Search

To develop a multifunctional orthodontic adhesive (QDA) using ZnO quantum-dots (ZnQDs) as modifier and investigate the antibacterial capability, fluorescence property as well as biocompatibility and bonding property.ZnQDs were synthesized using sol-gel method. XPS, XRD, FT-IR, HRTEM, SAED, DLS and spectrofluorimetry were used to characterize ZnQDs. ZnQDs were incorporated into Transbond XT adhesive paste with 20 %, 30 %, 40 % mass fraction, respectively, to form the multifunctional adhesives (QDAs). Antibacterial capability was evaluated with MTT kit, CFU count and Live/Dead Bacterial Staining Kit. Ultraviolet photography and spectrofluorimetry were used to confirm the fluorescence property of QDAs. Biocompatibility assay was performed on gingival fibroblasts and subcutaneous tissue of rats. Softening in solvent rate, shear bond strength and degree of conversion (DC) were measured.The synthesized ZnQDs presented excellent crystallinity and fluorescence properties. MTT assay, CFU count and CLSM analysis indicated that QDAs had significant antibacterial activity compared with Transbond XT adhesive paste. CCK-8 assay and Live/Dead cell staining analysis denied the cytotoxicity of QDAs and histological analysis proved that QDAs all had no inflammatory irritation to subcutaneous tissue. Softening in solvent, shear bond strength and DC evaluations indicated that 20 % mixing ratio of ZnQDs could enhance the resistance to degradation without influencing the bond strength and DC. Ultraviolet photography and spectrofluorimetry analysis proved the fluorescence capability of QDAs.ZnQDs can impart antibacterial and fluorescence properties to orthodontic adhesives without affecting biocompatibility and bonding performance. QDAs can be multifunctional orthodontic adhesives to reduce bacterial adhesion around brackets and help orthodontists remove residual adhesives precisely when needed.

Purpose This study aims to fabricate a cool phthalocyanine green/TiO2 composite pigment (PGT) with high near-infrared (NIR) reflectance, good color performance and good heat-shielding performance under sunlight and infrared irradiation. Design/methodology/approach With the help of anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes, the PGT composite pigment was prepared using a layer-by-layer assembly method under wet ball milling. Based on the light reflectance properties and color performance tested by ultraviolet-visible-NIR spectrophotometer and colorimeter, the preparation conditions were optimized and the properties of PGT pigment with different assembly layers (PGT-1, PGT-3, PGT-5 and PGT-7) were compared. In addition, their heat-shielding performance was evaluated and compared by temperature rise value for their coating under sunlight and infrared irradiation. Findings The PGT pigment had a core/shell structure, and the PG thickness increased with the self-assembly layers, which made the PGT-3 and PGT-7 pigment show higher color purity and saturation than PGT-1 pigment. In addition, the PGT-3 and PGT-7 pigment showed 11%–16% lower light reflectance in the visible region. However, their light reflectance in the NIR region was similar. Under infrared irradiation the PGT-5 and PGT-7 pigment coating showed 1.1°C–3.4°C and 1.3°C–4.7°C lower temperature rise value than PGT-1 pigment coating and physical mixture pigment coating, respectively. And under sunlight the PGT-3 pigment coating showed 1.5–2.6°C lower temperature rise value than the physical mixture pigment coating. Originality/value The layer-by-layer assembling makes the core/shell PGT composite pigment possess low visible light reflectance, high NIR reflectance and good heat-shielding performance.

Summary Photo-generation of a proton gradient over a lipid bilayer is of interest due to its essential role in photosynthetic bacteria. Membrane asymmetry is key to the proton gradient generation via directional proton transport. Here, we report a light-driven proton pump based on two-dimensional, porphyrin-based Janus metal-organic layers (Janus-MOLs). The Janus-MOL, functionalized with carboxyquinone on one side and Acitretin on the other via a microemulsion-based method, was attached to liposome surface. Upon photoexcitation, the porphyrins initiate electron and hole transfers to carboxyquinone and Acitretin, respectively, which undergo redox reactions with freely diffusing quinone (Q)/hydrosemiquinone (HQ·) in the lipid bilayer to produce a concentration gradient of quinone-based species. Owing to different pKa values of HQ+ and HQ·, these redox reactions trigger proton transport across the membrane to create a pH gradient, which drives ATP production by CFoF1-ATP synthase in a similar fashion as photosynthetic bacteria.

