Oxide Species Research Articles

3D Bimetallic Platinum‐Nickel Electrodes for Electro‐Oxidation of Glycerol at Ambient Conditions

AbstractPartial electro‐oxidation using renewable electricity offers a sustainable route for valorizing glycerol, a major by‐product of biofuel production. This study introduces a bimetallic electrode with nanostructured platinum dendrites on nickel foam (Pt/NiF), achieving a peak geometric current density of 235 mA cm−2 and a Pt‐mass normalized current density of 3.71 for glycerol electro‐oxidation at 0.92 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in 3 m KOH electrolyte containing 1 m glycerol, outperforming most previously reported Pt‐containing catalysts. The Pt/NiF electrode demonstrates over 92% cumulative selectivity toward C3 products, with 64% selectivity for lactic acid at 0.65 V versus RHE over 5 h of testing. This research also highlights the role of chemical oxidation pathways (isomerization and rearrangements) in converting glycerol to lactic acid. After 5 h at 0.65 V versus RHE, the Pt/NiF electrode maintains 35% of its initial current density, plateauing at 12.2 mA cm−2 (0.15 ), with performance loss likely due to surface poisoning by carbon‐based reaction intermediates/byproducts or passivating platinum (hydr)oxide species. These findings pave the way for developing low‐platinum group metal catalysts with high glycerol oxidation affinity and highlight the importance of considering chemical transformations during catalyst evaluation and reactor design.

PANoptosis: A new era for anti-cancer strategies.

Cancer cells possess an extraordinary ability to dodge cell death through various pathways, granting them a form of immortality-a key obstacle in oncotherapy. Thus, it's vital to unravel the intricate mechanisms behind newly discovered types of cell death that drive tumor suppression, going beyond apoptosis alone. The emergence of PANoptosis, a form of cell death intertwining necroptosis, pyroptosis, and apoptosis, offers a fresh perspective, integrating these pathways into one cohesive process. When cells detect damage signals, they assemble PANoptosome complexes that disrupt their balance, trigger immune responses, and lead to their eventual collapse. PANoptosis has been associated with multiple cellular pathways, including ferroptosis. Mitochondrial dysfunction also plays a critical role in sparking and advancing PANoptosis. In this review, we map out the molecular machinery and regulatory web controlling PANoptosis. We explore cutting-edge research and future trends in PANoptosis-centered tumor therapies, spotlighting promising innovations that could amplify cancer treatment effectiveness through harnessing this multifaceted cell death pathway. The development of nanomedicines and nanomaterials provides solutions to the therapeutic challenges of clinical drugs. Developing novel tumor nano-PANoptosis inducers by leveraging the advantages of nanomedicine is of research value. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment is characterized by multiple targets, and it has distinct advantages in triggering PANoptosis through multiple pathways. Additionally, photodynamic Therapy (PDT) may offer new insights into promoting PANoptosis in tumor cells by increasing oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species levels. These will establish a solid theoretical groundwork for the development of integrated treatment methodologies.

Interface-Engineered CuxO@Bi2MoO6 Heterojunctions to Inhibit Piezoelectric Screening Effect and Promote Double-Nanozyme Catalysis for Antibacterial Treatment.

Sonodynamic therapy is confronted with the low acoustic efficiency of sonosensitizers, and nanozymes are accompanied by intrinsic low catalytic activity. Herein, to increase the piezopotential of N-type piezoelectric semiconductors, the P-N heterojunction is designed to inhibit the piezoelectric screening effect (PSE) and increase electron utilization efficiency to enhance nanozyme activity. P-type CuxO nanoparticles are in situ grown on N-type piezoelectric Bi2MoO6 (BMO) nanoflakes (NFs) to construct heterostructured CuxO@BMO by interface engineering. CuxO deposition leads to lattice distortion of BMO NFs to improve piezoelectric response, and the strong interface electric field (IEF) suppresses PSE and increases piezopotential. The nonlocal piezopotential, local IEF, and glutathione (GSH) inoculation enhances electron-hole separation and increases peroxidase (POD)-like activity of BMO and GSH oxidase (GSHOx)-like activity of CuxO with high selectivity. The heterojunction formation causes the transfer and rearrangement of interface electrons, and the increased piezopotential accelerates electron transfer at interfaces with bacteria, thus increasing the production of reactive oxidative species and interfering with adenosine triphosphate synthesis. The heterostructured nanozymes produce abundant intracellular ·OH and achieve 4log magnitude reductions in viable bacteria and effective biofilm dispersion. This study elucidates integral mechanisms of nanozyme and acoustic catalysis and opens up a new way to synergize high piezopotential and nanozyme-catalyzed therapy.

