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Glycoproteins play vital roles in living organisms and often serve as biomarkers for some disease. However, due to the low content of glycoprotein in biological fluids, selective detection of glycoproteins is still a challenging issue that needs to be addressed. In this study, molecularly imprinted colloidal array with multi-boronic acid sites for glycoprotein detection under physiological pH was proposed. Monodispersed glycoprotein imprinted particles (SiO2@PEI/MIPs) was first prepared based on surface imprinting strategy using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as template, and polyethyleneimine (PEI) was used to increase the number of boronic acid groups. The binding experiment indicated that the SiO2@PEI/MIPs hold satisfactory adsorption capacity (1.41 μmol/g), rapid adsorption rate (40 min) and preferable selectivity toward HRP. Then the SiO2@PEI/MIPs was assembled into close-packed colloidal array to construct a label free optical sensor (denoted as GICA). Benefiting from the high ordered photonic crystal structure, binding of HRP onto the GICA could be directly readout from the changes in structure color and diffracted wavelength. The structure color of the GICA changed from bright blue to yellow with the diffraction wavelength red shifted 59 nm when the HRP concentration increased from 2.5 to 15 μmol/L. Importantly, the GICA was capable of detecting HRP from human serum samples. All those results indicated the potential of the GICA for naked-eye detection of glycoprotein.

A series of W doped Pr0.5Ba0.5(Co0.7Fe0.3)O3-δ (PBCF) are prepared and characterized as cathodes for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cell (H–SOFC). The enhancement of proton migration and formation ability through W doping significantly increases the cell performance and it is further verified by the density functional theory (DFT) simulation, presenting the high valence element doping can be a potential approach for the design of cathode.

Advanced carbon-based electrode materials derived from wastes are essential to high-performance supercapacitors due to their abundance and sustainability. In this work, we fabricate novel cathodes and anodes based on discarded surgical mask-derived carbon (DSM-C). Discarded surgical masks are good candidates for carbon-based electrode materials due to their unique fibrous structure and simple composition compared to conventional biomass sources. Benefiting from the excellent electrical conductivity of DSM-C and abundant redox reactions from nickel oxide (NiO), the electrochemical performances of NiO/DSM-C composites have been greatly improved. Specifically, the DSM-C and NiO/DSM-C electrodes show high specific capacitances of 240 F g−1 and 496 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 respectively, and excellent rate capability. Moreover, asymmetric supercapacitors (ASCs) are assembled using DSM-C and NiO/DSM-C as anodes and cathodes, respectively. They deliver a high energy density of 57 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 702 W kg−1, accompanied by superior cycling stability (98.5% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles). This work shows prospective applications of DSM-C as an electrode material for energy storage systems.

Background: Inclusion of anticancer drugs into biocompatible nanoparticulate carriers decreases the general toxicity and improves the efficacy of clinical treatments due to the reduction of soluble circulating free drugs. Methods: In addition, removal of emerging drug contaminants from wastewaters is a necessity that should be seriously attended. Boron nitride (BN) is a choice in drug delivery because of its many surprising properties. Here, boron nitride nanoparticles are prepared, characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) and used in the delivery of melphalan anti-cancer drug. Results: Then, density functional theory (DFT) calculations are carried out to study the adsorption of this drug on the surface of pure boron nitride fullerene via familiar hybrid functionals B3LYP and B3PW91. In addition, the polarizable continuum model (PCM) calculations show that BN is stable in water. Conclusion: Finally, the in vitro cellular toxicity and viability of BN nanoparticles was examined on ES-2 cancer cells. The inhibitory dose IC50 of the material confirmed acceptable cytotoxicity and nanoparticles affected the average growth of the ES-2 cancer cells.

Glycoproteins play crucial roles in many biological events such as protein folding, information transmission, nerve conduction, and molecular recognition. Some glycoproteins serve as disease biomarkers in clinical settings. However, selective detection of glycoprotein often faces great challenges, owing to its low abundance in complex biological samples. In this case, develop a highly sensitive and selective approach for glycoprotein detection is urgently needed. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have proved to be an ideal absorbent material in detection and separation science. Herein, a novel biomass activated carbon–derived imprinted polymer (BAC@PEI/PBA/MIPs) was fabricated for selective recognition of glycoprotein. The as-prepared BAC@PEI/PBA/MIPs was synthesized using waste tea derived carbon as matrix, albumin chicken egg (OVA) as template, and dopamine as functional monomer. Branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) was covalently bonded on the BAC surface to increase the number of boronic acid moieties. Benefiting from the self-polymerization of dopamine and multi-boronic acid sites, a great number of recognition sites were presented under mild conditions. The static adsorption experiment showed that the BAC@PEI/PBA/MIPs exhibited a high binding capacity of 196.2 mg/g, rapid adsorption dynamics of 40 min, excellent selectivity and satisfactory reusability for OVA. Furthermore, the practicability of BAC@PEI/PBA/MIPs was verified by isolation of OVA from egg white. The good binding performance and facile preparation process make BAC@PEI/PBA/MIPs attractive for glycoprotein recognition, indicating its potential applications in biomedical research and clinical diagnostics.

Astaxanthin (AST), a xanthophyll belonging to the family of carotenoids, is a potent antioxidant. The effect of AST on longevity and its physiological and molecular mechanism are still unclear. In ...

The binding energy spectrum and electron momentum profiles of the inner orbitals of methyl iodide have been measured using an electron momentum spectrometer at the impact energy of 1200 eV plus binding energy. Two peaks in the binding energy spectrum, arising from the spin-orbit splitting, are observed and the corresponding electron momentum profiles are obtained. Relativistic density functional calculations are performed to elucidate the experimental electron momentum profiles of two spin-orbit splitting components, showing agreement with each other except for the intensity in low momentum region. The measured high intensity in the low momentum region can be further explained by the distorted wave calculation.

The oxygen vacancy caused by ultrathin structures would be introduced into the semiconductor photocatalyst to boost its photocatalytic activity. Herein, ultrathin Bi2O3-Bi2WO6 nanosheet composites have been successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method. Compared to pure Bi2WO6 nanosheets, the Bi2O3-Bi2WO6 nanosheet composites possess abundant oxygen vacancies, which was confirmed by the positron annihilation spectra. The ultrathin Bi2O3-Bi2WO6 nanosheet composites exhibited remarkable photocatalytic degradation performance for oxytetracycline compared with that of pure Bi2WO6 nanosheets. The excellent photocatalytic activities of Bi2O3-Bi2WO6 composites could be attributed to the heterojunction structure and the oxygen vacancies caused by ultrathin structures.

