In this work, we present the coating regulations of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) by the reverse microemulsion method to obtain the Fe3O4@SiO2 core/shell NPs. The regulation produces the core/shell NPs with a single core and with different shell thicknesses, and it especially can be applied to different sizes Fe3O4 NPs and avoid the formation of core-free silica particles. Our results reveal that the silica coating parameters suitable for Fe3O4 NPs with certain size are not definitely applicable to that with other sizes, and the match of the number of Fe3O4 NPs with aqueous domain is essential. We found that the small aqueous domain is suitable to coat ultrathin silica shell, while the large aqueous domain is indispensable for coating thicker shells. To avoid the formation of core-free silica particles, the thick silica shell can be achieved by increasing the content of either TEOS through the equivalently fractionated drops or ammonia with a decreased one-off TEOS. The ligand exchange between the intermediate processes of the silica coating is evidenced. Our results provide not only a strategy for synthesizing uniform Fe3O4@SiO2 core/shell NPs with controlled shell thickness, but also a regulation that can be applied to preparation other core–shell NPs.

Enhancing brown fat activity and promoting white fat browning are attractive therapeutic strategies for treating obesity and associated metabolic disorders. To provide a comprehensive picture of the gene regulatory network in these processes, we conducted a series of transcriptome studies by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and quantified the mRNA and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) changes during white fat browning (chronic cold exposure, beta-adrenergic agonist treatment, and intense exercise) and brown fat activation or inactivation (acute cold exposure or thermoneutrality, respectively). mRNA–lncRNA coexpression networks revealed dynamically regulated lncRNAs to be largely embedded in nutrient and energy metabolism pathways. We identified a brown adipose tissue–enriched lncRNA, lncBATE10, that was governed by the cAMP-cAMP response element-binding protein (Creb) axis and required for a full brown fat differentiation and white fat browning program. Mechanistically, lncBATE10 can decoy Celf1 from Pgc1α, thereby protecting Pgc1α mRNA from repression by Celf1. Together, these studies provide a comprehensive data framework to interrogate the transcriptomic changes accompanying energy homeostasis transition in adipose tissue.

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Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are emerging fluorescence reporters attractive for optical sensing, owing to their high photostability, highly tunable photoluminescence, molecular size, atomically thin structure, biocompatibility, and ease of functionalization. Herein, we present a fluorometric sensing platform based on tyramine-functionalized GQDs, which is able to detect a spectrum of metabolites with high sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, multiparametric blood analysis (glucose, cholesterol, L-lactate, and xanthine) is demonstrated. This convenient metabolite profiling technique could be instrumental for diagnosis, study, and management of metabolic disorders and associated diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, lactic acidosis, gout, and hypertension.