Latest ArticlesMetal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently allured a variety of concern in the fields of nanotechnology. However, exploring their biomedical applications is still a relatively new field. In this work, zeolite imidazole skeleton-8 (ZIF-8) was reported for the first time as a drug carrier for the treatment of lung injury. Uniform ZIF-8 nanoparticles encapsulating plumbagin (PLB) are achieved by a facile physical adsorption process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and UV–vis absorption spectrum were conducted to investigate the physical properties of ZIF-8 and PLB@ZIF-8. In animal model, the collagen fibers deposition produced by severe lung injury is significantly decreased. The secretion of inflammatory factor TGF-β and IL-6 were efficiently dropped by the combination of plumbagin and ZIF-8. At the same time, the expressions of collagen I, α-SMA and TNF-α were also suppressed. This strategy puts forth a promising blueprint in the application of MOF materials, especially in biomedical fields.
Carbonaceous materials can accelerate extracellular electron transfer for the biotransformation of many recalcitrant, redox-sensitive contaminants and have received considerable attention in fields related to anaerobic bioremediation. As important electron shuttles (ESs), carbonaceous materials effectively participate in redox biotransformation processes, especially microbially-driven Fe reduction or oxidation coupled with pollutions transformation and anaerobic fermentation for energy and by-product recovery. The related bioprocesses are reviewed here to show that carbonaceous ESs can facilitate electron transfer between microbes and extracellular substrates. The classification and characteristics of carbon-containing ESs are summarized, with an emphasis on activated carbon, graphene, carbon nanotubes and carbon-based immobilized mediators. The influencing factors, including carbon material properties (redox potential, electron transfer capability and solubility) and environmental factors (temperature, pH, substrate concentration and microbial species), on pollution catalytic efficiency are discussed. Furthermore, we briefly describe the prospects of carbonaceous ESs in the field of microbial-driven environmental remediation.
A visible-light-induced spirocyclizative hydroarylation via reductive dearomatization of a series of non-activated arenes including 2-phenyl indoles and naphthalene derivatives under mild conditions is described. An intriguing chemoselective dearomative hydroarylation of 2-phenyl indoles is presented. This dearomative hydroarylation protocol rapidly delivers valuable spirocycles with carbon−carbon double bonds from readily accessible aromatic precursors in a single step.
A palladium-catalyzed 2-alkylation of indoles with α-bromo esters is developed by employing a P, P=O ligand. The method features excellent regioselectivities, mild reaction conditions, and good functional group compatibility. The employment of the P, P=O ligand as well as 4 Å molecular sieves were crucial for the success of the transformation. Mechanistic studies indicate the reaction proceed through a radical pathway.
Li metal anodes (LMAs) has attracted extensive research interest because of its extremely high theoretical capacity (3860 mAh/g) at low redox potential (−3.04 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode). However, the extremely high chemical reactivity and the intrinsic "hostless" nature of LMAs bring about serious dendritic growth and dramatic volume change during the plating/strapping process, thus resulting in poor Coulombic efficiency, short lifespan, and severe safety concerns. Of various strategies, the construction of three-dimensional carbonaceous scaffolds for LMAs can substantially reduce the local current density, inhibit Li dendrite growth, and accommodate volume variation. Electrospinning is a simple yet effective strategy to fabricate carbon nanofibers (CNFs), which have been regarded as promising skeletons for LMAs, owing to their large surface areas, good electrical conductivity, and high porosity. In this Mini Review, we briefly introduce the fabrication of CNFs using electrospinning and the modification of CNFs. We highlight the recent advances in electrospun CNF skeletons for LMAs, including pure CNF and CNF-based composite scaffolds. Finally, we discuss the remaining challenges of electrospun CNF scaffolds for LMAs and provide possible solutions to push forward the advancement in this field.
