Small Science最新文献

{"title":"Nanomedicine Approaches for Autophagy Modulation in Cancer Therapy.","authors":"Sohaib Mahri, Rodolfo Villa, Ya-Ping Shiau, Menghuan Tang, Kelsey Jane Racacho, Qiufang Zong, Saiful Islam Chowdhury, Tan Hua, Felipe Godinez, Andrew Birkeland, Tzu-Yin Lin, Yuanpei Li","doi":"10.1002/smsc.202400607","DOIUrl":"10.1002/smsc.202400607","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cancer is a daunting global health problem with a steadily rising incidence. Despite the wide arsenal of current anticancer therapies, challenges such as drug resistance, tumor heterogeneity, poor targeting, and severe side effects often lead to suboptimal efficacy and poor patient outcomes, highlighting the need for innovative therapies. Autophagy modulation has emerged as an attractive approach to complement existing therapies. The dual role of autophagy in cancer promotion and suppression has inspired the development of new drugs and therapeutic strategies focusing on both inhibition and induction. Despite the promising results of current autophagy modulators in preclinical studies, challenges such as the lack of selectivity and potency, toxicity, poor pharmacokinetics, and inadequate tumor targeting continue to limit their successful clinical translation. Many of these challenges could be overcome using nanomedicine. This review explores recent advancements in nanomedicine strategies for autophagy modulation. Successful combination strategies leveraging nanoparticles and autophagy modulators in synergy with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, phototherapy, gene therapy, and other modalities are presented. Additionally, nanomaterials with intrinsic autophagy-modulating capabilities, such as self-assembling autophagy inhibitors, are discussed. Finally, limitations of autophagy modulators currently in clinical trials are discussed, and future perspectives on designing nanomedicine for successful clinical implementation are explored.</p>","PeriodicalId":29791,"journal":{"name":"Small Science","volume":"5 6","pages":"2400607"},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12168626/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144318082","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Additive and Laser Manufacturing for Multifunctional Electronics on High-Performance Polymers.","authors":"Joshua Vandervelde, Yeowon Yoon, Rifat Shahriar, Stephen B Cronin, Yong Chen","doi":"10.1002/smsc.202500022","DOIUrl":"10.1002/smsc.202500022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Laser-induced graphene (LIG) is a novel multifunctional material fabricated from a single-step laser scribing process on a variety of polymers. LIG electronics display exceptional conducting, heating, and sensing properties, which are desirable for customizable circuits within 3D-printed structures. However, the properties of LIG on high-performance additive manufacturing (AM) materials, such as polyetherimide (PEI, trade name Ultem) and polyether ether ketone (PEEK), have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, LIG is scribed by a blue laser on pure and 3D-printed PEI and PEEK. Remarkably, the LIG's electrical performances represent several of the lowest sheet resistances reported on PEI- and PEEK-derived LIG to date. These minimal values (1.02 Ω sq^-1) and their high conductivities (45.4 S cm^-1) are also among the best electrical characteristics studied on any LIG precursor. The versatility of LIG electronics for AM is further demonstrated on 3D-printed specimens with laser-scribed heaters and strain gauges. LIG heaters show impressive operating ranges and excellent electrothermal properties; LIG strain gauges exhibit large gauge factors and minimal drift. In these findings, an effective approach to fabricate facile electronics in AM structures by integrating additive and laser manufacturing processes is presented.</p>","PeriodicalId":29791,"journal":{"name":"Small Science","volume":"5 6","pages":"2500022"},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12168607/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144318153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exsolution of Pt Nanoparticles from Mixed Zr/Gd-CeO₂ Oxides for Microbial Fuel Cell-Based Biosensors.","authors":"Alex Martinez Martin, Shailza Saini, Anna Salvian, Tarique Miah, Cheuk Yiu Chan, Claudio Avignone Rossa, Siddharth Gadkari, Kalliopi Kousi","doi":"10.1002/smsc.202400619","DOIUrl":"10.1002/smsc.202400619","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cerium oxide (CeO₂) is a widely used catalyst support in electrochemical and catalytic applications due to its ability to form oxygen vacancies and strong metal-support interactions. However, conventionally prepared CeO₂ catalysts often suffer from deactivation due to sintering and poisoning. Incorporating dopants such as gadolinium (Gd) and zirconium (Zr) into its lattice improves oxygen ion mobility, thermal stability, and resistance to poisoning. Platinum (Pt) is a commonly used catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in microbial fuel cells for real-time biochemical