Reactive Species Research Articles

A study on the influence of metal Ag, Cu, and Fe doping on the morphological, structural, and photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanostructures

Metal-doped TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were elaborated by a sol–gel method using n-butoxide of titanium (IV) as precursors. The resulting NPs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and FTIR analysis. The SEM study shows the formation of a spheres-like structure. The EDX analysis proves the presence of Ag, Fe, and Cu on the doped TiO2 NPs. XRD and Raman spectroscopy analysis show that the doping inhibited the phase transformation and stabilized the anatase phase. The photocatalytic activity of prepared TiO2 NPs was evaluated in methylene blue (MB) photodegradation under UV irradiation. The results reveal that the doped TiO2 NPs were more efficient than undoped TiO2 NPs in the degradation of MB. The Cu-doped TiO2 NPs were found to be more efficient in this reaction with a degradation efficiency of about 92.31 % and a kinetic rate constant of about 10−2 min−1. The studies of the reactive species show that the holes are the main reactive species responsible for the photocatalytic oxidation of MB. Furthermore, the reusability studies showed that the photocatalysts are globally stable for the photodegradation of MB.

Human microglia polarization following infection with the Lyme disease spirochete.

Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi can spread and cause central nervous system involvement, known as neuroborreliosis. Microglia phagocytose bacteria, mediate inflammation, and elicit an immune response toward the spirochete. Like other tissue macrophages, microglia can polarize into two different modulatory phenotypes, M1 and M2. We explored human microglial polarization changes upon infection with B. burgdorferi. HMC3 human microglia cell line was infected with B. burgdorferi for 24 h. Expression of polarization markers was evaluated via flow cytometry at 4 and 24 h. Secreted immunological mediators were evaluated using a multiplex ELISA system at 4, 18, and 24 h. An early decrease followed by a later increase in expression of M1 polarization marker iNOS was observed at 4 h, and 24 h, respectively. A decrease in M2 marker CX3CR1 occurred at 24 h. There were no changes in expression of M1 markers CD14, or in M2 markers CD163 and CD206. Multiplex ELISA evidenced an increase in secretion of activation markers MIP-1α, MIP- 1β, IP-10, chemotactic factor MCP-1, M1 polarization cytokine IL-8, and VEGF, at 4, 18, and 24 h. A decrease of iNOS at 4 h of infection suggests a diminished production of reactive nitrogen species that are a critical component of innate defense against infection. Increased iNOS and simultaneously decreased expression of CX3CR1 at 24 h, may suggest initiation of neuroprotective regulation of microglia recruitment to neuroinflammation. The dynamics of major inflammatory cytokines appear to be important in the microglial response to B. burgdorferi and should be further studied as these could become therapeutic targets in neuroborreliosis.

Deciphering the Electronic Coupling Dynamics of Laser-induced Ru/Cu Electrocatalyst for Dual-Side Hydrogen Production and Formic Acid Co-synthesis via DFT Analysis.

Herein, a straightforward approach using pulsed laser technology to synthesize selective hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) Ru nanoparticles attached to Cu nanospheres (Ru/Cu) as bifunctional electrocatalyst for catalyzing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and formaldehyde oxidation reaction (FOR) are reported. Initially, Ru-doped CuO flakes are synthesized using a coprecipitation method followed by transformation into Ru/Cu composites through a strategy involving pulsed laser irradiation in liquid. Specifically, the optimized Ru/Cu-4 composite not only demonstrates a low overpotential of 182mV at 10 mA·cm-2 for the HER but also an ultralow working potential of 0.078V (versusreversible hydrogen electrode) for the FOR at the same current density. Remarkably, the FOR∥HER-coupled electrolyzer employing the Ru/Cu-4∥Ru/Cu-4 system achieves H2 production at both electrodes with a cell voltage of 0.42 V at 10 mA·cm-2 while co-synthesizing formic acid. Furthermore, density functional theory analyses elucidate that the superior activity of the Ru/Cu composite originates from optimized adsorption energies of reactive species on the catalyst surfaces during the HER and FOR, facilitated by the synergistic coupling between Ru and Cu. This study presents an alternative strategy for synthesizing highly effective electrocatalytic materials for use in energy-efficient H2 production with the cosynthesis of value-added chemicals suitable for practical applications.

