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Can a non-invasive embryo transfer strategy provide a reference for embryo selection to be established? Chromosome sequencing of 345 paired blastocyst culture medium and whole blastocyst samples was carried out and a non-invasive embryo grading system was developed based on the random forest machine learning algorithm to predict blastocyst ploidy. The system was validated in 266 patients, and a blinded prospective observational study was conducted to investigate clinical outcomes between machine learning-guided and traditional non-invasive preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (niPGT-A) analyses. Embryos were graded as A, B or C according to their euploidy probability levels predicted by non-invasive chromosomal screening (NICS). Higher live birth rate was observed in A- versus C-grade embryos (50.4% versus 27.1%, P = 0.006) and B- versus C-grade embryos (45.3% versus 27.1%, P = 0.022) and lower miscarriage rate in A- versus C-grade embryos (15.9% versus 33.3%, P = 0.026) and B- versus C-grade embryos (14.3% versus 33.3%, P = 0.021). The embryo utilization rate was significantly higher through the machine learning strategy than the conventional dichotomic judgment of euploidy or aneuploidy in the niPGT-A analysis (78.8% versus 57.9%, P < 0.001). Better outcomes were observed in A- and B-grade embryos versus C-grade embryos and higher embryo utilization rates through the machine learning strategy compared with traditional niPGT-A analysis. A machine learning guided embryo grading system can be used to optimize embryo selection and avoid wastage of potential embryos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to explore the relationship between serum oestrogen (E2) levels before endometrial transformation and pregnancy outcomes of hormone replacement therapy-frozen embryo transfer (HRT-FET) cycles, which has been investigated for years without any consensus.Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 10,209 cycles HRT-FET cycles was conducted at the Reproductive Medicine Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from March 2017 to December 2020. A smooth fitting curve was constructed to identify the relationship between serum E2 levels before endometrial transformation and the clinical pregnancy rate. Then, threshold and saturation effect analysis was employed to explore the cut-off value of serum E2 levels. In addition, patients were divided into 2 groups based on their levels of serum E2 measured before progesterone-induced endometrial transformation: Group 1, < 300 pg/mL (n = 6251) and Group 2, ≥ 300 pg/mL (n = 3958). The clinical pregnancy and miscarriage rates of all groups were compared. Further smooth fitting curve analysis was employed by different subgroups segmented according to different endometrial thicknesses.Results: When the serum E2 level was greater than 300 pg/mL, the clinical pregnancy rate decreased significantly (62.9% vs. 59.8%, p < 0.01), but the miscarriage rates were similar (13.5% vs. 15.6%, p = 0.14). While serum E2 level reached or exceeded 1400 pg/mL, there was no significant correlation between the clinical pregnancy rate and E2 level. The clinical pregnancy rate reached its higher level at lower E2 levels, regardless of the different endometrail thicknesses.Conclusions: Patients with a lower pretransformation serum E2 level (less than 300 pg/mL) have a higher clinical pregnancy rate and there was no correlation between the clinical pregnancy rate and a higher serum E2 level (greater than 1400 pg/mL) in HRT-FET cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) usually affects young women of childbearing age. After treatment for GTD, 86% of women wish to achieve pregnancy. On account of the impacts of GTD and treatments as well as patient anxiety, large numbers of couples turn to assisted reproductive technology (ART), especially in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). But few studies have investigated whether a history of GTD affects the outcomes of IVF/ICSI in secondary infertile patients and how it occurs. We investigate whether a history of GTD affects the IVF/ICSI outcomes and the live birth rates in women with secondary infertility. Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 176 women with secondary infertility who underwent IVF/ICSI treatment at the reproductive medical center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020. Participants were divided into the GTD group (44 women with GTD history) and control group (132 women without GTD history matched from 8318 secondary infertile women). The control group and the study group were matched at a ratio of 3:1 according to patient age, infertility duration, number of cycles and body mass index (BMI). We assessed retrieved oocytes and high-grade embryos, biochemical pregnancy, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, gestational age at delivery, delivery mode and live birth rates. Result(s): We found a significantly reduced live-birth rate (34.1% vs 66.7%) associated with IVF/ICSI cycles in patients with a GTD history compared to those without a GTD history. The biochemical pregnancy and miscarriage rates of the GTD group were slightly higher than those of the control group. In addition, there was a difference in gestational age at delivery between the GTD and control groups (p < 0.001) but no differences in the mode of delivery (p = 0.267). Furthermore, the number of abandoned embryos in the GTD group was greater than that in the control group (p = 0.018), and the number of good-quality embryos was less than that in the control group (p = 0.019). The endometrial thickness was thinner (p < 0.001) in the GTD group. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed abnormal endometrial receptivity in the GTD group. Conclusion(s): The GTD history of patients undergoing IVF/ICSI cycles had an impact on the live-birth rate and gestational age at delivery, which might result from the thinner endometrium and abnormal endometrial receptivity before embryo transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adenomyosis is a chronic gynecological disease characterized by invasion of the uterine endometrium into the muscle layer. In assisted reproductive technology (ART), gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) is often used to improve pregnancy rates in patients with adenomyosis, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Methods: Eutopic endometrial specimens were collected from patients with adenomyosis before and after GnRHa treatment in the midsecretory phase. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) of these specimens was performed for transcriptome analysis. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of interest were confirmed by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Results: A total of 132 DEGs were identified in the endometrium of patients with adenomyosis after GnRHa treatment compared with the control group. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that immune system-associated signal transduction changed significantly after GnRHa treatment. Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21 (CCL21) was found to be highly expressed in the eutopic endometrium after GnRHa treatment, which may be involved in the improvement of endometrial receptivity in adenomyosis. Conclusion: This study suggests that molecular regulation related to immune system-associated signal transduction is an important mechanism of GnRHa treatment in adenomyosis. Immunoreactive CCL21 is thought to regulate inflammatory events and participate in endometrial receptivity in adenomyosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does adenomyosis affect IVF independent of decreased ovarian reserve, and what are the characteristics and IVF outcome of the ultra-long gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist protocol in adenomyosis? Observational cohort study of three groups of patients undergoing first cycle of IVF treatment with normal ovarian reserve: (A) 362 patients with adenomyosis using the ultra-long GnRH agonist protocol; (B) 127 patients with adenomyosis using the long GnRH agonist protocol; (C) 3471 patients with tubal infertility using the long GnRH agonist protocol. Compared with groups B and C, the number of oocytes retrieved in group A decreased, and the gonadotrophin dosage and duration in group A were higher (P < 0.001). In long GnRH agonist treatment, clinical pregnancy rate (OR 0.492, 95% CI 0.327 to 0.742, P < 0.001), implantation rate (OR 0.527, 95% CI 0.350 to 0.794, P = 0.002) and live birth rate (OR 0.442, 95% CI 0.291 to 0.673, P < 0.001) decreased and miscarriage rate (OR 3.078, 95% CI 1.593 to 5.948, P < 0.001) increased in adenomyosis patients compared with tubal infertility. For adenomyosis patients, clinical pregnancy rate (OR 1.925, 95% CI 1.137 to 3.250, P = 0.015), implantation rate (OR 1.694, 95% CI 1.006 to 2.854, P = 0.047) and live birth rate (OR 1.704, 95% CI 1.012 to 2.859, P = 0.044) increased in the ultra-long GnRH agonist treatment compared with long GnRH agonist treatments. Adenomyosis could negatively affect IVF outcomes independent of ovarian reserve after long GnRH agonist protocol. Patients with adenomyosis following the ultra-long GnRH agonist protocol could have a better pregnancy outcome than those following the long GnRH agonist protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysulfoneamide (PSA) separation membranes show promising prospects for use in acidic wastewater treatment due to their outstanding acid stability. However, current PSA membranes have the disadvantages of low flux, poor NaCl rejection, and poor acid resistance of substrate. In this paper, a positively charged PSA membrane was successfully prepared by using polyethylene (PE) stretch membrane (usually used as a battery diaphragm) as the substrate, with polyethyleneimine (PEI) and naphthalene-1,3,6-trisulfonyl chloride (NTSC) as the monomers for interfacial polymerization. The acid-resistant membrane exhibits a dense structure with an average pore size of just 0.2844 nm. Consequently, the membrane exhibits superior rejection rates for monovalent and divalent metals (MgCl 2 99.15 %, CaCl 2 98.85 %, MgSO 4 94.5 %, NaCl 93.27 %), while also maintaining satisfactory flux. The membrane has excellent acid resistance, and maintains its superior separation performance after being immersed in 20 wt% H 2 SO 4 at a high temperature of 24 h. [Display omitted] • PSA acid-resistant membrane with excellent performance by using porous PE substrate. • PSA membranes show 93 % rejection for NaCl. • PSA membrane has a positively charged surface, with rejection up to 99.1 % for MgCl 2. • The differences between porous PE and PSF substrates were compared. • The influence of PEI Mw on membrane performance was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is the efficiency and efficacy of the novel Biorocks semi-automated vitrification system, which is based on a hydrogel? This comparative experimental laboratory study used mouse model and human