Hydroxyl Research Articles

Ba2+ doping into Ni/Al2O3 nanofibers promotes CO2 methanation via alkaline modulation

Ni-based catalysts are promising catalysts for CO2 methanation due to low lost. However, the activity and selectivity of Ni-based catalysts in CO2 methanation at low temperatures still need to be improved. Here, Ni4Al2BamOx (m = 0–0.5) nanofibers were prepared. Doping Ba2+ would increase alkaline sites and facilitate generating oxygen vacancies. Especially, Ni4Al2Ba0.2Ox exhibited the high specific surface area with 127.1 m2 g−1, being potential for exposing more active sites. Indeed, compared with undoped Ni4Al2Ox catalysts (CO2 conv. = 45 %, CH4 select. = 92 % at 300 °C), Ba2+ doping significantly improved activity (CO2 conv. = 74 %, CH4 select. = 99 % at 300 °C) and stability within 200 h for Ni4Al2Ba0.2Ox. Both EPR and O1S XPS confirmed that Ni4Al2Ba0.2Ox can form more oxygen vacancies and CO2-TPD confirmed that Ni4Al2Ba0.2Ox had stronger CO2 adsorption capacity compared to Ni4Al2Ox. In-situ infrared spectroscopy and DFT calculations both indicated that Ba2+ doping can promote generating surface hydroxyl groups and formate pathways.

Characterization and Functional Analysis of the 17-Beta Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 2 (hsd17b2) Gene during Sex Reversal in the Ricefield Eel (Monopterus albus).

In mammals, 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (Hsd17b2) enzyme specifically catalyzes the oxidation of the C17 hydroxyl group and efficiently regulates the activities of estrogens and androgens to prevent diseases induced by hormone disorders. However, the functions of the hsd17b2 gene involved in animal sex differentiation are still largely unclear. The ricefield eel (Monopterus albus), a protogynous hermaphroditic fish with a small genome size (2n = 24), is usually used as an ideal model to study the mechanism of sex differentiation in vertebrates. Therefore, in this study, hsd17b2 gene cDNA was cloned and its mRNA expression profiles were determined in the ricefield eel. The cloned cDNA fragment of hsd17b2 was 1230 bp, including an open reading frame of 1107 bp, encoding 368 amino acid residues with conserved catalytic subunits. Moreover, real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis showed that hsd17b2 mRNA expressed strongly in the ovaries at early developmental stages, weakly in liver and intestine, and barely in testis and other tissues. In particular, hsd17b2 mRNA expression was found to peak in ovaries of young fish and ovotestis at the early stage, and eventually declined in gonads from the late ovotestis to testis. Likewise, chemical in situ hybridization results indicated that the hsd17b2 mRNA signals were primarily detected in the cytoplasm of oogonia and oocytes at stage I-II, subsequently concentrated in the granulosa cells around the oocytes at stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ, but undetectable in mature oocytes and male germ cells. Intriguingly, in ricefield eel ovaries, hsd17b2 mRNA expression could be significantly reduced by 17β-estradiol (E2) or tamoxifen (17β-estradiol inhibitor, E2I) induction at a low concentration (10 ng/mL) and increased by E2I induction at a high concentration (100 ng/mL). On the other hand, both the melatonin (MT) and flutamide (androgen inhibitor, AI) induction could significantly decrease hsd17b2 mRNA expression in the ovary of ricefield eel. This study provides a clue for demonstrating the mechanism of sexual differentiation in fish. The findings of our study imply that the hsd17b2 gene could be a key regulator in sexual differentiation and modulate sex reversal in the ricefield eel and other hermaphroditic fishes.

Novel regioselective sulfamidomethylation of phenols: Synthesis, characterization, biological effects, and molecular docking study

