Life has evolved under continuous exposure to solar light, and the emergence of the eye during the Cambrian period is thought to have accelerated biological diversification. Beyond vision, light acts as a biological regulator of metabolism and tissue organization. To elucidate ocular disease mechanisms and develop new therapies, we have investigated how light is sensed by the eye and coupled to physiological and pathological responses. This review reexamines the eye as a photoreceptive organ and summarizes recent advances showing how light input governs retinal metabolism, refractive development, and visual restoration. First, we describe how retinal light reception is linked to oxygen-dependent metabolic control. As one of the most oxygen-demanding tissues, the retina relies on hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) signaling to coordinate angiogenesis, mitochondrial metabolism, fibrosis, and neuronal survival. Beyond pathological neovascularization, disrupted light-metabolic coupling contributes to neurodegeneration and subretinal scarring. Screening of natural compounds identified HIF regulators with therapeutic efficacy, and optical approaches were developed to detect hypoxia-induced intraocular cytokines noninvasively. Second, we show that environmental light regulates ocular growth in ways beyond image formation. Violet light activates nonvisual photoreception via OPN5-expressing retinal ganglion cells, engaging an OPN5-EGR1 pathway that preserves choroidal thickness and suppresses axial elongation through coordinated retina-brain-choroid-sclera interactions. Third, we demonstrate that light itself becomes therapeutic through optogenetic visual restoration. Chimeric rhodopsins confer high-sensitivity light responsiveness to surviving inner retinal neurons and have recently entered first-in-human clinical evaluation for advanced retinitis pigmentosa. These findings establish photobiology as a unifying framework for translational ophthalmology.

Tin (Sn)-based perovskite near-infrared (NIR) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) show great potential for applications in night vision, biomedical sensing, and optical communications. However, their performance remains limited by uncontrolled crystallization and the facile oxidation of Sn[2+]. Here, we demonstrate a versatile buried-interlayer strategy to effectively regulate the crystallization and suppress the Sn[2+] oxidation by constructing a two-dimensional/three-dimensional (2D/3D) heterodimensional structure. We reveal that strong interactions between the buried ligand layer, the perovskite precursor, and the underlying hole-transport layer promote rapid nucleation, retard crystal growth, and induce a vertical dimensional gradient, leading to reduced defect density and enhanced radiative recombination. As a result, NIR Sn-based perovskite LEDs achieve a record external quantum efficiency of 13.7% with a radiance of 103 W sr[-1] m[-2]. Furthermore, the buried-interlayer strategy enables dual-functional Sn-based perovskite devices capable of both efficient light emission and photodetection, which are successfully integrated into a compact heart-pulse monitoring system. Our work suggests a synergistic crystallization and dimensional-regulation strategy for achieving high-performance Sn-based perovskite optoelectronic devices.

Continuous monitoring of plant metabolic dynamics remains challenging because existing sensing interfaces often fail to maintain stable mechanical coupling with deformable plant tissues during prolonged electrochemical measurements. Here, a spiral-interlocking microneedle electrode (SI-MNE) is presented for long-term in planta glucose monitoring through mechanically persistent tissue anchoring and minimally invasive biointerfacing. Unlike conventional conical or array-type microneedles that suffer from limited interfacial stability and motion-induced signal fluctuations, the SI-MNE employs a helical geometry that enables rotation-assisted insertion and 3D interlocking within plant tissue, thereby substantially enhancing mechanical retention. Cyclic-voltammetry-derived interfacial capacitance progressively increased during rotational insertion and reached a maximum under full-locking conditions, indicating enhanced electrochemical contact formation. Mechanical testing demonstrated approximately 10-fold higher pull-out resistance compared with conventional conical microneedles, while optical coherence tomography directly visualized stable insertion of the spiral architecture within plant tissue. To establish electrochemical glucose sensing functionality, a multilayer sensing interface consisting of a conductive carbon layer, PEDOT:PSS/Pt nanoparticle catalytic layer, and chitosan/glucose oxidase enzymatic layer was conformally integrated onto the spiral surface. The SI-MNE exhibited concentration-dependent amperometric glucose responses across 1-100 mM with a sensitivity of 350.3 nA/mM and high selectivity against representative plant sap interferents. The device further demonstrated stable operational reproducibility during continuous measurements and prolonged storage conditions. Using a three-electrode SI-MNE configuration, continuous glucose monitoring in living tomato plants successfully captured reproducible diurnal glucose fluctuations under natural light-dark cycles for 7 consecutive days without observable signal degradation or severe tissue damage. The proposed SI-MNE establishes a mechanically robust and electrochemically reliable biointerface for continuous metabolic monitoring in plants and provides a broadly applicable strategy for long-term in situ plant biosensing.

