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It remains challenging to develop economical and bifunctional electrocatalysts toward oxygen/hydrogen evolution reactions (OER/HER). Herein, we construct Co9S8 nanoflakes decorated Co3O4 nanoarrays with enriched heterogeneous interface zones on Ni foam (Co9S8@Co3O4/NF) via a novel step-wise approach. The Co9S8@Co3O4/NF hybrid manifests excellent performance with low overpotentials of 130 mV for HER (10 mA·cm−2) and 331 mV for OER (100 mA·cm−2), delivering a small voltage of 1.52 V for water splitting at 10 mA·cm−2 as well as outstanding catalytic durability, which surpasses precious metals and previously reported earth-abundant nanocatalysts. Further experimental and theoretical investigations demonstrate that the excellent performance is attributed to the followings: (i) Highly conductive Ni facilitates the efficient charge transfer; (ii) porous core-shell nanoarchitecture benefits the infiltration and transportation of gases/ions; (iii) heterogeneous interface zones synergistically lower the chemisorption energy of hydrogen/oxygen intermediates. This work will shed light on the controllable synthesis and engineering of heterostructure nanomaterials for clean energy storage and conversion technologies.

The demand for "preservative-free" food products is rising, and biopreservation seems to be a potential alternative to replace or reduce the use of chemical preservatives. This study's objective was to assess the antifungal activity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) (n = 98) and the efficacy and applicability of the chosen bioprotective cultures against fungal spoilers in dairy products. First, 14 strains of antifungal strains were preliminarily screened by in vitro tests against Pichia pastoris D3, Aspergillus niger D1, Geotrichum candidum N1, Kluyveromyces marxianus W1, and Penicillium chrysogenum B1 and validated by challenge tests in yogurts, indicating that the fungal-inhibiting activity of LAB was species specific and yogurts fermented with antifungal LAB cultures were more effective in extending the shelf life. Secondly, the chosen 14 LAB strains were identified by the 16SrDNA sequence analysis and carbohydrate fermentation test. The results were as follows: 9 strains were Lactobacillus plantarum , 3 were Lactobacillus paracasei , 1 was Enterococus faecium , and 1 was Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Among them, active L. plantarum N7 was the chosen and studied factor that affects the antifungal activity using the response surface methodology (RSM). Finally, in situ tests were conducted to validate the activity of L. plantarum N7 in actual dairy products (whey beverage). Physicochemical and microbial indices of whey beverage during storage period exhibited that antifungal L. plantarum N7 could slow the fungal growth and be candidates of interest for industrial applications.

Influenza virus cause seasonal influenza epidemic and seriously sporadic influenza pandemic outbreaks. Hemagglutinin (HA) is an important target in the therapeutic treatment and diagnostic detection of the influenza virus. Variation in the sialic acid receptor binding site leads to strain-specific binding and results in different binding modes to the host receptors. Here, we evaluated the neutralizing activity and hemagglutination inhibition activity of a prepared murine anti-H1N1 monoclonal antibody PR8-23. Then we identified the epitope peptide of antibody PR8-23 by phage display technique from phage display peptide libraries. The identified epitope, 63-IAPLQLGKCNIA-74, containing two α-helix and two β-fold located at the footprint of the sialoglycan receptor on the RBS in the globular head domain of HA. It broads the growing arsenal of motifs for the amino acids on the globular head domain of HA in sialic acid receptor binding site and neutralizing antibody production.

For birds, the uterus is an important part for eggshell mineralization, and the establishment of the endometrial epithelial cell (EEC) model was beneficial to the study of uterine function. This study was conducted to establish a culture model of primary EECs of laying hens and explore the effects of zinc on primary EEC proliferation, zinc transport, and calcium deposition in vitro. The EECs were isolated and cultured via type I collagenase digestion, and in the logarithmic phase during 2–5 days, and then reached the plateau phase on the 7th day of inoculation. Results showed that the proliferation of EECs treated by 50 μM ZnSO4 or zinc-methionine (Zn-Met) were markedly promoted at 24-h or 48-h treating time (P

Accurate, in situ and long-term electrically monitoring of cell development plays an important role in cell study, which brings in challenges in terms of biocompatibility, processability, and sensing capability of electrochemical sensors. Based on biocompatible conductive polyaniline (PAni) hydrogels, we constructed a flexible sensor with flexible carbon cloth for electrical analysis of living cells. The carbon fiber substrate modified with conductive PAni hydrogels was selected as the electrode to promote the current collection of the sensor. The three dimensional nanostructured mesoporous matrix of PAni hydrogels is favorable for in situ generation of catalytic Pt nanoparticles and cell growth. With these hierarchically nanostructured features, the hydrogel electrochemical sensor was endowed with high sensitivity and selectivity in the detection of H2O2 (with a low detection limit of 1.6 μM in 0.01 M PBS and a wide linear range from 10 μM to 10 mM), and good biocompatibility for cell growth as long as 5 days. The accurate detection of H2O2 released from cells enabled us to differentiate the physiological states of cells and imitate the different stimuli-responsive behavior, which can provide real-time information on cell biological events. With outstanding biocompatibility, operability and repeatability, this strategy can be expanded to the fields of other biosensor fabrication and cell-related biomarker monitoring, which exhibits a broad application potential in bioanalysis catering to new generation sensors.

The electrochemical stability and catalytic activity of palladium catalysts are key issues in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Here, to take full advantage of the strong metal–support interaction (SMSI), Pd nanoparticles (NPs, ∼4.1 nm) were in situ reduced onto the TiO2 surface of a TiO2–C heterostructure by photo-generated electrons under light irradiation. By means of experimental characterization studies, electron transfer from the support (TiO2–C heterostructure) to Pd NPs results in an electron-rich Pd surface and a downshift in the d-band structure. A photochemical strategy strengthens the SMSI effect and hence improves the catalytic activity and durability of the Pd catalyst. Compared with commercial Pd/C (Com. Pd/C, 10.0 wt%) and Pd/TiO2 (22.0 wt%) catalysts, as-prepared Pd/TiO2–C (7.2 wt%) shows excellent ORR activity with MA up to 0.16 A mg−1Pd at 0.9 V. The results demonstrate that for metal oxide supports with photocatalytic activity, the photochemical route is conducive to the formation of the SMSI effect between the metal and support, thus improving the activity and durability of the metal catalyst.

