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Chemotherapy combined with or without targeted therapy is the fundamental treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Due to the adverse effects of chemotherapeutic drugs and the biological characteristics of the tumor cells, it is difficult to make breakthroughs in traditional strategies. The immune checkpoint blockades (ICB) therapy has made significant progress in the treatment of advanced malignant tumors, and patients who benefit from this therapy may obtain a long-lasting response. Unfortunately, immunotherapy is only effective in a limited number of patients with microsatellite instability—high (MSI-H), and segment initial responders can subsequently develop acquired resistance. From September 4, 2014, the first anti-PD-1/PD-L1 drug Pembrolizumab was approved by the FDA for the second-line treatment of advanced malignant melanoma. Subsequently, it was approved for mCRC second-line treatment in 2017. Immunotherapy has rapidly developed in the past 7 years. The in-depth research of the ICB treatment indicated that the mechanism of colorectal cancer immune-resistance has become gradually clear, and new predictive biomarkers are constantly emerging. Clinical trials examining the effect of immune checkpoints are actively carried out, in order to produce long-lasting effects for mCRC patients. This review summarizes the treatment strategies for mCRC patients, discusses the mechanism and application of ICB in mCRC treatment, outlines the potential markers of the ICB efficacy, lists the key results of the clinical trials, and collects the recent basic research results, in order to provide a theoretical basis and practical direction for immunotherapy strategies.

The activity levels of key substances (metal ions, reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen, biological small molecules, etc.) in organisms are closely related to intracellular redox reactions, disease occurrence and treatment, as well as drug absorption and distribution. Fluorescence imaging technology provides a visual tool for medicine, showing great potential in the fields of molecular biology, cellular immunology and oncology. In recent years, organic fluorescent probes have attracted much attention in the bioanalytical field. Among various organic fluorescent probes, fluorescent organic small molecule probes (FOSMPs) have become a research hotspot due to their excellent physicochemical properties, such as good photostability, high spatial and temporal resolution, as well as excellent biocompatibility. FOSMPs have proved to be suitable for in vivo bioimaging and detection. On the basis of the introduction of several primary fluorescence mechanisms, the latest progress of FOSMPs in the applications of bioimaging and detection is comprehensively reviewed. Following this, the preparation and application of fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONPs) that are designed with FOSMPs as fluorophores are overviewed. Additionally, the prospects of FOSMPs in bioimaging and detection are discussed.

The immune response holds a pivotal role in cardiovascular disease development. As multifunctional cells of the innate immune system, macrophages play an essential role in initial inflammatory response that occurs following cardiovascular injury, thereby inducing subsequent damage while also facilitating recovery. Meanwhile, the diverse phenotypes and phenotypic alterations of macrophages strongly associate with distinct types and severity of cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease, valvular disease, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, atherosclerosis and aneurysm, which underscores the importance of investigating macrophage regulatory mechanisms within the context of specific diseases. Besides, recent strides in single-cell sequencing technologies have revealed macrophage heterogeneity, cell–cell interactions, and downstream mechanisms of therapeutic targets at a higher resolution, which brings new perspectives into macrophage-mediated mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets in cardiovascular diseases. Remarkably, myocardial fibrosis, a prevalent characteristic in most cardiac diseases, remains a formidable clinical challenge, necessitating a profound investigation into the impact of macrophages on myocardial fibrosis within the context of cardiac diseases. In this review, we systematically summarize the diverse phenotypic and functional plasticity of macrophages in regulatory mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases and unprecedented insights introduced by single-cell sequencing technologies, with a focus on different causes and characteristics of diseases, especially the relationship between inflammation and fibrosis in cardiac diseases (myocardial infarction, pressure overload, myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, diabetic cardiomyopathy and cardiac aging) and the relationship between inflammation and vascular injury in vascular diseases (atherosclerosis and aneurysm). Finally, we also highlight the preclinical/clinical macrophage targeting strategies and translational implications.

Formaldehyde, a ubiquitous indoor air pollutant, plays a significant role in various biological processes, posing both environmental and health challenges. This comprehensive review delves into the latest advancements in electrochemical methods for detecting formaldehyde, a compound of growing concern due to its widespread use and potential health hazards. This review underscores the inherent advantages of electrochemical techniques, such as high sensitivity, selectivity, and capability for real-time analysis, making them highly effective for formaldehyde monitoring. We explore the fundamental principles, mechanisms, and diverse methodologies employed in electrochemical formaldehyde detection, highlighting the role of innovative sensing materials and electrodes. Special attention is given to recent developments in nanotechnology and sensor design, which significantly enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of these detection systems. Moreover, this review identifies current challenges and discusses future research directions. Our aim is to encourage ongoing research and innovation in this field, ultimately leading to the development of advanced, practical solutions for formaldehyde detection in various environmental and biological contexts.

The long-chain fatty acyl CoA synthetase (ACSLs) family of enzymes contributes significantly to lipid metabolism and produces acyl-coenzyme A by catalyzing fatty acid oxidation. The dysregulation of ACSL3 and ACSL4, which belong to the five isoforms of ACSLs, plays a key role in cancer initiation, development, metastasis, and tumor immunity and may provide several possible therapeutic strategies. Moreover, ACSL3 and ACSL4 are crucial for ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic cell death triggered by the accumulation of membrane lipid peroxides due to iron overload. Here, we present a summary of the current knowledge on ACSL3 and ACSL4 and their functions in various cancers. Research on the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of ferroptosis is critical to developing targeted therapies for cancer.

