A molecular configuration-driven interfacial engineering strategy for constructing high-performance carbon fiber/epoxy composites

Cytokines of the common γ-chain family (IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21) are pivotal in regulating immune responses and hold significant promise for cancer immunotherapy. However, their clinical efficacy has been hindered by short serum half-life, pleiotropic off-target effects, and dose-limiting systemic toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements designed to overcome these limitations. Molecular engineering strategies, including PEGylation, Fc-fusion, muteins, and next-generation approaches like pro-cytokines and split-cytokines, which aim to enhance stability and receptor specificity. To minimize systemic toxicity and achieve high, tumor-localized cytokine concentrations, a variety of innovative delivery systems have been developed, ranging from polymer- and lipid-based nanoparticles to biological vehicles such as oncolytic viruses and cell-based therapies. Furthermore, these delivery systems are designed to respond to both intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli, enabling spatial and temporal control over cytokine activity. By synthesizing current progress and remaining challenges, this review outlines the future trajectory of cytokine-based therapeutics in achieving precise and safe anti-tumor immunity.

The emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria and the lack of novel antibiotics to combat them have led to the revival of polymyxin B, a previously abandoned antibiotic due to its potential nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity. To facilitate its widely clinical applications, increasing effort has been devoted to molecularly engineer polymyxin B for the targeted imaging and effective treatment of bacterial infections. Herein, the molecular engineering strategies will be summarized in this mini review, with selected recent advances for illustration. Perspective of the challenges and trends in this exciting and eagerly anticipated research area will also be provided in the end. We hope this mini review will inspire researchers from diverse fields to bring forward the next wave of exploiting molecular engineering approaches to propel the “old” polymyxin B to “new” clinical significance in combating bacterial infections.

Balancing the activation of H2O is crucial for highly selective CO2 electroreduction (CO2RR), as the protonation steps of CO2RR require fast H2O dissociation kinetics, while suppressing hydrogen evolution (HER) demands slow H2O reduction. We herein proposed one molecular engineering strategy to regulate the H2O activation using aprotic organic small molecules with high Gutmann donor number as a solvation shell regulator. These organic molecules occupy the first solvation shell of K+ and accumulates in the electrical double layer, decreasing the H2O density at the interface and the relative content of proton suppliers (free and coordinated H2O), suppressing the HER. The adsorbed H2O was stabilized via second sphere effect and its dissociation was promoted by weakening the O-H bond, which accelerates the subsequent *CO2 protonation kinetics and reduces the energy barrier from 0.93 to 0.42 eV. In the model electrolyte containing 5 M dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as an additive (KCl-DMSO-5), the highest CO selectivity over Ag foil increased to 99.2%, with FECO higher than 90.0% within -0.75 to -1.15 V (vs. RHE). This molecular engineering strategy for cation solvation shell can be extended to other metal electrodes, such as Zn and Sn, and organic molecule like N,N-dimethylformamide.

Our aim has been the design of optimized NLO-phores with very high two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-sections (s2) in the red-NIR region, while maintaining high linear transparency and high fluorescence quantum yield. Our molecular engineering strategy is based on the push-push or pull-pull functionalization of semi-rigid nanoscale conjugated systems. The central building blocks were selected as rigid units that may assist quadrupolar intramolecular charge transfer by acting either as a (weak) donor or acceptor core. Quadrupolar molecules derived either from a phenyl unit, a rigidified biphenyl moiety or a fused bithiophene unit have been considered. Conjugated oligomers made of phenylene-vinylene and/or phenylene-ethynylene units were selected as connecting spacers between the core and the electroactive end groups to ensure effective electronic conjugation while maintaining suitable transparency/fluorescence. The TPA cross-sections were determined by investigating the two-photon-excited fluorescence properties using a Ti:sapphire laser delivering fs pulses. Both the nature of the end groups and of the core moiety play an important role in determining the TPA spectra. In addition, by adjusting the length and nature of the conjugated extensor, both amplification and spectral tuning of TPA cross-sections can be achieved. As a result, push-push fluorophores which demonstrate giant TPA cross-sections (up to 3000 GM) in the visible red, high fluorescence quantum yields and good transparency in the visible range have been obtained.