Here, PtPd nanoframes were prepared by etching Pd@PdPt core–shell rhombic dodecahedrals (RDs) with Fe3+ provided by iron chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3·6H2O). Based on the experimental results, PtPd nanoframes were formed due to the etching of Pd cores. In terms of catalytic performance, the measured specific activity and mass activity of PtPd nanoframes were 1.11 mA cm−2 and 840.38 mA mg−1, respectively, which were much higher than those of Pd@PdPt core–shell RDs, Pt black and Pt/C, suggesting the preeminent activity of PtPd nanoframes. Meanwhile, PtPd nanoframes showed better stability compared with Pd@PdPt core–shell RDs, Pt black and Pt/C. The strengthened catalytic properties may be caused by the larger surface area owing to the novel structure and the strong electronic interaction between Pt and Pd.

It is still a big challenge to design Gd3+ based nanoparticles (NPs) for T1 MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) with high performance and clarify the effects of relative time parameters on longitudinal relaxivity r1. In this paper, we simulated the influences of different time parameters on the longitudinal relaxivity of Gd3+ based NPs with inner-sphere and outer-sphere theories, respectively. In particular, we investigated the effects of τR (the rotational time), τM (the residence time), Tie (the electronic relation time) and τd (the diffusion time) on longitudinal relaxivity. In the relaxation process of Gd3+ based NPs, the inner-sphere plays a dominant role, in which τR and τM have a greater impact on r1. Based on the simulation results, we proposed a design strategy of Gd3+ based NPs for T1 MRI, which focuses on the rational decrease of hydrated radius, and the optimal range of the hydrated radius is about 0.8–2.5 nm. In addition, we synthesized ultrasmall Gd2O3 NPs with a hydrated radius of about 2.5 nm, which have a high longitudinal relaxivity r1 of 10.8 mM−1 s−1 at 3.0 T. Moreover, the in vivo imaging results confirm that the ultrasmall Gd2O3 NPs have a good imaging effect on the tumor, and it can be a good candidate as a T1 MRI contrast agent with high performance.

As a promising chemical hydrogen storage material, ammonia borane (AB, NH3BH3) has been receiving significant attention for its hydrogen release property. Researches on the development of effective catalysts for AB hydrolysis under mild conditions have been of potential application interest. In the last few years, some non-noble metal-based materials have been developed for dehydrogenation of AB via hydrolysis, due to their low cost, high activity, and high durability. Therefore, the summary and analysis of the rapidly developing non-noble metal catalyst systems without noble metals can better grasp the current development status to guide subsequent design and research. In this review, the latest advances in non-noble metal-based catalysts are summarized, which can be divided into the following categories: pure metal-based materials, metal-based compounds (borides, phosphides, and oxides), and metal/metal compound heterogeneous structures. Investigations into the composition, structure, and activity enhancement of the catalyst are further highlighted. Besides, hydrolysis mechanisms, catalyst persistence, and AB regeneration are also discussed.

Objective Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show unique advantages in cardiomyocyte repairment. Exosomes derived from MSCs can enhance the viability of myocardial cells after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and regulate inflammation response. The study was designed to ascertain whether MSCs-exo protect the myocardium against I/R injury through inhibiting pyroptosis, and the underlying mechanisms. Methods and results Experiments were carried out in H/R and I/R model. Cell viability was inhibited and NLRP3 and caspase1 protein levels were upregulated in H/R model. However, MSCs could inhibit cell apoptosis and pyroptosis in H/R model. Moreover, we used MSCs-exo to treated H/R model, and flow cytometric analysis results showed the inhibition function of MSCs-exo on cell apoptosis, and Western blot data suggested that NLRP3 and Caspase-1 expressions were downregulated in H/R model. Furthermore, exosomal miR-320b targeted NLRP3 protein, and MSCs-exo OE could inhibit NLRP3 expression and pyroptosis in H/R. In addition, the inhibition function of MSCs-exo on pyroptosis also was found in I/R model, and HE and Tunel staining also got similar results. Conclusion Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells could protect the myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion injury through inhibiting pyroptosis.

Postoperative epidural adhesion remains a clinically challenging problem in spine surgery. Currently there are no effective and safe antifibrotic and antiadhesion biomaterials that have been specifically developed for this complication in clinical practice. Herein we designed and engineered an advanced antiadhesion hydrogel with multiple functionalities, including temperature-responsive gelation, self-healing, tissue adhesiveness, antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and antifibrosis. This multifunctional supramolecular hydrogel can be facilely constructed by integrating three functional modules, i.e., a thermosensitive triblock copolymer, poloxamer 407 (PX); a reactive oxygen species-eliminating and anti-inflammatory nanoparticle (TPCD NP); and an adhesion-enhancing compound, tannic acid (TA). The optimal formulation (PXNT) was hierarchically screened based on in vitro properties and in vivo activities. Therapeutically, local treatment with PXNT hydrogel effectively prevented epidural fibrosis and adhesion after laminectomy in both rats and rabbits. Of note, PXNT hydrogel showed more beneficial efficacy than different control thermosensitive hydrogels and a commercially available barrier product, Interceed. Mechanistically, PXNT hydrogel significantly attenuated local oxidative stress, inhibited inflammatory responses, and reduced fibrotic tissue formation. Moreover, treatment with PXNT hydrogel did not cause systemic adverse effects and neurological symptoms. Consequently, PXNT hydrogel is a highly promising biomaterial for preventing postlaminectomy epidural adhesion and adhesions after other surgeries.

