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Nature Materials, Published online: 12 June 2025; doi:10.1038/s41563-025-02234-6

A hybrid extracellular matrix–hydrogel with tunable mechanical stiffness and biochemical composition of young or aged cardiac tissue is used to identify the specific contributions of extracellular matrix ligands and mechanics for fibroblast aging.

TBD

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Hilde Oliver, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• Wednesday 02 July 2025, 14:00-15:00
• Venue: BAS Seminar Room 1.
• Series: British Antarctic Survey - Polar Oceans seminar series; organiser: Dr Yohei Takano.

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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE00141B, PaperXuan Luo, Jiabao Nie, Huang Liang, Yuyang Li, Youheng Wang, Qikang Que, Jean-Pol Dodelet, Yucheng Wang
Fe-N-C catalysts are the most promising alternative to Pt for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, the mixture of two distinct active sites—highly...
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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE00809C, PaperYong Li, Aoyang Zhu, Guodong Peng, Jun He, Hongqiang Li, Dedong Jia, Guanjie He, Jieshan Qiu, Xiaojun He
Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have great potential to boost the sluggish iodine redox kinetics and alleviate polyiodides shuttle in aqueous zinc-iodine (Zn-I2) batteries. Nevertheless, it is a big challenge to improve...
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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE01330E, PaperZhimin Li, jianhong yi, Yu Tang, Zhengfu Zhang, Chengping Li, Rui Bao, Jinsong Wang
Developing highly active lattice oxygen mechanism (LOM)-based oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts capable of stable operation under high potential remains a critical bottleneck for advancing anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer...
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Bradford Hill Seminar – The Cancer Loyalty Card Study (CLOCS), aiming to help reduce the delays in cancer diagnosis using transaction data

The Cancer Loyalty Card Study (CLOCS), aiming to help reduce the delays in cancer diagnosis using transaction data

Professor James Flanagan, Professor of Cancer Informatics at Imperial College London

Register to attend: Please note this will be a free hybrid seminar, with the option to attend in-person (Large Seminar Room, East Forvie Building, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SR ) or virtually (via Teams).

No registration is required to attend in person.

Register in advance to attend this seminar online at:

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9d02ab32-b2e7-4bdb-9b33-ad126d573679@49a50445-bdfa-4b79-ade3-547b4f3986e9

Abstract: The first Cancer Loyalty Card Study (CLOCS) project revealed that ovarian cancer patients begin buying over-the-counter medications months before seeing a doctor, suggesting a missed opportunity for earlier diagnosis. This research opens new conversations about how everyday data might support earlier cancer detection, and what it takes for the public to feel comfortable sharing that data.

About Professor Flanagan: Dr James Flanagan, completed his PhD in 2002 at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Brisbane, Australia, and has pursued postdoctoral work in Cancer Genetics, Epigenetics and Cancer Epigenetics. He was awarded a Breast Cancer Campaign Scientific Fellowship (Imperial, 2009-2014) and Senior Lecturer (2014-2019) and is now Reader in Epigenetics (2019-present) in the Division of Cancer, Dept. of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London.

He was awarded the British Association of Cancer Research Translational Researcher Award in 2011 and the prestigious DataIQ award in 2023 for his work using Shopping Loyalty Cards for early detection of ovarian cancer.

He is the principal investigator (PI) for the OCA funded programme “Risk and Prevention” and PI of the CRUK funded project “Cancer Loyalty Card Study (CLOCS)” In 2021 he was appointed as the Director of the MRes Cancer Biology.

About the Bradford Hill seminars: The Bradford Hill seminar series is the principal series of The Cambridge Population Health Sciences Partnership, in collaboration with the PHG Foundation. This comprises the Departments of Public Health & Primary Care, MRC Biostatistics Unit and MRC Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, bringing together a multi-disciplinary partnership of academics and public health professionals. The Bradford Hill seminar programme of internationally recognised speakers covers topics of broad interest to our public health research community. It aims to transcend as well as connect the activities of our individual partners.