Signaling pathways in innate and adaptive immunity play vital roles in pathogen recognition and the functions of immune cells. Higher-order assemblies have recently emerged as a central principle that governs immune signaling and, by extension, cellular communication in general. There are mainly two types of higher-order assemblies: 1) ordered, solid-like large supramolecular complexes formed by stable and rigid protein-protein interactions, and 2) liquid-like phase-separated condensates formed by weaker and more dynamic intermolecular interactions. This review covers key examples of both types of higher-order assemblies in major immune pathways. By placing emphasis on the molecular structures of the examples provided, we discuss how their structural organization enables elegant mechanisms of signaling regulation.

Pseudocapacitances combining ample redox reactions and relative rapid ion and charge transport have been extensively investigated in energy storage applications. Herein, we employ a simple two-step method to synthesize MnCo2O4 hollow spheres (MnCo2O4 HSs), and directly grow MnCo2O4 HSs on nickel foam (NF) to prepare MnCo2O4 HSs/NF. The three-dimensional (3D) macroporous structure of NF offers a perfect platform for the uniform growth of MnCo2O4 HSs and constructs interconnected charge transfer highways. The hollow structure of MnCo2O4 exposes abundant redox active sites for energy storage, increasing the utilization rate of electroactive materials. Benefiting from the 3D macroporous structure of NF and the hollow structure of MnCo2O4 HSs, the ion and charge transport is greatly improved. The resultant MnCo2O4 HSs/NF electrode shows a high specific capacitance of 648.4 F g−1 at 2 mV s−1 in sodium sulfate electrolyte. Furthermore, the MnCo2O4 HSs/NF//MnCo2O4 HSs/NF symmetrical supercapacitors are fabricated, which deliver a high energy density of 37.1 Wh kg−1 at 250.1 W kg−1 along with outstanding cycling stability.

Herein, a functional class of microenvironment-associated nanomaterials is reported for improving the second near-infrared (NIR-II) imaging and photothermal therapeutic effect on intracranial tumors via a spontaneous membrane-adsorption approach. Specific peptides, photothermal agents, and biological alkylating agents were designed to endow the nanogels with high targeting specificity, photothermal properties, and pharmacological effects. Importantly, the frozen scanning electron microscopy technology (cryo-SEM) was utilized to observe the self-association of nanomaterials on tumor cells. Interestingly, the spontaneous membrane-adsorption behavior of nanomaterials was captured through direct imaging evidence. Histological analysis showed that the cross-linking adhesion in intracranial tumor and monodispersity in normal tissues of the nanogels not only enhanced the retention time but also ensured excellent biocompatibility. Impressively, in vivo data confirmed that the microenvironment-associated nanogels could significantly enhance brain tumor clearance rate within a short treatment timeframe (only two weeks). In short, utilizing the spontaneous membrane-adsorption strategy can significantly improve NIR-II diagnosis and phototherapy in brain diseases while avoiding high-risk complications.

CRISPR–Cas immune systems process and integrate short fragments of DNA from new invaders as spacers into the host CRISPR locus to establish molecular memory of prior infection, which is also known as adaptation in the field. Some CRISPR–Cas systems rely on Cas1 and Cas2 to complete the adaptation process, which has been characterized in a few systems. In contrast, many other CRISPR–Cas systems require an additional factor of Cas4 for efficient adaptation, the mechanism of which remains less understood. Here we present biochemical reconstitution of the Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 type I-D adaptation system, X-ray crystal structures of Cas1–Cas2–prespacer complexes, and negative stained electron microscopy structure of the Cas4–Cas1 complex. Cas4 and Cas2 compete with each other to interact with Cas1. In the absence of prespacer, Cas4 but not Cas2 assembles with Cas1 into a very stable complex for processing the prespacer. Strikingly, the Cas1-prespacer complex develops a higher binding affinity toward Cas2 to form the Cas1–Cas2–prespacer ternary complex for integration. Together, we show a two-step sequential assembly mechanism for the type I-D adaptation module of Synechocystis, in which Cas4–Cas1 and Cas1–Cas2 function as two exclusive complexes for prespacer processing, capture, and integration.

NLRP1 and CARD8 are related cytosolic sensors that upon activation form supramolecular signalling complexes known as canonical inflammasomes, resulting in caspase−1 activation, cytokine maturation and/or pyroptotic cell death. NLRP1 and CARD8 use their C-terminal (CT) fragments containing a caspase recruitment domain (CARD) and the UPA (conserved in UNC5, PIDD, and ankyrins) subdomain for self-oligomerization, which in turn form the platform to recruit the inflammasome adaptor ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD) or caspase-1, respectively. Here, we report cryo-EM structures of NLRP1-CT and CARD8-CT assemblies, in which the respective CARDs form central helical filaments that are promoted by oligomerized, but flexibly linked, UPAs surrounding the filaments. Through biochemical and cellular approaches, we demonstrate that the UPA itself reduces the threshold needed for NLRP1-CT and CARD8-CT filament formation and signalling. Structural analyses provide insights on the mode of ASC recruitment by NLRP1-CT and the contrasting direct recruitment of caspase-1 by CARD8-CT. We also discover that subunits in the central NLRP1CARD filament dimerize with additional exterior CARDs, which roughly doubles its thickness and is unique among all known CARD filaments. Finally, we engineer and determine the structure of an ASCCARD–caspase-1CARD octamer, which suggests that ASC uses opposing surfaces for NLRP1, versus caspase-1, recruitment. Together these structures capture the architecture and specificity of the active NLRP1 and CARD8 inflammasomes in addition to key heteromeric CARD-CARD interactions governing inflammasome signalling., Pathogen triggered N-terminal degradation of NLRP1 and CARD8 by the proteasome releases their C-terminal UPA-CARD fragments (CT) to form the inflammasome, which in turn activates caspase-1. Here, the authors present the cryo-EM structures of the NLRP1-CT and CARD8-CT helical filaments as well as the ASC−caspase-1 octamer structure, which together with in vitro and cell based assays provide further insights into the architecture and specificity of the active NLRP1 and CARD8 inflammasomes.