Among the various morphologies, the nanoflowers have attracted considerable attention because the nanoflowers own higher surface area and lower density, providing more reaction sites for the adsorbates involved in a close range. In this study, Pd@Pt core–shell nanoflowers were obtained by a simple method. From the experiment results, it would be concluded that the core–shell structure was generated owing to the separate reactions of Pt and Pd processors and the flower-like morphologies were generated because of the effect of CTAC. This special structure enabled excellent performance for the oxidation of methanol due to the synergistic effect between Pd and Pt elements and the resulted larger surface area. Specifically, the specific activity of Pd@Pt core–shell nanoflowers was 0.70 mA cm−2, which was more outstanding than that of Pt black according to the electrochemical tests. Moreover, the Pd@Pt core–shell nanoflowers exhibited better durability than Pt black.

The catalytic activity of the catalyst closely depends on its electronic structure, but the relationship between electronic structure and the catalytic activity in the ammonia borane (NH3BH3, AB) c...

Endohedral clusterfullerenes (ECFs) are fullerene cages with various metallic clusters trapped inside. So far, the actinide-based ECFs are rather scarce with their possible structures and chemistry...

The stability of endohedral clusterfullerenes is generally understood in terms of the metal cluster shape, cage structure, and metal-cage interactions, with the electronic state of the internal cluster mostly neglected. Herein, theoretical calculations reveal that the (Ti

TiO2–CdS nanotubes (NTs) were used for the first time as a support to load metal nanoparticles (NPs) for the hydrolysis of ammonia borane (AB) which is a new strategy. The TiO2–CdS NTs support was first synthesized using a hydrothermal method, and then the CuNi NPs were loaded using a liquid-phase reduction method. The synthesized samples were characterized by XRD, SEM-EDS, TEM, XPS, ICP, UV–Vis, and PL analyses. The characterization results show that the CuNi NPs existed in the form of an alloy with a size of ~1.2 nm and uniformly dispersed on the support. Compared with their single metal counterparts, the bimetallic CuNi-supported catalysts showed a higher catalytic activity in the hydrolysis of AB under visible-light irradiation: Cu0·45Ni0·55/TiO2–CdS catalyst had the fastest hydrogen evolution rate with a high conversion frequency (TOF) of 25.9 molH2·molcat−1 min−1 at 25 °C and low activation energy of 32.8 kJ mol−1. Cu0.45Ni0.55/TiO2–CdS catalyst showed good recycle performance, maintaining 99.3% and 85.6% of the original hydrogen evolution rate even after five and ten recycles, respectively. Strong absorption of visible light, improved electron–hole separation efficiency, and metal synergy between Cu and Ni elements played a crucial role in improving the catalytic hydrolysis performance of AB. The catalyst prepared in this study provides a new strategy for the application of photocatalysts.

Quick identification of the active sites on the surfaces of nanomaterials is rather critical for disclosing their exact interaction mechanism with various adsorbates in the general adsorption and catalysis processes. In this work, we propose that the local aromaticity of the surface sites (bonds or atoms) of different heterocyclic nanostructures (fullerenes, nanotubes, and nanosheets) could be easily evaluated by averaging the nucleus-independent chemical shifts at the centers of the surrounding rings. Significantly, almost all the sites exhibiting the weakest aromaticity or the strongest antiaromaticity are optimal active sites for adsorbing common small molecules. The underlying driving force is further clarified to be the maximum preservation of the global aromaticity of the system.

The design and synthesis of bifunctional heterostructure catalysts is significant to achieve excellent water electrolysis performance. Nevertheless, it remains a challenge to explore the exact active centers of the bifunctional catalysts in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, a bifunctional catalyst of ultra-thin porous δ-FeOOH modified Ni3S2 nanosheets exhibits a relatively low overpotential of 187 mV for the OER and 106 mV for the HER at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, respectively. In addition, the overall water splitting unit provides a potential of 1.525 V at 10 mA cm−2 and maintains a performance of 96.85% after 24 h continuous testing. Multispectral analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations disclose that the constructed interface between δ-FeOOH and Ni3S2 has two functional groups of Ni–O–Fe and Fe–S bonds to boost the OER and HER performance, respectively, thereby accelerating the overall electrochemical water splitting process in alkaline solution.

Drug-induced tissue injury has become a growing public health problem. Gastrointestinal injury and liver dysfunction are the most common side effects related to drug therapies, resulting in high morbidity and mortality in recent years. The overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is critically involved in the pathogenesis of drug-induced tissue injury. Consequently, antioxidant therapy represents a very promising strategy for the treatment of drug-induced tissue injury. Herein, a multifunctional antioxidant nanotherapy (TON) is engineered from a cyclodextrin-derived ROS-responsive material and a radical scavenger tempol, and is capable of eliminating a broad spectrum of ROS. After oral administration, TON can passively accumulate in the inflamed gastrointestinal tissues in mice with indomethacin-induced gastrointestinal injury. Correspondingly, TON shows superior efficacy in two representative murine models of indomethacin-induced gastrointestinal injury and acetaminophen-induced hepatic injury via attenuating oxidative stress and mitigating inflammatory responses. Additionally, preliminary in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate the good safety profile of TON. Consequently, the ROS-responsive antioxidant nanotherapy TON is promising for the treatment of drug-induced tissue and organ injury.