day 6 blastocysts. Mouse oocytes and embryos were quality assessed post-vitrification. The Biorocks system successfully automated the solution exchanges during the vitrification process, achieving a significantly improved throughput of up to 36 embryos/oocytes per hour. Using hydrogel for cryoprotective agent delivery, 12 vessels could be processed simultaneously, fitting comfortably within an assisted reproductive technology (ART) workstation. In tests involving the cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos, the system yielded outcomes equivalent to the manual Cryotop method. For example, the survival rate for mouse oocytes was 98% with the Biorocks vitrification system (n = 46) and 95% for the manual Cryotop method (n = 39), of which 46% and 41%, respectively, progressed to blastocysts on day 5 after IVF. CC-grade day 6 human blastocysts processed with the Biorocks system (n = 39) were associated with a 92% 2 h re-expansion rate, equivalent to the 90% with Cryotop (n = 30). The cooling/warming rates achieved by the Biorocks system were 31,900°C/minute and 24,700°C/minute, respectively. Oocyte quality was comparable or better post-vitrification for Biorocks than Cryotop. The Biorocks semi-automated vitrification system offers enhanced throughput without compromising the survival and developmental potential of oocytes and embryos. This innovative system may help to increase the efficiency and standardization of vitrification in ART clinics. Further investigations are needed to confirm its efficacy in a broader clinical context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced reverse osmosis (RO) membranes for desalination, typically thin-film composite (TFC) membranes, have emerged as a prominent research direction to combat water scarcity. The substrate properties, such as the amine monomer adsorption capacity, are considered important for the interfacial polymerization (IP) process. Herein, inspired by Marangoni convection, a tailored dendrimer interlayer based on the plasma-treated polyethylene substrate was developed via the in-depth modification driven by surface tension gradient to precisely adjust the substrate properties. In addition, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was introduced as an additive to synergistically improve the desalination performance, and its role was reinvestigated. The quantitative experiments of amine monomer adsorption show that the substrate with in-depth modification possesses enhanced adsorption capacity. Therefore, massive amines can be enriched at the substrate surface, which can erupt and react violently in IP, thereby forming a polyamide layer with thick apparent thickness and abundant nanovoids. The RO membrane after optimization exhibits 99.19 % of rejection to NaCl and 3.87 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 of permeance, which shows good competitiveness compared with the advanced polymer-based RO membranes. This work provides constructive suggestions for the screening of interlayers to RO membranes and the application of polyethylene-based TFC membranes. [Display omitted] • In-depth dendrimer interlayer was tailored based on Marangoni convection. • The role of SDS was reinvestigated in the PE-based system. • Quantitative experiment was designed to detect the MPD adsorption at the substrate. • The novel PE-based RO membrane shows competitive desalination performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel aliphatic acid chloride monomers were designed and synthesized. • The mean effective pore size of the BTC and HTeC membranes were 0.184 nm and 0.197 nm, respectively. • The aliphatic polyamide membrane showed more than 98% rejection rate for CaCl 2 , MgCl 2 , and MgSO 4. • The ion selectivity of Na+/Mg2+ and Na+/Ca2+ of the BTC membrane was as high as 126 and 31.5, respectively. • Antifouling properties of the fabricated membranes were also enhanced. Monomer design and reconstruction is typically a preferred route to tune the inner structure and screen the performance of polyamide nanofilms for their efficiency and ease of scaling up in industrial production. Herein, two kinds of novel acyl chloride monomers, 1,2,3,4-cyclobutane tetracarboxylic acid chloride (BTC) and 1,2,4,5-cyclohexanetetracarboxylic acid chloride (HTeC), have been designed and synthesized. The BTC and HTeC monomers can rapidly react with amine molecule at interface to form an aliphatic polyamide nanofilm that is denser than that of TMC based polyamide membrane. The resulting mean effective pore size of the BTC and HTeC polyamide nanofilms is 0.184 nm and 0.197 nm, which is lower than that of the TMC nanofilm at 0.238 nm. Desalination experiments revealed that the aliphatic polyamide membrane shows more than a 98% rejection rate for CaCl 2 , MgCl 2 , and MgSO 4 and a water flux of 84.4 kg m−2 h−1 MPa−1 (for 2000 ppm MgSO 4). Moreover, the ion selectivity of Na+/Mg2+ and Na+/Ca2+ of the BTC membrane is as high as 126 and 31.5, respectively. These are much higher than those of the related TMC and commercial nanofiltration membranes. Fouling experiments indicate that the flux decline rate (FDR) of the aliphatic polyamide membrane is only 38%, whereas the FDR of the full-aromatic polyamide membrane is 60%. Further investigations confirmed that surface roughness is the main factor affecting the fouling behaviors of polyamide membranes. Our results demonstrate that BTC and HTeC monomers are unique potential materials in the fabrication of nanofiltration membranes used for water treatment such as water softening and ion sieving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights: • Novel azlactone-functionalized monomer (TMDMA) was designed and synthesized. • The resulting membrane showed decreased surface charge and narrow pore size. • The Ca2+ and Mg2+ rejection rate of the fabricated membrane was increased. • The resulting membrane still maintained higher water flux. • Antifouling property of the fabricated membranes were also enhanced. Abstract Semi-aromatic polyamide membranes have been widely commercialized and used in water treatment processes. Such membranes often have poor Ca2+ and Mg2+ rejection rates due to their intrinsic structural characteristics. Most approaches used to improve rejection are only focused on one kind of repulsion effect: lack of synergism. Thus, the enhancement of rejection is not remarkable. Herein, a novel monomer, trimesoyl-[4,4-dimethyl-5(4H)-azlactone] (TMDMA), was synthesized and used as a secondary reaction molecule in the interfacial reaction for simultaneously improving the steric hindrance and lowering the electrostatic attraction of semi-aromatic polyamide membranes. With the introduction of TMDMA, the mean effective pore size of the polyamide membrane is decreased from 0.23 nm to 0.18 nm. Moreover, the significantly decreased negative surface charge of the fabricated polyamide membrane is observed since the carboxyl from hydrolysis of the azlactone exhibits a higher pKa (acidity coefficient) than that of the benzoic acid. The desalination experiments reveal that the Ca2+ and Mg2+ rejection of the resulting membranes are increased by 26% (from 71.0% to 97%) and 14.0% (from 83% to 97%), respectively, while the water fluxes are maintained at 192 and 167 kg m−2 h−1 MPa−1, demonstrating a satisfactory water softening performance that exceeds commercial nanofiltration membranes. Additionally, the fabricated polyamide membranes can significantly resist the flux decline during fouling experiment that normally results from the deposition of Ca2+−foulant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hydrogen barrier properties are characteristic of polymeric materials prepared with graphene; thus, they can be considered as a good substitute for the metal body of the traditional hydrogen storage tank. Graphene oxide/polymer layer-by-layer self-assembling film based on noncovalent force shows good hydrogen gas barrier properties. However, the dense film structure can be broken when the film is placed in water environment, especially acidic or alkaline environment, which induces to the leak of the hydrogen gas. Herein, a modified graphene oxide/polyethyleneimine reactive layer-by-layer self-assembled film for the hydrogen barrier was fabricated by the covalent bond self-assembled technology. Graphene oxide was modified with ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether to introduce epoxy groups that can react with polyethyleneimine to form covalent bonds. The modification time, modification pH value, and the feed ratio of graphene oxide/ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether were investigated in detail. Results indicate that the self-assembled films were prepared by covalent bonds between polyethyleneimine and modified graphene oxide. When the modification time was 6 h, pH value was 2, and the feed ratio of graphene oxide/ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether was 0.05/0.23, the hydrogen transmission rate of 10-bilayer modified graphene oxide/polyethyleneimine self-assembled films was 289 cm3/m2·24 h·0.1 MPa, which was decreased by 78.8% compared to that of the polyethylene terephthalate substrate films (1365 cm3/m2·24 h·0.1 MPa). Furthermore, the modified graphene oxide/polyethyleneimine reactive layer-by-layer self-assembled films exhibit acid-resistance, alkali-resistance, salt-resistance and thermal-resistance properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Research question Can next-generation sequencing (NGS) based on copy number variation sequencing (CNV-Seq) identify normal/balanced embryos in balanced reciprocal translocation carriers and what are their reproductive outcomes? Design One hundred couples with balanced reciprocal translocation who underwent a total of 134 preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) cycles between January 2015 and October 2017 were evaluated. Trophectoderm cells of blastocysts were biopsied for CNV-Seq-based NGS. All the balanced/normal blastocysts were vitrified and cryopreserved. Single balanced/normal blastocysts were warmed and transferred in the subsequent frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle. Results During the study period, 400 blastocysts were analysed by NGS-PGT, of which 109 (27.25%) were balanced and euploid. A total of 52 blastocysts were transferred in the FET cycle. Clinical pregnancy was confirmed in 34 women (65.38%), with a miscarriage rate of 2.94%; 26 healthy term babies were born, including 24 singletons and one set of twins, while eight couples had ongoing pregnancies. Amniocentesis revealed a fetal chromosome status that was consistent with the NGS-PGT results. Female carriers had a significantly higher blastocyst rate than did the male carriers (37.01% versus 31.27%, P = 0.04). The transferable blastocyst rate was higher in couples treated with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist than in those treated with GnRH agonist (38.20% versus 24.37%, P = 0.01). However, neither carrier sex nor ovarian stimulation protocol influenced the clinical pregnancy rate. Conclusions