Pola Chemical Industries, Inc.

Monodisperse nanodroplet generation in quenched hydrothermal solution (MAGIQ) represents a bottom-up strategy for nanoemulsion preparation. In this process, a homogeneous alkane solution in supercritical water is rapidly quenched by mixing with cold, surfactant-containing water, triggering phase separation and spontaneous self-assembly of oil molecules into nanodroplets. Inspired by the dynamic thermal environments of deep-sea hydrothermal vents, this method ensures only transient exposure of alkanes to elevated temperatures, thereby minimizing thermal degradation. However, its applicability to alkyl esters, an important class of oils widely used in practical formulations but prone to hydrolysis under extreme aqueous conditions, remains unexplored. Here, we applied the MAGIQ process to prepare nanoemulsions of two alkyl esters commonly used in cosmetic formulations-hexyl dodecanoate and 2-ethylhexyl hexadecanoate-in water. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the dissolution of these esters in sub- and supercritical water. Oil-in-water nanoemulsions were successfully generated through the MAGIQ process, with spontaneous nanodroplet formation upon quenching. Remarkably, hydrolysis of the alkyl esters was negligible, likely due to the brief high-temperature exposure and suppressed water ionization near the critical point. These findings significantly extend the scope of emulsifiable oils and demonstrate the versatility of the MAGIQ process beyond alkanes.

Electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction at intermediate temperatures (100-150 °C) has been expected to have many advantages from reaction kinetics and product selectivity viewpoints, but the reaction attempt has been strictly hindered because of the difficulties of membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) fabrication and the limited selection of electrolyte consisting of proton (H⁺)-conductive materials. In this study, we fabricated an MEA for the electrocatalytic reduction of gaseous CO₂ at the intermediate temperatures. Cyclic voltammetry of ferrocene in a H-cell separated by a membrane of [Zn(HPO₄)(H₂PO₄)₂](ImH₂)₂ glass (1g, Im = imidazolate) confirmed their H⁺-exchange ability and stability in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone at 120 °C. We prepared an MEA with 1g and confirmed higher catalytic activity and reactant selectivity at 120 °C than at 30 and 80 °C and observed over 99% product selectivity to carbon monoxide (CO) at 80 and 120 °C.

The hair cycle is a valuable model for studying tissue remodeling processes in adult mammals. Time course single-cell transcriptomics offers a powerful approach for characterizing changes in cellular states and interactions; however, its application in human tissues remains challenging. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on 19 human skin tissues, each containing a single hair follicle. We reconstructed a pseudotemporal progression of the hair cycle-termed the "pseudo-hair cycle"-by computationally ordering samples according to their gene expression profiles. The pseudo-hair cycle delineates the continuum of gene expression changes occurring in 16 distinct epithelial and dermal cell populations throughout the hair cycle, revealing specific cellular states and interactions. We identified hair follicle keratinocytes, dermal sheath fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, and leukocytes as key contributors to tissue remodeling during catagen. Our study provides a high-resolution temporal dataset for investigating the dynamic molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying skin remodeling in humans.