useful for microfluidic cell and organism analysis, either as a sample introduction module or a stand-alone analyzer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time monitoring of biocatalytic-based processes is significantly improved and simplified when they can be visualized. Visual monitoring can be achieved by integrating a fluorescent unit with the biocatalyst. Herein, we outline the design strategies of fluorescent probes for monitoring biocatalysis: (1) probes for monitoring biocatalytic transfer: γ-glutamine is linked to the fluorophore as both a recognition group and for intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) inhibition; the probe is initially in an off state and is activated via the transfer of the γ-glutamine group and the release of the free amino group, which results in restoration of the "Donor–π–Acceptor" (D–π–A) system and fluorescence recovery. (2) Probes for monitoring biocatalytic oxidation: a propylamine is connected to the fluorophore as a recognition group, which cages the hydroxyl group, leading to the inhibition of ICT; propylamine is oxidized and subsequently β-elimination occurs, resulting in exposure of the hydroxyl group and fluorescence recovery. (3) Probes for monitoring biocatalytic reduction: a nitro group attached to a fluorophore as a fluorescence quenching group, this is converted to an amino group by catalytic reduction, resulting in fluorescence recovery. (4) Probes for monitoring biocatalytic hydrolysis: β- D -galactopyranoside or phosphate acts as a recognition group attached to hydroxyl groups of the fluorophore; the subsequent biocatalytic hydrolysis reaction releases the hydroxyl group resulting in fluorescence recovery. Following these 4 mechanisms, fluorophores including cyanine, coumarin, rhodamine, and Nile-red, have been used to develop systems for monitoring biocatalytic reactions. We anticipate that these strategies will result in systems able to rapidly diagnose and facilitate the treatment of serious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is the contents list for the journal "Chemical Communications" published in 2024. It includes various articles and highlights on topics such as the development of plasma technology for energy storage materials, visual monitoring of biocatalytic processes, and photocatalytic non-oxidative conversion of methane. The journal is published by The Royal Society of Chemistry, a leading chemistry community, and features research on energy and environmental catalysis. The document also includes information about the journal's mission and charitable status. [Extracted from the article]

The document is the contents list for the journal "Chemical Communications" published in 2024. It includes articles on various topics such as structure-activity strategies for fluorescent materials, the evolution of polymerization methodology, sample transformation in online separations, and alternative protein encapsulation with MOFs. The journal is published by The Royal Society of Chemistry, a leading chemistry community, and features research on energy and environmental catalysis. The document also provides information on the journal's mission and charitable status. [Extracted from the article]

Mechanical response luminescence (MRL) describes the photophysical properties triggered by mechanical stimulation. Usually, MRL can be regulated by intermolecular interactions, molecular conformation or molecular packing, to achieve the desirable optical properties. Herein, at the molecular level, this review covers the factors that influence mechanically responsive fluorescent materials, involving the single- or multifactorial modulation of aliphatic chains, donor–receptor switch, substituent adjustment, and position isomerism. According to these factors, the structure–activity strategies can be summarized as: (i) the self-recovery of optical properties, from the final to initial state, can be regulated by introducing long alkyl chains to a fluorophore. (ii) The sensitivity of MRL materials can be controlled by modifying the donor–acceptor structure via the changed ICT (intramolecular charge transfer) and intramolecular interaction. (iii) The electronic and steric effects of substituents can affect ICT and intermolecular interactions, thereby resulting in high quantum yield and high-contrast MRL materials via changing the molecular stacking of crystalline states. (iv) Intermolecular interaction is modulated by the position isomerism of the substituents, which results in switched molecular packing for the extended response toward a wide range of stimuli. It is anticipated that the molecular mechanisms of these structure–activity relationships will serve as a significant reference for developing novel, high contrast, recyclable mechanical response luminous materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier (hBCSFB) plays a crucial role in regulating brain interstitial fluid homeostasis, and disruption of the hBCSFB is associated with various neurological diseases. Generation of a BCSFB model with human physiologically relevant structural and functional features is crucial to reveal the cellular and molecular basis of these diseases and discover novel neurologic therapeutic agents. Unfortunately, thus far, few humanized BCSFB models are available for basic and preclinical research. Here, we demonstrate a bioengineered hBCSFB model on a microfluidic device constructed by co-culturing primary human choroid plexus epithelial cells (hCPECs) and human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMECs) on the two sides of a porous membrane. The model reconstitutes tight junctions of the hBCSFB and displays a physiologically relevant molecular permeability. Using this model, we further generate a neuropathological model of the hBCSFB under neuroinflammation. Overall, we expect that this work will offer a high-fidelity hBCSFB model for studying neuroinflammation-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radical cyclization of 2-alkenyl benzaldehyde derivatives has received great attention over the past few decades and it provides a new route for the synthesis of a large number of functionalized benzocycloketone compounds. Herein, we systematically summarize the recent radical reactions involving 2-alkenyl benzaldehydes, including intramolecular