Highly efficient Zn(O,S)/Mo(O,S)2 oxysulfide heterostructure photocatalyst for organic pollutant degradation

Environment and energy are presently some of the highest priority topics for mankind that need to be addressed. Organic pollutants are toxic and carcinogenic for human and aquatic life hence their presence in water even in low concentrations can cause serious health problems. Photodegradation of organic pollutants by utilizing oxide-based heterostructure photocatalysts is the promising approach to carry out remediation efficiently ascribed to the advanced optoelectronic and structural superiority of oxide photocatalysts. The Zn(O,S)/Mo(O,S)2 composites were synthesized via a facile solvothermal method at low temperatures. Several methods were used to characterize the composite morphology, structure, electrical conductivity, chemical composition, and optical characteristics. The heterostructured Zn(O,S)/Mo(O,S)2 oxysulfide was employed successfully in the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. Among the as-prepared samples, the 30-ZnMoOS composite catalyst was found to have the highest photodegradation performance on various organic dye pollutants. The photocatalytic activity of the as-synthesized Zn(O,S)/Mo(O,S)2 samples was assessed on the photodegradation of different kinds of organic dyes under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 30-ZnMoOS composite over 10 ppm neutral red (NR), methylene blue (MB), rhodamine B (Rh B), and methyl orange (MO) was found to be 99.6 %, 99.9 %, 99.5 %, and 98.8 % within 40, 45, 180, and 180 min, respectively, under visible light illumination. In the present photocatalytic system, the superoxide (.O2-) anions, hydroxyl (.OH) radicals, and holes (h+) are proposed to be the direct reactive species causing the photodegradation of organic dyes.

Exploring Electrochemical Mechanisms for Clindamycin Degradation Targeted at the Efficient Treatment of Contaminated Water

Numerous studies reveal pollutants like clindamycin (CLD) in the environment, posing environmental and health risks. Conventional water treatment methods are ineffective at removing these contaminants, typically found in low concentrations. An innovative treatment approach is introduced through pre-concentration via adsorption, which is highly efficient, energy-saving, and reusable. The innovation uses solvents like methanol or ethanol to desorb pollutants, creating concentrated CLD solutions for more effective electrochemical degradation than conventional methods. Thus, this study explores, for the first time, the behavior of CLD electro-oxidation in different media-water, methanol, and ethanol-using a Dimensionally Stable Anode (DSA®-Cl₂). The study reveals distinct degradation mechanisms and offers new insights into solvent-assisted electrochemical treatments. After 30 min of electrolysis, all the current densities evaluated promoted significant degradation, ranging from 90-92%. The energy consumption was 2.9 Wh m⁻³ per percentage point at current densities of 2 and 3.5 mA cm⁻2. This demonstrates that using higher current densities over shorter electrolysis times is feasible, achieving removal rates of approximately 90%.The performance of chloride-based electrolytes was superior to that of sulfate-based electrolytes due to the ability of DSA®-Cl2 electrodes to generate reactive chlorine species more efficiently. A higher concentration of supporting electrolytes initially improved CLD removal, but no significant changes were observed after one hour. Neutral pH conditions optimized CLD degradation, achieving up to 91% removal. Higher pollutant concentrations were associated with lower kinetic constants and decreased removal percentages. Methanol and ethanol enhanced removal rates to 98.3% and 92.3%, respectively, by generating oxidizing species such as methoxy, hydroxymethyl, and ethoxy radicals. The degradation by-products differed across the three media, with each solvent exhibiting distinct oxidation mechanisms. These findings highlight the potential of using methanol or ethanol as an electrolytic medium with efficiency comparable to water.