Studied the reaction of sulfamidomethylation of phenols in the presence of a catalytic amount of hydrochloric acid (0.001 mol per 1 mol of sulfamide), which accelerates the reaction and increases the yield of the target product to 75–85 %. The study of the direction of the reaction showed that the attack of the carbocation is directed mainly towards the ortho position with respect to the hydroxyl group of phenol. Additionally, it is demonstrated that the enzymes α-glycosidase, aldose reductase, and α-amylase are blocked by novel regioselective sulfamidomethylation of phenols L(1–4). With an IC50 value of 4.41 μM, compound L4 in this series exhibited the least inhibitory impact on aldose reductase (AR), whereas compound L1 displayed the most inhibitory effect with an IC50 value of 3.28 μM. These chemicals also readily inhibited the enzymes α-amylase and α-glycosidase. The ability of each material to inhibit the α-glycosidase enzyme was tested; the IC50 values ranged from 3.53 to 9.33 μM and the Ki values ranged from 4.25 ± 0.43 to 11.70 ± 0.87 μM. Furthermore, the α-amylase's effective inhibition percentage (IC50) ranges from 0.27 to 1.46 μM. The inhibition potential of novel regioselective sulfamid compounds L(1–4) on α-glycosidase and α-amylase was assessed using p-NPG and starch as the substrates, according to Tao et al. and Xiao et al. techniques. Since the results are meaningful, they may be used for drug design.

Assessment of Accelerated Aging Effect of Bio-Oil Fractions Utilizing Ultrahigh-Resolution Mass Spectrometry and k-Means Clustering of van Krevelen Compositional Space.

Bio-oils contain a substantial number of highly oxygenated hydrocarbons, which often exhibit low thermal stability during storage, handling, and refining. The primary objectives of this study are to characterize the hydroxyl group in bio-oil fractions and to investigate the relationship between the type of hydroxyl group and accelerated aging behavior. A bio-oil was fractionated into five solubility-based fractions, classified in two main groups: water-soluble and water-insoluble fractions. These fractions were then subjected to chemoselective reactions to tag molecules containing hydroxyl groups and analyzed by negative-ion electrospray ionization 21 T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). The fractions were also subjected to accelerated aging experiments and characterized by FT-ICR MS and bulk viscosity measurements. Extracting insightful information from ultrahigh-resolution data to aid in predicting upgrading methodologies and instability behaviors of bio-oils is challenging due to the complexity of the data. To address this, an unsupervised learning technique, k-means clustering analysis, was used to semiquantify molecular compositions with a close Euclidean distance within the (O/C, H/C) chemical space. The combination of k-means analysis with findings from chemoselective reactions allowed the distinctive hydroxyl functionalities across the samples to be inferred. Our results indicate that the hexane-soluble fraction contained numerous molecules containing primary and secondary alcohols, while the water-soluble fraction displayed diverse groups of oxygenated compounds, clustered near to carbohydrate-like and pyrolytic humin-like materials. Despite its high oxygen content, the water-soluble fraction showed minimal changes in viscosity during aging. In contrast, a significant increase in viscosity was observed in the water-insoluble materials, specifically, the low- and high-molecular-weight lignin fractions (LMWL and HMWL, respectively). Among these two fractions, the HMWL exhibited the highest increase in viscosity after only 4 h of accelerated aging. Our results indicate that this aging behavior is attributed to an increased number of molecular compositions containing phenolic groups. Thus, the chemical compositions within the HMWL are the major contributors to the viscosity changes in the bio-oil under accelerated aging conditions. This highlights the crucial role of oxygen functionality in bio-oil aging, suggesting that a high oxygen content alone does not necessarily correlate with an increase of viscosity. Unlike other bio-oil categorization methods based on constrained molecule locations within the van Krevelen compositional space, k-means clustering can identify patterns within ultrahigh-resolution data inherent to the unique chemical fingerprint of each sample.

Anti-Inflammatory, Antibacterial, Anti-Biofilm, and Anti-Quorum Sensing Activities of the Diterpenes Isolated from Clinopodium bolivianum.

