Harnessing the topology of ring polymers as a design motif in functional nanomaterials is becoming a promising direction in the field of soft matter. For example, the ring topology of DNA plasmids prevents the relaxation of excess twist introduced to the polymer, instead yielding helical supercoiled structures. In equilibrium semidilute solutions, tightly supercoiled rings relax faster than their torsionally relaxed counterparts, since the looser conformations of the latter allow for rings to thread through each other and entrain through entanglements. Here we use molecular simulations to explore a nonequilibrium scenario, in which a supercoiling agent, akin to gyrase enzymes, rapidly induces supercoiling in the suspensions of relaxed plasmids. The activity of the agent not only alters the conformational topology from open to branched, but also locks in threaded rings into supramolecular clusters, which relax very slowly. Ultimately, our work shows how the polymer topology under nonequilibrium conditions can be leveraged to tune dynamic behavior of macromolecular systems, suggesting a method to create a class of driven materials vitrified by activity.

The sustainable conversion of formaldehyde (FA) into high-value carbohydrate compounds via C-C condensation by formolase (FLS) is critically significant yet challenging, primarily due to its instability under high FA concentrations and its high cost. Here, we demonstrate that zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF-67 series) function as FLS-like pro-nanozymes, whose activity is initiated by water-mediated hydrolysis. This process releases metal-imidazole coordination clusters capable of catalyzing the condensation of FA and glycolaldehyde (GA) mainly into glyceraldehyde (GCA) and dihydroxyacetone (DHA) under neutral aqueous conditions. The products comprise 59% C3 carbohydrates and 41% C4 carbohydrates, with tolerance to a temperature up to 90 °C and FA concentrations up to 250 mM. Mechanism analyses demonstrate that the nucleophilicity (basicity) of N atoms in the imidazole-based ligands is critical for activating GA's α-H to form enolate anions, thereby initiating the C-C condensation with FA. The product yield and variety can be modulated by introducing different substituents into imidazole ligands and coordinating with metal ions (e.g., Zn, Co, or Ni), respectively. This work not only develops an effective strategy for rationally designing FLS-like pro-nanozymes with ZIF materials but also establishes an efficient platform for the green synthesis of multicarbon carbohydrates upon carbon recycling.

Moiré superlattice in twisted van der Waals (vdW) magnets provides a powerful route to engineer interlayer magnetic exchange interactions and emergent magnetic states. While moiré-induced magnetism has been extensively explored in antiferromagnetic (AFM) insulators, its realization in ferromagnetic (FM) metals remains a challenge due to the presence of itinerant electrons and competing magnetic energy scales, which together weaken or obscure the effect of magnetic moiré potential, particularly at high temperatures relevant for spintronic applications. Here, we report the electrical identification of moiré magnetism in small-angle (0.5°) twisted Fe3GeTe2 multilayers, persisting up to 160 K. By leveraging the anomalous Hall effect and magnetoresistance as sensitive probes, we observe a characteristic multistep magnetization reversal, in sharp contrast to the single switching of untwisted samples, which serves as a fingerprint of a mixed magnetic state landscape. Supported by polar magneto-optical Kerr effect microscopy and micromagnetic simulations, we attribute these signatures to the coexistence of AFM and FM domains spatially locked by the long-wavelength moiré superlattice. Upon cooling, the relative weight of AFM domains is compressed due to the competition between the magnetic moiré potential and the strengthening perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. These results demonstrate high-temperature moiré magnetism in vdW metallic ferromagnets and establish twist engineering as an effective approach to control magnetic states.

Safety concerns regarding lung-targeted lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) remain a critical issue in mRNA-based therapy. In this study, we present a lung-targeted LNP formulation, developed using the ionizable cationic lipid Lipid-392, that demonstrates both high efficacy and safety. Through systematic optimization of the LNP composition, including the components, N/P ratio, and formulation buffers, we created a simplified targeted LNP, termed Lipid-392 stLNP. This optimized Lipid-392 stLNP exhibits exceptional lung delivery efficiency with over a 100-fold improvement compared to the initial formulation. The targeting specificity of Lipid-392 stLNP reaches up to 99%, highlighting its precise pulmonary targeting. Importantly, the formulation was well tolerated even at a high dose of 12 mg/kg. In vivo studies demonstrate that Lipid-392 stLNP efficiently delivers mRNA to both endothelial and epithelial cells, achieving gene editing efficiencies of ∼70%. Notably, repeated administrations did not reduce the mRNA delivery efficiency, emphasizing its potential for use in multidose therapeutic regimens. Further validation is provided in an acute lung injury (ALI) model, where the delivery of IL-10 mRNA significantly reduces the inflammatory response. Furthermore, Lipid-392 stLNP facilitates efficient gene editing by co-delivering ABE mRNA and sgRNA as well as delivering siRNA for gene silencing, with a median effective dose (ED50) of approximately 0.05 mg/kg. Taken together, these findings establish Lipid-392 stLNP as a safe, efficient, and versatile platform for lung-targeted RNA delivery with broad therapeutic potential for various diseases and promising translational applications.

