Interference Of Ions Research Articles

Investigating the interaction between calcium signaling and ferroptosis for novel cancer treatment.

Drug resistance in cancer is steadily rising, making the development of new therapeutic targets increasingly critical for improving treatment outcomes. The mutual regulation of ions is essential for cell growth. Based on this concept, ion interference strategies offer a highly effective approach for cancer treatment. Calcium ions (Ca2+), as major second messengers, are closely associated with ion exchange and homeostasis. Disruptions in this balance can lead to cell death. However, while iron ions are also crucial, the connection between Ca2+and iron-induced cell death (ferroptosis) has not been well established. Therefore, this study suggests that Ca2+ may play a role in the induction of ferroptosis, presenting a novel and efficient target for cancer therapy. PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched for articles published in the past 15 years on the mechanisms of calcium ion-induced ferroptosis in cancer and related drugs. The analysis highlights how Ca2+regulate ferroptosis. The mechanisms by which Ca2+influence ferroptosis are summarized based on existing literature, and relevant drugs that act on Ca2+/ferroptosis axis are outlined. Ca2+ regulate ferroptosis primarily through the modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels, a mechanism that applies to a wide range of cancer cells as well as paracancerous and normal cells in cancer treatment. Furthermore, plant-derived active compounds exhibit potent anticancer properties and often act on the Ca2+/ferroptosis axis. These natural compounds could play a significant role in the development of new cancer treatment strategies.

High efficiency adsorption of boron by sodium alginate/polyethyleneimine/polysiloxane composite aerogel.

In this work, a new biomass boron adsorbent of N-methyl-D-glucosamine embedded sodium alginate/polyethyleneimine/polysiloxane composite aerogel (SKPN) was reported. Relevant characterization proved that the aerogel exhibited 3D porous structure with plenty of hydroxyl and amino functional groups, which was beneficial to the diffusion of boron and the chelation between boron and SKPN. Various parameters affecting the adsorption performance including pH value, contact time initial concentration, temperature and reusability were investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity was found at pH 8.0, and the adsorption capacity reached equilibrium within 3.75-5.75 h. Adsorption kinetics were more in line with the pseudo-second order kinetic model, suggesting the predominance of chemisorption. The adsorption isotherm was more in line with the Langmuir model, and the maximum adsorption capacities were calculated up to 38.41-49.39 mg/g (3.55-4.57 mmol/g) within the temperature range of 298 to 318 K, which were higher than most of the previous works. In addition, SKPN still showed good resistance to external ion interference and good reusability. The adsorption mechanism proved that the chelation interactions between boron and cis-diol and amino groups were the main driving forces. These results instructed that the adsorbent exhibited a good application prospect for boron adsorption, with the advantages of high adsorption performance, simple preparation process and environmental friendliness.

Nanoscale coordination polymer-coated microneedle patches against bacterial biofilm infection via hypoxia-enhanced copper ion interference therapy

Nanoscale coordination polymer-coated microneedle patches against bacterial biofilm infection via hypoxia-enhanced copper ion interference therapy

Dual-biased metal oxide electrolyte-gated thin-film transistors for enhanced protonation in complex biofluids

pH sensing technology is pivotal for monitoring aquatic ecosystems and diagnosing human health conditions. Indium–gallium–zinc oxide electrolyte-gated thin-film transistors (IGZO EGTFTs) are highly regarded as ion-sensing devices due to the pH-dependent surface chemistry of their sensing membranes. However, applying EGTFT-based pH sensors in complex biofluids containing diverse charged species poses challenges due to ion interference and inherently low sensitivity constrained by the Nernst limit. Here, we propose a dual-biased (DB) EGTFT pH sensing platform, acquiring back-gate-assisted sensitivity enhancement and recyclable redox-coupled protonation at the semiconductor-biofluid interface. A solution-processed amorphous IGZO film, used as the proton-sensitive membrane, ensures scalable uniformity across a 6-inch wafer. These devices demonstrate exceptional pH resistivity over several hours when submerged in solutions with pH levels of 4 and 8. In-depth electrochemical investigations reveal that back-gate bias significantly enhances sensitivity beyond the Nernst limit, reaching 85 mV/pH. This improvement is due to additional charge accumulation in the channel, which expands the sensing window. As a proof of concept, we observe consistent variations in threshold voltage during repeated pH cycles, not only in standard solutions but also in physiological electrolytes such as phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and artificial urine, confirming the potential for reliable operation in complex biological environments.

