Oxide Oxygen Research Articles

Modulating Metal Activation Energy via Cerium-Mediated Heterointerface Defect Evolution for Photovoltaic-Driven Efficient Water Electrolysis

Exploring electrocatalysts with high-valence metal sites is crucial to accelerate oxygen evolution reaction (OER), yet it encounters challenges arising from thermodynamic formation barriers. We have in-situ constructed a multi-defective Ce³⁺-Ov-M active interface through a dynamic interface defect integration strategy, regulating the ionic conductivity and the formation barrier of high-valence Ni and achieving an ultralow overpotential of 155mV at 10mAcm-2 current density for OER. The recordings from in-situ Raman and UV-Vis spectroscopy illustrate that the modulated catalyst facilitates a cathodic shift in the transition potential for forming γ-NiOOH. Theoretical calculations have confirmed the mechanism, indicating that defect-engineering at the heterointerface leads to electron localization, lower d-band centers enhance the electron distribution at metal active centers, and activate lattice oxygen for efficient water oxidation. This property extended to hydrogen evolution catalysts also exhibits high versatility. Perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem solar cells are used to drive the electrolytic assembly system to achieve 21.01% solar hydrogen conversion efficiency.

Influence of atomic coordination on the activity of lattice oxygen and catalytic oxidation of toluene over regular Cu2O crystalline

VOCs oxidation over transition metal catalyst is commonly understood via the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism involving the crucial role of lattice oxygen (OL) activity, however, how it is influenced by atomic coordination is still unclear. Herein, we use model catalysts of Cu2O-cub, Cu2O-oct and Cu2O-dod with crystal planes of (100), (111) and (110), respectively, to investigate the OL activity and catalytic oxidation of toluene. The activity of Cu2O-oct is found to be the highest, followed by Cu2O-cub and Cu2O-dod. Experiments results combined with density functional theory show that, although low di-coordinated O atoms leads to the lowest surface oxygen vacancy formation energy (2.47eV) and the highest surface OL activity of Cu2O-cub, it cannot determine the activity. The lowest bulk oxygen vacancy formation energy (3.16eV) in Cu2O-oct terminated with tri-coordinated O atoms and open surface can accelerate the migration and replenishment of OL, thereby promoting the catalytic activity.

Repeated social defeat in male mice induced unique RNA profiles in projection neurons from the amygdala to the hippocampus

Chronic stress increases the incidence of psychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Repeated Social Defeat (RSD) in mice recapitulates several key physiological, immune, and behavioral changes evident after chronic stress in humans. For instance, neurons in the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus are involved in the interpretation of and response to fear and threatful stimuli after RSD. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine how stress influenced the RNA profile of hippocampal neurons and neurons that project into the hippocampus from threat appraisal centers. Here, RSD increased anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze and reduced hippocampal-dependent novel object location memory in male mice. Next, pan-neuronal (Baf53b-Cre) RiboTag mice were generated to capture ribosomal bound mRNA (i.e., active translation) activated by RSD in the hippocampus. RNAseq revealed that there were 1,694 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in hippocampal neurons after RSD. These DEGs were associated with an increase in oxidative stress, synaptic long-term potentiation, and neuroinflammatory signaling. To further examine region-specific neural circuitry associated with fear and anxiety, a retrograde-adeno-associated-virus (AAV2rg) expressing Cre-recombinase was injected into the hippocampus of male RiboTag mice. This induced expression of a hemagglutinin epitope in neurons that project into the hippocampus. These AAV2rg-RiboTag mice were subjected to RSD and ribosomal-bound mRNA was collected from the amygdala for RNA-sequencing. RSD induced 677 DEGs from amygdala projections. Amygdala neurons that project into the hippocampus had RNA profiles associated with increased synaptogenesis, interleukin-1 signaling, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species production. Using a similar approach, there were 1,132 DEGs in neurons that project from the prefrontal cortex. These prefrontal cortex neurons had RNA profiles associated with increased synaptogenesis, integrin signaling, and dopamine feedback signaling after RSD. Collectively, there were unique RNA profiles of stress-influenced projection neurons and these profiles were associated with hippocampal-dependent behavioral and cognitive deficits.