Phonon polaritons (PhPs) in low-symmetry van der Waals (vdW) materials enable deep-subwavelength control of mid-infrared light for nanoscale optics and sensing. However, intrinsically reconfiguring their dispersion without external fields, lithography, or chemical intercalation has remained elusive. Here, we introduce a thermomechanical approach that tunes PhPs in α-molybdenum trioxide (α-MoO3) through controlled oxygen vacancy formation and lattice strain. Near-field nanoimaging reveals an average polariton wavevector shift of Δk/k ≈ 0.13 within the lower Reststrahlen band. Stoichiometric analysis, density functional theory, and finite-difference time-domain simulations indicate vacancy concentrations of 1-2% and ≈-1.2% compressive strain, resulting in a dielectric permittivity modulation of up to ≈15%. Despite these structural perturbations, polariton lifetimes remain high (1.15 ± 0.29 ps). This work offers thermomechanical vacancy engineering as a robust route for reprogrammable polaritonic response in vdW crystals for nonvolatile nanophotonic architectures.

The rapid growth of data-intensive artificial intelligence workloads has exposed data movement in conventional von Neumann architectures as a critical bottleneck to both enhanced energy efficiency and reduced latency. Among the materials investigated for resistive random-access memory, halide perovskites have garnered extensive attention owing to their tunable electronic properties and low-power operation, making them suitable for high-density memory applications. Although all-inorganic CsPbI3 offers high thermal stability, its reliability is compromised by mobile iodide vacancies causing stochastic switching. To address this limitation, this paper introduces a halide exchange-driven interface engineering strategy using CsPbBr3 quantum dots (QDs). Unlike conventional passivation, this approach enables spontaneous Br- diffusion into the CsPbI3 layer, passivating interfacial defects and promoting structural reorganization at the interface. The optimized device exhibits highly uniform switching and a considerable reduction in SET power consumption from 37.57 to 2.52 μW. Object-detection simulations demonstrate that while the control device suffers an accuracy loss of 17.9%, the QD-incorporated device maintains robust performance with only a 2.8% loss in accuracy over 2,000 cycles. These results establish QD-driven defect engineering as a robust pathway for developing reliable components for future neuromorphic systems.

Meeting the growing global food demand under increasingly restrictive environmental conditions requires sustainable strategies that go beyond conventional fertilization. Traditional fertilizers are constrained by diminishing yield returns and increasing ecological costs, underscoring the need for catalytic materials capable of precisely modulating plant metabolism rather than merely supplying nutrients. Here, we report the development of a maifan stone-derived nanozyme fabricated through controlled homogenization and nanomaterialization of a naturally abundant silicate mineral. The resulting nanozyme exhibits intrinsic peroxidase-like activity, enabling it to function as a redox signaling modulator in plants. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization revealed that maifan stone nanozyme (MFS nanozyme) possess robust catalytic stability across a broad range of physiological conditions. Using Nicotiana benthamiana as a model system, we demonstrate that MFS nanozyme finely regulates intracellular redox homeostasis by modulating·OH levels, thereby inducing a mild oxidative stimulus that activates endogenous antioxidant defense pathways. This redox-mediated signaling cascade promotes root system development and improves macronutrient uptake. Compared with the untreated controls, the MFS nanozyme treatment increased the wheat yield by approximately 18%, and this increase was accompanied by increased nutrient accumulation. Notably, the MFS nanozyme also mitigate moderate saline-alkaline stress, indicating their capacity to increase plant stress resistance. Collectively, our findings establish natural mineral nanozymes as a previously unrecognized class of redox homeostasis regulators and micronutrient carriers that integrate catalytic regulation with nutrient utilization to drive sustainable yield enhancement. This work provides a mechanistic framework for the development of low-cost, environmentally friendly nanozyme-based fertilizers, offering a scalable pathway toward next-generation sustainable agriculture.