Ammonium Sensing Patch with Ultrawide Linear Range and Eliminated Interference for Universal Body Fluids Analysis

Ammonium level in body fluids serves as one of the critical biomarkers for healthcare, especially those relative to liver diseases. The continuous and real-time monitoring in both invasive and non-invasive manners is highly desired, while the ammonium concentrations vary largely in different body fluids. Besides, the sensing reliability based on ion-selective biosensors can be significantly interfered by potassium ions. To tackle these challenges, a flexible and biocompatible sensing patch for wireless ammonium level sensing was reported with an ultrawide linear range for universal body fluids including blood, tears, saliva, sweat and urine. The as-prepared biocompatible sensors deliver a reliable sensitivity of 58.7mV decade-1 in the range of 1-100mM and a desirable selectivity coefficient of 0.11 in the interference of potassium ions, attributed to the cross-calibration within the sensors array. The sensor's biocompatibility was validated by the cell growth on the sensor surface (> 80%), hemolysis rates (< 5%), negligible cellular inflammatory responses and weight changes of the mice with implanted sensors. Such biocompatible sensors with ultrawide linear range and desirable selectivity open up new possibility of highly compatible biomarker analysis via different body fluids in versatile approaches.

Facile Synthesis of Acyl-Hydrazone Composites Based on Hydrazide-Modified Formylated Polystyrene for Effective Removal of Heavy Metal Ions and Sulfides from Water.

In this study, waste polystyrene was modified and upgraded to prepare formylated polystyrene, and the modified polystyrene acetyl hydrazone (LT-HPA) was synthesized by condensation with polymethyl-propionyl-hydrazine. It is proven that the modification of the adsorption material is successful by various characterization methods. In the subsequent pollutant removal study, pH, mass, concentration, contact time, and salt ion interference were investigated. The optimal pH for Cu(II) and sulfide removal was 5 and 11, respectively, and the optimal mass of adsorbent was 1 g/L. It was found that the maximum removal rate of Cu (II) was 231.51 mg/g. The adsorption equilibrium time was less than 40 min. This is due to the good adsorption activity of acyl hydrazide groups on the skeleton for Cu (II) through coordination. The maximum desulfurization amount in 60 min was 370.21 mg/g, which was mainly caused by the oxidation of sulfides by surface oxidizing groups. Isotherm and kinetic studies show that the adsorption processes of Cu (II) and sulfides are consistent with the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Thermodynamic parameters show that the removal of Cu (II) and sulfides is a spontaneous endothermic process. The adsorption mechanism is mainly chemical adsorption, supplemented by physical adsorption. After 10 regenerated adsorption/desorption cycles, the removal rates of Cu (II) and sulfides remained above 85%, indicating that polystyrenesulfonate acetylhydrazone (LT-HPA) adsorption materials have good reusability. In addition, the adsorbent has good thermal stability, salt resistance, and environmental friendliness. In summary, the modified formylated polystyrene acetyl hydrazone (LT-HPA) has a good application prospect in the removal of copper(II) and sulfides and provides a fresh way for upgrading polystyrene.

Orchestrated Copper-Loaded Nanoreactor for Simultaneous Induction of Cuproptosis and Immunotherapeutic Intervention in Colorectal Cancer

Ion interference, including intracellular copper (Cu) overload, disrupts cellular homeostasis, triggers mitochondrial dysfunction, and activates cell-specific death channels, highlighting its significant potential in cancer therapy. Nevertheless, the insufficient intracellular Cu ions transported by existing Cu ionophores, which are small molecules with short blood half-lives, inevitably hamper the effectiveness of cuproptosis. Herein, the ESCu@HM nanoreactor, self-assembled from the integration of H-MnO2 nanoparticles with the Cu ionophore elesclomol (ES) and Cu, was fabricated to facilitate cuproptosis and further induce relevant immune responses. Specifically, the systemic circulation and tumoral accumulation of Cu, causing irreversible cuproptosis, work in conjunction with Mn2+, resulting in the repolarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and amplification of the activation of the cGAS-STING pathway by damaged DNA fragments in the nucleus and mitochondria. This further stimulates antitumor immunity and ultimately reprograms the tumor microenvironment (TME) to inhibit tumor growth. Overall, ESCu@HM as a nanoreactor for cuproptosis and immunotherapy, not only improves the dual antitumor mechanism of ES and provides potential optimization for its clinical application, but also paves the way for innovative strategies for cuproptosis-mediated colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment.

