Synergistic Enhancement Research Articles

Synergistic enhancement of low-dose radiation therapy via cuproptosis and metabolic reprogramming for radiosensitization in in situ hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundRadiotherapy (RT) is a primary clinical approach for cancer treatment, but its efficacy is often hindered by various challenges, especially radiation resistance, which greatly compromises the therapeutic effectiveness of RT. Mitochondria, central to cellular energy metabolism and regulation of cell death, play a critical role in mechanisms of radioresistance. In this context, cuproptosis, a novel copper-induced mitochondria-respiratory-dependent cell death pathway, offers a promising avenue for radiosensitization.ResultsIn this study, an innovative theranostic nanoplatform was designed to induce cuproptosis in synergy with low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT, i.e., 0.5–2 Gy) for the treatment of in situ hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This approach aims to reverse the hypoxic tumor microenvironment, promoting a shift in cellular metabolism from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), thereby enhancing sensitivity to cuproptosis. Concurrently, the Fenton-like reaction ensures a sustained supply of copper and depletion of glutathione (GSH), inducing cuproptosis, disrupting mitochondrial function, and interrupting the energy supply. This strategy effectively overcomes radioresistance and enhances the therapeutic efficacy against tumors.ConclusionsIn conclusion, this study elucidates the intricate interactions among tumor hypoxia reversal, cuproptosis, metabolic reprogramming, and radiosensitization, particularly in the context of treating in situ hepatocellular carcinoma, thereby providing a novel paradigm for radiotherapy.Graphical abstract

Synergistic Enhancement of Energy Storage Performance in NaNbO3-Based Lead-Free Relaxor Ferroelectrics via Weakly Coupled Relaxation Behavior.

Advancements in pulsed electronic power systems depend significantly on high-performance dielectric energy storage ceramics. Lead-free NaNbO3-based energy-storage ceramics are important materials for next-generation pulsed power capacitors owing to their large polarization and bandgaps. However, the high energy loss caused by the antiferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition leads to low recoverable energy storage density and efficiency, which hinders its practical application. Herein, a weakly coupled relaxor ferroelectric is designed via chemical modification, which realises a high recoverable density of 12.7Jcm- 3 and a decent η of 85.7%. Compositionally induced domain-size refinement effectively delays low-field polarization saturation and elevates η. Experimental characterization and theoretical-model analysis confirm that the superior comprehensive energy-storage performance is attributed to the component-driven formation of polar nano-micro-regions with weak interactions, which suppresses the polarization hysteresis and improves the polarization difference. This study demonstrates that component-driven construction of weakly coupled relaxor ferroelectric materials is an effective strategy for achieving ultrahigh energy-storage characteristics.

Synergistic Enhancement of Antibacterial and Osteo-Immunomodulatory Activities of Titanium Implants via Dual-Responsive Multifunctional Surfaces.

Bone implant-associated infections and inflammations, primarily caused by bacteria colonization, frequently result in unsuccessful procedures and pose significant health risks to patients. To mitigate these challenges, the development of engineered implants with spatiotemporal regulation capabilities, designed to inhibit bacterial survival and modulate immune responses in the early stage, while promoting bone defect healing in the late stage is proposed. The implants are functionalized with ε-poly-l-lysine-phenylboronic acid (PP) via dynamic boronic ester bonds, which facilitate its release through a reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pH-responsive strategy, thereby establishing an antibacterial microenvironment on and around the implants. Additionally, the dynamic metal coordination interaction facilitates the loading and sustained release of Sr2+ under an acidic environment, providing immunomodulatory and osteogenic effects. The ROS/pH-responsive feature, coupled with the implant-bone tissue integration process, affords precise spatiotemporal regulation of the Ti-TA-Sr-PP implants. This strategy represents a promising approach for the preparation of advanced bone implants.

Combined In Situ X‐Ray Spectroscopic and Theoretical Study on Trimetal Synergistic Enhancement of Water Oxidation

AbstractElectrochemical water‐splitting is vital in energy storage and conversion applications. However, the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) hinders the electrochemical water‐splitting. Therefore, developing efficient catalysts and understanding the OER mechanism are highly desirable. This study successfully synthesized a new quadruple perovskite oxide CaCu3Co2Ru2O12 (CCCRO) catalyst exhibiting high OER activity with overpotential 198 mV at 10 mA cm−2, a Tafel slope of 37 mV dec−1, and long‐term operational stability with a current density of 500 mA cm−2 for >500 h. The in situ X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) indicated that a part of high‐spin (HS) Co3+ ions and low‐spin (LS) Ru5+ ions transitioned to the tetravalent Co (IV) and hexavalent Ru (VI) valence states under OER. However, the Cu2+ valence state remained unchanged. Furthermore, the density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the lattice‐oxygen oxidation mechanism (LOM) rather than conventional adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM) is responsible for high OER activity in Ru (VI)‐O‐Co (IV) network, and that the Cu(A’)/Co(B)/Ru(B’) three sites synergistically facilitate the OER activity for CCCRO.

