The influence of achiral surfactants on synergistically chiral effect of interfacial nucleation, assembly orientation, and morphological evolution in chiral nanostructural synthesis via a chemical solution method is largely ignored and underexplored. Herein, we report a surfactant-mediated continuous evolution of chiral Cu2-xS (0 < x < 1) from layered nanosheets to twisted nanobowties (TNBs) and uncovered a multiscale chirality amplification mechanism driven by tilted stacking of coordination nanosheets. Surfactant identity, including headgroup and alkyl chain length, controls the potential, adsorption strength, and density, as well as tail packing of interfacial layers formed by Cu2+-cysteine coordination units, thereby directing their assembly pathway. In particular, in sodium dodecyl sulfate, the anionic headgroups electrostatically anchor coordination-derived nanoparticles, while the hydrophobic tails form a dense interfacial soft-template that directs nucleation and anisotropic growth of coordination nanosheets. Under the stereochemical control of chiral cysteine, these nanosheets undergo progressive intersheet tilting and hierarchical stacking, ultimately evolving into micrometer-scale TNBs. Catalytic oxidation of 3,4-dihydroxy-l/d-phenylalanine reveals that higher structural dimensionality and increased chiroptical response of Cu2-xS improve catalytic activity and enantioselectivity. This work demonstrates a surfactant-mediated interfacial soft-template strategy for the rational design of chiral inorganic materials and the translation of molecular asymmetry into continuously tunable micrometer-scale architectures for enantioselective catalysis.

Hydrogel-based adsorbents have attracted increasing attention for dye wastewater treatment due to their structural tunability and high water content. In this work, g-C3N4 quantum dot/polyacrylamide (CNQD/PAM) and TiO2 quantum dot/polyacrylamide (TDQD/PAM) hydrogels were constructed as interfacial model systems to investigate how quantum-dot chemistry influences adsorption strength and reversibility toward methylene blue (MB). Under identical conditions, CNQD/PAM exhibited a significantly higher adsorption capacity and markedly enhanced dye retention than TDQD/PAM, retaining approximately 86.9

Hydrogel-based composites have attracted increasing attention for dye removal owing to their tunable porous networks and excellent recyclability. In this study, two quantum dot/polyacrylamid·e (PAM) hydrogels, g‒C 3 N 4 quantum dot (CNQD/PAM) and TiO 2 quantum dot (TDQD/PAM), were synthesized and systematically compared in terms of their adsorption–desorption behavior toward methylene blue (MB). CNQD/PAM exhibited a significantly higher adsorption capacity, slower desorption rate, and stronger dye retention than TDQD/PAM. Kinetic fitting using a dual-site diffusion–adsorption model revealed that CNQD/PAM possesses a greater fraction of strong and irreversible adsorption sites, while both hydrogels exhibit comparable diffusion resistance. Spectroscopic and pH-dependent analyses further demonstrated that the superior performance of CNQD/PAM originates from the synergistic effects of π‒π stacking, hydrogen bonding, and Na + induced electrostatic attraction. These findings elucidate the mechanism by which alkali-metal-modified g‒C 3 N 4 enhances dye binding in hydrogel composites and provide valuable insights for designing durable, high-capacity, and recyclable adsorption materials.

Stimuli-responsive pesticide nanocarriers allow precise delivery of pesticides to target pests, enhancing insecticidal efficacy while improving safety for non-target organisms. Herein, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were synthesized via the sol-gel method, followed by encapsulation of indoxacarb (IN) within their pores. Disulfide bonds (SS) were grafted onto the MSN surface, and cyclodextrin (CD) was incorporated to obtain enzyme/ redox dual-responsive nanoparticles (IN@MSNs@SS@CD). Physicochemical characterization revealed a welldefined spherical core-shell structure. The encapsulated IN content was approximately 22.27%. In the presence of alpha-amylase and glutathione, the highest cumulative release (72.9%) occurred at 7 days, demonstrating dual-responsive release behavior. The contact angle and resistance to rain erosion experiments show that the nanoparticles have good wettability and adhesion. Insecticidal activity tests showed that IN@MSNs@SS@CD caused higher mortality in Cnaphalocrocis medinalis than commercial IN@EC. Moreover, the nanoparticles exhibited enhanced biocompatibility toward earthworms, zebrafish, and human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS2B), supporting their environmentally benign potential. Herein, a dual-responsive nanoparticle that can be used for precise pest management to improve biosafety and wettability has been developed. It provides a trans-formative approach for precision agriculture.