This study reports for the first time the isolation of four diterpenoid compounds: 15-Hydroxy-12-oxo-abietic acid (1), 12α-hydroxyabietic acid (2), (-)-Jolkinolide E (3), and 15-Hydroxydehydroabietic acid (4) from Clinopodium bolivianum (C. bolivianum). The findings demonstrate that both the dichloromethane/methanol (DCMECB) extract of C. bolivianum and the isolated compounds exhibit significant anti-inflammatory (inhibition of NF-κB activation), antibacterial (primarily against Gram-positive bacteria), and anti-biofilm (primarily against Gram-negative bacteria) activities. Among the isolated diterpenes, compounds 3 and 4 showed notable anti-inflammatory effects, with IC50 values of 17.98 μM and 23.96 μM for compound 3, and 10.79 μM and 17.37 μM for compound 4, in the HBEC3-KT and MRC-5 cell lines. Regarding their antibacterial activity, compounds 3 and 4 were particularly effective, with MIC values of 0.53-1.09 μM and 2.06-4.06 μM, respectively, against the S. pneumoniae and S. aureus Gram-positive bacteria. Additionally, these compounds demonstrated significant anti-biofilm and anti-quorum sensing activities, especially against Gram-negative bacteria (H. influenzae and L. pneumophila). We also explain how compound 3 (BIC = 1.50-2.07 μM, Anti-QS = 0.31-0.64 μM) interferes with quorum sensing due to its structural homology with AHLs, while compound 4 (BIC = 4.65-7.15 μM, Anti-QS = 1.21-2.39 μM) destabilises bacterial membranes due to the presence and position of its hydroxyl groups. These results support the traditional use of C. bolivianum against respiratory infections caused by both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, given the increasing antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation by these bacteria, there is a pressing need for the development of new, more active compounds. In this context, compounds 3 and 4 isolated from C. bolivianum offer promising potential for the development of a library of new, more potent, and selective drugs.

Green synthesis of diatom–allophane bio-nanocomposites for highly efficient oxytetracycline adsorption

The extensive use of the antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) has led to considerable environmental contamination and other negative impacts, prompting an urgent need for a green, effective, and innovative OTC adsorption material. In this study, diatom–allophane bio-nanocomposites were synthesized using a simple and eco-friendly method, yielding a homogeneous coating of allophane nanoparticles on diatom surfaces. The resultant bio-nanocomposites were found to have hierarchically porous structures and abundant active sites derived from successful allophane loading and dispersion on diatom surfaces. The OTC adsorption capacity of this novel adsorbent is remarkable (219.112 mg·g−1), surpassing the capacities of raw allophane and diatoms by >5 and 10 times, respectively. Mechanistically, OTC adsorption by the bio-nanocomposites was found to be driven primarily by chemisorption through a process involving complexation between the amide and amino groups on OTC and the aluminum hydroxyl and carboxyl groups on the adsorbent surface. Electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding also contribute significantly to OTC capture. Furthermore, the diatom–allophane bio-nanocomposites exhibit excellent performance over a wide pH range (4–7), in the presence of various cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) and anions (Cl−, NO3−, SO42−), and in real water bodies. These findings demonstrate the potential of the diatom–allophane bio-nanocomposite as a green, efficient, and promising biological-mineral adsorbent for environmental remediation, leveraging the combined utilization of biological and mineral resources.

Functional characterization of a novel Chlamydomonas reinhardtii hydrolase involved in biotransformation of chloramphenicol

Microalgae-based biotechnology is one of the most promising alternatives to conventional methods for the removal of antibiotic contaminants from diverse water matrices. However, current knowledge regarding the biochemical mechanisms and catabolic enzymes involved in microalgal biodegradation of antibiotics is scant, which limits the development of enhancement strategies to increase their engineering feasibility. In this study, we investigated the removal dynamics of amphenicols (chloramphenicol, thiamphenicol, and florfenicol), which are widely used in aquaculture, by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under different growth modes (autotrophy, heterotrophy, and mixotrophy). We found C. reinhardtii removed >92 % chloramphenicol (CLP) in mixotrophic conditions. Intriguingly, gamma-glutamyl hydrolase (GGH) in C. reinhardtii was most significantly upregulated according to the comparative proteomics, and we demonstrated that GGH can directly bind to CLP at the Pro77 site to induce acetylation of the hydroxyl group at C3 position, which generated CLP 3-acetate. This identified role of microalgal GGH is mechanistically distinct from that of animal counterparts. Our results provide a valuable enzyme toolbox for biocatalysis and reveal a new enzymatic function of microalgal GGH. As proof of concept, we also analyzed the occurrence of these three amphenicols and their degradation intermediate worldwide, which showed a frequent distribution of the investigated chemicals at a global scale. This study describes a novel catalytic enzyme to improve the engineering feasibility of microalgae-based biotechnologies. It also raises issues regarding the different microalgal enzymatic transformations of emerging contaminants because these enzymes might function differently from their counterparts in animals.