Elevating the charging cutoff voltage is critical for practical lithium metal batteries (LMBs); however, this strategy is severely hampered by solvent parasitic reactions. Despite advances in electrode/electrolyte interface engineering, solvent molecules near the interface remain attracted by cathodic parasitic-reaction sites, resulting in solvent decomposition. Here, we propose a separator-adsorbed solvent strategy, establishing a separator-electrolyte interface enriched with adsorption sites that prevents solvent molecules from being captured by cathodic parasitic-reaction sites. The selected polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) separator serves to interact with positively charged regions of carbonate solvents. This combination facilitates robust separator-solvent interactions, including C-H···F weak hydrogen bonds and n → π* interactions. Significantly, these interactions generate numerous solvent adsorption sites at the separator-electrolyte interface, which compete with the active cathode surface for solvent molecules. This enables the solvent molecules to escape the attraction of cathodic parasitic-reaction sites and preferentially accumulate on the separator surface, thereby significantly suppressing solvent decomposition and stabilizing the cathode interface. The gel polymer electrolyte with a polytetrafluoroethylene separator (GPE-PTFE) enables a 4.4 V Li||LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cell to achieve a high-capacity retention rate, maintaining 80% capacity over 671 cycles, nearly double the 368 cycles achieved using a polyethylene (PE) separator. Under an ultrahigh cutoff voltage of 4.7 V, the capacity retention reaches 90% after 100 cycles. This work proposes a paradigm for realizing ultrahigh-voltage LMBs through the separator-electrolyte interface.

Atomically precise gold nanoclusters have garnered significant attention for their diverse applications, ranging from biological labeling to optoelectronics. Their potential in optical quantum computing, which calls for ideal single-photon sources, has recently become a key area of interest. In the current work, we use photon antibunching experiments to explore the single-photon emission efficiency of atomically precise Au24 nanoclusters protected by 4-tert-butylbenzyl mercaptan ligands (Au24(TBBM)20). This cluster exhibits quantum emission with good photostability and without any observable blinking or spectral drift at room temperature under an inert gas atmosphere, with antibunching dips (g2(0)) as low as 0.07 in the solid state or, equivalently, a single-photon purity of 93% under time-gated conditions. Transient absorption and time-gated antibunching studies reveal that the short emission lifetime of this cluster and its high photoluminescence quantum yield in the solid state play critical roles in enhancing the emitted single-photon purity. This research advances the understanding of single-emitter behavior in atomically precise gold nanoclusters, contributing to the development of stable quantum emitters that are essential for quantum computing and cryptography.

Crystalline nephropathy is driven by a self-perpetuating cycle in which crystal-induced tubular injury promotes further nucleation, growth, and aggregation, transforming the kidney into a pathological mineralization niche. Conventional therapies fail to disrupt this vicious loop, while nanomedicines are hindered by the glomerular filtration barrier (<10 nm), and natural antioxidants like protocatechuic acid (PCA) suffer from poor bioavailability. Here, we report a 7.3 nm mitochondria-targeted metal-polyphenol network (Fe-PCA@TPP) that overcomes both delivery and targeting challenges to directly intervene at sites of redox imbalance. Formed via PCA-Fe3+ coordination and functionalized with triphenylphosphonium (TPP), Fe-PCA@TPP efficiently traverses the glomerular barrier, accumulates selectively in mitochondria, scavenges free radicals broadly, restores redox homeostasis, and potently inhibits calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal nucleation, growth, and aggregation. In vitro, Fe-PCA@TPP protects renal tubular epithelial cells from oxalate-induced oxidative stress by preserving mitochondrial bioenergetics and preventing apoptosis. In vivo, it preferentially accumulates in the kidney, reduces CaOx deposition, improves renal function, and downregulates markers of injury and inflammation. Mechanistically, Fe-PCA@TPP targets Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type 1 (SerpinE1) to block oxidative stress-apoptosis cascades, thereby remodeling the intrarenal pathological microenvironment. This work presents a size-compatible, mitochondria-targeted, and SerpinE1-specific nanoplatform that integrates crystal inhibition, redox regulation, and efficient renal clearance, offering a promising therapeutic strategy for crystalline nephropathy.