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Green tea catechins have attracted much attention in the areas of biomedicine due to their natural antioxidant activity and numerous beneficial therapeutic effects. However, the chemically unstable in neutral and alkaline aqueous solutions have hindered their development. In this work, a nanosized non-toxic porous Fe-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) nanocomposites with a MIL-100(Fe) core and a silica shell was fabricated and applied for the loading of a typical green tea catechin, gallic acid (GA). The amount of GA loaded in the sample is shown to be 0.23 g g−1, and it took as long as 85 h to complete the GA release in PBS at 37 °C. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity results show that MIL-100(Fe)@SiO2-GA can highly enhance the antioxidant activity in PBS solution. Moreover, the obtained biocompatible MIL-100(Fe)@SiO2-GA displayed highly augmented anticancer effect on C6 cells. This work demonstrates that the prepared MIL-100(Fe)@SiO2 nanoparticles are potential green tea catechins carriers in terms of their good biocompatibility and effective performance in the antioxidant and anticancer activity.

Curcumin (CUR) is a food additive approved by World Health Organization. But the shortcomings, such as poor water solubility, easy oxidation and degradation, limit its application. In this study, the CUR-loaded poloxamer

Curcumin (CUR) is a food additive approved by World Health Organization. But the shortcomings, such as poor water solubility, easy oxidation and degradation, limit its application. In this study, the CUR-loaded poloxamer188-based nanoparticles (CUR/PTT NPs) were fabricated to improve the stability and water solubility of CUR. Studies found the spherical CUR/PTT NPs had an average size of 98.71 ± 0.64 nm. Stability experiments displayed CUR/PTT NPs were extremely stable in different conditions. XRD analysis indicated the changes of crystal structures of CUR might be the main cause of the improved water solubility. Reducing power and anti-degradation tests suggested CUR/PTT NPs could improve the anti-oxidation and anti-degradation of CUR. Additionally, the results of body weight gains, hematological examination, organ coefficients, hematoxylin and eosin staining demonstrated CUR/PTT NPs bearing the excellent in vivo bio-security. Therefore, this study may provide a new idea for the combination of food industry and nanoparticles.

A facile and efficient [3 + 2 + 1] annulation of aryl methyl ketoxime acetates and triethylamine for the synthesis of 2-methylpyridines was disclosed. This reaction demonstrated that I2 was effective in triggering N–O bond cleavage of oxime acetates generating imine radicals. It was noteworthy that this transformation employed triethylamine as the carbon source for the direct formation of pyridines and introduction of methyl groups.

A facile and efficient [3 + 2 + 1] annulation of aryl methyl ketoxime acetates and triethylamine for the synthesis of 2-methylpyridines was disclosed. This reaction demonstrated that I2 was effective in triggering N-O bond cleavage of oxime acetates generating imine radicals. It was noteworthy that this transformation employed triethylamine as the carbon source for the direct formation of pyridines and introduction of methyl groups.

Luminescent porous micro/nano-structures have gained much attention in recent years due to their potential applications in biomedical fields. Herein, we report the well-dispersed luminescent hollow structural CaWO4 microspheres prepared by a facile hydrothermal method without addition of any templates and additives. The phase, morphology and pore structures of hollow CaWO4 microspheres were well characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N2 adsorption/desorption. It is observed that the resultant CaWO4 microspheres possess a hollow structure with mesoporous shell and have good biocompatibility, making them suitable to be used as drug carriers. Subsequently, ibuprofen (IBU), a typical anti-inflammatory drug, was successfully loaded into the CaWO4 microspheres and the drug release behavior was investigated. It is found that IBU molecules were successfully introduced into the inner space and mesopores of CaWO4 microspheres and there exist strong interaction between IBU molecules and CaWO4 microspheres. The IBU release from CaWO4 microspheres exhibit a sustained-release property and two-step release mechanism. In addition, the hollow structural CaWO4 microspheres also exhibit bright blue emission after loading of IBU. These results indicate that the luminescent hollow CaWO4 microspheres have promising prospect in the sustained drug release systems and tracking drug release process.

Fe 3 O 4 /hydroxyapatite (Fe 3 O 4 /HAP) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by hydrothermal method. The obtained NPs have excellent magnetic responsibility and can immobilize metal ions. After chelating Ni 2+ ions, Fe 3 O 4 /HAP-Ni 2+ NPs can be used to enrich histidine-tagged (His-tagged) proteins directly from the mixture of lysed cells. Results show that Fe 3 O 4 /HAP-Ni 2+ NPs present negligible nonspecific protein adsorption and high protein binding activity with the saturation capacity being 12.98 mmol/g. Their separation capcity towards His-tagged proteins was remained after 4 times recycling. They are especially suitable for rapid purification of His-tagged proteins.

An organic–inorganic hybrid phosphotungstate-based CuII–LaIII heterometallic derivative [Cu(dap)2(H2O)][Cu(dap)2]4.5 [La(α-PW11O39)2].4H2O (1) (dap = 1,2-diaminopropane) has been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, UV spectrum, optical diffuse reflectance spectrum, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray crystallography. Complex 1 exhibits a 2-D CuII–LaIII heterometallic sheet architecture with a 4-connected topology established by dimeric [Cu(dap)2(H2O)]2[Cu(dap)2]9[La(α-PW11O39)2]2 building units via [Cu(dap)2]2+ bridges. The optical diffuse reflectance spectrum indicates that 1 possesses the semiconductor characteristic. The thermogravimetric curve of 1 shows two steps of weight loss.

Our previous study has proven that tea polyphenol has a role in lung neoplasms. The present communication was to investage the anti-proliferation effect of tea polyphenol on the PG cells, which was a high metastatic human lung carcinoma cell line, by 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo(-z-y1)-3,5-diphenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) cell viability assay, and to study the change of intracellular calcium concentration, connexin43 (Cx43) expression, gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and cell cycle distribution after the tea polyphenol treatment by laser scanning confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. The results showed that 1) tea polyphenol could kill the PG cells in a dose-depent manner via inhibiting the PG cell proliferation and blocking the PG cell cycle progression staying in G0/G1 phase and not transfering in S and G2/M phases to reduce the PG cell proliferation index; 2) the increases of intracellular calcium concentration, GJIC and Cx43 expression were related with the tea polyphenol doses. The data suggested that tea polyphenol could inhibit the growth of PG cells, which mechanism was associated with the up-regulation of GJIC.