Chemically Programmable and Switchable CAR-T Therapy

Although macromolecules on cell surfaces are predominantly targeted and drugged with antibodies, they harbor pockets that are only accessible to small molecules and constitutes a rich subset of binding sites with immense potential diagnostic and therapeutic utility. Compared to antibodies, however, small molecules are disadvantaged by a less confined biodistribution, shorter circulatory half-life, and inability to communicate with the immune system. Presented herein is a method that endows small molecules with the ability to recruit and activate chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-Ts). It is based on a CAR-T platform that uses a chemically programmed antibody fragment (cp-Fab) as on/off switch. In proof-of-concept studies, this cp-Fab/CAR-T system targeting folate binding proteins on the cell surface mediated potent and specific eradication of folate-receptor-expressing cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.     

Facile Synthesis of Sub-Nanometric Copper Clusters by Double Confinement Enables Selective Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Methane

Previous density-functional theory (DFT) calculations show that sub-nanometric Cu clusters (i.e., 13 atoms) favorably generate CH₄ from the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR), but experimental evidence is lacking. Herein, a facile impregnation-calcination route towards Cu clusters, having a diameter of about 1.0 nm with about 10 atoms, was developed by double confinement of carbon defects and micropores. These Cu clusters enable high selectivity for the CO₂RR with a maximum Faraday efficiency of 81.7 % for CH₄. Calculations and experimental results show that the Cu clusters enhance the adsorption of *H and *CO intermediates, thus promoting generation of CH₄ rather than H₂ and CO. The strong interactions between the Cu clusters and defective carbon optimize the electronic structure of the Cu clusters for selectivity and stability towards generation of CH₄. Provided here is the first experimental evidence that sub-nanometric Cu clusters facilitate the production of CH₄ from the CO₂RR.     

High-Capacity and Stable Li-O2 Batteries Enabled by a Trifunctional Soluble Redox Mediator

Li-O₂ batteries with ultrahigh theoretical energy densities usually suffer from low practical discharge capacities and inferior cycling stability owing to the cathode passivation caused by insulating discharge products and by-products. Here, a trifunctional ether-based redox mediator, 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-dimethoxybenzene (DBDMB), is introduced into the electrolyte to capture reactive O₂⁻ and alleviate the rigorous oxidative environment of Li-O₂ batteries. Thanks to the strong solvation effect of DBDMB towards Li⁺ and O₂⁻, it not only reduces the formation of by-products (a high Li₂O₂ yield of 96.6 %), but also promotes the solution growth of large-sized Li₂O₂ particles, avoiding the passivation of cathode as well as enabling a large discharge capacity. Moreover, DBDMB makes the oxidization of Li₂O₂ and the decomposition of main by-products (Li₂CO₃ and LiOH) proceed in a highly effective manner, prolonging the stability of Li-O₂ batteries (243 cycles at 1000 mAh g⁻¹ and 1000 mA g⁻¹).     

Impact of titanate coupling agent on properties of high density polyethylene composite filled with coal gangue

In this study, surface modification of coal gangue (CG) was performed with titanate coupling agent 201 (isopropyl tri(dioctylpyrophosphate) titanate), and the effects of surface modifier on mechanical properties and thermal stability of high-density polyethylene filled with CG (HDPE/CG) and high-density polyethylene filled with modified CG (HDPE/mCG) composites were investigated. The coupling agent was successfully grafted on CG surface through chemical reaction according to the analyses of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the coupling agent can effectively enhance the hydrophobicity of surface that was verified by water contact angle beyond 90° of modified CG sample. With the introduction of coupling agent, some enhancements of tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength were observed in HDPE/mCG compared with HDPE/CG, due to the improved compatibility between mCG fillers and matrix. The increased storage modulus and decreased loss factor of HDPE/mCG composite further confirm the stronger interface adhesion after modification. Moreover, it is found that titanate coupling agent 201 can improve the thermal stability of HDPE/mCG composite to some extent.     

UPLC-QTOF-MS法研究甘油三酯作为水生环境中农药污染的潜在生物标志物

以鲫鱼为代表性研究对象, 采用超高效液相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱(UPLC-QTOF-MS)技术, 分别研究了3种农药(敌百虫、 高效氯氰菊酯和吡虫啉)对其体内代谢的影响. 通过Masslynx软件在MS ^E模式下采集数据, 使用UNIFI软件进行自动检测和数据过滤, 并将差异性物质与在线代谢组数据库进行比较, 鉴定出甘油三酯类(TGs)物质具有明显差异. 其中, 吡虫啉对TGs代谢的影响最大, 且肝脏的代谢差异比大脑更显著, 低浓度的急性暴露诱导肝脏中的TGs积累, 其含量与暴露浓度之间的关系符合Michaelis-Menten方程的增长趋势. 结果表明, TGs可在短时间内(≤2 h)灵敏地反映农药吡虫啉的低浓度(≤20 ng/mL)暴露, 可作为考察吡虫啉对水生生物毒性的潜在生物标记物, 有助于建立一种快速、 灵敏的预警方法.     