Porous carbon is highly desired in supercapacitor electrodes due to its high specific surface area, ample pore size and superior electrochemical stability. Yet, the development of a general and simple synthetic method to prepare porous carbon remains challenging. Meanwhile, recycling waste to obtain high value-added materials is an effective way to solve environmental pollution and resource shortage problems. Herein, a general one-step solid-state pyrolysis method is developed to synthesize multi-hierarchical porous carbon using bio-wastes as precursors and potassium ferrate as the pore-forming agent. This method is superior to the traditional two-step or multi-step method due to its simple procedure, low cost, little pollution and time-saving features. The multiple pore-forming effect derived from potassium ferrate is responsible for this multi-hierarchical porous structure. The resulting porous carbon is used to fabricate symmetrical supercapacitors, exhibiting specific capacitances of 291.2 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and 240.1 F g−1 at 10 A g−1, and exceptional cyclic stability with 93.2% capacitance retention over 100 000 cycles. Furthermore, this method has been applied to five other types of bio-wastes, verifying its universality. In addition, the multiple pore-forming mechanism of potassium ferrate is investigated. This work provides a simple and general method to convert abandoned bio-wastes into ideal supercapacitor electrode materials, which hold great potential in energy storage applications.

Objective To determine the effects of ginsenoside rg3 on the body weight of C57BL/6J obese mice and to investigate its underlying weight loss mechanisms with a focus on white fat browning-related factors. Methods Eight-week-old C57BL/6J male mice were fed a high-fat diet for 12 successive weeks to construct the obese model. C57BL/6J male mice were fed a standard chow diet to construct normal control group. After 8 weeks of intervention with ginsenoside rg3, the food intake, body weight, body fat mass, blood sugar, and lipid profiles of the mice in each group were detected. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the histological morphology of the adipose tissues. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting (WB) were applied to detect the gene and protein expression levels of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gama (PPARγ), Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator -1alpha (PGC-1α), PR domain containing 16 (PRDM16), and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1). Results Compared to normal control group mice, the body weight, food intake, body fat composition, and blood lipid levels of model group mice increased significantly. After 8 weeks of intervention with ginsenoside rg3, body weight, body fat composition, food intake, and blood lipid profiles decreased. HE staining showed that ginsenoside rg3 can improve white adipocyte hypertrophy to a certain extent. RT-PCR and WB demonstrated that ginsenoside rg3 can increase the mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARγ, PGC-1α, PRDM16, and UCP-1 in the adipose tissues of obese mice. Conclusion The weight reduction effect of ginsenoside rg3 may be related to the promotion of white fat browning.

This paper provides a short review of the recent developments and predicts the future trends in anode materials for solid oxide fuel cells using hydrocarbons as fuels. Various anode materials are summarized and evaluated, such as Ni-based anode, as well as perovskite structure materials and different materials used as functional layers for reforming and catalyzing hydrocarbon fuels. The cell performance and the long-term stability based on the anode materials above are also discussed in the review. To highlight progress, potential anode materials and anode structure are predicted, to help readers search information and find possible research areas.

The bifunctional photocatalyst Yb–NH2-MIL-125(Ti) synthesized using a simple and convenient method enhanced photocatalytic NO removal and hydrogen production simultaneously, in which the formation of Yb species transient centers anchored on NH2-MIL-125(Ti) accelerated the transfer and separation rate of charge carriers. The NO removal rate of the optimal sample Yb-NM-6 was 66.3% (the original NH2-MIL-125(Ti) was only 28.1%), and the hydrogen production was 1883.7993 μmol g−1 (the original NH2-MIL-125(Ti) had almost no effect). A series of comparative experiments, in particular cyclic voltammogram tests, showed that the transient YbII/III centers were obtained through a non-traditional ligand to linker metal charge transfer (LLMCT) pathway, which was very different from the traditional ligand metal charge transfer (LMCT) pathway, so as to form a novel charge transfer channel to improve photocatalytic performance. This work details a feasible avenue by which to obtain a novel LLMCT pathway through introducing various metal ions anchored on metal–organic frameworks as efficient transient centers to further improve photocatalytic performance.

A series of two-coordinate AuI and CuI complexes (3 a, 3 b and 5 a, 5 b) are reported as new organometallic thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters, which are based on the carbene-metal-carbazole model with a pyridine-fused 1,2,3-triazolylidene (PyTz) ligand. PyTz features low steric hindrance and a low-energy LUMO (LUMO=-1.47 eV) located over the π* orbitals of the whole ligand, which facilitates intermolecular charge transfer between a donor (carbazole) and an accepter (PyTz). These compounds exhibit efficient TADF with microsecond lifetimes. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence kinetics of 3 a supports a rather small energy gap between S1 and T1 (ΔE S1-T1 =60 meV). Further experiments reveal that there are dual-emission properties from a monomer-dimer equilibrium in solution, exhibiting single-component multicolor emission from blue to orange, including white-light emission.

The purpose of this work is to explore the effects of the introduction methods of Ce4+ and Zr4+ on the physicochemical properties, activity, and K tolerance of V2O5-WO3/TiO2 catalyst for the selective catalytic reduction of NOx by NH3. Four different methods, namely pre-impregnation, post-impregnation, co-impregnation, and co-precipitation, were used to synthesize a series of V2O5-WO3-TiO2-CeO2-ZrO2 catalysts. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, BET, NH3-TPD, XPS, and H2-TPR techniques. Moreover, the activity and anti-K poisoning performance were tested by an NH3-SCR model reaction. The results show that the introduction of Ce4+ and Zr4+ can improve the catalytic performance of V2O5-WO3/TiO2 catalyst, but the impregnation method cannot enhance the anti-K poisoning performance. Ce4+ and Zr4+ introduced by co-precipitation method can effectively improve the tolerance of K, which is mainly due to the incorporation of Ce4+ and Zr4+ into TiO2 lattice to form a uniform TiO2-CeO2-ZrO2 solid solution, resulting in the optimal surface acidity and redox performance, and reducing the decreases caused by K-poisoning. Furthermore, based on the best introduction method, we further optimized the molar ratio of Ce4+/Zr4+. It is found that the catalyst exhibits the best anti-K poisoning performance when the molar ratio of Ce4+/Zr4+ is 2:1.