CNV-Seq-based NGS is an efficient and reliable PGT method for balanced reciprocal translocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Monomers developed in recent years for preparation of TFC membranes is summarized. • The relationship between monomer structure and membrane properties is established. • The application problems of the IP monomers are summarized. • The outlook for future development of the monomer is also discussed. The thin-film composite (TFC) membranes fabricated by interfacial polymerization (IP) can be applied in the fields of nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO), which has the unparalleled advantages, such as high selectivity and permeability, small capital investment and low energy consumption, thus attracting great research interest in industry and academia field. The performance of TFC membranes is determined by their microstructure and physicochemical properties while IP monomer plays a decisive role regarding both. Over the past few decades, the researchers have paid intensive and sustained efforts to develop new IP monomers. This paper reviews these monomers and the corresponding membranes developed in recent years with the aim of establishing an intrinsic relationship between monomer structure and membrane properties. The excellent performances based on new monomers in enhancing the permeability, selectivity, anti-fouling and chemical stability of NF and RO membranes for liquid treatment are highlighted. Finally, various problems in the monomer development are summarized and the outlook for future development is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel polyamide loose NF membrane was prepared from aqueous monomer (piperazine-2-carboxylic acid). • The loose NF membrane formation mechanism was clarified. • The loose NF membrane exhibited high water permeance and outstanding separation selectivity of dye/salt. • The loose NF membrane demonstrated excellent antifouling performance. Dye effluent is regarded as one of the most hazardous industrial effluents. Although loose nanofiltration (NF) membranes have been considered as an effective alternative technique for treating dye effluent, their development is still constrained by subpar permeance, separation efficiency and anti-fouling performance. In this work, a novel loose polyamide (PA) NF membrane was designed employing a conventional interfacial polymerization process using piperazine-2-carboxylic acid (PIP-COOH) and trimesoyl chloride as aqueous and organic phase monomers, respectively. The presence of unique electron-absorbing carboxyl groups on the PIP-COOH monomer not only provided abundant negative charge on the membrane surface, but also greatly reduced the reactivity, diffusion rate and solubility in n-hexane of the aqueous monomer, allowing for the formation of a more relaxed and smoother active layer. The balanced combination of pore size screening and Donnan effect achieved precise separations with high permeability. Moreover, the interaction of the carboxyl groups with the backbone structure increased the free volume of the PA layer and improved permeability significantly. The PIP-COOH/TMC membrane prepared under the optimal conditions exhibited high water permeance of 598.1 L·m−2·h−1·MPa−1, high reactive red rejection (99.3%) and low NaCl rejection (5.4%). Furthermore, the membrane possessed exceptional anti-fouling performance thanks to the ultra-smooth surface with crucial antifouling index flux recovery ratio as high as about 99%, which showed unexpected application possibilities. In conclusion, this study offers a potential novel membrane material for the development and application of loose NF membranes in the treatment of colored effluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mg2+/Li+ screening selectivity determines the practical application of nanofiltration technology in lithium extraction from salt-lake brines and industrial lithium production. In this work, a membrane structure design strategy based on the interlayers was developed to prepare nanofiltration (NF) membranes with high Mg2+/Li+ separation selectivity and high permeability. Through investigating the influence of the interlayer charge on the structure and performance of the NF membrane, the interlayer for the preparation of the NF membrane with high Mg2+/Li + separation selectivity was screened. Relevant characterizations indicate that the positively charged interlayer can endow the NF membrane with appropriate pore size and surface charge density to achieve high Mg2+/Li+ separation selectivity through the synergistic effect of size sieving and Donnan exclusion. Moreover, the pore size of the NF membrane is controlled by the release rate of the piperazine (PIP) from the interlayer, while the surface charge density of the NF membrane is jointly determined by the charge of the interlayer and PA layer. The performance evaluation suggests that the NF membrane prepared with the best screened interlayer has a Mg2+/Li+ separation factor up to 88.6 while maintaining a high permeability (22.5 L m−2 h−1·bar−1), which is better than that of the most membranes reported in the literature. Overall, this work is expected to promote the practical application of NF membranes in lithium extraction from salt-lake brines and industrial lithium production. [Display omitted] • The positively charged interlayer can endow the NF membrane with very high Mg2+/Li+ separation selectivity (88.6). • The interlayer regulates the pore size of the NF membrane by controlling the release rate of PIP from the interlayer. • The surface charge density of the NF membrane is jointly determined by the interlayer and the PA layer. • The high Mg2+/Li+ separation selectivity is mainly attributed to the synergy between the size sieving and Donnan exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane based on polyamide (PA) chemistry was widely applied for water purification and desalination process due to the improved water permeance. It remains a great challenge to significantly enhance rejection because of the non-selective defects caused by the aggregation of nanomaterials in the PA layer. Novel interlayer-based TFN (iTFN) membrane containing nanomaterial interlayer between the porous substrate and PA layer is the promising candidate to improve PA integrity and thus overcome the ubiquitous trade-off between permeability and selectivity. The nanomaterial interlayer not only promotes the subsequent interfacial polymerization (IP) but also provides improved pathways for water transport, which leads to simultaneous improvement in membrane permeability and selectivity. This review systematically categorizes nanomaterial interlayers into three types according to construction methods, namely, direct deposition, in situ growth and functional group-anchored in situ assembly (FAISA). The mechanism of interlayer modulating IP process and PA structure, as well as the effects on water transport, are comprehensively analyzed. Encouraging results reveal that using MOFs interlayer prepared by FAISA is the most promising way to break the trade-off in manufacturing reverse osmosis membranes. Finally, challenges and future efforts are presented for advancing iTFN membranes. [Display omitted] • Recent advances in the porous nanomaterial interlayer enhanced iTFN membranes have been summarized. • Nanomaterial interlayers are categorized into three types according to the construction methods. • The effects of nanomaterial interlayer on interfacial polymerization and separation performance have been explored. • Functional group-anchored in situ assembly MOFs interlayer is a promising candidate to overcome the trade-off between membrane permeability and selectivity. • Challenges and future efforts of promoting nanomaterial interlayer-based iTFN membranes are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nanofiltration composite membrane shows excellent permeability and solvent resistance was prepared on PI/Noria composite ultrafiltration membrane. • Noria in PI solution can migrate to composite ultrafiltration membrane surface during non-solvent-induced phase separation and act as an interlayer, which can regulate the following interfacial polymerization. • This process omits the preparation process of the interlayer, making the preparation process simpler. • Due to the special composite surface structure, the interlayer is removed, which avoids the disadvantage of weak bonding force between the separation layer and the support layer caused by the existence of the interlayer. Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membrane, a type of thin film composite (TFC) membrane, is widely used in separating organic solvents, but the low permeability of organic solvents is currently challenging to solve. This experiment used cross-linked polyimide (PI) as raw material and Noria as a nanoparticle additive to prepare a composite ultrafiltration membrane through non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS). Noria migrated to the composite ultrafiltration membrane surface during NIPS and acted as an interlayer, which can regulate the following interfacial polymerization. Then, the nanofiltration membrane was prepared by interfacial polymerization method using the modified PI membrane as the support layer. The experimental results showed that the hydrophilicity of the PI/Noria composite ultrafiltration membrane was significantly enhanced, in addition to a significant increase in pure water flux to 239 L m-2h-1bar−1. The methanol flux of the prepared composite nanofiltration membrane could be up to 5.472 L m-2h-1bar−1, which was twice as high as that of the unmodified composite membrane, and the G250 dye retention rate remained at over 99.6%. The nanofiltration performance is excellent and has good prospects for application in OSN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nanofiltration (NF) membranes were prepared using hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC) as aqueous phase co-monomer. • The surface electropositivity of NF membrane was significantly enhanced with almost constant pore size. • Modified NF membranes demonstrated superb magnesium-lithium separation performance and excellent antibacterial properties. In recent years, the global demand for lithium resources has been constantly rising thanks to the rapid development of the new energy industry. Nanofiltration (NF) membranes with positive charge could achieve high efficiency separation performance of magnesium ion (Mg2+)/ lithium ion (Li+), which provides a useful solution for the extraction and recovery of lithium resources from brine. In this work, hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC) was introduced into the interfacial polymerization (IP) as co-monomer with piperazine (PIP) to react with trimesoyl chloride (TMC) for preparing positively charged NF membranes. Based on the modulation of IP process by HACC, the thickness of the modified NF membrane separation layer reduced and the hydrophilicity increased, while the pore size had no obvious variation. In addition, the introduction