All are welcome at our Bradford Hill seminars.

• Speaker: Professor James Flanagan, Imperial College London
• Wednesday 02 July 2025, 13:00-14:00
• Venue: Large Seminar Room, East Forvie Building, Forvie Site Robinson Way Cambridge CB2 0SR..
• Series: Bradford Hill Seminars; organiser: Paul Browne.

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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE01011J, PaperGuyue Li, Liu Cao, Meng Lei, Keyi Chen, Chilin Li
Magnesium metal batteries (MMBs) are considered as a promising next-generation battery system due to the high theoretical capacity and element abundance of Mg anode. However, the potential interfacial passivation, sluggish...
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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE02269J, PaperXiaotian Hu, Weixu Duan, Kai Chen, Bingxue Pi, Shaojian Li, Zedong Lin, Cong Liu, Yuehua Pan, Haiqian Ling, Desheng Li, Liwei Zhou, Tao Liu, Fan Wu, Xiangwen Guo, Bingsuo Zou
The dramatic development of monophosphate self-assembled molecules (SAMs) with novel molecular structures has significantly improved the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). To date, the face-on...
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It is demonstrated that in chiral gold film, spin information can be transferred to distances of several microns at room temperature. The conduction of spins is accompanied by the Hall effect that exists without applying an external magnetic field. The spin diffusion length is consistent with the frequency-dependent Hall effect which indicates spin effective lifetime on the order of nanoseconds.

Abstract

Any attempt to use spintronics-based logic elements will need to have spin interconnects to transfer information between its elements. Typically, the mean free path of an electron's spin in metals, at room temperature, is of the order of tens to hundreds of nanometers. Here chiral gold films are used to demonstrate that spin information can be transferred to distances of several microns at room temperature. The conduction of spins is accompanied by a Hall effect that exists without applying an external magnetic field. It is verified that the spin diffusion length is consistent with the frequency-dependent Hall effect which indicates a spin-effective lifetime in the order of nanoseconds. A theoretical model is presented that involves the anisotropic electronic polarizability of the system, its spin–orbit coupling, and spin exchange interactions.

This study proposes a ligand-engineering strategy to construct a series of functionalized X-MIL(V)-47 framework materials, enabling a systematic elucidation of the synergistic mechanisms between surface functionalization and morphological features in enhancing the electrochemical performance of aqueous zinc-ion batteries. By integrating machine learning with advanced characterization techniques, the zinc-storage mechanism and the structural evolution during cycling are comprehensively revealed.

Abstract

Precise regulation of ligands in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) to modulate the local electronic structure and charge distribution has become an effective strategy for optimizing their electrochemical performance. However, utilizing ligand-functionalized MOFs to activate their potential in aqueous zinc-ion batteries remains a challenge. Herein, eight ligand-functionalized X-MIL-47 (X represents the functional groups) samples are prepared using a one-pot solvothermal method. The polar substituents on the ligand regulated the electronic structure of the MOFs through inductive and conjugative effects, altering the electron density of the metal center and thereby facilitating the optimization of the Zn2+ insertion/extraction kinetics. The coordination environment of X-MIL-47 is analyzed using X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, and the Zn2+ storage mechanism is thoroughly investigated through both in situ/ex situ spectroscopic techniques. The experimental results are consistent with DFT calculations, indicating that the introduction of polar substituents induces charge redistribution within the MOFs, thereby enhancing the reversibility of the redox reaction. Furthermore, a machine learning model based on the orthogonal expansion method and experimental data is developed to predict electrode material performance under varying conditions. This study provides new insights into the design of functional MOFs for energy storage applications.

This study develops a multifunctional CRISPR-dCas9-based OMV platform termed OMV-C9I12, which facilitates the coexpression of CXCL9 and IL-12 within tumor cells. This platform enhances T cell recruitment and activation, synergizes with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy, and amplifies antitumor T cell immunity. This demonstrates significant therapeutic efficacy in a broad range of tumors and offers a promising strategy to overcome immunotherapy resistance.