oxygen demand monitoring. However, its high cost, scarcity, and susceptibility to fouling and poisoning limit implementation in wastewater treatment plants. This study employs the exsolution method to investigate the formation of Pt nanoparticles from undoped, Zr-, and Gd-doped CeO₂ matrices. It is shown that the Gd-doped matrix exhibits the optimal particle characteristics, while electrochemical evaluation in the microbial fuel cells also reveals that it outperforms the other studied materials, in terms of sensitivity and stability. By integrating exsolution with dopant engineering, in an innovative approach, we lower costs, maintain performance, and enhance the operational stability of the cathode material, paving the way for cost-effective and sustainable applications in biosensing but also other catalytic applications of interest.</p>","PeriodicalId":29791,"journal":{"name":"Small Science","volume":"5 6","pages":"2400619"},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12168614/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144318075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recyclable Printed Liquid Metal Composite for Underwater Stretchable Electronics.","authors":"Chi-Hyeong Kim, Jinsil Kim, Jiaxin Fan, Meijing Wang, Fabio Cicoira","doi":"10.1002/smsc.202400553","DOIUrl":"10.1002/smsc.202400553","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Multifunctional stretchable conductors are crucial components in fully stretchable circuits for wearable bioelectronics. Conductive composites made from liquid metal (LM) fillers and polymer matrices have garnered significant interest due to their high electrical conductivity, adjustable mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and recyclability. Herein, a printable LM composite is developed using a custom-designed block copolymer to ensure electromechanical stability in both wet and dry conditions. The LM composite demonstrates high conductivity (around 10⁵ S m^- ¹), stretchability up to 500%, and maintains stable resistance with cyclic strain ranging from 0 to 50% for over 16 h, in both ambient and aqueous environments. Furthermore, bulk LM is successfully recovered from printed composites using green solvents, supporting the composite's recyclability.</p>","PeriodicalId":29791,"journal":{"name":"Small Science","volume":"5 5","pages":"2400553"},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12087783/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144112044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unraveling the Coulombic Efficiency Trough of Silicon Anodes in Li-Ion Batteries.","authors":"Asif Latief Bhat, Yu-Sheng Su","doi":"10.1002/smsc.202500131","DOIUrl":"10.1002/smsc.202500131","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The occurrence of Coulombic efficiency (CE) troughs in silicon (Si) anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) presents a critical yet overlooked concern that can lead to battery failure in full cells. Herein, a comprehensive investigation into this previously unreported phenomenon is conducted. Factors influencing CE trough occurrence and severity, including electrode thickness, Si particle size, cycling rate, electrolyte composition, and voltage window, are systematically examined. Experimental results demonstrate that thinner electrodes and slower cycling rates accelerate CE trough onset, whereas employing a tetrahydrofuran (THF)-based electrolyte or a narrower voltage window (0.01-0.5 V) results in stable electrochemical performance without CE troughs, concurrently with the presence of Li _<i>x</i> Si. Structural analysis via high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy reveals a close association between CE trough severity, electrode volume expansion, and delamination, influenced by the formation of a sponge-like structure and solid electrolyte interface (SEI) stability. These findings yield valuable insights into CE trough mechanisms and provide guidance for mitigating their occurrence through electrode design, electrolyte selection, and operational parameters, thereby advancing high-performance LIB development. Future research directions involve exploring the role of SEI components and alternative electrolyte additives to enhance SEI stability and mitigate CE troughs.</p>","PeriodicalId":29791,"journal":{"name":"Small Science","volume":"5 7","pages":"2500131"},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12257903/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144643673","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In-Liquid Micromanipulation via a Magnetic Microactuator for Multitasking.","authors":"Dineshkumar Loganathan, Chia-Hsin Cheng, Po-Wei Wei, Chia-Yuan Chen","doi":"10.1002/smsc.202500010","DOIUrl":"10.1002/smsc.202500010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Small-scale actuators capable of performing multiple tasks are crucial for the advancement of microfluidic technologies. These actuators enable high-throughput operations and support integrated solutions across a wide range of applications. In this study, a multipurpose magnetic