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) based on Fenton or Fenton-like reactions is an emerging cancer treatment that can both effectively fight cancer and reduce side effects on normal cells and tissues, and it has made important progress in cancer treatment. The catalytic efficiency of Fenton nanocatalysts(F-NCs) directly determines the anticancer effect of CDT. To learn more about this new type of therapy, this review summarizes the recent development of F-NCs that are responsive to tumor microenvironment (TME), and detailedly introduces their material design and action mechanism. Based on the deficiencies of them, some effective strategies to significantly improve the anticancer efficacy of F-NCs are highlighted, which mainly includes increasing the temperature and hydrogen peroxide concentration, reducing the pH, glutathione (GSH) content, and the dependence of F-NCs on acidic environment in the TME. It also discusses the differences between the effect of multi-mode therapy with external energy (light and ultrasound) and the single-mode therapy of CDT. Finally, the challenges encountered in the treatment process, the future development direction of F-NCs, and some suggestions are analyzed to promote CDT to enter the clinical stage in the near future. Graphical Abstract

The tumormicroenvironment (TME) plays a key role in tumor progression. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which are natural immune cells abundantin the TME, are mainly divided into the anti-tumor M1 subtype and pro-tumor M2 subtype. Due to the high plasticity of TAMs, the conversion of the M1 to M2 phenotype in hypoxic and hypoglycemic TME promotes cancer progression, which is closely related to lipid metabolism. Key factors of lipid metabolism in TAMs, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor and lipoxygenase, promote the formation of a tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment and facilitate immune escape. In addition, tumor cells promote lipid accumulation in TAMs, causing TAMs to polarize to the M2 phenotype. Moreover, other factors of lipid metabolism, such as abhydrolase domain containing 5 and fatty acid binding protein, have both promoting and inhibiting effects on tumor cells. Therefore, further research on lipid metabolism in tumors is still required. In addition, statins, as core drugs regulating cholesterol metabolism, can inhibit lipid rafts and adhesion of tumor cells, which can sensitize them to chemotherapeutic drugs. Clinical studies on simvastatin and lovastatin in a variety of tumors are underway. This article provides a comprehensive review of the role of lipid metabolism in TAMs in tumor progression, and provides new ideas for targeting lipid metabolism in tumor therapy.

Inactive components and safety hazards are two critical challenges in realizing high-energy lithium-ion batteries. Metal foil current collectors with high density are typically an integrated part of lithium-ion batteries yet deliver no capacity. Meanwhile, high-energy batteries can entail increased fire safety issues. Here we report a composite current collector design that simultaneously minimizes the ‘dead weight’ within the cell and improves fire safety. An ultralight polyimide-based current collector (9 μm thick, specific mass 1.54 mg cm −2 ) is prepared by sandwiching a polyimide embedded with triphenyl phosphate flame retardant between two superthin Cu layers (~500 nm). Compared to lithium-ion batteries assembled with the thinnest commercial metal foil current collectors (~6 µm), batteries equipped with our composite current collectors can realize a 16–26% improvement in specific energy and rapidly self-extinguish fires under extreme conditions such as short circuits and thermal runaway. Batteries need to be energy-dense as well as safe. Yi Cui and team develop an ultralight polyimide-based current collector with embedded fire retardants that enables lithium-ion batteries with much-enhanced safety and energy density.

Cisplatin derivatives are first-line chemotherapeutic agents for epithelial ovarian cancer. However, chemoresistance remains a major hurdle for successful therapy and the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood at present. RNA sequencing of organoids (PDO) established from cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant ovarian cancer tissue samples was performed. Glucose metabolism, cell senescence, and chemosensitivity properties were subsequently examined. Immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, Fӧrster resonance energy transfer-fluorescence lifetime imaging (FRET-FLIM), luciferase reporter assay, ChIP and animal experiments were conducted to gain insights into the specific functions and mechanisms of action of the serine/threonine kinase, Aurora-A, in ovarian cancer. Aurora-A levels were significantly enhanced in cisplatin-resistant PDO. Furthermore, Aurora-A promoted chemoresistance through suppression of cell senescence and induction of glucose metabolism in ovarian cancer organoids and cells. Mechanistically, Aurora-A bound directly to the transcription factor sex determining region Y-box 8 (SOX8) and phosphorylated the Ser327 site, in turn, regulating genes related to cell senescence and glycolysis, including hTERT, P16, LDHA and HK2, through enhancement of forkhead-box k1 (FOXK1) expression. Aurora-A regulates cell senescence and glucose metabolism to induce cisplatin resistance by participating in the SOX8/FOXK1 signaling axis in ovarian cancer. Our collective findings highlight a novel mechanism of cisplatin resistance and present potential therapeutic targets to overcome chemoresistance in ovarian cancer.

Since the successful separation of graphene from its bulk counterpart, two-dimensional (2D) layered materials have become the focus of research for their exceptional properties. The layered hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), for instance, offers good lubricity, electrical insulation, corrosion resistance, and chemical stability. In recent years, the wide-band-gap layered h-BN has been recognized for its broad application prospects in neutron detection and quantum information processing. In addition, it has become very important in the field of 2D crystals and van der Waals heterostructures due to its versatility as a substrate, encapsulation layer, and a tunneling barrier layer for various device applications. However, due to the poor adhesion between h-BN and substrate and its high preparation temperature, it is very difficult to prepare large-area and denseh-BN films. Therefore, the controllable synthesis of h-BN films has been the focus of research in recent years. In this paper, the preparation methods and applications of h-BN films on III–V compounds are systematically summarized, and the prospects are discussed.