Novel selective ionic liquid membrane-coupled microfluidic chip for heavy metal separation and analytical strategies

The development of new low-cost, highly selective and efficient methods for the separation and detection of heavy metal ions in aqueous environments is of great importance for water safety and biological health. In this study, a novel ion separation membrane was prepared for the separation of copper ions in cadmium ion detection solution. Compared with the commercial membrane, the ion mobility was increased by 64.02 %, and further separated by selective complexation of thiacalix[4]arene-p-tetrasulfonate (TCAS), and the separation factor for Cu/Cd reached 34.66. This allowed Cd to be detected preferentially, and reduced the interference of other ions in the detection. The joint electric field environment was regulated to separate the organics and reduce the interference to the detection. The sensing performance was enhanced by modifying the screen-printed electrodes. The proposed sensing platform allows for simultaneous pre-processing and detection and has a detection limit of 0.19 μg-L−1 (S/N = 3) for Cd2+.

Highly selective extraction of gold from wasted random-access memory using a hybrid nanocomposite: Statistical, DFT, and machine learning modeling

This study successfully developed an advanced protocol for recovering gold (Au(III)) from spent random-access memory (RAM) utilizing a mesoporous FeNi2S4 integrated with g-C3N4 nanosheets. The innovative design of this hybrid material proved essential for achieving high efficiency and selectivity in adsorbing Au(III) ions from RAM. Extensive characterization of the g-C3N4 nanosheets and the FeNi2S4@g-C3N4 nanocomposite, covering physicochemical, textural, structural, morphology, and elemental composition, revealed that the strategic incorporation of FeNi2S4 significantly enhanced the composite's adsorption capabilities. The mesoporous FeNi2S4@g-C3N4 composite demonstrated superior performance, with an adsorption capacity of 203.12mg/g at an optimal pH of 2, and retained its high efficiency across more than 10 adsorption-desorption cycles. Furthermore, FeNi2S4@g-C3N4 exhibited strong resistance to interference ions, maintaining over 96% selectivity for Au(III) trapping. Gradient Boosting and Extra Trees models were instrumental in accurately predicting and optimizing the Au(III) adsorption process. The adsorption mechanism was clarified through zeta potential and DFT measurements, identifying strong chemisorption interaction between Au(III) and FeNi2S4@g-C3N4 sorbent. The study concludes that the FeNi2S4@g-C3N4 nanocomposite is an efficient and reusable material for selectively extracting Au(III) from RAM, providing a sustainable and scalable method for recovering valuable metals from complex waste streams, as supported by thorough experimental and computational evidence.

Enhancing Methylene Blue Adsorption Performance of Ti3C2Tx@Sodium Alginate Foam Through Pore Structure Regulation.

Pore structural regulation is expected to be a facile way to enhance the adsorption performance of MXene. In this work, spherical foam composites consisting of Ti3C2Tx and sodium alginate (SA) were synthesized via a vacuum freeze-drying technique. By varying the solution volume of Ti3C2Tx, four distinct Ti3C2Tx@SA spherical foams with honeycomb-like and lamellar structures with a pore diameter in the range of 100-300 μm were fabricated. Their methylene blue (MB) adsorption performances were then systematically compared. The results revealed that the honeycomb-like porous-structured spherical foams have a significantly higher adsorption capacity than their lamellar counterparts. Notably, the Ti3C2Tx@SA honeycomb-like porous foam exhibited a remarkable maximum adsorption capacity (qm) of 969 mg/g, positioning it at the forefront of MB adsorbent materials. Respective analysis of the adsorption kinetics, thermodynamics, and isotherm model indicated that this MB adsorption of Ti3C2Tx@SA honeycomb-like porous foam is characterized to be a physical, endothermic, and monolayer adsorption. The Ti3C2Tx@SA honeycomb-like porous foam also demonstrated excellent resistance to ion interference and good reusability, further attesting to its substantial potential for practical applications. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis was employed to elucidate the adsorption mechanism, which was found to involve the synergistic effect of electrostatic adsorption and amidation reaction. This work not only offers new avenues for the development of high-performance adsorption materials but also provides crucial insights into the structural design and performance optimization of porous materials.