Remote difunctionalization of unactivated alkenes is challenging but a highly attractive tactic to install two functional groups across long distances. Reported herein is the first remote difunctionalization of alkenes with CO2 . This visible-light photoredox catalysis strategy provides a facile method to synthesize a series of carboxylic acids bearing valuable fluorine- or phosphorus-containing functional groups. Moreover, this versatile protocol shows mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, and good functional-group tolerance. Based on DFT calculations, a radical adds to an unactivated alkene to smoothly form a new carbon radical, followed by a 1,5-hydrogen atom-transfer process, the rate-limiting step, generating a more stable benzylic radical. The reduction of the benzylic radicals by an IrII species generates the corresponding benzylic carbanions as the key intermediates, which further undergo nucleophilic attack with CO2 to generate carboxylates.

Introduction Osthole (Ost) is a coumarin compound that strengthens hippocampal neurons and neural stem cells against Aβ oligomer-induced neurotoxicity in mice, and is a potential drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the effectiveness of the drug is limited by its solubility and bioavailability, as well as by the low permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In this study, a kind of transferrin-modified Ost liposomes (Tf-Ost-Lip) was constructed, which could improve the bioavailability and enhance brain targeting. Methods Tf-Ost-Lip was prepared by thin-film hydration method. The ability of liposomal formulations to translocate across BBB was investigated using in vitro BBB model. And the protective effect of Tf-Ost-Lip was evaluated in APP-SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, we performed pharmacokinetics study and brain tissue distribution analysis of liposomal formulations in vivo. We also observed the neuroprotective effect of the varying formulations in APP/PS-1 mice. Results In vitro studies reveal that Tf-Ost-Lip could increase the intracellular uptake of hCMEC/D3 cells and APP-SH-SY5Y cells, and increase the drug concentration across the BBB. Additionally, Tf-Ost-Lip was found to exert a protective effect on APP-SH-SY5Y cells. In vivo studies of pharmacokinetics and the Ost distribution in brain tissue indicate that Tf-Ost-Lip prolonged the cycle time in mice and increased the accumulation of Ost in the brain. Furthermore, Tf-Ost-Lip was also found to enhance the effect of Ost on the alleviation of Alzheimer's disease-related pathology. Conclusion Transferrin-modified liposomes for delivery of Ost has great potential for AD treatment.

The pompon flower-like nickel ferrites (PF–NiFe2O4) were prepared by a vapor diffusion-deposition method followed by annealing process. The pseudocapacitive performance and microwave absorbing property of as-obtained multifunctional PF-NiFe2O4 were investigated. The PF-NiFe2O4 yielded the specific capacitance of 168.5 F g-1 at the current density of 1 A g-1 and 98.8 F g-1 at 10 A g-1, while the corresponding values were 140.9 and 65.3 F g-1 for their bulk counterpart, indicating good capacitive performance of PF-NiFe2O4. Furthermore, the bulk NiFe2O4 electrode collapsed after about 5100 cycles, whereas the PF-NiFe2O4 remained 71.4% of capacitance after 10000 cycles at 1 A g-1, unveiling good cyclic performance. In addition, the PF-NiFe2O4 exhibited the minimum reflection loss of -18.3 dB, while the bulk NiFe2O4 only yielded the minimum reflection loss of -9.2 dB. The unique pompon flower-like structure was crucial for the enhanced capacitive performances and absorbing properties. These multifunctional features made the PF-NiFe2O4 a promising candidate in pseudocapacitor electrodes and microwave absorbing application.

Chemotherapy for non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is far from satisfactory, mainly due to poor targeting of antitumor drugs and self‐adaptations of the tumors. Angiogenesis, vasculogenic mimicry (VM) channels, migration, and invasion are the main ways for tumors to obtain nutrition. Herein, RPV‐modified epirubicin and dioscin co‐delivery liposomes were successfully prepared. These liposomes showed ideal physicochemical properties, enhanced tumor targeting and accumulation in tumor sites, and inhibited VM channel formation, tumor angiogenesis, migration and invasion. The liposomes also downregulated VM‐related and angiogenesis‐related proteins in vitro. Furthermore, when tested in vivo, the targeted co‐delivery liposomes increased selective accumulation of drugs in tumor sites and showed extended stability in blood circulation. In conclusion, RPV‐modified epirubicin and dioscin co‐delivery liposomes showed strong antitumor efficacy in vivo and could thus be considered a promising strategy for NSCLC treatment., Targeted epirubicin and dioscin co‐delivery liposomes modified with RPV increased cellular uptake and accumulation in the A549 cells. The RPV‐modified epirubicin and dioscin co‐delivery liposomes enhanced anti‐tumor efficacy in vitro and in vivo. The RPV‐modified epirubicin and dioscin co‐delivery liposomes inhibited NSCLC migration and invasion by limiting tumor angiogenesis and vasculogenic mimicry formation.

Efficient modulation of the upconversion selectivity of heavily-doped core–shell nanocrystals was achieved through the precise tuning of [F]/[RE] ratio during synthesis. Brighter upconversion luminescence with a smaller nanoparticle size and tunable color output were realized, which has great potential for material design with engineered upconversion properties in favor of further applications.

A novel CaCO3/graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalyst was synthesized for the first time via a facile calcination method using CaCO3 and melamine as precursors. The as-prepared samples were characterized using various techniques, such as scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, as well as Fourier-transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron, photoluminescence, and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results of the experiments confirm the successful coupling of CaCO3 to g-C3N4. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized CaCO3/g-C3N4 composites was evaluated by assessing their performance in the photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet (CV) in water under visible light irradiation. The analysis shows that CaCO3/g-C3N4 exhibits higher photocatalytic activity towards CV degradation (76.0%) than pristine g-C3N4 (21.6%) and CaCO3 (23.2%). Radical trapping and electron spin resonance experiments show that hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and holes (h+) are the key reactive species in the photocatalytic process. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the composite is mainly attributed to the efficient separation rate of electron-hole pairs achieved through the incorporation of CaCO3. Keywords: CaCO3/g-C3N4, Calcination, Photocatalysis, Charge separation