Objectives: To develop an antibacterial and fluorescent clear aligner attachment resin via the incorporation of chlorhexidine loaded pore-expanded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (CHX@pMSN) and amino-silane functionalized zinc oxide quantum dots (aZnOQDs), and to evaluate its antibacterial activity, fluorescence capability, esthetic properties, mechanical performance and biocompatibility.Methods: CHX@pMSN and aZnOQDs were incorporated into the commercial resin composites (Filtek Z350 XT, 3M) at different mass fractions, control group: Filtek; fluorescent attachment resin (FAR): Filtek + 3 wt.% aZnOQDs; antibacterial and fluorescent attachment resin (AFAR)-1: Filtek + 3 wt.% aZnOQDs + 1 wt.% CHX@pMSN; AFAR-2: Filtek+ 3 wt.% aZnOQDs + 3 wt.% CHX@pMSN; AFAR-3: Filtek + 3 wt.% aZnOQDs + 5 wt.% CHX@pMSN. CHX release, antibacterial activity, fluorescence capability, color change, stain resistance, degree of conversion, depth of cure, polymerization shrinkage, water sorption and solubility, softening in solvent, flexural strength, flexural modulus, shear bond strength, and cytotoxicity were evaluated comprehensively.Results: CHX could be continuously released from the AFAR groups for up to 30 days. CFU, MTT, lactic acid production, SEM and CLSM evaluation showed AFAR-2 and AFAR- 3 could effectively inhibit S. mutans biofilm even after 1-month aging. Only AFAR-3 showed clinically perceptible color change and all the experimental groups were not more susceptible to staining. AFAR-1 and AFAR-2 could suppress polymerization shrinkage and enhance the resistance to degradation without compromising other properties, including degree of conversion, water sorption and solubility, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and shear bond strength. Depth of cure of all the four experimental groups was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) but still within the ISO standard. CCK-8 assay and live/dead cell staining denied the cytotoxicity of experimental resins. Fluorescence intensity tests showed that FAR and AFAR-2 could emit strong yellowish fluorescence under the excitation of ultraviolet for up to six months.Conclusions: AFRA-2 possessed long-term antibiofilm activity, strong fluorescence capability and satisfying biocompatibility without compromising esthetic and mechanical properties. This study proposed a new strategy for reducing bacteria accumulation around the attachment, which is also promising in helping orthodontists to remove the attachment thoroughly and precisely.

Alcohols are attractive portable chemical carriers of hydrogen thanks to their reversible dehydrogenation, but the hydrogen release reaction is thermodynamically unfavorable. Coupling the alcohol dehydrogenation to acetal formation can shift the reaction thermodynamics for hydrogen production. Here, we stabilized Ir

A novel free-standing MOL was synthesized with an unexpected structure containing alternative Hf6-oxo and Hf12-oxo clusters as SBUs and the tris(4-carboxylphenyl)phosphine oxide (TPO) ligand.

Three pairs of chiral Ln-Ag(I) clusters d/l-Ln

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been studied extensively in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the water oxidation reaction (WOR) with sacrificial reagents, but overall photocatalytic water splitting using MOFs has remained challenging, principally because of the fast recombination of photo-generated electrons and holes. Here we have integrated HER- and WOR-MOF nanosheets into liposomal structures for separation of the generated charges. The HER-MOF nanosheets comprise light-harvesting Zn–porphyrin and catalytic Pt–porphyrin moieties, and are functionalized with hydrophobic groups to facilitate their incorporation into the hydrophobic lipid bilayer of the liposome. The WOR-MOF flakes consist of [Ru(2,2′-bipyridine)3]2+-based photosensitizers and Ir–bipyridine catalytic centres, and are localized in the hydrophilic interior of the liposome. This liposome–MOF assembly achieves overall photocatalytic water splitting with an apparent quantum yield of (1.5 ± 1)% as a result of ultrafast electron transport from the antennae (Zn–porphyrin and [Ru(2,2′-bipyridine)3]2+) to the reaction centres (Pt–porphyrin and Ir–bipyridine) in the MOFs and efficient charge separation in the lipid bilayers. Some metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) can promote photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and others can facilitate water oxidation, but it is difficult to combine them into a single system. Now, by confining MOFs that can promote each half-reaction within the hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions of a liposome to avoid the fast recombination of photo-generated charges, evidence for water splitting has been obtained.