Background Respiratory pathogens with overlapping symptoms—including SARS-CoV-2, influenza A/B, H5/H7/H10 avian influenza, and RSV—co-circulate and co-infect, demanding rapid multiplex screening at points of care. Conventional multiplex real-time PCR is constrained by hardware channel capacity (≤6), making it difficult to detect seven targets while distinguishing influenza A and B in a single tube. This work addresses the contradiction between high-order multiplexing and limited fluorescence channels without sacrificing speed or sensitivity. Results We developed a six-channel ultra-fast PCR platform detecting seven respiratory viruses in a single tube within 20 min, using a same-fluorescence, different-Tm probe strategy. Influenza A and B share the FAM channel yet generate distinct melting peaks (∼12 °C difference, 84.8 °C vs. 72.3 °C), enabling accurate typing via melting curve analysis. Primers, probes, and enzymes are pre-embedded as lyophilized beads in sealed cartridges for fully automated sample-to-result operation. The assay achieved 100% detection at 5 copies/test for all targets, linearity (R2 > 0.95) across 5–105 copies/test, 90–110% efficiencies, and no cross-reactivity against 39 non-target pathogens. Cartridges remained stable for 12 months at 25 °C. Validation on 271 clinical specimens showed 100% agreement with sequencing-verified single-plex qPCR. Significance and novelty This work provides the first integration of melting-curve-based same-channel multiplexing with lyophilized cartridge technology on an ultra-fast PCR platform. By overcoming channel limitations while maintaining speed and sensitivity, the system offers a practical, field-deployable screening tool for decentralized respiratory pathogen detection in resource-limited settings.

In this study, we present a transparent, recyclable hydrogel composite by integrating TiO2 quantum dots (TDQDs) into a polyacrylamide (PAM) matrix, where the TDQDs function dually as photoinitiators and photocatalysts. The TDQDs were synthesized via a simple water-bath method and facilitated rapid photopolymerization of PAM, forming a porous hydrogel with uniformly dispersed quantum dots (2-3 nm), as confirmed by SEM and HRTEM analyses. The resulting TDQD/PAM hydrogel demonstrated efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange within approximately 2 h, outperforming conventional P25/PAM composites due to its superior light transmittance and nanoscale distribution of photocatalysts. Importantly, the hydrogel retained stable photocatalytic activity over seven consecutive cycles without regeneration, indicating excellent durability. Mechanistic studies revealed that TDQD generated reactive oxygen species, effectively degrading dyes with a tendency toward mineralization and reduced toxicity risk. This dual-functional hydrogel offers a sustainable and scalable platform for advanced wastewater treatment and aligns with circular economy principles.

Abstract In recent years, photo‐controlled radical room‐temperature phosphorescent (RTP) materials have shown significant application potential in information encryption, anti‐counterfeiting, sensing, and optical writing due to their dynamic response characteristics. This paper systematically reviews the latest developments in the field, focusing on the generation and stabilization mechanisms of photo‐induced radicals via various strategies. The precise control of phosphorescence intensity, lifetime, and color through radical involvement is achieved by material design methods such as co‐assembly, crystal engineering, and controlled polymerization. The key role of radicals as an “energy redistribution hub” and “light switch” in modulating intersystem crossing and suppressing non‐radiative transitions is highlighted. Additionally, this review summarizes innovative applications of radical‐based RTP materials in smart encryption, environmental sensing, photo printing, and 3D printing, and discusses current challenges including radical stability, oxygen quenching, and multifunctional integration. Future development of efficient bifunctional photo‐initiators, dynamic oxygen removal mechanisms, and biocompatible systems will drive the advancement of these materials in smart materials, biometrics, and information security.