microactuator (MMA) is developed with two pairs of magnetic arms controlled externally through a custom-built electromagnetic system. To enhance navigational precision, two circular magnetic sections named \"mobility components\" are integrated into the MMA's design. The multitasking capability of the MMA is demonstrated through distinct applications, including particle manipulation, microassembly, micromixing, and flow conveyance. In particle manipulation, the MMA is controlled to grasp a total of eight particles from different locations in a single cycle within 46 s. During the assembly process, two 2D planar micro-objects are sequentially loaded, transported, and assembled in the designated assembly unit. For fluid flow control, the distinct motions of the MMA are observed to enhance the mixing performance with an efficiency of 65% within 20 s. In addition, the dye conveyance efficiency is observed to reach 85% for the MMA's navigational distances of 10 mm in 30 s. These results demonstrate the MMA's capacity for synergistic multitasking with increased throughput, establishing it as a foundation for future microfluidic actuators.</p>","PeriodicalId":29791,"journal":{"name":"Small Science","volume":"5 7","pages":"2500010"},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12257887/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144643664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Designing Nontrivial Real-Space Berry Curvature through Non-Monotonic Bulk Inversion Symmetry Breaking in Self-Intercalated Cr_1+δTe₂.","authors":"Seungwon Rho, Dameul Jeong, Hyeong-Ryul Kim, Jaeseok Huh, Hyeong-Jun Son, Young-Kyun Kwon, Mann-Ho Cho","doi":"10.1002/smsc.202500028","DOIUrl":"10.1002/smsc.202500028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The real-space Berry curvature ( <math> <mrow> <mrow><msub><mi>Ω</mi> <mi>r</mi></msub> </mrow> </mrow> </math> ) in magnetic materials has gained significant attention for its potential applications in chiral spintronic devices. <math> <mrow> <mrow><msub><mi>Ω</mi> <mi>r</mi></msub> </mrow> </mrow> </math> manifests in chiral spin textures stabilized by the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI), which arises in inversion-asymmetric systems. Herein, the topological Hall effect (THE) in 2D ferromagnet Cr_1+δTe₂ as a function of the Cr intercalant (<i>δ</i>) is investigated. A nonlinear dependence of the THE amplitude induced by <math> <mrow> <mrow><msub><mi>Ω</mi> <mi>r</mi></msub> </mrow> </mrow> </math> on <i>δ</i> is identified, originating from non-monotonic bulk inversion symmetry breaking via Cr self-intercalation. Density-functional theory calculations further reveal a strong correlation between THE amplitude and bulk DMI strength (<i>E</i> _DMI), demonstrating both the mechanism of THE and the tunability of <math> <mrow> <mrow><msub><mi>Ω</mi> <mi>r</mi></msub> </mrow> </mrow> </math> in Cr_1+δTe₂. Remarkably, Cr_1.612Te₂ exhibits the largest THE amplitude observed to date (2.75 μΩ⋅cm) in the Cr_1+δTe₂ family, which is a strong candidate for the highest THE amplitude, given its magnetic anisotropy and <i>E</i> _DMI. Overall, by confirming the critical role of bulk DMI and magnetic anisotropy in engineering <math> <mrow> <mrow><msub><mi>Ω</mi> <mi>r</mi></msub> </mrow> </mrow> </math> , the most efficient strategy for designing <math> <mrow> <mrow><msub><mi>Ω</mi> <mi>r</mi></msub> </mrow> </mrow> </math> in 2D ferromagnetic materials through atomic-scale self-intercalation is proposed. These findings provide fundamental insights into the relationship between <i>E</i> _DMI and THE in Cr_1+δTe₂ and offer a promising approach for designing high-performance chiral spintronic devices.</p>","PeriodicalId":29791,"journal":{"name":"Small Science","volume":"5 6","pages":"2500028"},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12168622/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144318159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Redox-Active Microporous Covalent Organic Frameworks for Additive-Free Supercapacitors.","authors":"Roman Guntermann, Julian M Rotter, Apeksha Singh, Dana D Medina, Thomas Bein","doi":"10.1002/smsc.202400585","DOIUrl":"10.1002/smsc.202400585","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>2D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have garnered significant attention by virtue of their porous nature, structural tunability, and ability to incorporate highly reversible redox-active groups. These characteristics qualify them for a range of energy storage devices, including supercapacitors, which can assume a pivotal role towards attaining a more sustainable future amid escalating energy needs. Herein, two 2D COFs are reported containing wurster (W) and pyrene (PY) units, WW COF and WPy-I COF, which demonstrate reversible redox behavior and characteristic pseudocapacitance. Both COFs exhibit high crystallinity demonstrated with X-ray diffraction analysis, exhibiting a thermal dependence of the intralayer bonding and interlayer stacking arrangement from WPy-I toward WPy-II COFs. Additionally, the WW and WPy-I COFs were grown on glass and stainless-steel meshes (SSMs) featuring different surface coatings. These coated SSMs proved suitable as current collectors for testing the COFs regarding their specific capacitance, without the need to add any conducting additives, revealing a promising capacitance of 48.9 F g^-1 for the WW COF. Moreover, these electrodes can be applied in symmetrical supercapacitor devices with an ionic liquid serving as electrolyte. The remarkable performance of the redox-active Wurster unit identifies it as a promising building motif for COFs with high specific capacitance, even in devices devoid of carbon additives.