Abstract

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has revolutionized cancer treatment but only benefits a subset of patients because of insufficient infiltration and inactivation of effector T cells. Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) can activate immunity and deliver therapeutic agents for immunotherapy. However, efficiently targeting and packaging therapeutic molecules into OMVs remains challenging. Here, the engineered E. coli BL21-derived OMVs enable the packaging of multiple genes, resulting in a 7-fold increase in DNA enrichment efficiency and gene silencing in vitro. Moreover, the engineered OMVs carrying genes encoding CXCL9 and IL12 (OMV-C9I12) reprogram tumor cells to secrete these factors, significantly enhancing T-cell chemotaxis and activation. More importantly, this system markedly inhibits tumors, extends survival, and synergizes with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy in murine MB49 and B16F10 tumor models. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) further reveals significant upregulation of T-cell chemotaxis and activation-related pathways following OMV-C9I12 treatment. Finally, OMV-C9I12 potentiates T cell-mediated immunotherapy and suppresses the growth of bladder and breast cancer tumors in humanized mouse models. These findings highlight the potential of this engineered OMV platform for cancer gene therapy and provide novel strategies to overcome resistance to immunotherapy.

Hierarchically structured sulfurized polyacrylonitrile hollow fiber membranes are fabricated via wet spinning for efficient and selective mercury ion removal. The membranes demonstrate excellent adsorption performance and exceptional reusability, maintaining over 99% efficiency after multiple regeneration cycles. Integrated into a scalable purification device, they provide a robust and sustainable solution for large-scale mercury remediation in water systems.

Abstract

Mercury ions (Hg2+) pose serious threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health due to their high toxicity and bioaccumulation. Sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) nanoparticles, which contain soft Lewis base groups interact strongly with the soft Lewis acid Hg2+, demonstrating excellent adsorption performance and chemical stability. However, traditional methods typically involve dispersing SPAN nanoparticles in water or coating them on substrates, leading to uneven distribution, poor material stability, and potential secondary pollution. To overcome challenges in mercury removal, this study presents a highly selective, regenerable, and structurally stable SPAN-integrated hollow fiber membrane fabricated by wet spinning. The hierarchical structure significantly improves pore architecture, adsorption capacity, and long-term stability. The membrane achieves an initial Hg2+ removal efficiency of 98.31% and retains ≈99.7% efficiency after five regeneration cycles. When integrated into a scalable purification device, it removes 90.94% of Hg2+ from water with an initial Hg2+ concentration of 4.69 mg L−1. This work offers a novel, sustainable, and cost-effective approach for large-scale mercury remediation.

Stretchable hydrogels with large spherulites are developed by polymerization-induced crystallization of dopant molecules. Regular spherulites are formed in relatively stiff gels, whereas banded spherulites are obtained in soft gels. The formation of twisted crystal fibers is related to dynamic variations of crystallization pressure and network impedance, affording the gels with circularly polarized luminescence.

Abstract

Reported here is the synthesis of stretchable hydrogels with large spherulites of different morphologies by polymerization-induced crystallization of dopant molecules. By varying the concentrations of chemical crosslinker and initiator, or the light intensity for photopolymerization, the stiffness of polyacrylamide network is tunable to regulate the crystallization of dibenzo-24-crown-8-ether molecules that form spherulites in the hydrogels. Regular spherulites are formed in relatively stiff gels, whereas banded spherulites with twisted crystal fibers are obtained in soft gels. The structure of spherulites is investigated by microscopy and scattering measurements. The formation of twisted crystal fibers is related to dynamic variations of crystallization pressure and network impedance. The gels with regular spherulites show stronger fluorescence and phosphorescence than those with banded spherulites. A remarkable fact is that the latter gels exhibit circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) with dissymmetry factor up to +1.5 × 10−2. This luminescence arises from the clusterization-triggered emission of the network constrained by the crystals, while the twisted fibers render the achiral clusterluminogens with CPL. The mutual influences between polymer network and crystal growth account for the collective functions of the composite gels. The design principle and chiral transfer mechanism should open opportunities for developing other soft materials with tailored crystals and optical properties.

