Long-term Zinc Research Articles

Dual Breaking of Electron Cloud and Space Structure Symmetry Induced Microscopic Split-phase Interface for High-rate and Long-term Aqueous Zinc Batteries.

Weak dipole interactions between highly symmetric H2O molecules and SO42- species are the root cause of unstable electric double layer (EDL), which triggers the hydrogen evolution reaction and Zn dendrite formation, significantly impeding the commercialization of aqueous zinc-ion batteries. Herein, we designed a microscopic split-phase interface (MSPI) by dual breaking of electron cloud and space structure symmetry to suppress interfacial side reactions and achieve uniform Zn deposition. The structurally asymmetric methylurea (MU) molecules possess both hydrophobic methyl and hydrophilic amino groups, which disrupt the continuity of H-bonding network and the aggregation state of H2O molecules, resulting in peculiar nanoscale core-shell-like clusters. Such a unique structure further evolves into MSPI at the electrode-electrolyte interface, ensuring a continuously stable EDL. The DRT analysis and MD simulation confirmed that MSPI structure is composed of the outer H2O layer and the inner MU layer, which greatly suppress the activity of H2O molecules and accelerate Zn2+ migration. Consequently, the formulated electrolyte exhibited remarkable cycle reversibility over 1500 h at a high current density of 20 mA·cm-2, achieving a record-high cumulative capacity of 30 Ah·cm-2. Additionally, its feasibility was demonstrated by coupling with the I2@AC cathode, achieving an impressive 28,000 cycles at 10 A·g-1.

Cation-regulated MnO2 reduction reaction enabling long-term stable zinc–manganese flow batteries with high energy density

Reversible Mn2+/MnO2 reaction for Zn–Mn flow batteries achieved by modulating the solvation-shell structure of Mn2+ and the structure of electrodeposited MnO2 through a cation-assisted effect.

Designing Bifunctional Bilayer Air Electrode for Zinc−Air Batteries

Rechargeable zinc-air batteries, typically composed of a zinc metal negative and an air positive electrode are promising candidate for next-generation energy-storage devices owing to its high theoretical energy density, abundant raw materials and safe non-flammable electrolytes. Nevertheless, the primary challenges encountered by air electrode are the high overpotential and limited cycling durability due to the sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), occurring in the discharging and charge processes. It has been demonstrated that ORR and OER take place at three-phase boundaries and effective reaction fields are different between ORR and OER, leading to varying rate-limiting factors for each reaction, thus they require different chemical environment [1-3]. Therefore, constructing a bifunctional air electrode with highly active catalysts and optimized configuration for both ORR and OER is crucial for addressing mentioned issues in air cathodes.Herein, a strategy of bilayer air electrode fabrication is proposed for high-performance and long-term durability zinc−air batteries. Concretely, ORR catalyst layer and OER catalyst layer were combined with gas diffusion layer (carbon paper) to fabricate gas diffusion electrode, where ORR catalyst layer was concentrated on gas diffusion layer side for promoting oxygen diffusion in electrolyte, while OER catalyst layer was concentrated on electrolyte side for facilitating hydroxide ions transfer [3]. In this study, the LaMnO3 (LMO) synthesized by the traditional polymerized complex method and the partially Fe-substituted Ni oxyhydroxide (Ni0.7Fe0.3OOH) prepared by a soft chemical method [4] were applied as OER catalyst and ORR catalyst, respectively. Through optimization of bilayer fabrication process and parameters of catalyst layer, we’ve successfully fabricated a firmly bound bilayer electrode. It exhibits desirable high ORR and OER activities in alkaline electrolytes, coupled with long-term durability, rendering it highly promising for practical application in Zinc-air batteries. In addition, the EDS mapping characterization (Figure 1) of the cross-section of CP/LMO/Ni0.7Fe0.3OOH bilayer gas diffusion electrode reveals a desirable bilayer structure, which LMO and Ni0.7Fe0.3OOH catalyst layers exhibit even distribution throughout the lower and upper layer, respectively, as well as displaying uniform morphology and similar microstructures. This strategy of designing bilayer electrodes relying on different reactions provides a feasible avenue for bifunctional electrode design and further motivates exploration of electrode configuration involving multiphase electrochemical reactions. Keywords: Zinc-air batteries, bifunctional air electrode, bilayer gas diffusion electrode

