Self-folded redox/acid dual-responsive nanocarriers for anticancer drug delivery

Self-folded redox/acid dual-responsive nanocarriers (RAD-NCs) are developed for physiologically triggered delivery of anticancer drug. The evidenced redox/acid responsiveness, facile decoration of ligands, and active tumor-targeting capability of RAD-NCs suggest their potential as a promising formulation for tumor-targeted chemotherapy

Multidifferential study of identified charged hadron distributions in ZZ-tagged jets in proton-proton collisions at s=\sqrt{s}=13 TeV

Jet fragmentation functions are measured for the first time in proton-proton collisions for charged pions, kaons, and protons within jets recoiling against a $Z$ boson. The charged-hadron distributions are studied longitudinally and transversely to the jet direction for jets with transverse momentum 20 $< p_{\textrm{T}} < 100$ GeV and in the pseudorapidity range $2.5 < \eta < 4$. The data sample was collected with the LHCb experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.64 fb$^{-1}$. Triple differential distributions as a function of the hadron longitudinal momentum fraction, hadron transverse momentum, and jet transverse momentum are also measured for the first time. This helps constrain transverse-momentum-dependent fragmentation functions. Differences in the shapes and magnitudes of the measured distributions for the different hadron species provide insights into the hadronization process for jets predominantly initiated by light quarks.Comment: All figures and tables, along with machine-readable versions and any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2022-013.html (LHCb public pages

Study of the B−→Λc+Λˉc−K−B^{-} \to \Lambda_{c}^{+} \bar{\Lambda}_{c}^{-} K^{-} decay

The decay $B^{-} \to \Lambda_{c}^{+} \bar{\Lambda}_{c}^{-} K^{-}$ is studied in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 $\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment. In the $\Lambda_{c}^+ K^{-}$ system, the $\Xi_{c}(2930)^{0}$ state observed at the BaBar and Belle experiments is resolved into two narrower states, $\Xi_{c}(2923)^{0}$ and $\Xi_{c}(2939)^{0}$, whose masses and widths are measured to be $$m(\Xi_{c}(2923)^{0}) = 2924.5 \pm 0.4 \pm 1.1 \,\mathrm{MeV}, \\ m(\Xi_{c}(2939)^{0}) = 2938.5 \pm 0.9 \pm 2.3 \,\mathrm{MeV}, \\ \Gamma(\Xi_{c}(2923)^{0}) = \phantom{000}4.8 \pm 0.9 \pm 1.5 \,\mathrm{MeV},\\ \Gamma(\Xi_{c}(2939)^{0}) = \phantom{00}11.0 \pm 1.9 \pm 7.5 \,\mathrm{MeV},$$ where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The results are consistent with a previous LHCb measurement using a prompt $\Lambda_{c}^{+} K^{-}$ sample. Evidence of a new $\Xi_{c}(2880)^{0}$ state is found with a local significance of $3.8\,\sigma$, whose mass and width are measured to be $2881.8 \pm 3.1 \pm 8.5\,\mathrm{MeV}$ and $12.4 \pm 5.3 \pm 5.8 \,\mathrm{MeV}$, respectively. In addition, evidence of a new decay mode $\Xi_{c}(2790)^{0} \to \Lambda_{c}^{+} K^{-}$ is found with a significance of $3.7\,\sigma$. The relative branching fraction of $B^{-} \to \Lambda_{c}^{+} \bar{\Lambda}_{c}^{-} K^{-}$ with respect to the $B^{-} \to D^{+} D^{-} K^{-}$ decay is measured to be $2.36 \pm 0.11 \pm 0.22 \pm 0.25$, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third originates from the branching fractions of charm hadron decays.Comment: All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2022-028.html (LHCb public pages

Measurement of the ratios of branching fractions R(D∗)\mathcal{R}(D^{*}) and R(D0)\mathcal{R}(D^{0})

The ratios of branching fractions $\mathcal{R}(D^{*})\equiv\mathcal{B}(\bar{B}\to D^{*}\tau^{-}\bar{\nu}_{\tau})/\mathcal{B}(\bar{B}\to D^{*}\mu^{-}\bar{\nu}_{\mu})$ and $\mathcal{R}(D^{0})\equiv\mathcal{B}(B^{-}\to D^{0}\tau^{-}\bar{\nu}_{\tau})/\mathcal{B}(B^{-}\to D^{0}\mu^{-}\bar{\nu}_{\mu})$ are measured, assuming isospin symmetry, using a sample of proton-proton collision data corresponding to 3.0 fb${ }^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2011 and 2012. The tau lepton is identified in the decay mode $\tau^{-}\to\mu^{-}\nu_{\tau}\bar{\nu}_{\mu}$. The measured values are $\mathcal{R}(D^{*})=0.281\pm0.018\pm0.024$ and $\mathcal{R}(D^{0})=0.441\pm0.060\pm0.066$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The correlation between these measurements is $\rho=-0.43$. Results are consistent with the current average of these quantities and are at a combined 1.9 standard deviations from the predictions based on lepton flavor universality in the Standard Model.Comment: All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/p/LHCb-PAPER-2022-039.html (LHCb public pages

Near-Infrared Light-Responsive Hydrogels for Highly Flexible Bionic Photosensors

Soft biological tissues perform various functions. Sensory nerves bring sensations of light, voice, touch, pain, or temperature variation to the central nervous system. Animal senses have inspired tremendous sensors for biomedical applications. Following the same principle as photosensitive nerves, we design flexible ionic hydrogels to achieve a biologic photosensor. The photosensor allows responding to near-infrared light, which is converted into a sensory electric signal that can communicate with nerve cells. Furthermore, with adjustable thermal and/or electrical signal outputs, it provides abundant tools for biological regulation. The tunable photosensitive performances, high flexibility, and low cost endow the photosensor with widespread applications ranging from neural prosthetics to human–machine interfacing systems