Arabidopsis CIRP1 E3 ligase modulates drought and oxidative stress tolerance and reactive oxygen species homeostasis by directly degrading catalases.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays critical roles in modulating plant growth and stress response and its homeostasis is fine tuned using multiple peroxidases. H2O2, a major kind of ROS, is removed rapidly and directly using three catalases, CAT1, CAT2, and CAT3, in Arabidopsis. Although the activity regulations of catalases have been well studied, their degradation pathway is less clear. Here, we report that CAT2 and CAT3 protein abundance was partially controlled using the 26S proteasome. To further identify candidate proteins that modulate the stability of CAT2, we performed yeast-two-hybrid screening and recovered several clones encoding a protein with RING and vWA domains, CIRP1 (CAT2 Interacting RING Protein 1). Drought and oxidative stress downregulated CIRP1 transcripts. CIRP1 harbored E3 ubiquitination activity and accelerated the degradation of CAT2 and CAT3 by direct interaction and ubiquitination. The cirp1 mutants exhibited stronger drought and oxidative stress tolerance, which was opposite to the cat2 and cat3 mutants. Genetic analysis revealed that CIRP1 acts upstream of CAT2 and CAT3 to negatively regulate drought and oxidative stress tolerance. The increased drought and oxidative stress tolerance of the cirp1 mutants was due to enhanced catalase (CAT) activities and alleviated ROS levels. Our data revealed that the CIRP1-CAT2/CAT3 module plays a vital role in alleviating ROS levels and balancing growth and stress responses in Arabidopsis.

The Effect of Disulfiram and N-Acetylcysteine, Potential Compensators for Sulfur Disorders, on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Neuroinflammation Leading to Memory Impairment and the Metabolism of L-Cysteine Disturbance

Background: The role of sulfur-containing drugs, disulfiram (DSF) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), in alleviating neuroinflammation is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of DSF and NAC on memory and on the metabolism of L-cysteine and inflammation-related parameters in the cerebral cortex of rats in a model of neuroinflammation induced by the administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods: All the treatments were administered intraperitoneally for 10 days (LPS at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg b.w., DSF at a dose of 100 mg/kg b.w, and NAC at a dose of 100 mg/kg b.w.). Behavior was evaluated by the novel object recognition (NOR) test and object location (OL) test, and the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was assayed to evaluate neuronal functioning. Cerebral cortex homogenates were tested for hydrogen sulfide (H2S), sulfane sulfur, sulfates, non-protein sulfhydryl groups (NPSH), nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) by biochemical analysis. Results: Neither DSF nor NAC alleviated LPS-induced memory disorders estimated by the NOR test and OL test. The studied compounds also did not affect significantly the levels of BDNF, ROS, NO, H2S, and sulfane sulfur in the cerebral cortex. However, we observed an increase in sulfate concentration in brain tissues after LPS treatment, while DSF and NAC caused an additional increase in sulfate concentration. On the other hand, our study showed that the administration of DSF or NAC together with LPS significantly enhanced the cortical level of NPSH, of which glutathione is the main component. Conclusions: Our study did not confirm the suggested potential of DSF and NAC to correct memory disorders; however, it corroborated the notion that they reduced oxidative stress induced by LPS by increasing the NPSH level. Additionally, our study showed an increase in sulfate concentration in the brain tissues after LPS treatment, which means the upregulation of sulfite and sulfate production in inflammatory conditions.

Lattice Tearing by Carbon Dots Mask Activates Oxygen Oxidation for Stable Seawater Electrolysis

Lattice Tearing by Carbon Dots Mask Activates Oxygen Oxidation for Stable Seawater Electrolysis

Highly efficient bifunctional zeolitic imidazolate framework-derived carbon-supported platinum-based nanocatalysts for enhancing methanol oxidation reaction and oxygen reduction reaction

Highly efficient bifunctional zeolitic imidazolate framework-derived carbon-supported platinum-based nanocatalysts for enhancing methanol oxidation reaction and oxygen reduction reaction

Running in the heat similarly reduces lipid oxidation and peak oxygen consumption in trained runners and inactive individuals.