A double responsive ratiometric and fluorimetric chemosensor based on dual-emitting thiophene-isoxazole derivatives and position effect of hydroxy group for monitoring gallium and copper ions using a smartphone

A series of simple Schiff bases, 2n-DHTC ((E)-N’-(2,n-dihydroxybenzylidene)-5-(thiophen-2-yl)isoxazole-3-carbohydrazide (n = 3,4,5,6)), with ICT characteristic were strategically constructed by rationally introducing 2,n-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (n = 3,4,5,6) into 5-(thiophen-2-yl)isoxazole-3-carbohydrazide and altering the position of another hydroxyl group. It was found that the position of the hydroxyl group on the dihydroxybenzaldehyde influence whether the sensor exhibited a colorimetric response, prompting further investigation into this phenomenon by DFT calculation. 25-DHTC, as a dual-emission fluorescent platform, demonstrated distinctive properties compared to other sensors, exhibiting ratiometric recognition towards Ga3+ ions and reversible fluorimetric quenching of Cu2+ ions in DMSO/H2O tris buffer. Meanwhile, limits of detection of 25-DHTC for Ga3+ and Cu2+ ions were as low as 15.0 nM and 2.4 nM, respectively. In addition, the 1:3 chelation stoichiometry between 25-DHTC and Ga3+/Cu2+ ions was confirmed, utilizing Job’s Plot analysis and mass spectrometric titration. The 25-DHTC sensor was employed to identify target ions in real water samples, while separate portable paper sensors were developed successfully for detecting Ga3+ ions. Subsequent visualization and assessment of real samples were performed through RGB analysis.

Assembly of protein-directed fluorescent gold nanoclusters for high-sensitivity detection of uranyl ions

Uranium is a key element in the nuclear industry, whose accidental release causes health and environmental problems. In this paper, a protein-directed fluorescent sensor with aggregation-induced emission characteristics (gold nanoclusters@ovalbumin, AuNCs@OVA) was synthesized for the detection of UO22+ with high sensitivity and selectivity. The sensor exhibited good fluorescence stability, and its fluorescence intensity could be selectively enhanced by UO22+. Based on FT-IR and XPS analyses, the increase in fluorescence intensity of AuNCs@OVA after the addition of UO22+ was attributed to aggregation induced by the complexation between UO22+ and the amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl, and phosphate groups of ovalbumin. The detection limit was determined to be 34.4 nM, and the sensor showed excellent ion selectivity for UO22+. In combination with a smartphone program, the sensor could realize the real-time detection of UO22+ in a quantitative and portable way.

Research Status of Lignin-Based Polyurethane and Its Application in Flexible Electronics.

Polyurethanes (PU) have drawn great attention due to their excellent mechanical properties and self-healing and recyclable abilities. Lignin is a natural and renewable raw material in nature, composed of a large number of hydroxyl groups, and has a great potential to replace petroleum polyols in PU synthesis. This review summarizes the recent advances in modification methods such as the liquefaction, alkylation, and demethylation of lignin, and a systematic analysis of how to improve the reactivity and monomer substitution of lignin during polyurethane synthesis for the green manufacturing of high-performance polyurethanes was conducted. Polyurethane can be used in the form of films, foams, and elastomers instead of conventional materials as a dielectric or substrate material to improve the reliability and durability of flexible sensors; this review summarizes the green synthesis of polyurethanes and their applications in flexible electronics, which are expected to provide inspiration for the wearable electronics sector.

Synthesis of base-acid pair based poly(isatin arylene) membranes for HT-PEMFC applications

Phosphoric acid (PA) doped polymer electrolyte membranes are promising high temperature proton exchange membranes (HT-PEMs) for fuel cells. While PA doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) has been considered as a successful HT-PEM, several issues remain, such as the use of carcinogenic monomer, poor solubility in organic solvents and easy PA loss. To develop more cost-effective, readily synthesized and high-performance HT-PEMs, this study focuses on synthesizing high-performance HT-PEMs based on poly(isatin arylene)s (i.e., PIT and PIB) containing a lactam structure and devoid of ether bonds. These polymers are synthesized from isatin and p-terphenyl (or biphenyl) under superacid catalysis. Subsequently, glycidyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (GTA) is employed as a grafting reagent for PIT and PIB. This ring-opening reaction is accomplished through an efficient and environmentally friendly procedure without any alkaline catalysts. The introduced GTA side chains with quaternary ammonium and hydroxyl groups not only produce microphase separation structures that facilitate proton conduction, but also reduce PA loss. Comparing with PIT-GTA with terphenyl units, the PIB-GTA membrane with short biphenyl units exhibits superior properties. For instance, the PIB-GTA/218.5%PA membrane achieves a high conductivity of 0.103 S cm−1 at 180 °C and a tensile strength of 6.6 MPa at room temperature. Without humidification and backpressure, the PIB-GTA/218.5%PA based H2–O2 single cell displays a peak power density of 632 mW cm−2 at 160 °C. This work presents a straightforward approach to synthesizing GTA grafted poly(isatin arylene) membranes for HT-PEM fuel cells.