The molecular dynamics between reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and phytohormones in plant's response to biotic stress.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are critical for plant development as well as for its stress response. They can function as signaling molecules to orchestrate a well-defined response of plants to biotic stress. These responses are further fine-tuned by phytohormones, such as salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene, to modulate immune response. In the past decades, the intricacies of redox and phytohormonal signaling have been uncovered during plant-pathogen interactions. This review explores the dynamic interplay of these components, elucidating their roles in perceiving biotic threats and shaping the plant's defense strategy. Molecular regulators and sites of oxidative burst have been explored during pathogen perception. Further, the interplay between various components of redox and phytohormonal signaling has been explored during bacterial, fungal, viral, and nematode infections as well as during insect pest infestation. Understanding these interactions highlights gaps in the current knowledge and provides insights into engineering crop varieties with enhanced resistance to pathogens and pests. This review also highlights potential applications of manipulating regulators of redox signaling to bolster plant immunity and ensure global food security. Future research should explore regulators of these signaling pathways as potential target to develop biotic stress-tolerant crops. Further insights are also needed into roles of endophytes and host microbiome modulating host ROS and RNS pool for exploiting them as biocontrol agents imparting resistance against pathogens in plants.

Energy Metabolic Profile in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Preliminary Landscape of Warburg Effect in Oral Cancer.

We hypothesized that cell energy metabolic profiles correlate with normal, dysplastic, and tumor cell/tissue statuses and may be indicators of aggressiveness in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. The energy-related proteins that were differentially expressed in human OSCC fragments (n = 3) and their adjacent epithelial tissue (TAE) were verified using mass spectrometry (MS). Immunohistochemistry for 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) was performed to evaluate the oxidative stress patterns in OSCC (n = 10), epithelial dysplasia (n = 9), and normal epithelial (n = 4) biopsies. The metabolic energy profile of OSCC aggressiveness was investigated in human OSCC cell lines with different levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition proteins. The genes associated with the proteins found by MS in this study were analyzed using survival analysis (OS), whereas the genes associated with a poorer prognosis were analyzed using context-specific expression, Gene Ontology (GO) and Cancer Hallmarks for function enrichment analysis. The rationale for all experimental approach was to investigate whether the variation in energy metabolism profile accompanies the different phenotypes (from epithelial to mesenchymal) during the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. All OSCC fragments exhibited an increase in glycolysis-related proteins and a decrease in mitochondrial activity compared to the TAE region (p < 0.05), probably due to the downregulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase and antioxidant proteins. Additionally, the OSCC cell lines with a mesenchymal profile (SCC4, SCC9, and SCC25) had a lower mitochondrial mass and membrane potential and generated lower levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species than the TAE region. When we analyzed 4-HNE, the reactive species levels were increased in the epithelial regions of OSCC and potentially malignant lesions. A decrease in the levels of 4-HNE/reactive species was observed in the connective tissue underlying the dysplastic regions and the OSCC invasion zone. Based on this scenario, aggressive OSCC is associated with high glycolytic and oxidative metabolism and low mitochondrial and antioxidant activities, which vary according to the differentiation level of the tumor cells and the stage of carcinogenesis.

Next-Generation BiOCl/MXene Nanocomposites: Optimized for Dye Removal and Supercapacitor Applications.

The study focuses on the development of an efficient and sustainable solution for synthetic dye degradation through the hydrothermal synthesis of BiOCl and BiOCl/MXene heterostructures. Structural and compositional properties were analyzed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. A significant reduction in the band gap of BiOCl/MXene to 2.97 eV from 3.62 eV for BiOCl was observed via UV spectroscopy, leading to enhanced photocatalysis with 89% degradation efficiency in just 12 min. The mechanism involved and reactive species were confirmed by LC-HRMS and radical trapping tests, while ICP-MS verified metal content in water before and after degradation. Additionally, the nanocomposite demonstrated a specific capacitance of 431.24 F g-1 at a current density of 1 mA cm-2, with an excellent capacitance retention of 94.35% after 2000 cycles. This study highlights BiOCl/MXene as a promising material for both photodegradation and supercapacitor applications.