Magnetic porous microspheres (MPMs) have been used to enhance the anaerobic digestion (AD) of sludge. However, the feasibility of using MPMs as magnetically controlled microbial carriers in long-term AD remains unclear. Herein, without replenishment of MPMs, the methanogenic performance, main physicochemical properties of sludge and methanogenic metabolomics in 150-day MPM-mediated AD were comprehensively investigated. A substantial highly active anaerobes were found to adhere to MPMs, which maintained strong magnetic controllability and structural stability and significantly enhanced methane production (P < 0.001) and the methane proportion in biogas (P < 0.05) from AD at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs). The significant positive correlations between the interfacial Lewis acid-base (AB) interaction (R² > 0.79, P < 0.01) and daily methane production (R² > 0.52, P < 0.01) with water-mediated proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) indicate that MPM-enhanced AB interactions can accelerate electron transfer by promoting proton movement in interfacial water molecules, thus enhancing methanogenesis during AD. Statistical analyses of variations in activities or contents of key bioenergetic substances on and within anaerobic cell membranes in AD confirmed this observation and simultaneously indicated that MPMs significantly enhanced the bioenergetics of CO2-reduction methanogenesis by promoting intracellular water-mediated PCET. Microbial community changes show that during the AD under different HRTs, MPMs significantly enriched bacteria capable of decomposing complex organics into acetate and hydrogen in an attached state, as well as free acetotrophic methanogens and attached hydrogenotrophic and hydrogen-dependent methylotrophic methanogens, thereby optimising the spatial distribution of methanogenic consortia. Metagenomics and genome-centric metagenomic analyses confirmed that MPMs significantly enhanced the hydrogen-dependent methanogenesis pathways of the attached methanogenic consortia and promoted energy-conserving metabolic cooperation between free and attached methanogenic consortia, reducing resource competition. Basic economic and environmental analyses revealed that the annual economic benefit increased by 112.2% and carbon emissions decreased by approximately 1.34 × 105 tons CO2/year with MPM-mediated AD relative to conventional AD. These findings can provide an important reference for the development of exogenous material-mediated AD technology.

Drug-related conjunctivitis can compromise ocular health and quality of life. To evaluate its epidemiology, we analyzed reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) spanning January 2004 to June 2024. The control group in this study comprised individuals using non-target drugs, while the experimental group consisted of individuals using target drugs. Using disproportionality analysis, we identified drugs with a positive signal for conjunctivitis and stratified their risk levels; we also examined induction periods to assess the speed of onset. Among 38 drugs most frequently reported for conjunctivitis, two ophthalmic agents—brimonidine (ROR = 23.04) and latanoprost (ROR = 10.55)—and eight non-ophthalmic drugs, including tralokinumab (ROR = 83.3), dupilumab (ROR = 18.92), and allopurinol (ROR = 5.04), were associated with positive signals. Tralokinumab, brimonidine, dupilumab, and latanoprost were identified as high-association medications. Notably, ophthalmic agents had a significantly shorter induction period than non-ophthalmic drugs (mean 125.9 vs. 298.4 days). These findings underscore the need for vigilant pharmacovigilance and further investigation into the etiology and prevention of drug-related conjunctivitis.

Antioxidants are essential for preventing cellular and organ damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Consequently, the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of food products was a critical criterion for assessing their quality. This study presented a novel dual-mode, four-channel sensor array platform for the highly sensitive detection of TAC, which employed the exceptional dual enzyme activity of mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with iron and nitrogen codoped carbon quantum dots (Fe,N-CQDs@MSNs) through pattern recognition methods. The dual-enzyme-like nanocatalysts exhibited: (1) Peroxidase-like activity in which Fe,N-CQDs@MSNs facilitated the activation of H2O2, yielding hydroxyl radicals (•OH); and (2) photoresponsive oxidative activity, where Fe,N-CQDs@MSNs generated •OH, superoxide anions (•O2-), and singlet oxygen (1O2) under UV light at 365 nm. These ROS oxidized 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) from colorless to blue, accompanied by fluorescence quenching in Fe,N-CQDs@MSNs. Upon adding four antioxidants ascorbic acid (AA), glutathione (GSH), cysteine (Cys), and dopamine (DA), the reactive intermediates were eliminated to varying degrees, leading to distinct UV and fluorescence responses as specific "fingerprints" for the sensor array. Multivariate statistical approaches, including principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), enabled the distinct classification of the four antioxidants, achieving a detection limit of 1 μM. Additionally, the sensor array enabled the identification of varying concentrations of individual antioxidants as well as mixtures in different proportions. Finally, the proposed method was effectively employed for the quantitative determination of TAC in diverse food samples, yielding satisfactory results and demonstrating its potential for TAC detection in food products.