Detection of point mutations in driver genes is of great significance for the early diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic evaluation of cancer. However, current detection methods do not offer versatility, specificity, and rapid performance simultaneously. Thus, multiple mutation detection processes are necessary, which results in long processing times and high costs. In this study, we developed a thermodynamics-guided two-way interlocking DNA cascade system for universal multiplexed mutation detection (TTI-CS). This strategy is based on the DNA probe, which changes the thermodynamic balance of the DNA cascade by the designed bubble structure, thereby achieving a good distinction between mutant and wild-type DNA. The designed method greatly shortens the detection time through two-way intrusion. In addition, this method only changes two inexpensive trigger and bridge sequences, which replace the specific and expensive nucleic acid probes used in analyses based on traditional DNA probe methods, thereby enabling multiple detections. We performed the detection of synthetic single-stranded DNA for the five mutation points and successfully detected in endometrial cancer specimens. The detection limit of this method is 0.1%, which better meets the needs of clinical low-abundance multiple mutation detection. Overall, TTI-CS is currently one of the best methods for detecting multiple mutation detections.
Glutathione thiol-reactive pillar[6]arene (TWP6) is designed and synthesized as the first example of reducing agent-reactive host molecule. TWP6 shows high affinity binding towards suitable anti-tumor drugs and guests. Doxorubicin-based acid-labile prodrugs and TWP6 are used to construct supramolecular vesicles, which are also loaded with camptothecin. The supramolecular vesicles loaded with two drugs demonstrate glutathione- and acid-responsive drug release as well as sequential release to both stimuli types. Supramolecular vesicles show combination therapeutic effect towards tumor cells in vitro.
Earth abundant metals are much less expensive, promising, valuable metals and could be served as catalysts for the borrowing hydrogen reaction, dehydrogenation and heterocycles synthesis, instead of noble metals. The uniformly dispersed zinc composites were designed, synthesized and carefully characterized by means of XPS, EDS, TEM and XRD. The resulting zinc composite showed good catalytic activity for the N-alkylation of amines with amines, ketones with alcohols in water under base-free conditions, while unsaturated carbonyl compounds could also be synthesized by tuning the reaction conditions. Importantly, it was the first time to realize the synthesis of 2-aryl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole derivatives by using this zinc composite under green conditions. Meanwhile, this zinc catalyst could be easily recovered and reused for at least five times.
The selective hydrogenation of C≡C to C=C bonds is an important step, yet remains to be a great challenge in chemical industry. In this study, we have revealed the influence of Pd deposition pH value on the catalytic performance of Pd-CuO/SiO2 catalyst for the semi-hydrogenation of 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol (MBY). Trace amount of Pd (about 500 ppm) was loaded via deposition-reduction method on CuO/SiO2 support by using H2PdCl4 solution as precursor and NaBH4 as reductant, respectively. The pH value at which Pd was deposited was adjusted to about 5 and 7 by adding NaOH solution. The obtained catalysts were characterized by several techniques including XRD, TEM, H2-TPR, etc. In the case of pH value of 5, the CuO was partially dissolved during the deposition and then co-reduced with Pd2+ by NaBH4, forming PdCu alloy structure in sub-nanometer. In contrast, no PdCu alloy structure was observed when pH value was 7. The kinetics of MBY semi-hydrogenation over both catalysts were compared. The former PdCu alloy catalyst showed very high selectivity towards the semi-hydrogenation of MBY due to its low activity in hydrogenation of C=C bond in 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBE). The results herein demonstrated that the pH value where Pd was deposited played a crucial role in determining the catalytic performance of PdCu catalyst.
Numerous strategies for linking desired chemical probes with target peptides and proteins have been developed and applied in the field of biological chemistry. Approaches for site-specific modification of native amino acid residues in test tubes and biological contexts represent novel biological tools for understanding the role of peptides and proteins. Selective N-terminal modification strategies have been broadly studied especially in the last 10 years, as N-terminal positions are typically solvent exposed and provide chemically distinct sites for many peptide and protein targets, making N terminus distinct from other functional groups. A growing number of chemical and enzymatic techniques have been developed to modify N-terminal amino acids, and those techniques have the potential in the fields of medicine, basic research and applied materials science. This review focuses on appraising modification methodologies with the potential for biological applications from the past 10 years.
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