The Hippo Signaling Pathway, Reactive Oxygen Species Production, and Oxidative Stress: A Two-Way Traffic Regulation

The Hippo signaling pathway is recognized for its significant role in cell differentiation, proliferation, survival, and tissue regeneration. Recently, the Hippo signaling pathway was also found to be associated with oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulation, which are important in the regulation of cell survival. Studies indicate a correlation between components of the Hippo signaling pathway, including MST1, YAP, and TAZ, and the generation of ROS. On the other hand, ROS and oxidative stress can activate key components of the Hippo signaling pathway. For example, ROS production activates MST1, which subsequently phosphorylates FOXO3, leading to apoptotic cell death. ROS was also found to regulate YAP, in addition to MST1/2. Oxidative stress and ROS formation can impair lipids, proteins, and DNA, leading to many disorders, including aging, neurodegeneration, atherosclerosis, and diabetes. Consequently, understanding the interplay between the Hippo signaling pathway, ROS, and oxidative stress is crucial for developing future disease management strategies. This paper aimed to review the association between the Hippo signaling pathway, regulation of ROS production, and oxidative stress to provide beneficial information in understanding cell function and pathological processes.

Cardioprotection and neurobehavioral impact of swimming training in ovariectomized rats.

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the major cause of mortality. Estrogens (E) exert multiple CV and neuroprotective effects. During menopause, CV and cognitive pathologies increase dramatically. At present, it is known that E exert many of their beneficial effects through the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER). Exercise reduces the risk of developing CV diseases. Sodium/proton exchanger (NHE-1) is overexpressed in ovariectomized (OVX) rats, probably due to the increase in reactive oxidative species (ROS). Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), the main humoral mediator of exercise, inhibits the NHE-1. We aim to explore the subcellular mechanisms involved in the heart and brain impact of physiological exercise in OVX rats. We speculate that physical training, via IGF-1, prevents the increase in ROS, improving heart and brain physiological functions during menopause. Exercise diminished cardiac ROS production and increased catalase (CAT) activity in OVX rats. In concordance, IGF-1 treatment reduces brain ROS, surely contributing to the improvement in brain behavior. Moreover, the aerobic routine was able to prevent, and IGF-1 therapy to revert, NHE-1 hyperactivity in OVX rats. Finally, our results confirm the proposed signaling pathway as IGF-1/PI3K-AKT/NO. Surprisingly, GPER inhibitor (G36) was able to abolish the IGF-1 effect, suggesting that directly or indirectly GPER is part of the IGF-1 pathway. We propose that IGF-1 is the main responsible for the protective effect of aerobic training both in the heart and brain in OVX rats. Moreover, we showed that not only it is possible to prevent but also to revert the menopause-induced NHE-1 hyperactivity by exercise/IGF-1 cascade.

Exploration of the reactivities of homemade binary pyrotechnics.