Comparison of the transportation of reactive species from He and Ar atmospheric-pressure plasma jets to aqueous solutions

Comparison of the transportation of reactive species from He and Ar atmospheric-pressure plasma jets to aqueous solutions

Exploring the Reactivity of Electrophilic Organic Carbonates and Thiocarbonates as Vehicles to Convert Hydrosulfide into COS and CS2.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and other reactive sulfur species are important small molecules with biological significance. In addition to common reactive sulfur species like H2S, polysulfides, and persulfides, both carbonyl sulfide (COS) and carbon disulfide (CS2) have been postulated to be potential sources of reduced sulfur. To better understand this possible connection, we demonstrate that H2S can be converted to COS and CS2 by reaction with simple organic carbonate and thiocarbonate electrophiles, respectively.

Evaluating Antioxidant Enzyme Parameters in Rats Treated with Berberine-Loaded Bovine Serum Albumin Nanoparticles and Scopolamine

Abstract Introduction/Objective Introduction: Berberine (BER) has garnered attention for its antioxidant properties demonstrated in various studies, showing its ability to scavenge or inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), including nitric oxide, superoxide anion, and peroxynitrites. Methods/Case Report Methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to seven groups, each comprising 6 rats: Sham control (no treatment), BSA-NPs orally administered, BRB-NPs orally administered, SCO intraperitoneally injected, BER followed by SCO injection, BSA-NPs with SCO injection, and BER-NPs with SCO injection. Treatments were administered daily for 28 days. The cholinergic status was evaluated by assessing acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in brain homogenates, and brain homogenate Aβ-42 levels were measured using the ELISA technique. Additionally, brain prooxidant markers (NO, TBARS, XO), nonenzymatic antioxidants (GSH), and enzymatic antioxidants (GPx, GST, and SOD) were measured. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) Results: The study revealed that treatment with BRB NPs resulted in the lowest AChE activity and Aβ-42 levels. Scopolamine administration significantly increased brain NO, TBARS, and XO activity, accompanied by a progressive depletion in GSH content (p&amp;lt;0.05). Treatment with BRB-free or BSA decreased NO levels, while the BSA or BRB-NPs groups exhibited higher brain TBARS levels than the sham group. All treated groups exhibited similar activity to the sham control, except for the BSA-treated group. Furthermore, all treated groups showed comparable GSH levels to the sham control, except for the scopolamine group. Treatment with BRB NPs normalized GPx activity and showed the highest GST activity. The BRB-NPs treated group also exhibited the highest SOD level. The p-value was &amp;lt;0.001 among all studied groups. Conclusion Conclusion: Injection of SCO induced oxidative impairments in brain tissue, evidenced by increased prooxidants such as NO and depletion of antioxidant capacity (GPx, GST, and GSH). SCO also disrupted glutathione metabolism, enhancing the level of lipid peroxidation in the brain. Treatment with BRB-NPs or free BRB progressively increased antioxidant capacity and mitigated the harmful effects of oxidative damage in the brain by reducing prooxidant levels.

Mechanism of cold atmospheric plasma in treatment of chronic skin ulcer

To review the mechanism of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) in the treatment of chronic skin ulcer, providing a new idea for ulcer therapy. The literature about CAP in the treatment of chronic skin ulcers in recent years was extensively screened and reviewed. The treatment principle, active ingredients, and mechanism were summarized. CAP is partial ionized gas discharged by plasma generator in high frequency under high voltage. It contains electrons, positive and negative ions, reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen species, and ultraviolet rays. In vitro and animal experiments show that the active ingredients contained in CAP can inactive microorganisms, against biofilm, regulate immune-mediated inflammatory, promoting blood flow, stimulate tissue regeneration and epithelial formation in the course of wounds healing. CAP play a role in different stages of chronic skin ulcer healing, with good effectiveness and safety, and broad clinical application prospects. But more studies are needed to explore the indications and dosages of CAP therapy.