BACKGROUND Metal-organic frameworks have the advantages of easy synthesis, high loading capacity and good biocompatibility, making them essential materials for constructing pesticide nano-delivery systems. In this study, a pH-responsive nano-controlled-release formulation Chl@UiO-66 was prepared using UiO-66 as the nano-scale carrier for adsorbing chlorantraniliprole (Chl). RESULTS The appearance, pesticide loading, release behaviour, insecticidal activity, long-term control efficacy and safety of Chl@UiO-66 for non-target organisms were extensively evaluated. The results showed that the prepared Chl@UiO-66 was a regular octahedron with a uniform particle size of 230 nm and pesticide loading of 15.62%. The release of pesticides under alkaline conditions was superior to that under acidic and neutral conditions, which showed pH-responsive performance. Chl@UiO-66 had an excellent ability to protect pesticides from ultraviolet degradation. Compared with chlorantraniliprole suspension concentrate, Chl@UiO-66 had a better control effect against Spodoptera frugiperda and long-term control efficacy. The prepared nano-controlled-release formulation had low toxicity to zebrafish, earthworms and human BEAS-2B cells. CONCLUSION Chl@UiO-66 is a new pesticide formulation with high efficacy and low toxicity that provides a smart controlled-release solution.

The nitrogen(N)-sulfur(S)-sodium(Na(I)) co-doped carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method, which exhibited a remarkably high fluorescence quantum yield (24.58%) and exceptional optical properties. The fluorescence "on-off-on" sensor was constructed. The fluorescence of CQDs was rapidly quenched with Fe(III) and the fluorescence recovered by ascorbic acid (Asc) partially and arginine (Arg)/histidine (His) completely. The CQDs fluorescence sensor demonstrated rapid response, exceptional sensitivity, excellent stability, remarkable selectivity, and robust anti-interference performance, which was feasible to simultaneously determine the concentrations of multiple analytes in the sample with satisfactory recovery rates. The "on-off-on" fluorescence mechanism of CQDs was investigated, revealing the significant potential of carbon nano-functionalized materials in the field of drug detection through fluorescence sensing.

High entropy alloy (HEA) would be a good approach to improve electrocatalytic utilization of precious metals. Herein, a HEA catalyst of PtBiNiCoSn/C was used in the ethylene glycol oxidation reaction (EGOR) and finally applied to a direct ethylene glycol fuel cell (DEGFC). The results showed that the EGOR current density reached 1.406 A mg-� 1 Pt , which exceeded those Pt/C references by 6.39 times. The remaining current density after 3000 s of chronoamperometry (CA) analysis is 0.208 A mg-it1, which is likewise significantly greater than Pt/C. Notably, the power density reached 8.49 mW cm-2 when combined into the DEGFC anode. This work provides a good HEA catalyst in DEGFC, would promote the widespread use of HEA materials in other electrocatalysis.

The stability, reproducibility and engineering of SERS substrate faces a great challenge in melamine SERS assay. In this work, a simple, highly sensitive, stable and cost-efficient SERS detection platform for melamine was established based on its Raman fingerprints spectrum. The Ag@ porous silicon photonic crystal (Ag@PPC) was prepared as the 3D SERS substrate by electrochemical etching and magnetron sputter technology. The main influence factors for the preparation of SERS substrate were investigated in detail. The analytical enhancement factor of the 3D SERS substrate can reach to 2.6 x 10(8). The 3D SERS detection platform showed a wide linear detection range of 10(-4)similar to 10 mg L-1 and a low limit of detection of 0.1 mu g L-1 for melamine. Moreover, such detection platform showed good stability, high reproducibility and high recovery rates for melamine. The 3D Ag@PPC SERS substrate can be easily prepared and engineered, displaying a great potential application in food safety field.

