Multiple Solvent Research Articles

Multiple solvent elution, a method to counter the effects of coelution and ion suppression in LC-MS analysis in bottom up proteomics

On average a human cell type expresses around 10,000 different protein coding genes synthesizing all the different molecular forms of the protein product (proteoforms) found in a cell. In a typical shotgun bottom up proteomic approach, the proteins are enzymatically cleaved, producing several 100,000 s of different peptides that are analyzed with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MSMS). One of the major consequences of this high sample complexity is that coelution of peptides cannot be avoided. Moreover, low abundant peptides are difficult to identify as they have a lower chance of being selected for fragmentation due to ion-suppression effects and the semi-stochastic nature of the precursor selection in data-dependent shotgun proteomic analysis where peptides are selected for fragmentation analysis one-by-one as they elute from the column. In the current study we explore a simple novel approach that has the potential to counter some of the effect of coelution of peptides and improves the number of peptide identifications in a bottom-up proteomic analysis. In this method, peptides from a HeLa cell digest were eluted from the reverse phase column using three different elution solvents (acetonitrile, methanol and acetone) in three replicate reversed phase LC-MS/MS shotgun proteomic analysis. Results were compared with three technical replicates using the same solvent, which is common practice in proteomic analysis. In total, we see an increase of up to 10% in unique protein and up to 30% in unique peptide identifications from the combined analysis using different elution solvents when compared to the combined identifications from the three replicates of the same solvent. In addition, the overlap of unique peptide identifications common in all three LC-MS analyses in our approach is only 23% compared to 50% in the replicates using the same solvent. The method presented here thus provides an easy to implement method to significantly reduce the effects of coelution and ion suppression of peptides and improve protein coverage in shotgun proteomics.Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD011908.

Theoretical Study of Lithium Electrodeposition on Lithium Metal Anodes

Lithium metal anode is among the most promising anodes for the next generation of batteries due to its high theoretical energy density and capacity. Challenges such as high reactivity and lithium dendrite formation have kept lithium metal anodes away from practical applications in portable electronics and electric/hybrid vehicles. It is known that the lithium dendrite formation on anode surfaces during the charging process starts by the inhomogeneous deposition of metallic lithium during the electrochemical reduction of lithium cations. However, the underlying mechanisms of Li dendrite formation are still poorly understood. Therefore, gaining fundamental understanding of the early stages of lithium electrodeposition is crucial in order to overcome this challenge. In this work, Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations were conducted to study the electron transfer between lithium metal slab Li (100) and the electrolyte. Here we explore the effect of multiple solvents and Li-salts on the electrodeposition of lithium. Ethylene carbonate (EC), 1,2-Dimethoxyethane (DME), 1,3-Dioxolane (DOL), and mixtures of them are used as solvents. These species compete with the salt anion and the Li cation for electron transfer from the surface. Our theoretical study provides new insights into lithium electrodeposition that advance the understanding of the process as a function of electrolyte composition and ionic concentration.

Model-independent recovery of interfacial structure from multi-contrast neutron reflectivity data.

Neutron specular reflectivity at soft interfaces provides sub-nanometre information concerning the molecular distribution of thin films, while the application of contrast variation can highlight the scattering from different parts of the system and lead to an overall reduction in fitting ambiguity. Traditional modelling approaches involve the construction of a trial scattering length density profile based on initial speculation and the subsequent refinement of its parameters through minimization of the discrepancy between the calculated and measured reflectivity. In practice this might produce an artificial bias towards specific sets of solutions. On the other hand, direct inversion of reflectivity data, despite its ability to provide a unique solution, is subject to limitations and experimental complications. Presented here is an integrated indirect Fourier transform/simulated annealing method that, when applied to multiple solvent contrast reflectivity data and within the limits of finite spatial resolution, leads to reliable reconstructions of the interfacial structure without the need for any a priori assumptions. The generality of the method permits its straightforward application in common experimental contrast-variation investigations at the solid/liquid and air/liquid interface.