金属有机骨架薄膜用于小分子和离子的高效分离

综述了近几年金属有机骨架（MOF）薄膜在小分子和离子高效分离应用中的研究进展.MOF膜材料因具有结晶度良好、结构可设计、孔径可调和可功能化等特点,在分离领域展现出极大的潜在应用价值而受到广泛关注.鉴于近年来MOF膜材料在分离领域取得的巨大进展,对这一领域的前沿进展进行及时系统的总结,并对未来的发展趋势进行展望,具有重要的学术价值,也为科研工作者对MOF膜材料的研究提供了参考.本文首先总结了MOF膜的4种制备方法,包括LBL自组装法（液相外延和Langmuir-Blodgett沉积）、真空制备法（化学气相沉积和原子层沉积）、电化学沉积法和粉末沉积法;而后,详述了MOF膜在气体分离、液体分离及离子/质子传导等方面的应用;最后,总结了MOF膜材料领域当前存在的挑战及潜在解决途径,并对该领域的未来发展方向进行了展望.     

NaBH4处理LaCuZnX(X=Zr、Al、Zr+Al)(类)钙钛矿型催化剂及其CO2加氢合成甲醇性能的研究

采用共沉淀法分别制备了不同F-T组分(Fe、Co、Ni)改性的KCuZrO_2催化剂,并用于催化CO加氢合成异丁醇。通过BET、XRD、TEM、XPS、H_2-TPR、CO-TPD以及in-situ DRIFTS对催化剂进行了表征。结果显示,F-T组分的加入促进了乙醇和丙醇的形成,但是对异丁醇选择性影响不同。结果表明,Fe促进了催化剂中各组分的分散,活性组分Cu在催化剂表面发生了富集,提高了H_2/CO活化吸附;另外,KFeCuZrO_2的催化剂表面含有较多的C_1物种,有利于乙醇和丙醇进一步发生β-加成反应得到异丁醇,而Co和Ni改性的催化剂上缺少足够的C_1物种,因此,异丁醇的选择性并未明显增加。Co的引入对催化剂结构以及Cu的分散影响不大,但是Co改性后催化剂性能有所下降,其原因是催化剂发生了失活;Ni添加后催化剂比表面积有所减小,且催化剂表面Cu/Zr物质的量比也降低到0.19,催化剂粒径增大,Cu-Zr之间相互作用减弱,异丁醇选择性降低。     

Lattice Distortion in Hollow Multi-Shelled Structures for Efficient Visible-Light CO2 Reduction with a SnS2/SnO2 Junction

Precise control of the micro-/nanostructures of nanomaterials, such as hollow multi-shelled structures (HoMSs), has shown its great advantages in various applications. Now, the crystal structure of building blocks of HoMSs are controlled by introducing the lattice distortion in HoMSs, for the first time. The lattice distortion located at the nanoscale interface of SnS₂/SnO₂ can provide additional active sites, which not only provide the catalytic activity under visible light but also improve the separation of photoexcited electron–hole pairs. Combined with the efficient light utilization, the natural advantage of HoMSs, a record catalytic activity was achieved in solid–gas system for CO₂ reduction, with an excellent stability and 100 % CO selectivity without using any sensitizers or noble metals.     

Visualization and In Situ Ablation of Intracellular Bacterial Pathogens through Metabolic Labeling

Protected by the host cells, the hidden intracellular bacteria are typically difficult to kill by common antibiotics and cannot be visualized without complex cellular pretreatments. Herein, we successfully developed a bacteria-metabolizable dual-functional probe TPEPy-d -Ala, which is based on d -alanine and a photosensitizer with aggregation-induced emission for fluorescence turn-on imaging of intracellular bacteria in living host cells and photodynamic ablation in situ. Once metabolically incorporated into bacterial peptidoglycan, the intramolecular motions of TPEPy-d -Ala are inhibited, leading to an enhanced fluorescent signal, which allows the clear visualization of the intracellular bacteria. Moreover, TPEPy-d -Ala can effectively ablate the labeled intracellular bacteria in situ owing to covalent ligation to peptidoglycan, yielding a low intracellular minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 20±0.5 μg mL⁻¹, much more efficient than that of a commonly used antibiotic, vancomycin.     

Computation-led design of pollutant gas sensors with bare and carbon nanotube supported rhodium alloys

Quantum chemical study has been performed on finite-sized bi-metallic Rh3M alloys, M = Ag, Ir, Pd, Pt, Au, derived from magic cluster, Rh4. Bond length of C–O and N–O are noticed to be elongated in the presence of rhodium alloy clusters. CO2 and NO2 gases are found to be highly adsorbed on Rh3M clusters, which is confirmed by stretching frequency of C–O and N–O. DFT evaluated dipole moment and electronic charge redistribution suggests the sensing capability of CO2 and NO2 gases by Rh3M clusters which is further confirmed by the calculated HOMO–LUMO gap. Mixed rhodium alloy clusters supported on single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) exhibits much higher ability to sense CO2 and NO2. On the other hand, SWCNT@Rh3M shows higher catalytic activity for the activation of CO2 and NO2 in comparison to bare Rh3M because of the higher electronic charge redistribution in the case of SWCNT@Rh3M. In case of SWCNT-supported gas adsorbed clusters, p electrons play a major role in bonding.