eV Level Research Articles

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Can Trigger Hepatocyte Release of Extracellular Vesicles by Various Mechanisms of Action Depending on Their Affinity for the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed nanostructures released by cells into the extracellular environment. As major actors of physiological intercellular communication, they have been shown to be pathogenic mediators of several liver diseases. Extracellular vesicles also appear to be potential actors of drug-induced liver injury but nothing is known concerning environmental pollutants. We aimed to study the impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), major contaminants, on hepatocyte-derived EV production, with a special focus on hepatocyte death. Three PAHs were selected, based on their presence in food and their affinity for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR): benzo[a]pyrene (BP), dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (DBA), and pyrene (PYR). Treatment of primary rat and WIF-B9 hepatocytes by all 3 PAHs increased the release of EVs, mainly comprised of exosomes, in parallel with modifying exosome protein marker expression and inducing apoptosis. Moreover, PAH treatment of rodents for 3 months also led to increased EV levels in plasma. The EV release involved CYP metabolism and the activation of the transcription factor, the AhR, for BP and DBA and another transcription factor, the constitutive androstane receptor, for PYR. Furthermore, all PAHs increased cholesterol levels in EVs but only BP and DBA were able to reduce the cholesterol content of total cell membranes. All cholesterol changes very likely participated in the increase in EV release and cell death. Finally, we studied changes in cell membrane fluidity caused by BP and DBA due to cholesterol depletion. Our data showed increased cell membrane fluidity, which contributed to hepatocyte EV release and cell death.

A Carbonylated Terthiophene-Based Twisted Polymer for Efficient Ternary Polymer Solar Cells.

In polymer solar cells (PSCs), it is difficult for twisted conjugated polymers to achieve high power-conversion efficiency (PCE) as donors due to their low charge carrier mobilities and poor bulk heterojunction morphologies. In this work, a new twisted conjugated polymer (P3TCO-1) with excellent solubilities (above 30 mg mL-1 ) in common organic solvents at room temperature is reported. UV-visible absorption spectra and cyclic voltammetry indicate that P3TCO-1 has a wide optical bandgap of 1.90 eV and deep HOMO level of -5.39 eV. In binary PSCs, P3TCO-1:ITIC-based device shows a PCE of 10.11%, with JSC of 17.05 mA cm-2 and FF of 62.89%; P3TCO-1:PC71 BM-based device gives a PCE of 6.67% with JSC of 12.31 mA cm-2 and FF of 58.00%. When the two acceptors of ITIC and PC71 BM are combined, the twisted P3TCO-1-based ternary PSCs exhibit a significantly boosted PCE of up to 11.41%, with a simultaneously improved JSC of 18.16 mA cm-2 and FF of 66.78%. These results can guide the improvement of PCE for twisted conjugated polymer-based PSCs.

Immuno-capture of extracellular vesicles for individual multi-modal characterization using AFM, SEM and Raman spectroscopy.

Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (tdEVs) are promising blood biomarkers for cancer disease management. However, blood is a highly complex fluid that contains multiple objects in the same size range as tdEVs (30 nm-1 μm), which obscures an unimpeded analysis of tdEVs. Here, we report a multi-modal analysis platform for the specific capture of tdEVs on antibody-functionalized stainless steel substrates, followed by their analysis using SEM, Raman spectroscopy and AFM, at the single EV level in terms of size and size distribution, and chemical fingerprint. After covalent attachment of anti-EpCAM (epithelial cell adhesion molecule) antibodies on stainless steel substrates, EV samples derived from a prostate cancer cell line (LnCAP) were flushed into a microfluidic device assembled with this stainless steel substrate for capture. To track the captured objects between the different analytical instruments and subsequent correlative analysis, navigation markers were fabricated onto the substrate from a cyanoacrylate glue. Specific capture of tdEVs on the antibody-functionalized surface was demonstrated using SEM, AFM and Raman imaging, with excellent correlation between the data acquired by the individual techniques. The particle distribution was visualized with SEM. Furthermore, a characteristic lipid-protein band at 2850-2950 cm-1 was observed with Raman spectroscopy, and with AFM the size distribution and surface density of the captured EVs was assessed. Finally, correlation of SEM and Raman images enabled discrimination of tdEVs from cyanoacrylate glue particles, highlighting the capability of this multi-modal analysis platform for distinguishing tdEVs from contamination. The trans-instrumental compatibility of the stainless steel substrate and the possibility to spatially correlate the images of the different modalities with the help of the navigation markers open new avenues to a wide spectrum of combinations of different analytical and imaging techniques for the study of more complex EV samples.

