Weekly Advanced Technologies〔73〕| High Efficiency and Stability: A New Generation of Active Molecules for Aqueous Organic Flow Batteries; Targeting STING Activation: A Breakthrough in Improving Survival After Radiation Damage

Aqueous organic flow batteries (AOFBs) have garnered attention due to their safety and resource adjustability, yet they face the challenge of low energy density. Recent advancements in battery technology have employed an innovative asymmetric pyrene-based molecular material, achieving a remarkable energy density of 59.6 Wh/L. The material demonstrates exceptional thermal stability and cycling performance, marking a significant breakthrough in high-performance energy storage systems and paving the way for more efficient energy storage solutions.

A recent study has uncovered a novel mechanism by which the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) directly promotes cell apoptosis in response to DNA damage caused by acute ionizing radiation through a newly identified pathway (PARP1-PAR-STING). The research demonstrates that inhibiting this pathway significantly improves the survival rate of irradiated mice and alleviates intestinal damage, offering new insights for combating radiation injury.

Based on the weekly diary of technology provided by the daily list of the NCSTI online service platform, we launch the column "Weekly Advanced Technologies" at the hotlist of sci-tech innovation. Today, let's check out No.73.

1. JACS丨High Efficiency and Stability: A New Generation of Active Molecules for Aqueous Organic Flow Batteries

The research progress of aqueous organic flow batteries (AOFBs)

Aqueous organic flow batteries (AOFBs) have garnered attention due to their safety and resource adjustability, yet they face the challenge of low energy density. Recently, the team led by LI Xianfeng and ZHANG Changkun at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has made significant progress in AOFB research. They designed an asymmetric pyrene-based multi-electron transfer active molecular material, which features high electron concentration and stable intermediate semiquinone radicals. This innovation has enabled the battery to achieve an energy density of 59.6 Wh/L and demonstrated excellent thermal stability at high temperatures.

Despite the notable advantages of AOFBs, including their resourcefulness, tunability, and inherent safety, their widespread adoption is hindered by several critical challenges. These include low energy density, high costs, and performance degradation at elevated concentrations. To tackle these limitations, researchers have focused on enhancing the electron transfer number of organic reactive molecules (ORAMs), aiming to improve energy density and reduce expenses. However, this approach has introduced a delicate balance between stability and solubility, presenting a new set of complexities in the development of AOFBs.

The research team improved solubility by introducing sulfonic acid groups into the pyrenetetrone core with an extended conjugated structure, reducing molecular planarity and enhancing hydrogen bonding with water. Simultaneously, effective electron delocalization and π-π stacking stabilized the intermediate semiquinone radicals, ensuring excellent stability. This novel material achieved an energy density of 59.6 Wh/L and exhibited no significant capacity decay after thousands of cycles at 60°C, offering a new approach for developing high-performance AOFBs.

2. Cell Death & Differentiation丨Targeting STING Activation: A Breakthrough in Improving Survival After Radiation Damage

Patterns of PARP1-PAR-STING-mediated apoptotic cell damage

Recently, the research team led by Sun Yirong at the Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the University of California, Los Angeles, has uncovered a novel mechanism by which the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) promotes cell apoptosis in response to acute ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage through the PARP1-PAR-STING pathway.

The study has demonstrated that radiation damage activates the PARP1 protein, resulting in excessive synthesis of poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR), which subsequently triggers STING-mediated cell death. In the experiment, the survival rate of STING gene-deficient mice has been dramatically increased from 11% to 67% following abdominal radiation exposure, with intestinal damage significantly reduced. Moreover, down-regulation of PAR synthesis using the low-dose PARP1 inhibitor PJ34 has effectively inhibited STING activation, reproducing the protective effects observed in STING gene-deficient mice. These findings have highlighted the critical role of the PARP1-PAR-STING pathway in radiation-induced apoptosis and have provided a novel perspective on strategies to mitigate radiation injury.