Latest ArticlesFluorescent silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) were hydrothermally synthesized from a mixture of 3(2-aminoethylamino) propyl (dimethoxymethylsilane) (AEAPDMMS) and poly(vinylpyrrolidine) (PVP). The resulting Si QDs exhibited good water solubility and high stability. Under the optimized conditions, the probe revealed an excellent linear fluorescence quenching effect on Co2+ ranging from 1 µmol/L to 120 µmol/L with a limit of detection of 0.37 µmol/L (based on 3 s/k). The quenching mechanism was studied, showing that static quenching (SQE) causes the main effect. Furthermore, the test paper based on Si QDs was prepared, which is cost-effective, high sensitivity, good selectivity, easy to use and show excellent anti-interference capability. This method was applied to analyze the content of Co2+ in environmental water samples with satisfying results.
A H4SiW12O40-catalyzed three-component tandem reaction of 2-acylbenzoic acids, primary amines and phosphine oxides to form 3,3-disubstituted isoindolinones was developed. By employing H4SiW12O40 as the catalyst and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as the solvent, a diverse range of 2-acylbenzoic acid derivatives and primary amines worked well to give the C3-phosphinoyl-functionalized 3,3-disubstituted isoindolinones with the yield range of 61%-87%. Advantages of this transformation include green catalyst and solvent, available starting materials, broad substrate scope, high efficiency and operational simplicity with water as the sole by-product. The strategy achieved an efficient and green molecular fragment assembly to access isoindolinones, which would provide opportunities for the synthesis of potential biologically active molecules in a green manner.
Drug loading capacity is very important in the construction of targeted drug delivery systems (TDDSs) for the improvement of drug delivery efficiency. However, the drug-loading capacity of most nanomaterials is non-idealistic, and developing the high drug-loading TDDSs is still a critical challenge. In this work, an ultrahigh loading system (denoted as HMPB2) was prepared via J-aggregation of an aza-boron dipyrromethene derivative (Bod) by using hollow MnO2 modified with glucosamine pillar[5]arene as a carrier, which was demonstrated to have typical J-aggregate absorption of Bod, specific cancer cells targeting ability, negligible dark cytotoxicity, and potent phototoxicity. This work provides a successful example to construct an ultrahigh drug-loading system via J-aggregation for targeted delivery.
Droplet manipulation on an open surface has great potential in chemical analysis and biomedicine engineering. However, most of the reported platforms designed for the manipulation of water droplets cannot thoroughly solve the problem of droplet evaporation. Herein, we report a shape-reconfigurable micropillar array chip for the manipulation of water droplets, oil droplets and water-in-oil droplets. Water-in-oil droplets provide an enclosed space for water droplets, preventing the evaporation in an open environment. Perfluoropolyether coated on the surface of the chip effectively reduces the droplet movement resistance. The micropillar array chip has light and magnetic dual-response due to the Fe3O4 nanoparticles and the reduced iron powder mixed in the shape-memory polymer. The micropillars irradiated by a near-infrared laser bend under the magnetic force, while the unirradiated micropillars still keep their original shape. In the absence of a magnetic field, when the micropillars in a temporary shape are irradiated by the near-infrared laser to the transition temperature, the micropillars return to their initial shape. In this process, the surface morphology gradient caused by the deformation of the micropillars and the surface tension gradient caused by the temperature change jointly produce the driving force of droplet movement.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the most common pathogen in hospital and community environments, can cause serious and even fatal infections. The antibiotics currently used for clinical treatment of MRSA have developed resistance, and there is an urgent need to develop new antimicrobials to treat infections caused by MRSA strains. Quinoline analogues play an important role in the development of antimicrobials. Herein, we discussed the current development of antibacterial activities of quinoline analogues, mainly for anti-MRSA activity, and their structure–activity relationships (SARs) from the perspective of using the quinoline nucleus to search for novel potential anti-MRSA candidates. Additionally, the mechanisms of some representative quinoline analogues against MRSA were clarified. Altogether, this review could provide further insights for the rational development of quinoline-based antibacterial drugs, especially against MRSA.
