Journals
2025 EN
Masoudi Mahsa · Xavier Jr Neubi F. · Wright James
+7 more
Abstract Rechargeable lithium‐CO 2 batteries are emerging as attractive energy storage devices due to their potential for high capacity and efficient CO 2 reduction, making them promising candidates for post‐lithium‐ion batteries with high energy densities. However, their practical applications have been restricted by low reversibility, poor cycle life, and sluggish redox kinetics induced by the high potential required for decomposing the discharge product Li 2 CO 3 . Despite the various cathode catalysts explored, their application is often limited by availability, high cost, and complexity of synthesis. Herein, caesium phosphomolybdate (CPM) is synthesized through a facile and low‐cost method. The Li‒CO 2 battery based on the CPM cathode demonstrates a high discharge capacity of 15 440 mAh g −1 at 50 mA g −1 with 97.3% coulombic efficiency. It further exhibits robust stability, operating effectively over 100 cycles at 50 mA g −1 with a capacity limitation of 500 mAh g −1 . Remarkably, the CPM catalyst yields a low overpotential of 0.67 V, surpassing most catalysts reported in prior research. This study reports, for the first time, the application of a Keggin‐type polyoxometalate as a bifunctional redox catalyst, significantly improving the reversible cycling of rechargeable Li–CO 2 batteries.
Journals
2025 EN
Toyouchi Shuichi · Wolf Mathias · Hirai Kenji
+9 more
Abstract The development of compact, high‐speed, and energy‐efficient optical memories remains a significant challenge in photonic and plasmonic technologies. Conventional optical memories are inherently limited by light diffraction, restricting miniaturization and causing inefficient energy transfer. A promising strategy to overcome these limitations is using propagating surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), enabling the confinement and propagation of optical fields along metal interfaces, and allowing photonic devices to scale down to sub‐diffraction‐limit dimensions. This work presents an all‐plasmonic optical memory system based on silver nanowires (AgNWs) coated with photochromic diarylethene (DAE). By utilizing SPPs, reversible Write/Erase functions are achieved through multiphoton excitation, modulating the photostationary state of DAE. The refractive index changes regulate SPP propagation efficiency along the AgNW, with the memory state being read via plasmonic second‐harmonic generation. The synergy between nonlinear plasmonics in AgNWs and the photochromic properties of DAE enables complete memory operations, including writing, erasing, and reading ON/OFF states. This sub‐diffraction‐limit system paves the way for ultra‐compact, molecular‐scale optical memory devices.
Journals
2025 EN
Rupar Michael J. · Hanson Hannah M. · Botlick Brianna L.
+13 more
Abstract In 2023 malaria claimed ≈6 lives, with 90% of those deaths attributed to the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. This resurgence in mortality emphasizes the necessity of adopting alternative models to accelerate therapeutic development. The Malaria‐on‐a‐Chip model used here incorporated human liver, spleen, and endothelium with P. falciparum‐ infected blood, and was maintained for 7 days using serum‐free medium. This model sustained all stages of the intraerythrocytic life cycle and allowed for organ–organ interaction, providing advantageous preclinical insight into malaria pathophysiology. Chloroquine, lumefantrine, or artesunate were delivered as monotherapies to 3D7 or W2‐infected systems. Dose‐dependent parasite clearance was observed in both strains for all compounds. Recrudescence occurred in the 3D7‐infected model following treatment with chloroquine or lumefantrine, but not artesunate. In W2‐infected systems, chloroquine and lumefantrine treatment resulted in parasitemia stabilization by day 7, while artesunate further reduced parasitemia. Population dynamics modeling of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) outcomes were utilized to predict human in vivo parameters for efficacy and off‐target toxicity using in vitro results.
Journals
2025 EN
Zhang Yingrui · Li Chunchun · Carland Ruairi
+3 more
Abstract Plasmonic Pickering emulsions have immense potential as enhancing substrates in surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Traditionally, the functional nanoparticles also act as the emulsion stabilizer, so that their surface chemistry is tied directly to emulsion stability. However, this has meant that adsorption of molecules to the plasmonic nanoparticles destabilizes the emulsion system, which severely limits the use of Pickering emulsions in SERS. Here, we used a dual‐particle approach to create plasmonic Pickering emulsions, in which emulsion stability is maintained solely by one type of nanoparticle so that the other could be used to provide functionality without constraints to its surface properties. This allowed us to construct multiwalled carbon nanotubes‐Au@Prussian blue Pickering emulsion SERS sensors with integrated internal standards and filtration functionalities, which enabled quantitative, biphasic and multiplex analysis of discrete molecules in serum. The synthetic approach used in this work can be readily extended to form Pickering emulsions carrying functional components with arbitrary surface functionalities, which paves the way for advanced applications in sustainability and healthcare.
Journals
2025 EN
Wishart Claire L. · Spiteri Alanna G. · Tan Jian
+2 more
Abstract Infiltrating monocytes can exert both protective and pathogenic effects during central nervous system (CNS) inflammation. However, the metabolic mechanisms that govern these divergent roles remain poorly understood, limiting opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Single‐cell RNA‐sequencing and metabolic flow analysis of brain and bone marrow (BM) is used to map the metabolic signatures of monocyte‐derived cells (MCs) during lethal West Nile virus encephalitis. Trajectory analysis shows that BM monocytes progress through three metabolic profiles before migrating to the brain and differentiating into a pro‐inflammatory HIF1‐α⁺ MC population. This population further diverges into an inflammatory, iNOS⁺ MC subset with high glycolysis and amino acid metabolism, and a protective, glycolytically quiescent, antigen‐presenting MC subset. Daily in vivo glycolysis inhibition reduces neuroinflammation and disease signs without increasing viral load. This effect does not reflect a broad reduction in myelopoiesis but rather a selective decrease in iNOS⁺ MC migration, revealing distinct glycolytic dependencies among MC subsets. HIF1‐α activity remains independent of glycolysis, enabling functional differentiation of antigen‐presenting MCs without impairing antiviral responses by cervical lymph node T cells. This study identifies key metabolic drivers of MC function in viral CNS disease, in which selective metabolic reprogramming reduces severe neuroinflammation, demonstrating a promising therapeutic strategy.