Engineered Nanoplatelets for Enhanced Treatment of Multiple Myeloma and Thrombus

A platelet membrane-coated biomimetic nanocarrier, which can sequentially target bone microenvironment and myeloma cells to enhance the drug availability at the myeloma site and decrease the off-target effects, is developed for inhibiting the multiple myeloma growth and simultaneously eradicating the thrombus complication

One-step synthesis of metal/semiconductor heterostructure NbS2/MoS2

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has proven its surpassing advantages, such as larger scale, interlayer orientation control, and clean interface, in the synthesis of transitional metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) semiconductor/semiconductor van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures. However, it is suffering problems of high melting points and low chemical reactivity of metal oxide feedstocks in the preparation of high-quality metal/semiconductor (M/S) TMDC vdW heterostructures. Here, for the first time, we report the synthesis of the M/S TMDC vdW heterostructure NbS 2 /MoS 2 via a one-step halide-assisted CVD method, which effectively overcomes the drawbacks of metal oxide precursors. This one-step method provides the high quality and clean interface of the NbS 2 /MoS 2 heterostructure, which has been proved by the transmission electron microscopy characterization. A mechanism that MoS 2 finishes the growth first and subsequently serves as a superior substrate for the growth of NbS 2 is proposed. This novel method will open up new opportunities in the syntheses of other M/S TMDC vdW heterostructures and will facilitate the research of the TMDC M/S interface.NRF (Natl Research Foundation, S’pore)MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore)Accepted versio

2D material infrared photonics and plasmonics

Two-dimensional (2D) materials including graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, black phosphorus, MXenes, and semimetals have attracted extensive and widespread interest over the past years for their many intriguing properties and phenomena, underlying physics, and great potential for applications. The vast library of 2D materials and their heterostructures provides a diverse range of electrical, photonic, mechanical, and chemical properties with boundless opportunities for photonics and plasmonic devices. The infrared (IR) regime, with wavelengths across 0.78 μm to 1000 μm, has particular technological significance in industrial, military, commercial, and medical settings while facing challenges especially in the limit of materials. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the varied approaches taken to leverage the properties of the 2D materials for IR applications in photodetection and sensing, light emission and modulation, surface plasmon and phonon polaritons, non-linear optics, and Smith-Purcell radiation, among others. The strategies examined include the growth and processing of 2D materials, the use of various 2D materials like semiconductors, semimetals, Weyl-semimetals and 2D heterostructures or mixed-dimensional hybrid structures, and the engineering of light-matter interactions through nanophotonics, metasurfaces, and 2D polaritons. Finally, we give an outlook on the challenges in realizing high-performance and ambient-stable devices and the prospects for future research and large-scale commercial applications.Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)National Research Foundation (NRF)This work is partially supported by the National Research Foundation, Singapore, under its CRP program (NRF-CRP26- 2021-0004) and A*STAR AME IRG (A20E5c0084). Z.L. acknowledges the support from PHC Merlion Program 2020. L.W. gratefully acknowledges the Start-Up Research Grant from the Singapore University of Technology and Design via Grant No. SRG SMT 2021 169, and National Research Foundation Singapore via Grant Nos. NRF2021-QEP2-02-P03 and NRF2021-QEP2-03-P09. Y.L. acknowledges the support from A*STAR Career Development Fund - Seed Projects (C222812008). M.Z. acknowledges the support from A*STAR Career Development Fund (C210812027)

Hypoxia and H₂O₂ Dual-Sensitive Vesicles for Enhanced Glucose-Responsive Insulin Delivery

A glucose-responsive closed-loop insulin delivery system mimicking pancreas activity without long-term side effect has the potential to improve diabetic patients’ health and quality of life. Here, we developed a novel glucose-responsive insulin delivery device using a painless microneedle-array patch containing insulin-loaded vesicles. Formed by self-assembly of hypoxia and H₂O₂ dual-sensitive diblock copolymer, the glucose-responsive polymersome-based vesicles (<i>d</i>-GRPs) can disassociate and subsequently release insulin triggered by H₂O₂ and hypoxia generated during glucose oxidation catalyzed by glucose specific enzyme. Moreover, the <i>d</i>-GRPs were able to eliminate the excess H₂O₂, which may lead to free radical-induced damage to skin tissue during the long-term usage and reduce the activity of GOx. In vivo experiments indicated that this smart insulin patch could efficiently regulate the blood glucose in the chemically induced type 1 diabetic mice for 10 h

One-Step Synthesis of Metal/Semiconductor Heterostructure NbS₂/MoS₂

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has proven its surpassing advantages, such as larger scale, interlayer orientation control, and clean interface, in the synthesis of transitional metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) semiconductor/semiconductor van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures. However, it is suffering problems of high melting points and low chemical reactivity of metal oxide feedstocks in the preparation of high-quality metal/semiconductor (M/S) TMDC vdW heterostructures. Here, for the first time, we report the synthesis of the M/S TMDC vdW heterostructure NbS₂/MoS₂ via a one-step halide-assisted CVD method, which effectively overcomes the drawbacks of metal oxide precursors. This one-step method provides the high quality and clean interface of the NbS₂/MoS₂ heterostructure, which has been proved by the transmission electron microscopy characterization. A mechanism that MoS₂ finishes the growth first and subsequently serves as a superior substrate for the growth of NbS₂ is proposed. This novel method will open up new opportunities in the syntheses of other M/S TMDC vdW heterostructures and will facilitate the research of the TMDC M/S interface