Aim To analyse the expression of lncRNA-ANRIL and other related factors in different human body fluids, explore the clinical significance of ANRIL and validate whether ANRIL is interrelated with the renin–angiotensin system and NF-κB signalling pathway. Methods Ninety-one patients were included in this cross-sectional study and were divided into the NDM group (20 patients), DM group (25 patients), NPDR group (21 patients) and PDR group (25 patients). Basic information and samples of serum, aqueous fluid and vitreous fluid were collected before vitrectomy or intravitreal injection. The transcription and levels of ANRIL and other related factors were detected by RT-PCR and ELISA. Statistical Package for Social Sciences software was used for statistical analysis. Results ANRIL expression varied among different groups and body fluids. There was no difference in ANRIL expression between the NDM and DM groups, but the level of ANRIL was significantly lower in the DM group than in the NPDR and PDR group. In vitreous fluid, ANRIL expression was positively correlated with Ang II, p65 and VEGF expression in the PDR group. The expression of ANRIL in serum was not significantly correlated with age or the random blood sugar but was positively correlated with diabetic duration and HbAc1 level. Conclusions Levels of lncRNA-ANRIL are higher in DR patient and correlated with the progression of DR that may be used as an indicator to predict the development of DR. The activation of the RAS and the NF-κB pathway may be closely related to the upregulation of ANRIL. Clinical trial number ChiCTR1800017500. Registry Chinese Clinical Trial Registry.

The malaria parasite relies on anaerobic glycolysis for energy supply when growing inside RBCs as its mitochondrion does not produce ATP. The ring stage lasts ∼ 22 hours and is traditionally thought to be metabolically quiescent. However, recent studies show that the ring stage is active for several energy-costly processes including gene transcription/translation, protein export, and movement inside the RBC. It has remained unclear if a low glycolytic flux can meet the energy demand of the ring stage. Here we show that the metabolic by-product, pyrophosphate, is a critical energy source for the development of the ring stage and its transition to the trophozoite stage. During early phases of the asexual development, the parasite utilizes Plasmodium falciparum vacuolar pyrophosphatase 1 (PfVP1), an ancient pyrophosphate-driven proton pump, to pump protons across the parasite plasma membrane to maintain the membrane potential and cytosolic pH. Conditional deletion of PfVP1 leads to delayed ring stage development and a complete blockage of the ring-to-trophozoite transition, which can be partially rescued by Arabidopsis thaliana vacuolar pyrophosphatase 1, but not by the soluble pyrophosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Proton-pumping pyrophosphatases are absent in humans, which highlights the possibility of developing highly selective VP1 inhibitors against the malaria parasite.

Methionine (Met) is the first limiting amino acid in broiler diets, but its unclear physiological effects hamper its effective use in the poultry production industry. This study assessed the effect of a Met-deficient (MD) diet on chicken liver and kidney health, exploring the associated mechanisms of antioxidant capacity and ileum mucosal immunity. Seventy-two broilers were administered either the control diet (0.46% Met in starter diet, 0.36% Met in grower diet) or the MD diet (0.22% Met in starter diet, 0.24% Met in grower diet). Liver and kidney samples were collected every 14 days for anatomical, histological, and ultrastructural analyses, accompanied by oxidative stress assessment. Meanwhile, T- and B-lymphocyte abundance and essential cytokine gene expression were measured in the ileum, the center of the gut–liver–kidney axis. Signs of kidney and liver injury were observed morphologically in the MD group at 42 days of age. Furthermore, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, and uric acid levels were decreased in the MD group compared with the control group, accompanied by decreased superoxide dismutase activity, increased malondialdehyde content, decreased numbers of T and B lymphocytes, and decreased cytokine expression in the ileum, such as IL-2, IL-6, LITAF, and IFN-γ. These results suggest that MD can induce kidney and liver injury, and the injury pathway might be related to oxidative stress and intestinal immunosuppression.

Background There is accumulating evidence to suggest that microRNAs (miRNAs) are associated with the progressive optic neuropathy including glaucoma. Apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is a hallmark of glaucoma. The present study focused on the effects of miR-145-5p on RGC apoptosis in glaucoma. Methods We established a glaucoma rat model by intraocular injection of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA). RGCs were isolated from newborn rats and treated with NMDA. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to detect morphological changes in the retinas of rats. The expression of miR-145-5p and tripartite motif-containing 2 (TRIM2) in RGCs was measured by RT-qPCR. The viability of RGCs was measured by an MTT assay. Flow cytometry analysis and TUNEL assays were conducted to assess the apoptosis of RGCs. The interaction between miR-145-5p and TRIM2 was investigated using a luciferase reporter assay. Results Rats injected with NMDA showed a thinner ganglion cell layer (GCL) and inner plexiform layer (IPL) as well as increased expression of miR-145-5p. Silencing of miR-145-5p significantly increased the GCL and IPL in the glaucoma rat model. Moreover, miR-145-5p expression was upregulated in RGCs ex vivo in response to NMDA. Silencing of miR-145-5p promoted cell viability and suppressed apoptosis in NMDA-treated RGCs. Mechanistically, miR-145-5p targeted the TRIM2 3' untranslated region to suppress its expression. TRIM2 was upregulated in NMDA-treated RGCs and protected RGCs against NMDA-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, miR-145-5p suppressed the PI3K/AKT pathway by downregulating TRIM2 in NMDA-treated RGCs. Conclusions Suppression of miR-145-5p inhibited the apoptosis of RGCs via TRIM2-mediated activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in NMDA-induced glaucoma.

Well-dispersed nanocomposites based on Ca-montmorillonite decorated by porphyrin-functionalized titanium dioxide (H2TCPP–TiO2–MMT) were synthesized by a facile strategy. H2TCPP–TiO2–MMT was demonst...

Presently, there are no few anticancer drugs that have been used clinically due to their poor targeting ability, short half-life period, non-selective distributions, generation of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) channels, high metastasis, and high recurrence rate. This study aimed to explore the effects of R8 modified epirubicin-dihydroartemisinin liposomes that could target non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, destroy VM channels, inhibit tumor metastasis, and explain the possible underlying mechanism. In vitro assays indicated that R8 modified epirubicin-dihydroartemisinin liposomes with ideal physicochemical characteristics could exhibit not only powerful cytotoxicity on A549 cells, but also the effective suppression of VM channels and tumor metastasis. Mechanistic studies manifested that R8 modified epirubicin-dihydroartemisinin liposomes could down-regulate the levels of VE-Cad, TGF-β1, MMP-2, and HIF-1α. In vivo assays indicated that R8 modified epirubicin-dihydroartemisinin liposomes could both increase the selective accumulation of chemotherapeutic drugs at tumor sites and show a targeting conspicuous of antitumor efficacy. In conclusion, the R8 modified epirubicin-dihydroartemisinin liposomes prepared in this study provide a treatment strategy with high efficiency for NSCLC.