Enhanced photocatalytic organic pollutant degradation, H2 production and N2 fixation via a versatile zinc oxide-based nanocomposite: Synthesis, characterization and mechanism Insight

Developing highly efficient photocatalysts for visible light utilization is crucial for water purification, N2 fixation, and H2 generation. This work presents a novel α-Fe2O3/CeO2-ZnO heterostructure photocatalyst synthesized through a facile impregnation technique. The synthesized catalysts were characterized via XPS, TEM, SEM, XRD, BET, PL, EIS, Mott-schottky, etc. analyses. The optimized 25 wt% of α-Fe2O3/CeO2 on ZnO (25-FeCeZ) catalyst achieved 100 % ofloxacin (OFX) photodegradation under light irradiation within 90 min. The charge transfer pathway was investigated via optical analyses within the 25-FeCeZ. Experimental investigations elucidated the potential intermediates, four proposed OFX photodegradation pathways and photocatalytic mechanism. Scavenger experiments and ESR spectroscopy identified •O2–, •OH, and h+ as the primary reactive species. Furthermore, the degraded OFX solution exhibited lower overall toxicity compared to the initial solution, based on QSAR predictions and E. coli viability assays. The 25-FeCeZ catalyst displayed a significantly enhanced hydrogen production rate (2.57mmol g−1h−1) compared to pristine ZnO (0.09 mmol/g·h). Notably, the catalyst achieved an NH3 evolution rate of 335.80μmol g−1h−1 without additional sacrificial agents, which is 4.5 times greater than pure ZnO. Additionally, the optimised photocatalyst depicted a superb stability across all three photocatalytic processes. This study illustrates a promising approach for designing potent ZnO-based photocatalysts for diverse applications, including N2 fixation, H2 generation, and organic pollutant degradation under visible light irradiation.

Ethers as Building Blocks for the Synthesis and Modification of N‐Heterocycles

The use of C‐H compounds as reactive partners in a variety of transformations represents the state of the art in synthetic methodology. In this review, we have summarized the main achievements in using ethers as building blocks for the construction and modification of one of the basic platforms of organic chemistry, nitrogen‐containing heterocycles. Ethers, previously considered mainly as solvents, are excellent CH‐partners, capable of generating radical or cationic reactive species under the action of HAT agents and oxidants. The challenge in this field is the still limited number of heterocyclic systems and other starting reagents, with which the processes can be carried out selectively due to closer bond dissociation energies and oxidation potentials of heterocycles, reactive intermediates and ethers. However, the fine‐tuning of the reaction system using electro‐ and photochemical approaches and a deep understanding of the reaction pathways make the use of ethers as C‐H reagents a promising synthetic strategy.

Dysfunctional copper homeostasis in Caenorhabditis elegans affects genomic and neuronal stability

While copper (Cu) is an essential trace element for biological systems due to its redox properties, excess levels may lead to adverse effects partly due to overproduction of reactive species. Thus, a tightly regulated Cu homeostasis is crucial for health. Cu dyshomeostasis and elevated labile Cu levels are associated with oxidative stress and neurodegenerative disorders, but the underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully characterized. Here, we used Caenorhabditis elegans loss-of-function mutants of the Cu chaperone ortholog atox-1 and the Cu binding protein ortholog ceruloplasmin to model Cu dyshomeostasis, as they display a shifted ratio of total Cu towards labile Cu. We applied highly selective and sensitive techniques to quantify metabolites associated to oxidative stress with focus on mitochondrial integrity, oxidative DNA damage and neurodegeneration all in the context of a disrupted Cu homeostasis. Our novel data reveal elevated oxidative stress, compromised mitochondria displaying reduced ATP levels and cardiolipin content. Cu dyshomeostasis further induced oxidative DNA damage and impaired DNA damage response as well as neurodegeneration characterized by behavior and neurotransmitter analysis. Our study underscores the essentiality of a tightly regulated Cu homeostasis as well as mitochondrial integrity for both genomic and neuronal stability.