Diketopyrrolopyrrole based small molecular semiconductors containing thiazole units for solution-processed n-channel thin-film transistors

In this work, three diketopyrrolopyrrole-based conjugated small molecular semiconductors characterized by the combination of a diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) central core, thiazole π-conjugated moiety, and dicyanovinyl end group with different alkyl side chain substituents, 2TzDPPA1-2DCV, 2TzDPPA2-2DCV, and 2TzDPPA3-2DCV were synthesized. These small molecules have a similar narrow band gap of about 1.50 eV and deep LUMO energy level at −4.30 eV. Under ambient conditions, electron mobilities of 0.28 cm2 V−1 s−1, 0.13 cm2 V−1 s−1, 0.25 cm2 V−1 s−1 for solution processed thin films of 2TzDPPA1-2DCV, 2TzDPPA2-2DCV, and 2TzDPPA3-2DCV were obtained, due to high crystallinity and well-organized molecular stacking. Compared with the other two materials, thin films of 2TzDPPA1-2DCV enable the best OFET performance with desirable Ion/Ioff rates exceeding of 107, attribute to the coefficient of smoother film morphology and stronger crystallinity. These results reveal that introducing the thiazole unit into the DPP-based conjugated skeleton is conducive to enhance the crystallinity and tailor LUMO energy levels which ensure good performance and excellent stability of these molecules as active materials for n-channel electronic devices.

Ultrafast excited state dynamics of a bithiophene‐isoindigo copolymer obtained by direct arylation polycondensation and its application in indium tin oxide‐free solar cells

ABSTRACTA low band gap copolymer, P2TI (Eg = 1.6.eV), with bithiophene as donor and isoindigo as acceptor units is designed and synthesized by the direct arylation polycondensation (DAP) method. Absorbance of the polymer spans from 300 to 780 nm. It exhibits an absorption coefficient (ε) of 96 L/g cm in solution at its maxima. A HOMO level of −5.42 eV and LUMO level of −3.72 eV is measured by square wave voltammetry. ITO‐free solar cells fabricated using a P2TI:PCBM71 bulk heterojunction shows a moderate efficiency of 1.02% with a high open circuit voltage of 0.81 V. An intramolecular charge transfer state is found in the relaxation of P2TI in solution, which is generated with a time constant of 2 ps as measured by femtosecond‐transient absorption spectroscopy. Charge carriers were generated in <250 fs in P2TI:PCBM71 films. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018, 56, 1475–1483

Nuclear-Spin Comagnetometer Based on a Liquid of Identical Molecules.

Atomic comagnetometers are used in searches for anomalous spin-dependent interactions. Magnetic field gradients are one of the major sources of systematic errors in such experiments. Here we describe a comagnetometer based on the nuclear spins within an ensemble of identical molecules. The dependence of the measured spin-precession frequency ratio on the first-order magnetic field gradient is suppressed by over an order of magnitude compared to a comagnetometer based on overlapping ensembles of different molecules. Our single-species comagnetometer is capable of measuring the hypothetical spin-dependent gravitational energy of nuclei at the 10^{-17} eV level, comparable to the most stringent existing constraints. Combined with techniques for enhancing the signal such as parahydrogen-induced polarization, this method of comagnetometry offers the potential to improve constraints on spin-gravity coupling of nucleons by several orders of magnitude.

Influence of terminal alkoxy chain lengths on the solvatochromic and AIE properties of 4,6-bis(4-(3,4-bis(alkoxy)styryl)phenyl)-2-methoxynicotinonitriles

Three new fluorescent bent shaped conjugated compounds have been designed and synthesized by linking two 3,4-dialkoxyphenyl units to the para positions of 2-methoxy-4,6-diphenylnicotinonitrile core via olefin bonds. The effect of terminal linear chains (like hexyloxy, octyloxy, and hexadecyloxy chains) on their photophysical (solvatochromism and aggregation induced emission (AIE)) and electrochemical properties were systematically investigated. All the compounds exhibit strong solvatochromism and only the compounds bearing lower alkoxy chains (i.e. hexyloxy and octyloxy chains) shows the AIE behavior. Further, the electrochemical studies shows that the compounds possess a band gap of ∼2.26 eV with deep-lying highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level at ∼ −5.94 eV and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level at ∼ −3.70 eV. From the literature, it was noted that the observed frontier energy values of these compounds are encouragingly matching to the frontier energy values of perylene diimide (PDI) and indandione derivative based non-fullerene acceptors, thus, these compounds pave the way for their potential applications in solar cells.