MXenes have shown great potential for supercapacitor electrodes due to their unique characteristics, but simultaneously achieving high capacitance, rate capability, and cyclic stability along with good mechanical flexibility is exceptionally challenging. Here, highly enhanced capacitance, rate capability, and cyclic stability, as well as good mechanical flexibility for T

The nano Fe3O4 pigment was prepared with a precipitation method using the carbonate/bicarbonate as precipitant. The chemical structure, crystal phase and morphology of prepared pigment samples were determined by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction spectrometer (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and its color performance was tested. The results showed that the prepared pigment sample showed high purity and excellent crystallinity of bulk Fe3O4, and better black property (L* = 35.51) than the commercially available standard pigment sample. The characterization results of pigment samples obtained under different preparation parameters showed that the precipitant reaction temperature and reaction time showed obvious effect on the morphology, crystallization degree and color performance of prepared nano Fe3O4 pigment. In addition, it was found that the FeOOH was the intermediate product. The density functional theory (DFT) calculation results revealed that the generation of FeOOH was realized through a series of reaction steps including dehydrogenative oxidation, dehydration, and dimerization, in which the FeCO3 instead of the Fe(OH)2 was served as the initial phase of Fe(II) compounds.

Two-dimensional metal-organic layers (MOLs) from alternatively connected benzene-tribenzoate ligands and Zr6(μ3-O)4(μ3-OH)4 or Hf6(μ3-O)4(μ3-OH)4 secondary building units can be prepared in gram scale via solvothermal synthesis. However, the reason why the monolayers did not pack to form thick crystals is unknown. Here we investigated the surface structure of the MOLs by a combination of sum-frequency generation spectroscopy, nanoscale infrared microscopy, atomic force microscopy, aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy, and compositional analysis. We found a partial coverage of the monolayer surface by dangling tricarboxylate ligands, which prevent packing of the monolayers. This finding illustrates low-density surface modification as a strategy to prepare new two-dimensional materials with a high percentage of exposed surface.

Reusable solid fluorination reagents and heterogeneous catalysts are ideally suited for late-stage fluorination with fast and clean conversion and simplified work-up. Here we report Pd-functionalized two-dimensional metal-organic layers (MOLs) as solid reagents and heterogeneous catalysts to efficiently fluorinate a broad scope of aromatic compounds. Site isolation in the MOLs provides a unique opportunity to stabilize highly active F-containing species for the chemical conversion. A terpyridine (TPY)- based ligand on the MOL, together with a 2-chloro-1,10-phenanthroline (phenCl) as a co-ligand, chelates PdII to form a reactive center. After treatment with Selectfluor/H2O, an (N-fluoroxy)-(2-chloro)-phenanthrolinium [N-(FO)-phenCl+] moiety is produced from the co-ligand on the Pd center. This active species serves as a stochiometric solid fluorination reagent, which shows different regioselectivities and reactivities as compared to homogeneous catalysts that involves PdIII/IV-F intermediates in catalytic cycles. The MOLs can also be used as heterogeneous catalysts for fluorination using Selectfluor. This work highlights opportunities in using MOLs to stabilize unique active sites for late-stage fluorination.

Modified silica fume powder with oleic acid through coupling agent was prepared based on the in situ utilizing long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) properties of

Deep learning for cephalometric landmark detection: systematic review and meta-analysis. Schwendicke F, Chaurasia A, Arsiwala L, Lee JH, Elhennawy K, Jost-Brinkmann PG, Demarco F, Krois J. Clin Oral Investig. 2021 Jul;25(7):4299-4309.This study was self-funded by the authors and their institutions.Systematic review and meta-analysis.