Tribological Properties and Wear Mechanism of Phenolic Resin Incorporated Rare Earth Oxides

Different proportions of rare earth oxides, specifically cerium oxide and yttrium oxide, were incorporated into phenolic resin-based friction materials to mitigate the thermal degradation of resin-based friction materials. The effects of these additives on the mechanical properties and tribological performance of resin-based friction materials were thoroughly investigated, and the microstructure and phase composition were characterized via field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The addition of rare earth oxides favorably improved the density, hardness, compression strength, and shear strength of the composites, with rare earth yttrium oxide dominating the hardness of the composites and cerium oxide dominating the compression strength of the composites, but changes in the ratio of the two had a small effect on their density, shear strength, and impact strength. Among them, the highest density, hardness, compressive strength, and shear strength of the modified sample could reach 2.310 g/cm3, 118 HRL, 187.5 MPa, and 43.5 MPa, respectively, and their properties were improved by 7.7%, 14.6%, 19%, and 51%, respectively, compared with the unmodified sample Y0. The incorporation of rare earth oxides was not conducive to the improvement of the fade friction coefficient and recovery friction coefficient of the composites, but was beneficial to the stabilization of the recovery friction coefficient of the composites and the reduction in their average wear rate, with the yttrium oxide-dominated matched samples focusing on high-temperature stability, and cerium oxide-dominated matched samples focusing on the antioxidant reduction property. The homogeneous dispersion and synergistic enhancement effect of the rare earth oxides in the matrix materials enhanced the structural integrity and densification of the matrix materials and improved the interfacial strength and surface wear resistance of the composites. The worn surface of the unmodified sample Y0 was mainly abrasive and thermal fatigue wear, the worn surface of the yttrium oxide-dominated matched samples Y1 and Y2 was mainly abrasive wear, and the worn surface of the cerium oxide-dominated matched samples Y3 and Y4 was mainly adhesive and thermal fatigue wear.

Synergistic Enhancement of Cathode Performance through the Introduction of Oxygen Vacancies in the P2/P3 Mixed Phase.

P2-type NaxNiyMn1-yO2 cathodes have attracted attention due to their excellent stability and low cost, making them promising for sodium-ion batteries. However, their practical application is limited by a low capacity at lower voltages and severe phase transitions at higher voltage. To address these challenges, we report a material Na0.6Ni0.3Mn0.7O2-OVs (NNMO-OVs) with significantly slowed phase transitions at high voltage by introducing oxygen vacancies OVs into the P2/P3 mixed phase cathode Na0.6Ni0.3Mn0.7O2 (NNMO). Such a modification effectively broadens the Na+ diffusion pathways and enhances anionic redox reactions (ARR). As a result, an improved capacity of 173 mAh·g-1 at 1C is obtained by the desirable cathode within a voltage range of 1.5-4.3 V. Even at 10C, it exhibits a capacity of 60.1 mAh·g-1 between 2 and 4.1 V, maintaining 70.1% capacity retention after 700 cycles, showcasing impressive rate performance and cycling stability. Additionally, the P2/P3 mixed phase exhibits the presence of an OP4 intermediate phase during charging to high voltages, while the introduction of oxygen vacancies (OVs) further suppresses the P-O phase transition, maintaining only the P2-OP4 phase transition process.

Ivacaftor, a CFTR potentiator, synergizes with osimertinib against acquired resistance to osimertinib in NSCLC by regulating CFTR-PTEN-AKT axis.

Osimertinib, a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI), has demonstrated significant clinical benefits in the treatment of EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, inevitable acquired resistance to osimertinib limits its clinical utility, and there is a lack of effective countermeasures. Here, we established osimertinib-resistant cell lines and performed drug library screening. This screening identified ivacaftor, a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) potentiator, as a synergistic enhancer of osimertinib-induced anti-tumor activity both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, ivacaftor facilitated the colocalization of CFTR and PTEN on the plasma membrane to promote the function of PTEN, subsequently inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and suppressing tumor growth. In summary, our study suggests that activating CFTR enhances osimertinib-induced anti-tumor activity by regulating the PTEN-AKT axis. Furthermore, ivacaftor and osimertinib constitute a potential combination strategy for treating osimertinib-resistant EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients.