Electronic Structure of Bis(4‐dimethylaminophenyl)squaraine

AbstractThe structural and electronic features of bis(4‐dimethylaminophenyl)squaraine (1) has been studied using density functional BLYP/ cc‐pVTZ level of theory. The quinoid character of 1 is correlated to the partial double bond character of C‐NMe2 (1.379 Å) and C−O (1.236 Å) bonds which leads to accumulation of positive charge on NMe2 groups and negative charge on carbonyl oxygen. Further, the diagonal C1 C3 (2.086 Å) and C2 C4 (2.116 Å) distances of the squaric ring indicated a 1,3 type C−C orbital interaction. Molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) topographical analysis confirmed the charge separated quadrupolar nature of 1. The MESP minimum, Vmin located at the carbonyl oxygen, −62.5 kcal/mol, confirmed its highly electron rich character arising from the quinoid structure. The electronic structure of 1 revealed from MESP confirmed its quadrupolar nature and suggested the location of positive charge on NMe2 groups. The typically used chemical structure drawing of 1 showing +2 charge on the squaraine ring is inaccurate and misleading. The solvatochromic behaviour of 1 can be attributed to its quadrupolar electronic structure wherein the electron rich carbonyl groups provide room for noncovalent interactions with multiple solvent molecules.

PHYTOCHEMICAL EXTRACTIONS, QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS, AND EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY IN THE LEAF AND STEM BARK OF SOLANUM PUBESCENS WILLD.

Objective: The objective of this study was to extract the phytochemicals from leaf and stem bark of Solanum pubescens, perform qualitative analysis, and evaluate antimicrobial activity of the phytochemicals against certain microbial pathogens.
 Methods: Leaf and stem bark of S. pubescens was subjected to phytochemical extractions using Soxhlet apparatus with five different solvents, identified the major constituents in different solvent extracts using standard protocols and investigated the potential antimicrobial activities of the extracts against certain selected bacterial and fungal pathogens by agar well diffusion method.
 Results: The maximum yield was in methanolic extracts of leaf and stem bark of the study plant such as 18.51 and 12.5%, respectively, followed by the hydroalcohol extracts (14.23 and 10.00%). Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed maximum number of extracted bioactive compounds when compared to other similar studies. Among the five different solvent extracts of S. pubescens, n-hexane extract of stem bark was found to be active against all the bacterial pathogens and stem bark extracts made with methanol and hydroalcohol showed antifungal activity against all the four fungal pathogens tested. Leaf extracts made with solvents such as n-hexane and ethyl acetate showed inhibition against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively, hydroalcohol extract was active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium while none of the leaf extracts of the study plant showed inhibition zones against fungal pathogens tested.
 Conclusion: Multiple solvent extraction approach yielded the phytochemicals which are not yet reported and the antimicrobial activities of phytochemicals acknowledged their medicinal value.

Functionality study of lignin as a tyrosinase inhibitor: Influence of lignin heterogeneity on anti-tyrosinase activity.

Valorization of lignin based on its biological activities is always suffering the restriction from lignin heterogeneity, including wide molecular weight distributions and variable functional group contents. In this work, organosolv ethanol lignin (OEL) from corn stalk was divided into four fractions by multiple organic solvent successive extraction and the anti-tyrosinase activities of four obtained fractions were compared to evaluate the effect of lignin heterogeneity on the anti-tyrosinase activity. The characterization revealed that the successive extraction realized the fractionation of the heterogeneous OEL into four relatively homogeneous parts with gradually increasing molecular weight and decreasing phenolic OH content. The enzymatic inhibition study showed that the four fractions exhibited obviously different anti-tyrosinase activities and the dichloromethane fraction had the highest tyrosinase inhibition rate (75.12%, 0.5 mg/mL), whose value was comparable to the positive control p-hydroxybenzaldehyde. Besides, the relationships between the anti-tyrosinase activity and the lignin properties (purity, molecular weight and phenolic OH) were discussed to elucidate the possible formation mechanism of differences among the four lignin fractions in anti-tyrosinase activity. Consequently, these results suggest that lignin heterogeneity has a significant effect on the tyrosinase inhibition rate, and lignin fractionation is an effective way to screen lignin fractions with high anti-tyrosinase activity.

Conversion of curved assemblies into two dimensional sheets.

The design and preparation of organic two dimensional (O2D) sheets and their conversion to curved nanostructures is in its infancy. To convert a flat structure into a curved structure, the molecule must have multiple interaction possibilities and an in-built twist. The conjugated small molecule iso-Indigo (i-Indigo) comprises two phenyl rings that are twisted (the dihedral angle is 15°) at the junction. The i-Indigo has been connected with moieties that impart hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions. Due to the presence of the π cloud in i-Indigo, π-π interactions are also present in the molecule. While all three interactions are in operation, rings and toroids are formed. Upon addition of hydrogen bonding competing solvents, the rings and toroids unravel to form O2D sheets. Control molecules that don't have hydrogen bonding moieties and π-π interactions form random assemblies. Please note that the rings, toroids and O2D sheets are formed in a single solvent by simple dissolution, unlike previous approaches that involve multiple steps and solvents.