In this work, the effect of particle size on the thermal stability and bursting phenomenon of the microcapsules with a melamine resin shell was studied. The heat-induced change process and mechanism of the prepared microcapsules were derived. Firstly, the microcapsules with different particle sizes were prepared and characterized via encapsulation efficiency measurements, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The thermogravimetric analysis curves of the samples were calculated, analyzed, and compared with the samples’ particle size and distribution, and the changes and differences in the microcapsules under heating environment were macroscopically studied. Furthermore, thermo-microscopic image analysis of the samples was conducted using a laboratory-combined instrument system, and their dynamic morphology in a temperature-increasing environment was microscopically investigated. On the basis of these data, it was found that the thermal bursting phenomenon occurred when the microcapsule particle size was larger than the “critical dimension.” And as the particle sizes decreased, their heat rupture resistance was improved, and the trend of change was described by an exponential function (y = 133.64 + 94.76 × 0.85x). When the microcapsule size was smaller than the critical dimension, the thermal bursting phenomenon disappeared and the thermal stability was depended on the degradation temperature of the MMF shell.

Controlling the size of fragrance microcapsules using designed agitator paddles was investigated and studied by CFD simulation. First, different fluid flows were established by varying stirring speeds, reactor scales, and agitator paddle design, and the effects of each on particle size and distribution of prepared microcapsules were determined. The experimental results showed that the pattern design of orifices in the plate paddles control the flow field well. Narrow particle-size distributions of the microcapsules were obtained. The fluid flow characteristics including fluid velocity field, turbulent kinetic energy field, and shear stress distribution for the different agitator paddle types in different reaction kettles were simulated using CFD technology. The correlations between simulated data and experimental results were analyzed. Significantly, the simulated average flow velocity was found to show good negative linear correlation with the average particle size of prepared microcapsules, with a correlation of y = –2.166x + 42.626.

On-location electrochemical generation of H2 O2 is of great current interest. Herein, selective two-electron reduction of O2 to H2 O2 by a single [NiII (H2 O)6 ]2+ cation that is dynamically associated with a negatively charged metal-organic layer (MOL) by hydrogen bonding and coulombic interactions is reported. In contrast, NiII centers covalently immobilized on the MOL reduce O2 to H2 O in a four- electron process. Oxygen adsorption by [NiII (H2 O)6 ]2+ followed by two-electron reduction generates neutral [NiII (H2 O)4 (OH)(OOH)]0 , which momentarily disconnects from the negatively charged MOL to avoid the injection of additional electrons. Release of H2 O2 from [NiII (H2 O)4 (OH)(OOH)]0 regenerates [NiII (H2 O)6 ]2+ , which regains affinity to the MOL. Such dynamically associated NiII single-metal electrocatalysts ensure high selectivity and represent a new strategy for generating selective catalysts for electrochemical production of important chemicals.

We report the synthesis of a terpyridine-based metal-organic layer (TPY-MOL) and its metalation with CoCl2 and FeBr2 to afford CoCl2·TPY-MOL and FeBr2·TPY-MOL, respectively. Upon activation with NaEt3BH, CoCl2·TPY-MOL catalyzed benzylic C-H borylation of methylarenes whereas FeBr2·TPY-MOL catalyzed intramolecular Csp3 -H amination of alkyl azides to afford pyrrolidines and piperidines. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic spectroscopy (EPR) measurements as well as density functional theory (DFT) calculations identified M(THF)2·TPY-MOL (M = Co or Fe) as the active catalyst with a MII-(TPY˙˙)2- electronic structure featuring divalent metals and TPY diradical dianions. We believe that site isolation stabilizes novel MII-(TPY˙˙)2- (M = Co or Fe) species in the MOLs to endow them with unique and enhanced catalytic activities for Csp3 -H borylation and intramolecular amination over their homogeneous counterparts. The MOL catalysts are also superior to their metal-organic framework analogs owing to the removal of diffusion barriers. Our work highlights the potential of MOLs as a novel 2D molecular material platform for designing single-site solid catalysts without diffusional constraints.