Journals
2025 EN
TavaresNegrete Jorge Alfonso · Najafikoshnoo Sahar · Ghandehari Anita
+5 more
Abstract Conventional in vitro and animal models do not reproduce the geometry, mechanics, or transport physics of the human colon, limiting their fidelity for disease studies and drug screening. A patient‐derived, freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels bioprinted three‐dimensional (3D) in vivo mimicking human‐colon model (3D‐IVM‐HC) is reported whose micro‐computed tomography (CT) profile deviates by less than 4% from the original computed tomography template and spontaneously forms crypt‐like invaginations with a median depth of 65 µm. The dual‐layer gelatin methacrylate (GelMA)/alginate matrix matches native colonic stiffness (9–65 kPa) and sustains >95% cell viability with a 14‐fold metabolic increase over 14 days. Caco‐2 epithelia polarize within the lumen, form continuous Zonula occludens‐1 (ZO‐1) belts, and reach a transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) of 68 ± 4 Ω cm 2 , values within the human ex vivo range. Finite‐element simulations (FEM) parameterized with measured geometry and resistance predict water and nutrient fluxes within 80–99% of human explants. When HCT116 tumor spheroids are introduced, the construct yields a 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 5 ₀) of 540 ± 30 µ m , an order of magnitude higher than a matched two‐dimensional (2D) monolayer (42 ± 5 µ m ), mirroring clinical chemoresistance. Together, these benchmarks establish the 3D‐IVM‐HC as a physiologically faithful, non‐animal model for probing colorectal biology and quantifying drug response.
Journals
2025 EN
Asakura Yusuke · Adiwijaya Steven · Yoshino Shunya
+2 more
Abstract Porous functional organic polymers have attracted significant interest due to their diverse applications in adsorption/separation, electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, photosensing, and electronics. In these applications, performance depends on interactions between guest molecules and polymer frameworks. Consequently, the introduction of mesopores (2–50 nm) and macropores (50–300 nm) can significantly enhance functionality by simultaneously increasing the exposed active surface area and facilitating molecular diffusion within the polymer matrix. However, a wide range of porous polymers achievable through previous approaches, including surfactant and polystyrene templating, has been severely limited to a few less functional polymers due to the typically aqueous environment used during templating reaction and the need for template removal after polymerization. In this work, a universal approach is demonstrated that utilizes water‐soluble templates to synthesize functional meso‐ and macro‐porous organic polymers via solid‐state polymerization of aldehydes and amines (Schiff reaction), using perovskite metal fluorides (K M F 3 ) as sacrificial templates. By precisely tuning the particle sizes of metal fluoride templates, accurate control over pore sizes across the mesoscopic and macroscopic scales is achieved. A variety of aldehyde‐amine combinations yield semiconductive meso‐ and macro‐porous organic polymers. This versatile synthetic strategy is broadly applicable to a wide range of polymer systems, enabling simultaneous enhancement of surface area and molecular diffusion, thereby optimizing functional performance.
Journals
2025 EN
Yao Xiaoxue · Zhang Zhenwen · Deng Wei
+8 more
Abstract Emerging conductive porous materials hold remarkable promise for Joule‐heating applications like electothermal filtration, smart textiles, and energy management due to their porous and conductive synergy. However, their development is constrained by a design trade‐off between achieving high porosity for efficient flow transmission and maintaining a conductive network for effective charge transport. To overcome this, a bridged conductive nanofibrous membrane (BCNM) by linking polypyrrole‐coated nanofibers via self‐assembled polypyrrole nanowires is developed. This dual‐state network establishes continuous electron pathways while preserving multiscale porous channels, orchestrating air permeation, particulate capture, and electrothermal sterilization for all‐in‐one air purification. Leveraging this synergy, BCNM captures 98.79% of >0.3 µm particles under an ultra‐low pressure drop of 76 Pa and instantaneously self‐heats to 100 °C at low power to sterilize 99.49% of airborne bacteria. These performances compare favorably with leading conductive porous materials in both filtration performance and energy economy. A proof‐of‐concept solar‐powered purifier incorporating the BCNM outperforms existing purification technologies in terms of filtration, sterilization, energy efficiency, and cost. This work offers an innovative material–structure–function paradigm for developing energy‐interactive porous materials, with broad potential in smart filtration, biomedical protection, and sustainable energy systems.
Journals
2025 EN
Rupar Michael J. · Hanson Hannah M. · Botlick Brianna L.
+13 more
Malaria‐on‐a‐Chip Phenotypic Disease Model In article number 2505206, James J. Hickman and co‐workers describe the first digital twin derived from an organ‐on‐a‐chip system, applied here to model Plasmodium falciparum infection and treatment. By replicating host‐parasite interactions across multiple organs, the model enables quantitative prediction of clinical outcomes for antimalarial drugs. This advancement represents a major step toward more effective, human‐relevant preclinical testing and offers a potential alternative to traditional animal models in infectious disease research.
Journals
2025 UN
On the cover : A cow and calf grazing on a summer cover crop of pearl millet. Photo by Steven Knapp, USDA‐ARS.
American Society of Agronomy