Interference of metal ions on the bioluminescent signal of firefly, Renilla, and NanoLuc luciferases in high-throughput screening assays.

Bioluminescent high-throughput screening (HTS) assays, based largely on the activity of firefly (FLuc), Renilla (RLuc), and/or NanoLuc (NLuc) luciferases, are widely utilised in research and drug discovery. In this study, we quantify the luciferase-based real-life HTS assay interference from biologically and environmentally relevant metal ions ubiquitously present in buffers, environmental and biological matrices, and as contaminants in plastics and compound libraries. We also provide insights into the cross-effects of metal ions and other key experimental and biological reagents (e.g., buffer types, EDTA, and glutathione) to inform HTS assay design, validation, and data interpretation. A total of 21 ions were screened in three robust HTS assays ("SC" assays) based on the luminescence of FLuc, RLuc, and NLuc luciferases. Three newly optimised HEPES buffer variants ("H" assays) were developed for direct luciferase comparison. Interference in bioluminescent signal generation was quantified by calculating the IC50 values from concentration-dependent experiments for selected highly active and relevant metal ions. Metal ion inhibition mechanisms were probed by variations in specific reagents, EDTA, GSH, and the sequence of addition and buffer composition. In this study, we revealed a significant impact of metal ions' salts on luciferase-mediated bioluminescence, even at biologically and environmentally relevant concentrations. The extent of signal interference largely aligned with the Irving-Williams series of metal ion-ligand affinities (Cu > Zn > Fe > Mn > Ca > Mg), supporting previous reports on metal ion-dependent FLuc inhibition. However, the absolute magnitude and relative extent of signal reduction by metal ions' salts differed between SC and H assays and between luciferases, suggesting a complex network of metal ions' interactions with enzymes, substrates, reactants, and buffer elements. The diversity of the tested conditions and variability of responses provided insights into potential interference mechanisms and synergies that may exacerbate or alleviate interference. The beneficial influence of EDTA and the impact of glutathione, present natively in cells, on bioluminescence readout were pinpointed. Given the ubiquity of metal ions in analysed samples, the causative role in false-positive generation in drug discovery, and the wide breadth of luciferase-based assays used in screening, awareness and quantification of metal influence are crucial for developing assay validation protocols and ensuring reliable screening data, ultimately increasing the critical robustness of bioluminescence-based HTS assays.

A ratiometric fluorescent sensing foil for high resolution 2D pH measurement based on a novel hydroxy-pyrene green fluorophore

The pH of environmental systems plays a crucial role in determining pollutant behavior, necessitating the development of effective tools for real-time monitoring. This study introduces a novel series of lipophilic HPTS derivatives, developed through a two-step synthesis route, designed as pH-sensitive dyes, characterized by high fluorescence intensity, photostability, dual excitation/single emission, and significant Stokes shifts. We engineered self-ratiometric pH-sensing planar optode foils and investigated the impact of carbon chain length on foil durability. These foils demonstrate reliable quantitative pH detection across a range of 6.5–9.5 using commercial imaging systems and maintain exceptional photostability with minimal ionic interference. Notably, foils constructed with HPTS(DPA)3 derivatives, where the substituent carbon chain length is longer than six carbons show no significant leakage under varying pH conditions. The practical application of the foil was validated by mapping the two-dimensional pH distribution in the soil rhizosphere around rice roots at a resolution of 17 megapixels, demonstrating the potential for environmental monitoring applications.

Lanthanum-modified sepiolite for real application of phosphate removal from rural sewage.