PANI Branches onto Donor-Acceptor Copolymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Electroluminescent Properties of New 2D-Materials.

A new series of two-dimensional statistical conjugated polymers based on aniline and 9,9-dihexylfluorene as donor units and benzo- or naphtho-quinoxaline/thiadiazole derivatives as acceptor moieties, possessing PANI segments as side chains, were designed and synthesized. To investigate the effects of the perpendicular PANI branches on the properties of the main chain, the optical, electrochemical, morphological and electroluminescence properties were studied. The 2D materials tend to possess lower molecular weights and to absorb and to emit light red-shifted compared to the trunk 1D-polymers, in the yellow-red region of the visible spectrum. The 1D- and 2D-conjugated polymers present optical band gaps ranging from 2.15–2.55 eV, HOMO energy levels between −5.37 and −5.60 eV and LUMO energy levels between −3.02 and −3.29 eV. OLED devices based on these copolymers were fabricated. Although the performances were far from optimal due to the high turn-on voltages for which electroluminescence phenomena occur, a maximum luminescence of 55,100 cd/m2 together with a current density of 65 mA/cm2 at 18.5 V were recorded for a 2D-copolymer, PAFC6TBQ-PANI.

Tuning of Schottky Barrier Height at NiSi/Si Contact by Combining Dual Implantation of Boron and Aluminum and Microwave Annealing.

Dopant-segregated source/drain contacts in a p-channel Schottky-barrier metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (SB-MOSFET) require further hole Schottky barrier height (SBH) regulation toward sub-0.1 eV levels to improve their competitiveness with conventional field-effect transistors. Because of the solubility limits of dopants in silicon, the requirements for effective hole SBH reduction with dopant segregation cannot be satisfied using mono-implantation. In this study, we demonstrate a potential solution for further SBH tuning by implementing the dual implantation of boron (B) and aluminum (Al) in combination with microwave annealing (MWA). By using such a method, not only has the lowest hole SBH ever with 0.07 eV in NiSi/n-Si contacts been realized, but also the annealing duration of MWA was sharply reduced to 60 s. Moreover, we investigated the SBH tuning mechanisms of the dual-implanted diodes with microwave annealing, including the dopant segregation, activation effect, and dual-barrier tuning effect of Al. With the selection of appropriate implantation conditions, the dual implantation of B and Al combined with the MWA technique shows promise for the fabrication of future p-channel SB-MOSFETs with a lower thermal budget.

Glutaminase 1 regulates the release of extracellular vesicles during neuroinflammation through key metabolic intermediate alpha-ketoglutarate

BackgroundExtracellular vesicles (EVs) are important in the intercellular communication of the central nervous system, and their release is increased during neuroinflammation. Our previous data demonstrated an increased release of EVs during HIV-1 infection and immune activation in glial cells. However, the molecular mechanism by which infection and inflammation increase EV release remains unknown. In the current study, we investigated the role of glutaminase 1 (GLS1)-mediated glutaminolysis and the production of a key metabolic intermediate α-ketoglutarate on EV release.MethodsHuman monocyte-derived macrophage primary cultures and a BV2 microglia cell line were used to represent the innate immune cells in the CNS. Transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and Western blots were used to determine the EV regulation. GLS1 overexpression was performed using an adenovirus vector in vitro and transgenic mouse models in vivo. Data were evaluated statistically by ANOVA, followed by the Bonferroni post-test for paired observations.ResultsOur data revealed an increased release of EVs in GLS1-overexpressing HeLa cells. In HIV-1-infected macrophages and immune-activated microglia BV2 cells, treatment with bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide (BPTES) or CB839, two specific GLS inhibitors, significantly decreased EV release, suggesting a critical role of GLS1 in EV release. Furthermore, addition of α-ketoglutarate or ceramide rescued EV release during BPTES treatment, implicating α-ketoglutarate and ceramide as critical downstream effectors for GLS inhibitors. These findings were further corroborated with the investigation of brain tissues in GLS1-transgenic mice. The EV levels were significantly higher in GLS1 transgenic mice than those in control mice, suggesting that GLS1 increases EV release in vivo.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that GLS1-mediated glutaminolysis and its downstream production of α-ketoglutarate are essential in regulating EV release during HIV-1 infection and immune activation. These new mechanistic regulations may help understand how glutamine metabolism shapes EV biogenesis and release during neuroinflammation.