Study on microstructure evolution and oxidation kinetics in Coal-Oil Symbiosis

Differences in the spontaneous combustion mechanism characteristics of Coal-Oil Symbiosis (COS) significantly affect coal mines' safety management and ecological environment maintenance. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate COS's macroscopic and microstructural characteristics with different oil mass percentage using simultaneous thermal analysis, low-temperature N2 adsorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and in-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that with the increase of oil mass percentage, the COS displayed the weakening of oxygen absorption and the advance of some characteristic temperatures, and 11.5 °C advanced the maximum weight loss temperature on average. For the 25 % oil sample, the ignition temperature was 9.5 °C lower than that of the raw coal. Additionally, the apparent activation energy of the high oil mass percentage sample was significantly reduced in the pyrolysis and combustion stages, and when the oil mass percentage was 25 %, the activation energies of the two stages decreased by 89 % and 60.65 %, respectively. Compared to raw coal, COS exhibits fewer macropores and surface pores covered by oil, which limits oxygen adsorption. Moreover, COS with higher oil mass percentage had an increase in hydroxyl and aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, and the CH3 + CH2 content of COS increased by 69.2 % on average, providing more active groups, thereby promoting spontaneous combustion. This study provides an important reference and theoretical support for further understanding the structural evolution and oxidation kinetic behavior of COS, contributing to disaster prevention and ecological environmental protection in coal-oil coexistence mining areas.

Novel catalytic behavior of defective nanozymes with catalase-mimicking characteristics for the degradation of tetracycline

Although nanozymes have shown significant potential in wastewater treatment, enhancing their degradation performance remains challenging. Herein, a novel catalytic behavior was revealed for defective nanozymes with catalase-mimicking characteristics that efficiently degraded tetracycline (TC) in wastewater. Hydroxyl groups adsorbed on defect sites facilitated the in-situ formation of vacancies during catalysis, thereby replenishing active sites. Additionally, electron transfer considerably enhanced the catalytic reaction. Consequently, numerous reactive oxygen species (ROS) were generated through these processes and subsequent radical reactions. The defective nanozymes, with their unique catalytic behavior, proved effective for the catalytic degradation of TC. Experimental results demonstrate that •OH, •O2−, 1O2 and e− were the primary contributors to the degradation process. In real wastewater samples, the normalized degradation rate constant for defective nanozymes reached 26.0 min−1 g−1 L, exceeding those of other catalysts. This study reveals the new catalytic behavior of defective nanozymes and provides an effective advanced oxidation process for the degradation of organic pollutants.

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Newly Synthesized Nicotinamides.

Antioxidants are promising compounds with antimicrobial activity against drug-resistant pathogens, especially when combined with conventional antimicrobials. Our study aimed to characterize the structure of nicotinamides synthesized from nicotinic acid and thiocarbohydrazones and to evaluate their antibacterial and antifungal activity. Seven nicotinic acid hydrazides (NC 1-7) were synthesized using mono-thiocarbohydrazones with hydroxyl group substituents, along with quinolone, phenolic, and pyridine rings known for their antimicrobial activity. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of NC 1-7, at concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 1 mM, was tested against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Klebsiella pneumoniae (NCIMB 9111), and Candida albicans (ATCC 24433) using the broth microdilution method per EUCAST 2024 guidelines. Microorganism survival percentages were calculated based on optical density, and target fishing using the PharmMapper database identified potential molecular targets. The results showed that P. aeruginosa was most susceptible to the compounds, while C. albicans was the least susceptible. NC 3 significantly inhibited P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae growth at 0.016 mM, while higher concentrations were required for S. aureus, E. faecalis, and C. albicans. NC 5 was most effective against gram-positive bacteria at 0.03 mM. Only NC 4 completely inhibited C. albicans below 1 mM. NC 3, with the lowest concentration for 50% growth inhibition (0.016-0.064 mM), showed promising antibacterial potential against specific AMR-related proteins (bleomycin resistance protein, HTH-type transcriptional regulator QacR, and streptogramin A acetyltransferase), suggesting that this class of compounds could enhance or restore the activity of established antibiotics.

