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The design of efficient, stable, and economical electrocatalysts for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction (OER and HER) is a major challenge for overall water splitting. Herein, a hierarchical structured CoP/carbon nanofibers (CNFs) composite was successfully synthesized and its potential application as a high-efficiency bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall splitting water was evaluated. The synergetic effect of two-dimensional (2D) CoP nanosheets and one-dimensional (1D) CNFs endowed the CoP/CNFs composites with abundant active sites and rapid electron and mass transport pathways, and thereby significantly improved the electrocatalytic performances. The optimized CoP/CNFs delivered a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at low overpotential of 325 mV for OER and 225 mV for HER. In the overall water splitting, CoP/CNFs achieved a low potential of 1.65 V at 10 mA cm−2. The facile strategy provided in the present work can facilitate the design and development of multifunctional non-noble metal catalysts for energy applications.

The self-healing mechanism and bioelectrochemical interface properties of supramolecular gels have been rarely explored. In this context, we propose a constitutive “fibril-reorganization” model to reveal the self-healing mechanism of a series of core–shell structured guanosine-borate (GB) hydrogels and emphasize that interfibrillar interactions at the supramolecular polymer scale (G-quadruplex nanowires) drive the self-healing process of GB hydrogels. Structure-electrochemical sensing performance studies reveal that GB hydrogel nanofibers with relatively strong biomolecular affinity such as –SH modified GB hydrogel (GB-SH) show a high sensitivity of response and low limit of detection for tumour marker alpha-fetoprotein sensing (AFP; 0.076 pg mL−1). Guanosine/ferroceneboronic acid (GB-Fc) hydrogel nanofibers with superior conductivity and redox activity display the widest linear detection range for AFP (0.0005–100 ng mL−1). Structure-property correlations of GB hydrogels provide useful insight for the future design of advanced self-healing materials and electrochemical biosensors.

Four new elemane sesquiterpenoids, magnograndins J-M (1-4), and one known sesquiterpenoid, 12,13-diacetoxyelema-1,3-dien-6α,11-diol (5), were obtained from 70% acetone extract of the leaves of Magnolia grandiflora. Their structures were determined with extensive spectroscopic (HRMS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR) analyses. Compound 1 represented the first example of elemane sesquiterpenoid with an orthoacetate unit. Compound 4 inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with IC50 value of 17.83 μM.

Supramolecular eutectogels, an emerging class of materials that have just developed very recently, offer a new opportunity for generating functional supramolecular gel materials in biocompatible anhydrous or low-water media. As the first example of supramolecular G4 eutectogels, complexes of natural guanosine and H3 BO3 exhibited excellent gelation capacity in choline chloride/alcohol deep eutectic solvents. The as-prepared supramolecular eutectogels displayed unexpected solvent-induced chiral inversion and significantly high ionic conductivity (up to 7.78 mS cm-1 ), as well as outstanding thixotropic/injectable properties, high thermal stability and excellent electrochromic activity. These features make these versatile supramolecular G4 eutectogels promising candidates for developing next-generation flexible electronics with low environmental impact.

Hierarchically structured TiO2 photo-anodes with ordered macropores and mesopores are prepared by two steps of self-assembling process. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and small angle X-Ray diffraction measurements show that the samples were of 3D ordered macroporous structure and the ordered framework possessed numerous mesopores. In addition, the obtained TiO2 samples are systematically investigated by Ultraviolet-Visible spectrum, Brunauer-Emniett-Teller analysis. The Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSCCs) fabricated with the 3D ordered macro-/mesoporous (3DOM/m) TiO2 photo-anode achieve a photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.20%, significantly higher than that of the DSSCs assembled with reference TiO2 photo-anodes without hierarchical structures. The enhanced PCE can be attributed to the unique morphology of 3DOM/m TiO2. This study demonstrates high potential of the TiO2 photoanode with hierarchical morphology for DSSC applications.

Developing low-cost and efficient tri-iodide reduction catalyst is a critical issue for the application of dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Heteroatom doped carbon catalyst is an emerging type of catalyst that shows a high potential for practical DSSC application. Herein, we report the synthesis and application of a Fe and N co-doped carbon catalyst with three-dimensional ordered macropores and ordered mesopores. We demonstrate the unique composition and morphology of the synthesized catalyst endowed the catalyst with superior tri-iodide reduction activity. The DSSC based on the novel catalyst shows a photo conversion efficiency of 6.94%, higher than that for commercial Pt/C catalyst. The present work not only suggests the novel catalyst could be a competitive alternative to Pt/C catalyst in DSSC application but also demonstrates the importance of the morphology of the catalyst for its catalytic activity.

Thirteen sesquiterpenes including eight new ones, magnodelavins A-H (1-8), were obtained from the 95 % ethanolic extract of the leaves of Magnolia delavayi Franch. The structures of the new compounds were determined by exhaustive 1 H-, 13 C-, 2D-NMR, UV, IR, and HR-ESI-MS data, as well as X-ray crystallographic analysis. Compounds 9 and 10 showed potent cytotoxic activities against HL-60, A-549, SMMC-7721, MCF-7, and SW480 human cancer cell lines in vitro using MTS assay.

A drug-loaded membrane was prepared by electrospinning Polyε-caprolactone (PCL) with doxycycline hydrochloride (DOX) (15–25% w/w). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that fibrous average diameter decreased from247.16±57.61 nm to194.43±43.33 nm with the drug proportion increasing from 15% to 20% w/w, while there was no significant difference between 20% and 25% groups. The polymer matrix showed good encapsulation value (58–75%) for DOX, and the drug showed an amorphous manner in the polymer matrix. The agar diffusion test revealed that DOX-loaded membranes had an obvious inhibited effect onAggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans(Aa) andPorphyromonas gingivalis(Pg), respectively. In vitro release test showed that DOX could persistently be released for a prolonged time more than 28 days, and the DOX level in the eluent steadied at 3–5 μg/mL which was all above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of DOX against Aa (0.125 μg/mL) and Pg (0.0625 μg/mL). Cytocompatibility, assessed in human periodontal ligament cells (hPLCs) by MTT-test and the morphology of cells on the surface of DOX-loaded membranes by SEM, indicated that all of the investigated nanofibrous membranes can be used to treat periodontal disease by integrating the GTR/GBR operation and antibiotic therapy. Above all, DOX-loaded nanofibrous membranes could have a persistent inhibited effect on periodontal pathogens to provide a relatively sterile environment for tissue repair and regeneration.