of the quaternary ammonium group in HACC also increased the antibacterial properties of the NF membrane. The optimized NF-HACC-0.3 not only improved the separation factor significantly, but also increased the flux by 2 times compared with the original membrane. This strategy provides a new valuable idea and insight for the preparation and development of Mg2+/Li+ separation NF membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane separation technologies featuring environmentally friendly and highly efficient processes have been widely adopted for sustainable development. Non-linear macromolecules, represented by aromatic poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (ArPD), have good potential for increasing the porosity of the active layer in thin-film composite (TFC) membranes. However, they are often difficult to use as the sole monomer in interfacial polymerization to prepare membranes with high separation accuracy. Herein, the DMF/H 2 O system was determined to resolve the problem of ArPD dissolution, and the behavioral differences of ArPD for different generations in film-forming were then elucidated. For G4 (the fourth generation of ArPD) -TMC (trimesoyl chloride) membranes, the good sieving performance is attributed to the relatively dense polyamide networks from interfacial polymerization, and the continuous pore channels from the tightly packed macromolecules. Therefore, the final polyamide layer shows significant heterogeneity. Moreover, a "patching" strategy was employed to further improve the separation performance. The ArPD-based membranes exhibit about 3 times higher permeance than MPD (m-phenylenediamine)-based membranes under the comparable NaCl rejection. For the repaired membrane, the water permeance reaches 3.2 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 with the NaCl rejection of about 94.9%, which is advantageous compared with reported macromolecule-based membranes. The repaired membrane also shows excellent performance in the removal of small organics in organic solvent system. For example, the methanol permeance achieves 1.5 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 with the rejection to potassium cinnamate (186.25 g mol−1) about 90.3%. This work provides a typical paradigm for the application of macromolecules in the preparation of TFC membranes. [Display omitted] • An aromatic poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (ArPD) served as the sole amine monomer to participate in IP reaction. • The active layer of G4 (the fourth generation of ArPD) -TMC membrane shows significant heterogeneity. • A "patching" strategy was used to further improve the separation performance. • ArPD-based membranes show good performance in desalination and removal of organics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional thin-film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes prepared by ultrafast and uncontrolled interfacial polymerization (IP) generally have unsatisfactory permeability and high fouling propensity, which distinctly impedes their development and wide application. Controllable thickness and roughness offer an opportunity to optimize the permeability and fouling resistance of RO membranes. In this work, we propose spin-coating assisted multilayer interfacial polymerization (SMIP) as a promising approach to fabricating high-performance RO membranes using polyethyleneimine (PEI) and 1, 3, 5-benzoyl chloride (TMC). SMIP integrates the high efficiency and uniformity of spin-coating technology, the nano-level and individual properties control of multilayer interfacial polymerization, and the simplicity of the IP process. Combining the strong hydrophilicity with low diffusion efficiency and positive charge of PEI, a thin, intrinsically hydrophilic, smoother and almost electro-neutral polyamide (PA) nanofilm was obtained. The optimal RO membrane with a controlled thickness of the selective layer (≈61 nm) has a water permeance of 3.12 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 and an acceptable NaCl rejection of 97.5%, while the strong hydrophilicity, minimal surface roughness and almost neutral surface charge afford it excellent fouling resistance. SMIP technology not only provides a new approach to preparing highly permeable and low-fouling RO membranes using macromolecular monomers, but also has great application potential in other separation membranes due to its precise control of the selective layer. [Display omitted] • A novel RO membrane was fabricated by spin-coating assisted multilayer interfacial polymerization (SMIP) with PEI and TMC. • The prepared RO membrane featured controllable thickness, minimal surface roughness and electro-neutral surface at pH 6–7. • Molecular simulation results showed that the SMIP increased the cross-linkage of the polyamide layer. • The RO membrane exhibited high permeability and excellent antifouling properties. • SMIP provides an approach for the controllable preparation of high-performance RO membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Carboxylated starch nanoparticles (CSNPs) were synthesized and embedded in the separation layer of the nanofiltration membrane. • The aggregated or large CSNPs adsorb the aqueous phase to build an aqueous template during the interfacial polymerization transferring the reaction interface. • The compatibility problem of nanoparticles and separation layer was effectively solved. • The S NaCl/Na2SO4 of the modified nanofiltration membrane reached 180 with more than 2 times improvement in flux. The challenge of poor compatibility between nanoparticles and separation layers in thin film nanocomposite (TFN) nanofiltration (NF) membranes has always plagued the researchers. In this work, a carboxylated starch nanoparticles (CSNPs) were introduced into the polyamide (PA) separation layer of NF membrane by the IP reaction between trimesoyl chloride (TMC) and piperazine (PIP). The agglomerated or large size CSNPs could transfer the reaction interface above the particles through the formation of a water template by adsorption of aqueous phase monomers, which shaped the defect-free separation layer. Furthermore, the reduced thickness and increased density of the separation layer greatly enhanced the separation selectivity of the nanofiltration membrane thanks to the introduction of hydrophilic groups of nanoparticles. The modified membrane achieved a nearly 5-fold improvement in separation selectivity for NaCl and Na 2 SO 4 (S NaCl/Na2SO4 = 180) and a 2-fold increase in the water permeance. In addition, the modified NF membrane also possessed better chlorine-resistance property based on the formation of polyarylester between the reaction of hydroxyl groups in CSNPs and acyl chloride groups in TMC. Such novel aqueous-phase additives provide new insights to effectively solve the compatibility problem between the nanoparticles and separation layers, which is favorable for the commercial production of NF membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decidualization is essential for a successful pregnancy and determines embryo implantation and pregnancy maintenance. Abnormal decidualization is one of the main causes of recurrent implantation failure (RIF). Studies have shown that large amounts of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are abnormally expressed in endometrial samples from patients with RIF. However, the functional contributions of lncRNAs to decidualization in RIF have not been explored. In this study, we found that lncSAMD11–1:1 was significantly declined in the endometria of patients with RIF. The knockdown of lncSAMD11–1:1 in human endometrial stromal cells (hESCs) restrained decidualization and embryo implantation in vitro, while the overexpression of lncSAMD11–1:1 facilitated hESC decidualization and embryo implantation in vitro and ameliorated decidualization in RIF patients. Mechanistically, lncSAMD11–1:1 and phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate 4-kinase type 2 alpha (PIP4K2A) translocated out of nucleus and bound to each other during decidualization, thereby inhibiting the phosphorylation of AKT and promoting FoxO1 nuclear localization. These data suggest that lncSAMD11–1:1 might be a critical novel lncRNA functionally required for human decidualization, and the dysregulation of lncSAMD11–1:1 in the endometrium may be a new predisposing factor of RIF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Thin graphene quantum dots interlayer-based polyarylate membranes were prepared by interfacial polymerization. • The influence of two kinds of graphene quantum dots towards membrane structure was discussed in detail. • The quantum dots partially or fully released from the interlayer further optimized the intrinsic properties of the separation layer. • The polyarylate membranes showed excellent CO 2 /N 2 separation performance. Interlayered-thin film nanocomposite (i-TFN) membranes with nanomaterials as the interlayer has attracted more and more attention of researchers in recent years due to the effective regulation of the separation layer structure in the membrane separation field. In this work, the amino-functionalized graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) were synthesized and applied as an interlayer to modify the polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration substrate. Then interfacial polymerization (IP) between trimesoyl chloride (TMC) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was performed to prepare novel i-TFN polyarylate membranes for CO 2 /N 2 separation. The effect of the N-GQDs deposition amount on the structure and gas separation performance of the composite membrane was studied thoroughly. The results indicated that the i-TFN polyarylate membrane presented a particular sandwich structure and provided an effective transport channel for the diffusion of CO 2. Moreover, the affinity of the N-containing groups (e. g. amino and amide groups) in the i-TFN membrane and the CO 2 molecules helped to increase the CO 2 /N 2 separation selectivity. At the optimal preparation condition, the obtained i-TFN membrane showed CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 23.3 with CO 2 permeance of 174.5 GPU. This work proposes a novel nanomaterial interlayer to effectively improve the gas permselectivity by regulating the structure of i-TFN membranes, which has significant instruction for the preparation of high-performance i-TFN by exploring the interlayer of other nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In membrane process, the lateral transport path of water molecule through substrate has a great impact on the permeance of thin-film composite (TFC) membrane, thus the optimization of substrate by constructing interlayer without affecting its pore structure is desired. Here, we report a facile, scalable and universal surface grafting strategy based on a diazonium-induced anchoring process (DIAP), for which an ultra-thin polyaminophenylene (PAP)-like layer is covalently grafted on the substrate. The PAP-like layer significantly increases the wettability of surface and pore as well as surface positive charges of substrate, but has little influence on its surface pore size and structure. Moreover, the effects of the anchored PAP-like layer on the distribution, release and uptake of piperazine (PIP) monomers during interfacial polymerization (IP) process are investigated systematically. The polyamide (PA) nanofiltration (NF) membrane made on this substrate features a highly cross-linked, thinner and smoother PA layer with less PA invasive, and highlights a 2-fold water flux increase and simultaneously enhanced divalent salts (Na 2 SO 4 , MgSO 4 and MgCl 2) rejections (above 98.0%). Thus, combined with the superior structural stability and antifouling property, the obtained TFC membrane holds great potential in water softening and household water purification. • A facile and versatile surface grafting strategy is proposed. • The covalently grafted interlayer plays pivotal roles in the IP process. • A highly permeable PA membrane is prepared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The HKUST-1 interlayer improves the hydrophilicity and porosity of the support membrane. • The HKUST-1 interlayer controls the diffusion of piperazine during interfacial polymerization. • TFC membranes with HKUST-1 interlayer significantly increase the penetration flux of organic solvents. Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) has a good application prospect in the field of organic solvent separation, but low organic solvent permeance is the main obstacle restricting its application. This work reports a thin film composite (TFC) nanofiltration membrane prepared by interfacial polymerization (IP) on the HKUST-1 MOF interlayer grown in situ on a crosslinked polyimide (PI) substrate. The MOF interlayer improves the hydrophilicity and porosity of the support membrane. In addition, the MOF interlayer controls the diffusion of piperazine (PIP) during the IP process, which induced to form a thin and highly crosslinked polyamide (PA) separation layer. The increased effective membrane area and the reduced thickness of PA separation layer resulted in a methanol permeation flux up to 9.59 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1, while maintaining the rejection of the negatively charged Brilliant Blue G 250 dye (MW = 858.05 g·mol−1) at 98.8%. Furthermore, the stability of the TFC membranes in polar aprotic solvents such as N, N-dimethylformamide highlights their potential for OSN applications in chemical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Chinese ink is used to engineer a hydrophobic PVDF membrane. • The membrane exhibits superior separation efficiencies for oil/water emulsions. • The membrane exhibits a superior recyclability for gasoline-in-water emulsion. • The ink coating shows excellent chemical stability and mechanical robustness. The separation and recovery of oil from oily wastewater was still challenging due to the limitations of conventional separation techniques in its limited application fields, high operation cost and low separation efficiency. Membrane separation was a novel candidate to satisfy various separation tasks. Seeking for an efficient and facile strategy to manipulate the membrane performance was urgently needed. Chinese ink was a promising material to functionalize the membrane by virtue of the self-adhesion and intrinsic hydrophilicity. Herein, a composite polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) microfiltration membrane was fabricated via a facile rub-coating strategy. The micro/nano structures derived from the nanoparticles in Chinese ink readily facilitated the membrane with the superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity (underwater various oils contact angle above 150°, underwater dichloromethane roll off angle ~ 3°). The composite membrane exhibited a high permeation flux, a considerable separation efficiency for separating various oil-in-water emulsions and a superior recyclability for separating gasoline-in-water emulsion in ten cycles. Moreover, the membrane maintained a desirable underwater dichloromethane contact angle (above 145°) after respectively being immersed in pH = 1 HCl, pH = 13 NaOH and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions for one week, and a sandpaper abrasion test, demonstrating an excellent chemical stability and a robust mechanical durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• β-FeOOH nanorods were anchored onto polysulfone (PSF) ultrafiltration (UF). • Two kinds of interactions guaranteed nanorods attaching onto the surface. • Photo-Fenton catalytic of nanorods strengthened the self-cleaning of the membrane. • The membrane exhibited a high-efficient flux recovery for wastewater remediation. Membrane fouling problems severely hindered the integrated development of membrane technology. Currently, construction of a fouling-resistance membrane was an everlasting and ubiquitous research focus. In this study, β-FeOOH nanorods were anchored onto commercial polysulfone (PSF) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes surface via in-situ mineralization to fabricate an anti-fouling UF membrane for organic and dyes wastewater treatment. The ion-dipole interaction and π-cation interaction between Fe3+ and PSF chains guaranteed β-FeOOH nanorods attaching onto the surface without an intermediate layer. A satisfying flux recovery ratio (93.6% and 94.3%) and a low irreversible fouling ratio (6.4% and 5.9%) for bovine albumin (BSA) and sodium alginate (SA) solutions, respectively, were acquired on account of the photo-Fenton catalytic property and hydrophilicity of nanorods without sacrificing the permeation flux sharply. Importantly, the resultant membrane exhibited a desirable separation performance for various dyes solutions, with high permeation flux (53.6–100.0 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1) and appropriate rejection rates (60.9–92.6%). This work not only improved the anti-organic fouling performance extensively, but also provided a novel insight to decorate the conventional UF membrane surface straightforward without an intermediate layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Intrauterine infusion of hCG increased the endometrial Tregs and CCL2 expression. • CCL2 expression and Tregs migration were significantly increased with hCG stimulation. • Tregs migration was decreased with CCL2 siRNA or CCR2 antagonist treatment. • Intrauterine infusion hCG promotes the recruitment of Tregs by inducing CCL2. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) can attract regulatory T cells (Tregs) into the fetal-maternal interface regulating maternal immune tolerance in pregnancy. The objective of this study was to investigate whether hCG recruits the Tregs into endometrium by inducing chemokines. The number of Tregs in the endometrium was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The expression of CCL2 was analyzed in vivo and in vitro with hCG stimulation. CD4+CD25+ Tregs were isolated from peripheral blood for Tregs migration assay with hCG, CCL2 siRNA and CCR2 antagonist stimulation. Our results showed that the number of endometrial Tregs in RIF patients was significantly decreased (9.4 ± 5.3 vs. 23.1 ± 3.1, P < 0.01), while intrauterine infusion of 2000 IU hCG increased the endometrial Tregs (18.6 ± 9.8 vs. 9.4 ± 5.3, P < 0.05) and CCL2 expression (0.21 ± 0.01 vs. 0.17 ± 0.01, P < 0.01). Horn injecting with 10 IU hCG also increased the endometrial Tregs in pseudopregnant mice (46 ± 16.8 vs. 7 ± 4.3, P < 0.01). Furthermore, the CCL2 protein and mRNA levels were significantly increased in human endometrial stromal cells (hESCs) with the stimulation of hCG. Migration assays showed that hESCs with hCG stimulation promoted Tregs migration (2597 ± 833.2 vs. 1115 ± 670.7, P < 0.05), while the number of migrated Tregs significantly decreased with CCL2 siRNA (1061 ± 105.4 vs. 2598 ± 294.7, P < 0.05) or CCR2 antagonist (356.7 ± 138.8 vs. 2597 ± 833.2, P < 0.05) treatment. In conclusion, intrauterine perfusion of hCG might promote the recruitment of Tregs into endometrium by inducing chemokine CCL2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparation of highly permeable and selective organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membranes is desired for precise chemical separations. Although the emerging nanomaterials and novel preparation methods have significantly boosted the membrane performance, it still requires much effort to drive them toward scale-up production with lower cost and easier preparation process. Herein, we constructed a polyarylate membrane from one kind of porous organic cage, namely Noria through traditional interfacial polymerization technique. Under the catalysis of triethylamine, Noria in aqueous phase would react with terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) in hexane to form a dense nano-film. The inner cavity of Noria molecule provided nano-channel for both polar and non-polar solvents to transport through the membrane. Specially, the Noria + TPC membrane exhibits a high permeance for methanol up to 18 L m−2h−1bar−1. This is resulted from the low interaction energy between methanol and Noria as revealed by the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. In addition to the excellent performance, the simple preparation process with low-cost materials suggests the great potential of Noria + TPC membrane for practical application. Moreover, it would inspire the exploration of other molecules with tailored chemical structures for the assembly of high-performance membranes in future. Image 1 • The OSN membrane was synthesized via interfacial polymerization of a porous organic cage with acyl chloride. • The molecular cavity of Noria provided nano-channel for the transport of both polar and non-polar solvents. • The MD simulation revealed the mechanism for the high permeance of methanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The POC was employed to tailor the support for the fabrication of NF membrane. • The support surface pore could be re-structured by alkaline solution. • The NF membrane fabricated on etched support depicted excellent performance. The support layer have been recently recognized as an important factor in tailoring the performance of thin film composite membranes, but until now limited methods are available to optimize the support properties for the fabrication of high-performance nanofiltration (NF) membrane. Herein, Noria, one kind of porous organic cages, was employed as the filler to prepare Noria hybrid polysulfone (PSF) support through non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS). Owing to its good solubility in N-methylpyrrolidone, the blended Noria could distribute in the dope solution homogeneously and the structure and surface properties of the resulting support were finely tuned. Assisted from the inner cavity of Noria as well as enhanced hydrophilicity, the pure water flux of support membrane with a Noria loading of 3.60 wt% reached 125 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, which was nearly 2.5-fold