A nanosystem targeting genomic instability and mitochondrial damage to stimulate STING pathway for synergistic immunotherapy for advanced prostate cancer.

Zinc exacerbates tau-induced neuronal damage and autophagy dysfunction by inhibiting the Akt/mTOR pathway.

Electrically controlled hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel for sustained and repeatable metronomic chemotherapy.

Concentrations, spatio-temporal distributions, and risk assessments of trace elements in local dominant fish from the coastal areas of Zhejiang Province, China.

Elemental analysis of wild Japanese cormorants captured for Ukai fishing in Ishihama coast, Hitachi City, Japan.

Comprehensive review of the last 25 years regarding metals in the Atlantic coast of Patagonia.

Pseudo-сolloidal species of actinides in contaminated aquifers. Insights from experimental and modeling approaches.

Visualizing lysosomal zinc ion release during apoptosis with a hydrolysis-based ratiometric fluorescent probe

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) are promising candidates for flexible energy storage. Nevertheless, the absence of appropriate cathodes demonstrating good flexibility and electrochemical performance remains a primary bottleneck. Herein, a novel composite carbon nanofiber cathode (VOH ND@CNFs) with confined hydrated vanadium oxide is engineered through cooperative crystallization regulation during carbonization and crystal structure optimization via electrochemical activation. The precursors synthesized by electrospinning technology first undergo calcination processes until primary ultrasmall crystalline V2O3 nanodots occur in carbon fibers (V2O3 ND@CNFs). In the subsequent electrochemical treatment process, the confined V2O3 nanodots are rapidly self-transformed into structurally stable hydrated vanadium oxides. The electrochemical performance of the primary ultrasmall crystalline state for vanadium oxide confined in CNFs after electrochemical optimization is proven to be much superior to that of the noncrystalline state and the secondary crystalline state of vanadium oxide. Consequently, the flexible structure-optimized VOH ND@CNFs cathode exhibits a high specific capacity of 349 mAh g-1 (total weight) at 0.5 A g-1 and retains 125.7 mAh g-1 under high current density (10 A g-1). Furthermore, it demonstrates excellent long-term cycling stability without significant capacity degradation after 1500 cycles at 10 A g-1. This work presents a synergistic crystal optimization strategy for high-performance flexible ZIBs.

A nanostructured interfacial engineering strategy employing zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnOQD) is designed to stabilize Zn metal anodes (ZnOQD@Zn). Because of their ultrasmall size, intrinsic hydrophilicity, and abundant surface functional groups, the uniformly dispersed ZnOQD constructs a multifunctional interlayer that enables continuous Zn2+ transport, homogenizes interfacial ion flux, and lowers the energy barriers associated with Zn2+ desolvation and nucleation. Meanwhile, this interlayer suppresses dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution, and corrosion by limiting direct contact between Zn and water. As a result, the ZnOQD@Zn anode exhibits highly reversible Zn plating and stripping together with enhanced cycling stability. When assembled with a NaV3O8·1.5H2O (NVO) cathode, the ZnOQD@Zn cell delivers excellent rate capability and long-term durability, even under high cathode loadings. This work presents a simple, scalable, and effective interfacial regulation strategy enabled by quantum dots, offering fundamental insights into the rational design of durable, outstanding aqueous zinc ion batteries.

A Cu(II) binding site involving Cys18 and His22 displays a buffering effect in copper-induced aggregation of cataract-related human γD crystallin.

This review provides comprehensive insight into the issue of risk elements in the river basin, i.e. to mean, their origin, distribution and future fate research and ecological environment management in the Xiangjiang River, China. A widespread Cd anomaly was observed across the area. Between 1983 and 2020, risk elements Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu and Mn in sediments from Yongzhou to Xiangyin were consistently elevated with significant spatial variability. In contrast, risk elements Ni, Cr, Th, Sc, V, Ba, Co and U demonstrated relatively uniform distribution patterns. Metals Cd, Zn, Cu, Mn and Pb were primarily derived from anthropogenic sources, whereas Ni, Cr, Th, Sc, V, Ba, Co and U originated mainly from parent rock weathering. Geo accumulation index (IGeo) assessment revealed moderate to severe contamination degree (IGeo > 1) for Cd, Cu, Zn, Mn and Pb in sediments. Lead isotope tracing in sediments revealed a binary mixing model for Pb in the mid-lower Xiangjiang River sediment, comprising both anthropogenic and natural sources. Cd in middle-lower reach sediments is mainly hosted in exchangeable and carbonate fractions (24%-75%); whereas Pb and Zn are predominantly associated with Fe-Mn oxides (27%-61%); and Cu shows a strong affinity for organic matter. Xiangyin and Changsha section Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb concentrations followed a pattern of initial decrease from 1980s to 2025; the similar trends might exist in other area, but lacks robust scientific evidence currently.