Asymmetry induces Q-band split in the electronic excitations of magnesium porphyrin

ABSTRACTThe electronic excitations of magnesium porphyrin (MgP), a molecular model for understanding the physics in light harvesting by biological systems, have been studied extensively. However, the theoretical underpinning of experimental measurements is still lacking, especially about the sub-bands in absorption spectrum. Here we propose that an asymmetry of MgP based on the uneven charge distribution of pyrrole rings and the linear structure of sp hybridised orbitals in Mg can largely influence the electronic excitations. Upon a very weak asymmetry of Mg-pyrrole bindings in MgP being introduced through the uneven distribution of charge, three different excitations are observed in the Q-band region of the experimental spectrum. Additionally, the predicted B-band excitations are highly correlated (10−2 eV level) with experimental measurements. In contrast, without this asymmetry, there are only two degenerate excitations in the Q-band region, and low agreement (10−1 eV level) of the B-band excitations with the experiment. The key physics of the unexpected and observable asymmetry in MgP is the ability of Mg to form sp hybridised orbitals on the third shell upon Mg binding to the nitrogen of pyrrole ring. Our findings provide new insight for high-energy efficiency of natural as well as artificial light-harvesting system for energy challenge.

Deep-level defects in homoepitaxial p-type GaN

The author has investigated deep-level defects in homoepitaxial layers of p-type GaN with Mg doping concentrations of ∼1.4 × 1017 cm−3 grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition on GaN substrates. Five deep-level defects were revealed with their optical onsets at ∼1.80, ∼2.48, and ∼3.18 eV above the valence band and at ∼3.08 and ∼3.28 eV below the conduction band. The ∼1.80, ∼3.18, and ∼3.28 eV levels had high defect concentrations. In particular, the density of the ∼1.80 and ∼3.28 eV levels increased with decreasing depth, probably due to segregation of Mg toward the surface. These three deep-level defects are most likely associated with Ga vacancies, N vacancy-related compensating donors, and deep Mg acceptors, respectively.

The Role of Excited Oxygen Molecules in the Formation of the Secondary Ozone Layer at 87 to 97 km

The secondary ozone layer is located at elevations of 87 to 97 km in the upper mesosphere – lower thermosphere. It overlaps with the ionospheric D-layer. Daytime intensive UV radiation is dissociating O2 molecules to O atoms and photoexcitating O2 molecules up to 11.07eV level. Ozone photolysis between the wavelengths of 118.7–121.6 nm produces three oxygen atoms from one ozone molecule. Collision reactions of and with produce additional oxygen atoms. The number of oxygen atoms is maintained at such a high level that a small but significant ozone concentration survives. UV radiation weakens radically during the night. The number of O atoms shows no diurnal variation in the MLT. This leads to a ten-fold increase of ozone concentration over the course of the night. Dissociative recombination of O2+ (entered via diffusion from above) and reactions of O (3P) atoms with excited O2 molecules generate O(1S) atoms. The quenching of O(1S)→O(1D) emits the green nightglow. The reactions of O(1D) with ozone and O2 absorption of UV nightglow produce . When these molecules relax, they emit the O2 UV nightglows. The relaxations of and emit infrared nightglows.

Synthesis of Porphyrin‐Appended Poly(fluorene‐alt‐triphenylamine)s: Effect of Appending Groups on Optical and Electrochemical Properties