</p>","PeriodicalId":29791,"journal":{"name":"Small Science","volume":"5 6","pages":"2400585"},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12168591/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144318096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phase-Pure 1T' Molybdenum Disulfide Synthesis and Stabilization.","authors":"Zongliang Guo, Hao Cheng, Ming Yang, Chi Ho Wong, Tawsif Ibne Alam, Shu Ping Lau, Yuen Hong Tsang","doi":"10.1002/smsc.202500107","DOIUrl":"10.1002/smsc.202500107","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Metastable-phase transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) show distinct structures and properties compared with the well-studied thermodynamically stable phase. The phase impurity and degeneration are two critical challenges for the research and applications of metastable 1T'-phase MoS₂. Here, a self-intercalation method is demonstrated to synthesize and stabilize the phase-pure 1T' MoS₂. The K₂S intercalation and 1T' MoS₂ synthesis are simultaneously done in only one step, leading to uniform intercalation and 1T' phase purity. This engineered intercalation structure achieves stabilization of 1T' MoS₂ without changing its in-plane structure. It keeps 1T' phase structure and 100% phase purity even after 750 °C annealing or 1-year aging exposed to air, while 1T' MoS₂ transforms to 2H phase gradually, or instantly over 97 °C. The theory calculation results show that the K₂S intercalation lowers the formation energy and makes metastable 1T' phase become stable. As a result, this stabilization method prevents gradual degeneration of applications performance that is inevitable in the past. This mass-production-available method has been successfully proved versatile for various 1T' TMDs with numerous alkali metal chalcogenides intercalation. It eliminates a significant disadvantage of 1T' TMDs, which can facilitate the investigation of novel properties and the development of fresh applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":29791,"journal":{"name":"Small Science","volume":"5 7","pages":"2500107"},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12257880/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144643666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Polymeric Giant Unilamellar Vesicles Support Longevity of Native Nuclei in Protocells.","authors":"Lukas Heuberger, Arianna Balestri, Shabnam Tarvirdipour, Larisa E Kapinos, Roderick Y H Lim, Emanuel Lörtscher, Cora-Ann Schoenenberger, Cornelia G Palivan","doi":"10.1002/smsc.202400622","DOIUrl":"10.1002/smsc.202400622","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Protocells offer a versatile material for dissecting cellular processes and developing simplified biomimetic systems by combining biological components with synthetic ones. However, a gap exists between the integrity and complex functionality of native organelles such as nuclei, and bottom-up strategies reducing cellular functions within a synthetic environment. Here, this gap is bridged by incorporating native nuclei into polymeric giant unilamellar vesicles (pGUVs) using double-emulsion microfluidics. It is shown that the nuclei retain their morphology and nuclear envelope integrity, facilitating the import of co-encapsulated peptide-based multicompartment micelles (MCMs) via nuclear localization signals (NLS). Importantly, it is demonstrated that the nuclear import machinery remains functional inside the protocells, and by enriching the GUV interior with nuclear import-promoting factors, the delivery efficiency of NLS-MCMs significantly increases. The findings reveal that nucleated protocells preserve nuclear function and integrity for extended periods, providing a new platform for studying nuclear processes in a simplified, yet biologically relevant, environment. This approach opens avenues for creating advanced biohybrid materials, offering opportunities to investigate organelle behavior and their interactions with cellular components in greater detail. The findings establish a foundation for high-throughput applications in synthetic biology and contribute valuable insights into sustaining complex cellular functions in engineered systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":29791,"journal":{"name":"Small Science","volume":"5 6","pages":"2400622"},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12168613/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144318085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}