Polyethylene Glycol-Protected Zinc Microwall Arrays for Stable Zinc Anodes.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries promise good commercial application prospects due to their environmental benignity and easy assembly under atmospheric conditions, positioning them as a viable alternative to lithium-ion batteries. However, some inherent issues, such as chaotic zinc dendrite growth and inevitable side reactions, challenge the commercialization progress. In this work, we imprint highly ordered zinc microwall arrays to regulate the electric field toward uniform Zn deposition. Afterward, coating a polyethylene glycol protection layer on the zinc microwalls aims to passivate the surface defects that rise unintentionally by mechanical imprinting. Polyethylene glycol can also boost oriented Zn deposition along the (002) plane and inhibit hydrogen gas production, further enhancing the stability of such three-dimensional (3D) hybrid anodes. Compared to the messy electric field near the polyethylene glycol-protected Zn foil, the uniform electric field provided by these 3D hybrid anodes can regulate the Zn deposition behaviors, enabling a longer lifespan and thus certifying the necessity of adding 3D microstructures. Additionally, 3D microstructures can offer a larger surface area than that of the planar Zn foil, providing more reaction sites and higher specific capacity. In this case, the 3D hybrid electrode exhibits a good initial capacity of approximately 120 mA h/g at a current density of 5 A/g and a nice retention of more than 80% after 800 cycles. The proposed scheme paves the way for a long-term stable 3D zinc anode solution with promising application prospects.

NRF2 and Thioredoxin Reductase 1 as Modulators of Interactions between Zinc and Selenium.

Selenium and zinc are essential trace elements known to regulate cellular processes including redox homeostasis. During inflammation, circulating selenium and zinc concentrations are reduced in parallel, but underlying mechanisms are unknown. Accordingly, we modulated the zinc and selenium supply of HepG2 cells to study their relationship. HepG2 cells were supplied with selenite in combination with a short- or long-term zinc treatment to investigate intracellular concentrations of selenium and zinc together with biomarkers describing their status. In addition, the activation of the redox-sensitive transcription factor NRF2 was analyzed. Zinc not only increased the nuclear translocation of NRF2 after 2 to 6 h but also enhanced the intracellular selenium content after 72 h, when the cells were exposed to both trace elements. In parallel, the activity and expression of the selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1) increased, while the gene expression of other selenoproteins remained unaffected or was even downregulated. The zinc effects on the selenium concentration and TXNRD activity were reduced in cells with stable NRF2 knockdown in comparison to control cells. This indicates a functional role of NRF2 in mediating the zinc/selenium crosstalk and provides an explanation for the observed unidirectional behavior of selenium and zinc.

Long-term zinc treatment alters the mechanical properties and metabolism of prostate cancer cells

The failure of intracellular zinc accumulation is a key process in prostate carcinogenesis. Although prostate cancer cells can accumulate zinc after long-term exposure, chronic zinc oversupply may accelerate prostate carcinogenesis or chemoresistance. Because cancer progression is associated with energetically demanding cytoskeletal rearrangements, we investigated the effect of long-term zinc presence on biophysical parameters, ATP production, and EMT characteristics of two prostate cancer cell lines (PC-3, 22Rv1). Prolonged exposure to zinc increased ATP production, spare respiratory capacity, and induced a response in PC-3 cells, characterized by remodeling of vimentin and a shift of cell dry mass density and caveolin-1 to the perinuclear region. This zinc-induced remodeling correlated with a greater tendency to maintain actin architecture despite inhibition of actin polymerization by cytochalasin. Zinc partially restored epithelial characteristics in PC-3 cells by decreasing vimentin expression and increasing E-cadherin. Nevertheless, the expression of E-cadherin remained lower than that observed in predominantly oxidative, low-invasive 22Rv1 cells. Following long-term zinc exposure, we observed an increase in cell stiffness associated with an increased refractive index in the perinuclear region and an increased mitochondrial content. The findings of the computational simulations indicate that the mechanical response cannot be attributed exclusively to alterations in cytoskeletal composition. This observation suggests the potential involvement of an additional, as yet unidentified, mechanical contributor. These findings indicate that long-term zinc exposure alters a group of cellular parameters towards an invasive phenotype, including an increase in mitochondrial number, ATP production, and cytochalasin resistance. Ultimately, these alterations are manifested in the biomechanical properties of the cells.