AbstractSeries of poly(fluorene‐alt‐triphenylamine)s having 5 and 10% equivalent of porphyrin appended through oxyethylene spacer in carbazole and aldehyde as side chain in triphenylamine unit (P2‐P5 CHO) were synthesized using Suzuki polycondensation. The synthesized polymers were compared with their parent polymer (P1 CHO). The effect of side chains in polymer backbone was studied by using aldehyde and dicyanomethane as side chain in triphenylamine moiety of polymer. Further, the role of spatial arrangement of appended porphyrin group on the polymer's optical and electrochemical properties was also studied. Thermal studies of the polymers showed that, these polymers were thermally stable up to 200 °C. Optical absorption studies of the porphyrin appended polymers showed absorption maxima at around 301 nm, 375 nm, and 421 nm with Q bands of porphyrin. As thin film, photoluminescence emission studies of the polymers showed emission maxima at around 650 and 719 nm. Electrochemical study reveals that m‐phenyloxy trisphenylporphyrin appended polymers showed HOMO energy level at around −5.45 eV and LUMO energy level at around −3.45 eV. While, p‐phenyloxy trisphenylporphyrin appended polymers showed a marginal shift in HOMO and LUMO energy levels. Photovoltaic studies of the porphyrin appended polymer showed up to 0.1% power conversion efficiency with an open circuit voltage of 0.76 V and the details are reported.

Advances in Thermionic Energy Conversion through Single-Crystal n-Type Diamond

Thermionic energy conversion, a process that allows direct transformation of thermal to electrical energy, presents a means of efficient electrical power generation as the hot and cold side of the corresponding heat engine are separated by a vacuum gap. Conversion efficiencies approaching those of the Carnot cycle are possible if material parameters of the active elements at the converter, i.e. electron emitter or cathode and collector or anode, are optimized for operation in the desired temperature range. These parameters can be defined through the law of Richardson-Dushman that quantifies the ability of a material to release an electron current at a certain temperature as a function of the emission barrier or work function and the emission or Richardson constant. Engineering materials to defined parameter values presents the key challenge in constructing practical thermionic converters. The elevated temperature regime of operation presents a constraint that eliminates most semiconductors and identifies diamond, a wide band-gap semiconductor, as a suitable thermionic material through its unique material properties. For its surface a configuration can be established, the negative electron affinity (NEA), that shifts the vacuum level below the conduction band minimum eliminating the surface barrier for electron emission. In addition, its ability to accept impurities as donor states allows materials engineering to control the work function and the emission constant. Single crystal diamond electrodes with nitrogen levels at 1.7 eV and phosphorus levels at 0.6 eV were prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition where the work function was controlled from 2.88 eV to 0.67 eV, one of the lowest thermionic work functions reported. This work function range was achieved through control of the doping concentration where a relation to the amount of band bending emerged. Upward band bending that contributed to the work function was attributed to surface states where lower doped homoepitaxial films exhibited a surface state density of ~3x1011 cm-2. With these optimized doped diamond electrodes highly efficient thermionic converters are feasible with a Schottky barrier at the diamond collector contact mitigated through operation at elevated temperatures.

Pyridine-Based Electron-Transport Materials with High Solubility, Excellent Film-Forming Ability, and Wettability for Inkjet-Printed OLEDs.

Film morphology has predominant influence on the performance of multilayered organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), whereas there is little reported literature from the angle of the molecular level to investigate the impact on film-forming ability and device performance. In this work, four isomeric cross-linkable electron-transport materials constructed with pyridine, 1,2,4-triazole, and vinylbenzyl ether groups were developed for inkjet-printed OLEDs. Their lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (∼3.20 eV) and highest occupied molecular orbital (∼6.50 eV) levels are similar, which are mainly determined by the 1,2,4-triazole groups. The triplet energies of these compounds can be tuned from 2.51 to 2.82 eV by different coupling modes with the core of pyridine, where the 2,6-pyridine-based compound has the highest value of 2.82 eV. Film formation and solubility of the compounds were investigated. It was found that the 2,6-pyridine-based compound outperformed the 2,4-pyridine, 2,5-pyridine, and 3,5-pyridine-based compounds. The spin-coated blue OLEDs based on the four compounds have achieved over 14.0% external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) at the luminance of 100 cd m-2, and a maximum EQE of 12.1% was obtained for the inkjet-printed device with 2,6-pyridine-based compound.

Generation of electrical damage in n-GaN films following treatment in a CF4 plasma

We have investigated the generation of electrical damage in n-GaN films following treatment in a CF4 plasma, employing capacitance–voltage and steady-state photocapacitance spectroscopy techniques. The effective carrier concentration at depths of 50–150 nm from the GaN surface decreases, probably owing to Ga vacancies (VGa) diffusing into the bulk after being introduced at the surface by ion bombardment. These vacancies consequently form acceptor-type hydrogenated VGa with optical onsets at ∼1.79 and ∼3.23 eV below the conduction band. In particular, the dominant 3.23 eV level is most likely attributed to (VGa–H2)− species, because the VGa concentration at depth is very low.