A series of inorganic-organic hybrid pigments, with a main component of inorganic materials (SiO2, TiO2 and sepiolite), were fabricated and utilized as an environmental substitution for PbCrO4 pigment. The structure between inorganic materials and organic pigment were determined by transmission electron microscope (TEM), zeta potential test and surface area analysis, and the color performance of prepared hybrid pigments were tested and compared with PbCrO4. The analysis results showed that the SiO2 was encapsulated by organic pigment to form a core-shell structure, and then the SiO2@organic pigment hybrid combined with TiO2 (or sepiolite) through electrostatic attraction. When the mass ratio of SiO2:TO2:organic pigment and coupling component AAMX:IRG was 24:8:8 and 3:2 respectively, the prepared hybrid pigment showed a similar color performance with PbCrO4, and the heat resistance and photo stability test results showed that the prepared hybrid pigment could be a potential substitution for PbCrO4 in water ink. Additionally, the heat resistance of prepared hybrid pigment was adjusted by addition of sepiolite, and when the mass ratio of SiO2:TO2:sepiolite:organic pigment was 16:8:20:8, the new fabricated could be utilized as a substitution for PbCrO4 in polypropylene plastic.

Microenvironments in enzymes play crucial roles in controlling the activities and selectivities of reaction centers. Herein we report the tuning of the catalytic microenvironments of metal-organic layers (MOLs), a two-dimensional version of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with thickness down to a monolayer, to control product selectivities. By modifying the secondary building units (SBUs) of MOLs with monocarboxylic acids, such as gluconic acid, we changed the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity around the active sites and fine-tuned the selectivity in photocatalytic oxidation of tetrahydrofuran (THF) to exclusively afford butyrolactone (BTL), likely a result of prolonging the residence time of reaction intermediates in the hydrophilic microenvironment of catalytic centers. Our work highlights new opportunities in using functional MOLs as highly tunable and selective two-dimensional catalytic materials.

The anatase TiO2 single crystals were synthesized through a solvothermal route and their morphology and structure were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer (EDX). Characterization and photocatalytic activity experiments proposed that the simultaneous exposure of (001) and (101) facets could facilitate charge separation. While, due to the effect of surface substitution, the (001) facets were easier to be corroded with the increasing synthesis time. Moreover, the as-synthesized anatase TiO2 single crystals with (001) facets showed superior photocatalytic oxidation properties. Besides, the research on the plausible competitive mechanism of oxidation and reduction in the same reaction system suggested that the oxidation reaction was the predominant one with the increasing proportion of water on anatase TiO2 single crystals possessing the high reactivity of the (001) facets.

The relation between the particle size and release characteristics of aromatic microcapsules with a melamine resin shell in functional textile applications have been investigated. Firstly, the microcapsules are characterized based on their Fourier transform infrared spectra, encapsulation efficiencies, particle size distributions, optical images, and scanning electron microscopy images. The impregnation performances of the microcapsules have been initially evaluated using image analysis. Subsequently, the impregnation efficiency and broken release characteristics are semi-quantitatively analyzed using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The analysis results show that the highest impregnation efficiency and broken release intensity could be observed when the microcapsule size was similar to the fiber diameter (25–30 μm). Eventually, the sustained release of the microcapsules over a period of 2400 h was evaluated using the weighing calculation method, and the trends were studied using the Peppas model. It was found that the microcapsule release rate slowly and continuously decreased with time, and the release rates significantly increased with the decrease in microcapsule particle size. Thus, it could be concluded that the large microcapsules exhibited better leak tightness than the small microcapsules, whereas the small microcapsules exhibited faster sustained release rates.

Effects of carbon source on the performance, quorum sensing (QS) and microbial communities in the sequencing batch reactors were investigated in this work. Among the chosen carbon source, sodium acetate (R1), glucose (R2), starch (R3) and Tween 80 (R4), sodium acetate was the best carbon source for nutrient removal, while starch was favorable for inducing the sludge bulking, and Tween 80 was beneficial to the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and proliferation of Microthrix parvicella. Additionally, the R2 value of linear correlation between sludge settleability and particle size in four reactors followed an order of R1 > R2 > R3 > R4. Moreover, Person correlation analysis showed that various significant correlations were observed in reactors fed with different carbon sources and the QS mainly mediated the production and component of EPS. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that the carbon source affected microbial communities and the Canonical correspondence analysis results indicated that QS related to microbial communities. It was inferred that the interactions between microbial communities and QS affected system performance.