Being able to cause eutrophication, a severe ecological problem that leads to the demise of aquatic animals, excessive phosphate in water bodies, has been a threat to the environment. Aiming to remove phosphate from wastewater in rural areas, adsorption is a promising method. In this study, a novel phosphate adsorbent, SEP-La, was synthesized by doping lanthanum into sepiolite. Characterization and batch adsorption experiments were performed. Lanthanum was loaded on sepiolite through hydrogen bond as forms of peroxides, and it greatly enhanced the adsorption capacity of sepiolite, reaching 135.78mg/g. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model described the adsorption kinetics the best, indicating a chemisorption process. An endothermic yet spontaneous adsorption process was revealed by the fitting of the Langmuir isotherm model. The adsorbent exhibited great tolerance to pH change and interference ions. The remaining 67.82% of the original performance after 6 cycles of adsorption-desorption demonstrated its robust recyclability. Its real application potential was also manifested through column experiments using locally collected real wastewater and was able to treat 2072mL of water per gram of adsorbent, which represents a significant milestone in translating theory into practice. FT-IR, XRD, and XPS were performed to prove that its mechanism involved electrostatic interaction and ligand exchange. This work provides an affordable while auspicious phosphate adsorptive material with the potential to effectively address the issue of excessive phosphate in water at a low cost.

DNAzyme-loaded bimetallic nanoflowers for STING activation and dual metabolic regulation to enhance antitumor immunity

Metabolic competition between tumor cells and killer T cells induces microenvironmental nutrient deficiencies and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), leading to insufficient killer T cell activation and infiltration. In this study, we proposed a synergistic nanosystem of ion interference and gene silencing that can effectively inhibit the glutamine/glycolysis metabolism dual pathway in tumor cells and activate the cGAS-STING innate immune pathway, which in turn promotes the activation and infiltration of killer T cells. Manganese ion (Mn2+)-activated DNAzyme decreases the glutamine transporter protein ASCT2, limiting glutamine absorption by tumor cells, whereas released zinc ions (Zn2+) limits glucose utilization by tumor cells as well as compensatory glycolysis, and the two synergistically alleviate the competitive pressure of glutamine and glucose from the killer T-cells while disrupting the redox homeostasis of tumor cells. Additionally, the released Mn2+ and Zn2+ synergistically activate the cGAS-STING pathway. In this study, the nanosystems not only disrupted tumor cell metabolism, but also activated a robust immune response, which may drastically reduce subcutaneous cancer growth and reverse the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Overall, the gene silencing-ion interference strategy provides a promising approach for cancer immunotherapy.

Optimizing Carbon Structures in Laser-Induced Graphene Electrodes Using Design of Experiments for Enhanced Electrochemical Sensing Characteristics.

In this study, we explored the morphological and electrochemical properties of carbon-based electrodes derived from laser-induced graphene (LIG) and compared them to commercially available graphene-sheet screen-printed electrodes (GS-SPEs). By optimizing the laser parameters (average laser power, speed, and focus) using a design of experiments response surface (DoE-RS) approach, binder-free LIG electrodes were achieved in a single-step process. Traditional trial-and-error methods can be time-consuming and may not capture the interactions between all variables effectively. To address this, we focused on linear resistance and substrate delamination to streamline the DoE-RS optimization process. Two LIGs, designated LIG A and LIG B, were fabricated using distinct and optimized laser settings, which resulted in a sheet resistance of 25 ± 2 Ω/sq and 21 ± 1 Ω/sq, respectively. These LIGs, characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and contact angle analysis, exhibited a highly porous morphology with 13% pore coverage and a contact angle <50°, which significantly increased their hydrophilicity when compared to the GS-SPE. For the electrochemical studies, the oxidation of NO2- ion by the graphene-based working electrodes was investigated, as it allowed for the direct comparison of the LIGs to the GS-SPE. These included cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and differential pulsed voltammetry studies, which revealed that LIG electrodes displayed a remarkable 500% increase in peak current during NO2- oxidation compared to the GS-SPE. The LIGs also demonstrated improved stability and sensitivity (420 ± 30 and 570 ± 10 nAμM-1 cm-2) compared to the GS-SPE (73 ± 4 nAμM-1 cm-2) in the oxidation of NO2- ions; however, LIG B was more susceptible to ionic interference than LIG A. These findings highlight the value of applying statistical approaches such as DoE-RS to systematically improve the LIG fabrication process, enabling the rapid production of optimized LIGs that outperform conventional carbon-based electrodes.

