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Among the two‐dimensional (2D) materials, layered hydroxides (LHs) stand out due to their chemical versatility, allowing the modulation of physicochemical properties on demand. Specifically, LHs based on earth‐abundant elements represent promising phases as electrode materials for energy storage and conversion. However, these materials exhibit significant drawbacks, such as low conductivity and in‐plane packing that limits electrolyte diffusion. In this work, we explore the synthetic flexibility of α‐CoII hydroxides (Simonkolleite‐like structures) to overcome these limitations. We elucidate the growth mechanism of 3D flower‐like α‐CoII hydroxyhalides by using in situ SAXS experiments combined with thorough physicochemical, structural, and electrochemical characterization. Furthermore, we compared these findings with the most commonly employed Co‐based LHs: β‐Co(OH)₂ and CoAl layered double hydroxides. While α‐CoII LH phases inherently grow as 2D materials, the use of ethanol (EtOH) triggers the formation of 3D arrangements of these layers, which surpass their 2D analogues in capacitive behavior. Additionally, by taking advantage of their anion‐dependent bandgap, we demonstrate that substituting halides from chloride to iodide enhances capacitive behavior by more than 40 %. This finding confirms the role of halides in modulating the electronic properties of layered hydroxides, as supported by DFT+U calculations. Hence, this work provides fundamental insights into the 3D growth of α‐CoII LH and the critical influence of morphology and halide substitution on their electrochemical performance for energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to develop two lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations capable of efficiently expressing a reporter mRNA while co-delivering the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone (DX) to reduce inflammatory side effects in protein replacement therapies. Two types of LNPs were developed, in which 25% of cholesterol was replaced by DX. These LNPs contained either 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) or 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) as a helper lipid. The resulting LNPs exhibited high stability, homogeneity, and near-neutral Zeta potentials. SAXS experiments confirmed DX incorporation into the LNP core, with slow in vitro DX release observed over 48 h. The LNPs achieved high mRNA encapsulation efficiency (95–100%) and effectively transfected HepG2 cells, dendritic cells, and hPBMCs. While LNPs increased cytokine release (IL-1β, TNF-α, MCP-1), LNPs-DX significantly reduced cytokine levels, demonstrating enhanced anti-inflammatory properties while maintaining mRNA expression levels. In vivo biodistribution showed predominant liver localization post-intramuscular injection, regardless of the DSPC or DOPE composition. LNPs co-loaded with mRNA and DX are promising candidates for continuous protein replacement. Due to their ability to reduce treatment-related inflammation while maintaining significant mRNA expression levels, these LNPs are perfectly suited for the treatment of liver-related metabolic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the one‐pot synthesis of composites constituted by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and aluminum hydroxide hydrogels (AlHG) by employing the Epoxide Route is presented. To modulate the optical properties of the final composites, different anions (X=Cl- ${{{\rm C}{\rm l}}^{-}}$ , Br- ${{{\rm B}{\rm r}}^{-}}$ , I- ${{{\rm I}}^{-}}$ and SCN- ${{{\rm S}{\rm C}{\rm N}}^{-}}$) were used as nucleophile, complexing and growth directing agents of the AuNPs. In addition, the concentration of the reactants, e. g., the X : Cl ratio, was set in such a way to preserve the alkalization rate, the transparency of the hydrogels supporting the AuNPs, and the stability of the final composites. Consequently, the composites exhibit different plasmonic properties, resulting from the AuNPs with different sizes and morphologies, as confirmed through transmission electron microscopy, depending on the nature of the employed anion, exclusively. Furthermore, this versatile one‐pot synthesis strategy was employed to design new composites with different I : Cl ratio and synthesize stable colloidal AuNPs within an aluminum hydroxide sol (AuNP@Alsol) without adding any conventional capping agent. This AuNP@Alsol composite can be used as seed to accelerate the extremely slow AuNPs formation kinetics in AuNP@AlHG(SCN), demonstrating the potential of this synthesis method to create composites susceptible to be applied in the photonic and catalysis areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub‐nanometer metal clusters have special physical and chemical properties, significantly different from those of nanoparticles. However, there is a major concern about their thermal stability and susceptibility to oxidation. In situ X‐ray Absorption spectroscopy and Near Ambient Pressure X‐ray Photoelectron spectroscopy results reveal that supported Cu5 clusters are resistant to irreversible oxidation at least up to 773 K, even in the presence of 0.15 mbar of oxygen. These experimental findings can be formally described by a theoretical model which combines dispersion‐corrected DFT and first principles thermochemistry revealing that most of the adsorbed O2 molecules are transformed into superoxo and peroxo species by an interplay of collective charge transfer within the network of Cu atoms and large amplitude "breathing" motions. A chemical phase diagram for Cu oxidation states of the Cu5‐oxygen system is presented, clearly different from the already known bulk and nano‐structured chemistry of Cu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]