Novel chitosan-enhanced alkali-activated material for remediation of zinc-contaminated coastal mudflat sediment

Sustainable utilization and development for contaminated mudflat sites face dual challenges associated with contaminant enrichment and engineering diseases, impacting ecological quality and coastal construction. Commonly used cement has limitations in ensuring geo-environmental engineering performances for polluted sediments. This study investigates a solidification/stabilization approach using novel chitosan-enhanced alkali-activated material (CTS-AAM) to remediate highly concentrated zinc-contaminated sediments. Results exhibit that the compressive strength and water stability of sediments are remarkably improved by CTS-AAM, satisfying engineering service even under long-term immersion and zinc accumulation. Significant improvements dependent on curing period and CTS-AAM dosage also reflect in the resistance to deformation of remediated sediments, maintaining low-compressibility states due to the enhancement of structural yield stress. The leaching toxicity of remediated sediments meets Zn ≤ 5.0 mg/L, as zinc primarily distributes to the residual fraction associated with low mobility. The bidirectional enhancement of toxic sediment is attributed to the generation of hydrates with cementitious and pore-filling effects through hydration reactions. Simultaneously, chitosan with hydrated gels and ettringite collectively form gel networks and compact skeleton structures within sediments, as well as immobilize Zn through comprehensive physical encapsulation, chemical binding, and chelation. This study provides a feasible strategy for future projects involving remediation and utilization of mudflats.

Manipulation of facet zincophilicity of protective coatings for long lifetime zinc anodes

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are considered to be a promising technology for large scale energy storage deployment due to their advantages of low cost and high security. However, the zinc anodes suffer long-standing problems of uncontrollable dendrite growth and unstable interfacial chemistry that hinder their industrial applications. In this work, we manage to manipulate the facet zincophilicity of commercial titanium oxide (TiO2) by nitrogen implanting as a protective coating to realize long-term zinc plating/stripping. The nitrogen-implanting significantly increases the habitual facet zincophilicity of TiO2 layer to enable uniform and fast zinc deposition kinetics. Impressively, the as-protected Zn anode could be operated for a long lifespan of 2400 h accompanying with a high cumulative capacity of 4.1 Ah cm-2 and a stable Coulombic efficiency of 99.53 % over 900 cycles. This work will shed new insight on the importance of manipulating the facet zincophicility of protective coatings for dendrite-free metal anodes beyond zinc chemistry.

Recovery of Scots Pine Seedlings from Long-Term Zinc Toxicity.

We studied the recovery of the growth and physiological parameters of Scots pine seedlings after long-term zinc toxicity. The removal of excess zinc from the nutrient solution resulted in the rapid recovery of primary root growth but did not promote the initiation and growth of lateral roots. The recovery of root growth was accompanied by the rapid uptake of manganese, magnesium, and copper. Despite the maximum rate of manganese uptake by the roots, the manganese content in the needles of the recovering plants did not reach control values during the 28 days of the experiment, unlike magnesium, iron, and copper. In general, the recovery of ion homeostasis eliminated all of the negative effects on the photosynthetic pigment content in the needles. However, these changes, along with recovery of the water content in the needles, were not accompanied by an increase in the weight gain of the recovering seedlings compared with that of the Zn-stressed seedlings. The increased accumulation of phenolic compounds in the needles persisted for a long period after excess zinc was removed from the nutrient solution. The decreased lignin content in the roots and needles is a characteristic feature of Zn-stressed plants. Moreover, the removal of excess zinc from the nutrient solution did not lead to an increase in the lignin content in the organs.