CaCO3-activited N-doped diatom biochar for the degradation of tetracycline

In this study, a N-doped diatom biochar (DBC) was prepared by one-step pyrolysis, where CaCO3 formed by marine diatom-mediated calcification was employed as an activator. Due to the activation effect of CaCO3, the specific surface area of the obtained DBC increased by more than 10 times, and the nitrogen presented as pyrrolic nitrogen (58.9%), pyridinic nitrogen (29.7%), and graphitic nitrogen (11.4%) in the DBC. In addition, the effects of important parameters and co-existing ions on the catalytic decomposition of tetracycline (TC) by DBC were investigated by using TC as a typical pollutant and PDS as an oxidant. The DBC/PDS system exhibited high activity over a broad pH range. Through radical scavenging experiments, electron spin resonance, and electrochemical results analysis, it was found that the degradation of TC in the system included both radical and nonradical pathways, and the most dominant reactive species was 1O2. Furthermore, the surficial reactive complexes formed by PDS on the catalysts also played an important role in attacking the adsorbed TC molecules. This study proposes an eco-friendly and economical technique to construct a clean advanced oxidation process capable of treating TC wastewater by utilizing the native biomass of diatom as a metal-free and efficient biochar catalyst while simultaneously reducing the use of chemical reagents.

Multifunctional MnGA Nanozymes for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis by Reducing Intestinal Inflammation and Regulating the Intestinal Flora.

In ulcerative colitis (UC), the formation of an inflammatory environment is due to the combined effects of excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines, and disruption of immune system function. There are many kinds of traditional drugs for the clinical treatment of UC, but long-term drug use can cause toxic side effects and drug resistance and can also reduce patient compliance and other drawbacks. Hence, in light of the clinical challenges associated with UC, including the limitations of existing treatments, intense adverse reactions and the development of resistance to medications, no novel therapeutic agents that offer effective relief and maintain a high level of biosafety are urgently needed. Although many anti-inflammatory nanomedicines have been developed by researchers, the development of efficient and nontoxic nanomedicines is still a major challenge in clinical medicine. Using the natural product gallic acid and the metal compound manganese chloride, a highly effective and nontoxic multifunctional nanoenzyme was developed for the treatment of UC. Nanozymes can effectively eliminate ROS and RNS to reduce the inflammation of intestinal epithelial cells caused by oxidation, facilitate the restoration of the intestinal epithelial barrier through the upregulation of tight junction protein expression, and balance the intestinal microbiota to maintain the stability of the intestinal environment. Using a rodent model designed to mimic UC, we monitored body weight, colon length, the spleen index, and the degree of tissue damage and demonstrated that manganese gallate (MnGA) nanoparticles can reduce intestinal inflammation by clearing ROS and active nitrogen. Intestinal flora sequencing revealed that MnGA nanoparticles could regulate the intestinal flora, promote the growth of beneficial bacteria and decrease the levels of detrimental bacteria within the intestinal tract in a mouse model of UC. Thus, MnGA nanoparticles can maintain the balance of the intestinal flora. This study demonstrated that MnGA nanoparticles are excellent antioxidant and effective anti-inflammatory agents, have good biosafety, and can effectively treat UC.