A Ladder-type Heteroheptacene 12H-Dithieno[2',3':4,5]thieno[3,2-b:2',3'-h]fluorene Based D-A Copolymer with Strong Intermolecular Interactions toward Efficient Polymer Solar Cells.

Ladder-type electron-donating units for D-A copolymers applied in polymer solar cells usually comprise multiple tetrahedral carbon bridges bonded with out-of-plane alkyl chains for desirable solubility for device processing. However, molecular packing of resultant copolymers in the solid state and charge transport within devices are also impeded in spite of with multiple fused aromatic backbones. To mitigate this issue, a structurally well-defined ladder-type electron-donating heteroheptacene, 12H-dithieno[2',3':4,5]thieno[3,2-b:2',3'-h]fluorene (DTTF) with an extended conjugated backbone and a single tetrahedral carbon bridge attached with two bulky alkyl chains was designed and synthesized. The copolymerization of DTTF with 4,7-bis(4-hexylthiophen-2-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (DTBT) afforded a soluble D-A copolymer (PDTTF-DTBT) with a medium optical band gap of 1.72 eV and low-lying HOMO level at -5.36 eV. PDTTF-DTBT unprecedentedly exhibits strong intermolecular stacking ability and presents preferential face-on orientation on both ZnO and PEDOT:PSS layers. The improved packing order and appropriate phase separation of both the copolymer and PC71BM in the bulk heterojunction blend on the ZnO layer over on the PEDOT:PSS layer lead to much improved power conversion efficiency of ∼8.2% in the inverted solar cell device, among the highest for reported ladder-type D-A copolymers. The research demonstrates that it is an effective method to incorporate a single tetrahedral carbon bridge to the molecular center of a ladder-type heteroacene with heavily extended π-conjugation to prepare D-A copolymers toward highly efficient PSCs.

Elevated levels of extracellular vesicles are associated with therapy failure and disease progression in breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy

ABSTRACTExtracellular vesicles (EVs) have been discussed as a diagnostic tool for minimal residual disease (MRD) evaluation in breast cancer (BC) in addition to the analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Therefore, we investigated circulating EV levels as surrogate markers for disease monitoring and prediction of prognosis in primary, non-metastatic, locally advanced BC patients.EVs were enriched from blood samples of BC patients before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and from healthy females. EV marker expression analysis was performed and EV sizes and concentrations were determined by nanoparticle tracking analysis. The results were associated with disease status, outcome and CTC presence, evaluated by gene expression analysis after enrichment.We demonstrated that i) the EV concentration was 40-fold higher in BC patients compared to healthy females, ii) the EV concentration increased during therapy, iii) an increased EV concentration pre-NACT was associated with therapy failure and iv) an elevated EV concentration post-NACT was associated with a reduced three-year progression-free and overall survival. Of note, residual stem cell-like and/or resistant CTCs after therapy were associated with a lower EV concentration post-NACT.Our study highlights that the concentration of EVs within BC blood samples may serve as a complementary parameter reflecting the status of MRD as well as therapy and disease outcome in parallel with CTC investigation.

Low-Band-Gap Small Molecule for Efficient Organic Solar Cells with a Low Energy Loss below 0.6 eV and a High Open-Circuit Voltage of over 0.9 V

Small molecule organic solar cells (SMOSCs) have received considerable attention in recent years. However, one of the key factors limiting the performance of SMOSCs is their large energy loss (Eloss), which is typically between 0.6 and 1.0 eV, and therefore significantly higher than those of perovskite solar cells and inorganic solar cells (Eloss < 0.5 eV). Herein, we successfully report a new acceptor–donor–acceptor (A–D–A) type dimeric squaraine electron donor (D-IDTT-SQ) with a low optical band gap of 1.49 eV and deep HOMO energy level of −5.20 eV. Consequently, a high open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.93 V with an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.05% is achieved for solution-processed bulk heterojunction SMOSCs, showing an Eloss of only 0.56 eV. This is the first report wherein SMOSCs result in such a low Eloss, while simultaneously exhibiting a considerably high Voc over 0.9 V and an excellent PCE above 7.0%.