Zwitterionic adsorbents derived from self-Exfoliated ionic covalent organic frameworks for efficient Co-Removal of anionic and cationic radionuclides

Exfoliating Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) into few-layer or even monolayer nanosheets not only improves the exposure of active sites and facilitates mass transfer efficiency, but also enhances their solubility or dispersion to achieve solution processability. As the Coulomb repulsion can weaken the stacking interactions, the construction of ionic COFs shows promising prospects for obtaining self-stripping nanosheets, but precisely controlling the self-exfoliated degree remains a challenge. Herein, we found for the first time that varying the number of hydroxyl groups in the building blocks could significantly affect the self-exfoliated degree for ionic COFs, and thus successfully produced a series of ionic COFs with stepwise solubility differences. Interestingly, the trend of self-exfoliated degree and solubility of cationic (EBCOFs) and anionic COFs (SDCOFs) were completely opposite to each other. Mechanistic studies indicated that more hydroxyl groups as electron donating groups increased the electron density of ionic COFs, resulting in a decrease in the Coulomb repulsion of cationic COFs (EBCOFs) but an increase in the Coulomb repulsion of anionic COFs (SDCOFs). Furthermore, in order to achieve the efficient co-removal of anionic and cationic radionuclides, we assembled cationic and anionic COF nanosheets through electrostatic attraction to obtain a novel zwitterionic COF (EB@SD COF) with both anion and cation adsorption sites. Impressively, EB@SD COF demonstrated rapid and efficient co-adsorption of ReO4- (a substitute for TcO4-) and Sr2+ with the maximum adsorption capacities of 117.6 and 122.4 mg/g, respectively. This work not only developed an effective zwitterionic COF adsorbent for the co-removal of radionuclides but also broadened the horizon of preparation methods for self-exfoliated ionic COFs.

Preparation of Functionalized Ethylene-Vinyl-Alcohol Nanofibrous Membrane Filter for Rapid and Cyclic Removing of Organic Dye from Aqueous Solution.

A functionalized ethylene-vinyl-alcohol (EVOH) nanofibrous membrane (NFM) was fabricated via co-electrospinning H4SiW12O40 (SiW12) and EVOH first, and then grafting citric acid (CCA) on the electrospun SiW12@EVOH NFM. Characterization with FT-IR, EDX, and XPS confirmed that CCA was introduced to the surface of SiW12@EVOH NFM and the Keggin structure of SiW12 was maintained well in the composite fibers. Due to a number of carboxyl groups introduced by CCA, the as-prepared SiW12@EVOH-CCA NFM can form a high number of hydrogen bonds with CR, and thus can be used to selectively absorb congo red (CR) in aqueous solutions. More importantly, the CR enriched in the NFM can be rapidly degraded via photocatalysis. SiW12 in the NFM acted as a photocatalyst, and the hydroxyl groups in the NFM acted as an electron donor to accelerate the photodegradation rate of CR. Meanwhile, the SiW12@EVOH-CCA NFM was regenerated and then exhibited a relatively stable adsorption capacity in five cycles of filtration-regeneration. The bifunctional nanofibrous membrane filter showed potential for use in the thorough purification of dye wastewater.

Enhanced control of RNA modification and CRISPR-Cas activity through redox-triggered disulfide cleavage

Chemical RNA modification has emerged as a flexible approach for post-synthetic modifications in chemical biology research. Guide RNA (gRNA) plays a crucial role in the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and associated protein system (CRISPR-Cas). Several toolkits have been developed to regulate gene expression and editing through modifications of gRNA. However, conditional regulation strategies to control gene editing in cells as required are still lacking. In this context, we introduce a strategy employing a cyclic disulfide-substituted acylating agent to randomly acylate the 2′-OH group on the gRNA strand. The CRISPR-Cas systems demonstrate off–on transformation activity driven by redox-triggered disulfide cleavage and undergo intramolecular cyclization, which releases the functionalized gRNA. Dithiothreitol (DTT) exhibits superior reductive capabilities in cleaving disulfides compared to glutathione (GSH), requiring fewer reductants. This acylation method with cyclic disulfides enables conditional control of CRISPR-Cas9, CRISPR-Cas13a, RNA hybridization, and aptamer folding. Our strategy facilitates precise in vivo control of gene editing, making it particularly valuable for targeted applications.

