The dissemination of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) by lymph fluid is one of the key events in the development of tumor metastasis. However, little progress has been made in studying lymphatic CTCs (L-CTCs). Here, we demonstrate the detection of L-CTCs in preclinical mouse models of melanoma and breast cancer using in vivo high-sensitivity photoacoustic and fluorescent flow cytometry. We discovered that L-CTCs are be detected in pre-metastatic disease stage. The smallest primary tumor that shed L-CTCs was measured as 0.094mm×0.094mm, its volume was calculated as 0.0004 mm3; and its productivity was estimated as 1 L-CTC per 30 minutes. As the disease progressed, primary tumors continued releasing L-CTCs with certain individual dynamics. The integrated assessment of lymph and blood underlined the parallel dissemination of CTCs at all disease stages. However, the analysis of links between L-CTC counts, blood CTC (B-CTC) counts, primary tumor size and metastasis did not reveal statistically significant correlations, likely due to L-CTC heterogeneity. Altogether, our results showed the feasibility of our diagnostic platform using photoacoustic flow cytometry for preclinical L-CTC research with translational potential. Our findings also demonstrated new insights into lymphatic system involvement in CTC dissemination. They help to lay the scientific foundation for the consideration of L-CTCs as prognostic markers of metastasis and to emphasize the integrative assessment of lymph and blood.
Abstract Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is a sustainable alternative to the Haber‒Bosch process for ammonia (NH 3 ) production. However, the significant uphill energy in the multistep NRR pathway is a bottleneck for favorable serial reactions. To overcome this challenge, we designed a vanadium oxide/nitride (V 2 O 3 /VN) hybrid electrocatalyst in which V 2 O 3 and VN coexist coherently at the heterogeneous interface. Since single‐phase V 2 O 3 and VN exhibit different surface catalytic kinetics for NRR, the V 2 O 3 /VN hybrid electrocatalyst can provide alternating reaction pathways, selecting a lower energy pathway for each material in the serial NRR pathway. As a result, the ammonia yield of the V 2 O 3 /VN hybrid electrocatalyst was 219.6 µg h −1 cm −2 , and the Faradaic efficiency was 18.9%, which is much higher than that of single‐phase VN, V 2 O 3 , and VN x O y solid solution catalysts without heterointerfaces. Density functional theory calculations confirmed that the composition of these hybrid electrocatalysts allows NRR to proceed from a multistep reduction reaction to a low‐energy reaction pathway through the migration and adsorption of intermediate species. Therefore, the design of metal oxide/nitride hybrids with coherent heterointerfaces provides a novel strategy for synthesizing highly efficient electrochemical catalysts that induce steps favorable for the efficient low‐energy progression of NRR.
We report a simple and quick route for the preparation of high-quality, nearly monodisperse $Bi_2Te_3$, $Sb_2Te_3$, and $Bi_xSb_{2-x}-Te_3$ nanocrystallites. The reactions of bismuth acetate or antimony acetate with Te in oleic acid result in pure phase of $Bi_2Te_3$ or $Sb_2Te_3$ nanoparticles, respectively. Also, ternary $Bi_xSb_{2-x}Te_3$ nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using the same method. The size and morphology of the nanoparticles were controlled by varying the stabilizing agents. The as-prepared nanoparticles are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and high-resolution transmission electron microscope using an energy dispersive spectroscopy.
Gepresste Bi-Nanokristalle, die durch eine einfache Kolloidmethode erhalten wurden, zeigten sehr hohe elektrische Leitfähigkeiten von 104–105 S m−1 bei einer extrem niedrigen thermischen Leitfähigkeit von 0.35 W m−1 K−1. Die Synthesemethode kann für die kostengünstige Herstellung von hoch effizienten thermoelektrischen Materialien durch gezielten Größenzuschnitt der Nanokristalle genutzt werden (siehe Bild; Skalierung 50 nm; ZT=Gütezahl). Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as ”Supporting Information”. Such documents are peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They are made available as submitted by the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
Water Splitting In article number 2200572, In Sun Cho, Uk Sim, and co-workers present accelerated water splitting with sulphur-rich Co-NiO heterostructure encapsulated on N-rich carbon nanofibers ([email protected]) synthesized via a simple and efficient electrospinning technique. The design and engineering of multiple active elements in a single electrocatalyst is anticipated as an effective approach to establish an efficient and sustainable water splitting system.
Thermoelectricity and Seebeck effect have long been observed and validated in bulk materials. With the development of advanced tools of materials characterization, here we report the first observation of such an effect in the nanometer scale: in situ directional sputtering of several thermoelectric materials inside electron microscopes. The temperature gradient introduced by the electron beam creates a voltage-drop across the samples, which enhances spontaneous sputtering of specimen ions. The sputtering occurs along a preferential direction determined by the direction of the temperature gradient. A large number of nanoparticles form and accumulate away from the beam location as a result. The sputtering and re-crystallization are found to occur at temperatures far below the melting points of bulk materials. The sputtering occurs even when a liquid nitrogen cooling holder is used to keep the overall temperature at −170 °C. This unique phenomenon that occurred in the nanometer scale may provide useful clues to understanding the mechanism of thermoelectric effect.
Abstract Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Tae‐Soo You at the Chungbuk National University, Republic of Korea. The cover image shows how the spilled pieces of Li metal are serendipitously inserted into the space within the double‐deck anionic layers composed of Cu and P and eventually form the Li‐filled double‐deck layered structure that has been studied.
'%3e%3cg id='b'%3e%3cpath id='a' stroke='%23000' stroke-width='2' d='M-6-25H6m-12 3H6m-12 3H6'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' y='44'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' d='M0 17v10'/%3e%3ccircle r='12' fill='%23cd2e3a'/%3e%3cpath fill='%230047a0' d='M0-12A6 6 0 0 0 0 0a6 6 0 0 1 0 12 12 12 0 0 1 0-24z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cg transform='rotate(-123.69)'%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23b'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' d='M0-23.5v3M0 17v3.5m0 3v3'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)