Maqui berry exhibited therapeutic effects against DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in C57BL/6 mice.

Maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis) is an edible berry. The study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect of maqui berry on inflammatory bowel disease. Maqui berry water extract was separated by multiple solvents extraction. The chemical bases, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of different extract fractions were then compared. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis mice were used for the pharmacological activity test in vivo. Experimental results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction of maqui berry water extract (MWE) was rich in phenols and exhibited good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. MWE considerably reduced the expression of COX2 and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Inflammatory bowel disease index, MDA, NO, i-NOS, and COX2 in colon tissues and MPO, TNF-α, and IL-1β in blood serums were remarkably decreased in the treatment group compared to in the model group (p < 0.05). Intestinal histopathological damage was significantly alleviated in the treatment group, and the expression of occludin was increased (p < 0.05). MWE treatment alleviated the imbalance of gut microbiota caused by DSS injury. Overall, MWE plays a therapeutic role in ulcerative colitis through its anti-inflammatory effect, reduces immune stress, and regulates gut microbiota.

Comparative solvent quality dependent crystallization in solvent vapor annealing of P3HT:PCBM thin films by in-situ GIWAXS

We present a novel in-depth study correlating multiple solvent properties (boiling point, vapor pressure, and solubilities of P3HT and PCBM) on P3HT and PCBM crystal growth kinetics in blend thin films via in-situ GIWAXS in conjunction with multiple substrate energies. Solvent vapor annealed (SVA) P3HT:PCBM films in a closed chamber, saturated with different solvents (o-dichlorobenzene (DCB), o-xylene, tetrahydrothiophene (THT), toluene, benzene, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and carbon disulfide (CS2)) were studied in real time. We observed that structure growth and dissolution kinetics of the both P3HT and PCBM crystals largely depend on physical properties of solvent and relative solubilities of P3HT and PCBM. The film morphology of the annealed films resulted in PCBM enrichment and occasional crystallization occurred at the solvent vapor saturated air interfaces. We observed strikingly different PCBM crystallization upon annealing of the films when cast from THF resulting in highly ordered PCBM crystals at the film surface. THF has high vapor pressure and relatively low solubilities for both P3HT and PCBM. At the other extreme CS2 produced the lowest crystallinity due to its very high vapor pressure such that the solvent evaporates before significant crystallization can occur. We characterized all the annealed samples using AFM, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and XPS. AFM probed topographic structures with coarsening of both the P3HT and PCBM domains at air surface by solvent annealing. We observe via UV-vis spectroscopy that, in general, intrachain electronic delocalization and interchain electron transitional jump due to π-π stacking increases in the post SVA films. This indicates that the chains are better organized with increased conjugation lengths. SVA has a substantial effect on P3HT monomer to PCBM ratio as determined by XPS at the polymer-air interface. In all cases, relative to the P3HT monomer:PCBM ratio of as-cast films from DCB, the air surfaces became more enriched by PCBM with SVA.

Multi-strand β-sheet of Alzheimer Aβ(1–40) folds to β-strip helix: implication for protofilament formation

X-ray fiber diffraction experiments on Alzheimer Aβ(1–40) fibrils formed in an assembly process thought to simulate a portion of the pathophysiological process in Alzheimer's disease, indicated protofilaments with tilted β-strands rather than strands oriented perpendicular to the fibril axis as is usually interpreted from cross-β patterns. The protofilament width and tilt angle determined by these experiments were used to predict a β-strip helix model – a β-helix-like structure in which multiple identical polypeptide molecules assemble in-register to form a helical sheet structure such that the outer strands 1 and m join with a register shift t – with m = 11 and t = 22. Starting from untwisted β-sheets comprising 10, 11, and 12 strands, multiple explicit solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to determine whether the sheets form β-strip helices matching the dimensions of the experimentally measured protofilament. In the simulations, the predicted 11-strand sheets curled up to form a closed β-strip helix-like structure with dimensions matching experimental values, whereas the 10- and 12-strand sheets did not form a closed helical structure. The 12-strand structure did, however, show similarity to a cross-β structure determined by a solid-state NMR experiment. The 11-strand β-strip helix resembles a trans-membrane β-barrel which could explain the ability of small oligomers of Aβ(1–40) to form toxic ion channels. A further consequence of opposite sides of the 11-strand strip coming together at a register shift of 22 is end-to-end joins between neighboring β-strip helices, resulting in a protofilament that keeps growing in both directions.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

A Simple and Effective Binomial Block Based Pulse Sequence Capable of Suppressing Multiple NMR Signals.

