Controlled Synthesis of MOF-Encapsulated NiPt Nanoparticles toward Efficient and Complete Hydrogen Evolution from Hydrazine Borane and Hydrazine

The catalytic dehydrogenation of hydrazine borane (N₂H₄BH₃) and hydrous hydrazine (N₂H₄·H₂O) for H₂ evolution is considered as two of the pivotal reactions for the implementation of the hydrogen-based economy. A reduction rate controlled strategy is successfully applied for the encapsulating of uniform tiny NiPt alloy nanoclusters within the opening porous channels of MOFs in this work. The resultant Ni_0.9Pt_0.1/MOF core–shell composite with a low Pt content exerted exceedingly high activity and durability for complete H₂ evolution (100% hydrogen selectivity) from alkaline N₂H₄BH₃ and N₂H₄·H₂O solution. The features of small NiPt alloy NPs, strong synergistic effect between NiPt alloy NPs and the MOF, and open pore structure for freely mass transfer made NiPt/MIL-101 an excellent catalyst for highly efficient H₂ evolution from N₂H₄BH₃ or N₂H₄·H₂O

Nanovesicles from eCSF increase IGF-mTORC1 activity in eNSCs <i>in vitro</i>.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Control and nanovesicle-treated eNSCs <i>in vitro</i> immunostained for phospho-(p) S6 (red), and nestin (green), and counterstained for the nuclear marker DAPI (blue). (<b>B</b>) Zoom of the image in the white square in (A). (<b>C</b>) Number of phospho-S6-positive cells relative to total with or without nanovesicle application (N = 3 and 4 cultures, 2–4 litters for nanovesicle extraction). Experiments were reproduced in the presence of vehicle (DMSO) or 100 nM rapamycin (N = 3 each). (<b>D</b>) Relative total cell number (N = 3 each). (<b>E</b>) Percentage of nestin-positive eNSCs (N = 3 each). (<b>F</b>) Percentage of Ki67- and nestin-positive eNSCs (N = 9 control and 3 with nanovesicle). *: p<0.05, **: p<0.01, ***: p<0.001 with Student's t test or one way ANOVA. Scale bars: 200 µm (A and B). Error bars: SEM.</p

Rodent eCSF nanovesicle purification and protein expression.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Flow chart of the experimental design after CSF labeling with a tracer dye (fast green) and eCSF collection. (<b>B</b>) Histogram of size distribution of eCSF nanoparticles (per ml) determined by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NanoSight). The nanoparticles were obtained from e14 CSF from three rat litters (N = 3). The mean nanoparticle diameter was 77 nm and was obtained by Gaussian curve fitting. (<b>C</b>) Electron micrographs of rat embryonic purified nanovesicles. Scale bar: 30 nm. (<b>D</b>) Immunoblots for rat exosomal marker proteins CD63 and HSP70, and additional proteins known to be in exosomes. PTEN and PKM2. (<b>E</b>) Quantification of phosphoenol pyruvate kinase enzymatic activity determined from rat nanovesicles. (<b>F</b>) Quantification of IGF pathway-related proteins in nanovesicles isolated from e15 rat CSF using the phospho (p)-pathscan assay. Error bars: SEM. Experiments were reproduced with nanovesicles isolated from three litters (N = 3).</p

Analysis of human eCSF nanovesicles.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Western blots for CD63, CD81, and HSP70 on purified human eCSF nanovesicles. (<b>B</b>) Pathscan analysis of human eCSF nanovesicles. All except CC3 are statistically above background at p<0.05. n.s., not significant. (<b>C</b>) Rank expression of human microRNAs based on microarray expression levels. (<b>D</b>) Differentially expressed microRNAs identified by Significant Analysis of Microarray (SAM) are indicated and represented in the heat map for human nanovesicles (left) and rat nanovesicles (right). Expression values range from low (bright green) to intermediate (black) to high (red). (<b>E</b>) Bioinformatic analysis of microRNA interacting pathways identified in eCSF purified human nanovesicles. Red microRNAs: 16-fold enriched (not shared with rat microRNAs); pink microRNA: 16-fold enriched and shared with rat; black microRNAs: 4-fold-enriched in humans and 16-fold enriched in rats. N = 4 humans. Error bars: SEM.</p

microRNA analysis of rat eCSF nanovesicles.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Heat map of microRNA microarrays from eCSF purified nanovesicles. The lighter the color (yellow) indicates higher expression whereas the darker the color (dark purple) is an indication of absence of expression. Values range from (log₂) 0.64 (bottom) to (log₂) 15.4 (top). The top 24 enriched microRNAs are listed on the right. (<b>B</b>) Rank expression of microRNAs based on microarray expression levels. (<b>C</b>) Quantitative (q) RT-PCR of exosomal RNA using selective exosomal microRNA primers or lacking primers (Neg CTL: negative control). <u>Bottom</u>: Corresponding end-point RT-PCR. (<b>D</b>) Bioinformatic analysis of microRNA interacting pathways. N = 4 litters of rats.</p

Scalable Structural Coloration of Carbon Nanotube Fibers via a Facile Silica Photonic Crystal Self-Assembly Strategy

The coloration of carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers (CNTFs) is a long-lasting challenge because of the intrinsic black color and chemically inert surfaces of CNTs, which cannot satisfy the aesthetic and fashion requirements and thus significantly restrict their performance in many cutting-edge fields. Recently, a structural coloration method of CNTFs was developed by our group using atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology. However, the ALD-based structural coloration method of CNTFs is expensive, time-consuming, and not suitable for the large-scale production of colorful CNTFs. Herein, we developed a very simple and scalable liquid-phase method to realize the structural coloration of CNTFs. A SiO2/ethanol dispersion containing SiO2 nanospheres with controllable sizes was synthesized. The SiO2 nanospheres could self-assemble into photonic crystal layers on the surface of CNTFs and exhibited brilliant colors. The colors of SiO2 nanoparticle-coated CNTFs could be easily changed by tuning the sizes of SiO2 nanospheres. This method provides a simple, effective, and promising way for the large-scale production of colorful CNTFs

Scalable Structural Coloration of Carbon Nanotube Fibers via a Facile Silica Photonic Crystal Self-Assembly Strategy

The coloration of carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers (CNTFs) is a long-lasting challenge because of the intrinsic black color and chemically inert surfaces of CNTs, which cannot satisfy the aesthetic and fashion requirements and thus significantly restrict their performance in many cutting-edge fields. Recently, a structural coloration method of CNTFs was developed by our group using atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology. However, the ALD-based structural coloration method of CNTFs is expensive, time-consuming, and not suitable for the large-scale production of colorful CNTFs. Herein, we developed a very simple and scalable liquid-phase method to realize the structural coloration of CNTFs. A SiO2/ethanol dispersion containing SiO2 nanospheres with controllable sizes was synthesized. The SiO2 nanospheres could self-assemble into photonic crystal layers on the surface of CNTFs and exhibited brilliant colors. The colors of SiO2 nanoparticle-coated CNTFs could be easily changed by tuning the sizes of SiO2 nanospheres. This method provides a simple, effective, and promising way for the large-scale production of colorful CNTFs