Few-Layer Borophene Prepared by Mechanical Resonance and Its Application in Terahertz Shielding

Once two-dimensional boron-based materials were forecasted, their excellent physical and chemical properties have realized attractive application value in the field of materials science. However, borophene could not exist independently and stably in nature. Molecular beam epitaxy is the only way being used currently for the preparation of borophene, which has low yield and harsh experimental installation conditions. Here, we propose the theory that few-layer borophene supported by silver nanoparticles can exist stably and large-scale preparation of few-layer borophene can be performed by mechanical resonance first. We have revealed that the structure of the prepared borophene is α-sheet and its thickness is less than 4 nm. The oxidation rate of borophene from the experiment is about 0.19, which indicates that the few-layer borophene possesses good structure stability. We have also studied the structure stability of borophene on silver nanoparticles by first principles calculation. The calculation proves that few-layer borophene can exist stably supported with silver nanoparticles. Furthermore, the terahertz shielding and stealth performance of the few-layer borophene have been explored. The maximum terahertz shielding effectiveness value of the prepared material could reach up to 50 and 21.5 dB for the reflection loss value in the broadband range of 0.1–2.7 THz. The large-scale preparation of few-layer borophene through the mechanical method makes it possible to study the properties of borophene and achieve low-cost large-scale applications, such as the study of terahertz shielding and stealth performance in the article, which facilitates the lightweight material design for terahertz shielding and stealth

Table1_An RRx-001 Analogue With Potent Anti-NLRP3 Inflammasome Activity but Without High-Energy Nitro Functional Groups.XLSX

NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in the pathology of multiple human inflammatory diseases but there are still no clinically available medications targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome. We have previously identified RRx-001 as a highly selective and potent NLRP3 inhibitor, however, it contains high-energy nitro functional groups and may cause potential processing problems and generates highly toxic oxidants. Here, we show that compound 149-01, an RRx-001 analogue without high-energy nitro functional groups, is a potent, specific and covalent NLRP3 inhibitor. Mechanistically, 149-01 binds directly to cysteine 409 of NLRP3 to block the NEK7-NLRP3 interaction, thereby preventing NLRP3 inflammasome complex assembly and activation. Furthermore, treatment with 149-01 effectively alleviate the severity of several inflammatory diseases in mice, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammation, monosodium urate crystals (MSU)-induced peritonitis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Thus, our results indicate that 149-01 is a potential lead for developing therapeutic agent for NLRP3-related inflammatory diseases.</p

Efficient Room-Temperature Phosphorescence from Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots in Composite Matrices

Carbon dots (CDs) have various attractive properties and potential applications, but there is much less attention paid to their phosphorescent phenomenon and mechanism. Herein, we prepared a kind of highly efficient CD-based phosphorescent material by a subtle design method that incorporated N-doped CDs (NCDs) into composite matrices (the melting recrystallization urea and biuret from the heating urea) by a one-pot heating treatment for the mixture of urea and NCDs. Through systematic investigation, CN bonds on the surface of the NCDs can create new energy level structures, and for the first time, evidence that shows they are the origin of phosphorescence is presented. Composite matrices play a dual role to suppress the vibrational dissipation of long-lived triplets by combining the rigidity of the melting recrystallization urea and hydrogen bonding between biuret and NCDs, which have obvious advantages over a single-component matrix. The results show the obtained materials have an ultralong phosphorescent lifetime of 1.06 s under 280 nm excitation and a high phosphorescent quantum yield of 7% under 360 nm excitation in air, which are the highest values recorded for the CD-based materials. These CD-based room-temperature phosphorescent materials have also shown potential in white light-emitting diodes and data security

Efficient Room-Temperature Phosphorescence from Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots in Composite Matrices

Carbon dots (CDs) have various attractive properties and potential applications, but there is much less attention paid to their phosphorescent phenomenon and mechanism. Herein, we prepared a kind of highly efficient CD-based phosphorescent material by a subtle design method that incorporated N-doped CDs (NCDs) into composite matrices (the melting recrystallization urea and biuret from the heating urea) by a one-pot heating treatment for the mixture of urea and NCDs. Through systematic investigation, CN bonds on the surface of the NCDs can create new energy level structures, and for the first time, evidence that shows they are the origin of phosphorescence is presented. Composite matrices play a dual role to suppress the vibrational dissipation of long-lived triplets by combining the rigidity of the melting recrystallization urea and hydrogen bonding between biuret and NCDs, which have obvious advantages over a single-component matrix. The results show the obtained materials have an ultralong phosphorescent lifetime of 1.06 s under 280 nm excitation and a high phosphorescent quantum yield of 7% under 360 nm excitation in air, which are the highest values recorded for the CD-based materials. These CD-based room-temperature phosphorescent materials have also shown potential in white light-emitting diodes and data security

Experimental Realization and Computational Investigations of B₂S₂ as a New 2D Material with Potential Applications

A new two-dimensional material B2S2 has been successfully synthesized for the first time and validated using first-principles calculations, with fundamental properties analyzed in detail. B2S2 has a similar structure as transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as MoS2, and the experimentally prepared free-standing B2S2 nanosheets show a uniform height profile lower than 1 nm. A thickness-modulated and unique oxidation-level dependent band gap of B2S2 is revealed by theoretical calculations, and vibration signatures are determined to offer a practical scheme for the characterization of B2S2. It is shown that the functionalized B2S2 is able to provide favorable sites for lithium adsorption with low diffusion barriers, and the prepared B2S2 shows a wide band photoluminescence response. These findings offer a feasible new and lighter member for the TMD-like 2D material family with potential for various aspects of applications, such as an anode material for Li-ion batteries and electronic and optoelectronic devices

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging of Nanoflares for mRNA Detection in Living Cells