A binomial-like block based multiple suppression NMR pulse sequence, termed MULTI-GATE-FSB, that is simple to implement with outstanding suppression performance for multiple solvent signals (or multiple resonances) is investigated. The sequence was tested on two water-alcohol solvent systems, and a standard lysozyme sample, with suppression of three or four regions (though it is extendable to any number of regions). The suppression of all solvent signals was possible in the alcohol-water systems tested with both long and short recycle delays and without the requirement for lengthy presaturation pulses. Such a sequence holds promise not only for LC-NMR applications and solvent suppression but for multiple suppression applications in general (e.g., analysis of impurities/components).

Highly Dynamic and Tunable Behavior of 1D Coordination Polymers Based on the Bispidine Ligand.

Ligands L1 and L2 have been designed, synthesized, and used to build for the first time bispidine-based coordination polymers (CPs) in combination with MnII . The novel CPs have been structurally characterized by single-crystal (SC) and powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD) techniques, showing that they are composed of 1D ribbon-like chains that adopt various arrangements depending on the trapped solvent species. These materials show highly dynamic behavior as they undergo heterogeneous solid/liquid and solid/vapor multiple solvent exchange processes, comprising crystalline-amorphous-crystalline, selective adsorption and SC-to-SC transformations, where major structural reorganization of the 1D ribbons are observed. By tuning inter-ribbon interactions through expansion of the ligand's accessible surface, the dynamic behavior can be effectively modulated.

Cyclodextrin modified erlotinib loaded PLGA nanoparticles for improved therapeutic efficacy against non-small cell lung cancer

This study was aimed at developing a nanoparticle strategy to overcome acquired resistance against erlotinib in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To load erlotinib on biodegradable PLGA nanoparticles, erlotinib-cyclodextrin (Erlo-CD) complex was prepared using β-cyclodextrin sulfobutyl ether, which was in turn loaded in the core of PLGA nanoparticles using multiple emulsion solvent evaporation. Nanoparticles were characterized for size distribution, entrapment and loading efficiency, in-vitro release, and therapeutic efficacy against different lung cancer cells. Effect of formulation on cell cycle, apoptosis, and other markers was evaluated using flow cytometry and western blotting studies. The efficacy of optimized nanoformulation was evaluated using a clinically relevant in-vitro 3D-spheroid model. Results showed that Erlo-CD loaded nanoparticles (210 ± 8 nm in size) demonstrated 3-fold higher entrapment (61.5 ± 3.2% vs 21.9 ± 3.7% of plain erlotinib loaded nanoparticles) with ~5% loading efficiency and sustained release characteristics. Developed nanoparticles demonstrated significantly improved therapeutic efficacy against NSCLC cells in terms of low IC50 values and suppressed colony forming ability of cancer cells, increased apoptosis, and autophagy inhibition. Interestingly, 3D spheroid study demonstrated better anticancer activity of Erlo-CD nanoparticles compared to plain erlotinib. Present study has shown a premise to improve therapeutic efficacy against erlotinib-resistant lung cancer using modified nanoErlo formulations.

Chiral teletransmission in the cis-cisoidal sequence of copoly(substituted acetylene)s by multiple stage solvent exchange of the copolymer solution through a membrane

