Effects of Ti addition on sol-gel derived InO and InZnO thin film transistors

In this study, we have newly developed titanium-indium oxide (TiInO) and titanium-indium zinc oxide (TiInZnO) thin films as the active channel layer in thin film transistors (TFTs) by the sol-gel process. The effects of adding Ti on TiInO and TiInZnO TFTs were investigated. The addition of Ti elements can suppress formation of oxygen vacancies because of the stronger oxidation tendency of Ti relative to that of Zn or In. TiInO and TiInZnO TFTs showed lower off currents and higher on/off current ratios than pure InO and InZnO TFTs. A TiInO TFT doped with 10.31 mol% Ti showed good performance with an on/off current ratio greater than 10⁷, and a field-effect mobility of 1.91 cm² V^?1 S^?1. A TiInZnO TFT doped with 2.92 mol % Ti showed an on/off current ratio greater than 10⁶, and a field-effect mobility of 0.45 cm² V^?1 S^?1.     

Understanding the contextual functions of C1q and LAIR-1 and their applications

The importance of the complement component C1q has been highlighted by its involvement in autoimmunity, infection, inflammatory diseases, and tumors. The unique tulip-like structure of C1q has both a collagen-like stalk (C1q tail) and heterotrimeric globular head (gC1q), each with different binding specificities, and the binding of these components to their respective receptors leads to functional complexities in the body and bridges innate and adaptive immunity. This review describes the fundamental roles of C1q in various microenvironments and focuses on the importance of the interactions of C1q and its receptors with the inhibitory receptor LAIR-1 in maintaining homeostasis. Current therapeutic opportunities modulating LAIR-1 are also discussed.Subject terms: Autoimmunity, Mechanisms of disease     

The Combination of Niacinamide,Vitamin C,and PDRN Mitigates Melanogenesis by Modulating Nicotinamide Nucleotide Transhydrogenase

Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) is involved in decreasing melanogenesis through tyrosinase degradation induced by cellular redox changes. Nicotinamide is a component of coenzymes, such as NAD⁺, NADH, NADP⁺, and NADPH, and its levels are modulated by NNT. Vitamin C and polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) are also known to decrease skin pigmentation. We evaluated whether a mixture of nicotinamide, vitamin C, and PDRN (NVP-mix) decreased melanogenesis by modulating mitochondrial oxidative stress and NNT expression in UV-B-irradiated animals and in an in vitro model of melanocytes treated with conditioned media (CM) from UV-B-irradiated keratinocytes. The expression of NNT, GSH/GSSG, and NADPH/NADP⁺ in UV-B-irradiated animal skin was significantly decreased by UV-B radiation but increased by NVP-mix treatment. The expression of NNT, GSH/GSSG, and NADPH/NADP⁺ ratios decreased in melanocytes after CM treatment, although they increased after NVP-mix administration. In NNT-silenced melanocytes, the GSH/GSSG and NADPH/NADP⁺ ratios were further decreased by CM compared with normal melanocytes. NVP-mix decreased melanogenesis signals, such as MC1R, MITF, TYRP1, and TYRP2, and decreased melanosome transfer-related signals, such as RAB32 and RAB27A, in UV-B-irradiated animal skin. NVP-mix also decreased MC1R, MITF, TYRP1, TYRP2, RAB32, and RAB27A in melanocytes treated with CM from UV-irradiated keratinocytes. The expression of MC1R and MITF in melanocytes after CM treatment was unchanged by NNT silencing. However, the expression of TYRP1, TYRP2, RAB32, and RAB27A increased in NNT-silenced melanocytes after CM treatment. NVP-mix also decreased tyrosinase activity and melanin content in UV-B-irradiated animal skin and CM-treated melanocytes. In conclusion, NVP-mix decreased mitochondrial oxidative stress by increasing NNT expression and decreased melanogenesis by decreasing MC1R/MITF, tyrosinase, TYRP1, and TYRP2.     

