A novel combination of silybin and carvedilol is firstly confirmed to synergistically block hepatic stellate cell activation by targeting the Wnt4/β-catenin signaling pathway, and its 50:1 fixed ratio in vivo can reverse liver fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner, providing a scientific and practical experimental basis for the clinical translation of liver fibrosis therapy.

A method using a “green” solvent made from ethylenediamine and choline chloride is provided to restructure industrial lignin. The process significantly increases the active sites on lignin while preventing unwanted clumping, transforming a low-value byproduct of the paper industry into a viable substitute for petroleum-based materials.

Researchers have developed an ultrathin yet ultrastrong hydrogel membrane that enables robust and conformal integration between electronic devices and biological tissues. The ~10 μm-thick material combines high strength, exceptional toughness, and tissue-like softness through a biomimetic microfibrillar network design. It supports multimodal sensing and stimulation while maintaining stable contact with complex 3D tissues, offering new opportunities for wearable and implantable bioelectronics.

Researchers now report an yttrium-based MOF, Y-ebdc, featuring cage-type structures that accommodate protonated dimethylamine (DMA) as both counter cations and molecular sieving gates. Subsequent optimization of the adsorption separation performance for propylene/propane (C₃H₆/C₃H₈) was achieved through regulation of DMA’s thermal decomposition. With approximately 70% of DMA removed, the expanded aperture window and increased pore volume remarkably enhance dynamic C₃H₆ uptake while simultaneously facilitating the direct production of polymer-grade (>99.5%) C₃H₆ in a single adsorption–desorption cycle.

Large-area and free-standing photonic crystal polymer films exhibit highly saturated iridescence and robust structural colors, making them promising for applications in the field of display, anti-counterfeiting, and camouflage. However, their practical utilization has been hindered by challenges in achieving both vivid coloration and reusability. Professor Suli Wu's team at Dalian University of Technology has developed a sandwich-structured PC film that overcomes this limitation. Fabricated through colloidal self-assembly on porous paper substrates and polymer encapsulation, the film features a PC core protected by two polymer layers, exhibiting a synergistic effect that ensures excellent color fastness (withstanding 100 rubbing cycles), bright iridescence, flexibility, and reusability. By replacing the bottom layer with adhesive, a versatile PC sticker adaptable to various surfaces can be created, offering a new approach to functional iridescent polymer films.

A research team has developed an innovative nanodrug platform, NP_β-lap+PRO, for precise non-small cell lung cancer treatment. This system combines NQO1 bioactivation therapy with PROTAC technology and overcome drug solubility and targeting limitations. The design features a PLGA nanoparticle core co-encapsulating β-lapachone and a PARP1-targeting PROTAC molecule, shielded by a pH-responsive gadolinium-tannic acid shell. The platform's paramagnetic properties enable MRI tracking of drug distribution. Experiments confirm effective tumor accumulation and pH-triggered drug release. In A549 models, the system induces PARP1 degradation, disrupts DNA repair, and amplifies β-lap-NQO1-reactive oxygen species production, resulting in enhanced DNA damage and apoptosis.