higher than the pristine one. In addition to that entrapped in the PSF chains, a mass of Noria molecules aggregated on support surface during the NIPS process and they could be further etched by alkaline solution, in situ enlarging the surface pore size. After the interfacial polymerization (IP), the NF membrane fabricated on the etched support depicted excellent performance compared with those incorporated with other fillers either in the support or in the polyamide layer. Furthermore, this study could promote the understanding about the role of support in the IP process for the preparation of TFC membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have proven to have high separation performance, which has great potential in separation applications. However, unsatisfactory hydrothermal stability is the Achilles' heel of MOFs in practical applications, which seriously hinders the development of MOF based MMMs. Under the advantage of crystal anisotropy, a morphology regulation strategy without post-treatment is presented for the first time to efficiently improve the stability of MOF fillers in aqueous solution. Contrary to the regular dodecahedron ZIF-67 crystals, the [211] oriented ZIF-67 nanosheets (NS) can maintain an ordered microporous framework integrally in the aqueous solution of membrane preparation. The exposed [211] crystal face exhibits enhanced stability due to a lower proportion of Co–N bond and higher surface atomic density. The flake morphology of ZIF-67 with economic incorporation (5.0 wt %) offers the MMMs significantly enhanced CO 2 permeability of 139.4 barrer and CO 2 /N 2 ideal selectivity of 73.2, improved by 50.7% and 76.0% compared with the pristine polymer membrane. This strategy provides a new idea for improving the hydrothermal stability of MOF materials and extends their separation applications under aqueous conditions. Oriented MOF nanosheets with higher hydrothermal stability than anisotropic crystals are applied to construct the mixed matrix membrane in aqueous solution, which exhibit highly improved CO 2 /N 2 separation performance compared with the pristine polymer membrane. Image 1 • The hydrothermal stability of ZIF-67 is improved by morphology regulation. • The MMMs are fabricated with the low corporation of ZIF-67 in aqueous solution. • Significantly improved gas separation performance is achieved by the MMMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) attract great attention due to their outstanding gas separation performance. The compatibility between the fillers and the polymer matrix is one of the key points for the preparation of high-performance MMMs. In this work, MMMs consisting of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) of amine-modified Cu-BTC (NH2-Cu-BTC; BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid) and submicrometer-sized amine-modified Cu-BTC (sub-NH2-Cu-BTC) incorporated into a Pebax-1657 polymer were fabricated for the gas separation. The SEM image and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra showed an increase in the surface roughness of MOFs and the presence of amino groups on the surface of Cu-BTC after the amination modification, and a decrease in the size of MOFs crystals after the submicrometer-sized aminated modification. Gas adsorption analysis indicated that NH2-Cu-BTC and sub-NH2-Cu-BTC had a higher gas adsorption capacity for CO2 compared to the unmodified Cu-BTC. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image showed that NH2-Cu-BTC and sub-NH2-Cu-BTC, especially sub-NH2-Cu-BTC, had a better compatibility with a polyether-block-amide (Pebax) matrix in the MMMs. The gas separation performance indicated that the Pebax/sub-NH2-Cu-BTC MMMs evidently improved the CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 selectivity at the expense of a slight CO2 permeability. The results reveal that modified MOF-filled MMMs possess great potential for applications in the CO2 separation field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recurrent spontaneous miscarriage is one of the complications during pregnancy. However, the pathogenesis of recurrent spontaneous miscarriage is far from fully elucidated., Objective: Since the endocytic pathway is crucial for cellular homeostasis, our study aimed to explore the roles of endocytic recycling, especially EH domain containing 1, a member of the endocytic recycling compartment, in recurrent spontaneous miscarriage., Study Design: We first investigated the expression of the endocytic pathway member EH domain containing 1 in villi from the normal and recurrent spontaneous miscarriage groups. Then, we performed ribonucleic acid sequencing and experiments in villi, HTR8 cells and BeWo cells to determine the mechanisms by which EH domain containing 1-induced recurrent spontaneous miscarriage. Finally, placenta-specific EH domain containing 1-overexpressing mice were generated to investigate the recurrent spontaneous miscarriage phenotype in vivo., Results: EH domain containing 1 was expressed in extravillous trophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblast in the villi. Compared with the control group, recurrent spontaneous miscarriage patients expressed higher EH domain containing 1. A high level of EH domain containing 1 decreased proliferation, promoted apoptosis, and reduced the migration and invasion of HTR8 cells by activating the TGFβ receptor 1-SMAD2/3 signaling pathway. The TGFβ receptor 1 antagonist LY3200882 partially reversed the EH domain containing 1 overexpression-induced changes in the cell phenotype. Besides, a high level of EH domain containing 1 also induced abnormal syncytialization, which disturbed maternal-fetal material exchanges. In a mouse model, placenta-specific overexpression of EH domain containing 1 led to the failure of spiral artery remodeling, excessive syncytialization, and miscarriage., Conclusions: Increased expression of EH domain containing 1 impaired the invasion of extravillous trophoblasts mediated by the TGFβ receptor 1-SMAD2/3 signaling pathway and induced abnormal syncytialization of syncytiotrophoblast, which is at least partially responsible for recurrent spontaneous miscarriage., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for the Study of Reproduction. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The pituitary is the central endocrine gland with effects on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, it is not clear whether the pituitary responds to free fatty acid (FFA) toxicity, thus dysregulating hepatic lipid metabolism. Here, we demonstrate that decreased prolactin (PRL) levels are involved in the association between FFA and MASLD based on a liver biospecimen-based cohort. Moreover, overloaded FFAs decrease serum PRL levels, thus promoting liver steatosis in mice with both dynamic diet intervention and stereotactic pituitary FFA injection. Mechanistic studies show that excessive FFA sensing in pituitary lactotrophs inhibits the synthesis and secretion of PRL in a cell-autonomous manner. Notably, inhibiting excessive lipid uptake using pituitary stereotaxic virus injection or a specific drug delivery system effectively ameliorates hepatic lipid accumulation by improving PRL levels. Targeted inhibition of pituitary FFA sensing may be a potential therapeutic target for liver steatosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Study Question: Does abnormal serotonin homeostasis contribute to impaired endometrial decidualization in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF)?, Summary Answer: Abnormal serotonin homeostasis in patients with RIF, which is accompanied by decreased monoamine oxidase (MAO) expression, affects the decidualization of endometrial stromal cells and leads to embryo implantation failure., What Is Known Already: Previous studies have indicated that the expression of MAO, which metabolizes serotonin, is reduced in the endometrium of patients with RIF, and serotonin can induce disruption of implantation in rats. However, whether abnormal serotonin homeostasis leads to impaired decidualization in patients with RIF and, if so, the mechanism involved, remains unclear., Study Design Size Duration: Endometrial samples from 25 patients with RIF and 25 fertile patients were used to investigate the expression levels of monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), monoamine oxidase B (MAOB), and serotonin. We isolated human endometrial stromal cells to investigate the role of MAOA, MAOB, and serotonin in inducing decidualization in vitro and further explored the underlying mechanism using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analyses., Participants/materials Setting Methods: The levels of serotonin in the endometrium of patients with RIF were detected by ELISA and immunohistofluorescence, and the key genes involved in abnormal serotonin metabolism were analyzed via combination with single-cell sequencing data. The effects of MAOA or MAOB on the decidualization of stromal cells were investigated using an in vitro human endometrial stromal cell-induced decidualization model and a mouse artificially induced decidualization model. The potential mechanisms by which MAOA and MAOB regulate decidualization were explored by RNA-seq and LC/MS analysis., Main Results and the Role of Chance: We found that women with RIF have abnormal serotonin metabolism in the endometrium and attenuated MAO in endometrial stromal cells. Endometrial decidualization was accompanied by increased MAO in vivo and in vitro . However attenuated MAO caused an increased local serotonin content in the endometrium, impairing stromal cell decidualization. RNA-seq and LC/MS analyses showed that abnormal lipid metabolism, especially phosphatidylcholine metabolism, was involved in the defective decidualization caused by MAO deficiency. Furthermore, decidualization defects were rescued by phosphatidylcholine supplementation., Large Scale Data: RNA-seq information and raw data can be found at NCBI Bioproject number PRJNA892255., Limitations Reasons for Caution: This study revealed that impaired serotonin metabolic homeostasis and abnormally reduced MAO expression were among the reasons for RIF. However, the source and other potential functions of serotonin in the endometrium remain to be further explored., Wider Implications of the Findings: This study provides new insights into the mechanisms of serotonin homeostasis in human endometrial decidualization and new biomarkers or targets for the treatment of patients with RIF., Study Funding/competing Interests: X. Sheng is supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82001629), the Wenzhou Basic Public Welfare Research Project (Y20240030), the Youth Program of Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20200116), and Jiangsu Province Postdoctoral Research Funding (2021K277B). H.S. is supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82030040). G.Y. is supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82171653). The authors declare no conflicts of interest., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.)