In this work, Fe was doped in the semiconductor Ag2S to form Fe-doped Ag2S nanocomposites (Fe-Ag2S NCs) for enhancing the catalytic performance of pure Ag2S for the first time. According to the investigation of the oxidation reaction of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2, the Fe-Ag2S NCs were proved to possess more excellent catalytic activity compared with that of Ag2S as a peroxidase mimic. Besides, the catalytic mechanism of the Fe-Ag2S was ascribed to the hydroxyl radical ( OH) generated from the decomposition of H2O2 in the catalytic oxidation process of TMB. On the basis of the excellent catalytic activity of Fe-Ag2S, a sensitive and efficient colorimetric sensor has been constructed for determining H2O2 and this sensor has a sensitive linear response to H2O2 in the range of 10–150 μM with a detection limit of 7.82 μM. All of the above confirmed that the doping of iron could really improve the catalytic activity of Ag2S. It is believed that Fe-doped Ag2S will open a new way for researchers to optimize the performance of semiconductors.

Yuanyuan Wang,1 Min Fu,2 Jingjing Liu,2 Yining Yang,1 Yibin Yu,1 Jinyu Li,1 Weisan Pan,1 Lei Fan,3 Guiru Li,4 Xuetao Li,2 Xiaobo Wang1,31Department of Pharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian, Liaoning, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Pharmacy, 210th Hospital of People’s Liberation Army, Dalian, Liaoning, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, People’s Republic of ChinaBackground: Chemotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) still leads to unsatisfactory clinical prognosis because of poor active targeting and tumor metastasis.Purpose: The objective of this study was to construct a kind of PFV peptide modified targeted daunorubicin and dioscin codelivery liposomes, which could enhance tumor targeting and inhibit tumor cell metastasis.Methods and results: Targeted daunorubicin and dioscin codelivery liposomes were prepared by film dispersion and the ammonium sulfate gradient method. With the ideal physicochemical properties, targeted daunorubicin and dioscin codelivery liposomes exhibited enhanced cellular uptake and showed strong cytotoxicity to tumor cells. The encapsulation of dioscin increased the inhibitory effects of daunorubicin on A549 cells, vasculogenic mimicry (VM) channels and tumor metastasis. The enhanced antimetastatic mechanism of the targeted liposomes was attributed to the downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-Cad), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). Meanwhile, the targeted daunorubicin and dioscin codelivery liposomes exhibited significant antitumor effects in tumor-bearing mice. H&E staining, immunohistochemistry with Ki-67 and TUNEL assay also showed the promoted antitumor activity of the targeted liposomes.Conclusion: Targeted daunorubicin and dioscin codelivery liposomes may provide an effective strategy for the treatment of NSCLC.Keywords: daunorubicin, dioscin, liposomes, cell penetrating peptides, tumor metastasis, non-small-cell lung cancer

As a common seafood waste, crab was employed as the biomass carbon source to synthesize porous carbon materials, and used as supercapacitor electrode materials. The multi-hierarchical porous structure can be obtained by a novel three-step method. The crab derived carbon exhibited a specific capacitance of 320.4 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1, and demonstrated the impressive cycling stability over 20000 cycles with 91.3% of retention at 1 A g−1. Additionally, the crab derived carbon was combined with CoFe2O4, a typical pseudocapacitive active material, to develop an advanced hybrid supercapacitor. The results indicated that the ratio of CoFe2O4 to crab derived carbon affected capacitive performances of the composites. The optimal sample yielded a high specific capacitance of 701.8 F g−1 at 1 A g−1. Moreover, it displayed the excellent cycling performance over 10000 cycles with 90.9% of capacitance retention. Such green and high-performance hybrid electrodes are in accordance with the principle of "waste to treasure", showing great potential in energy storage applications.

Flavonoids widely found in natural foods are characterized by acting as antioxidants compounds. There are close relationship between the antiradical activities and structural properties of flavonoids. In this work, density functional theory (DFT) methods were applied to investigate the influence of the H5⋯O C4 intramolecular hydrogen-bond (IHB) on the antiradical activity of flavonoid based on three prevalently accepted radical scavenging mechanisms: hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), single electron transfer-proton transfer (SET-PT) and sequential proton-loss electron-transfer (SPLET). The thermodynamic properties: bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE), ionization potential (IP), proton dissociation enthalpy (PDE), proton affinity (PA) and electron transfer enthalpy (ETE) related with these mechanisms were calculated to elucidate the antiradical activity. The results showed that the 5−OH group is most influenced and its antiradical capacity was weakened by the H5⋯O C4 IHB. In the gas, benzene and chloroform phases, H5⋯O C4 IHB would reduce the antiradical activity of flavonoid via increasing the bond dissociation enthalpy. While, in the DMSO and H2O phases, the opposite result occurs by lowering the proton affinity.

Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCM), also known as Korean blackberry or bokbunja, is used as a South Korean traditional medicine to treat acne and inflammatory skin conditions. The antimicrobial activity of RCM root and its active compounds remain unclear. In this study, we prepared a 50% ethanol fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, and acid-treated ethyl acetate fraction (aglycone fraction) of RCM root, and evaluated antibacterial activities against the skin pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas acnes, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In a paper disc assay, all fractions of RCM root showed antimicrobial activities against the five skin pathogens. The ethyl acetate fraction displayed 6-, 12-, and 2-fold higher minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) than the 50% ethanol fraction against S. aureus, E. coli, and P. acnes, respectively. The aglycone fraction displayed 2-fold higher MIC than methyl paraben against P. acnes, S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa. The ethyl acetate fraction displayed a minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) similar to that of methyl paraben, and the aglycone fraction showed 2- to 4-fold higher MBCs than those of methyl paraben. In particular, the ethyl acetate fraction was not cytotoxic and showed thermal stability after incubation at high temperatures (60-121℃). Finally, the ethyl acetate fraction was separated and four components were identified: procyanidin C, propelagonidin dimer, ellagic acid, and methyl ellagic acid acetyl pentose. The compounds showed high antibacterial activities. These results suggest that RCM root is potentially applicable as a natural preservative in cosmetics.