The domesticated silkworm Bombyx mori is both a major sericultural species and a powerful model for studying how environmental cues are converted into developmental decisions. A central seasonal trait in this species is embryonic diapause, a maternally programmed developmental arrest whose incidence is shaped by genetic background and environmental conditions experienced during the maternal generation. Recent genome-editing studies have provided new functional evidence for the role of circadian clock genes in this process, particularly the two silkworm cryptochromes, BmCRY1 and BmCRY2. BmCRY1 belongs to the Drosophila-type CRY lineage and retains features consistent with a light-input function, whereas BmCRY2 belongs to the mammalian-type insect CRY lineage and displays structural motifs expected for a nuclear transcriptional repressor. Loss of Bmcry1 disrupts embryonic hatching and adult eclosion rhythms and impairs photoperiodic modulation of diapause, while temperature-dependent diapause induction under constant darkness is largely retained. By contrast, Bmcry2 mutants show reduced temperature-dependent diapause induction, although the direct role of BmCRY2 in the silkworm clockwork remains unresolved. Together, available evidence suggests that BmCRY1 and BmCRY2 act through distinct clock-related entry points that ultimately influence, directly or indirectly, the neuroendocrine pathway controlling diapause hormone release and maternal diapause commitment. These findings place silkworm cryptochromes at a key interface between environmental sensing, circadian timing and seasonal developmental control, with potential implications for sericulture.

Periodontitis is a bacteria-driven immune-inflammatory disease associated with progressive periodontal tissue destruction and alveolar bone loss. Conventional treatments rely heavily on broad-spectrum antibiotics, which can promote antimicrobial resistance and disrupt the oral microbiota. Herein, we report a bioorthogonal aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-based nanoprobe, AIE@PEG-DBCO, designed for the selective imaging and photodynamic elimination of Gram-negative periodontal pathogens. By exploiting the metabolic incorporation of 8-azido-3,8-dideoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid (KDO-N3) into the lipopolysaccharide of Gram-negative bacteria, AIE@PEG-DBCO enables strain-selective fluorescence turn-on and efficient reactive oxygen species generation upon light irradiation. Using Porphyromonas gingivalis as a representative pathogen, the nanoprobe demonstrated effective antibacterial activity and significantly alleviated experimental periodontitis in a rat model. Compared with conventional antibiotic-based therapies, this strategy reduces the risk of drug resistance and minimizes nonspecific disturbance to the oral microbiota by precisely targeting Gram-negative bacteria. This work highlights a materials-based, non-antibiotic approach for periodontal therapy with improved precision and microecological compatibility.

Droplet-based microfluidics has become a leading technology for Lab-on-Chip applications, from single-cell analysis and nanoparticle synthesis to clinical diagnostics. In these applications, accurate measurement of droplet length, volume, velocity, and monodispersity is critical for reliable operation. Despite recent advances, the routine characterization of these parameters still relies on high-speed cameras, microscopes, and off-chip post-processing, limiting portability, autonomy, and field deployment. To address these limitations, this work presents an open-source, cost-effective, embedded optoelectrical sensor platform built from off-the-shelf components. The platform performs multiparameter droplet characterization on-chip in two sequential firmware stages, with all signal conditioning and analysis executed on an Arduino-Zero microcontroller. The system integrates two custom PCB sensing modules: a light-dependent-resistor (LDR) array for droplet velocity, and a TSL2561 photodiode for length, volume, and monodispersity. Both are illuminated by a dedicated light-source PCB and housed in a 3D-printed alignment enclosure that hosts a replaceable PMMA flow-focusing chip. We provide complete documentation, including build instructions, embedded firmware, and example applications. The resulting modular, equipment-free architecture supports the development of Lab-on-PCB systems for rapid prototyping of autonomous, droplet-based microfluidic devices.