Understanding the properties of explosives is the basis for investigating and analyzing explosion cases. To date, due to the strict legal control of standard explosives and initiators, homemade pyrotechnics composed of oxidizers and fuels have become popular explosive sources of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) threatening greatly social stability and personal safety. The reactivity of pyrotechnics strongly depends on their intrinsic characteristics and operating conditions, which determine the efficiencies of heat and mass transfer between the reaction zone and the unreacted zone. Herein, the tests of thermodynamics, pressurization characteristics, and combustion propagation behaviors are conducted to explore the effects of oxidizer species, particle size, and loading density on the reactivity of homemade binary aluminum-based pyrotechnics. The results show that the pyrotechnics with potassium chlorate (KClO3) have the strongest reactivity with the highest pressurization rate (dp/dt) and the shortest combustion duration. Compared with their counterparts based on aluminum microparticles(mAl), pyrotechnics consisting of Al nanoparticles (nAl) possess superior reactivity as expected, which results from the relatively short heat and mass transfer distances. The nAl-based pyrotechnics have a low reaction exothermic peak temperature, great heat release, great aluminothermic reaction completeness, and high produced peak pressure with several orders of magnitude higher pressurization rate. Increasing the loading density of the pyrotechnics over a certain value can change the dominant mode of heat transfer from convective to conduction, sharply decreasing the pressurization characteristics and combustion front propagation velocities (vp). The results of theoretical calculations using the NASA-CEA codes show that loading density can alter the reaction process of the pyrotechnics, leading to a decrease in the predicted pressure per unit mass for Al/KNO3 or Al/AP, and an increase for Al/KClO3. For nAl/potassium nitrate (KNO3), the density is between 1.0 and 1.25g cm-3, across which dp/dt decreases by one order of magnitude from 0.148 to 0.014MPa ms-1. In addition, vp decreases by three orders of magnitude from 0.040 to 0.078m s-1. Distinct pressurization behaviors of nAl/AP are observed at a density of 1.5g cm-3, while the variation in nAl/KClO3 reactivity fluctuates. These results are beneficial for the damage assessment of scenes caused by an explosion and for inversely calculating charge parameters.

Albumin-Chaperoned Deep-NIR Triarylmethane Dyes for High-Contrast In Vivo Imaging and Photothermal Therapy.

Fluorophores absorbing/emitting in the deep near-infrared (deep NIR) spectral region, that is, 800 nm and beyond, hold great promise for in vivo bioimaging, diagnosis, and phototherapy due to deeper tissue penetration. The bottleneck is the lack of bright, stable, and readily synthesized deep NIR fluorophores. Here, it is reported that the albumin-chaperon strategy is a viable one-for-all strategy to address these difficulties. A focused library of deep-NIR absorbing dyes (EA5) is easily synthesized via a two-step cascade. They are neither very stable nor bright in phosphate bufferdue to a propeller-type flexible scaffold. Through screening, EA5_c3 is found to exhibit a high affinity toward bovine serum albumin (BSA). Binding-associated structural rigidification resulted in a gigantic 26-fold fluorescence enhancement. The albumin chaperone also greatly improved the stability of EA5_c3 by shielding the bisbenzannulated triarylmethane core from nucleophilic or oxidative species. The resulting EA5_c3@BSA exhibits high biocompatibility. It offered high-resolution vasculature, lymph systems, tumors, and other tissue imaging with its bright deep NIR emission. At the same time, it exhibits prominent potential in photoacoustic imaging and photothermal treatment of subcutaneous and orthotopic breast tumors. These findings provide insights into robust and high-performance fluorophores with deep NIR regions for theranostic against aggressive cancers.

Modulating Pore Wall Chemistry Empowers Sonodynamic Activity of Two‐Dimensional Covalent Organic Framework Heterojunctions for Pro‐Oxidative Nanotherapy

AbstractCovalent organic frameworks (COFs) have garnered growing interest in the field of biomedicine; however, their application in sonodynamic therapy remains underexplored due to limited understanding of their intrinsic activity and structure–property relationships. Here, we present a pore wall chemistry modulation strategy for empowering sonodynamic activity to two‐dimensional (2D) COF heterojunctions through in situ growth of COFs on bismuth oxycarbonate nanosheets (B NSs). Compared to the negligible sonodynamic effects observed in the pristine B NSs, the 2D heterojunction with vinyl‐decorated COF pore walls demonstrates a 3.6‐fold enhancement in sonocatalytic singlet oxygen generation. This performance also significantly outperforms that of isoreticular COFs functionalized with methoxy or non‐substituted groups. Mechanistic studies reveal that the vinyl groups in the B@COF (BC) heterojunction facilitate the separation and transfer of charge carriers while also enhancing the adsorption of oxygen molecules. Furthermore, peroxymonosulfate (PMS) loading into the porous COFs boosts the therapeutic efficacy of antitumor nanotherapy via sonocatalytic dual oxidative species generation. These findings underscore the critical role of pore wall chemistry in modulating the sonocatalytic properties of COFs, and advance the development of COF‐based sonosensitizers for pro‐oxidative applications.