Synergistic enhancement of Co doped Ni/NiOx nanofilms for catalytic hydrolysis towards ammonia borane

Transition metal catalysts exhibit a potential application for the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane (AB). The regulation of active sites through heterogeneous metal doping have been acknowledged as an efficient technology. Herein, Co-doped Ni/NiO nanofilms (Ni/NiCoOx-Y, Y is Co/(Co + Ni) atom ratio) were synthesized on an ionic liquid (IL)/water interface, in which Co atoms are uniformly doped in the basal NiO crystal lattice in the form of Co ions. The Ni/NiCoOx-Y catalysts exhibit a “volcanic” relationship between the catalytic activities for AB hydrolysis and Co-doped content. The optimized Ni/NiCoOx-20 nanofilms exhibit observably enhanced catalytic activity for AB hydrolysis, completely producing H2 within 4 min with a turnover frequency of 12.93 molH2·molmetal−1·min−1 and a low activation energy of 39.57 kJ mol−1. Moreover, Co doping can effectively enhance the stability of Ni-based nanofilms. The incorporation of Co ions into Ni/NiO crystal lattice slightly increases Ni electron density or Ni lattice expansion. Thus “electronic effect” strengthens the adsorption of H2O/intermediates and further beneficially accelerate combination of AB and H2O molecules, contributing to the improved catalytic activity. Meantime, the strong interaction of Co–Ni atoms can utilize the synergistic enhancement effect.

Hydrotropy and co-crystallization for synergistic enhancement of dissolution rate and in vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy of ebastine

Hydrotropy and co-crystallization for synergistic enhancement of dissolution rate and in vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy of ebastine

Achieving synergistic enhancement in the anaerobic digestion of corn straw by (CH4 + CO2) nanobubbles in conjunction with optimized particle sizes

Achieving synergistic enhancement in the anaerobic digestion of corn straw by (CH4 + CO2) nanobubbles in conjunction with optimized particle sizes

Synergistic enhancement of ammonia electrosynthesis by N-doped and sulfur vacancy in MoS2/CoS catalysts

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (ENRR) is regarded as a promising alternative to the traditional Haber-Bosch process, but the development of highly active catalysts with good selectivity still faces great challenges. In this work, XN-MoS2/CoS-n composite catalysts with N-doped and sulfur vacancies (Vs) were fabricated and employed as effective catalysts for ENRR, which were comprehensively characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, XANES, EXAFS, and DEMS. The experimental results indicate that N-doping improves the selective adsorption of catalysts, thereby diminishing the competition for HER. Vs can offer more active sites, and the intimate contact between MoS2 and CoS facilitates electron transfer at the interfaces, thereby promoting N2 activation. Among them, 0.5N–MoS2/CoS-1 exhibited the best NH3 yield rate (34.06 μg h−1 mgcat.−1) and Faradaic efficiency (20.10%) at a potential of −0.65 V (vs. RHE), and showed the excellent long-term stability. This study presents a novel approach for improving the performance of ENRR catalysts.

Synergistic enhancement of strength and ductility in Ni via gradient dislocation structures induced by cyclic torsional deformation

Under constant cumulative shear strain, three distinct gradient dislocation structures (GDS) of Ni samples were fabricated through cyclic torsion with varying amplitudes. This approach successfully achieved a synergistic balance between strength and ductility. The GDS30 sample, in particular, demonstrated a yield strength of ~443MPa, a tensile strength of ~478MPa, and a uniform elongation of approximately ~24.5%. A significant concentration of geometrically necessary dislocations was observed at the interfaces between coarse and fine grains in the GDS30, indicating the existence of a strain gradient. This phenomenon triggered an additional high-density dislocation strengthening effect, which contributed to the enhanced yield and ultimate tensile strengths observed in the GDS30 sample. Additionally, the GDS10 and GDS30 samples exhibit relatively large fracture dimples, indicating good fracture toughness in both cases. Our findings offer valuable insights into the design of high-performance structural materials.

Synergistic enhancement of high-barrier polylactic acid packaging materials by various morphological carbonized cellulose nanocrystals

Synergistic enhancement of high-barrier polylactic acid packaging materials by various morphological carbonized cellulose nanocrystals

Optimization of Ti3C2T performance through synergistic enhancement of GeO /MXenes heterostructures for ammonium-ion storage

Optimization of Ti3C2T performance through synergistic enhancement of GeO /MXenes heterostructures for ammonium-ion storage

Driving mechanisms of the spatial distribution of industrial parks and the relative hazard level of the surrounding environment.