Copoly(4-dodecyloxyl-3,5-dihydroxymethyl-phenylacetylene/p-pinanyldimethylsilylphenylacetylene) (copoly(1/2)) consist of both the cis-cisoidal sequence of achiral 4-dodecyloxyl-3,5-dihydroxymethyl-phenylacetylene (1) and cis-transoidal sequence of chiral p-pinanyldimethylsilylphenylacetylene (2). The reactivity ratios of 1 and 2 in the copolymerization were estimited as r1 = 1.49 and r2 = 0.50, respectively. By replacing THF (a good solvent) of copoly(1/2) solution with methanol (a poor solvent) gradually by concentration-driven permeation through a membrane for several times, stepwise increase in the CD intensity at 308 nm arisen from the cis-cisoidal main-chain was observed. The local chirality in chiral 2 units was successfully transmitted to the cis-cisoidal sequence of achiral 1. Even when the molar ratio of 1/2 reaches 50, this method of the multiple-stage-solvent-exchange is still effective for transmitting the local chirality in 2 to the cis-cisoidal sequence 1 in the copolymer. Directly adding methanol to the copoly(1/2)'s solution and annealing of copoly(1/2) in THF/methanol could not realize this chiral teletransmission. Hence, this new method of the multiple stage solvent exchange in the copolymer solution through a membrane is suitable and efficient to realize the efficient chirality transmission and amplification in the cis-cisoidal polyacetylene.

Temperature-Programmed Desorption of Pyridine on Zeolites in the Presence of Liquid Solvents

Selecting the proper solvent is a major challenge involved in biomass conversion processes as there is little predictive understanding of how solvent choice will affect reaction rates. To date, most attempts to understand solvent behavior are on a case by case basis, through catalytic activity testing and screening multiple solvent choices. There is a need for characterization techniques aimed toward fundamental understanding of solvent behavior in a simple and systematic fashion. In this work, the effect of solvent on the Bronsted acid site–pyridine interaction was isolated to improve understanding of a solvent’s ability to stabilize charge in nonideal environments like zeolite micropores. Pyridine temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) was applied to zeolites ZSM-5, Beta, and Y in back-pressurized, flowing solvent. The desorption temperatures of pyridine from Bronsted acid sites in vacuum were compared in liquid water, acetonitrile, and n-heptane. For H/ZSM-5 (Si/Al = 12), the pyridine desorption tempe...

Preparation of Transparent Cellulose/PMMA Composite Sheet from Cellulose Aerogel

In this work, wet cellulose aerogel sheet was prepared via NaOH/urea dissolution system followed by multiple solvent exchanges. Firstly, hyacinth cellulose solution was prepared and then cast into plastic mold. The casting solution was left standing to become solid hydrogel. Then, multiple solvent exchanges by water was carried out in order to remove NaOH and urea completely to obtain wet hydrogel. Then, transparent cellulose sheet was successfully prepared by backfilling the nano/micro sized aerogel channel with a refractive index matching polymer which was PMMA emulsion in this study. The transparent cellulose sheet exhibited 80-90 percent transparency. In contrast, cellulose aerogel exhibited relatively low percent transmittance only 8.24%. In addition, the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of transparent cellulose sheet with a thickness of 0.5 mm (10.45 ppmK-1) was significantly lower that pure PMMA sheet (79.70 ppmK-1), indicating that aerogel based transparent cellulose exhibited lower thermal expansion than neat plastic.

Simultaneous quantification of rubber, inulin, and resins in Taraxacum kok-saghyz (TK) roots by sequential solvent extraction

Taraxacum kok-saghyz (TK) is being developed as an alternative source of natural rubber (NR). Three valuable constituents of TK roots are NR, inulin and resins. Previous methods required independent measurements to quantify each of these constituents. In addition, the co-extraction of non-target compounds leads to significant errors in the measurement of rubber concentration in roots and processed samples. Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) is an automated method that allows the rapid extraction of samples with multiple solvents and excellent repeatability. The objective of this study was to develop an optimized multi-solvent ASE method to improve the accuracy of NR, inulin and resin quantification in TK roots. Water, acetone, and hexane were used to extract inulin and saccharides, resins, and rubber, respectively. Root preparation, extraction temperatures and times, sample size (1.0 and 0.25 g), and the number of extractions were evaluated. Two, 40-min water extractions at 95 °C; one, 40-min acetone extraction at 40 °C; and three, 20-min hexane extractions at 160 °C were determined to be optimal based on completeness of extraction and time. Milling roots to less than a 2 mm particle size, and using a sample size of 250 mg improved the recovery of resin and rubber but not of water extractables. This automated multi-solvent method improves the accuracy, repeatability and speed of the quantification of TK rubber, inulin and resins, and thereby the assessment of breeding strategies and processing.