Harnessing air-water interface to generate interfacial ROS for ultrafast environmental remediation

The air-water interface of microbubbles represents a crucial microenvironment that can dramatically accelerate reactive oxidative species (ROS) reactions. However, the dynamic nature of microbubbles presents challenges in probing ROS behaviors at the air-water interface, limiting a comprehensive understanding of their chemistry and application. Here we develop an approach to investigate the interfacial ROS via coupling microbubbles with a Fenton-like reaction. Amphiphilic single-Co-atom catalyst (Co@SCN) is employed to efficiently transport the oxidant peroxymonosulfate (PMS) from the bulk solution to the microbubble interface. This triggers an accelerated generation of interfacial sulfate radicals (SO4•−), with 20-fold higher concentration (4.48 × 10−11 M) than the bulk SO4•−. Notably, the generated SO4•− is preferentially situated at the air-water interface due to its lowest free energy and the strong hydrogen bonding interactions with H3O+. Moreover, it exhibits the highest oxidation reactivity toward gaseous pollutants like toluene, with a rate constant of 1010 M−1 s−1-over 100 times greater than bulk reactions. This work demonstrates a promising strategy to harness the air-water interface for accelerating ROS-induced reactions, highlighting the importance of interfacial ROS and its potential application.

Visualizing and Understanding the Ionic Liquid-Mediated Polybromide Electrochemistry for Aqueous Zinc-Bromine Redox Batteries.

Aqueous zinc-bromine redox systems possess multiple merits for scalable energy storage. Applying bromine complexing agents shows effectiveness in alleviating the key challenge of ubiquitous crossover of reactive liquid bromine species, while the underlying microscopic mechanism requires a deep understanding to engineer better complexing electrochemistry. Herein, taking a series of quaternary ammonium ionic liquids (methyl4NBr, ethyl4NBr, propyl4NBr, and butyl4NBr) as a redox mediator model, operando optical monitoring was used to visualize the dynamic electrochemical behaviors, unveiling the ionic liquid-mediated polybromide electrochemistry with a distinct chain length effect. A longer chain length possesses a stronger electrostatic interaction in the complexing product to effectively capture Br2. Operando results reveal the liquid nature of the reversibly electrogenerated polybromide microdroplets in the butyl4NBr-added redox system, which promoted the Br3-/Br- conversion kinetics and alleviated the self-discharge for improved battery performance. This work provides direct evidence and new insights into complexing electrochemistry for advancing Zn-Br2 batteries.

Investigating the protective effects of epigallocatechin-gallate against polystyrene microplastics-induced biochemical and hematological alterations in rats

BackgroundPolystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) are widely used and found in drinking water and food, concerns have been raised about their potential health effects, especially in causing oxidative stress and inflammation in living organisms. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG), a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound, against PS-MPs-induced biochemical and hematological alterations in rats. MethodsMale Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, EGCG-treated (80 mg∙ kg-1/d), PS-MPs-exposed (0.01 mg∙kg-1/d), and PS-MPs+EGCG-treated groups. PS-MPs were orally administered for 56 days, while EGCG was given concomitantly by gavage. At the end of the treatment period, blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical analyses. Oxido-nitrergic stress markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), reactive nitrogen species (RONS) and reduced glutathione (GSH), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), as well as inflammatory markers, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFY-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), were also measured in serum. ResultsTreatment with PS-MPs caused a significant increase in MDA, RONS, NO levels and a decrease in SOD, CAT and GSH levels, indicating the induction of oxido-nitrergic stress. PS-MPs also caused an increase in the levels of TNF-α, IFY-γ, MPO and decreased IL-10, indicating the induction of inflammation. Additionally, PS-MPs caused alterations in hematological and serum transaminase parameters, including a decrease in red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels, neutrophil and eaosinophil and an increase in white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, AST, ALT, ALP, LDH and GGT. PS-MPs also caused disturbances in electrolyte balance and renal function markers. However, treatment with EGCG significantly attenuated these alterations induced by PS-MPs, indicating its protective effects. ConclusionThe results of this study demonstrate that EGCG can protect against PS-MPs-induced biochemical and hematological alterations in rats, possibly through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.