We identified three RORγt-specific inhibitors that suppress T helper 17 (Th17) cell responses including Th17 cell-mediated autoimmune disease. We systemically characterized RORγt binding in the presence and absence of drug with corresponding whole-genome transcriptome sequencing. RORγt acts both as a direct activator of Th17 cell signature genes and as a direct repressor of signature genes from other T-cell lineages, with the strongest transcriptional effects on cis-regulatory sites containing the RORα binding motif. RORγt is central in a densely interconnected regulatory network that shapes the balance of T-cell differentiation. The three inhibitors identified here modulated the RORγt-dependent transcriptional network to varying extents and through distinct mechanisms. Whereas one inhibitor displaced RORγt from its target-loci, the two more potent inhibitors affected transcription predominantly without removing DNA-binding. Our work illustrates the power of a system-scale analysis of transcriptional regulation to characterize potential therapeutic compounds that inhibit pathogenic Th17 cells and suppress autoimmunity.

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A dual-targeting biomimetic codelivery and treatment strategy was developed for anti-glioma activity.

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In recent years, the rapidly growing attention on MXenes makes the material a rising star in the 2D materials family. Although most researchers' interests are still focused on the properties of bare MXenes, little attention has been paid to the surface chemistry of MXenes and MXene‐based nanocomposites. To this end, this Review offers a comprehensive discussion on surface modified MXene‐based nanocomposites for energy conversion and storage (ECS) applications. Based on the structure and reaction mechanism, the related synthesis methods toward MXenes are briefly summarized. After the discussion of existing surface modification techniques, the surface modified MXene‐based nanocomposites and their inherent chemical principles are presented. Finally, the application of these surface modified nanocomposites for supercapacitors (SCs), lithium/sodium–ion batteries (LIBs/SIBs), and electrocatalytic water splitting is discussed. The challenges and prospects of MXene‐based nanocomposites for future ECS applications are also presented.

A multi-interfacial Ni/WC@NC electrocatalyst exhibits highly efficient HER performance over a wide pH range via synergistic electron and mass transfer processes.

Reducing Cu(OH)4(2-) with hydrazine hydrate and glucose in the presence of a structure-directing surfactant at room temperature gave Cu and Cu2O nanotubes/nanorods, respectively, whereas facile hydrothermal treatment of Cu(OH)4(2-) precursor resulted in CuO nanotubes/nanorods.

During the exploration of highly efficient noble-metal-free electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), a promising and challenging strategy is to fabricate composite nanocatalysts by finely tuning metal and/or nonmetal element components. Herein, we report a new HER electrocatalyst, which is composed of molybdenum phosphide and molybdenum carbide composite nanoparticles (NPs) coated by few-layer N-doped graphitic carbon shells (denoted as MoP/MoC@C). Such a new combination mode of electrocatalysts is realized by a one-step annealing route with the mixture of a Mo/P-based polyoxometalate (POM) and dicyandiamide. On the basis of this method, the simultaneous phosphorization and carbonization in a nanoscale confined space can be easily achieved by the use of POM as the molecular-element-regulating platform. MoP/MoC@C exhibits more remarkable HER performance over the whole pH range than those of MoP, MoC, and the physical mixture of MoP and MoC. The low overpotentials of 89, 136, and 75 mV were obtained at a current density of 10 mA cm in the media of pH = 0, 7, and 14, respectively. Furthermore, MoP/MoC@C shows a long-term durability for 14 h over the entire pH range (0-14). Because of the protection of carbon shells, such composite electrocatalyst also possesses better transition-metal tolerance exemplified by Fe, Co, and Ni than that of 20% commercial Pt/C. This work demonstrates the advantage of POM precursors in adjusting the component and properties of nanoscale composite electrocatalysts for HER, which may suggest new options for the fabrication of highly efficient composite electrocatalysts.