Porous carbons are attractive for CO2 capture, while materials dominated by narrow micropores often suffer from strong confinement effects, leading to incomplete desorption or additional energy consumption during regeneration. Herein, novel hierarchically porous monolithic carbon foams were developed for room-temperature CO2 capture and regeneration. OCF-900 combines CO2-accessible micropores with larger mesopores (2.0–3.7 nm), providing effective CO2 adsorption domains while facilitating CO2 diffusion and desorption. OCF-900 achieved low CO2 adsorption heat of 22.9 kJ/mol and enabled effective vacuum regeneration at 298 K without external heating. This work presents a facile strategy for preparing hierarchically porous monolithic carbons for recyclable CO2 capture at ambient conditions.

Due to their high specific capacity and structural tunability, polyimide (PI)-based organic materials have garnered significant attention for the anode in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, their inherently low electrical conductivity and sluggish interfacial transport kinetics severely constrain electrochemical performance. Herein, this study proposes a dimensional engineering strategy, which involves compositing of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) or multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with two PI derivatives (PPD and PND). Specifically, one-dimensional MWCNTs facilitate three-dimensional conductive networks that suppress PI stacking and enhance reaction kinetics, whereas zero-dimensional CQDs induce pore blockage. Among all the composites investigated, the PPD doped with 0.1 wt% MWCNTs (PPD@MWCNTs0.1) exhibits the most outstanding electrochemical performance. It delivers a reversible capacity of 166.1 mAh g−1 after 2000 cycles at 1.0 A g−1, maintains sustained stability for over 10000 cycles at 2.0 A g−1, and demonstrates encouraging stability over 50 cycles across a wide temperature range of −30 °C to 60 °C. The pseudocapacitive-diffusion synergy and fast Na+ diffusion coefficient accounts for the exceptional electrochemical performance. In full-cell tests with a NaNi0.5Fe0.5MnO4 cathode, PPD@MWCNTs0.1 delivers stable cycling over 1000 cycles. This work provides a theoretical basis for the development of high-power and durable organic SIBs.

Structural optimization of natural products provides an important way for new drug discovery. The bioactive natural product L-tetrahydropalmatine and its analogs have attracted significant attention due to their potent pharmacological activities. In this study, a library of novel C12-arylated L-tetrahydropalmatine derivatives (4a-4ad) was synthesized via Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. Among these derivatives, compound 4p, bearing a 4-ethenylphenyl moiety, suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) in LPS-induced in vitro inflammatory models, indicating that it might be a potential anti-inflammatory agent. This work offers valuable insights into the development of tetrahydropalmatine analogs as novel anti-inflammatory agents.

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains a major global health burden, yet current screening tools often lead to overdiagnosis due to low specificity, highlighting the urgent need for more precise diagnostic approaches. Prostatic fluid (PSF) represents a promising but underexplored biofluid with exceptional diagnostic potential due to its direct contact with the PCa microenvironment. Here, we employed molecule-level interpretable surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to comprehensively investigate PCa-associated alterations in two PSF components including metabolites and small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) and explored their potential interrelations via correlation analysis. Through molecule-resolvable SERS spectral set (MORE SERSome) technique, we identified ergothioneine and deoxyguanosine as differential metabolites between PCa and benign prostatic hyperplasia patients. We further constructed a fusion diagnostic model by integrating metabolites and sEVs information. The fusion model significantly outperformed the diagnostic accuracy by applying any single component, suggesting diagnostic complementarity between PSF metabolites and sEVs. Integration with clinical variables such as age and plasma prostate-specific antigen concentration further enhanced performance with the area under the curve as high as 0.93 for PCa diagnosis, substantially surpassing existing screening methods. These findings strengthen the importance of in-depth analysis of specific PSF components and further promise the potential of SERS-based PSF profiling as a noninvasive strategy for PCa diagnosis and biopsy guidance.

