Shantou University

As multiple imaging modalities cannot reliably diagnose cardiac tumors, the molecular approach offers alternative ways to detect rare ones. One such molecular approach is CRISPR-based diagnostics (CRISPR-Dx). CRISPR-Dx enables visual readout, portable diagnostics, and rapid and multiplex detection of nucleic acids such as microRNA (miRNA). Dysregulation of miRNA expressions has been associated with cardiac tumors such as atrial myxoma and angiosarcoma. Diverse CRISPR-Dx systems have been developed to detect miRNA in recent years. These CRISPR-Dx systems are generally classified into four classes, depending on the Cas proteins used (Cas9, Cas12, Cas13, or Cas12f). CRISPR/Cas systems are integrated with various isothermal amplifications to detect low-abundance miRNAs. Amplification-free CRISPR-Dx systems have also been recently developed to detect miRNA directly. Herein, we critically discuss the advances, pitfalls, and future perspectives for these CRISPR-Dx systems in detecting miRNA, focusing on the diagnosis and prognosis of cardiac tumors.

Cuprous oxide (Cu₂O), which has an appropriate band gap, is widely used as a marine antifouling biocide.This makes it increasingly valuable for photocatalytic antibacterial applications.Using crystal engineering technol. to create Cu₂O with tailored Cu₂O/Cu interfaces and crystal planes can effectively enhance its performance but presents challenges.Herein, we report a simple wet chem. method for the controlled preparation of Cu₂O@Cu hollow heterostructure.Exptl. results demonstrate that the prepared composites exhibited highly efficient and broad-spectrum photocatalytic antibacterial effects against both Gram-neg. and Gram-pos. bacteria, achieving 100% antibacterial efficiency under 10 min of irradiation, much more effective than the bulk Cu₂O.Characterization results show that a hollow spherical structure consisted of fine Cu₂O@Cu nanoparticles in their wall, and the generated interfaces facilitated the migration and separation of photogenerated charge carriers and promoted the formation of hydroxyl radicals with stronger oxidizing abilities.Meanwhile, the Cu outside layer of each Cu₂O@Cu particle not only acted as a shield to protect Cu₂O from corrosion but also served as an electron acceptor to efficiently transfer photogenerated electrons, thereby demonstrating highly effective and stable antibacterial performance.This study not only offers a valuable reference for developing highly efficient and universal photocatalytic materials but also provides insight into the chem. reaction in the photocatalytic antibacterial process.

The synthesis of stable and efficient porous adsorbents for adsorptive capture and recovery of SO₂ from flue gas is of great importance for minimizing air pollution and reducing costs.Herein, by choosing trifluoroacetic acid as modulator, the single crystal UiO-67-(NH₂)₂ has been successfully synthesized benefitting crystal structure determinationThe stability tests, gas adsorption measurements, and breakthrough experiments demonstrated that single-crystal UiO-67-(NH₂)₂ possesses moderate acid-base and hydrothermal stability, and exhibited high SO₂ uptake (19.72 mmol/g, 298 K and 1 bar), good SO₂/CO₂ separation selectivity (110.3∼33.3, SO₂/CO₂ = 10/90), and excellent SO₂ recovery purity (93.3 %).However, the instability of the UiO-67-(NH₂)₂ framework, combined with the strong corrosive and reactive properties of SO₂, can lead to partial collapse of the framework during the adsorption and capture process.This ultimately results in a decreased SO₂ capture performance over time.In-situ DRIFT, GCMC simulation and DFT calculations revealed that the μ₃-OH of Zr₆O₄(OH)₄ clusters and the -NH₂ groups of the ligand can form multiple hydrogen bonds with SO₂ mols.This ensures that SO₂ mols. are firmly grasped by UiO-67-(NH₂)₂ framework and facilitate the efficiently selective capture of SO₂ at low concentration