Recent Update and Drug Target in Molecular and Pharmacological Insights into Autophagy Modulation in Cancer Treatment and Future Progress

Recent evidence suggests that autophagy is a governed catabolic framework enabling the recycling of nutrients from injured organelles and other cellular constituents via a lysosomal breakdown. This mechanism has been associated with the development of various pathologic conditions, including cancer and neurological disorders; however, recently updated studies have indicated that autophagy plays a dual role in cancer, acting as a cytoprotective or cytotoxic mechanism. Numerous preclinical and clinical investigations have shown that inhibiting autophagy enhances an anticancer medicine’s effectiveness in various malignancies. Autophagy antagonists, including chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, have previously been authorized in clinical trials, encouraging the development of medication-combination therapies targeting the autophagic processes for cancer. In this review, we provide an update on the recent research examining the anticancer efficacy of combining drugs that activate cytoprotective autophagy with autophagy inhibitors. Additionally, we highlight the difficulties and progress toward using cytoprotective autophagy targeting as a cancer treatment strategy. Importantly, we must enable the use of suitable autophagy inhibitors and coadministration delivery systems in conjunction with anticancer agents. Therefore, this review briefly summarizes the general molecular process behind autophagy and its bifunctional role that is important in cancer suppression and in encouraging tumor growth and resistance to chemotherapy and metastasis regulation. We then emphasize how autophagy and cancer cells interacting with one another is a promising therapeutic target in cancer treatment

Recent Update and Drug Target in Molecular and Pharmacological Insights into Autophagy Modulation in Cancer Treatment and Future Progress

Recent evidence suggests that autophagy is a governed catabolic framework enabling the recycling of nutrients from injured organelles and other cellular constituents via a lysosomal breakdown. This mechanism has been associated with the development of various pathologic conditions, including cancer and neurological disorders; however, recently updated studies have indicated that autophagy plays a dual role in cancer, acting as a cytoprotective or cytotoxic mechanism. Numerous preclinical and clinical investigations have shown that inhibiting autophagy enhances an anticancer medicine’s effectiveness in various malignancies. Autophagy antagonists, including chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, have previously been authorized in clinical trials, encouraging the development of medication-combination therapies targeting the autophagic processes for cancer. In this review, we provide an update on the recent research examining the anticancer efficacy of combining drugs that activate cytoprotective autophagy with autophagy inhibitors. Additionally, we highlight the difficulties and progress toward using cytoprotective autophagy targeting as a cancer treatment strategy. Importantly, we must enable the use of suitable autophagy inhibitors and coadministration delivery systems in conjunction with anticancer agents. Therefore, this review briefly summarizes the general molecular process behind autophagy and its bifunctional role that is important in cancer suppression and in encouraging tumor growth and resistance to chemotherapy and metastasis regulation. We then emphasize how autophagy and cancer cells interacting with one another is a promising therapeutic target in cancer treatment

Unleashing the Potential of Sodium-Ion Batteries: Current State and Future Directions for Sustainable Energy Storage

Rechargeable sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are emerging as a viable alternative to lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology, as their raw materials are economical, geographically abundant (unlike lithium), and less toxic. The matured LIB technology contributes significantly to digital civilization, from mobile electronic devices to zero electric-vehicle emissions. However, with the increasing reliance on renewable energy sources and the anticipated integration of high-energy-density batteries into the grid, concerns have arisen regarding the sustainability of lithium due to its limited availability and consequent price escalations. In this context, SIBs have gained attention as a potential energy storage alternative, benefiting from the abundance of sodium and sharing electrochemical characteristics similar to LIBs. Furthermore, high-entropy chemistry has emerged as a new paradigm, promising to enhance energy density and accelerate advancements in battery technology to meet the growing energy demands. This review uncovers the fundamentals, current progress, and the views on the future of SIB technologies, with a discussion focused on the design of novel materials. The crucial factors, such as morphology, crystal defects, and doping, that can tune electrochemistry, which should inspire young researchers in battery technology to identify and work on challenging research problems, are also reviewed

Triple hierarchical porous carbon spheres as effective cathodes for Li-O2 batteries