Facile enzymatic preparation of fluorescent conjugated polymers of phenols and their application in sensing

ABSTRACTThe recognized drawback of utilizing metal catalysts for the synthesis of fluorescent conjugated polymers (CP) is the requirement for extensive purification to ensure complete removal of residual catalyst that would otherwise quench the fluorescence. In addition, typical synthesis of fluorescent CP involves multiple steps, monomers and solvents with varying levels of toxicity. This work demonstrates the possibility of utilizing oxidoreductase enzymes as the catalyst, for the one step polymerization of naturally occurring phenols to yield fluorescent conjugated polyphenols. The metal in the active site of the enzyme remains chelated during the synthesis allowing the polymers to be fluorescent as synthesized without the need for extensive purification. Three natural phenols, 4‐hydroxyphenylacetic acid, hydroxytyrosol, and chlorogenic acid were polymerized using Horseradish peroxidase as the biocatalyst. Spectroscopic techniques, UV–vis, Fourier transform infrared Spectroscopy–Attenuated Total Reflectance, and fluorescence, are used to characterize chemical structure and photoluminescence of these polymers. The polyphenols exhibit fluorescence with significant stokes shift in the range 30–100 nm rendering them useful in fluorescence quenching‐based sensors. Preliminary studies on use of these polymers, in the detection of nitro‐aromatic compounds in solution through using fluorescence‐quenching are also presented. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46496.

Understanding the Unique Solvation Structure of Organosilicon-Based Electrolytes for Lithium Ion Batteries

Organosilicon (OS) electrolytes have been developed as a viable alternative to conventional carbonate electrolytes for lithium ion batteries.1,2 A recent trend in the Li-ion industry toward adoption of new materials is driven by the desire to deploy larger capacity batteries under broader operating conditions. New advanced Li-ion chemistries to meet these requirements often require electrolytes with enhanced thermal and electrochemical stability that provide performance across a wide temperature range. Silatronix has developed and synthesized an entirely new class of OS molecules with superior thermal, chemical, and electrochemical properties. The leading candidate from this new class is OS3 which showcases greatly enhanced stability and performance attributes in Li-ion batteries. Specifically, OS3 provides benefits such as lower anode and cathode impedance and reduced gas generation in multiple Li-ion chemistries. The role of the Li+ solvation structure in the determination of electrolyte performance, including the formation, stability, and performance of the SEI layer, has been investigated using multiple analytical techniques. These techniques include FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy4, NMR spectroscopy3, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS)5. In this work, we focus on understanding the unique role that OS3 plays in the Li+ solvation sheath with NMR spectroscopy using multiple nuclei to simultaneously probe the anion, cation, and solvent environments. Data collected for electrolytes containing solvents with a variety of functional groups finds that the NMR response to Li+ coordination is identical for multiple solvents with the same coordinating functionality (e.g., carbonate, nitrile, etc). Therefore, the solvation behavior of multiple solvents in complex electrolytes can be deconvoluted and individually understood. The strong participation of OS solvents in the Li+ solvation sheath, including the displacement of strong carbonate solvents such as EC. has been demonstrated in multiple electrolytes using NMR spectroscopy and ESI-MS. *RJH and RW have a financial interest in the outcome of this work.

In vivo evaluation of the combination effect of near-infrared laser and 5-fluorouracil-loaded PLGA-coated magnetite nanographene oxide

Magnetite nanographene oxide has exhibited great potential in drug delivery and photothermal therapy (PTT) for cancer treatment. Here we developed 5-fluorouracil-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)-coated magnetite nanographene oxide (NGO-SPION-PLGA-5-Fu) to simplify combined PTT and chemotherapy in one complex. The nanocarrier was synthesized using a modified O1/W1/O2/W2 multiple emulsion solvent evaporation method and was characterized for size, zeta potential, drug loading, in vitro and in vivo release. In this paper, in vivo suppression effect of PTT and chemotherapy using this synthesized magnetite nanographene oxide was studied. The in vitro release of 5-Fu from nanoparticles showed that 41.36% of the drug was released within 24 h. In vivo release showed that 5-Fu has a sustained release profile and prolonged lifetime in the rabbit plasma. Remarkably, a single injection of NGO-SPION-PLGA-5-Fu and 808 nm near-infrared laser (NIR) irradiation for 3 min effectively suppressed the growth of tumours compared with 5-Fu alone (p < .01). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed that the magnetic nanographene oxide was effectively targeted to the tumour site. Therefore, NGO-SPION-PLGA-5-Fu showed excellent PTT efficacy, magnetic targeting property, and MRI ability, indicating that there is a great potential of NGO-SPION-PLGA-5-Fu for cancer theranostic applications.