Adipose progenitor cells (APCs) are heterogeneous stromal cells and help to maintain metabolic homeostasis. However, the influence of obesity on human APC heterogeneity and the role of APC subpopulations on regulating glucose homeostasis remain unknown. Here, we find that APCs in human visceral adipose tissue contain four subsets. The composition and functionality of APCs are altered in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). CD9 + CD55 low APCs are the subset which is significantly increased in T2D patients. Transplantation of these cells from T2D patients into adipose tissue causes glycemic disturbance. Mechanistically, CD9 + CD55 low APCs promote T2D development through producing bioactive proteins to form a detrimental niche, leading to upregulation of adipocyte lipolysis. Depletion of pathogenic APCs by inducing intracellular diphtheria toxin A expression or using a hunter-killer peptide improves obesity-related glycemic disturbance. Collectively, our data provide deeper insights in human APC functionality and highlights APCs as a potential therapeutic target to combat T2D. All mice utilized in this study are male., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) patients exhibit poor endometrial receptivity and abnormal decidualization with reduced effectiveness and exposure to progesterone, which is an intractable clinical problem. However, the associated molecular mechanisms remain elusive. We found that EH domain containing 1 (EHD1) expression was abnormally elevated in RIF and linked to aberrant endometrial decidualization. Here we show that EHD1 overexpressed in human endometrial stromal cells significantly inhibited progesterone receptor (PGR) transcriptional activity and the responsiveness to progesterone. No significant changes were observed in PGR mRNA levels, while a significant decrease in progesterone receptor B (PRB) protein level. Indeed, EHD1 binds to the PRB protein, with the K388 site crucial for this interaction. Overexpression of EHD1 promotes the SUMOylation and ubiquitination of PRB, leading to the degradation of the PRB protein. Supplementation with the de-SUMOylated protease SENP1 ameliorated EHD1-repressed PRB transcriptional activity. To establish a functional link between EHD1 and the PGR signalling pathway, sg-EHD1 were utilized to suppress EHD1 expression in HESCs from RIF patients. A significant increase in the expression of prolactin and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 was detected by interfering with the EHD1. In conclusion, we demonstrated that abnormally high expression of EHD1 in endometrial stromal cells attenuated the activity of PRB associated with progesterone resistance in a subset of women with RIF., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for the Study of Reproduction. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Premature ovarian failure (POF) features an upward incidence nowadays, and the human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs)-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) have shown applied values in the recovery of ovarian function. Here, a novel exosome-encapsulated microcarrier prepared by microfluidic technology for ovarian repair after chemotherapy damage is presented. The exosomes derived from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-preconditioned hUC-MSCs are encapsulated with hyaluronic acid methacryloyl (HAMA) via microfluidic electrospray, which is named HAMA/MSC-Exos. Attributing to the biocompatibility and semipermeable property of HAMA, the encapsulated exosomes show great viability and controllable release behavior from HAMA. It is demonstrated that in situ transplantation of HAMA/MSC-Exos can rescue ovarian functions of cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian failure in mice by increasing ovarian volume, improving the number of antral follicles and restoring fertility. It is believed that the transplantation of HAMA/MSC-Exos will provide a new concept for the treatment of POF in clinical practice., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Intrauterine adhesion is a major cause of female reproductive disorders. Although we and others uncontrolled pilot studies showed that treatment with autologous bone marrow stem cells made a few patients with severe intrauterine adhesion obtain live birth, no large sample randomized controlled studies on this therapeutic strategy in such patients have been reported so far. To verify if the therapy of autologous bone marrow stem cells-scaffold is superior to traditional treatment in moderate to severe intrauterine adhesion patients in increasing their ongoing pregnancy rate, we conducted this randomized controlled clinical trial. Totally 195 participants with moderate to severe intrauterine adhesion were screened and 152 of them were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either group with autologous bone marrow stem cells-scaffold plus Foley balloon catheter or group with only Foley balloon catheter (control group) from February 2016 to January 2020. The per-protocol analysis included 140 participants: 72 in bone marrow stem cells-scaffold group and 68 in control group. The ongoing pregnancy occurred in 45/72 (62.5%) participants in the bone marrow stem cells-scaffold group which was significantly higher than that in the control group (28/68, 41.2%) (RR=1.52, 95%CI 1.08-2.12, P=0.012). The situation was similar in live birth rate (bone marrow stem cells-scaffold group 56.9% (41/72) vs. control group 38.2% (26/68), RR=1.49, 95%CI 1.04-2.14, P=0.027). Compared with control group, participants in bone marrow stem cells-scaffold group showed more menstrual blood volume in the 3rd and 6th cycles and maximal endometrial thickness in the 6th cycle after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis. The incidence of mild placenta accrete was increased in bone marrow stem cells-scaffold group and no severe adverse effects were observed. In conclusion, transplantation of bone marrow stem cells-scaffold into uterine cavities of the participants with moderate to severe intrauterine adhesion increased their ongoing pregnancy and live birth rates, and this therapy was relatively safe., (© 2023. Science China Press.)