Highly efficient corrosion inhibitor for low charge voltage and long lifespan rechargeable aqueous zinc-air battery

Hydrogen evolution, passivation and dendrite growth problems faced by zinc anodes of aqueous zinc-air batteries greatly reduce their cycle life and hinder their application in energy storage devices. Herein, a reversible, corrosion-resistant, and long-term stable cycle-life zinc anode is achieved by introducing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate into an alkaline electrolyte as corrosion inhibitors. Zinc acetate adsorbed on the surface of the zinc anode could be able to regulate the anode/electrolyte interface and thus inhibit the growth of dendrites, and zinc gluconate can reduce the charge voltage on the cathode to regulate the oxidation reaction and then prolong the cycle life, which eventually inhibit zinc anode corrosion. The additive package of zinc acetate and zinc gluconate provides a better performance. With addition of corrosion inhibitors, Zn||Cu cells show a high average coulombic efficiency about 94 %, and zinc-air batteries achieve a cycling lifespan of 297 h and low charge voltage of 1.7 V. This work provides a simple but practical guideline for high-performance zinc-air batteries.

Dietary zinc intake and absolute lymphocyte counts in advanced stage of nasopharyngeal cancer patients

BackgroundNasopharyngeal Cancer (NPC) patients experience a deficiency immune system due to a systemic inflammatory response. Anorexia due to inflammation and dysphagia, as well as the effects of therapy such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy in NPC, causes a decreased intake of macronutrients and micronutrients, including zinc. Long-term zinc deficiency affects both non-specific and specific immune components (lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils). However, research regarding zinc intake and lymphocyte counts is still rarely carried out, especially in NPC patients in Indonesia. The population of Indonesia has a different dietary intake pattern from the population of western countries. Therefore, researchers intend to examine zinc intake and lymphocyte counts in NPC patients at Dr. Kariadi Hospital in Semarang, Indonesia. AimsTo determine the relationship between dietary zinc intake and Absolute Lymphocyte Counts (ALC) in NPC patients. MethodsThis study was a cross-sectional study involving NPC patients undergoing first to third cycles of chemotherapy and aged 18–59 years at Dr Kariadi Semarang in July 2020–October 2022. Patients with hypoalbuminemia, experienced metastases, had other comorbid diseases, and had undergone radiotherapy were excluded from this study. Dietary zinc intake was measured using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) for the last 14 days and ALC was measured using a heme analyzer at Dr Kariadi Hospital Laboratory. Statistical analysis used the Pearson and Spearman correlation test to measure the strength of the correlation between dietary zinc intake and ALC, and a one sample T test to determine whether participants' zinc intake differed from the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). ResultsThe sample of this research was 35 subjects [20 male subjects (57.1%) and 15 female subjects (42.1%)]. The average dietary zinc intake of NPC patients undergoing chemotherapy at Dr Kariadi Hospital was 5.18 ± 2.19 mg/day (5.83 ± 1.63 mg/day and 4.32 ± 2.58 mg/day for males and females, respectively). The results showed a positive correlation between dietary zinc intake and ALC in NPC patients (r = 0.41, p = 0.013; p < 0.05). ALC in NPC patients was influenced by zinc intake and protein intake (p < 0.05), but not energy intake, BMI, and age (p > 0.05). The zinc intake of men and women was significantly different compared to the RDA recommendation (p < 0.05). ConclusionThere is a significant and positive correlation between dietary zinc intake and absolute lymphocyte counts in NPC patients undergoing chemotherapy.

In situ synthesis of an Al and V co-doped TiO2 NTA interlayer-enhanced PbO2 composite for efficient zinc electrowinning.

The high overpotential of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the strong corrosion of the anode are the main problems currently faced by the zinc hydrometallurgical process. This study achieved the successful in situ synthesis of titanium dioxide nanotubes doped by Al and V on a TC4 alloy. Subsequently, a composite electrode, TC4/AVTN-7/PbO2-ZrO2-Co3O4, was prepared utilizing composite electrodeposition. An investigation was conducted on the phase composition, surface morphology, electronic structure, and electrochemical performance of the composite electrode. The results indicate that Al and V co-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays (NTAs) maintain their intact tubular morphology. The doping of Al and V reduced the band gap width of TiO2 from 3.13 eV to 2.84 eV, making it easier for valence band electrons to transition to the conduction band, forming hole-electron pairs, and effectively enhancing the conductivity of the intermediate layer. The TC4/AVTN-7/PbO2-ZrO2-Co3O4 showed an overpotential (η) of 660 mV at 50 mA cm-2 in an electrolyte with 50 g L-1 Zn2+ and 150 g L-1 H2SO4. Compared to TC4/AVTN-7/PbO2, its η value is decreased by 243.32 mV. At a high current density of 2 A cm-2, the accelerated corrosion life reached 39 hours in 1.5 M H2SO4 medium. In long-term zinc electrowinning simulation tests, TC4/AVTN-7/PbO2-ZrO2-Co3O4 exhibited excellent stability. Compared with traditional lead-silver alloy anodes, the cell voltage and power consumption of TC4/AVTN-7/PbO2-ZrO2-Co3O4 decreased to 2.82 V and 2649.46 kWh t-1 Zn-1, respectively, demonstrating significant energy-saving benefits.

