Latest ArticlesIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and fatal lung disease characterized by pulmonary inflammation, oxidative stress, and excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. Current anti-fibrotic drugs for IPF treatment in the clinic lack selectivity and demonstrate unsatisfactory efficacy, highlighting the urgent necessity for a novel therapeutic strategy. Taraxasterol (TA), which has biological activities against lung injury induced by various factors, is a potential anti-IPF drug due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and lung-protective effects. However, the protective effect of TA on IPF has not been confirmed, and its clinical application is limited due to its poor aqueous solubility. In this study, we demonstrated that TA could inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migration of A549 cells by inhibiting the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad signaling pathway. To improve the aqueous solubility and pulmonary administration performance of TA, we prepared TA loaded methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(d, l-lactide) (mPEG-PLA)/d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) mixed polymeric micelles (TA-PM). Then a MicroSprayerⓇ Aerosolizer was used to deliver TA-PM once every two days for three weeks to evaluate their therapeutic effects on bleomycin (BLM)-induced IPF mice. Our results demonstrated that inhaled TA-PM significantly inhibited BLM-induced inflammation, oxidative stress and fibrosis in lung tissue. Furthermore, TA-PM exhibited high pulmonary deposition and retention by pulmonary administration, along with a favorable safety profile. Overall, this study emphasizes the potential of inhaled TA-PM as a promising treatment for IPF, providing a new opportunity for their clinical application.
Searching for efficient nonprecious metal-based catalysts toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are of significance for seawater electrolysis. Herein, a core–shell-structured hybrid of cobalt phosphide nanowires@NiFe layered double hydroxide nanosheets grown on conductive nickel foam (CoP@NiFe LDH/NF) is prepared by a feasible approach at low temperature. The charming structure can provide numerous phosphide/hydroxide heterogenous interfaces, expose abundant active sites, and boost electron/mass transfer, synergistically enhancing catalytic OER activity. When employed as an electrocatalyst toward the OER, the resultant CoP@NiFe LDH/NF only requires a small overpotential of 287 mV to provide 300 mA/cm2 current density as well as long-time durability in 1.0 mol/L KOH seawater. The regulation of electronic states and surface reconstruction synergistically contribute to highly efficient seawater oxidation. This work provides an opportunity to construct efficient and inexpensive electrocatalysts for hydrogen production.
Oxidative therapies receive a limited antitumor efficiency due to the insufficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels at focal sites and the evolvement of antioxidant defense systems. Herein, we develop an albumin-based nanomedicine to co-deliver chlorin e6 (Ce6) and COH-SR4 (CS), which can simultaneously enhance the yield and lethality of intracellular ROS for amplified photodynamic therapy (PDT). In which, CS acts as both an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and an inhibitor of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). Benefiting from it, the prepared HSA-Ce6@COH-SR4 (HCCS) enables positive feedback uptake by promoting AMPK phosphorylation, leading to rapid and extensive tumor accumulation of drugs. As a result, HCCS obviously increases the ROS production to elevate intracellular oxidative stress. Furthermore, HCCS can inhibit GSTs to disturb the antioxidant defense system of tumor cells, intensifying the oxidative damage of ROS. Ultimately, the PDT of HCCS is significantly strengthened by improving the ROS yield and lethality, which greatly declines the proliferation of breast cancer in vivo. This study may open a window in the development of drug co-delivery system for enhanced oxidative therapy of tumors.
Climate change is an important issue facing the world today and carbon reduction has become the focus of attention for all countries. Alternative bio-fuels are an important means to achieve carbon emission reduction. The production of jet fuel precursors from biomass by hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) has received a lot of attention due to its mild conditions and environmental friendliness. Lignocellulosic biomass and algal biomass are considered as the second and the third generation biomasses as promising raw materials for alternative fuel preparation. Among them, lignocellulosic biomass has been extensively studied due to its wide range of sources and can be divided into one-step HTL and stepwise HTL according to the process method. Algal biomass has been extensively studied experimentally due to its short growth cycle and the fact that it can sequester large amounts of carbon without taking up arable land. In this paper, the feedstock composition of different biomasses is reviewed for the HTL of biomass. A detailed review of the process characteristics, reaction pathways and influencing factors for the HTL production of jet fuel precursors from lignocellulosic biomass and algal biomass is also presented. Theoretical references are provided for further process optimization and bio-crude quality upgrading.
Weakly-solvated electrolytes (WSEs) utilizing solvents with weak coordination ability offer advantages for low-potential graphite anode owing to their facile desolvation process and anions-derived inorganic-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film. However, these electrolytes face challenges in achieving a balance between the weak solvation affinity and high ionic conductivity, as well as between rigid inorganic-rich SEI and flexible SEI for long-term stability. Herein, we introduce 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)-imide (LiTFSI) as functional additives into a WSE based on nonpolar cyclic ether (1,4-dioxane). The well-formulated WSE not only preserves the weakly solvated features and anion-dominated solvation sheath, but also utilizes DOL to contribute organic species for stabilizing the SEI layer. Benefitting from these merits, the optimized electrolyte enables graphite anode with excellent fast-charging performance (210 mAh/g at 5 C) and outstanding cycling stability (600 cycles with a capacity retention of 82.0% at room temperature and 400 cycles with a capacity retention of 80.4% at high temperature). Furthermore, the fabricated LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2||graphite full cells demonstrate stable operation for 140 cycles with high capacity retention of 80.3%. This work highlights the potential of tailoring solvation sheath and interphase properties in WSEs for advanced electrolyte design in graphite-based lithium-ion batteries.