Food crops are enriching with nutrients and useful compound but their growth and fruit quality decline with NaCl stress. Plant based nanoparticle are promising to maintain biomass and good quality fruit even in saline soils. This study tested the efficacy of Withania somnifera nanoparticles to maximize tomato growth and nutrition retentions under 150 mM NaCl. Plant treated with the ZnO nanoparticles extracted with W. somnifera enhanced most of the growth parameters under both control and saline condition. Water relations such as maximum relative water content were increased about 84% and electrolyte leakage by 54% with 20 mgL-1 ZnO NPs at 150 mM NaCl compared to control. The Malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased with the increase in NaCl but this effect was decline with applying the biogenic ZnO nanoparticles. Total protein, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase and DPPH were increased with plants supplemented with 20 mgL-1 ZnO NPs at 150 mM NaCl. The chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total Chlorophyll and carotenoids increased substantially with 20 mgL-1 ZnO NPs 150 mM NaCl compared to control. The lycopene and total sugar content in tomato fruits also increases with increase of ZnO NPs. The mineral analysis such as zinc (6 folds), sodium (63%), calcium (6 folds), iron (6 folds), potassium (3 folds) and magnesium (8.3%) of treated tomato leaves and fruits also showed the prominent increase in the value of Zn and other elements. Application of ZnO nanoparticle from W. somnifera enhances biomass of tomato with nutrient retention and fruit yield to advance saline agriculture.

A self-powered ZnMo hydrogel battery patch for synergistic electrochemical wound healing.

Use of a hydrophilic excipient to modulate the release of dapivirine, copper ions and zinc ions from a matrix-type vaginal ring.

Aqueous ZnCl2 serves as a model electrolyte where the zinc ion exhibits variable coordination geometries and strongly polarizes water in its solvation shells. Molecular dynamics simulations using a machine-learned interatomic potential trained at the revPBE-D3 level of density functional theory reveal its structure, dynamics, and electrostatics. Dilute solutions feature the dominant octahedral [Zn(H2O)6]2+ complex, which adapts to trigonal bipyramidal and tetrahedral geometries to accommodate chloride ions. Relative to bulk water, water molecules in zinc's first solvation shell in the complexes exhibit an enhancement of their dipole moment by 15-30%, and a retardation of their residence and reorientational time scales. The residence time displays a nonmonotonic dependence on the number of participating chloride ions; a minimum of 96 ps for [ZnCl]+ and maxima of 550 ps for Zn2+ and [ZnCl3]- are observed. Exchange and reorientation time scales in the second solvation shell decrease monotonically with chloride inclusion in the complex.

Bacterial toxins play a critical role in infections by compromising host defenses, causing host cell death, and inducing excessive immune activation, ultimately leading to severe tissue damage and increased mortality. To combat both the pathogen and its associated toxins, this study developed a bacteria-targeting zinc-coordinated glycopolymer designed to deliver antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and absorb lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The functional polymer enhances Pseudomonas aeruginosa internalization efficiency through galactose-mediated bacterial surface interaction. By delivering multiple ASOs, the nanoparticle enables the dual suppression of bacterial growth and quorum sensing, exhibiting potent antibacterial activity. Furthermore, zinc ions coordinated within the glycopolymer impart the ability to bind and adsorb LPS, thereby mitigating the toxin-induced damage to host cells. In a murine model of acute pneumonia, this approach significantly improved survival rates and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Consequently, pulmonary inflammation was suppressed, bacterial toxin-induced damage was alleviated, and tissue integrity was preserved. This synergistic strategy of combined sterilization and toxin neutralization offers a novel and synergistic therapeutic approach to combating bacterial infections.