This paper presents the synthesis and characterization of triple hierarchical porous carbon spheres as cathodes in lithium-oxygen batteries. The porous carbon cathode exhibits a higher discharge capacity and average discharge potential compared to a typical carbon black cathode. This superior electrochemical result can be attributed to the triple hierarchical pores of the cathode: micropores that act as channels for oxygen to flow without interruption by the accumulated discharge product, abundant mesopores that shape the size of the discharge product and transport the electrolyte, and macropores that easily accommodate the accumulation of discharge product. To further promote Li2O2 formation/decomposition, the cathode can be decorated with a Ru catalyst, which strongly influences the oxygen evolution reaction performance. Conspicuously, triple hierarchical porous carbon spheres exhibit a homogeneous distribution of the Ru catalyst and thus provide an appropriate architecture. The synergistic effect from the unique structure and catalytic competence of Ru increases the capacity and rate capability with lower over-potential, and facilitates the formation of Li2O2. This can be decomposed at a low potential during recharge and thus contributes to the very high energy efficiency. (C) 2019 The Electrochemical Society

Study on the Electrochemical Reaction Mechanism of NiFe₂O₄ as a High-Performance Anode for Li-Ion Batteries

Nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) has been previously shown to have a promising electrochemical performance for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) as an anode material. However, associated electrochemical processes, along with structural changes, during conversion reactions are hardly studied. Nanocrystalline NiFe₂O₄ was synthesized with the aid of a simple citric acid assisted sol–gel method and tested as a negative electrode for LIBs. After 100 cycles at a constant current density of 0.5 A g^–1 (about a 0.5 C-rate), the synthesized NiFe₂O₄ electrode provided a stable reversible capacity of 786 mAh g^–1 with a capacity retention greater than 85%. The NiFe₂O₄ electrode achieved a specific capacity of 365 mAh g^–1 when cycled at a current density of 10 A g^–1 (about a 10 C-rate). At such a high current density, this is an outstanding capacity for NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles as an anode. Ex-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) were employed at different potential states during the cell operation to elucidate the conversion process of a NiFe₂O₄ anode and the capacity contribution from either Ni or Fe. Investigation reveals that the lithium extraction reaction does not fully agree with the previously reported one and is found to be a hindered oxidation of metallic nickel to nickel oxide in the applied potential window. Our findings suggest that iron is participating in an electrochemical reaction with full reversibility and forms iron oxide in the fully charged state, while nickel is found to be the cause of partial irreversible capacity where it exists in both metallic nickel and nickel oxide phases

Self-Rearrangement of Silicon Nanoparticles Embedded in Micro-Carbon Sphere Framework for High-Energy and Long-Life Lithium-Ion Batteries

Despite its highest theoretical capacity, the practical applications of the silicon anode are still limited by severe capacity fading, which is due to pulverization of the Si particles through volume change during charge and discharge. In this study, silicon nanoparticles are embedded in micron-sized porous carbon spheres (Si-MCS) via a facile hydrothermal process in order to provide a stiff carbon framework that functions as a cage to hold the pulverized silicon pieces. The carbon framework subsequently allows these silicon pieces to rearrange themselves in restricted domains within the sphere. Unlike current carbon coating methods, the Si-MCS electrode is immune to delamination. Hence, it demonstrates unprecedented excellent cyclability (capacity retention: 93.5% after 500 cycles at 0.8 A g^–1), high rate capability (with a specific capacity of 880 mAh g^–1 at the high discharge current density of 40 A g^–1), and high volumetric capacity (814.8 mAh cm^–3) on account of increased tap density. The lithium-ion battery using the new Si-MCS anode and commercial LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ cathode shows a high specific energy density above 300 Wh kg^–1, which is considerably higher than that of commercial graphite anodes

MoO₃@MoS₂ Core-Shell Structured Hybrid Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

We explore a phase engineering strategy to improve the electrochemical performance of transition metal sulfides (TMSs) in anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). A one-pot hydrothermal approach has been employed to synthesize MoS2 nanostructures. MoS2 and MoO3 phases can be readily controlled by straightforward calcination in the (200–300) °C temperature range. An optimized temperature of 250 °C yields a phase-engineered MoO3@MoS2 hybrid, while 200 and 300 °C produce single MoS2 and MoO3 phases. When tested in LIBs anode, the optimized MoO3@MoS2 hybrid outperforms the pristine MoS2 and MoO3 counterparts. With above 99% Coulombic efficiency (CE), the hybrid anode retains its capacity of 564 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles, and maintains a capacity of 278 mAh g−1 at 700 mA g−1 current density. These favorable characteristics are attributed to the formation of MoO3 passivation surface layer on MoS2 and reactive interfaces between the two phases, which facilitate the Li-ion insertion/extraction, successively improving MoO3@MoS2 anode performance