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The enhanced photocatalytic performance of CeO₂/TiO₂ heterostructured nanobelts is attributed to a novel capture–photodegradation–release degradation mechanism. During the photocatalytic process, MO molecules are captured by CeO₂ nanoparticles on the surface of the heterostructure, then quickly photodegraded under UV or visible light irradiation, and ultimately the degradation products are released to external environment.

A set of experiments comparing the cytotoxicity and uptake behavior of silica nanoparticles into cells is presented. Human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) are more efficient in nanoparticle uptake than cervix carcinoma cells (HeLa), within the first 4 h of incubation. After 10 or 24 h, the mean number of intracellular particles for HeLa cells increases dramatically, becoming larger than the one for HUVECs. HUVECs show increased sensitivity towards silica nanoparticles when compared to HeLa cells. These results show nanotoxicity has to be assessed for each cell type individually.

The presence of OmpF membrane proteins at the bilayers of a bicontinuous cubic phase provides unique topological interconnectivities among the two distinct sets of water channels, enabling molecular active gating between them. This newly designed perforated cubic phase attains transport properties well beyond those of the standard mesophase, allowing faster, sustained release of bioactive target molecules.

Fertilization is central to the survival and propagation of a species, however, the precise mechanisms that regulate the sperm's journey to the egg are not well understood. In nature, the sperm has to swim through the cervical mucus, akin to a microfluidic channel. Inspired by this, a simple, cost-effective microfluidic channel is designed on the same scale. The experimental results are supported by a computational model incorporating the exhaustion time of sperm.