Microplastics/nanoplastics are a top global environmental concern and have stimulated surging research into plant-nanoplastic interactions. Previous studies have examined the responses of plants to nanoplastic stress at various levels. Plant-specialized (secondary) metabolites play crucial roles in plant responses to environmental stress, whereas their roles in response to nanoplastic stress remain unknown. Here, we systematically examined the physiological and biochemical responses of Ginkgo biloba, a species with robust metabolite-driven defenses, to polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs). PSNPs negatively affected seedling growth and induced phytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and nuclear damage. Notably, PSNPs caused significant flavonoid accumulation, which enhances plant tolerance and detoxification against PSNP stress. To determine whether this finding is universal in plants, we subjected Arabidopsis, poplar, and tomato to PSNP stress and verified the common response of enhanced flavonoids across these species. To further confirm the role of flavonoids, we employed genetic transformation and staining techniques, validating the importance of flavonoids in mitigating excessive oxidative stress induced by NPs. Matrix analysis of transgenic plants with enhanced flavonoids further demonstrated altered downstream pathways, allocating more energy towards resilience against nanoplastic stress. Collectively, our results reveal the flavonoid multifaceted roles in enhancing plant resilience to nanoplastic stress, providing new knowledge about plant responses to nanoplastic contamination.

Rapid and reliable determination of pathogenic bacteria is crucial for food safety and public health. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) based aptasensors have attracted increasing attention in the determination of pathogenic bacteria due to their high specificity and sensitivity. However, the sensitivity and reliability of the SERS aptasensors for the determination of pathogens were hindered by the uneven distribution of SERS tags. To tackle this limitation, a SERS aptasensor based on a hybridization chain reaction (HCR) mediated signal conversion strategy was fabricated for the determination of E. coli O157:H7. In the presence of E. coli O157:H7, the blocked aptamer specifically binds with it and releases the blocker DNA. Then the blocker DNA hybridizes with the capture DNA on the SERS probe and initiates the HCR reaction, which further leads to the formation of double stranded DNA and the reduction of the SERS signal intensity of 4-mercaptobenzonitrile (4-MBN). Under the optimal conditions, the SERS signal intensity at 1073.9 cm(-1) and the logarithmic value of the concentration of E. coli O157:H7 in the range of 8 x 10(2)-8 x 10(7) CFUmL(-1) exhibited a good linear relationship, with a coefficient of determination of 0.92. The limit of detection for E. coli O157:H7 was 409 CFUmL(-1). Besides, this aptasensor exhibited satisfactory specificity for E. coli O157:H7. In addition, it showed excellent stability in real sample analysis with relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 3.76 % (n = 3). The established SERS aptasensor employed a HCR mediated signal conversion strategy and overcame the drawback of unevenly distribution of SERS tags in classical SERS aptasensors for the determination of pathogenic bacteria. This study offered a new reference for the rapid and reliable detection of pathogens with a portable Raman spectrometer.

The Pt-based alloys catalysts with special morphology attract great attention. Herein, a flocculent-structured high-entropy-alloy (HEA) (named as F-PtBiCuCoMo/C) electrocatalyst is prepared by co-reduction, which can greatly improve the overall catalytic performance and reduce Pt-usage. In ethylene glycol oxidation reaction (EGOR), it has mass activity of 1.08Amg-1Pt, which also has a good durability with high residual current density (0.27Amg-1Pt after 3000s). Notably, the power density reached 17.9mWcm-2 in as-assembled direct ethylene glycol fuel cells (DEGFC), which exceeded commercial Pt/C references by 2.4 times. Thence, this F-PtBiCuCoMo/C electrocatalyst would be a good option for the advancement of DEGFC technology.

Quantum heat engines (QHEs) are established by applying the principles of quantum thermodynamics to small−scale systems, which leverage quantum effects to gain certain advantages. In this study, we investigate the quantum Otto cycle by employing the dipole−dipole coupled polar molecules as the working substance of QHE. Here, the molecules are considered to be trapped within an optical lattice and located in an external electric field. We analyze the work output and the efficiency of the quantum Otto heat engine (QOHE) as a function of various physical parameters, including electric field strength, dipole−dipole interaction and temperatures of heat baths. It is found that by adjusting these physical parameters the performance of the QOHE can be optimized effectively. Moreover, we also examine the influences of the entanglement and relative entropy of coherence for the polar molecules in thermal equilibrium states on the QOHE. Our results demonstrate the potential of polar molecules in achieving QHEs.