Ultrasmall Enzyodynamic PANoptosis Nano-Inducers for Ultrasound-Amplified Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy and Lung Metastasis Inhibition

Addressing the inefficiency of current therapeutic approaches for hepatocellular carcinoma is an urgent and pressing challenge. PANoptosis, a form of inflammatory programmed cell death, presents a dependable strategy for combating cancer by engaging multiple cell death pathways (apoptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis). In this study, an ultrasmall Bi2Sn2O7 nanozyme with ultrasound-magnified multienzyme-mimicking properties is designed and engineered as a PANoptosis inducer through destroying the mitochondrial function of tumor cells and enhancing the intracellular accumulation of toxic reactive oxygen species, finally triggering the activation of PANoptosis process. The role of PANoptosis inducer has been verified by the expression of related proteins, including cleaved Caspase 3, NLRP3, N-GSDMD, cleaved Caspase 1, p-MLKL, and RIPK3. The inclusion of external ultrasonic irradiation significantly augments the enzyodynamic therapeutic efficiency. In vitro and in vivo antineoplastic efficacy, along with inhibition of lung metastasis, validate the benefits of the Bi2Sn2O7-mediated PANoptosis pathway. This study not only elucidates the intricate mechanisms underlying Bi2Sn2O7 as a PANoptosis inducer, but also offers a novel perspective for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Sn and dual-oxygen-vacancy in the Z-scheme Bi2Sn2O7/Sn/NiAl-layered double hydroxide heterojunction synergistically enhanced photocatalytic activity toward carbon dioxide reduction

Photocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into high value-added chemicals is an attractive yet challenging process, primarily due to the readily recombination of hole-electron pairs in photocatalysts. Herein, dual-oxygen-vacancy mediated Z-scheme Bi2Sn2O7/Sn/NiAl-layered double hydroxide (VO,O-20BSL) heterojunctions were hydrothermally synthesized and subsequently modified with Sn monomers to enhance photocatalytic activity toward CO2 reduction. The abundance of oxygen vacancies endowed the VO,O-20BSL with extended optical adsorption, enhanced charges separation, and superior CO2 adsorption and activation. The interfacial charges transfer of the VO,O-20BSL was demonstrated to follow a Z-scheme mechanism via photochemical deposition of metal/metal oxide. Under visible light irradiation, the VO,O-20BSL exhibited the highest yields of carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH4), with values of 72.03 and 0.85 umol·g-1·h-1, respectively, which were 2.66 and 1.57 times higher than that of the VO-NiAl-layered double hydroxide (VO-1LDH). In situ diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) revealed that carboxylic acid groups (COOH*) and aldehyde groups (CHO*) were the predominant intermediates during CO2 reduction, and accordingly, possible CO2 reduction pathways and mechanism were proposed. This study presents a feasible approach to incorporate dual vacancies into Z-scheme heterojunctions for CO2 reduction.

Immobilization of Cu (II) via a graphene oxide-supported strategy for antibacterial reutilization with long-term efficacy

The past several decades have witnessed tremendous research to discover ways for controlling heavy metal pollution, but most of the strategies do not involve reuse of the captured heavy metals. Herein, we propose a graphene oxide -based strategy for the effective removal of Cu²⁺ ions from water, coupled with their reuse as an antibacterial agent. Using GO nanosheets as an adsorbent and nanosupport, the Cu²⁺ ions were effectively extracted from water (>99.9%) and reduced in situ to copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) containing both crystalline Cu and Cu₂O. The as-captured Cu NPs showed efficient in vitro antibacterial ability against Escherichia coli, reducing the bacteria from 10⁹ to 10¹ CFU mL^-1 by using ¹ mg mL^-1 Cu NPs/GO NSs for 1 h. The minimum inhibitory concentration determined to be only 16 μg mL^-1. For practical applications, Cu recovered from wastewater could reduce bacteria by 8 log CFU in 1 h. The recovered Cu was still able to reduce the bacteria by 7 log CFU after 2 months of storage in an argon atmosphere. This strategy of extracting heavy metals and subsequently reutilizing to kill bacteria will be of great significance for environmental remediation and public healthcare.

SnNb2O6/NiCo-LDH Z-scheme heterojunction with regulated oxygen vacancies obtained by engineering the crystallinity for efficient and renewable photocatalytic H2 evolution

SnNb2O6/NiCo-LDH Z-scheme heterojunction with abundant oxygen vacancies exhibited highly activity and stability toward photocatalytic H2 evolution, ascribed to the regeneration of oxygen vacancy by engineering the crystallinity.