This study compared oxygen consumption and substrate oxidation while exercising in hot and temperate conditions in individuals with different physical activity status (i.e., inactive individuals vs. trained runners). 10 inactive individuals (IA: 26 ± 6 y; 79.1 ± 14.1 kg; 40.7 ± 5.1 ml·kg-1·min-1) and 10 trained runners (TR: 25 ± 6 y; 69.5 ± 9.1 kg; 63.1 ± 5.1 ml·kg-1·min-1) completed two incremental exercise tests (4 min stages) until exhaustion in temperate (TEMP: 18.7 ± 0.1 °C; 43.2 ± 4.1% relative humidity) and hot (HOT: 34.4 ± 0.2 °C and 42.6 ± 1.6% relative humidity) conditions. Expired gas and blood lactate concentrations were measured at the end of each stage. Peak oxygen consumption similarly decreased in HOT compared to TEMP for IA and TR (-13.2 ± 4.5% vs. -15.2 ± 7%; p=0.571; ES=0.25). In HOT compared to TEMP, lipid oxidation, from 30 to 70% of V̇O2peak, was reduced for both groups (IA: p=0.023, ES=0.43; TR: p<0.001, ES=0.72) while carbohydrate oxidation was increased for TR (p=0.011; ES=0.45) but not for IA (p=0.268; ES=0.21). Core temperature was different between conditions for TR (higher in HOT, p=0.017; ES=0.66) but not for IA (p=0.901; ES=0.25). Despite reduced physiological capacities in IA, both populations demonstrated reductions in lipid utilisation and peak oxygen consumption in hot compared to temperate conditions. However, the increased carbohydrate oxidation in HOT for TR were not observed in IA, potentially explained by lower thermal strain.

Extraction, purification, structural characterization, and anti-inflammatory activity of a polysaccharide from Lespedeza formosa.

A new acidic polysaccharide was extracted from Lespedeza Formosa (LF) using microwave-assisted extraction. After a progressive purification, Lespedeza Formosa polysaccharide (LFP-1) with 96.14 % purity and moderate molecular weight was obtained. Subsequently, LFP-1's structural analysis and in vitro anti-inflammatory experiments were performed. LFP-1 is composed of nine monosaccharides, mainly including 39.7 % glucose, 29.1 % galactose, and 19.9 % arabinose, with three branched chains of its structure. The diverse monosaccharides and branched chains provided the essential conditions for the anti-inflammatory effects of LFP-1, which diminished the release of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). And they altered the release of internal inflammatory factors in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophages. LFP-1 exerted intracellularly anti-inflammatory effects through the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signal pathway. The discovery of LFP-1 opens up a new possibility for natural anti-inflammatory medicine.

Characterisation of environmentally persistent free radicals and their contributions to oxidative potential and reactive oxygen species in sea spray and size-resolved ambient particles

Aerosols, derived from natural processes and human activities, present various risks to the environment and human health. In this regard, the role of recent pollutant environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) should not be overlooked. However, the oxidative toxicity and mass transfer processes of EPFRs in liquid-phase environments remain completely understood. In this study, the dispersion characteristics of EPFRs and their contributions to the oxidation potential (OP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in sea spray and size-resolved PM were investigated and compared. The results showed that the sea spray contained fast-decaying C-centred EPFRs with a half-life of 0.32 years. The concentration ranged from 0.3 × 1013 spins/m3 to 7.5 × 1013 spins/m3. It increased as the samples approached the coast. Moreover, the size-resolved PM contained slow-decaying O-centred EPFRs with a half-life of 0.51 years. The concentration ranged from 4.57 × 1013 spins/m3 to 11.46 × 1013 spins/m3, which was higher than that of most sea spray samples. The interaction between sea spray and water mainly generated hydroxyl free radicals (54 ± 3%), whereas the size-resolved PM mainly generated organic free radicals (64 ± 5%). Correlation analysis revealed that EPFRs may be involved in ROS generation. In addition, the mass transfer of EPFRs between the PM and sea spray may have been controlled by both gas and liquid films. The concentration of EPFRs at the phase interface was calculated to be 4.92 × 1013 spins/m3. In summary, EPFRs positively contribute to OP and ROS production.