Incorporating K+ into Zn-based electrolytes can enhance the performance of aqueous zinc ion batteries, while the lack of a clear rule for matching specific K+ dosage with the cathode lattice regulation hinders its practical advancement. Herein, we propose a current-dependent critical dissolution concentration (CDC) as a quantitative reference to optimize K+ content, aiming to realize suppressed cyclic degradation of zinc hexacyanoferrate (ZnHCF) cathodes through precise lattice expansion control. The spontaneous dissolution of ZnHCF is theoretically analyzed via Van't Hoff isothermal equation, and a quantitative relationship between ZnHCF dissolution and K+ concentration is obtained. Further, HRTEM and XRD confirm that the K+ concentration below the current-free CDC causes ZnHCF dissolution due to the current enrichment effect, indicating that K+ concentration above CDC can trigger spontaneous ZnHCF dissolution, while K+ concentration is lower than CDC, the ZnHCF layer distance is not sufficiently expanded. Based on this, the long-term cycling performance of gradient K+ concentration under gradient current density and in situ electrode stability tests quantifies the optimal K+ ratio at each current density and successfully predicts the optimal K+ concentration corresponding to a certain current density. Overall, this work advances general design guidelines for alkali metal cation additives in aqueous zinc ion batteries.

Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening vascular emergency characterized by medial degeneration and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) loss. Although disruption of zinc homeostasis has been reported in patients with AD, how zinc ions and their regulatory proteins influence VSMC survival and disease progression remains unknown. In this study, single-cell analyses revealed that ferroptosis and zinc-related pathways were significantly enriched in VSMCs from patients with AD, showing a strong correlation between the two processes, and zinc levels were markedly elevated in dissected aortas. Furthermore, zinc exposure promoted ferroptosis in cultured primary human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). By integrating transcriptomic data from AD tissues and VSMC ferroptosis models, metallothionein-3 (MT3), a zinc-binding protein, was identified as a candidate regulator. Functional studies demonstrated that MT3 overexpression markedly attenuated lipid peroxidation, reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation, and protected VSMCs from ferroptotic cell death, whereas MT3 knockdown increased oxidative stress and exacerbated ferroptotic injury. Mechanistically, MT3 directly interacted with glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), enhanced its protein stability, without altering its transcriptional expression, and promoted glutathione synthesis, thereby activating the glutathione-GPX4 antioxidant defense pathway and mitigating oxidative injury. Notably, restoration of GPX4 effectively rescued the pro-ferroptotic effects of MT3 deficiency on HASMCs. These findings establish a previously unrecognized zinc-MT3-GPX4 axis as a critical determinant of VSMC ferroptosis in AD, linking zinc dysregulation to medial degeneration, and highlighting MT3 as a potential mechanistic candidate target to preserve vascular integrity and limit disease progression. KEY MESSAGES: Impaired zinc homeostasis is implicated in the development of aortic dissection (AD). Zinc-binding protein metallothionein 3 (MT3) mitigates lipid peroxidation and protects vascular smooth muscle cells from ferroptosis. MT3 directly interacts with glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) to prevent its lysosomal degradation, thereby enhancing the glutathione-GPX4 antioxidant defense pathway. MT3 is a potential mechanistic candidate target for preserving vascular integrity and limiting AD progression.

Numerous health outcomes have been attributed to PM2.5 exposure, even at low concentrations, from studies in developed countries. There is a lack of studies in Africa that reported on PM2.5, PM2.5 absorbance (soot), BC, UV-PM (organic carbon) and trace element concentrations and their health effects. PM2.5 samples were collected over 24 h and every third day at an urban background site in Cape Town during 18 April 2017 to 16 April 2018. The mean PM2.5 concentration was 13 µg.m−3 (range: 1.2-39 µg.m−3). PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the yearly World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guideline (5 µg.m−3). The daily WHO guideline (15 µg.m−3) was exceeded on 38 occasions during the 121-day study period. The mean soot, black carbon and organic carbon concentrations were 1.4 m−1 x 10−5, 2.5 µg.m−3 and 2.4 µg.m−3, respectively. Eight trace elements (Ca, Cl, Fe, K, S, Si, Ti and Zn) were detected with high signal to noise ratios. The observed exposure levels at this urban background site, if believed to be experienced across the city, may pose a risk to human health.