Self-supply of hydrogen peroxide by a bimetal-based nanocatalytic platform to enhance chemodynamic therapy for tumor treatment

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by low pH, hypoxia, and overexpression of glutathione (GSH). Owing to the complexity of tumor pathogenesis and the heterogeneity of the TME, achieving satisfactory efficacy with a single treatment method is difficult, which significantly impedes tumor treatment. In this study, composite nanoparticles of calcium-copper/alginate-hyaluronic acid (HA) (CaO2-CuO2@SA/HA NC) with pH and GSH responsiveness were prepared for the first time through a one-step synthesis using HA as a targeting ligand. Nanoparticles loaded with H2O2can enhance the chemodynamic therapy effects. Simultaneously, Cu2+can generate oxygen in the TME and alleviate hypoxia in tumor tissue. Cu2+and H2O2undergo the Fenton reaction to produce cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals and Ca2+ions, which enhance the localization and clearance of nanoparticles in tumor cells. Additionally, HA and sodium alginate (SA) were utilized to improve the targeting and biocompatibility of the nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared, x-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, SEM, transmission electron microscope, and other analytical methods were used to investigate their physical and chemical properties. The results indicate that the CaO2-CuO2@SA/HA NC prepared using a one-step method had a particle size of 220 nm, a narrow particle size distribution, and a uniform morphology. The hydrogen peroxide self-supplied nanodrug delivery system exhibited excellent pH-responsive release performance and glutathione-responsive •OH release ability while also reducing the level of reactive oxide species quenching.In vitrocell experiments, no obvious side effects on normal tissues were observed; however, the inhibition rate of malignant tumors HepG2 and DU145 exceeded 50%. The preparation of CaO2-CuO2@SA/HA NC nanoparticles, which can achieve both chemokinetic therapy and ion interference therapy, has demonstrated significant potential for clinical applications in cancer therapy.

Luminescent Multifunctional Nanomaterials: Capacitive Removal and Enhanced Detection Efficiency of Heavy Metals Ions for Advanced Water and Wastewater Treatment Application

AbstractIn recent years, heavy metal ions pollution in the industrialized environment of the societies threaten human health that flaunt ill‐sorted blueprints in freshwater resources obviously. The paradigm of designing luminescent multifunctional nanomaterials finds directions to the strategies of synthesizing cost‐effective, green, and versatile nanomaterials not only for detection, but also removal process of heavy metal ions in large scale applications. Among them, discovering the advances of luminescent multifunctional nanomaterials provides broad types of biomaterials, polymers and porous nanoparticles that grabs focal of investigations over the past several years due to their unique advantages such as enhanced detection efficiency with lowest limit of detection (LOD), minimum ions interference in versatile removal process, fast responsivity and selectivity as outstanding as unique physicochemical properties. This review paper tries to highlight the paradigm of principles for design, development, and utilization of luminescence nanomaterials for considering fundamental detection and removal mechanisms of heavy metal ions. In particular, these nanomaterials increase the remediation quality that are tackled in detail by focusing on opportunities and challenges in the field. Finally, design methods of these nanomaterials and concentrating on empowered detection and removal efficiency for heavy metals ions highlights novel prospective and strategies for largescale applications.

High sensitive and discriminating colorimetric assay for S2− overload in adaptogenic herbs utilizing ZnS nanoparticle-enhanced S, N-doped eggshell membrane-derived biochar

