Multi-drug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells, either intrinsic or acquired through various mechanisms, significantly hinders the therapeutic efficacy of drugs. Typically, the reduced therapeutic performance of various drugs is predominantly due to the inherent over expression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter proteins on the cell membrane, resulting in the deprived uptake of drugs, augmenting drug detoxification, and DNA repair. In addition to various physiological abnormalities and extensive blood flow, MDR cancer phenotypes exhibit improved apoptotic threshold and drug efflux efficiency. These severe consequences have substantially directed researchers in the fabrication of various advanced therapeutic strategies, such as co-delivery of drugs along with various generations of MDR inhibitors, augmented dosage regimens and frequency of administration, as well as combinatorial treatment options, among others. In this review, we emphasize different reasons and mechanisms responsible for MDR in cancer, including but not limited to the known drug efflux mechanisms mediated by permeability glycoprotein (P-gp) and other pumps, reduced drug uptake, altered DNA repair, and drug targets, among others. Further, an emphasis on specific cancers that share pathogenesis in executing MDR and effluxed drugs in common is provided. Then, the aspects related to various nanomaterials-based supramolecular programmable designs (organic- and inorganic-based materials), as well as physical approaches (light- and ultrasound-based therapies), are discussed, highlighting the unsolved issues and future advancements. Finally, we summarize the review with interesting perspectives and future trends, exploring further opportunities to overcome MDR.

Tissue engineering (TE) aims at restoring tissue defects by applying the three-dimensional (3D) biomimetic pre-formed scaffolds to restore, maintain, and enhance tissue growth. Broadly speaking, this approach has created a potential impact in anticipating organ-building, which could reduce the need for organ replacement therapy. However, the implantation of such cell-laden biomimetic constructs based on substantial open surgeries often results in severe inflammatory reactions at the incision site, leading to the generation of a harsh adverse environment where cell survival is low. To overcome such limitations, micro-sized injectable modularized units based on various biofabrication approaches as ideal delivery vehicles for cells and various growth factors have garnered compelling interest owing to their minimally-invasive nature, ease of packing cells, and improved cell retention efficacy. Several advancements have been made in fabricating various 3D biomimetic microscale carriers for cell delivery applications. In this review, we explicitly discuss the progress of the microscale cell carriers that potentially pushed the borders of TE, highlighting their design, ability to deliver cells and substantial tissue growth in situ and in vivo from different viewpoints of materials chemistry and biology. Finally, we summarize the perspectives highlighting current challenges and expanding opportunities of these innovative carriers.

Antimony triselenide (Sb₂Se₃) has become a very promising candidate for next-generation thin-film solar cells due to the merits of their low-cost, low-toxic and excellent optoelectronic properties. Despite Sb₂Se₃ thin-film photovoltaic technology having undergone rapid development over the past few years, insufficient doping concentration and severe recombination have been the most challenging limitations hindering further breakthroughs for the Sb₂Se₃ solar cells. Post-annealing treatment of the Sb₂Se₃/CdS heterojunction was demonstrated to be very helpful in improving the device performance previously. In this work, post-annealing treatments were applied to the Sb₂Se₃/CdS heterojunction under a vacuum and in the air, respectively. It was found that compared to the vacuum annealing scenario, the air-annealed device presented notable enhancements in open-circuit voltage. Ultimately a competitive power conversion efficiency of 7.62% was achieved for the champion device via air annealing. Key photovoltaic parameters of the Sb₂Se₃ solar cells were measured and the effects of post-annealing treatments using different scenarios on the devices were discussed.

Two-dimensional (2D) polarized heterostructures with internal electric fields are potential photocatalysts for high catalytic performance. The Blue P/SiS van der Waals heterostructures were formed from monolayer Blue P and polar monolayer SiS with different stacking interfaces, including Si-P and P-S interfaces. The structural, electronic, optical and photocatalytic properties of the Blue P/SiS heterostructures were studied via first-principle calculations. The results showed that the Si-P-2 or P-S-4 stacking order contributes to the most stable heterostructure with the Si-P or P-S interface. The direction of the internal electric field is from the $\left(001\right)$ surface toward the $\left(00\overline{1}\right)$ surface, which is helpful for separating photo-generated electron–hole pairs. The bandgap and electrostatic potential differences in the Si-P-2(P-S-4) heterostructures are 1.74 eV (2.30 eV) and 0.287 eV (0.181 eV), respectively. Moreover, the Si-P-2(P-S-4) heterostructures possess suitable band alignment and wide ultraviolet and visible light spectrum regions. All results suggest that 2D polarized Blue P/SiS heterostructures are potential novel photocatalysts for water splitting under a wide ultraviolet and visible light spectrum region.