Review for "Molecular engineering and electrolyte optimization strategies for enhanced performance of Ru(<scp>ii</scp>) polypyridyl-sensitized DSSCs"

Decision letter for "Molecular engineering and electrolyte optimization strategies for enhanced performance of Ru(<scp>ii</scp>) polypyridyl-sensitized DSSCs"

To overcome the challenges of low catalytic activity and instability, a molecular weight engineering strategy coupled with oxidative ammonolysis is developed to synthesize CoRu-based alloy catalysts with distinct morphologies and properties from biorefinery lignin. This approach effectively modulates intrinsic active sites and exposes unsaturated nitrogen-oxygen structures, thereby tailoring the morphology and defect structure of the carbon layers in the catalysts. The as-synthesized CoRu alloy catalysts from lignin precursors with varying molecular weights are designated as CoRu@OALC-EtOAC, CoRu@OALC-EtOH, and CoRu@OALC-Residual. CoRu@OALC-EtOAC, featuring a defect-rich graphitic carbon-coated CoRu alloy structure, exhibited exceptional overall water-splitting performance (1.48 V at 10 mAcm-2), significantly surpassing Pt/C || Ru/C (1.58 V at 10 mAcm-2). In contrast, CoRu@OALC-Residual, with its amorphous carbon-coated CoRu alloy structure, demonstrated remarkable stability (350 h at 100 mAcm-2), vastly outperforming Pt/C || Ru/C (6 h at 100 mAcm-2). In-situ Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations revealed that the defect-rich carbon layers effectively adsorb *H intermediates, accelerating the catalytic process. This strong adsorption also induces carbon layer rearrangement, leading to its dissolution of the carbon layer and oxidation of CoRu metal particles. This strategy provides a universal method for biomass-derived catalysts, establishing a direct relationship between molecular weight, catalyst morphology, and electrocatalytic performance.

Treating cancer with organic materials that absorb light and release heat offers the possibility of more targeted therapy with reduced side effects. However, the low photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) in many organic materials means that high laser powers are needed, raising safety concerns and limiting clinical adoption. Here, we present a molecular design strategy that achieves excellent efficiency in converting light to heat for cancer treatment. By engineering molecules in which key chemical groups are locked at right angles, we created structures that can hold separated electrical charges for extended periods while efficiently converting this energy into heat. An embodiment of this material that we term MNTPAA achieved a PCE of 91.47% under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation. In a mouse model of aggressive breast tumors, MNTPAA/NIR treatment not only eliminated the cancer but also stimulated the immune system against recurrence. This molecular engineering strategy provides an effective approach to constructing highly efficient light-activated materials. It facilitates the rational design of additional systems featuring long-lived charge separation states, supporting the development of versatile photothermal agents with enhanced therapeutic efficacy.

As a pivotal biocatalyst in sustainable biotechnology, transglutaminase (TGase, EC 2.3.2.13) has emerged as a versatile molecular tool with transformative applications spanning food science, biomedicine, and green materials. This review critically synthesizes the natural diversity, catalytic mechanisms, and structure-activity relationships of TGases across biological kingdoms, highlighting cutting-edge molecular engineering strategies to enhance production efficiency, thermal stability, and catalytic precision. These strategies include promoter design, secretion pathway optimization, pro-peptide modification, and structure-guided rational design. TGase's distinctive protein assembly functionality, enabling texture and structure enhancement, conflicts with industrial scalability due to prohibitive biosynthesis costs, stringent ambient control demands, and unpredictable performance in complex matrices. Concurrently, this review explores frontier applications, including hybrid protein restructuring, dairy matrices stabilization, plant-based food architecture engineering, and functional biodegradable packaging advancement. By integrating enzymological innovation with industrial imperatives, this synthesis positions TGase as a cornerstone for sustainable, resource-efficient food technologies while delineating pivotal research priorities to address current translational gaps.

Electronic skin (e-skin), which mimics the tactile and multimodal sensing functions of human skin, is emerging as a key technology for wearable healthcare and human-machine interfaces. All-organic piezoelectric composites owing to their intrinsic flexibility and skin conformability represent attractive candidates for e-skin development. However, achieving a high piezoelectric performance, long-term stability, and mechanical compliance simultaneously remains a critical challenge. Here, we report a phytic acid (PA)-assisted molecular engineering strategy to fabricate P(VDF-co-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE)/PA composites with a high piezoelectric charge coefficient (87 pC N-1) and voltage coefficient (614 mV m N-1), as well as durability. Strong hydrogen bonding between PA hydroxyl groups and PVDF-TrFE chains promotes β-phase crystallization and stabilizes the piezoelectric structure. Meanwhile, the high dielectric constant of phosphate groups enhances the dipole polarization efficiency. Building on this composite, we developed a high-performance piezoelectric skin (pe-skin), which exhibits high sensitivity (35 mV kPa-1), a fast response (∼70 ms), and robust stability. The resulting pe-skin enables real-time physiological monitoring, precise pressure mapping, and smart human-machine interfaces. Overall, this work highlights a promising pathway toward the construction of high-performance pe-skin for healthcare, robotics, and human-machine interfaces.