Hemoglobin Variants as Targets for Stabilizing Drugs.

Hemoglobin is an oxygen-transport protein in red blood cells that interacts with multiple ligands, e.g., oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitric oxide. Genetic variations in hemoglobin chains, such as those underlying sickle cell disease and thalassemias, present substantial clinical challenges. Here, we review the progress in research, including the use of allosteric modulators, pharmacological chaperones, and antioxidant treatments, which has begun to improve hemoglobin stability and oxygen affinity. According to UniProt (as of 7 August 2024), 819 variants of the α-hemoglobin subunit and 771 variants of the β-hemoglobin subunit have been documented, with over 116 classified as unstable. These data demonstrate the urgent need to develop variant-specific stabilizing options. Beyond small-molecule drugs/binders, novel protein-based strategies-such as engineered hemoglobin-binding proteins (including falcilysin, llama-derived nanobodies, and α-hemoglobin-stabilizing proteins)-offer promising new options. As our understanding of hemoglobin's structural and functional diversity grows, so does the potential for genotype-driven approaches. Continued research into hemoglobin stabilization and ligand-binding modification may yield more precise, effective treatments and pave the way toward effective strategies for hemoglobinopathies.

Isotopic Transient Kinetic Analysis of Soot Oxidation on Mn3O4, Mn3O4-CeO2, and CeO2 Catalysts in Tight Contact Conditions.

The reaction mechanism of soot oxidation on Mn (Mn3O4), Mn-Ce (Mn3O4-CeO2), and Ce (CeO2) catalysts in tight contact conditions was investigated using ITKA (isotopic transient kinetic analysis). The obtained results suggest that lattice-bulk oxygen from all studied catalysts takes part in the soot oxidation process but with varying relative contributions: for the Ce catalyst, this contribution is practically 100%, whereas with decreasing Ce content in Mn-Ce catalysts, the significance of lattice-bulk oxygen for soot oxidation diminishes. For the Mn catalyst, it is estimated to be below 50%. Moreover, strong interactions between Mn and Ce ions were observed, increasing oxygen mobility in the catalyst crystal lattice and affecting the activity of Mn-Ce catalysts.

Advances in Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysts via Direct Oxygen-Oxygen Radical Coupling Pathway.

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a cornerstone of various electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems, including water splitting, CO2/N2 reduction, reversible fuel cells, and rechargeable metal-air batteries. OER typically proceeds through three primary mechanisms: adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM), lattice oxygen oxidation mechanism (LOM), and oxide path mechanism (OPM). Unlike AEM and LOM, the OPM proceeds via direct oxygen-oxygen radical coupling that can bypass linear scaling relationships of reaction intermediates in AEM and avoid catalyst structural collapse in LOM, thereby enabling enhanced catalytic activity and stability. Despite its unique advantage, electrocatalysts that can drive OER via OPM remain nascent and are increasingly recognized as critical. This review discusses recent advances in OPM-based OER electrocatalysts. It starts by analyzing three reaction mechanisms that guide the design of electrocatalysts. Then, several types of novel materials, including atomic ensembles, metal oxides, perovskite oxides, and molecular complexes, are highlighted. Afterward, operando characterization techniques used to monitor the dynamic evolution of active sites and reaction intermediates are examined. The review concludes by discussing several research directions to advance OPM-based OER electrocatalysts toward practical applications.