Spatially restricted deposition of Zn metal in localized-activation 3D electrode enables long-term stable zinc ion batteries

3D structures with organized channels have attracted extensive interest in constructing weak-dendrite anode for Zinc ion batteries (ZIBs). However, the uncontrolled “top-growth” dendrites caused by the unrestricted zinc deposition at all locations of the 3D electrode may eventually trigger a separator failure. Herein, a novel design principle of localized-activation 3D electrodes for spatially restricted deposition of metals is proposed. Based on the principle, a 3D Zn@CuSnAg/SiOC anode with spatially restricted feature (P-G Zn@CuSnAg/SiOC-SR), whose top surface (near separator) is an insulating SiOC and other surfaces are highly reactive Zn@CuSnAg, is fabricated by coupling polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) 3D printing and surface modified method. Uniquely, the insulated SiOC of the top surface bestows a spatially restricted Zn deposition within the anode and ultimately prevents the upper surface from Zn plating and stripping, eliminating “top-growth” Zn dendrites in the 3D electrode. As expected, the P-G Zn@CuSnAg/SiOC-SR symmetrical battery affords spatially restricted Zn plating/stripping with a superior lifespan over 2100 h at 1.0 mA cm−2 for 0.82 mAh cm−2. Meanwhile, the VO2/C//P-G Zn@CuSnAg/SiOC-SR full battery demonstrates remarkable cyclic stability over 800 cycles (capacity retention: 80.5 %). This work sheds light on the 3D anode design and fabrication for the next-generation long-term stable ZIBs.

Some indicators of nutritional security of children with restrictive types of nutrition

Following vegetarian diets means, to varying degrees, the exclusion of animal products from diets, which, if poorly planned, can lead to deficiency of some nutrients. Aim of the study was to evaluate some indicators of nutritional security of children with a restrictive type of nutrition and living in the territory of a long-term military conflict in the Donbass. Material and methods. 80 school-age children following restrictive diets were examined. All patients were divided into two groups: 40 children following a dairy-free diet (group 1), 40 children on a vegetarian type of diet (group 2). The control group consisted of 30 children who adhere to the traditional type of diet. Calcium, ferritin, vitamin B12 and zinc content in blood serum were studied in all children, living in Donbass. Results. In group 1 deficiency of calcium was found in 60.0 %, of zinc – in 32.5 %, of vitamin B12 – in 15.0 %, a decrease in ferritin content – in 22.5 %. In group 2 level of ferritin was declined in 55.0%, zinc deficiency was detected in 37.5 %, vitamin B12 deficiency – in 30.0 %, calcium deficiency – in 10.0 %. Conclusions. For children on a long-term dairy-free diet, calcium and zinc deficiency is characteristic, as well as a decrease in tissue iron reserves. Children who observe lactovegetarianism are characterized by a deficiency of zinc and vitamin B12, as well as a decrease in the concentration of ferritin in the blood serum. Children living in the Donbass in the conditions of a long military conflict and adhering to restrictive types of nutrition can be considered as a risk group for the development of deficient conditions. To correct the identified imbalance, it is necessary to develop programs for the supplementation of macro- and micronutrients.