The correct assembly of the spindle apparatus directly regulates the precise separation of chromosomes in mouse oocytes, which is crucial for obtaining high-quality oocytes capable of successful fertilization. The localization, assembly, migration, and disassembly of the spindle are regulated by a series of spindle-associated proteins, which exhibit unique expression level variations and specific localization in oocytes. Proteomic analysis revealed that among many representative spindle-associated proteins, the expression level of nucleolar and spindle-associated protein 1 (NUSAP1) significantly increased after meiotic resumption, with a magnitude of change higher than that of other proteins. However, the role of NUSAP1 during oocyte meiosis maturation has not been reported. Here, we report that NUSAP1 is distributed within the cell nucleus during the germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes with non-surrounded nucleolus stage and is not enriched in the nucleus during the GV-surrounded nucleolus stage. Interestingly, NUSAP1 forms distinct granular aggregates near the spindle poles during the prophase of the first meiotic division (Pro-MI), metaphase I, and anaphase I/telophase I stages. Nusap1 depletion leads to chromosome misalignment, increased aneuploidy, and abnormal spindle assembly, particularly a decrease in spindle pole width. Correspondingly, RNA-seq analysis revealed significant suppression of the "establishment of spindle orientation" signaling pathway. Additionally, the attenuation of F-actin in NUSAP1-deficient oocytes may affect the asymmetric division process. Gene ontology analysis of NUSAP1 interactomes, identified through mass spectrometry here, revealed significant enrichment for RNA binding. As an RNA-binding protein, NUSAP1 is likely involved in the regulation of messenger RNA homeostasis by influencing the dynamics of processing (P)-body components. Overall, our results demonstrate the critical importance of precise regulation of NUSAP1 expression levels and protein localization for maintaining mouse oocyte meiosis., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Emerging research and clinical evidence suggest that the metabolic activity of oocytes may play a pivotal role in reproductive anomalies. However, the intrinsic mechanisms governing oocyte development regulated by metabolic enzymes remain largely unknown. Our investigation demonstrates that geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase1 (Ggps1), the crucial enzyme in the mevalonate pathway responsible for synthesizing isoprenoid metabolite geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate from farnesyl pyrophosphate, is essential for oocyte maturation in mice. Our findings reveal that the deletion of Ggps1 that prevents protein prenylation in fully grown oocytes leads to subfertility and offspring metabolic defects without affecting follicle development. Oocytes that lack Ggps1 exhibit disrupted mitochondrial homeostasis and the mitochondrial defects arising from oocytes are inherited by the fetal offspring. Mechanistically, the excessive farnesylation of mitochondrial ribosome protein, Dap3, and decreased levels of small G proteins mediate the mitochondrial dysfunction induced by Ggps1 deficiency. Additionally, a significant reduction in Ggps1 levels in oocytes is accompanied by offspring defects when females are exposed to a high-cholesterol diet. Collectively, this study establishes that mevalonate pathway-protein prenylation is vital for mitochondrial function in oocyte maturation and provides evidence that the disrupted protein prenylation resulting from an imbalance between farnesyl pyrophosphate and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate is the major mechanism underlying impairment of oocyte quality induced by high cholesterol., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest with the contents of this article., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Macrophages are a key and heterogeneous cell population involved in endometrial repair and regeneration during the menstrual cycle, but their role in the development of intrauterine adhesion (IUA) and sequential endometrial fibrosis remains unclear. Here, we reported that CD301 + macrophages were significantly increased and showed their most active interaction with profibrotic cells in the endometria of IUA patients compared with the normal endometria by single-cell RNA sequencing, bulk RNA sequencing, and experimental verification. Increasing CD301 + macrophages promoted the differentiation of endometrial stromal cells into myofibroblasts and resulted in extracellular matrix accumulation, which destroyed the physiological architecture of endometrial tissue, drove endometrial fibrosis, and ultimately led to female infertility or adverse pregnancy outcomes. Mechanistically, CD301 + macrophages secreted GAS6 to activate the AXL/NF-κB pathway, upregulating the profibrotic protein synthesis. Targeted deletion of CD301 + macrophages or inhibition of AXL by Bemcentinib blunted the pathology and improved the outcomes of pregnancy in mice, supporting the therapeutic potential of targeting CD301 + macrophages for treating endometrial fibrosis., (© 2023 The Authors. Published under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license.)

Dissecting and understanding the cancer ecosystem, especially that around the tumor margins, which have strong implications for tumor cell infiltration and invasion, are essential for exploring the mechanisms of tumor metastasis and developing effective new treatments. Using a novel tumor border scanning and digitization model enabled by nanoscale resolution-SpaTial Enhanced REsolution Omics-sequencing (Stereo-seq), we identified a 500 µm-wide zone centered around the tumor border in patients with liver cancer, referred to as "the invasive zone". We detected strong immunosuppression, metabolic reprogramming, and severely damaged hepatocytes in this zone. We also identified a subpopulation of damaged hepatocytes with increased expression of serum amyloid A1 and A2 (referred to collectively as SAAs) located close to the border on the paratumor side. Overexpression of CXCL6 in adjacent malignant cells could induce activation of the JAK-STAT3 pathway in nearby hepatocytes, which subsequently caused SAAs' overexpression in these hepatocytes. Furthermore, overexpression and secretion of SAAs by hepatocytes in the invasive zone could lead to the recruitment of macrophages and M2 polarization, further promoting local immunosuppression, potentially resulting in tumor progression. Clinical association analysis in additional five independent cohorts of patients with primary and secondary liver cancer (n = 423) showed that patients with overexpression of SAAs in the invasive zone had a worse prognosis. Further in vivo experiments using mouse liver tumor models in situ confirmed that the knockdown of genes encoding SAAs in hepatocytes decreased macrophage accumulation around the tumor border and delayed tumor growth. The identification and characterization of a novel invasive zone in human cancer patients not only add an important layer of understanding regarding the mechanisms of tumor invasion and metastasis, but may also pave the way for developing novel therapeutic strategies for advanced liver cancer and other solid tumors., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Placental trophoblasts contribute to regulatory T (Treg) function via the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway during normal pregnancy. Decreased expression of PD-L1 in trophoblasts was closely associated with Treg deficiency in the development of pregnancy failure. Thus, targeting PD-L1 might be a novel therapy to prevent pregnancy loss. However, the mechanisms for modulating the expression of PD-L1 in trophoblasts are an enigma., Methods: The proportion of decidual Treg cells, and the profile of decidual macrophages (DMs) sampled from women with normal pregnancy (NP) and recurrent miscarriage (RM) were evaluated by flow cytometry. The expression of Yin and Yang 1 protein (YY1) and PD-L1 in human villous were measured by Immunohistochemistry (IHC), qRT-PCR and western blot. The determination of soluble PD-L1 (sPD-L1) in serum from NP and RM, and trophoblast conditioned media (TCM) was performed by the PD-L1 SimpleStep ELISA kit. Knockdown of YY1 was processed in the human trophoblast derived cell lines, HTR-8 and Bewo, with siYY1 transfection. Peripheral naïve CD4 + T cells were isolated from women with NP for the in vitro culture. The percentages of Treg cells differentiated from peripheral naïve CD4 + T cells were measured by flow cytometry. The interaction between YY1 and CD274 was proved by CHIP. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in decidua was evaluated by IHC. The level of NO in serum from women with NP and RM was determined by the Griess reagent system. The effects of NO on YY1 were determined by the in vitro culture of HTR-8 cells with the NO donor, SNAP. The in vivo model comprising twelve pregnant mice and underwent different treatment. The percentages of Treg cells in murine uterus were measured by flow cytometry. Similarly, Western blot and IHC were performed to determine the expression of YY1 and PD-L1 in murine placenta., Results: Decreased expression of YY1 and PD-L1 in trophoblasts and lower proportion of decidual Treg cells were observed in patients with RM. Knockdown of YY1 contributes to a lower expression of YY1 and PD-L1. Soluble PD-L1 in the supernatant from HTR-8 cells was also decreased with siYY1 administration. Lower Treg differentiation was observed in the presence of supernatant from HTR-8 cells treated with siYY1. CHIP analysis revealed that endogenous YY1 directly occupied the promoter region of the CD274 (PD-L1) gene. Accompanied with increased M1 DMs, higher NO was observed in serum sampled from patients with RM. In the presence of Reduced expression of YY1 and PD-L1 was observed in HTR-8 cells with the treatment of SNAP. Furthermore, less Treg differentiation was observed with SNAP treated TCM. Moreover, our in vivo data found that YY1 deficiency was associated with decreased PD-L1, which further resulting in less Treg differentiation and Treg deficiency at the maternal-fetal interface and increased embryo loss., Discussion: Our work found the modulatory capacity of YY1 on PD-L1 in trophoblasts during early pregnancy. Furthermore, reduced YY1 was supposed resulting from higher levels of NO produced from the M1 DMs in RM., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Zhang, Wang, Qiu, Jiang, Wu, Mei and Sun.)

A successful human pregnancy requires the maternal immune system to recognize and tolerate the semi-allogeneic fetus, allowing for appropriate trophoblasts invasion and protecting the fetus from invading pathogens. Therefore, maternal immunity is critical for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy, especially at the maternal-fetal interface. Anatomically, the maternal-fetal interface has both maternally- and fetally- derived cells, including fetal originated trophoblasts and maternal derived immune cells and stromal cells. Besides, a commensal microbiota in the uterus was supposed to aid the unique immunity in pregnancy. The appropriate crosstalk between fetal derived and maternal originated cells and uterine microbiota are critical for normal pregnancy. Dysfunctional maternal-fetal interactions might be associated with the development of pregnancy complications. This review elaborates the latest knowledge on the interactions between trophoblasts and decidual immune cells, highlighting their critical roles in maternal-fetal tolerance and pregnancy development. We also characterize the role of commensal bacteria in promoting pregnancy progression. Furthermore, this review may provide new thought on future basic research and the development of clinical applications for pregnancy complications., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Zhang, Liu and Sun.)