Natural leaves, with elaborate architectures and functional components, harvest and convert solar energy into chemical fuels that can be converted into energy based on photosynthesis. The energy produced leads to work done that inspired many autonomous systems such as light-triggered motion. On the basis of this nature-inspired phenomenon, we report an unprecedented bilayer-structured actuator based on MXene (Ti3C2Tx)–cellulose composites (MXCC) and polycarbonate membrane, which mimic not only the sophisticated leaf structure but also the energy-harvesting and conversion capabilities. The bilayer actuator features multiresponsiveness, low-power actuation, fast actuation speed, large-shape deformation, programmable adaptability, robust stability, and low-cost facile fabrication, which are highly desirable for modern soft actuator systems. We believe that these adaptive soft systems are attractive in a wide range of revolutionary technologies such as soft robots, smart switch, information encryption, infrared dynamic display, camouflage, and temperature regulation, as well as human-machine interface such as haptics.

No abstract

Organic–inorganic halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have reached certified efficiencies of over 23 % with expensive organic hole‐transporting materials. However, the use of an inorganic hole‐transport layer (HTL) remains crucial as it would reduce cost combined with higher mobility and stability. In this direction, the application of Cu2O as the top layer in PSCs is still complicated owing to the difficulty of solution processing. Herein, a solution‐processing method is reported for preparing Cu2O nanocubes as a p‐type HTL in regular structure (n‐i‐p) PSCs. The controlled synthesis of Cu2O nanocubes in a size range of 60–80 nm is achieved without using any surfactants, which are usually toxic and tricky to remove. The new structure of these Cu2O nanocubes enhances the carrier mobility with preferable energy alignment to the perovskite layer and superb stability. The PSCs based on these Cu2O nanocubes HTMs could achieve an efficiency exceeding 17 % with high stability, whereas organic P3HT‐based PSCs display an efficiency of 15.59 % with a poorer running stability. This indicates that Cu2O nanocubes are a promising HTM for efficient and stable PSCs.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) have been shown to regulate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis. In the present study, we focused on the functions of miR-1271 in HCC metastasis. The downregulation of miR-1271 was found to be associated with to venous infiltration, an advanced TNM stage (III+IV stage) and a shorter survival time. Our in vitro and in vivo data demonstrated that miR-1271 prevented HCC cell migration and invasion, as well as the formation of lung metastatic clusters. In addition, miR-1271 was demonstrated to markedly inhibit the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC cells. Importantly, protein tyrosine phosphatase type IVA member 1 (PTP4A1) was identified as a direct downstream target of miR-1271 in HCC. Furthermore, we confirmed that the phosphorylation of c-Src at Tyr416 mediated by PTP4A1 was a potential anti-HCC mechanism of action of miR-1271. On the whole, our data indicate that miR-1271 inhibits HCC metastasis by targeting the PTP4A1/c-Src signaling pathway and may serve as a prospective cancer therapeutic target for HCC.