Regulating the generation, migration, and separation of photogenerated carriers is of great importance for improving the capability of photoelectrodes, which also provides advantages for construction of high-performance photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensors. Herein, we report an excellent photoelectrode with a synergistic enhancement effect of piezoelectricity and surface plasmon resonance. The photoelectrode, named AuNP/CdSNR/ITO, was fabricated via in situ growth of hexagonal wurtzite cadmium cesium nanorod (CdSNR) arrays on indium tin oxide (ITO) using a hydrothermal method followed by the photodeposition of gold nanoparticles (AuNP). Mechanism study reveals that the synergistic enhancement effect on AuNP/CdSNR/ITO greatly enhances the photoelectron conversion efficiency and facilitates the efficient separation of photogenerated carriers, thus manifesting an ultrahigh photocurrent of 1.06 mA. By virtue of target-triggered 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine dication etching technology, a split-type PEC immunosensor was constructed using AuNP/CdSNR/ITO as a proof of concept for highly sensitive and precise detection of carbohydrate antigen 199 with a low detection limit of 5.6 × 10-5 U mL-1. The study offers insight into improving photoelectrode property through the regulation of the transport process of photogenerated carriers and also developing high-performance biosensors for more biomolecules.

The interrogation of single cells is revolutionizing biology by revealing heterogeneity that is masked in bulk analyses. Flow cytometry (FCM) enables high-throughput single-cell analysis but typically depends on exogenous fluorescent labels, which are time-intensive to prepare and may perturb native cellular states. In contrast, Raman scattering provides a label-free alternative with intrinsic molecular specificity. Raman flow cytometry (RFC) combines Raman scattering with FCM, merging high-throughput sample processing with detailed molecular characterization. However, the inherently weak intensity of spontaneous Raman scattering necessitates long integration times, and precise cell positioning in the laser focal volume limits linear flow velocity, resulting in lower throughput compared to conventional fluorescence-based flow cytometry (FFC). Overcoming these limitations demands a multidisciplinary approach. Recent progress in nanofabrication have facilitated the development of microfluidic chips that help address this bottleneck through precise multiphysics-based cell focusing techniques, as well as scalability achieved through parallel channel arrays or droplet systems. This review examines three principal strategies for enhancing the throughput of RFC from the perspective of modern microfluidic frameworks: (ⅰ) advanced cell focusing methods, (ⅱ) Raman signal amplification techniques, and (ⅲ) artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted spectral analysis. By synthesizing recent advances in these areas, we highlight the potential of RFC to advance high-throughput, label-free single-cell analysis in biomedical research.

ABSTRACT Hard carbon (HC) is a promising anode candidate for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs), yet its application is plagued by unstable interfaces and poor long‐term cyclability. Herein, we develop a facile solvent evaporation strategy to synthesize ultrathin Al 2 O 3 ‐coated biomass‐derived HC (GSC‐Al 2 O 3 ‐3%). The conformal Al 2 O 3 layer passivates defects and micropores, suppresses side reactions, and promotes the formation of a robust organic–inorganic hybrid solid electrolyte interphase. Comprehensive characterizations, including in situ X‐ray diffraction, ex situ Raman spectra, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, solid‐state 27 Al nuclear magnetic resonance, and atomic force microscope modulus mapping, demonstrate that Al 2 O 3 actively participates in SEI reconstruction, enhancing the chemical and mechanical stability. Electrochemical tests reveal that the optimized GSC‐Al 2 O 3 ‐3% anode delivers 91% capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 1.0 A g −1 , and possesses excellent wide‐temperature tolerance (149.3 mAh g⁻¹ at −30°C and 286.8 mAh g −1 at 60°C). Mechanistic studies confirm a synergistic Na + storage process involving “adsorption–intercalation–pore filling,” while density functional theory calculations and electrostatic potential mapping reveal that Al 2 O 3 coating regulates interfacial charge distribution and reduces Na + migration barriers. A full cell paired with a NaNi 0.5 Fe 0.5 MnO 4 cathode exhibits a high initial capacity of 395.7 mAh g −1 and outstanding cycling stability (200 cycles). This work provides fundamental mechanistic insights into interfacial engineering of HC and establishes a cost‐effective, scalable route for the next generation high‐performance SIBs.

A defect-engineered UiO-66(Ce)@Au nanozyme with enhanced catalytic activity was developed for high-performance sensing. Integrating this nanozyme with an aptamer-based lateral flow strip allows for sensitive and portable glyphosate detection.