Stroke is a primary cause of death and disability worldwide, while effective and safe drugs remain to be developed for its clinical treatment. Herein, we report bioactive nanoparticle-derived multifunctional nanotherapies for ischemic stroke, which are engineered from a pharmacologically active oligosaccharide material (termed as TPCD) prepared by covalently conjugating a radical-scavenging compound (Tempol) and a hydrogen-peroxide-eliminating moiety of phenylboronic acid pinacol ester (PBAP) on β-cyclodextrin. Of note, combined functional moieties of Tempol and PBAP on β-cyclodextrin contribute to antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of TPCD. Cellularly, TPCD nanoparticles (i.e., TPCD NPs) reduced oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced overproduction of oxidative mediators, increased antioxidant enzyme expression, and suppressed microglial-mediated inflammation, thereby inhibiting neuronal apoptosis. After intravenous (i.v.) delivery, TPCD NPs could efficiently accumulate at the cerebral ischemic injury site of mice with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), showing considerable distribution in cells relevant to the pathogenesis of stroke. Therapeutically, TPCD NPs significantly decreased infarct volume and accelerated recovery of neurological function in MCAO mice. Mechanistically, efficacy of TPCD NPs is achieved by its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects. Furthermore, TPCD NPs can function as a reactive oxygen species labile nanovehicle to efficiently load and triggerably release an inflammation-resolving peptide Ac2-26, giving rise to an inflammation-resolving nanotherapy (i.e., ATPCD NP). Compared to TPCD NP, ATPCD NP demonstrated notably enhanced in vivo efficacies, largely resulting from its additional inflammation-resolving activity. Consequently, TPCD NP-derived nanomedicines can be further developed as promising targeted therapies for stroke and other inflammation-associated cerebrovascular diseases.

Microplastic (MP) biofilms with heterogeneous bacterial compositions and structure have become a hotspot of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments. The evolutionary features of ARGs and their related factors including class 1 integron (intI1), metal resistance genes (MRGs), and bacterial communities in MP biofilms under exogenous pressures and how they compared with natural substrates (NS) are unclear. The individual and combined pressures of sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and zinc were used to drive the dynamic evolution of ARGs, intI1, MRGs, and bacterial communities in the MP and NS biofilms. The exogenous pressures from the combined selection of sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and zinc and their increasing concentrations both significantly enhanced the abundances of ARGs on the MP compared to the NS. Meanwhile, the selective pressures resulted in obvious dissimilarities between the MP and NS bacterial communities. The core bacterial taxa and the co-occurrence patterns of ARGs and bacterial genera in the biofilms of MP and NS were obviously different, and more potential ARG host bacteria selectively colonized the MP. Metal pressure also enhanced the enrichment of ARGs in the MP biofilms by promoting the spread of intI1 via the co-selection mechanism.

The development of high-efficiency, low-cost, and earth-abundant electrocatalysts for overall water splitting remains a challenge. In this work, Ni-modified MoS2 hybrid catalysts are grown on carbon cloth (Ni-Mo-S@CC) through a one-step hydrothermal treatment. The optimized Ni-Mo-S@CC catalyst shows excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity with a low overpotential of 168 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 in 1.0 m KOH, which is lower than those of Ni-Mo-S@CC (1:1), Ni-Mo-S@CC (3:1), and pure MoS2 . Significantly, the Ni-Mo-S@CC hybrid catalyst also displays outstanding oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity with a low overpotential of 320 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 , and remarkable long-term stability for 30 h at a constant current density of 10 mA cm-2 . Experimental results and theoretical analysis based on density functional theory demonstrate that the excellent electrocatalytic performance can be attributed mainly to the remarkable conductivity, abundant active sites, and synergistic effect of the Ni-doped MoS2 . This work sheds light on a unique strategy for the design of high-performance and stable electrocatalysts for water-splitting electrolyzers.

The application of hexagonal boron nitride materials in the field of catalysis has gradually attracted increasing attention. Herein we demonstrate the application of porous boron nitride nanofibers as a promising carrier for developing highly efficient catalysts for the catalytic hydrogenation of ammonia borane. Porous boron nitride nanofibers with high specific areas are utilized as a novel carrier to support and immobilize CuCo binary metal nanoparticles with average diameters below 10 nm. The prepared composite catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic activity on hydrogen production by ammonia borane hydrolysis. The hydrogen generation rate of Cu0.4Co0.6/boron nitride catalyst (with a particle loading weight of 15.6 wt%) is 3387.1 mL min−1·g−1, with a total turnover frequency value of 8.42 mol H2·(mol cat)−1·min−1 and a activation energy of 21.8 kJ mol−1. Theory study indicates that the synergistic effect of CuCo binary metals, as well as the strong interaction between boron nitride carrier and CuCo metal, leading to the enhanced catalytic activities of the catalyst. This study demonstrates that porous boron nitride has prospective application potentials in the field of catalytic hydrogen production of ammonia borane.

Stimulated by the recent successful synthesis and crystallographic characterization of the first diuranium carbide endohedral metallofullerene (EMF) U2C@Ih(7)-C80 (Zhang et al. Nat. Commun.; 2018),...

The increasing use of pesticides in agriculture and gardening has caused severe deterioration to both the ecosystem and the health of users (human beings), so there is an urgent need for eco- and user-friendly pesticides. Among a variety of herbicides, paraquat (PQ), frequently used as an effective herbicidal agent worldwide, is well-known for its serious toxicity that has killed, and harmed, thousands of people and countless wildlife such as fish. Herein, we present a facile supramolecular formulation of PQ@cucurbit[7]uril (PQ@CB[7]), prepared by simply mixing PQ with equivalent (molar) CB[7] in water. With addition of CB[7], PQ's cellular uptake was dramatically inhibited. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the associated apoptosis otherwise induced by PQ in cellular models were both reduced, resulting in increased cellular viability. In a wildtype zebrafish model that is a typical fragile wildlife species in the ecosystem, the supramolecular formulation exhibited significantly reduced hepatotoxicity and increased survival rate, in comparison with those of the fish exposed to free PQ. In a mouse model that is clinically relevant to human being, the administration of PQ@CB[7] significantly alleviated major organ injuries and unusual hematological parameters that were otherwise induced by free PQ, resulting in a significantly increased survival rate. Meanwhile, this formulation maintained effective herbicidal activity that was equivalent to that of free PQ. Taken together, this facile supramolecular PQ formulation is providing not only an extremely rare example of an eco- and user-friendly herbicide that has been desired for decades but also a practical solution for green agriculture.