Analyzing the formation mechanisms of industrial parks and quantitatively evaluating the related hazard levels are important for understanding the development and planning of industrial parks, but there is currently a lack of relevant research. In this study, Beijing was taken as a case study. The analysis results showed that (1) the overall spatial distribution of industrial parks in Beijing followed a clustering pattern, with nested spatial distribution pattern, where larger structures contributed 53.96% of the variance; (2) for the overall spatial distribution of industrial parks, kernel density of enterprises was the main influencing factor, which there were synergistic enhancement effects with almost all other influencing factors, especially urban construction, the number of financial institutions, the population density, this can share transportation and other resources, achieving coordinated development. According to these main factors, the prediction model of the future spatial distribution pattern of industrial parks in Beijing was established; (3) for site selection of each industrial park, twenty-two industrial parks near industrial enterprises in Beijing were more affected by industrial enterprise clustering, and the remaining 65 industrial parks were strongly affected by terrain, (4) The industrial parks in the central and southern parts of Beijing presented a relatively high hazard level to the surrounding sensitive receptors. These results provide theoretical support for the development and layout of industrial parks.

Synergistic photothermal enhancement of the antibacterial activity of fibroin hydrogel by dual-directional crosslink strategy for efficient solar steam generation

Silk fibroin (SF) has attracted wide attention due to its excellent biocompatibility and versatile adjustability. The regeneration and reutilization of silk fibroin can efficiently utilize waste cocoons and silk. However, the regenerated SF hydrogels suffer from inadequate mechanical properties and lack inherent antibacterial capabilities, limiting their application in seawater desalination. This study achieved a novel hydrogel (STS@Fe) with photothermal antimicrobial activity, good mechanical property, and excellent durability using a green dual-directional crosslink and meso-reconstruction strategy. The metal-phenolic networks (MPN) were synthesized utilizing the natural plant polyphenol tannic acid (TA) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles. This research incorporated MPN into dissolved and regenerated silk fibroin and sodium alginate solution, enhanced mechanical properties through cryogenic salt precipitation, and prepared STS@Fe hydrogel. The inherent photothermal properties of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and TA complex, coupled with their synergistic effect under near-infrared radiation, can confer excellent photothermal-enhanced antibacterial activity to the fibroin hydrogel. The tensile strength of STS@Fe hydrogel is enhanced 31 times than that of traditional fibroin hydrogel, and its evaporation rate is 4.77 times higher than that of pure water evaporation. The hydrogel has an efficient seawater desalination rate and outstanding antibacterial properties in real seawater conditions. Moreover, The STS@Fe shows effective treatment capabilities for dyeing wastewater and oily saline water.

Synergistic enhancement of photoluminescence and advanced deep learning model through YOLOv8x in combined effects of carbon dots and Sr₉Al₆O₁₈:Sm³⁺ phosphors

A series of orange-red-emitting Sr₉Al₆O₁₈:Sm³⁺ (1–11 mol %) phosphors are synthesized using the combustion method, while carbon dots (CDs) are produced from urea and citric acid. The incorporation of CDs into the Sr₉Al₆O₁₈:Sm³⁺ (SAO:Sm3+) matrix reduced both negative and positive defects, enhancing the crystallinity of the phosphor. A significant spectral overlap is observed between the emission of CDs and the absorption of SAO:Sm³⁺. An 11.9-folds enhancement in luminescence intensity is detected from the 5 wt% CDs@SAO:Sm³⁺ composite, along with an extended fluorescence lifetime. The energy transfer between CDs and Sm³⁺ is demonstrated, with the increased PL intensity attributed to the Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) mechanism. The CDs@SAO:Sm³⁺ composites demonstrated excellent selectivity and high contrast when developing latent fingerprints (LFPs). Level I–III structural characteristics of LFPs are easily recognized under ulta violet (UV) light. Furthermore, YOLOv8x, an effective deep learning model, has been modified for the important forensic science task of LFPs recognition. YOLOv8x is able to precisely locate LFPs in complex backgrounds by employing the real-time object detection capabilities of the architecture. With this adjusting, detection speed and accuracy are much increased, making it an effective tool for forensic analysis and law enforcement applications. The optimized orange-red-emitting CDs@SAO:Sm³⁺ composites is synthesized with soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to produce a transparent anti-counterfeiting ink. The resulting film exhibited excellent flexibility, foldability, and superior thermal and optical properties. In summary, the highly efficient CDs@SAO:Sm³⁺ composite is a versatile luminescent material with multifunctional capabilities, making it ideal for flexible films, LFPs detection, and white light-emitting diodes (w-LEDs) applications.