Leukemia cells accumulate zinc for oncofusion protein stabilization

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are both hematological malignancies characterized by genetic alterations leading to the formation of oncofusion proteins. The classical chromosomal aberrations in APL and CML result in the PML-RARα and BCR-ABL1 oncofusion proteins, respectively. Interestingly, our flow cytometric analyses revealed elevated free intracellular zinc levels in various leukemia cells, which may play a role in stabilizing oncofusion proteins in leukemia and thus support cell proliferation and malignancy. Long-term zinc deficiency resulted in the degradation of PML-RARα in NB4 cells (APL cell line) and of BCR-ABL1 in K562 cells (CML cell line). This degradation may be explained by increased caspase 3 activity observed in zinc deficient cells, whereas zinc reconstitution normalized the caspase 3 activity and abolished zinc deficiency-induced oncofusion protein degradation. In NB4 cells, fluorescence microscopic images further indicated enlarged and enriched lysosomes during zinc deficiency, suggesting increased rates of autophagy. Moreover, NB4 cells exhibited increased expression of the zinc transporters ZIP2, ZIP10 and ZnT3 during zinc deficiency and revealed excessive accumulation of zinc in contrast to healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), when zinc was abundantly available extracellularly. Our results highlight the importance of altered zinc homeostasis for some characteristics in leukemia cells, uncover potential pathways underlying the effects of zinc deficiency in leukemia cells, and provide potential alternative strategies by which oncofusion proteins can be degraded.

Fine-Tuning Electrolyte Concentration and Metal-Organic Framework Surface toward Actuating Fast Zn2+ Dehydration for Aqueous Zn-Ion Batteries.

Functional porous coating on zinc electrode is emerging as a powerful ionic sieve to suppress dendrite growth and side reactions, thereby improving highly reversible aqueous zinc ion batteries. However, the ultrafast charge rate is limited by the substantial cation transmission strongly associated with dehydration efficiency. Here, we unveil the entire dynamic process of solvated Zn2+ ions' continuous dehydration from electrolyte across the MOF-electrolyte interface into channels with the aid of molecular simulations, taking zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-7 as proof-of-concept. The moderate concentration of 2 M ZnSO4 electrolyte being advantageous over other concentrations possesses the homogeneous water-mediated ion pairing distribution, resulting in the lowest dehydration energy, which elucidates the molecular mechanism underlying such concentration adopted by numerous experimental studies. Furthermore, we show that modifying linkers on the ZIF-7 surface with hydrophilic groups such as -OH or -NH2 can weaken the solvation shell of Zn2+ ions to lower the dehydration free energy by approximately 1 eV, and may improve the electrical conductivity of MOF. These results shed light on the ions delivery mechanism and pave way to achieve long-term stable zinc anodes at high capacities through atomic-scale modification of functional porous materials.

The Role of Non-genetic Therapies to Reduce the Incidence of Sickle Cell Crisis: A Systematic Review.

Sickle cell anemia is a hemoglobinopathy that causes complications such as Vaso-Occlusive Crisis (VOC), stroke, priapism, Acute Chest Syndromes (ACS), and bone infarcts due to blood vessel occlusion, resulting in hypoxia, ischemia, and inflammation. Preventing these incidents improves the quality of life and lowers mortality rates in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) patients. This systematic review aims to describe the drugs, their mechanisms of action, dosages, changes in hemoglobin parameters, decrease in VOCs, delay the time for the next VOC, decrease in the length of hospital stay, and side effects associated with these drugs. This review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. For this review, we searched the PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases and screened them for full free texts published in English and studied in humans in the last five years beginning in 2018. Randomized clinical trials (RCT), observational studies, meta-analyses, systemic reviews, and traditional reviews were all included in the search. According to the type of study, quality assessment tools are used, and eight papers are chosen. Full-text articles from these papers are studied, analyzed, and tabulated. We discussed seven interventions that are used to treat sickle cell disease. Voxelotor, crizanlizumab, L-glutamate, long-term blood transfusions, Zinc (Zn), Niprisan®, and Ciklavit* were found to reduce the number and severity of VOC. We discovered that VOCs containing L -glutamate reduced the length of hospitalization. Magnesium (Mg) did not affect the number and severity of VOCs. This review includes a few articles for the study. Future papers on this subject should include a large sample size and many papers. More clinical trials are required to evaluate the dosages and outcomes of using these drugs in combination to prevent VOCs.