Phos-XK, a novel hydrogel electrolyte, is crafted from xanthan gum and konjac gum through physical crosslinking and targeted phosphorylation. This design balances mechanical strength and ionic conductivity, enabling Zn//MnO₂ batteries with long cycle life and high Coulombic efficiency. Its biocompatibility and biodegradability offer a sustainable solution for flexible, wearable energy storage electronics.

Abstract

Natural polymer-based hydrogel electrolytes, though biocompatible and cost-effective, often exhibit poor mechanical strength and ionic conductivity, limiting their use in high-performance energy storage. Phos-XK, a novel hydrogel electrolyte derived from xanthan gum (XG) and konjac glucomannan (KGM), has been developed via physical cross-linking and targeted phosphorylation. Specifically, physical cross-linking forms a robust 3D network that provides a stable structural foundation. Building on this, the phosphorylation process introduces phosphate monoesters (MPE) and diesters (DPE) in a precisely controlled ratio. MPE groups enhance ionic conductivity by facilitating Zn2+ desolvation and ion migration, while DPE strengthens mechanical integrity through enhanced cross-linking. These distinct roles of MPE and DPE are confirmed through both theoretical calculations and experimental results. Optimizing the phosphorylation ratio achieves a balance between mechanical strength (2.524 MPa) and ionic conductivity (20.72 mS cm−1), resulting in remarkable electrochemical performance, including an extended cycle life exceeding 3000 h and a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.45% in Zn//Cu batteries. Moreover, Phos-XK is biocompatible and biodegradable, ideal for sustainable energy storage. This work highlights the potential of bio-based materials to overcome the limitations of traditional hydrogel electrolytes and stresses the importance of molecular engineering in achieving high-performance, eco-friendly energy storage.

A PROTAC-based cuproptosis sensitizer CuS-MD@CS is developed in this work, which sensitizes cells to cuprotosis by modulating the p53 pathway through the ubiquitin-proteasome systemcan. CuS-MD@CS not only can effectively deplete endogenous glutathione but also can promote the transition from glycolysis to mitochondrial respiration, thereby enhancing cancer cells' sensitivity to cuproptosis and achieving effective therapeutic effects of cuprotosis and apoptosis.

Abstract

As an autonomous form of regulated cell death, cuproptosis depends on copper (Cu) and mitochondrial metabolism. However, the principle metabolic pathway known as glycolysis (Warburg effect) and high glutathione (GSH) levels of tumor cells inevitably lead to suboptimal efficacy in cuproptosis. Hence, depleting the endogenous GSH within tumors and shifting from glycolysis to mitochondrial respiration are crucial factors for augmenting cuproptosis. In this study, a proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC)-based cuproptosis sensitizer (CuS-MD@CS) is innovatively constructed, which not only can induce cuproptosis and reactive oxygen species production via copper ions but also can regulate the expression of p53 protein via PROTACs through the ubiquitin-proteasome system in tumor cells, thus achieving endogenous GSH depletion and a shift from glycolysis to mitochondrial respiration, making cancer cells more sensitive to cuproptosis. Importantly, in vitro and in vivo experiments have verified that CuS-MD@CS effectively targets A549 cells and suppresses tumor growth through cuproptosis and apoptosis, exhibiting promising therapeutic responses. The novel PROTAC-based cuproptosis sensitizer CuS-MD@CS provides a new strategy for sensitizing cuproptosis and offers new hope for effective lung cancer treatment.

In this article, the fabrication of light-emitting diodes (LED) using self-emissive bimetallic gold-copper nanoclusters (NCs) is reported. The NC-LED shows a maximum brightness of 1246 cd m−2 and the highest external quantum efficiency (EQE; 12.60%) value with pure red emission among the solution-processed and non-doped NC-based LEDs.