Type 2 diabetes is exploding globally. Despite numerous treatment options, nearly half of type 2 diabetics are unsuccessful at properly managing the disease, primarily due to a lack of patient compliance, driven by adverse side effects as well as complicated and frequent dosing schedules. Improving the delivery of type 2 diabetes drugs has the potential to increase patient compliance and thus, greatly enhance health outcomes and quality of life. This review focuses on molecular and materials engineering strategies that have been implemented to improve the delivery of peptide drugs to treat type 2 diabetes. Peptide drugs benefit from high potency and specificity but suffer from instability and short half-lives that limit their utility as therapeutics and pose a significant delivery challenge. Several approaches have been developed to improve the availability and efficacy of antidiabetic peptides and proteins in vivo. These methods are reviewed herein and include devices, which sustain the release of peptides in long term, and molecular engineering strategies, which prolong circulation time and slow the release of therapeutic peptides. By optimizing the delivery of these peptides and proteins using these approaches, long-term glucose control can be achieved in type 2 diabetes patients.

Universal 4-qualifiable fluorene-based building blocks for potential optoelectronic applications

ABSTRACTThis comprehensive review provides an in‐depth examination of recent advances in thermoelectric (TE) materials based on conjugated polymers (CPs), emphasizing strategies aimed at enhancing their performance for energy harvesting applications. CP‐based TE materials have garnered significant interest due to their inherently low thermal conductivity, mechanical flexibility, lightweight nature, and the easy tunability of molecular structures. Despite these advantages, their commercialization remains limited by challenges such as modest TE performance and insufficient long‐term stability. This review explores key progress in molecular design, structural engineering, and doping strategies that have led to notable improvements in critical parameters such as electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and power factor, collectively enhancing the TE figure of merit (ZT). In addition, the article traces the historical development of CP‐based flexible TE generators for wearable and portable electronics, underscoring the importance of bridging the gap between material TE properties, mechanical properties, and device realization. image

High-voltage polyanionic cathodes, such as Na3V3(PO4)2F3 (NVPF), are pivotal for high-energy-density sodium-ion batteries but are fundamentally constrained by severe parasitic reactions at the desodiated interface. These reactions driven by unsaturated vanadium sites and solvent enrichment cause rapid capacity fade. Herein, we propose a molecular interfacial engineering strategy using rationally designed organic phosphate additives. These additives stabilize vanadium via π-d orbital hybridization and regulate the interfacial microenvironment through three-dimensional steric shielding, passivating reactive species, and suppressing solvent enrichment. Guided by a descriptor-driven screening process (Mulliken charge, van der Waals volume, O 2p band center, ΔE (O 2p band center-V 3d band center)), tris(trimethylsilyl) phosphate (TMSP) is identified as the optimal electrolyte modifier. The TMSP-tailored electrolyte promotes in situ formation of a thin, compact, and inorganic-rich interphase on both the NVPF cathode and the hard carbon (HC) anode, effectively mitigating vanadium species dissolution and parasitic side reactions. Consequently, the 4.3V NVPF||HC pouch cell can deliver exceptional cycling stability, retaining 85.24% of its capacity after 1500 cycles (416.7 days) at 0.3 C, and achieve a high energy density of 161Wh kg- 1. This work establishes a design principle that couples orbital hybridization with steric shielding to construct ultra-stable interfaces in high-voltage battery systems.

Organic solar cells (OSCs) based on non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) have progressed rapidly, yet further gains are constrained by coupled challenges in vertical morphology control and energy alignment at the acceptor-cathode interface. Here, a molecular engineering strategy is presented that installs strongly polar phosphate ester groups onto the inner alkyl chains of the benchmark NFA L8-BO, yielding two derivatives-1POE and 2POE. Employed as non-volatile solid additives during layer-by-layer processing, these molecules induce vertical composition redistribution to form a graded donor-acceptor-additive architecture. The resulting vertical profiling strengthens intermolecular interactions, raises surface energy, and drives additive accumulation near the top interface, thereby improving interfacial energetics and facilitating electron extraction. Consequently, devices incorporating 2 wt.% 1POE or 2POE deliver power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 19.87% and 19.28%, respectively, versus 18.83% for controls, alongside enhanced operational stability. The strategy shows strong universality across multiple blends, achieving a PCE of 20.90% in a D18/L8-BO:BTP-eC9FCl ternary system. These results demonstrate that precise phosphate ester-based additive design enables concurrent optimization of vertical phase distribution and interfacial energetics, offering a practical route to high-efficiency, stable OSCs.