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are nanosized membrane‐bound particles facilitating intercellular communication in the nervous system. Although previous studies investigated sEVs released from various neural cell lines, a comprehensive comparison among various immortalized neural lineages has not yet been performed. Herein, we isolated sEVs from four representative immortalized neural cell lines, including SH‐SY5Y (neuroblastoma), differentiated SH‐SY5Y neurons, 1321N1 (astrocytes), and BV2 (microglia), in order to elucidate cell‐type‐specific characteristics under controlled in vitro conditions. The results reveal that all isolated sEVs exhibited characteristic morphology under transmission electron microscopy, while the particle diameters were also within the expected range of 30–200 nm as determined by nano‐flow cytometry. A significant variation in size was observed between the different cell‐line‐derived sEVs where neuron‐derived sEVs exhibited the smallest size and the surface charge was less negative than other sEVs. Microglia‐derived sEVs, on the other hand, were largest in size and presented the most negative surface charge and highest RNA content. Such variations in the different types of sEV suggest the variability in the composition of the different types of neural cell types. The presence of sEV markers like CD9, CD63, CD81, and Alix was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Additional proteomic analysis helped in identifying the composition of the sEVs, revealing the characteristic protein fingerprinting of the neural origin of the sEVs. Neuron‐derived sEVs were enriched in proteins linked to synaptic activity and neurogenesis, whereas astrocyte‐derived sEVs expressed proteins involved in metabolic and antioxidant pathways. Microglial sEVs expressed proteins linked with immune regulatory mechanisms. Interestingly, sEVs originating from differentiated neurons expressed a distinctive proteomic profile that was different from their undifferentiated SH‐SY5Y counterparts. Collectively, this study provides for the first time an in‐depth characterization profile for sEVs derived from neurons, which were differentiated from SH‐SY5Y cells, and, furthermore, provides a comparative framework of immortalized neural cell‐derived sEVs, allowing for the provision of a reproducible and physiologically relevant reference model to further neurodegenerative disease research.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and inorganic nanoparticles (INPs) represent two important classes of nanomaterials with significant clinical potential. EVs possess excellent biocompatibility, intrinsic targeting capability, and low immunogenicity, making them promising biological materials for diagnosis and therapy. INPs bring in diverse-such as magnetic, optical, thermal, and catalytic-functionalities to nanomedicine, enabling broad applications in diagnostics, imaging, and drug delivery. Despite their promise, both EVs and INPs face substantial challenges in clinical translation. Integration of EVs with INPs has been proposed to combine their complementary strengths to enhance biocompatibility and delivery efficiency, improve tracking, and expand diagnostic capabilities, with a number of EV-INP hybrids demonstrated in various biomedical applications. However, systematic evaluation and quality control standards have been largely overlooked, hindering further development and clinical translation. In this review, we summarize current methods for integrating EVs with various INPs. Importantly, we discuss criteria for characterizing EV-INP integration and propose a unified framework to systematically evaluate the resulting products, with particular emphasis on comparable metrics and quality assurance. Aiming to assist in benchmarking and translation, this review provides practical guidelines for the rational design and standardization of EV-INP hybrids toward intelligent nanomedicine.

DNA methylation, particularly the 5-methylcytosine modification, is the most prominent epigenetic modulation as it controls the expression of numerous genes in both healthy and diseased individuals. This has inspired the development of multiple diagnosis methods using DNA methylation as a cancer biomarker. However, DNA methylation analysis has not yet been established for routine cancer diagnosis due to the lack of clinical validation. Well-known methods, such as methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction enzyme-based digestion, and affinity-based enrichment, have not yet been standardized and often vary in their accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity from laboratory to laboratory. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has recently emerged as an alternative tool for methylation detection as it directly identifies DNA modifications through an intrinsic vibrational fingerprint, with the potential to reach single-molecule sensitivity for specific analytes under optimized conditions. Smart nanomaterial design enables orders-of-magnitude signal enhancement by optimizing probe-substrate interactions and advancing the substrate architecture. Although high-level summaries of various optical methods and comprehensive reviews of electrochemical methods have been published, this review provides, for the first time, an in-depth overview of SERS-based approaches for detecting cancer-specific DNA methylation, including their data analysis methods and potential clinical applications. The article emphasizes why SERS should be considered over existing methods as an emerging technique in DNA methylation analysis.

