Latest ArticlesLithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery has been considered as one of the most promising next generation energy storage technologies for its overwhelming merits of high theoretical specific capacity (1673 mAh/g), high energy density (2500 Wh/kg), low cost, and environmentally friendliness of sulfur. However, critical drawbacks, including inherent low conductivity of sulfur and Li2S, large volume changes of sulfur cathodes, undesirable shuttling and sluggish redox kinetics of polysulfides, seriously deteriorate the energy density, cycle life and rate capability of Li-S battery, and thus limit its practical applications. Herein, we reviewed the recent developments addressing these problems through iron-based nanomaterials for effective synergistic immobilization as well as conversion reaction kinetics acceleration for polysulfides. The mechanist configurations between different iron-based nanomaterials and polysulfides for entrapment and conversion acceleration were summarized at first. Then we concluded the recent progresses on utilizing various iron-based nanomaterials in Li-S battery as sulfur hosts, separators and cathode interlayers. Finally, we discussed the challenges and perspectives for designing high sulfur loading cathode architectures along with outstanding chemisorption capability and catalytic activity.
MicroRNA-26a (miR-26a) has been verified to promote osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in recent years. The main obstacles to its application in bone regeneration are instability in the physiological environment and low efficiency of cellular membrane penetration. To overcome these problems, we constructed a novel plant virus gene delivery system based on Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV). By encapsulating miR-26a with purified capsid protein (CP) dimers derived from CCMV, CP-miR-26a (CP26a) virus-like particles (VLPs) were obtained. CP26a retained a structure similar to the native CCMV and protected miR-26a from digestion with its exterior CP. Moreover, CP26a featured similar cellular uptake efficiency, osteogenesis promotion ability, and better biocompatibility compared with Lipofectamine2000-miR-26a (lipo26a), which indicated a promising prospect for CCMV as a novel gene delivery system.
Polysubstituted pyrroles are very important scaffolds in many bioactive natural products and synthetic pharmaceuticals. Here, a new gold-catalyzed cycloaddition of alkynes with azadienes to access tetrasubstituted pyrroles is demonstrated. The neighboring hydroxylmethyl group serves a very important directing group through an addition/cycloaddition/elimination cascade. Diverse polysubstituted pyrroles were synthesized in good yields under mild conditions in one step, and tricyclic pyrrole containing heterocycles were easily obtained through derivatization.
We report herein an I2/PhI(OAc)2 catalytic system for the pragmatic construction of CN bonds through CH/NH oxidative coupling protocol. Divergent pyrrolo[2, 3-b]indoles were efficiently prepared via I2-catalyzed intramolecular C–H amination reactions from (E/Z)-2-indolylenamines under metal-free conditions. Various functional groups are tolerated under mild reaction conditions and the resulting pyrrolo[2, 3-b]indoles were obtained with mostly good to excellent yields. It was interesting to observe that both the (E)- and (Z)-isomers of the starting materials were efficiently transformed into the targeted product. The I+-mediated catalytic cycle was proposed based on mechanistic studies for this reaction.
Reversal of regioselectivity in the catalytic asymmetric conjugate additions of 3-substituted oxindoles to β-nitroenones or β-nitroacrylates was established with chiral scandium catalysts. It enabled the construction of functionalized 3, 3-disubstituted oxindoles, including terminal and internal vinyl groups in excellent yields and ee values.
Although endogenous H2O2 is overexpressed in tumor tissue, the amount of endogenous H2O2 is still insufficient for chemodynamic therapy (CDT). In addition, the abundant cellular glutathione (GSH) could also consume •OH for reduced CDT. Thus, the elevation of H2O2 and the consumption of GSH in tumor tissue are essential for the increased •OH yield and amplified CDT efficacy. In this paper, host-guest interactions based supramolecular complexes self-assemblies (SCSAs) were fabricated by incorporating cinnamaldehyde (CA) and PEG-modified cyclodextrin host units (mPEG-CD-CA) with ferrocene-(phenylboronic acid pinacol ester) conjugates (Fc-BE) on the basis of CD-induced host-guest interactions. After being internalized by cancer cells, CA can be released from SCSAs through the pH-responsive acetal linkage, elevating the H2O2 level by activating NADPH oxidase. Then, Fc can catalyze the H2O2 to higher cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Moreover, quinone methide (QM) can be produced through H2O2-induced aryl boronic ester rearrangement and further consume the antioxidant GSH. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that SCSAs can be provided as potential amplified CDT nanoagents.
The fabrication of highly effective photosensitizers has received considerable attention because of their attractive functions and applications in the fields of photodynamic therapy, photosynthesis, photocatalysis, etc. Thus, it is highly desirable to develop a new approach to enhance photosensitization efficiency. Herein, through coordination-driven self-assembly, a series of metallacycles with efficient fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) were effectively constructed, which displayed higher photosensitization efficiency and photocatalytic activity than their model metallacycles without FRET due to broadband absorption and singlet energy transfer from the energy acceptor to the energy donor. Moreover, iodization of fluorophores induced a significant enhancement of the photosensitization efficiency and photocatalytic activity of the metallacycles. This research provides an efficient strategy for improving photosensitization efficiency and a promising platform for the preparation of effective photosensitizers and photocatalysts.
Gambogic acid (GA) is a potential clinical anticancer drug that can exert antitumor effects via various molecular mechanisms. Notwithstanding, GA's low water solubility, poor stability, short half-life, and unavoidable toxic side effects have significantly hampered its clinical application. Erythrocyte membrane-coated nanoparticles (RBCM-NPs) improve drug's physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and pharmacokinetic behaviors, allowing for long-term drug circulation and passive targeting. In this study, a novel biomimetic drug delivery system (DDS) against hepatocellular carcinoma was prepared by covering RBCM on GPP-NPs (GA-loaded mPEG-PLA NPs) to develop the RBC@GPP-NPs. In comparison to RBCM-free nanoparticles and free GA, RBC@GPP-NPs improved the drug's water solubility, stability, safety, and anti-tumor activity in vivo. We expect that this bionic nanoparticle composite can expand the clinical applicability of GA and provide a feasible solution for the research and development of GA's nano-formulation.
Silkworm pupa protein (SPP) that obtained by traditional method usually had a high fat content, which would impose restrictions on the further use of SPP. Herein, various functionalized ionic liquids (ILs) were used to extract SPP from silkworm pupae, the structure-performance relationship of ILs with their SPP separation performance were explored at the same time. The research showed that the maximum extraction yield of SPP was up to 62.6% with less than 0.5% low fat content by using 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Emim]Cl), when the dissolution experiment was conducted at 90 ℃ for 24 h with ethanol bath as the regeneration solvent. Comparing with the structure of raw material, the regenerated SPP maintained the native protein backbone. Meanwhile, all regenerated SPP showed a decreased crystallinity, which also exhibited decreased fraction of the α-helix comparing to that β-sheet united with coil random structures.
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