Xuehan He

We present an optimized method for producing semiconducting polymer dots using a water–ethanol mixed antisolvent during nanoprecipitation. Compared to conventional Pdots made with pure water as the antisolvent, these newly produced Pdots exhibit simultaneously enhanced fluorescence efficiency and stability of particle size and emission spectra. These findings should be mainly attributed to an improved core–shell Pdots nanostructure formed by a sequential nanoprecipitation process. It offers Pdots a purer, more compact, and hydrophobic inner core, coated with a greater number of hydrophilic polyethylene glycol shells. This viewpoint is further reinforced by Förster energy-transfer efficiency in a fluorescence donor-acceptor Pdots system. The novelly prepared Pdots can better encapsulate small-molecular cargoes and more efficiently bioconjugate to targets. Consequently, it demonstrates improved specific immunofluorescence staining of microtubule structures in living cells.

The development of biodegradable nanocarriers has long been a priority for researchers and medical professionals in the realm of drug delivery. Because of their inherent benefits, which include superior biocompatibility, customizable degradability, easy surface functionalization, and stealth-like behavior, polylactic acid-hyperbranched polyglycerol (PLA-HPG) copolymers have demonstrated a promising future in the field of biomedical research. The synthesis of PLA-HPG copolymers and the creation of their nanoparticles for biomedical uses have been the focus of current efforts. In this review, we summarize the synthetic strategies of PLA-HPG copolymers and corresponding nanoparticles, and highlight their physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and degradation properties. Furthermore, we introduce a number of PLA-HPG nanoparticles that are utilized for surface skin delivery, wound dressing, and in vivo drug delivery biological applications. Finally, we conclude by offering our thoughts on how this nanoplatform might advance in the future.

Biochar (BC) and organic fertilizers (OFs) are both organic soil amendments that can be used to improve soil quality, but their effects on soil physicochemical properties and microbial structures may be different. Comparative studies can help us understand the advantages and disadvantages of different types of soils. In the current research, five treatments, including a control group (CK), two concentrations of biochar (2% BC and 4% BC), and two concentrations of organic fertilizer (2% OF and 4% OF) and their effects on soil properties, enzyme activities, and bacterial diversity were evaluated. The BC and OF significantly increased the soil EC, pH, and soil nutrients (p < 0.05). The 2% BC increased the biomass of Pennisetum giganteum by 41.7%. The 4% BC and OF reduced the biomass of P. giganteum. Furthermore, the observed decrease in the P. giganteum yield following the application of the 4% BC can be attributed to reductions in the available phosphorus (AP) and CaCl₂-P, as well as alterations in the soil enzyme activity. However, the negative impact of OFs on crop yield may be associated with an increased EC, elevated abundance of soil-borne pathogens, and decreased levels of beneficial microorganisms. In summary, a comparative study of the effects of BC and OF on the growth of P. giganteum in acidic soil is of great significance for improving the soil quality, promoting the development of organic agriculture, protecting the environment, and promoting land reclamation.

Morel is a popular edible mushroom with considerable medicinal and economic value which has garnered global popularity. However, the increasing heavy metal (HM) pollution in the soil presents a significant challenge to morels cultivation. Given the susceptibility of morels to HM accumulation, the quality and output of morels are at risk, posing a serious food safety concern that hinders the development of the morel industry. Nonetheless, research on the mechanism of HM enrichment and mitigation strategies in morel remains scarce. The morel, being cultivated in soil, shows a positive correlation between HM content in its fruiting body and the HM content in the soil. Therefore, soil remediation emerges as the most practical and effective approach to tackle HM pollution. Compared to physical and chemical remediation, bioremediation is a low-cost and eco-friendly approach that poses minimal threats to soil composition and structure. HMs easily enriched during morels cultivation were examined, including Cd, Cu, Hg, and Pb, and we assessed soil passivation technology, microbial remediation, strain screening and cultivation, and agronomic measures as potential approaches for HM pollution prevention. The current review underscores the importance of establishing a comprehensive system for preventing HM pollution in morels.

Accurate diagnosis and treatment of tumors, one of the top global health problems, has always been the research focus of scientists and doctors. Near-infrared (NIR) emissive semiconducting polymers dots (Pdots) have demonstrated bright prospects in field of in vivo tumor fluorescence imaging owing to some of their intrinsic advantages, including good water-dispersibility, facile surface-functionalization, easily tunable optical properties, and good biocompatibility. During recent years, much effort has been devoted to developing Pdots with emission bands located in the second near-infrared (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) region, which hold great advantages of higher spatial resolution, better signal-to-background ratios (SBR), and deeper tissue penetration for solid-tumor imaging in comparison with the visible region (400–680 nm) and the first near-infrared (NIR-I, 680–900 nm) window, by virtue of the reduced tissue autofluorescence, minimal photon scattering, and low photon absorption. In this review, we mainly summarize the latest advances of NIR-II emissive semiconducting Pdots for in vivo tumor fluorescence imaging, including molecular engineering to improve the fluorescence quantum yields and surface functionalization to elevate the tumor-targeting capability. We also present several NIR-II theranostic Pdots used for integrated tumor fluorescence diagnosis and photothermal/photodynamic therapy. Finally, we give our perspectives on future developments in this field.