Hexokinase 2 (HK2) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the first step of glycolysis, catalyzing glucose to glucose-6-phosphate, and overexpressed in most cancer cells. HK2 also binds to voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) to stabilize the mitochondrial outer membrane, which inhibits cancer cell apoptosis. Therefore, HK2 has become a potential target for cancer treatment. Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are hetero-bifunctional molecules that recruit an E3 ubiquitin ligase to a given substrate protein resulting in its targeted degradation. Many potent and specific PROTACs targeting dissimilar targets have been developed. In this study, an HK2 PROTAC, 4H-5P-M, was developed and induced the degradation of HK2 relying on the ubiquitin-proteasome system. It was found that 4H-5P-M as an effective HK2 degrader induced HK2 degradation in a dose- and time-dependent manner and suppressed the growth of SW480 cells. 4H-5P-M selectively induced HK2 degradation at a lower concentration than other hexokinase isozymes. Moreover, it could suppress glycolysis and accelerate the apoptosis of cancer cells. Therefore, it provided a new insight into the development of anti-tumor drugs.
Cyclooctatetraene (COT) attachment to fluorophores (“self-healing” dyes) is known for quenching reactive triplet states via triplet-state energy transfer (TET), enhancing photostability. However, COT’s impact on singlet states remains unclear. Quantum calculations reveal that COT induces energy transfer to dark states in deep blue dyes while promoting photoinduced electron transfer (PET) and intersystem crossing (ISC) in visible dyes, potentially compromising brightness and/or photostability. To address this, we propose the use of ΔE descriptor to optimize COT’s effects. Our findings uncover COT’s multifaceted impact. These insights will guide the development of superior triplet state quenchers and photostable dyes.
KTi2(PO4)3 is a promising anode material for potassium storage, but suffers from low conductivity and difficult balance between high capacity and good structural stability. Herein, the Ti3C2T MXene is used as a multifunctional binder to fabricate the KTi2(PO4)3 electrode by the traditional homogenizing-coating method. The MXene nanosheets, together with the conductive agent super P nanoparticles, construct a multiple conductive network for fast electron/ion transfer and high electrochemical kinetics. Moreover, the network ensures the structural stability of the KTi2(PO4)3 electrode during the de-intercalation/intercalation of 4 K+ ions, which is beneficial for simultaneously achieving high capacity and good cycle performance. Therefore, the MXene-bonded KTi2(PO4)3 electrode delivers a reversible capacity of 255.2 mAh/g at 50 mA/g, outstanding rate capability with 132.3 mAh/g at 2 A/g, and excellent cycle performance with 151.6 mAh/g at 1 A/g after 2000 cycles. This work not only suggests a high-performance anode material for potassium-ion batteries, but also demonstrates that the MXene is a promising binder material for constructing conductive electrodes in rechargeable batteries.
There is increasing evidence shows that either electrical stimulation (ES) or metal ion is an effective way to accelerate ulcerative wound healing. However, less attention is paid to investigating the synergistic effect between them. Herein, we explore the combined effects of ES and multiple metal ions on diabetic wound healing assisted by a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). Firstly, the novel Eggshell@CuFe2O4 nanocomposites (NCs) are prepared, which show unique structure and intrinsic antimicrobial properties. Subsequently, the as-prepared nanocomposites are embedded in oxidized starch hydrogel to form a multifunctional composite gel, which is further assembled into a wearable ionic triboelectric nanogenerator (iTENG) patch with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). It can convert the mechanical energy produced by a human body motion to electric energy and mediate the sequential release of metal ions (Fe2+/Ca2+/Cu2+), thereby resulting in the "cocktail effect" on impaired tissue. Under their effects, a satisfying healing result in diabetic mouse is identified, which can effectively accelerate wound healing process by relieving inflammation, promoting angiogenesis and collagen deposition. The work puts forward the cocktail effect of electric simulation coupled with the multiple metal ions, and opens up a new perspective in designing iTENG patch towards repair of hard-to-heal wounds.
Catalyst with high performance has drawn increasing attention recently due to its significant advantages in chemical reactions such as speeding up the reaction, lowering the reaction temperature or pressure, and proceeding without itself being consumed. Despite the superior catalytic performance of precious metal catalysts, transition metal oxides offer a promising route for substitution of precious metals in catalysis arising from their low cost, intrinsic activity and sufficient stability. Mullite-type oxide SmMn2O5 exhibits a unique crystal structure containing double crystalline fields, and nowadays is used widely as the catalyst in different chemical reactions, including the reactions of vehicle emissions reduction and oxygen evolution reaction, gas sensors, and metal-air batteries, promoting attention in catalytic performance enhancement. To our knowledge, there is no review article covering the comprehensive information of SmMn2O5 and its applications. Here we review the recent progress in understanding of the crystal structure of SmMn2O5 and its basic physical properties. We then summarize the catalytic sources of SmMn2O5 and reaction mechanisms, while the strategies to improve catalytic performance of SmMn2O5 are further presented. Finally, we provide a perspective on how to make further progress in catalytic applications.
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