Single-Benzene Dual-Emitters Harness Excited-State Antiaromaticity for White Light Generation and Fluorescence Imaging

Molecular emitters simultaneously generating light at different wavelengths have wide applications. With a small molecule, however, it is challenging to realize two independent radiative pathways. We invented the first examples of dual-emissive single-benzene fluorophores (SBFs). Two emissive tautomers are generated by synthetic modulation of the hydrogen bond acidity, which opens up pathways for excited-state proton transfer. White light is produced by a delicate balance between the energy and intensity of the emission from each tautomer. We show that the excited-state antiaromaticity of the benzene core itself dictates the proton movements driving the tautomer equilibrium. Using this simple benzene platform, a fluorinated SBF was synthesized with a record high solubility in perfluorocarbon solvents. White light-emitting devices and multicolor imaging of perfluorocarbon nanodroplets in live cells demonstrate the practical utility of these molecules.     

Ultrafluorogenic Monochromophore-Type BODIPY-Tetrazine Series for Dual-Color Bioorthogonal Imaging with a Single Probe

Various fluorogenic probes utilizing tetrazine (Tz) as a fluorescence quencher and bioorthogonal reaction partner have been extensively studied over the past few decades. Herein, we synthesized a series of boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-Tz probes using monochromophoric design strategy for bioorthogonal cellular imaging. The BODIPY-Tz probes exhibited excellent bicyclo[6.1.0]nonyne (BCN)-selective fluorogenicity with three- to four-digit-fold enhancements in fluorescence over a wide range of emission wavelengths, including the far-red region. Furthermore, we demonstrated the applicability of BODIPY-Tz probes in bioorthogonal fluorescence imaging of cellular organelles without washing steps. We also elucidated the aromatized pyridazine moiety as the origin of BCN-selective fluorogenic behavior. Additionally, we discovered that the fluorescence of the trans-cyclooctene (TCO) adducts was quenched in aqueous media via photoinduced electron transfer (PeT) process. Interestingly, we observed a distinctive recovery of the initially quenched fluorescence of BODIPY-Tz-TCO upon exposure to hydrophobic media, accompanied by a significant bathochromic shift of its emission wavelength relative to that exhibited by the corresponding BODIPY-Tz-BCN. Leveraging this finding, for the first time, we achieved dual-color bioorthogonal cellular imaging with a single BODIPY-Tz probe.     

Computational Study of the Release of H2 from Ammonia Borane Dimer (BH3NH3)2 and Its Ion Pair Isomers.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF.     

Sculpting In-plane Fractal Porous Patterns in Two-Dimensional MOF Nanocrystals for Photoelectrocatalytic CO2 Reduction

Herein, by choosing few-nm-thin two-dimensional (2D) nanocrystals of MOF-5 containing in-planner square lattices as a modular platform, a crystal lattice-guided wet-chemical etching has been rationally accomplished. As a result, two attractive pore patterns carrying Euclidean curvatures; precisely, plus(+)-shaped and fractal-patterned pores via ⟨100⟩ and ⟨110⟩ directional etching, respectively, are regulated in contrast to habitually formed spherical-shaped random etches on MOF surface. In agreement with the theoretical calculations, a diffusion-limited etching process has been optimized to devise high-yield of size-tunable fractal-pores on the MOF surface that tenders for a compatibly high payload of catalytic Re^I-complexes using the existing large edge area once modified into a free amine-group-exposed inner pore surface. Finally, on benefiting from the long-range fractal opening in 2D MOF support structure, while loaded on an electrode surface, a facilitated cross-interface charge-transportation and well-exposure of immobilized Re^I-catalysts are anticipated, thus realizing enhanced activity and stability of the supported catalyst in photoelectrochemical CO₂-to-CO reduction.     

Blending Low-Frequency Vibrations and Push–Pull Effects Affords Superior Photoacoustic Imaging Agents

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI), a state-of-the-art noninvasive in vivo imaging technique, has been widely used in clinical disease diagnosis. However, the design of high-performance PAI agents with three key characteristics, i.e., near-infrared (NIR) absorption (λ_abs>800 nm), intense PA signals, and excellent photostability, remains a challenging goal. Herein, we present a facile but effective approach for engineering PAI agents by amplifying intramolecular low-frequency vibrations and enhancing the push-pull effect. As a demonstration of this blended approach, we constructed a PAI agent ( BDP1-NEt₂ ) based on the boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) scaffold. Compared with indocyanine green (ICG, an FDA-approved organic dye widely utilized in PAI studies; λ_abs=788 nm), BDP1-NEt₂ exhibited a UV/Vis-NIR spectrum peaked at 825 nm, superior in vivo PA signal intensity and outstanding stability to offer improved tumor diagnostics. We believe this work provides a promising strategy to develop the next generation of PAI agents.