Latest ArticlesBacterial infections have always been a major threat to human health. Skin wounds are frequently exposed to the external environment, and they may become contaminated by bacteria derived from the surrounding skin, the local environment, and the patient's own endogenous sources. Contaminated wounds may enter a state of chronic inflammation that impedes healing. Urgent development of antibacterial wound dressings capable of effectively combating bacteria and overcoming resistance is necessary. Nanotechnology and nanomaterials present promising potential as innovative strategies for antimicrobial wound dressings, owing to their robust antibacterial characteristics and the inherent advantage of avoiding antibiotic resistance. Therefore, this review provides a concise overview of the antimicrobial mechanisms exhibited by low-dimensional nanomaterials. It further categorizes common low-dimensional antimicrobial nanomaterials into zero-dimensional (0D), one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials based on their structural characteristics, and gives a detailed compendium of the latest research advances and applications of different low-dimensional antimicrobial nanomaterials in wound healing, which could be helpful for the development of more effective wound dressings.
Pyrrole is a heterocycle with four carbon atoms and a nitrogen atom, which is extensively used in the pesticide and pharmaceutical industries. In addition, it has a series of analogs such as pyrrolidine, pyrroline, and pyrrolidone. Pesticides containing pyrrole and its analogs have been formally marketed as fungicides, including fenpiclonil, fludioxonil, the insecticide chlorfenapyr, and the herbicide fluorochloridone. In this paper, we analyze the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of pesticides containing these structures. We summarize the characteristics possessed by the most highly active pyrrole and its analogs and provide an overview of research on pyrrole compounds with insecticidal, antimicrobial, herbicidal, and antiviral properties in the past 20 years. It is hoped to provide ideas for the development and design of this type compounds in pesticides and to assist researchers in this area.
Efficient and innovative nano-catalytic oxidation technologies offer a breakthrough in removing emerging contaminants (ECs) from water, surpassing the limitations of traditional methods. Environmental functional materials (EFMs), particularly high-end oxidation systems using eco-friendly nanomaterials, show promise for absorbing and degrading ECs. This literature review presents a comprehensive analysis of diverse traditional restoration techniques-biological, physical, and chemical-assessing their respective applications and limitations in pesticide-contaminated water purification. Through meticulous comparison, we unequivocally advocate for the imperative integration of environmentally benign nanomaterials, notably titanium-based variants, in forthcoming methodologies. Our in-depth exploration scrutinizes the catalytic efficacy, underlying mechanisms, and adaptability of pioneering titanium-based nanomaterials across a spectrum of environmental contexts. Additionally, strategic recommendations are furnished to surmount challenges and propel the frontiers of implementing eco-friendly nanomaterials in practical water treatment scenarios.
Gliomas are the most common intracranial tumors with poor survival and high mortality. Furthermore, the clinical efficacy of current drugs is still not ideal; despite the development of several therapeutic drugs over the past decades and tumor progression or recurrence is inevitable in many patients. RNAi-based therapy presents a novel disease-related gene targeting therapy, including otherwise undruggable genes, and generates therapeutic options. However, the therapeutic effect of siRNA is hindered by multiple biological barriers, primarily the blood-brain barrier (BBB). A glycoprotein-derived peptide-mediated delivery system is the preferred option to resolve this phenomenon. RDP, a polypeptide composed of 15 amino acids derived from rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG), possesses an N-type acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)-binding efficiency similar to that of RVG29. Given its lower cost and small particle size when used as a ligand, RDP should be extensively evaluated. First, we verified the brain-targeting efficacyy of RDP at the cellular and animal levels and further explored the possibility of using the RDP-oligoarginine peptide (designated RDP-5R) as a bio-safe vehicle to deliver therapeutic siRNA into glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. The polypeptide carrier possesses a diblock design composed of oligoarginine for binding siRNA through electrostatic interactions and RDP for cascade BBB- and glioma cell-targeting. The results indicated that RDP-R5/siRNA nanoparticles exhibited stable and suitable physicochemical properties for in vivo application, desirable glioma-targeting effects, and therapeutic efficiency. As a novel and efficient polypeptide carrier, RDP-based polypeptides hold great promise as a noninvasive, safe, and efficient treatment for various brain diseases.