BackgroundWith the rapid development of industrialization, the excessive emission of S2− have become increasingly serious, leading to a surge in the content of S2− in nature. Rapid and accurate detection of S2− contamination in natural adaptogens is crucial for food safety. Annually, discarded eggshell waste, rich in organic and inorganic materials, poses environmental risks if landfilled. Utilizing waste eggshell membrane biomass for S2− detection is cost-effective, yet designing biochar materials for sensors requires balancing catalytic enhancement and anti-interference capabilities. Improving the catalytic performance of biochar for colorimetric S2− detection without metal ion interference presents a challenging issue. ResultsWe first modified biochar (EBc) derived from waste eggshell membranes using a combination of thiourea and ZnS nanoparticles, fabricating ZnS-decorated, S–N co-doped biochar (ZnS-SN-EBc) nanozymes, which were applied for the colorimetric assay detection of S2− contamination. The addition of thiourea significantly increases the proportion of pyridinic-N in biochar, enhancing the peroxidase-like activity of the nanozyme. The growth of ZnS nanoparticles on the biochar not only enhances the catalytic performance by increasing the S content but also reduces the content of oxidized S, thereby improving resistance to interference. The detection range for S2− was expanded from 0.1 to 45 μM for EBc to 0.05–225 μM for ZnS-SN-EBc, and the limit of detection improved to 0.0397 μM. Additionally, ZnS-SN-EBc significantly enhanced metal ion interference resistance. S2− detection in five types of adaptogenic herbs verified the accuracy and practicality of the colorimetric assay, with recovery rates comparable to national standards. SignificanceWe innovatively repurposed waste eggshell membranes to develop a selective and catalytic peroxidase-like nanozyme, ZnS-decorated S–N co-doped biochar (ZnS-SN-EBc). The developed colorimetric assay utilizing ZnS-SN-EBc demonstrates significant potential for the detection of sulfur ions in adaptogenic herbs, thus contributing to both waste resource utilization and the advancement of food safety detection technologies.

Platelet Membrane-Camouflaged Copper Doped CaO2 Biomimetic Nanomedicines for Breast Cancer Combination Treatment.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Chemodynamic therapy (CDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and ion interference therapy (IIT), used in combination, represent a common treatment. In this study, platelet membrane-camouflaged copper-doped CaO2 biomimetic nanomedicines have been developed for breast cancer treatments. Copper-doped CaO2 nanoparticles were first coated by polydopamine (PDA) and subsequently camouflaged by platelet membrane (PM) to form platelet membrane-camouflaged copper doped CaO2 biomimetic nanomedicines (Cu-CaO2@PDA/PM). The as-fabricated Cu-CaO2@PDA/PM multifunctional nanomedicines could decompose within the tumor microenvironment to release Ca2+ for ion interference therapy, and the generated H2O2 could perform a Fenton-like reaction with the assistance of loaded copper ions to produce ·OH, thus realizing chemodynamic therapy. In addition, the copper ions could also consume glutathione and weaken its ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species, which was conducive to amplifying the effect of oxidative stress. The coating of the polydopamine layer could achieve local hyperthermia of the tumor site, and the surface modification of the platelet membrane could enhance the targeting and biocompatibility of nanomedicines. In vivo and in vitro tests demonstrated that the developed Cu-CaO2@PDA/PM biomimetic nanomedicines offer a promising biomimetic nanoplatform for efficient multimodal combination therapy for breast cancer.

Super-Tough, Non-Swelling Zwitterionic Hydrogel Sensor Based on the Hofmeister Effect for Potential Motion Monitoring of Marine Animals.

Hydrogel-based electronic devices in aquatic environments have sparked widespread research interest. Nevertheless, the challenge of developing hydrogel electronics underwater has not been profoundly surmounted because of the fragility and swelling of hydrogels in aquatic environments. In this work, a zwitterionic double network hydrogel comprisedof polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA), and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) demonstrates super-tough and non-swelling performance. The Hofmeister effect of H2SO4 and PSBMA induces the PVA chains to form numerous nanocrystalline domains, which serve as the primary physical crosslinking points and provide effective energy dissipation. H2SO4 induces a strong salting-out effect to facilitate PVA crystallization and the formation of a dense and stable network structure that inhibits swelling. The resulting hydrogel exhibits an ultra-high toughness of 4.61MJm-3, non-swelling, and long-term stability for up to a month in pure water and seawater. Based on this, a hydrogel-based seawater strain sensor has been developed to monitor the underwater movements of marine animal models. Reliable and stable sensing performance ensures real-time collection of underwater motion signals, despite the impacts of water flow and the interference of ions. This study provides a facile approach to designing super-tough and non-swelling hydrogels and further expands the application of underwater electronic devices.