The oriented growth of flowerlike strontium titanate (SrTiO3) with highly efficient photoelectrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction performance afforded a high limiting current density of 3.38 mA/cm2 at 600 mV (vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode), and low overpotential and Tafel slope (84 mV/dec) in 1 M KOH solution. Ti foil as a substrate can significantly enhance electron transfer, and flowerlike SrTiO3 with a highly exposed (110) crystal surface was controlled by NaOH concentration and HF. Therefore, the use of Ti and F− as the substrate and the shape-directing additive, respectively, is a feasible and simple strategy to induce a high-energy surface on a photoelectrocatalyst for photoelectrocatalytic splitting of water.

The novel hexagonal boron nitride (BN) bundles, assembled by a plenty of BN fibers with high adsorption capacity and outstanding recyclability, were prepared easily as an efficient adsorbent for antibiotics. It is an excellent substitute for carbonaceous adsorbent to overcome the shortcoming in low adsorption capacity and poor recyclability. Its high surface area can reach up to 871.456 m2 g−1. The adsorption capacity and removal percentage to sulfadiazine (SDZ, 0.328 mmol g−1, 82.192%), oxytetracycline (OTC, 0.202 mmol g−1, 92.890%) and erythromycin (EM, 0.126 mmol g−1, 90.140%) are superior compared with activated carbon and graphene nanoplatelets. It is interesting that BN bundles have a better adsorption to small molecules since huge molecules are easily restricted to enter the micropores, which was defined as micropore-filling effect. Moreover, the adsorption isotherms are well fitted by the Langmuir and Tempkin model, while pseudo-second-order model can better describe the adsorption kinetics. The adsorption mechanisms were deduced to be mainly π-π electron-donor-accepter interaction while electrostatic force and hydrophobic interaction played a significant role. The excellent reusability can be seen from the high removal efficiency after five recycles suggesting the BN bundles was a promising adsorbent for the efficient removal of antibiotics pollutants.

This study was to determine the effects of dietary Zn-methionine (Zn-Met) supplementation on the laying performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, and serum parameters of laying hens. Jingh ong-1 strain laying hens (n = 720, 49 wk of age) were randomly assigned to 6 treatments with 6 replications of 20 birds. The control was fed a basal diet supplemented with 80 mg of Zn/kg as Zn sulphate of diet and the 5 groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg of Zn/kg as Zn-Met of diet for 10 wk, respectively. At the terminal experiment, there were significant differences between control and 80 mg/kg Zn-Met group in feed intake (P0.05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P0.01). Egg weight (P0.05) and albumen height (P0.01) reduced and were not significantly influenced by supplemental 80 mg/kg Zn-Met group until being stored 15 d as compared to the control. Zn-Met group in 100 mg/kg significantly increased haugh unit (P0.05) as compared to the control. The activity of MDA in serum had a linear decrease in 20 to 100 mg/kg Zn-Met. The activity of CAT in liver and GSH-Px in serum had quadratic effects in response to the Zn-Met treatments. Compared to the control, 60 mg/kg Zn-Met group increased the T-AOC, GSH-Px activity in serum (P0.01), and the T-AOC (P0.05), CuZnSOD (P0.01), GSH-Px (P0.01) activity in liver. Compared with the control, the concentration of serum ionic Ca in 80, 100 mg/kg Zn-Met treatments reduced (P0.01) significantly while the activity of serum alkaline phosphatase (AKP) increased in the Zn-Met groups of 40, 60, and 80 mg/kg (P0.01), and 100 mg/kg (P0.05). In conclusion, dietary Zn-Met supplementation at 60 to 80 mg/kg had more positive effects on performance, egg quality, and antioxidant capacity in laying hens as compared to 80 mg/kg ZnSO4.

AIM To evaluate the effects of quercetin to improve ischemia/reperfusion-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis in vitro and in vivo study. METHODS The cells were divided into five groups: model control (MC) group was ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) model group; DL group was treated with 25 mL/L quercetin based on MC group; DM group was treated with 50 ml/L quercetin based on MC group; DH group was treated with 100 mL/L quercetin based on MC group; Meto group was treated with metoprolol based on MC group. In the in vivo study, the rats were divided into five groups: MC group was I/R model group; DL group was treated with 25 mg/kg quercetin; DM group was treated with 50 mg/kg quercetin; DM group was treated with 100 mg/kg quercetin; Meto group was treated with Meto as positive drug. RESULTS The cell apoptosis rates of quercetin treated groups (DL, DM, and DH groups) were significantly suppressed compared with the MC group. The silent information regulatory factor 1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), and Bcl-2 proteins expression of quercetin treated were significantly upregulation compared with MC group (P

Accidental or suicidal ingestion of the world's most widely used herbicide, paraquat (PQ), may result in rapid multi-organ failure with a 60% fatality rate due to the absence of an effective detoxification solution. Effective, specific antidotes to PQ poisoning have been highly desired. Methods: The binding constant of PQ and a synthetic receptor, cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]), was first determined in various pH environments. The antidotal effects of CB[7] on PQ toxicity were firstly evaluated with in-vitro cell lines. With in-vivo mice models, the pharmacokinetics and the biodistribution of PQ in major organs were determined to evaluate the influence of CB[7] on the oral bioavailability of PQ. Major organs' injuries and overall survival rates of the mice were systemically examined to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of CB[7] on PQ poisoning. Results: We demonstrate that CB[7] may complex PQ strongly under various conditions and significantly reduce its toxicity in vitro and in vivo. Oral administration of PQ in the presence of CB[7] in a mouse model significantly decreased PQ levels in the plasma and major organs and alleviated major organs' injuries, when compared to those of mice administered with PQ alone. Further studies indicated that oral administration of CB[7] within 2 h post PQ ingestion significantly increased the survival rates and extended the survival time of the mice, in contrast to the ineffective treatment by activated charcoal, which is commonly recommended for PQ decontamination. Conclusion: CB[7] may be used as a specific oral antidote for PQ poisoning by strongly binding with PQ and inhibiting its absorption in the gastrointestinal tracts.