An electrochemical immunosensor for ultrasensitive detection of acrylamide (AA) in water and food samples was developed. SnO2-SiC hollow sphere nanochains with high surface area and gold nanoparticles with good electroconductivity were fabricated onto the surface of a glassy carbon electrode pre-coated with chitosan. The coating antigen (AA-4-mercaptophenylacetic acid-ovalbumin conjugate, AA-4-MPA-OVA) was immobilized on the electrode. Polyclonal antibody specific for AA-4-MPA was conjugated to gold nanorod (AuNR) as primary antibody (AuNR-Ab1). Horseradish peroxidase labelled anti-rabbit antibody produced in goat was conjugated to AuNR as secondary antibody (HRP-AuNR-Ab2). For detection, the analyte (AA-4-MPA) in sample competed with coating antigen for binding with AuNR-Ab1. After washing, HRP-AuNR-Ab2 was added to capture the AuNR-Ab1, and the electrical signal was obtained by addition of hydroquinone and H2O2. After investigation of the binding ability on nanomaterials and optimization of competitive immunoassay conditions, the proposed immunosensor exhibited a sensitive response to AA with a detection limit of 45.9 ± 2.7 ng kg−1, and working range of 187 ± 12.3 ng kg−1 to 104 ± 8.2 μg kg−1 for drinking water samples. Recoveries of AA from spiked samples were ranged from 86.0% to 115.0%. The specificity, repeatability and stability of the immunosensor were also proved to be acceptable, indicating its potential application in AA monitoring.

This work reports the in vivo uptake and translocation of PNPs in the one-year grown terrestrial plant, Murraya exotica ( M. exotica), as investigated by two-photon excitation and time-resolved (TPE-TR) optical imaging with a large field of view (FOV, 32 × 32 mm2) in a noninvasive and real-time manner. The PNPs (⟨ Rh⟩ = 12 ± 4.5 nm) synthesized from poly(styrene- co-maleic anhydride) (SMA) were Eu-luminescence labeled (λL ≈ 617 nm). On exposing the roots of living M. exotica plants to the colloidal suspension of SMA PNPs at different concentrations, the spatiotemporal evolution of SMA PNPs along plant stems (60 mm in length) were monitored by TPE-TR imaging, which rendered rich information on the uptake and translocation of PNPs without any interference from the autofluorescence of the plant tissues. The TPE-TR imaging combined with the high-resolution anatomy revealed an intercell-wall route in the lignified epidermis of M. exotica plants for SMA PNP uptake and translocation, as well as the similar accumulation kinetics at different positions along the plant stems. We modeled the accumulation kinetics with Gaussian distribution to account for the trapping probability of a SMA PNP by the lignified cell walls, allowing the statistical parameters, the average trapping time ( tm) and its variance (σ), to be derived for the quantification of the PNP accumulation in individual plants. The TPE-TR imaging and the analysis protocols established herein will be helpful in exploring the mechanism of plant-PNP interaction under physiological condition.

The exhausting energy forces us to search for new green energy and develop energy storage and conversion technologies. Supercapacitors with long service life and high power density show broad application prospect. The multi-hierarchical porous carbon materials were prepared using the crab shell, a typical seafood waste, as the precursor, and investigated as supercapacitor electrode materials. The crab shell derived carbon exhibited specific capacitances of 322.5 and 223.4 F g−1 at current densities of 1 and 10 A g−1 respectively, indicating good capacitive performance and rate capability. Additionally, its cyclic performance was impressive with less than 1% capacitance fading over 10000 cycles at 1 A g−1. The crab shell derived carbon were further used as support to assemble SrFe12O19 for constructing a superior hybrid supercapacitor with the specific capacitance of 690.4 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, and 401.3 F g−1 even at 10 A g−1. Furthermore, the crab shell derived carbon/SrFe12O19 composites displayed the exceptional cycling performance over 10000 cycles with 94.5% of capacitance retention, indicating distinguished capacitive performances. Such cheap, green and high-performance electrode composites based on crab shell waste provide good prospects in energy storage applications.

Phototherapy has drawn increasing attention including the use of nanocarriers with high drug loading capacity and delivery efficacy for target-specific therapy. We have made use of naturally-occurring halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) to build a biomimetic nanocarrier platform for target-specific delivery of phototherapeutic agents. The HNTs were decorated with poly(sodium- p -styrenesulfonate) (PSS) to enhance the biocompatibility, and were further functionalized by lumen loading the type-II photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG). The HNT-PSS-ICG nanocarrier, without further tethering targeting groups, was shown to associate with the membrane of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) via Pickering effects. Application of HNT-PSS-ICG nanocarrier to human breast cancer cells gave rise to a cell mortality as high as 95%. The HNT-PSS-ICG nanocarrier was further coated with MDA-MB-436 cell membranes to endow it with targeting therapy performance against breast cancer, which was confirmed by in vivo experiments using breast cancer tumors in mice. The membrane-coated and biocompatible nanocarrier preferentially concentrated in the tumor tissue, and efficiently decreased the tumor volume by a combination of photodynamic and photothermal effects upon near-infrared light exposure. Our results demonstrate that the HNT-based nanocarrier by virtue of facial preparation and high loading capacity can be a promising candidate for membrane-targeting nanocarriers.

A series of V2O5-WO3/TiO2-ZrO2, V2O5-WO3/TiO2-CeO2, and V2O5-WO3/TiO2-CeO2-ZrO2 catalysts were synthesized to improve the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) performance and the K-poisoning resistance of a V2O5-WO3/TiO2 catalyst. The physicochemical properties were investigated by using XRD, BET, NH3-TPD, H2-TPR, and XPS, and the catalytic performance and K-poisoning resistance were evaluated via a NH3-SCR model reaction. Ce4+ and Zr4+ co-doping were found to enhance the conversion of NOx, and exhibit the best K-poisoning resistance owing to the largest BET-specific surface area, pore volume, and total acid site concentration, as well as the minimal effects on the surface acidity and redox ability from K poisoning. The V2O5-WO3/TiO2-CeO2-ZrO2 catalyst also presents outstanding H2O + SO2 tolerance. Finally, the in situ DRIFTS reveals that the NH3-SCR reaction over the V2O5-WO3/TiO2-CeO2-ZrO2 catalyst follows an L-H mechanism, and that K poisoning does not change the reaction mechanism.