Nanofiber membrane-based flexible sensing devices are appealing for advanced multi-protective equipment. Here, inspired by the fluid-regulating grooved topology of whale baleen, we unravel an electro-induced multiphase separation spinning (EMSS) approach to engender ultralight aerogel-like bioinspired poly(lactic acid) (AB-PLA) nanofiber meta-membranes. Driven by engineered thermodynamic instability, distinct axial micro-grooves are created at AB-PLA nanofibers that assemble into a highly porous network (over 97% porosity). This unique architecture is ready to trigger robust output performance (66.37 V, 93.12 nA), conferring the self-powered real-time respiratory monitoring and 100% accuracy for the deep learning-assisted breathing pattern recognition. It is further accompanied by excellent PM-capturing mechanisms, achieving 99.1% removal of PM0.3 at a physiological resting rate (10 L min[-1]) with an ultralow pressure drop of 20.5 Pa and a high quality factor of 0.22 Pa[-1]. Moreover, the ultralight high-porosity architecture endows the AB-PLA meta-membranes with exceptional moisture permeability of 7875 g m[-2] d[-1] and air permeability of 166 mm s[-1], providing superior physiological comfort. This sheds light into a promising paradigm for development of next-generation flexible protective sensors.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has emerged as a powerful platform for nucleic acids analyses due to its ultrahigh sensitivity and intrinsic molecular specificity. However, unlike small-molecule systems, SERS responses of nucleic acids remain highly variable and strongly dependent on experimental conditions, limiting structural interpretability and reproducibility. In this Review, we provide a unified perspective that reframes SERS of nucleic acids as an interface-defined physicochemical process rather than a direct molecular fingerprinting technique. We systematically analyze how interfacial accessibility, adsorption configuration, conformational reorganization, and electromagnetic (EM) selection collectively govern spectral formation through a hierarchical selection mechanism. On this basis, we propose that SERS spectra predominantly encode ensembles of interface-selected conformations, which generally diverge from intrinsic solution-phase structures, thereby explaining the widespread inconsistencies observed across different studies. This framework establishes a conceptual foundation for transforming SERS of nucleic acids from an empirical sensing approach into a controllable and predictive platform for structural analysis and biosensing applications.

Generating hydrogen directly from seawater is an attractive feature for realizing large-scale solar fuel production. Here, we present an effective photocatalyst design that not only considers solar light activity but also long-term durability and optimized manufacturing costs. A series of stabilized bimetallic Au-Ag plasmonic "rainbow" nanoparticles were synthesized and grafted at low loadings onto TiO2 substrates, yielding strong visible-light absorption and enhanced photocatalytic activity. To address the intrinsic instability of (plasmonic) metal nanoparticles in saline environments, two encapsulation strategies were investigated: insulating layer-by-layer (LbL) polyelectrolyte shells and conductive polyaniline (PANI) shells formed via in situ polymerization. In simulated seawater, a maximum H2 evolution rate of 348 ± 108 µmol g[-1] h[-1] was achieved for TiO2 + 2 wt% "rainbow" PANI-stabilized nanoparticles. PANI-stabilized plasmonic catalysts outperformed both bare and LbL-coated samples while maintaining full activity even after 1 month of storage in the dark in simulated seawater. These results demonstrate that conductive polymer encapsulation effectively preserves plasmonic activity even in harsh media, offering a prospect toward durable and economically viable solar hydrogen production from simulated seawater.

In this article, we report classical sensing with undetected light at a wavelength of 1500 nm, detected on a silicon camera at 580 nm, using four-wave mixing from a plasmonic metasurface. The bidirectional nonlinear scattering due to inherent reflections from such thin nonlinear materials modifies their operation within a nonlinear interferometer. The theoretical model for visibility accounting for bidirectionality as well as pulsed illumination accurately predicts visibility in the system as a function of transmission in the near-infrared seed (idler) arm. Spectrally resolving the visible signal emission evaluates the total dispersion within the interferometer, highlighting the prospect of ultrafast sensing with undetected photons.

Lysosomes were once considered terminal degradative organelles responsible for disposing of cellular waste. However, recent studies have revealed that lysosomes serve as dynamic signalling and metabolic hubs at the center of diverse biological processes, including nutrient sensing, metabolic regulation, membrane trafficking, autophagy, inflammation, and cell death. To support this broad functional repertoire, lysosomes must possess robust mechanisms to maintain their integrity in the face of damage or stress. In response to lysosomal membrane damage, cells engage multilayered adaptive mechanisms that act in coordination-membrane repair (Repair), selective removal of damaged organelles (Removal), and de novo biogenesis of lysosomes (Regeneration). These processes are mediated by a range of molecular pathways, including the ESCRT complex, the PITT pathway, lysophagy, and TFEB-dependent lysosomal regeneration. Notably, recent findings highlight the noncanonical autophagy-like pathway known as ATG8ylation (conjugation of ATG8s on single membranes), which is activated via the STING-V-ATPase-ATG16L1 axis and functions as a critical hub connecting multiple arms of the lysosomal damage response. In this review, we systematically outline the molecular basis of lysosomal damage responses, including ATG8ylation, and explore how these networks are implicated in a broad spectrum of pathological conditions such as aging, neurodegeneration, cancer, obesity-related disorders, and immune dysfunction. Understanding these lysosomal quality control mechanisms not only sheds light on the fundamental principles of organelle homeostasis but also opens new avenues for therapeutic innovation.