The expression level of tumor-related mRNA can reveal significant information about tumor progression and prognosis, so specific mRNA in cells provides an important approach for biological and disease studies. Here, fluorescence lifetime imaging of nanoflares in living cells was first employed to detect specific intracellular mRNA. We characterized the lifetime changes of the prepared nanoflares before and after the treatment of target mRNA and also compared the results with those of fluorescence intensity-based measurements both intracellularly and extracellularly. The nanoflares released the cy5-modified oligonucleotides and bound to the targets, resulting in a fluorescence lifetime lengthening. This work puts forward another dimension of detecting specific mRNA in cells and can also open new ways for detection of many other biomolecules

Stretchable Transparent Electrode <i>via</i> Wettability Self-Assembly in Mechanically Induced Self-Cracking

Stretchable and transparent electrodes (STEs) are indispensable components in numerous emerging applications such as optoelectrical devices and wearable devices used in health monitoring, human–machine interaction, and artificial intelligence. However, STEs have limitations in conductivity, robustness, and transmittance owing to the exposure of the substrate and fatigue deformation of nanomaterials under strain. In this study, an STE consisting of conductive materials embedded in in situ self-cracking strain-spread channels by wettability self-assembly is fabricated. Finite element analysis is used to simulate the crevice growth using the representative unit cell network and strain deformation using a random network. The embedded conductive materials are partly protected by the strain-opening crevice channel, and network dissociation is avoided under stretching, showing a maximum strain of 125%, a transmittance of approximately 89.66% (excluding the substrate) with a square resistance of 9.8 Ω sq–1, and high stability in an environment with high temperature and moisture. The wettability self-assembly coating process is verified and expanded to several kinds of hydrophilic inks and hydrophobic coating materials. The fabricated STE can be employed as a strain sensor in motion sensing, vital sign and posture feedback, and mimicking bioelectronic spiderweb with spatial gravity induction

Stretchable Transparent Electrode <i>via</i> Wettability Self-Assembly in Mechanically Induced Self-Cracking

Stretchable and transparent electrodes (STEs) are indispensable components in numerous emerging applications such as optoelectrical devices and wearable devices used in health monitoring, human–machine interaction, and artificial intelligence. However, STEs have limitations in conductivity, robustness, and transmittance owing to the exposure of the substrate and fatigue deformation of nanomaterials under strain. In this study, an STE consisting of conductive materials embedded in in situ self-cracking strain-spread channels by wettability self-assembly is fabricated. Finite element analysis is used to simulate the crevice growth using the representative unit cell network and strain deformation using a random network. The embedded conductive materials are partly protected by the strain-opening crevice channel, and network dissociation is avoided under stretching, showing a maximum strain of 125%, a transmittance of approximately 89.66% (excluding the substrate) with a square resistance of 9.8 Ω sq–1, and high stability in an environment with high temperature and moisture. The wettability self-assembly coating process is verified and expanded to several kinds of hydrophilic inks and hydrophobic coating materials. The fabricated STE can be employed as a strain sensor in motion sensing, vital sign and posture feedback, and mimicking bioelectronic spiderweb with spatial gravity induction

Data_Sheet_2_NudC L279P Mutation Destabilizes Filamin A by Inhibiting the Hsp90 Chaperoning Pathway and Suppresses Cell Migration.PDF

Filamin A, the first discovered non-muscle actin filament cross-linking protein, plays a crucial role in regulating cell migration that participates in diverse cellular and developmental processes. However, the regulatory mechanism of filamin A stability remains unclear. Here, we find that nuclear distribution gene C (NudC), a cochaperone of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), is required to stabilize filamin A in mammalian cells. Immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry and western blotting analyses reveal that NudC interacts with filamin A. Overexpression of human NudC-L279P (an evolutionarily conserved mutation in NudC that impairs its chaperone activity) not only decreases the protein level of filamin A but also results in actin disorganization and the suppression of cell migration. Ectopic expression of filamin A is able to reverse these defects induced by the overexpression of NudC-L279P. Furthermore, Hsp90 forms a complex with filamin A. The inhibition of Hsp90 ATPase activity by either geldanamycin or radicicol decreases the protein stability of filamin A. In addition, ectopic expression of Hsp90 efficiently restores NudC-L279P overexpression-induced protein stability and functional defects of filamin A. Taken together, these data suggest NudC L279P mutation destabilizes filamin A by inhibiting the Hsp90 chaperoning pathway and suppresses cell migration.</p

Data_Sheet_3_NudC L279P Mutation Destabilizes Filamin A by Inhibiting the Hsp90 Chaperoning Pathway and Suppresses Cell Migration.PDF

Filamin A, the first discovered non-muscle actin filament cross-linking protein, plays a crucial role in regulating cell migration that participates in diverse cellular and developmental processes. However, the regulatory mechanism of filamin A stability remains unclear. Here, we find that nuclear distribution gene C (NudC), a cochaperone of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), is required to stabilize filamin A in mammalian cells. Immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry and western blotting analyses reveal that NudC interacts with filamin A. Overexpression of human NudC-L279P (an evolutionarily conserved mutation in NudC that impairs its chaperone activity) not only decreases the protein level of filamin A but also results in actin disorganization and the suppression of cell migration. Ectopic expression of filamin A is able to reverse these defects induced by the overexpression of NudC-L279P. Furthermore, Hsp90 forms a complex with filamin A. The inhibition of Hsp90 ATPase activity by either geldanamycin or radicicol decreases the protein stability of filamin A. In addition, ectopic expression of Hsp90 efficiently restores NudC-L279P overexpression-induced protein stability and functional defects of filamin A. Taken together, these data suggest NudC L279P mutation destabilizes filamin A by inhibiting the Hsp90 chaperoning pathway and suppresses cell migration.</p