In the realm of drug discovery, recent advancements have paved the way for innovative approaches and methodologies. This comprehensive review encapsulates six distinct yet interrelated mini-reviews, each shedding light on novel strategies in drug development. (a) The resurgence of covalent drugs is highlighted, focusing on the targeted covalent inhibitors (TCIs) and their role in enhancing selectivity and affinity. (b) The potential of the quantum mechanics-based computational aid drug design (CADD) tool, Cov_DOX, is introduced for predicting protein-covalent ligand binding structures and affinities. (c) The scaffolding function of proteins is proposed as a new avenue for drug design, with a focus on modulating protein-protein interactions through small molecules and proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs). (d) The concept of pro-PROTACs is explored as a promising strategy for cancer therapy, combining the principles of prodrugs and PROTACs to enhance specificity and reduce toxicity. (e) The design of prodrugs through carbon-carbon bond cleavage is discussed, offering a new perspective for the activation of drugs with limited modifiable functional groups. (f) The targeting of programmed cell death pathways in cancer therapies with small molecules is reviewed, emphasizing the induction of autophagy-dependent cell death, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis. These insights collectively contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamic landscape of drug discovery.
In contrast to research on active sites in nanomaterials, lithium tantalate single crystals, known for their exceptional optical properties and long-range ordered lattice structure, present a promising avenue for in-depth exploration of photocatalytic reaction systems with fewer constraints imposed by surface chemistry. Typically, the isotropy of a specific facet provides a perfect support for studying heteroatom doping. Herein, this work delves into the intrinsic catalytic sites for photocatalytic nitrogen fixation in iron-doped lithium tantalate single crystals. The presence of iron not only modifies the electronic structure of lithium tantalate, improving its light absorption capacity, but also functions as an active site for the nitrogen adsorption and activation. The photocatalytic ammonia production rate of the iron-doped lithium tantalate in pure water is maximum 26.95 µg cm−2 h−1, which is three times higher than that of undoped lithium tantalate. The combination of first-principles simulations with in situ characterizations confirms that iron doping promotes the rate-determining step and changes the pathway of hydrogenation to associative alternating. This study provides a new perspective on in-depth investigation of intrinsic catalytic active sites in photocatalysis and other catalytic processes.
The imbalance of nitric oxide (NO) homeostasis in the brain is closely related to the occurrence of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Therefore, revealing the fluctuation of NO in brain is crucial for understanding the pathophysiological processes. However, currently developed NO probes are unsuitable for this purpose due to their poor blood-brain barrier permeability. Herein, a fluorescent probe (PO-NH) with blood-brain barrier crossing capability and high selectivity for NO was developed. Under the NO mediation, the photo-induced electron transfer (PET) process of the probe was blocked, giving an intensive fluorescence enhancement (F/F0 = 15). Moreover, PO-NH can be used to effectively monitor changes in intracellular NO levels. Significantly, due to excellent blood-brain barrier crossing ability and near-infrared (NIR) emission, PO-NH is suitable for in vivo imaging of NO in the brain and illustrating with the deterioration of PD, the level of NO gradually increased in the brain of PD mice. We believe that PO-NH may provide a beneficial tool for understanding the biological function of NO in the brain and revealing the complex connection between NO and PD.
The tert-butyl nitrite as a bifunctional reagent mediated radical alkene difunctionalization has emerged as a powerful strategy for synthesis of structurally diverse oxime-containing compounds. However, the phosphorus-centered radical initiated transformations remain largely elusive. Herein, a visible-light-induced radical phosphinoyloximation of alkenes with secondary phosphine oxides and tert-butyl nitrite has been developed under photocatalyst- and metal-free conditions. This protocol features mild conditions, broad substrate scope, good functional tolerance, and operational simplicity, yielding a diverse array of α-phosphinoyl oximes in moderate to good yields with high stereoselectivities. The photomediated homolytic cleavage of ONO bond of tert-butyl nitrite generates the reactive tert-butoxyl radical and persistent NO radical to act as both HAT reagent and the source of oximes.
Surface-confined metal-organic frameworks have emerged as versatile structures with a broad spectrum of applications such as nanoelectronics, catalysis, sensing, and molecular storage, owing to their unique structural and electronic properties. However, the exploration and optimization of molecular networks typically involve resource-intensive trial-and-error experiments. The complexity comes from factors like metal nodes, organic ligands, substrates, and the preparation conditions. To address this challenge, high-throughput methodologies have been used in materials exploration. In this work, we explored a high-throughput method for preparing sub-monolayer metals with continuous coverage spread on metal surfaces. By employing a physical mask during metal deposition under ultra-high vacuum conditions, we achieved sample libraries with copper (Cu) and silver (Ag) adatoms on the metal substrates, and constructed surface-supported metal-organic frameworks with varying metal-to-molecule stoichiometric ratios. This approach facilitates the exploration of surface-confined metal-organic frameworks, particularly in terms of varying metal-to-ligand stoichiometric ratios, offering an efficient pathway to unlock the potential of these intricate two-dimensional networks.
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