Comparative transcriptome and antioxidant biomarker response reveal molecular mechanisms to cope with zinc ion exposure in the unicellular eukaryote Paramecium

The development of industry has resulted in excessive environmental zinc exposure which has caused various health problems in a wide range of organisms including humans. The mechanisms by which aquatic microorganisms respond to environmental zinc stress are still poorly understood. Paramecium, a well-known ciliated protozoan and a popular cell model in heavy metal stress response studies, was chosen as the test unicellular eukaryotic organism in the present research. In this work, Paramecium cf. multimicronucleatum cells were exposed in different levels of zinc ion (0.1 and 1.0 mg/L) for different periods of exposure (1 and 4 days), and then analyzed population growth, transcriptomic profiles and physiological changes in antioxidant enzymes to explore the toxicity and detoxification mechanisms during the zinc stress response. Results demonstrated that long-term zinc exposure could have restrained population growth in ciliates, however, the response mechanism to zinc exposure in ciliates is likely to show a dosage-dependent and time-dependent manner. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified the characters by high-throughput sequencing, which remarkably enriched in the phagosome, indicating that the phagosome pathway might mediate the uptake of zinc, while the pathways of ABC transporters and Na+/K+-transporting ATPase contributed to the efflux transport of excessive zinc ions and the maintenance of osmotic balance, respectively. The accumulation of zinc ions triggered a series of adverse effects, including damage to DNA and proteins, disturbance of mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress. In addition, we found that gene expression changed significantly for metal ion binding, energy metabolism, and oxidation-reduction processes. RT-qPCR of ten genes involved in important biological functions further validated the results of the transcriptome analysis. We also continuously monitored changes in activity of four antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, POD and GSH-PX), all of which peaked on day 4 in cells subjected to zinc stress. Collectively, our results indicate that excessive environmental zinc exposure initially causes damage to cellular structure and function and then initiates detoxification mechanisms to maintain homeostasis in P. cf. multimicronucleatum cells.

Fully Biodegradable and Long-Term Operational Primary Zinc Batteries as Power Sources for Electronic Medicine.

Given the advantages of high energy density and easy deployment, biodegradable primary battery systems remain as a promising power source to achieve bioresorbable electronic medicine, eliminating secondary surgeries for device retrieval. However, currently available biobatteries are constrained by operational lifetime, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, limiting potential therapeutic outcomes as temporary implants. Herein, we propose a fully biodegradable primary zinc-molybdenum (Zn-Mo) battery with a prolonged functional lifetime of up to 19 days and desirable energy capacity and output voltage compared with reported primary Zn biobatteries. The Zn-Mo battery system is shown to have excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability and can significantly promote Schwann cell proliferation and the axonal growth of dorsal root ganglia. The biodegradable battery module with 4 Zn-Mo cells in series using gelatin electrolyte accomplishes electrochemical generation of signaling molecules (nitric oxide, NO) that can modulate the behavior of the cellular network, with efficacy comparable with that of conventional power sources. This work sheds light on materials strategies and fabrication schemes to develop high-performance biodegradable primary batteries to achieve a fully bioresorbable electronic platform for innovative medical treatments that could be beneficial for health care.

Gradient design of imprinted anode for stable Zn-ion batteries

Achieving long-term stable zinc anodes at high currents/capacities remains a great challenge for practical rechargeable zinc-ion batteries. Herein, we report an imprinted gradient zinc electrode that integrates gradient conductivity and hydrophilicity for long-term dendrite-free zinc-ion batteries. The gradient design not only effectively prohibits side reactions between the electrolyte and the zinc anode, but also synergistically optimizes electric field distribution, zinc ion flux and local current density, which induces preferentially deposited zinc in the bottom of the microchannels and suppresses dendrite growth even under high current densities/capacities. As a result, the imprinted gradient zinc anode can be stably cycled for 200 h at a high current density/capacity of 10 mA cm−2/10 mAh cm−2, with a high cumulative capacity of 1000 mAh cm−2, which outperforms the none-gradient counterparts and bare zinc. The imprinted gradient design can be easily scaled up, and a high-performance large-area pouch cell (4*5 cm2) is also demonstrated.