The effect of annealing on the morphology and thermo-mechanical properties of TPU/CNS nanocomposites

Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) are highly versatile elastomers, commonly used in various applications due to their excellent mechanical properties and good chemical resistance. However, their low thermal stability and poor mechanical performance at elevated temperatures remain a significant challenge and limits their application. The utilization of nanofillers and thermal treatment (annealing) offers opportunities to enhance the mechanical properties and thermal stability of TPUs through distinct mechanisms. This study aims to uncover the potential synergistic effects of annealing on the enhanced properties of TPU nanocomposites containing branched carbon nanotubes (CNS). Annealing the TPU/CNS nanocomposites is conducive to the formation of a higher number of hydrogen bonded carbonyl species and a greater degree of microphase separation. In addition, the branches of CNS within the TPU matrix improve the hard segments (HS) segregation process into well-structured areas along the CNS boundaries. This process may establish a secondary network of the hard segment domains (HSDs) within the TPU matrix, contributing to the synergistic enhancement observed in the thermo-mechanical performance, particularly at elevated temperatures. These enhancements may broaden the application potential of TPUs in demanding environments, providing a promising solution to their traditional limitations.

Skeletal Nitrogen Functionalization of Isostructural 2D Conjugated MOFs for Enhancement of the Dual-Ion Storage Capacity.

Two-dimensional conjugated metal-organic frameworks (2D c-MOFs) are emerging as promising electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage. However, a viable path to realize superior dual-ion storage in 2D c-MOFs has remained elusive. Here, we report the synthesis of Cu2(Nx-OHPTP) 2D c-MOFs (x=0,1,2; OHPTP=octahydroxyphenanthrotriphenylene) with precise aromatic carbon-nitrogen arrangements, based on the π-conjugated OHPTP ligand incorporated with one or two nitrogen atoms. The skeletal nitrogen modification in Cu2(Nx-OHPTP) allows the synergistic introduction of additional redox sites, and thus substantially favors the unique dual-ion adsorption capacity. Consequently, the Cu2(N2-OHPTP) cathode exhibits a largely enhanced electrochemical performance for dual-ion storage (i.e., Li+ and Cl-) with a high specific capacity of 53.8 mAh g-1, which is twice that of Cu2(N0-OHPTP) and 1.3 times that of Cu2(N1-OHPTP). Furthermore, the Cu2(N2-OHPTP) electrode displays a favorable rate performance of 52% and good cycling stability of 96% after 1000 cycles. We identify N-centered redox sites as additional Li+ adsorption sites. In addition, calculations underline the synergistic enhancement of the Cl- adsorption energy by about 1.0 eV at the more electron-poor CuO4 linkages after N-incorporation. This work paves the way for the precise design of 2D c-MOFs with superior electrochemical properties, advancing their application in dual-ion storage applications.

Skeletal Nitrogen Functionalization of Isostructural 2D Conjugated MOFs for Enhancement of the Dual‐Ion Storage Capacity

Two‐dimensional conjugated metal‐organic frameworks (2D c‐MOFs) are emerging as promising electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage. However, a viable path to realize superior dual‐ion storage in 2D c‐MOFs has remained elusive. Here, we report the synthesis of Cu2(Nx‐OHPTP) 2D c‐MOFs (x=0,1,2; OHPTP=octahydroxyphenanthrotriphenylene) with precise aromatic carbon‐nitrogen arrangements, based on the π‐conjugated OHPTP ligand incorporated with one or two nitrogen atoms. The skeletal nitrogen modification in Cu2(Nx‐OHPTP) allows the synergistic introduction of additional redox sites, and thus substantially favors the unique dual‐ion adsorption capacity. Consequently, the Cu2(N2‐OHPTP) cathode exhibits a largely enhanced electrochemical performance for dual‐ion storage (i.e., Li+ and Cl‐) with a high specific capacity of 53.8 mAh g−1, which is twice that of Cu2(N0‐OHPTP) and 1.3 times that of Cu2(N1‐OHPTP). Furthermore, the Cu2(N2‐OHPTP) electrode displays a favorable rate performance of 52% and good cycling stability of 96% after 1000 cycles. We identify N‐centered redox sites as additional Li+ adsorption sites. In addition, calculations underline the synergistic enhancement of the Cl− adsorption energy by about 1.0 eV at the more electron‐poor CuO4 linkages after N‐incorporation. This work paves the way for the precise design of 2D c‐MOFs with superior electrochemical properties, advancing their application in dual‐ion storage applications.