Electron beam pretreatment of carboxymethyl nanofibrillar cellulose reinforced polyvinyl alcohol-based degradable composite membranes: Preparation, characterization and property optimization

This study investigated the development of biodegradable composite films blending carboxymethyl-modified peanut hull nanocelluloses (CMNCs) pretreated by electron beam irradiation with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The films were characterized by their structure, physicochemical properties, and degradation characteristics. The carboxyl group of CMNCs and the hydroxyl group of PVA enhance the network structure of the film through hydrogen bonding. This is most notably manifested in the fact that when CMNCs with a substitution degree of 0.38 and an addition amount of 4 % were added, the CMNCs were uniformly dispersed in the PVA matrix with a flat and smooth surface of the plastic and a dense structure. Meanwhile, the water contact angle (57.14°), the tensile strength (47.28 N/mm2) and elongation at break (156 %) of the composite films were significantly increased, and the water content (12.71 %) was decreased. The hydrophobic and mechanical properties of the composite plastics were improved considerably. In addition, the addition of 4 % CMNCs with a degree of substitution of 0.66 and a high dose of electron beam irradiation (120 KGy) to PVA made the degradation rate of the composite plastic in the first week (31 %) much higher than that of pure PVA (3 %). At the same time, the light transmittance of the composite plastic decreased significantly in both visible and UV ranges. EBI pretreatment significantly improved the degradation and light barrier properties of the composite plastics. Therefore, this study may provide new ideas for EBI pretreatment-assisted chemical modification of nanocellulose to prepare functional composite films.

Apo-12′-capsorubinal exhibits anti-inflammatory effects and activates nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in RAW264.7 macrophages

Apocarotenoids have short carbon chain structures cleaved at a polyene-conjugated double bond. They can be biosynthesized in plants and microorganisms. Animals ingest carotenoids through food and then metabolize them into apocarotenoids. Although several apocarotenoids have been identified in the body, their precise health functions are still poorly understood. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory activities of apo-12′-capsorubinal in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. It was confirmed that apo-12′-capsorubinal was not cytotoxic to the macrophages at the concentrations tested. Apo-12′-capsorubinal treatment led to a marked downregulation of interleukin (IL)-6 protein and Il6 mRNA levels. This apocarotenoid exhibited more potent inhibitory effects than its parent carotenoids, capsanthin and capsorubin. Furthermore, apo-12′-capsorubinal, but not its parent carotenoids, promoted the nuclear accumulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and upregulated the expression of Nrf2-target genes, such as heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1), in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, a comparison using apo-12′-zeaxanthinal and 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-apo-12′-zeaxanthinal revealed that the α, β-unsaturated carbonyl group on the polyene linear chain mediated the enhanced nuclear Nrf2 translocation, HO-1 expression, and inhibition of IL-6 production. In contrast, apo-12′-mytiloxanthinal, which harbored a hydroxyl group at C-8 of apo-12′-capsorubinal, did not exhibit any of these activities. These results indicated that the β carbon of the α, β-unsaturated carbonyl group in the linear part of the polyene chain is crucial to the Nrf2-activating and anti-inflammatory effects of apo-12′-capsorubinal. This study will advance our knowledge of the physiological significance of xanthophyll-derived apocarotenoids and their potential use as nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.

A Biobased Vitrimer: Self-Healing, Shape Memory, and Recyclability Induced by Dynamic Covalent Bond Exchange.

Plant oil-based vitrimer is an innovative and sustainable polymer with wide-ranging potential applications in the field of advanced materials. However, its restricted application is caused by the poor mechanical properties and the need for catalysts during preparation. Using renewable cardanol as the raw material, epoxy cardanol glycidyl ether (ECGE) with an end epoxide group was obtained by the clicking reaction and epoxidation reaction. After the application of citric acid (CA), ECGE was successfully cured, resulting in the production of fully biobased ECGE-CA vitrimers. This material does not require a catalyst, possesses self-healing properties, and exhibits high mechanical strength. On account of the introduction of hydroxyl groups in citric acid, plenty of hydrogen bonds are formed, allowing the topological network rearrangement of the material in the absence of a catalyst. Recyclable adhesives and repairable materials, vitrimer polymers have good shape memory, self-healing, and recyclability since of their dynamic ester and hydroxyl bonds.