As a currently promising electrochemiluminescence (ECL) luminophore, the application of metal-organic framework (MOF)-based luminescent materials is often limited by their insufficient conductivity and ECL response. To address this challenge, a silver nanoparticle-doped copper(II) MOF composites (Cu3(HHTP)2@Ag) was prepared through the in situ reduction of Ag NPs on two-dimensional Cu3(HHTP)2. In the Cu3(HHTP)2@Agbased ECL system, the Ag NPs acting as the dual-functional component not only enhance the conductivity of the system but also synergize with Cu3(HHTP)2 to catalyze the conversion of K2S2O8, generating a greater quantity of SO4 center dot & oline;. This synergy effect combining with the enzyme-like activity of the MOF ultimately yields a robust ECL signal. To substantiate the applicability of the ECL system in bioanalysis, a sandwich-type immunoassay for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was developed using glucose oxidase (GOx) conjugated probes as signal modulators. In the presence of PSA, the GOx catalytic generates H2O2 to etch the Ag NPs, leading to a decrease in the ECL signal. The fabricated immunosensor for PSA detection exhibits a high sensitivity in a linear response ranged from 0.1 pg/mL to 100 ng/mL, with a detection limit of 13 fg/mL. Additionally, the applicability of this method has been validated for determining PSA in real samples. The integration of MOF-based ECL system and H2O2induced Ag NPs etching strategy would provide a versatile design paradigm to overcome inherent limitations of MOFs in ECL sensing, and open up a new perspective for the application of disease biomarker analysis.

This paper aims to effectively detect clothianidin (CLD) residues, a neonicotinoid insecticide, to prevent food safety issues and mitigate the impact of environmental change. A novel Co-doped Zn-based phosphide hollow microsphere (CoZnP@C) was synthesized through a hydrothermal method followed by calcination. The rich carboxyl group, metal-C, metal-O, or metal-P chelates of CoZnP@C result in high peroxidase-like catalytic and electrochemical activity. Based on this, we creatively combined CoZnP@C with magnetic beads directly and then absorbed complementary DNA as a dual-mode signal probe. When CLD is present, CLD competitively binds with the designed tetrahedral DNA nanostructure (TDN) incorporating triple multivalent aptamers (t-TDN), resulting in the probe being released for colorimetric and electrochemical detection. Under optimal conditions, the dualmode sensor exhibits a low detection limit of 2.37 pM in colorimetric mode and 68.88 pM in electrochemical mode, along with a wide linear range of 0.01 nM - 100 mu M. The developed sensor is characterized by high selectivity, reproducibility, stability, and rapid response in colorimetric mode, with a response time of 6 min. It is exploited to monitor the residue of CLD in tap water and apples, offering a promising and wide applications in food quality control and environmental assessment.

Lateral flow assays (LFAs) are versatile detection devices widely used in various fields including healthcare, agriculture, and waste surveillance. Due to specific equipment needs, the fabrication of LFAs poses a large entry barrier for small laboratories wish to contribute to innovations in the field. To assist with the low-cost fabrication of LFAs, this study proposes a do-it-yourself (DIY) antibody dispenser built from commercial off-the-shelf and 3D-printed parts with a total cost of approximately 590 USD. The DIY antibody dispenser was designed based on the active flow of reagents using a pump. Detailed fabrication instructions, access to the design files, operating instructions, and troubleshooting parameters are provided to enable the construction of the dispenser. The DIY dispenser was evaluated by calibrating the line widths generated from flow rate and speed parameters, where a theoretical model was developed to explain the correlations observed. The LFAs constructed using the DIY dispenser were validated by comparing their analytical performance against LFAs made with a commercial counterpart. It was demonstrated that the new DIY dispenser is a viable avenue for the low-cost construction of reproducible LFAs.

This work demonstrates the continuous-flow separation of approximate to 50 nm metal nanoparticles by their optical properties using counter-propagating laser beams. Metal nanoparticles are widely used, particularly in biotechnology, where their optical properties depend on size, shape, and chemistry. Heterogeneous mixtures are common, and greater homogeneity improves product performance and expands applications. We characterize the motion of gold and silver nanoparticles in solution under intense blue and green laser irradiation, imaging them via light scattering. When mixed and illuminated, 58 nm silver nanoparticles are primarily pushed by the blue laser, while 47 nm gold nanoparticles respond to the green laser. Continuous flow mitigates bulk temperature rise. This approach offers a potentially practical and efficient method for separating nanoparticles with desirable optical properties from less valuable byproducts, addressing a key challenge in nanoparticle synthesis.