Two new tetrahydrobenzannulated 5,5-spiroketal sesquiterpenes (1 and 2) and three novel benzannulated 5,5-spiroketal sesquiterpenes (3–5) namely angepubesins A-E, together with a new heliannane-type benzannulated sesquiterpene namely angepubesin F (6) and two known monoterpenes (7 and 8), were isolated from the roots of Angelica Pubescens. Their structures were identified by various spectroscopic analyses (NMR, MS, UV, IR), in combination with 13C NMR calculation as well as MAE, CMAE, DP4 + and MAEΔΔδ values analyses. The absolute configurations of 1–6 were determined by modified Mosher′s method, ECD calculation and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (Cu Kα). Furthermore, the inhibitory activities of these isolated compounds against nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW264.7 macrophage cells were evaluated. The results showed that compounds 2–4, 6 and 7, especially 6, displayed markedly inhibitory effects on NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. Mechanical study revealed that compound 6 could significantly inhibit the expression of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein at a concentration of 10 μM. In addition, compound 6 suppressed the activation of JAK-STAT and NF-κB pathways.

Quantitative determination of energy transfer in isostructural Zr and Hf metal-organic layers (MOLs) by measuring fluorescence quenching upon doping the MOLs with a quencher or modifying the MOLs with a coumarin-343 dye revealed nearly identical energy transfer rates of the two MOLs, consistent with the dominance of through-space Förster-type energy transfer.

Modified C.I. Pigment Red 170 with a core-shell structure was prepared by using the surface-modified silica fume with silane coupling agent as the inorganic addition in the preparation process of organic pigment. The grafting of silane coupling agent on the surface of silica fume was determined by fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and the optimal modification conditions on the silica fume was determined by the analysis results of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis spectra and color performance of the organic pigment. And the results showed that the silica fume (30 g) modified with 12 mL γ-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (KH550) was the best to prepare modified pigment. Then, the modified pigment prepared with KH550-silica fume was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), TEM, Nano Particle Analyzer and UV–vis spectra, the results showed that organic pigment and silica fume formed a core-shell structure, and the morphology, particle size and the thickness of organic pigment layer on the surface of silica fume could be adjusted by the dosage of KH550-silica fume. In the end, based on the Maxwell's and Laplace's equations, a computational study on the adsorption spectra of modified pigment was carried out, and it was found that the computational results were well agreed with experimental results.

Seven new coumarin analogues (1, 2, and 4-8), together with ten known analogues (3, 9-17), were isolated from the air-dried pericarp of Citrus grandis. The structures of these compounds were determined by HR-ESI-MS, UV/vis, and 1D- and 2D-NMR spectra. Meanwhile, the hepatoprotective activities of all these coumarins were evaluated by MTT assays using the d-galactosamine-induced LO2 cell injury model. The results show that compounds 3 and 4 exhibited the strongest hepatoprotective activities. Moreover, compounds 3 and 4 suppressed increases in the levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in d-galactosamine-treated LO2 cells, further confirming the hepatoprotective effects of these compounds. Mechanistically, compounds 3 and 4 increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and decreased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in injured LO2 cells induced by d-galactosamine. These findings shed light on a better understanding of the hepatoprotective effect of Citrus grandis, providing novel insights into the development of coumarin-based hepatoprotective drugs in the future.

The phthalocyanine blue/rutile TiO2 composite pigments were fabricated with a dry ball milling method, and they were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results showed that the hydrophilic/hydrophobic property of rutile TiO2 played a key role on the structure of composite pigment and the phthalocyanine blue (PB) pigment preferred to encapsulate on the surface of hydrophobic rutile TiO2 to form a core-shell structure. And by comparison with the PB pigment, the composite pigment showed 10%–17% higher reflectivity in the wavelength range of 800–1100 and 1200–1600 nm, and the NIR reflectivity in the wavelength range of 1200–1600 nm reached up to 90%.