The naturally occurring stilbenes piceatannol and its derivatives are excellent antioxidants. In this work, the antioxidative activities of piceatannol and different piceatannol derivatives have been investigated using the density functional theory (DFT) method based on three widely accepted radical scavenging mechanisms, namely, the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), single electron transfer followed by proton transfer (SET-PT) and sequential proton loss electron transfer (SPLET). The gas and four solvent phases, namely, bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE), ionization potential (IP), proton dissociation enthalpy (PDE), proton affinity (PA) and electron transfer enthalpy (ETE), related to these mechanisms were calculated to elucidate the antioxidative capacities of the investigated compounds. This work focuses specifically on the thermodynamically preferred mechanism, antioxidative site and antioxidative activity order of the investigated stilbenes. The substituted effects of the methyl group and prenyl group on the chemical properties of the remaining OH and CH groups are also analysed. This work confirms the vital role of the OH and CH groups on free radical scavenging of piceatannol and its derivatives.

Singlet oxygen (1O2) formed through photosensitization may initiate oxidative destruction of biomembranes, however, the influence from the spatial organization of photosensitizers (PS) relative to membranes remains unclear. To clarify this issue, we loaded riboflavin 5′-(dihydrogen phosphate) monosodium (FMN-Na) as a hydrophilic PS into the lumen of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), and attached the nanoassemblies (FMN-Na@HNTs), via Pickering effects, to the outer surfaces of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) of phospholipids. We also prepared GUVs dopped with lumiflavin (LF) as a lipophilic PS having a 1O2 quantum yield comparable to FMN-Na. FMN-Na capsulated in HNT was characterized by a longer triplet excited state lifetime (12.1 μs) compared to FMN-Na free in solution (7.5 μs), and FMN-Na in both forms efficiently generated 1O2 upon illumination. The spatio-effects of PS on the photosensitized morphological changes of membranes were studied using conventional optical microscopy by monitoring GUV morphological changes. Upon light exposure (400–440 nm), the GUVs attached with FMN-Na@HNT merely experienced membrane deformation starting from the original spherical shape, ascribed to Type II photosensitization with 1O2 as oxidant. In contrast, photooxidation of LF dopped GUVs mainly led to membrane coarsening and budding assigned to Type I photosensitization. The spatial effects of PS on photosensitized morphological changes were related to the different lipid oxidation products generated through Type I and Type II photosensitized lipid oxidation.

Developing novel microelectronic devices for electrochemical measurements and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) study is of great importance. Herein, we fabricated a submicrometer-sized dual carbon electrode (DCE) and investigated its annihilation ECL behavior under steady-state conditions for the first time. The oxidation and reduction of the model luminophore, [Ru(bpy)3]2+, occurred separately at the two sides of the DCE, and the electrogenerated ions then diffused to the gap between the two electrodes to generate the excited-state intermediate [Ru(bpy)3]2+* and ECL emission. Compared with other types of two-electrode systems, the prepared DCE possesses a smaller total size and an ultrasmall interelectrode distance of 60 nm or less, which could result in a shorter diffusion time and an amplified ECL signal without the purification of the solvent and supporting electrolytes. On the basis of the constructed ECL microscopic platform, we successfully obtained a stable and confined ECL signal in the vicinity of the electrode tip. Furthermore, a two-dimensional finite element method simulation of this model system was performed to quantitively analyze the concentration profiles of the electrogenerated species around the tip of the DCE and predict the concentrations of [Ru(bpy)3]2+* with various gap distances. The simulation results also proved that the higher concentrations of [Ru(bpy)3]2+* could be achieved with a smaller distance with a possible amplification factor of 6 (compared with the concentration when the gap distance is greater than 300 nm). This work provides an experimental model for further improvement of ECL efficiency and broadens the availability for annihilation ECL applications in small confined spaces.

The generation of visible macrobubbles considerably affects the structure and function of anammox granules in the anammox granular sludge (AnGS) system. However, the existence of nanobubbles (NBs) and their role in maintaining the AnGS structure and stability are unclear because of the complexity of the system and lack of effective analytical methods. In this study, methods for NB analysis and assessment of their effects were developed to investigate the formation and characteristics of NBs in an AnGS system and the effects of NBs on the properties and function of AnGS. The results indicated that dissolved gas supersaturation caused by AnGS generated NBs of 2.75 × 108 bubbles/mL inside an AnGS reactor after running for 300 min at 30 °C. The increasing absolute value of the zeta potential of NBs with time indicated that the NBs in the AnGS system were gradually stable. The size of the stable NBs ranged from 150 nm to 400 nm. NB formation also increased the space and pressure between cells, leading to the breakage of the cell cluster and causing structural changes in granules. Changes in the local granular microstructure caused by NBs were favorable for the porous structure of granules to avoid granular disintegration and flotation caused by the excessive secretion of extracellular polymeric substances blocking gas channels. The formation and stability of NBs penetrating the cell clusters played a crucial role in the formation and stability of nanopores around or inside the cell clusters, further providing a basis for the formation of high-porosity structures and efficient mass transfer of AnGS.

The N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is a glutamate-gated receptor channel that plays a role in peripheral neuropathic pain. Src, a protein tyrosine kinase, can regulate the activation of NMDARs in chronic pain conditions. Pannexin 1 (Panx1), a plasma membrane channel, plays an important role in neuropathic pain and functionally interacts with NMDARs in the pathological condition of epilepsy. In this study, the roles of NMDAR1 (NR1), Src, and Panx1 and their interactions in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) in orofacial ectopic pain attributed to inferior alveolar nerve transection (IANX) were investigated. IANX induced mechanical allodynia in the whisker pad with increased expression levels of NR1, Src phosphorylation (p-Src), and Panx1 in the TG. Double immunostaining revealed that NR1, Src, and Panx1 all colocalized with glutamine synthetase (GS) and neuronal nuclei (NeuN), and they overlapped in the TG, suggesting that they might be structurally connected to one another. In addition, trigeminal injection of memantine, PP2, or 10Panx attenuated IANX-induced mechanical allodynia in the whisker pad. Continuous intraganglionic administration of memantine (an antagonist of NMDAR) decreased IANX-induced upregulated expression of p-Src and Panx1. Similarly, PP2 (an inhibitor of Src) also decreased Panx1 protein expression but had no effect on NR1. In addition, intraganglionic injection of 10Panx (a blocker of Panx1) decreased NR1 protein expression but did not affect Src. In general, our findings demonstrated that NR1, Src, and Panx1 all contributed to orofacial ectopic pain following IANX and that they composed a signalling pathway in the TG involved in mechanical allodynia.