Abstract

Self-emissive atomically precise metal nanoclusters (NCs) are emerging as promising emissive layer material for next-generation light-emitting diodes (LEDs), thanks to their solid-state luminescence, well-defined structures, photo/thermal stability, low toxicity, and unique excited-state properties. However, achieving high external quantum efficiency (EQE) in solid-state NCs remains a formidable challenge. In this study, a highly stable bimetallic gold-copper NC forming [Au2Cu6(Sadm)6(DPPEO)2] stabilized with 1-adamantanethiol (HSadm) and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (DPPE) as the primary and secondary ligands, respectively is reported. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic analyses suggest that the as-synthesized NC contains one phosphine bound to gold and the second phosphine has oxidized to phosphine oxide (P═O). The presence of such P═O moieties in the NC facilitated C─H···O interactions along with C─H···π and H···H interactions between ligands, promoting rapid crystallization. Due to the exceptional photo/thermal stability and enhanced solid-state photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), [Au2Cu6(Sadm)6(DPPEO)2] NC is utilized to fabricate the NC-based LED (NC-LED) via the solution-processed technique, without using any additional host materials. The fabricated NC-LED shows a maximum brightness of 1246 cd m−2 and an EQE of 12.60% with a pure red emission ≈668 nm. This EQE value coupled with saturated pure red emission is the best among solution-processed and non-doped NC-LEDs, suggesting the enormous potential of the NCs for electro-optical devices.

We report a 3.2 Å cryoEM structure of functional amyloid protein FapC from Pseudomonas sp. UK4, an essential component of bacterial biofilm, which reveals a Greek key-shaped protofilament, supports bioinformatically determined motifs, nuances AlphaFold predictions, emphasizes heterogeneous cross-β stacking in amyloid cross-seeding and shows strain-dependent nanomechanical properties. FapC fibrils are intrinsically catalytic. This provides a structural foundation to design novel biomaterials.

Abstract

An essential structural component of bacterial biofilms is functional amyloid (FuA), which also has great potential as an engineerable nano-biomaterial. However, experimentally based high resolution structures of FuA that resolve individual residues are lacking. A fully experimentally based 3.2 Å resolution cryo-electron microscopy density map of the FuA protein FapC from Pseudomonas sp. UK4 is presented, which reveals a Greek key-shaped protofilament. The structure supports bioinformatic identification of conserved motifs and is broadly consistent with the AlphaFold prediction but with important modifications. Each FapC monomer consists of three imperfect repeats (IRs), with each repeat forming one cross-β layer. An array of highly conserved Asn and Gln residues with an extensive H-bonding network underpins this conserved Greek key-shape and reveals the role of heterogeneous cross-β stacking in amyloid cross-seeding. The covariation of residues in the hydrophobic core among different IRs suggests a cooperative monomer folding process during fibril elongation, while heterogeneous stacking of IRs reduces charge repulsion between layers to stabilize the monomer fold. The FapC fibrils show intrinsic catalytic activity and strain-dependent nanomechanical properties. Combined with mutagenesis data, the structure provides mechanistic insights into formation of FapC FuA from disordered monomers and a structural foundation for the design of novel biomaterials.

Nature Materials, Published online: 11 June 2025; doi:10.1038/s41563-025-02265-z

Broadband terahertz emission from a two-dimensional van der Waals ferroelectric semiconductor, NbOI2, offers opportunities towards nanoscale near-field terahertz spectroscopy and in situ probing of quantum collective excitations in two-dimensional materials.

Nature Materials, Published online: 11 June 2025; doi:10.1038/s41563-025-02257-z

While nanofluidics demonstrate unconventional properties at the nanoscale, large-scale implementation remains challenging. The authors demonstrate macroscale resonant electro-osmotic transport in asymmetric membranes for advanced water filtration applications.

Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 11 June 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01948-7

Scrutinizing the dynamic reconfiguration mechanism of intermetallic single-atom catalysts reveals the chemical origin of the enhanced electrocatalysis performance.