Application of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in electrocatalysis is of great interest, but is limited by low electrical conductivities of most MOFs. To overcome this limitation, we constructed a two-dimensional version of MOF–metal–organic layer (MOL) on conductive multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) via facile solvothermal synthesis. The redox-active MOLs supported on the CNT efficiently catalyze the electrochemical oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones. Interestingly, this CNT/MOL assembly also endowed the selectivity for primary versus secondary alcohols via well-designed interfacial interactions. This work opens doors toward a variety of designer electrocatalysts built from functional MOFs.

The LCC-CdTe quantum dots (QDs) hybrid was fabricated by mixing the N-lauryl-N, O-carboxymethyl chitosan (LCC) micelle with water-soluble CdTe QDs in an aqueous solution via hydrophobic forces and the electronic attraction. The structures of LCC and LCC-CdTe QDs hybrid were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the lauryl and carboxymethyl were successfully grafted to chitosan oligosaccharide (CSO), and a number of CdTe QDs were encapsulated by LCC micelle to form a core/shell structure. The tested results of the fluorescent characteristics of LCC, CdTe QDs and LCC-CdTe QDs hybrid showed that there were some obvious fluorescent interactions between LCC and CdTe QDs. Meanwhile, with the change in LCC space structure, the fluorescent interactions between LCC and QDs showed different fluorescent characteristics. The QDs fluorescent (FL) intensity increased first and then decreased to almost quenching, while LCC FL intensity decreased continually.

Although the fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) has been widely used to identify the Microthrix parvicella (M. parvicella), there are a few disadvantages and difficulties, such as complicated process, time consuming, etc. In this work, a series of fluorescent probes, which were modified by long-chain alkane with hydrophobic property and based on the property of M. parvicella utilizing long-chain fatty acids (LCFA), for the labeling of M. parvicella in bulking sludge were designed, synthesized, and characterized. The probes were characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, (1)H NMR spectra, and mass spectra, and the photostability and hydrophobic property of probes were investigated. All the results showed that the probes were quite stable and suitable for the fluorescent labeling. The probes had a large stoke shift of 98-137 nm, which was benefit for the fluorescent labeling. In the fluorescent labeling of M. parvicella by the synthesized probes, the probes had excellent labeling effects. By comparison of the images and the Image Pro Plus 6.0 analysis, the optimal concentration of the probes in the activated sludge sample for labeling was 0.010 mmol/L and the probe 3d had the best labeling. In addition, the effect of the duration time of probes was also investigated, and the results showed that the fluorescent intensity of probes hardly changed in a long period of time and it was suitable for labeling.

Inorganic–organic hybrid pigments were fabricated by adding inorganic mixture of precipitated white carbon black (SiO2) and TiO2 in preparation process of C.I. Pigment Yellow 13 and 83 composite with a mixed coupling method. Effects of mass ratio of inorganic/organic, SiO2/TiO2 and coupling component on the morphology and structure, color performance, thermal- and photo-stability of hybrid pigments were systematically investigated. It was found that the SiO2 was firstly encapsulated by organic pigment to form a core–shell structure, and then combined with TiO2 through electrical adsorption. The morphology, particle size and distribution of hybrid pigments could be controlled by the mass ratio of inorganic/organic and SiO2/TiO2, and the color performance of hybrid pigments could be adjusted by the mass ratio of inorganic/organic and coupling component. Additionally, the hybrid pigment showed a better thermal- and photo-stability than organic pigment.

Cuprous oxide/titania (Cu2O/TiO2) composites were successfully prepared by the in-situ synthesis method using TiO2 and CuSO4 as precursors. The obtained catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra. The results showed that the particles size gradually increased with the mass ratio of Cu2O, and an obvious p–n heterojunction was formed between Cu2O and TiO2. In addition, the adsorption and photocatalytic performance of Cu2O/TiO2 composite were evaluated by decolorization experiment of acid red B aqueous solution under sunlight. The results showed that Cu2O/TiO2 composite can effectively adsorb the acid red B through electrostatic attraction, and the 30% Cu2O/TiO2 with largest specific surface area had the best adsorption ability. At the same time, 30% Cu2O/TiO2 composite showed the best photocatalytic activity under sunlight and the less photo-corrosion.