Xianbo Hou

The combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy represents a promising approach that leverages their complementary benefits. However, the side effects resulting from off-target effects and the low efficiency of immune activation remain a significant concern. Herein, we developed a zinc-doped calcium phosphate (ZCP) nanocarrier for the delivery of the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX). By further encapsulating whole proteins from 4T1 breast cancer cells, we constructed a novel nanodrug delivery system named ZCPDM. This system enables specific targeting of tumor cells and undergoes intracellular degradation to release DOX, Zn²⁺, and Ca²⁺. As a chemotherapeutic agent, DOX induces apoptosis while significantly elevating intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby enhancing cytotoxicity. This leads to DNA damage and the release of chromosomal fragments. These DNA fragments, together with Zn²⁺, activate the cGAS-STING signaling pathway and trigger pyroptosis, which promotes more efficient recognition and clearance of tumor cells by the immune system. Through these dual mechanisms, ZCPDM effectively combines chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The anti-tumor efficacy and underlying mechanisms were validated at the cellular level. Furthermore, studies in tumor-bearing mice demonstrated its robust anti-tumor performance and ability to suppress tumor recurrence, along with good biosafety. This targeted drug delivery system achieves safe and synergistic chemo-immunotherapy through homologous targeting-mediated pyroptosis and activation of the cGAS-STING pathway, offering a novel and promising strategy for cancer treatment.

New energy vehicles face a critical challenge in balancing the thermal safety management of high-specific-energy battery systems with the simultaneous improvement of energy density. With the large-scale application of high-energy-density systems such as silicon-based anodes and solid-state batteries, their inherent thermal runaway risks pose severe challenges to battery thermal management systems (BTMS). Currently, the thermal insulation performance, temperature resistance, and fire protection capabilities of flame-retardant materials (e.g., foam cotton, fiber felts) used in automotive batteries are inadequate to meet the demands of intense combustion and high temperatures generated during thermal failure in high-energy-density batteries. Against this backdrop, thermal insulation and fireproof aerogel materials are emerging as a revolutionary solution for the next generation of power battery thermal protection systems. Leveraging their nanoporous structure’s exceptional thermal insulation properties (thermal conductivity of 0.013–0.018 W/(m·K) at room temperature) and extreme fire resistance (temperature resistance > 1100 °C/UL94 V-0 flame retardancy), aerogels are gaining prominence. This article provides a systematic review of thermal runaway phenomena in automotive batteries and corresponding protective measures. It highlights recent breakthroughs in the selection of material systems, optimization of preparation processes, and fiber–matrix composite technologies for automotive fireproof aerogel composites. The core engineering values of these materials, such as blocking thermal runaway propagation, reducing system weight, and improving volumetric efficiency, are quantitatively validated. Furthermore, the paper explores future research directions, including the development of low-cost aerogel composites and the design of organic–inorganic hybrid composite structures, aiming to provide a foundation and industrial pathway for the research and development of next-generation high-performance battery thermal management systems.

Flexible La-doped Sm₂Zr₂O₇/polyurethane (PU) coated leather composites were synthesized using a one-step hydrothermal method, with highly efficient photocatalytic degradation properties by coating the La-doped Sm₂Zr₂O₇/PU emulsion onto the leather and drying it. The phase composition and optical properties of the as-prepared photocatalytic material were systematically characterized. The result revealed that La was doped in Sm₂Zr₂O₇ successfully, and the prepared samples still possessed pyrochlore structure. The absorption edge of the prepared samples exhibited a red-shift with the increase in La doping, indicating that La doping could broaden the absorbance range of the La-doped Sm₂Zr₂O₇ materials. The catalytic performance of La-doped Sm₂Zr₂O₇/PU composite emulsion coating on the photocatalytic performance of leather was studied with Congo red solution as the target pollutant. The results showed that the best photocatalytic property was found in the 5% La-doped Sm₂Zr₂O₇ nanomaterial at a concentration of 3 g/L. The resulting 5% La-doped Sm₂Zr₂O₇ nanomaterial exhibited a high specific surface area of 73.5 m²/g. After 40 min of irradiation by a 450 W xenon lamp, the degradation rate of Congo red reached 93%. Moreover, after surface coating, the La-doped Sm₂Zr₂O₇/PU coated leather composites showed obviously improved mechanical properties, as the tensile strength of La-doped Sm₂Zr₂O₇/PU coated leather composites increased from 6.3 to 8.4 MPa. The as-prepared La-doped Sm₂Zr₂O₇/PU coated leather composites with enhanced mechanical properties and highly efficient photocatalytic performance hold promising applications in the treatment of indoor volatile organic compounds.

Thermoplastic composite structures possess superior properties compared with thermosetting composites, including recyclability and high damage tolerance. However, the poor adhesion properties of thermoplastic composites make their joining process challenging. In this research, three bonding techniques, namely adhesive, mechanical joining, and hybrid bonding, are investigated using lap shear specimens to evaluate their mechanical properties and failure modes. The stress distributions at the joints of the three bonding techniques are analyzed by numerical simulation. The findings demonstrate that hybrid bonding enhances the strength of composite joints, albeit at the expense of some stiffness due to the presence of an open hole. This method is particularly suitable for applications that necessitate robust connections requiring high strength.