Early and reliable monitoring of creatinine is essential for the timely diagnosis of chronic kidney disease; however, many existing electrochemical sensors are limited by enzyme instability, high fabrication cost, and concerns associated with metal-containing catalytic systems. Here, we report the fabrication of a hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC)-based surface-imprinted macromolecular network through visible-light-mediated organocatalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (O-ATRP) using a grafting-from strategy, yielding a fully metal-free molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for selective creatinine detection. Following template removal, the resulting poly(methacrylic acid)-based imprinted cavities generated a porous recognition layer capable of analyte-dependent modulation of interfacial charge transfer at the electrode surface. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated distinct responses of the MIP-modified electrode toward creatinine compared to the non-imprinted control, together with clear discrimination against structurally related interferents. Differential pulse voltammetry achieved sensitive creatinine detection with a limit of detection of 0.20 μg mL[-1] within a physiologically relevant concentration range. In addition, impedance analysis revealed a concentration-dependent increase in charge-transfer resistance, supporting selective analyte binding within the imprinted cavities. These results demonstrate that visible-light-mediated O-ATRP can be employed to transform a cellulose-derived biological macromolecule into a functional surface-imprinted recognition platform, providing a promising metal-free strategy for selective electrochemical creatinine sensing.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are considered among the most difficult neurodegenerative diseases because they are progressive, and there are no reliable tools to make early diagnoses. Traditional diagnostic approaches, such as neuroimaging and CSF analysis, are not ideal for rapid clinical screening and are often invasive and costly. Optical biosensors have become attractive platforms for detecting neurodegenerative markers in recent years, offering ultra-sensitivity and minimal invasiveness. Recent advances in optical biosensing technologies for the early detection of key AD and PD biomarkers, such as amyloid-β, tau protein, α-synuclein, dopamine, and neurofilament light chain (NFL), are highlighted. Several photonic techniques, including fluorescence-based assays, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) microcavity sensors, are critically described, highlighting their sensing mechanisms, analytical performance, and clinical applications. Significant focus is placed on nanostructured SERS substrates, microfluidically integrated platforms, paper-based optical chips, and WGM microlaser-assisted immunosensors for femtomolar-to-attomolar detection in clinically relevant biofluids. Moreover, the use of sophisticated nanomaterials and artificial intelligence-based data analysis is discussed as an effective approach to developing multiplexed, portable, and point-of-care diagnostics. Finally, the challenges and future directions in translating next-generation optical biosensors for the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases are discussed.

Excessive nitrogen inputs have intensified phosphorus (P) limitation in estuarine by raising the N:P ratio, yet the dynamics and potential ecological effects of diatom-derived allelochemicals under P-stress remain unclear. Combining field surveys at core station S in the Hanjiang River estuary with controlled laboratory experiments, we investigated how P-limitation regulates polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUAs) production and release in bloom-forming diatoms. Field blooms at Station S were dominated by PUA-producing diatoms such as Skeletonema spp., with particulate and dissolved PUAs at 0.6 nmol L[-1] and 0.03 nmol L[-1], respectively. Seven diatom strains were isolated via N/P-enriched culture, among which Skeletonema costatum B6 exhibited relatively higher PUA accumulation (1.8-2.8-fold that of conspecific strains) and was selected as the representative strain for subsequent laboratory incubation experiments. Under physiological P-limitation, particulate PUAs concentrations increased by 65.4% (1.7× per-cell content) relative to controls, showing a clear dose-response: negatively correlated with phosphate and positively with N/P ratio. PUAs were released through a phased mechanism, characterized by a synchronized, massive release during the stationary phase prior to major cell lysis, followed by passive leakage during culture decline. Notably, this study observed a temporal coupling between the release of dissolved PUAs and the recovery of dissolved inorganic phosphorus, shedding light on the potential linkage and working hypothesis between allelochemicals and endogenous phosphorus cycling. We present a "stress response-production-release" framework under physiological P-stress, providing mechanistic insights into bloom-forming diatom allelopathic dynamics in high-N/P estuaries.