Latest ArticlesIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease with high mortality rate but effective therapeutics are still lacking. Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitors were reported to be promising anti-IPF agents. Herein, series of biflavonoids isolated from Selaginella uncinate were found to be PDE4 inhibitors and the most active amentoflavone gave a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 12 nmol/L, which was further validated by isothermal titration calorimetry with Kd of 23 nmol/L. Besides, co-crystal structure of PDE4-amentoflavone was determined and gave a different binding pattern from roflumilast with multiple H-bonds between it and key residues such as Asn321/Thr333/Gln369/Gly371. So far, this was the first reported co-crystal structure of amentoflavone with its potential binding target in despite of the extensive investigations of this common natural biflavonoid. Furthermore, amentoflavone exhibited remarkable anti-IPF effects in vivo and in vitro, suggesting it as a novel anti-fibrotic agent by targeting PDE4.
Metal phosphosulfides have been recognized as advanced anode materials for sodium/potassium ion batteries due to their high theoretical capacities and the incorporation of the advantage of metal sulfides and phosphates. However, they also suffer from the shortcomings of frustrating cycling stability due to the large volume expansion and unsatisfactory electrical conductivity. Herein, hexapod cobalt phosphosulfide nanodots based nanorods encapsulating into N, P, and S hetero-atoms tri-doped carbon framework (CoP/CoS2@NPSC) have been triumphantly designed and synthesized. The six nanorods constructed hexapod framework and multi-atom doped carbon matrix not only provides more active sites, but also contribute to maintain the structure integrity from avoiding the agglomeration of internal CoP and CoS2 nanodots. The synergistic effect between CoP and CoS2 components, as well as the CoP/CoS2 and the NPSC carbon framework can improve the electrochemical conductivity. Besides, the kinetics analysis demonstrated that N/P/S tri-doping could greatly increase the interlayer distance and introduce enough active sites, which effectively facilitate the transport, adsorption, insertion and diffusion of Na+ and K+. CoP/CoS2@NPSC demonstrated excellent electrochemical properties and battery performances including excellent cycle stability with 404.63 mAh/g at 5.0 A/g around 700 cycles for SIBs and 115.33 mAh/g at 5.0 A/g around 800 cycles for PIBs. This presented strategy establishes a novel and adaptable method for the integration of doped carbon with metal phosphosulfide and guides a new research approach and direction for secondary batteries electrode materials.
Redox dyshomeostasis is a critical factor in the initiation of numerous diseases, making the accurate evaluation of the redox status of the cellular environment an important aspect of physiological research. However, maintaining redox homeostasis relies on a complex and dynamic physiological system involving multiple substrate-enzyme interactions, so its accurately detection remains a challenge. With this research, we developed an activable fluorescence switching platform by incorporating different conjugate acceptors to a fluorophore using ester bonds and resulting in fluorescence quenching due to donor-excited photo-induced electron transfer (d-PeT), which was confirmed through density functional theory calculations. The reaction-based probe was deployed for recognizing all major intracellular reducing sulfur species (RSS), including H2S, cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), glutathione (GSH), and protein free thiols. The quenched fluorescence was significantly recovered by RSS, through releasing the fluorophore and diminishing the d-PeT effect. Furthermore, the fluorescent probe was used for the sensing and imaging RSS in living cells, demonstrating good cell-permeability, low cytotoxicity, and negative correlation with reactive oxygen species content, enabling the evaluating of global thiols redox state in HepG2 cellular lines during ferroptosis processes.
Self-trapping excitons (STEs) emission in metal halides has been a matter of interest, correlating with the strength of electron-phonon coupling in the lattice, which are usually caused by ions with ns2 electronic structure. In this work, Sb3+/Te4+ ions doped Zn-based halide single crystals (SCs) with two STEs emissions have been synthesized and the possibility of its anti-counterfeiting application was explored. Further, the relationship between the strength of electron-phonon coupling and photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) for STEs in a series of metal halides has been studied. And the semi-empirical range of the Huang-Rhys factors (S) for metal halides with excellent photoluminescence (PL) property has been summarized. This work provides ideas for further research into the relationship between luminescence performance and electron-phonon coupling of metal halides, and also provides a reference for designing the metal halides with high PLQYs.