Exploiting a low cost and highly efficient multi-functional electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is indispensable for promoting the development of overall water-splitting and Zn–air battery technology. In this work, we develop a one-step facile hydrothermal approach to successfully synthesize nickel sulfide nanospheres from nanosheets. The micro-nanostructure and surface metal valence state can be engineered by tuning the phase and composition of the nickel sulfides. Electrochemical results show that a pyrite-type NiS2 catalyst with surface enriched Ni3+ sites exhibits enhanced catalytic activities towards tri-functional electrocatalysis: overpotentials of 241 mV and 147 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH for OER and HER, respectively; and a half-wave potential of 0.80 V for ORR. As for overall water-splitting, a low voltage of 1.66 V is required at 10 mA cm−2, which is even lower than that required by RuO2 + Pt/C (1.69 V). The catalyst also exhibits robust durability: the overpotential reduces by only 4.8% over 37 h of chronopotentiometry and maintains almost 100% faradaic efficiency. The hierarchical NiS2 nanospheres also promote performance in a Zn–air battery with lower discharging–recharging overpotentials (0.8 V) and a longer cycle life (>120 cycles at 10 mA cm−2) than Pt/C. Furthermore, theoretical analysis demonstrates that the pyrite-type NiS2 with octahedrally coordinated Ni3+ active sites tailors the adsorption free energies of H* and OH* intermediates to optimal values, contributing to the outstanding electrochemical properties. This work sheds light on the rational design of highly efficient transition metal chalcogenide nanocatalysts through composition and surface chemistry engineering for next-generation energy conversion technologies.

Heart failure is a serious clinical and public health problem. Currently there is an unmet demand for effective therapies for heart failure. Herein we reported noninvasive inhalation delivery of nanotherapies to prevent heart failure. Methods: A reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging material (TPCD) was synthesized, which was processed into antioxidative and anti-inflammatory nanoparticles (i.e., TPCD NP). By decoration with a mitochondrial-targeting moiety, a multilevel targeting nanotherapy TTPCD NP was engineered. Pulmonary accumulation of inhaled TPCD NP and underlying mechanisms were examined in mice. In vivo efficacies of nanotherapies were evaluated in mice with doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy. Further, an antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and pro-resolving nanotherapy (i.e., ATTPCD NP) was developed, by packaging a peptide Ac2-26. In vitro and in vivo efficacies of ATTPCD NP were also evaluated. Results: TPCD NP alleviated DOX-induced oxidative stress and cell injury by internalization in cardiomyocytes and scavenging overproduced ROS. Inhaled TPCD NP can accumulate in the heart of mice by transport across the lung epithelial and endothelial barriers. Correspondingly, inhaled TPCD NP effectively inhibited DOX-induced heart failure in mice. TTPCD NP showed considerably enhanced heart targeting capability, cellular uptake efficiency, and mitochondrial localization capacity, thereby potentiating therapeutic effects. Notably, TPCD NP can serve as bioactive and ROS-responsive nanovehicles to achieve combination therapy with Ac2-26, affording further enhanced efficacies. Importantly, inhaled TPCD NP displayed good safety at a dose 5-fold higher than the efficacious dose. Conclusions: Inhalation delivery of nanoparticles is an effective, safe, and noninvasive strategy for targeted treatment of heart diseases. TPCD NP-based nanotherapies are promising drugs for heart failure and other acute/chronic heart diseases associated with oxidative stress.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is an important microvascular complication of diabetes and is the main cause of end-stage renal disease. Type 2 mannose receptor C (MRC2) is a member of the mannose receptor protein family, which has been confirmed to have the ability to promote the cell migration signaling pathway and invasion. By complementary DNA chip screening and analysis, we found that the expression of MRC2 was upregulated in the kidneys of mice with diabetic nephropathy. However, the role of MRC2 in diabetic nephropathy is still unclear. This work studied the effect of MRC2 on diabetic nephropathy. After verifying the results of the chip by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting, we used small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to knock down the expression of MRC2 in mouse mesangial cells (MMCs) and analyzed the level of cell proliferation and apoptosis using western blotting, Cell Counting Kit-8, and flow cytometry. The results showed that the MRC2 knockdown inhibited MMC proliferation and induced cell apoptosis. These results suggest that MRC2 may be a molecular marker and a therapeutic target for diabetic nephropathy.

The proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM), such as type II collagen in chondrocytes, plays an important role in the development of osteoarthritis (OA). Telmisartan, an angiotensin II (Ang-II) receptor blocker, is a licensed drug used for the treatment of hypertension. However, the effects of Telmisartan in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced damage to chondrocytes and the progression of OA are unknown. In this study, we found that treatment with Telmisartan attenuated TNF-α-induced oxidative stress by reducing the levels of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the production of protein carbonyl in human C28/I2 chondrocytes. Interestingly, Telmisartan inhibited TNF-α-induced expression and secretions of proinflammatory mediators such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1). Notably, stimulation with TNF-α reduced the levels of type II collagen at both the mRNA and the protein levels, which was rescued by the treatment with Telmisartan. Mechanistically, we found that Telmisartan restored TNF-α-induced reduction of SOX-9. Silencing of SOX-9 blocked the inhibitory effects of Telmisartan against TNF-α-induced degradation of type II collagen. These findings suggest that Telmisartan might be a potential and promising agent for the treatment of OA.

Reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ(m)) is a hallmark of mitochondrial dysfunction. It activates adaptive responses in organisms from yeast to human to rewire metabolism, remove depolarized mitochondria, and degrade unimported precursor proteins. It remains unclear how cells maintain Δψ(m), which is critical for maintaining iron‐sulfur cluster (ISC) synthesis, an indispensable function of mitochondria. Here, we show that yeast oxidative phosphorylation mutants deficient in complex III, IV, V, and mtDNA, respectively, exhibit activated stress responses and progressive reduction of Δψ(m). Extensive omics analyses of these mutants show that these mutants progressively activate adaptive responses, including transcriptional downregulation of ATP synthase inhibitor Inh1 and OXPHOS subunits, Puf3‐mediated upregulation of import receptor Mia40 and global mitochondrial biogenesis, Snf1/AMPK‐mediated upregulation of glycolysis and repression of ribosome biogenesis, and transcriptional upregulation of cytoplasmic chaperones. These adaptations disinhibit mitochondrial ATP hydrolysis, remodel mitochondrial proteome, and optimize ATP supply to mitochondria to convergently maintain Δψ(m), ISC biosynthesis, and cell proliferation.

Asthma, one of the most common lung diseases, remains a serious global healthy problem. Currently there is still an urgent need for effective and safe therapies against severe asthma. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have emerged as a new therapeutic target for different diseases, while precision regulation of NETs is highly challenging. Here, we report site-specific attenuation of oxidative stress in lung neutrophils via a cyclic oligosaccharide-derived nanotherapy (termed as TPCN) effectively inhibited the development of mouse neutrophilic asthma, a typical phenotype of severe asthma. Therapeutically, TPCN delivered via either intravenous injection or inhalation can distribute in lung neutrophils of asthmatic mice, thereby significantly mitigating oxidative stress, suppressing inflammatory responses, reversing airway remodelling, and improving pulmonary function. Notably, TPCN is effective even at an actual inhalation dose as low as 0.063 mg/kg. Mechanistically, therapeutic benefits of TPCN are achieved by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced formation of NETs, which further promotes immune homeostasis via regulating balance between regulatory T (Treg) and T helper 17 (Th17) cells. Thus, TPCN holds great promise for precision therapy of neutrophilic asthma, while the ROS-NETs-Treg/Th17 pathway can function as intriguing therapeutic targets for the treatment of severe asthma and other neutrophil-mediated inflammatory diseases.

Due to the maximal atom utilization, high activity, and selectivity, the two-dimensional (2D) matrix supported single-atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted substantial research interests. In this work, we carried out the theoretical study on the stability, activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and its dependence on the electronic structure of transition metal (TM) anchored on two types of borophene (called β12 and χ3) by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results show that the early− and VIII−TM anchored β12 and χ3 borophenes are structurally and thermodynamically stable. The overpotentials of OER (ηOER) over the Ni supported on β12 and χ3 borophene SACs, designated as β12−Ni and χ3−Ni, are 0.38 and 0.35 V, respectively. The ηORR of β12−Ni and χ3−Ni are estimated to be as low as 0.34 and 0.39 V, respectively. The OER/ORR activity of the SACs can be well correlated with their electronic structures. The high ηOER values of early TM supported on borophene SACs correspond to high d-band center of TM. Both β12−Ni and χ3−Ni have a moderate d-band center. Since the overpotentials for OER and ORR on β12−Ni and χ3−Ni are comparable to those of Pt group metals and their oxides, β12−Ni and χ3−Ni can be considered as the promising bifunctional catalysts for OER and ORR.

A series of C-7, C-9 and C-10 modified taxane analogues were synthesized and their in vitro anticancer activities against three human cancer cell lines: A-549 (human lung cancer cell line), MDA-MB-231 (human breast cancer cell line), A-549/T (human lung cancer resistant cell line) were studied. The novel 1-deoxybaccatin VI derivatives modified with carbonate group at C-9 and C-10 positions enable the behavior of these compounds to be evidently distinct from other similar compounds. The strong cytotoxicity in the three cell lines, especially in drug-resistant cell line, showed by the newly synthesized taxane analogues indicated them as potential lead compounds for anticancer drug design.

Background Infectious diseases caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, especially MDR Gram-negative strains, have become a global public health challenge. Multifunctional nanomaterials for controlling MDR bacterial infections via eradication of planktonic bacteria and their biofilms are of great interest. Results In this study, we developed a multifunctional platform (TG-NO-B) with single NIR laser-triggered PTT and NO release for synergistic therapy against MDR Gram-negative bacteria and their biofilms. When located at the infected sites, TG-NO-B was able to selectively bind to the surfaces of Gram-negative bacterial cells and their biofilm matrix through covalent coupling between the BA groups of TG-NO-B and the bacterial LPS units, which could greatly improve the antibacterial efficiency, and reduce side damages to ambient normal tissues. Upon single NIR laser irradiation, TG-NO-B could generate hyperthermia and simultaneously release NO, which would synergistically disrupt bacterial cell membrane, further cause leakage and damage of intracellular components, and finally induce bacteria death. On one hand, the combination of NO and PTT could largely improve the antibacterial efficiency. On the other hand, the bacterial cell membrane damage could improve the permeability and sensitivity to heat, decrease the photothermal temperature and avoid damages caused by high temperature. Moreover, TG-NO-B could be effectively utilized for synergistic therapy against the in vivo infections of MDR Gram-negative bacteria and their biofilms and accelerate wound healing as well as exhibit excellent biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that TG-NO-B can be considered as a promising alternative for treating infections caused by MDR Gram-negative bacteria and their biofilms.