Acidic oxygen evolution reaction via lattice oxygen oxidation mechanism: progress and challenges

The lattice oxygen mechanism (LOM) plays a critical role in the acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) as it provides a more efficient catalytic pathway compared to the conventional adsorption evolution mechanism (AEM). LOM effectively lowers the energy threshold of the reaction and accelerates the reaction rate by exciting the oxygen atoms in the catalyst lattice to directly participate in the OER process. In recent years, with the increase of in-depth understanding of LOM, researchers have developed a variety of iridium (Ir) and ruthenium (Ru)-based catalysts, as well as non-precious metal oxide catalysts, and optimized their performance in acidic OER through different strategies. However, LOM still faces many challenges in practical applications, including the long-term stability of the catalysts, the precise modulation of the active sites, and the application efficiency in real electrolysis systems. Here, we review the application of LOM in acidic OER, analyze its difference with the traditional AEM mechanism and the new oxide pathway mechanism (OPM) mechanism, discuss the experimental and theoretical validation methods of the LOM pathway, and prospect the future development of LOM in electrocatalyst design and energy conversion, aiming to provide fresh perspectives and strategies for solving the current challenges.

Sodium, the Vascular Endothelium, and Hypertension: A Narrative Review of Literature.

The vascular endothelium and its endothelial glycocalyx contribute to the protection of the endothelial cells from exposure to high levels of sodium and help these structures maintain normal function by regulating vascular permeability due to its buffering effect. The endothelial glycocalyx has negative surface charges that bind sodium and limit sodium entry into cells and the interstitial space. High sodium levels can disrupt this barrier and allow the movement of sodium into cells and extravascular fluid. This can generate reactive oxygen species that inhibit nitric oxide production. This leads to vasospasm and increases intravascular pressures. Overtime vascular remodeling occurs, and this changes the anatomy of blood vessels, their intrinsic stiffness, and their response to vasodilators and results in hypertension. Patients with increased salt sensitivity are potentially at more risk for this sequence of events. Studies on the degradation of the glycocalyx provide insight into the pathogenesis of clinical disorders with vascular involvement, but there is limited information available in the context of higher concentrations of sodium. Data on higher intake of sodium and the imbalance between nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species have been obtained in experimental studies and provide insights into possible outcomes in humans. The current western diet with sodium intake above recommended levels has led to the assessment of sodium sensitivity, which has been used in different populations and could become a practical tool to evaluate patients. This would potentially allow more focused recommendations regarding salt intake. This review will consider the structure of the vascular endothelium, its components, the effect of sodium on it, and the use of the salt blood test mini.

Performance of Granulated Ti-Dopped Manganese Oxide Oxygen Carriers in Chemical Looping Processes

The cornerstone in the development of different applications of the Chemical Looping (CL) technology is the oxygen carrier material that transfers the oxygen. We evaluate the performance of manganese oxide doped with TiO2 to reinforce the release of molecular oxygen and regeneration at high temperatures (850–950 °C). Different manganese-titanium mixed oxides with mass fractions of titanium oxide from 0 to 50 wt.% were considered and prepared by granulation. The sample with 20 wt.%. TiO2 (MnTi_20) showed better oxygen release/regeneration capabilities than pure manganese oxide under similar conditions and was selected for further development. To evaluate the performance of MnTi_20, long tests (200 cycles) were carried out in a TGA to evaluate the chemical and mechanical stability of the sample. Additionally, MnTi_20 was tested in a batch fluidized bed reactor to evaluate its oxygen uncoupling capability and its reactivity with the main combustion gases (H2, CO, and CH4) as well as its fluidization properties. MnTi_20 is capable of regenerating Mn3O4 to Mn2O3 at 950 °C and maintains its reactivity with the redox cycles. No fluidization problems were encountered during almost 60 h of continuous fluidization, and a lifetime of 2500 h was estimated for this oxygen carrier.

A review article on the sweet scandal: The truth behind rhodamine B

Cotton candy is a popular treat with various names around the world. It debuted toward the end of the 1800s at the St. Louis World’s Fair. Different names for it were used in distinct parts of the world. Rhodamine B (Rh-B), a basic dye developed in 1887, serves diverse industrial purposes. During the metabolism of Rh-B, cytochrome 450 breaks down, generating oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species. It should be cautiously used due to its possible mutagenic qualities and negative effects on cellular function, including binding to DNA. The article examines the physical and chemical characteristics of Rh-B and its applications, mechanisms, and impacts on brain function, particularly in the cerebellum and brainstem. Studies suggest that exposure to Rh-B may result in functional abnormalities and mutagenic effects. In this review, Rh-B poses significant risks to human health and the environment, necessitating careful consideration and regulatory measures in its usage and disposal.