In the field of lithium-ion battery cathode materials, lithium-rich layered oxide materials have garnered significant attention due to their exceptional discharge specific capacity and high operating voltage. However, their limitations in terms of cycling stability and rate capability remain major impediments to their wider application. In this study, an innovative approach was employed by simultaneously utilizing the acidic and oxidative properties of phosphomolybdic acid to generate a spinel structure and in-situ coating of a conductive polymer (polypyrrole) on the surface of lithium-rich layered oxide materials. This strategy aimed to mitigate structural degradation during charge-discharge cycles, enhance the ionic/electronic conductivity, and suppress side reactions. Experimental results demonstrated that after 200 cycles at a current density of 1 C, the modified sample exhibited a discharge specific capacity of 193.4 mAh/g, with an improved capacity retention rate of 83.3% and a minimal voltage decay of only 0.27 V. These findings provide compelling support for the development and application of next-generation high-performance lithium-ion batteries.
Using different external stimuli to control interfacial friction, rather than just pursuing low friction, is a highly attractive research regime due to its economic and scientific importance. One option to achieve such a goal is to use external stimuli that modulate the energy dissipation pathways. In particular, electric stimuli such as surface potential has gained remarkable interest for two reasons: Electrotunable friction has the potential for real-time, in situ manipulation of friction, and external electric stimuli is relatively easy to apply and to remove for reversible change. In this review, we explore the emerging research area of electrotunable friction mainly under the boundary lubrication situation, when the contacting surfaces are separated by a molecularly thin layer, reviewing typical achievements from experiments using electrochemical atomic force microscopy and modified surface force balances, as well as molecular dynamics simulations. Additionally, we explore the theoretical and practical challenges that may need to be tackled in the future.
Carbon materials have long been a subject of study, offering diverse properties based on their hybridized structures. Except sp2-hybridized graphene and carbon nanotubes, the focus on sp1-hybridized carbon chains has garnered significant interest due to its unique predicted properties, despite limitations in research and development stemming from its high reactivity. This comprehensive review summaries recent advancements in synthetic methodologies and characterization of the sp1-hybridized carbon chains, encompassing linear carbon chains and cyclo[n]carbons. The review traces significant milestones in synthesis and offers a thorough overview of various properties on linear and cyclic carbon chains, from their initial discovery to recent development. The advancing synthetic methods have led to practical breakthroughs, transitioning theoretical concepts into tangible carbon-chain materials. However, challenges persist in achieving controlled and scalable preparation due to the high reactivity associated with sp1-hybridization. Future research prospects focus on fundamental studies, such as exploring the transition length from polyyne to carbyne and experimentally determining the properties of single carbon chains. This review underscores both the progress made and the compelling avenues for future exploration in the dynamic field of sp1-hybridized carbon chains.
Chitin is an abundant aminopolysaccharide found in insect pests and phytopathogenic microorganisms but absent in higher plants and vertebrates. It is crucial for mitigating threats posed by chitin-containing organisms to human health, food safety, and agriculture. Therefore, targeting the chitin biosynthesis-associated bioprocess holds a promise for developing human-safe and eco-friendly antifungal agents or pesticides. Chitin biosynthesis requires chitin synthase and associated factors, which are involved in the modification, regulation, organization or turnover of chitin during its biosynthesis. A number of enzymes such as chitinases, hexosaminidases, chitin deacetylases are closely related and therefore are promising targets for designing novel agrochemicals that target at chitin biosynthesis. This review summarizes the advances in understanding chitin biology over the past decade by our research group and collaborates, specifically regarding essential proteins linked to chitin biosynthesis that can be exploited as promising pesticide targets. Examples of small bioactive molecules that against the activity of these targets are given.
Metallabenzenes, a type of aromatic compound that includes metal atoms, have opened up new avenues for creating materials with unique properties. A distinctive feature of metallabenzenes is the significant deviation of their metal atoms from the planar configuration of the C5 ring, a phenomenon that paradoxically enhances their aromatic character. In this investigation, we propose that this counterintuitive increase in aromaticity upon geometric distortion is governed by the interactions of frontier orbitals in the σ-space. This insight not only corroborates the previously suggested role of σ-space orbitals in inducing geometric non-planarity in metallabenzenes but also underscores their pivotal contribution to the compounds' enhanced aromaticity. As a result, this work broadens the scope of the σ-control mechanism, highlighting its usefulness for the rational design of functional metalla-aromatic materials.
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