and intermolecular cyclization, which give unique access to structurally valuable benzocycloketone compounds. This review may promote the participation of vinyl-attached carbonyls in radical reactions and thereby accelerate their applications in related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomimetic nacre-like membranes composed of two-dimensional lamellar sheets and one-dimensional nanofibers exhibit high mechanical strength and excellent stability. Thus, they show substantial application in the field of membrane science and water purification. However, the limited techniques for the assembly of two-dimensional lamellar membranes and one-dimensional nanofibers hamper their development and application. Herein, we developed a nacre-like and freestanding graphene oxide/aramid fiber membrane with abundant T-mode subnanochannels by introducing aramid fibers into graphene oxide interlamination via the super-assembly interaction between graphene oxide and aramid fibers. Benefiting from the presence of stable and adjustable sub-nanometer-size ion transport channels, the graphene oxide/aramid fiber composite membrane exhibited excellent mono/divalent ion selectivity of 3.51 (K+/Mg2+), which is superior to that of the pure graphene oxide membrane. The experimental results suggest that the mono/divalent ion selectivity is ascribed to the subnanochannels in the graphene oxide/aramid fiber composite membrane, electrostatic repulsion interaction and strong interaction between the divalent metal ion and carboxyl groups. Moreover, the composite membrane exhibited remarkable charge selectivity with a K+/Cl− ratio of up to ∼158, indicating that this graphene oxide/aramid fiber composite membrane has great potential for application in energy conversion. This study provides an avenue to prepare freestanding and nacre-like composite membranes with abundant T-mode ion transport channels for ion recognition and energy conversion, which also shows great application prospects in the field of membrane science and water purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of excess free zinc ions (Zn2+) in cells has been identified as an important cause of cell injury or apoptosis after ischemia reperfusion. Thus, developing a nanosystem with multiple therapeutic functions to significantly eliminate multiple cell injury factors is of great interest. Here, a super-assembled nanosystem consisting of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) surface-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) encapsulating 2-methylimidazole (2MI) and a Zn2+ probe (PZn) was fabricated. The 2MI-P@MSN nanoassemblies showed a "turn-on" fluorescence signal at 476 nm toward zinc ions due to the presence of PZn. Besides, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) could be assembled on the site intracellularly after 2MI chelating with free zinc ions. The experimental results revealed that 2MI-P@MSN exhibited excellent biocompatibility and non-cytotoxicity, and was able to provide satisfactory protection to OGD/R-treated cells based on zinc ion adsorption and the antioxidant effect of ZIF-8, which could effectively improve the survival rate of reperfusion injury cells from 52% to 73%. Notably, selective and quantitative sensing of Zn2+ was successfully carried out in the cells. This strategy highlights the potential of the detection, absorption and assembly of excess zinc ions simultaneously for cell therapy, which provides a promising therapeutic method for ischemic stroke, oxidative damage and diseases associated with zinc ion accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One major challenge in current brain research is generating an integrative understanding of the brain's functions and disorders from its multiscale neuronal architectures and connectivity. Thus, innovative neurotechnology tools are urgently required for deciphering the multiscale functional and structural organizations of the brain at hierarchical scales from the molecular to the organismal level by multiple brain research initiatives launched by the European Union, United States, Australia, Canada, China, Korea, and Japan. To meet this demand, microfluidic chips (μFCs) have rapidly evolved as a trans-scale neurotechnological toolset to enable multiscale studies of the brain due to their unique advantages in flexible microstructure design, multifunctional integration, accurate microenvironment control, and capacity for automatic sample processing. Here, we review the recent progress in applying innovative μFC-based neuro-technologies to promote multiscale brain research and uniquely focus on representative applications of μFCs to address challenges in brain research at each hierarchical level. We discuss the current trend of combinational applications of μFCs with other neuro- and biotechnologies, including optogenetics, brain organoids, and 3D bioprinting, for better multiscale brain research. In addition, we offer our insights into the existing outstanding questions at each hierarchical level of brain research that could potentially be addressed by advancing microfluidic techniques. This review will serve as a timely guide for bioengineers and neuroscientists to develop and apply μFC-based neuro-technologies for promoting basic and translational brain research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to low cost, environmental friendliness, good safety, superior power density and ease of operation, rechargeable aqueous ion batteries can meet the technical requirements of large-scale energy storage. Compared with aqueous single ion batteries, rechargeable aqueous hybrid ion batteries (RAHBs) have been receiving extensive interest owing to their higher operating voltage and energy density. In this review, we briefly describe the developments and challenges of rechargeable aqueous ion batteries in energy storage and systematically introduce the merits and progress of various rechargeable aqueous hybrid ion batteries. The major issues of different combinations in aqueous hybrid ion batteries along with effective solving strategies are discussed, providing a new perspective for the design and construction of high performance aqueous ion batteries. Ultimately, the challenges and prospects of RAHBs are summarized for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]