Rbfox3 Promotes Transformation of MDSC-Like Tumor Cells to Shape Immunosuppressive Microenvironment.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) contribute to the malignant progression of tumors by exerting immunosuppressive effects. Bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) have been widely demonstrated in various types of solid tumors. LPS can promote the malignant progression of tumors, which mechanism has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, a type of MDSC-like tumor cells (MLTCs) is found in tumor tissues induced by low-dose and long-term LPS stimulation. MLTCs can simultaneously express tumor cell and MDSCs markers. Similar to MDSCs, MLTCs can produce arginine, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species and inhibit the activity of NK and T cells to promote the formation of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. MLTCs can also promote tumor cell proliferation and vasculogenic mimicry formation. CRISPR-Cas9 activity screening studies identified RNA-binding Fox-1 homolog 3 (Rbfox3) as a critical protein for MLTCs formation after LPS treatment. Rbfox3 can transcriptionally regulate the expression of Ass1 in the form of phase-separated particles. Crocin can inhibit the generation of MLTCs by disrupting phase-separated particles of Rbfox3 and enhance the anti-tumor effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Thick and dense nitrogen-doped hafnium carbide ultra-high temperature thermal protection coating for outstanding ablation resistance up to 2600 ℃

Transition metal carbon-nitrides, typically represented by HfCN, have become the latest progress among the ultra-high temperature ceramics. In this study, single-phase solid solution HfCN coating was successfully synthesized from spray granulated HfC-HfN composite powder followed by employing the dual solid solution effects of radio frequency inductively coupled plasma spheroidization and supersonic atmospheric plasma spraying processes. The coating was nearly dense (only 2.3% in porosity) with a high thickness of ~ 270 μm. Compared with HfC coating, the HfCN coating exhibited higher hardness and elastic modulus. After plasma ablation at a high heat flux of 8.2MW/m2 for 200s, the HfCN coating exhibited a surface temperature of up to 2600 ℃ and can firmly protect the refractory tungsten substrate from oxidation failure. This outstanding performance illustrates that doping N element in HfC crystal can effectively improve the energy barrier for oxidation reaction and oxygen adsorption compared with typical HfC coating.

Small but mighty: nanoemulsion particle size dictates bone regeneration potential of FTY720.

The burgeoning field of nano-bone regeneration is yet to establish a definitive optimal particle size for nanocarriers. This study investigated the impacts of nanocarrier's particle size on the bone regeneration efficacy of fingolimod (FTY720)-loaded nanoemulsions. Two distinct particle sizes (60 and 190 nm, designated as NF60 and NF190, respectively) were produced using low-energy and high-energy emulsion techniques, maintaining a consistent surfactant, co-surfactant, and oil. In vitro studies using rat mesenchymal stem cells revealed that both NF60 and NF190 exhibited cell viability and reduced lactate dehydrogenase. Interestingly, NF60 demonstrated superior antioxidant properties, significantly reducing nitric oxide and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels compared to NF190. Furthermore, NF60 significantly enhanced ALP activity and calcium deposition during osteogenic differentiation, indicating its potential to promote the early stages of bone formation. In vivo studies using a rat calvarial bone defect model demonstrated that both NF60 and NF190 significantly upregulated the expression of key osteogenic genes, including Runx2, Col, ALP, OCN, and BMP2. Notably, NF60 induced significantly higher expression of Runx2 and BMP2. X-ray and histological investigations revealed significantly improved bone regeneration in the NF60 group, highlighting the superior bone healing potential of smaller FTY720 nanoemulsions, without infiltration of inflammatory cells. The smaller particle size demonstrated superior antioxidant properties, enhanced osteogenic differentiation, and improved bone regeneration, suggesting smaller nanoparticles, with their larger surface area, accelerated drug release rate, and lower viscosity, interact more effectively with cells, leading to increased and effective drug delivery and cellular uptake. Findings highlight the importance of nanocarrier size in optimizing drug delivery for bone tissue engineering applications.