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a coronavirus, causes infectious bronchitis (IB) with high morbidity and mortality, and gives rise to huge economic losses for the poultry industry. Aminopeptidase N (APN) may be one of the IBV functional receptors. In this study, Gallus gallus APN (gAPN) protein was screened by phage-displayed 12-mer peptide library. Two high-affinity peptides H (HDYLYYTFTGNP) and T (TKFSPPSFWYLH) to gAPN protein were selected for in depth characterization of their anti-IBV effects. In vitro, indirect ELISA showed that these two high-affinity ligands could bind IBV S1 antibodies. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay, virus yield reduction assay and indirect immunofluorescence assay results revealed 3.125–50 μg/ml of peptide H and 6.25–50 μg/ml of peptide T reduced IBV proliferation in chicken embryo kidney cells (CEKs). In vivo, high-affinity phage-vaccinated chickens were able to induce specific IBV S1 antibodies and IBV neutralizing antibodies. QRT-PCR results confirmed that high-affinity phages reduced virus proliferation in chicken tracheas, lungs and kidneys, and alleviated IBV-induced lesions. By multiple sequence alignment, motif ‘YxYY’ and ‘FxPPxxWxLH’ of high-affinity peptides were identified in IBV S1-NTD, while another motif ‘YxFxGN’ located in S2. These results indicated that high affinity peptides of gAPN could present an alternative approach to IB prevention or treatment.

The present study explored the mechanism of Zn-methionine (Zn-Met) influencing eggshell quality of laying hens and investigated whether the mechanism was related to Ca deposition. Hyline grey layers (n 384, 38 weeks old) were divided into four groups: 0 mg Zn/kg, 40, 80 mg Zn/kg as Zn-Met, and 80 mg Zn/kg as zinc sulphate (ZnSO4). Eggshell quality, Zn contents, Zn-containing enzyme activities and expressions of shell matrix proteins in eggshell gland (ESG) were analysed. Zn-Met treatment at 80 mg/kg increased (P < 0·05) egg weight and eggshell strength throughout the experiments. The 80 mg/kg Zn-Met group (P < 0·05) had decreased mammillary knob width and larger relative atomic weight percentage of Ca, stronger signal intensity of Ca in linear distribution and the Ca was more evenly distributed in the transversal surface of eggshell. Zn contents (P < 0·001) in yolk and serum, Ca, albumin (Alb) levels in ESG as well as carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity in serum (P < 0·05) and mRNA levels of CA and Ca-binding protein-d28k (CaBP-D28k) (P < 0·001) in the 80 mg/kg Zn-Met group were the highest among all treatments. In conclusion, shell strength as one of eggshell qualities was mostly related to mammillary cone width in ultrastructure caused by the pattern of Ca deposition in eggshell formation. Also, the increase in Zn-Met-induced Ca deposition may be due to the increased Zn contents in serum and tissues, which were attributable to the increased CA concentrations in serum, Ca, Alb levels and up-regulated CA and CaBP-D28k mRNA levels in ESG.

Exploring economic, efficient, and corrosion-resistant oxygen electrocatalysts contributes to further development of zinc-air batteries and overall water splitting. Herein, a novel ternary spinel CoIn2Se4 nanomaterial, with Co2+ and In3+ occupying the tetrahedral and octahedral sites of the crystalline structure, has been fabricated using a facile and environment-friendly method. Moreover, CoIn2Se4 nanosheets outperform pristine CoSe2 and In2Se3 in catalyzing both oxygen evolution reaction (an overpotential of 315 mV at 10 mA cm-2) and oxygen reduction reaction (an onset overpotential of 0.88 V). The reduced charge resistance and increased active site exposure ratio contribute to the superior performance of CoIn2Se4. Moreover, density of theory (density functional theory-DFT) calculations suggest a significantly reduced reaction energy barrier after introducing indium into the spinel, and therefore the reaction kinetics are facilitated. Based on the advantages described above, CoIn2Se4 is used as the air cathode for a solid flexible zinc-air battery (FZAB). The system displays an efficient performance that outperforms the Pt@Ir/C catalyst: a significantly enhanced specific capacity of 733 mAh gZn-1, a high energy density of 931 Wh kg-1, and an excellent flexibility with long cycle life performance (over 400 cycles). The CoIn2Se4-based two-series-connected FZABs successfully power light-emitting diode (LED) screens for over 10 h. Meanwhile, CoIn2Se4 also shows a significantly enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance than other samples. Finally, the CoIn2Se4-based electrolyzer shows an efficient overall water-splitting performance with high stability. This work demonstrates that the indium-based ternary selenides show promising applications in developing renewable energy and water-splitting devices.

Genomic alterations are commonly found in the signaling pathways of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs). Although there is no selective FGFR inhibitors in market, several promising inhibitors have been investigated in clinical trials, and showed encouraging efficacies in patients. By designing a hybrid between the FGFR-selectivity-enhancing motif dimethoxybenzene group and our previously identified novel scaffold, we discovered a new series of potent FGFR inhibitors, with the best one showing sub-nanomolar enzymatic activity. After several round of optimization and with the solved crystal structure, detailed structure—activity relationship was elaborated. Together with in vitro metabolic stability tests and in vivo pharmacokinetic profiling, a representative compound (35) was selected and tested in xenograft mouse model, and the result demonstrated that inhibitor 35 was effective against tumors with FGFR genetic alterations, exhibiting potential for further development., Graphical abstract With the guidance of the crystal structure, we discovered a series of selective FGFR inhibitors bearing 5H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrazine scaffold. After considerable efforts to improve the metabolic stability and pharmacokinetic properties, finally, we obtained a potent and active compound 35 showing in vivo efficacy in xenograft mouse model.fx1

In this paper, non-rare-earth boron carbon oxynitride (BCNO) long afterglow phosphors were prepared by a rapid self-propagating combustion method. The precursor was obtained using boric acid, melamine and glycine as raw materials and then the BCNO phosphors with optimum luminescence properties were successfully synthesized after calcination of the precursor at 625 °C for 2 h in air atmosphere. The product and its luminescence properties were characterized with X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), excitation and emission spectra by fluorescence spectrometer. With the contents of increasing glycine, the luminescence emission peaks of as-prepared BCNO phosphors appear distinctly redshift, which is closely induced by the presence of different types of defects including the paramagnetic centre of nitrogen vacancies (VN), carbon and oxygen related impurity. In addition, the blue-purple emitting phosphors still remain long-lasting luminescence after stopping irradiation by UV light for 10 min. The developed BCNO phosphors have great practical applications in display, illumination, solar cell and biomedical fields.