Photothermal effect has been widely employed in the H2 evolution process at the advantage of using clean energy sources to produce another one of higher benefits. The solar-to-heat conversion have various forms and heat can facilitate reactions in a variety of dimensions. Hence, summarizing the sources and destinations of heat is important for constructing hydrogen production systems of higher efficiency. This view mainly focuses on the recent state-of-art progress of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) based on photothermal effect. First, we introduce the main pathways of photothermal conversions applied in H2 evolution. Then, the functions of the photothermal effect are clearly summarized. Furthermore, we go beyond the catalytic reaction and introduce a method to improve the catalytic system by changing the catalytic bulk phase through thermal means. In the end, we sort out the challenges and outlook to offer some noble insights for this promising area.
New pollutant pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs), especially antiviral drugs, have received increasing attention not only due to their increase in usage after the outbreak of COVID-19 epidemics but also due to their adverse impacts on water ecological environment. Electro-Fenton technology is an effective method to remove PPCPs from water. Novel particle electrodes (MMT/rGO/Fe3O4) were synthesized by depositing Fe3O4 nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide modified montmorillonite and acted as catalysts to promote oxidation performance in a three-dimensional electro-Fenton (3D-EF) system. The electrodes combined the catalytic property of Fe3O4, hydrophilicity of montmorillonite and electrical conductivity of graphene oxides, and applied for the degradation of Acyclovir (ACV) with high efficiency and ease of operation. At optimal condition, the degradation rate of ACV reached 100% within 120 min, and the applicable pH range could be 3 to 11 in the 3D-EF system. The stability and reusability of MMT/rGO/Fe3O4 particle electrodes were also studied, the removal rate of ACV remained at 92% after 10 cycles, which was just slightly lower than that of the first cycle. Potential degradation mechanisms were also proposed by methanol quenching tests and FT-ICR-MS.
Alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Adolescence is a critical period of structural and functional maturation of the brain. Adolescent alcohol use can alter epigenetic modifications. However, little is known on the long-term effects of alcohol consumption during adolescence on RNA epigenetic modifications in brain. Herein, we systematically explored the long-term effects of alcohol exposure during adolescence on small RNA modifications in adult rat brain tissues by comprehensive liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) analysis. We totally detected 26 modifications in small RNA of brain tissues. Notably, we observed most of these modifications were decreased in brain tissues. These results suggest that alcohol exposure during adolescence may impose a long-lasting impact on RNA modifications in brain tissues. This is the first report that alcohol use during adolescence can alter RNA modifications in adult brain. Collectively, this study suggests a long-term adverse effects of alcohol consumption on brain from RNA epigenetics angle by comprehensive mass spectrometry analysis.
To achieve a lower detection limit has always been a goal of analytical chemists. Herein, we demonstrate the first picomolar level detection capability for Fe3+ ion via luminescence detection technology. The results of structural analysis and theoretical calculation show that Fe3+ ions are adsorbed on the central node of Eu-DBM (DBM = dibenzoylmethane) sensor in the form of single ion at ultralow concentration. Subsequently, the pathways of photo-induced charge and energy transfer of the obtained Eu-DBM@Fe3+ material have been changed, from the initial DBM-to-Eu3+ before Fe3+ adsorption to the ultimate DBM-to-Fe3+ after adsorption process, which quenches the luminescence of Eu3+ ion. This work not only obtains the highly sensitive luminescence detection ability, but also innovatively proposes the single-ion adsorption mechanism, both of which have important scientific and application values for the development of more efficient detection agents in the future.
Radiation damage can cause a series of gastrointestinal (GI) tract diseases. The development of safe and effective GI tract radioprotectants still remains a great challenge clinically. Here, we firstly report an oral radioprotectant Gel@GYY that integrates a porous gelatin-based (Gel) hydrogel and a pH-responsive hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor GYY4137 (morpholin-4-ium 4 methoxyphenyl(morpholino) phosphinodithioate). Gel@GYY has a remarkable adhesion ability and long retention time, which not only enables responsive release of low-dose H2S in stomach and subsequently sustained release of H2S in the whole intestinal tract especially in the colon, but also ensures a close contact between H2S and GI tract. The released H2S can effectively scavenge free radicals induced by X-ray radiation, reduce lipid peroxidation level, repair DNA damage and recover vital superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. Meanwhile, the released H2S inhibits radiation-induced activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), thus reducing inflammatory cytokines levels in GI tract. After treatment, Gel@GYY displays efficient excretion from mice body due to its biodegradability. This work provides a new insight for therapeutic application of intelligent H2S-releasing oral delivery system and potential alternative to clinical GI physical damage protectant.
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