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have emerged as central mediators of intercellular communication in the central nervous system (CNS) and are increasingly recognized for their dual roles in the pathogenesis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). In disease contexts, sEVs facilitate the intercellular dissemination of pathogenic proteins and nucleic acids, thereby contributing to the propagation of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology. Conversely, their intrinsic biocompatibility, capacity to traverse brain barriers, and inherent organotropic properties position sEVs as highly promising nanocarriers for CNS drug delivery. While mesenchymal stem cell-derived sEVs have been widely investigated in preclinical NDD models, accumulating evidence suggests that sEVs derived from neural cells, including neural stem cells, neurons, astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and brain endothelial cells may offer superior brain targeting, disease relevance, and functional efficacy. This review provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of current knowledge on neural cell-derived sEVs, encompassing their physiological roles in brain homeostasis, their involvement in AD and PD pathogenesis, and their emerging therapeutic applications. We discuss cell-type-specific sEV cargo profiles, mechanisms underlying blood-brain and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier traversal, and recent advances in endogenous and exogenous engineering strategies that enhance cargo loading, targeting precision, and therapeutic performance. Importantly, we address key translational challenges that currently limit clinical implementation. By integrating mechanistic insights with therapeutic and engineering perspectives, this review highlights neural cell-derived sEVs as a biologically informed and versatile platform, underscoring their potential to advance next-generation neuro-nanomedicine for NDDs.

To advance the biological understanding of heat shock protein (HSP) in different types of cancers, it is crucial to achieve its accurate determination. Herein, a dual-mode self-powered photoelectrochemical (PEC) and colorimetric platform was proposed by integrating enzymatic catalysis and a chemical redox cycling amplification strategy. In this system, ascorbic acid (AA), as the signal reporter for PEC and colorimetric assay, can be regenerated during the tris(2-carboxyethyl) phosphine-mediated chemical redox cycling process. For PEC detection, the reproduced electron donor AA could repeatedly combine with holes generated by the Bi2S3/Bi2O3 photoanode to effectively separate the photogenerated electron-hole. Besides, an AA-involved color reaction was evoked during the colorimetric assay to reduce colorless tris(bathophenanthroline) iron(III) to red tris(bathophenanthroline) iron(II). Owing to the ingenious signal amplification strategy, the developed dual-mode assay achieved the PEC and colorimetric determination of HSP90AA1 (one subtype of HSP family) in real samples. It is believed that this work will offer a new strategy to fabricate a dual-mode biosensor, which has great application prospects in the detection of various tumor biomarkers.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as promising candidates in therapeutic applications due to their unique ability to mediate intercellular communication and deliver biological cargo. With increasing interest in EV-based therapies, the development of scalable, cost-effective and regulatory-compliant production methods is critical. Microfluidic platforms offer transformative potential in EV manufacturing, providing precise control over production conditions, enhanced purity and seamless integration with quality control systems. This review highlights the advantages of microfluidic technologies in EV production, including fine-tuning of shear stress to optimise yield, advanced purification strategies that achieve high recovery and purity, and on-chip capabilities for EV loading and surface modification. Key challenges such as scaling up production while maintaining sterility, controlling EV release after immunoaffinity capture, and addressing clogging and fouling in microfluidic devices are discussed alongside emerging solutions. Additionally, the integration of AI-driven automation and real-time monitoring, as well as personalised EV manufacturing, is explored as pivotal innovations. Future directions emphasise the potential of combining size- and affinity-based methods for EV isolation and aligning microfluidic technologies with regulatory requirements to accelerate clinical translation. Therefore, we believe microfluidics platforms for EV isolation hold immense potential to redefine EV manufacturing by enabling scalable, reproducible and high-quality production systems essential for therapeutic applications.

Advances in nanotechnology have paved the way for innovative drug delivery systems that enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Cancer cell membrane‐based nanoparticles (CCM‐NPs) and cancer cell‐derived small extracellular vesicles (CsEVs) are emerging as promising drug delivery systems for cancer treatment due to their inherent properties such as low immunogenicity and natural targeting capabilities to cancer cells. However, a comprehensive comparison of the advantages, disadvantages, and similarities of these two platforms is lacking. This review summarizes the natural, engineered, and hybrid forms of CCM‐NPs and CsEVs‐based drug delivery platforms with a focus on comparison of these two platforms, considering key aspects including preparation methods, drug encapsulation strategies, delivery pathways, immune evasion, targeting ability, and their potential for clinical applications. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, the aim is to pave the way for next‐generation nanoscale drug delivery platforms and contribute to the development of more effective and personalized cancer therapies.