Molecular-level design of S-scheme COF/Ce-MOF heterojunctions for efficient photocatalytic H2O2 generation.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising modality for selective cancer treatment; however, aggregation of hydrophobic photosensitizers in aqueous environments often leads to fluorescence quenching, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and diminished photocytotoxicity. In this study, we designed a micellar delivery system based on Tween 20, a biocompatible nonionic surfactant composed of a polyoxyethylene hydrophilic chain and a sorbitan ester–derived hydrophobic moiety, to optimize the photochemical performance of phthalocyanine photosensitizers. The micellar hydrophobic core was intended to encapsulate the photosensitizer through hydrophobic interactions and π–π stacking, thereby suppressing aggregation, while the hydrated polyoxyethylene shell provided steric stabilization and minimized nonspecific biological interactions. This core–shell architecture was designed to maintain the photosensitizer in a monomeric or weakly associated state, enabling efficient photoactivation and singlet oxygen generation. Photocytotoxicity toward HeLa cells was evaluated using the MTT assay. Micellized ZnPc-OH exhibited significantly enhanced light-induced cytotoxicity at 0.08 and 0.16 mg mL −1 compared with non-irradiated controls, whereas micellized ZnBuPc-OH showed only concentration-dependent cytotoxicity without a clear light-dependent effect. These findings indicate that the optimized Tween 20 micellar environment facilitates efficient ROS generation, suitable micellar encapsulation, and favorable cellular uptake/localization for ZnPc-OH, thereby preserving photocytotoxic activity. Overall, this study demonstrates that rational micellar design can mitigate aggregation-induced deactivation of hydrophobic photosensitizers and represents a viable strategy for improving PDT efficacy.

Synergistic regulation of surface and free hydroxyl radical generation by copper center and surface groups in Fe3O4 catalyzed H2O2.

Bioenergy is now an essential part of sustainable energy systems. In order to unlock the full potential of biomass resources, this research aims to develop a framework for biomass-to-power systems, benefiting from advanced technologies in heat integration and heat upgrading, particularly high-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs). The framework provides an opportunity to explore the performance of biomass-to-power systems utilising a wide range of biomass types as well as various operational conditions. A reduced-order model (ROM) is developed using the proposed model, which provides a reliable estimate of the power capacity and system efficiency for power generation. The investigation also identifies the contribution of the HTHP to energy efficiency and discusses its role in different scenarios. The present study reveals that biomass-to-power systems using gas engines achieve efficiencies ranging from 16% to 30%, and the sensitivity analysis shows that efficiency is highly influenced by the feed type and gasification temperature and the load of HTHP. The integration of the HTHP minimises the use of syngas for preheating the gasifier, thereby allowing more power to be delivered by the system. Despite the limited heat-delivery temperature of the HTHP and its consumption of about 5% of the gas-engine power output, it improves the overall power generation efficiency of the system by about 2%. • HTHP integration boosts net efficiency of bioenergy power generation by ~2%. • Up to ~5% of engine power to HTHP is thermodynamically feasible and beneficial. • Biomass-to-power efficiencies of 16–29% demonstrated across six typical biomass feedstocks. • Reduced-order model accurately predicts efficiency across wide feedstocks and operating ranges.

Tuning TiO2/Co3O4 Nano-interface for bridging photo- and plasma-catalytic reactive oxygen species generation.

Dynamic coordination geometry conversion with multidimensional orbital engineering for efficient high-valent iron generation in Fenton-like reactions

Retrofitting condenser vacuum systems to support efficient and low-carbon thermal power generation

Injectable pH-responsive cross-linked chitosan hydrogel co-delivering methotrexate and diaminoperylene bisimide: Enhanced targeted chemo-photodynamic therapy for breast cancer cells with reduced systemic toxicity

Dual-modulated ruddlesden-popper air electrode via Gd/Nb co-doping: Achieving high performance and durability in protonic ceramic cells

Rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 via photothermal reverse transcription qPCR using octahedral gold nanoframes

Synergistic engineering of MXene surface terminations and vertically aligned aerogel architectures for highly efficient solar steam generation

A novel zero-emission Allam cycle coupled to supercritical CO2 gasification of coal for efficient power generation

Nanoporous fibrous 3D solar evaporator for efficient freshwater generation and salt recovery

Diffusion-triggered ultra-uniformly distributed cobalt single atoms in self-supporting cathode for boosted tetracycline hydrochloride removal.

Sequential hydrothermal carbonization-pyrolysis of Jatropha fruit husk for cobalt-carbon catalysts enabling efficient hydrogen generation

A “solar basking cloth” evaporator constructed of Bi2OS2 hydrogel-melamine foam for efficient solar steam generation

Protein-anchored near-infrared heptamethine cyanine photosensitizer with ultralong retention for phototherapy of large tumors.

Innovative S-scheme heterojunction of Cu-doped BiVO4 integrated with BiOI for simultaneous antibiotic degradation and algal inactivation: DFT insights and applications.

Macrophages are one of the key regulators of innate immunity and tissue homeostasis. Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived macrophages offer a potential alternative to primary cells by addressing donor variability, limited availability, and scalability for in vitro applications. However, many differentiation protocols still depend on animal-derived components such as foetal bovine serum (FBS) and Matrigel, which introduce batch-to-batch variability and compromise reproducibility. In line with the 3R principles (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement), we evaluated whether these components could be replaced by recombinant human vitronectin or laminin-521. Using defined xeno-free conditions, we demonstrate efficient generation of precursor macrophages on both substrates, with subsequent polarization into pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory subtypes. These macrophages exhibited expected surface marker expression, cytokine and chemokine secretion profiles, and phagocytic activity. To improve reproducibility even further, we replaced aggregate-based seeding with single-cell seeding on laminin-521. This yielded macrophages with similar phenotypic and functional characteristics. Overall, this study establishes a fully animal component-free protocol for generating immunocompetent myeloid cells from hPSCs that is robust across multiple independent cell lines. This supports the development of standardized in vitro models for immunological research and drug testing consistent with the 3R principles.

The growing reliance upon cloud settings has rendered secure transmission of information essential. This study introduces the future-ready DNA-based cryptography (FRDNAC) paradigm, which combines DNA-based encryption with the feedback-assisted archimedes optimization algorithm to achieve efficient key generation and improved security. FRDNAC was assessed in comparison to contemporary optimization approaches such as the feedback artificial tree, the archimedes optimization algorithm, the blue monkey optimization, the coot optimization algorithm, the butterfly optimization algorithm, the shark smell optimization, the whale optimization algorithm, and the lightweight encryption system, as well as traditional encryption methods such as DNA encryption, Blowfish, Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA), the advanced encryption system, and the elliptic curve cryptography. Experimental findings demonstrate FRDNAC's exceptional encryption and decryption efficacy, achieving an encryption duration of 0.11s (key length 4.0), surpassing rivals like FAT (0.29s) and LES (0.20s). Furthermore, FRDNAC markedly enhanced memory efficiency, rendering it suitable for resource-limited cloud settings. Security evaluations indicate its robustness against cryptographic threats, encompassing known-plaintext attack, chosen-plaintext attack, and brute force attack. Despite obstacles in real-time key generation and computational cost, FRDNAC presents itself as a highly safe and efficient cryptographic framework appropriate for cloud-based applications. Its strong security framework establishes it as a viable solution for sectors requiring high-performance encryption in evolving digital environments.