Self-supply of hydrogen peroxide by a bimetal-based nanocatalytic platform to enhance chemodynamic therapy for tumor treatment

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by low pH, hypoxia, and overexpression of glutathione (GSH). Owing to the complexity of tumor pathogenesis and the heterogeneity of the TME, achieving satisfactory efficacy with a single treatment method is difficult, which significantly impedes tumor treatment. In this study, composite nanoparticles of calcium-copper/alginate-hyaluronic acid (HA) (CaO2-CuO2@SA/HA NC) with pH and GSH responsiveness were prepared for the first time through a one-step synthesis using HA as a targeting ligand. Nanoparticles loaded with H2O2can enhance the chemodynamic therapy effects. Simultaneously, Cu2+can generate oxygen in the TME and alleviate hypoxia in tumor tissue. Cu2+and H2O2undergo the Fenton reaction to produce cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals and Ca2+ions, which enhance the localization and clearance of nanoparticles in tumor cells. Additionally, HA and sodium alginate (SA) were utilized to improve the targeting and biocompatibility of the nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared, x-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, SEM, transmission electron microscope, and other analytical methods were used to investigate their physical and chemical properties. The results indicate that the CaO2-CuO2@SA/HA NC prepared using a one-step method had a particle size of 220 nm, a narrow particle size distribution, and a uniform morphology. The hydrogen peroxide self-supplied nanodrug delivery system exhibited excellent pH-responsive release performance and glutathione-responsive •OH release ability while also reducing the level of reactive oxide species quenching.In vitrocell experiments, no obvious side effects on normal tissues were observed; however, the inhibition rate of malignant tumors HepG2 and DU145 exceeded 50%. The preparation of CaO2-CuO2@SA/HA NC nanoparticles, which can achieve both chemokinetic therapy and ion interference therapy, has demonstrated significant potential for clinical applications in cancer therapy.

Unraveling the Dual Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Mechanisms of Acteoside: Computational Insights and Experimental Validation.

Acteoside (ACT) is one of the primary bioactive ingredients in Cistanche tubulosa (Schenk). Its remarkable efficacy in treating immune-related and inflammatory disorders has garnered significant interest among scientific circles. However, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of ACT and its underlying molecular mechanisms require further investigation. In this study, pharmacophore-based reverse docking and molecular dynamics simulations identified potential anti-inflammatory targets in silico. Studies conducted in vitro with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells validated the anti-inflammatory properties of ACT. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays indicated ACT's non-toxic and growth-promoting effects on cells. ACT significantly reduced nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and restored levels of antioxidant enzymes. It also decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines. Western blotting assays indicated that ACT inhibited p38, TNF-α, PI3 K/AKT, and NF-κB signaling pathways. These findings underscore ACT's ability to mitigate acute inflammation in RAW264.7 cells by modulating key signaling pathways and provide the scientific basis for enhancing the medicinal value of ACT and future drug development.

Enhancing the Light‐Driven Photocatalytic Degradation Activity of ZnO Nanoparticles With the Synergistic Incorporation of Er and Tb Elements

ABSTRACTThe existence of organic pollutants in aqueous media has become a vital issue and a critical threat to human health, where organic toxic dyes represent the major contaminants in wastewater. Over the past few years, photocatalytic techniques have garnered a lot of interest in dye removal from wastewater. In this study, a series of ErxTbxZn1 − 2xO nanophotocatalysts (where x = 0.00, 0.01, 0.03, and 0.05) were synthesized and coded as ZET0, ZET1, ZET2, and ZET3 NPs (nanoparticles). The chemical and physical characteristics of the NPs were investigated using Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS) techniques. Further examination by performing photocatalytic experiments, ZET1 NPs demonstrated effective Rhodamine B (RhB) dye degradation within 60 min. It was found that the kinetic rate constant values were 0.008, 0.097, 0.050, and 0.040 min−1 for ZET0, ZET1, ZET2, and ZET3 NPs, respectively. Aside from their remarkable photocatalytic degradation efficiency, these ZET1 photocatalysts are highly stable even after five consecutive cycles. In addition, the active species test revealed that the primary oxidation species involved in the photocatalytic process are holes (h+) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH), and a possible photocatalytic mechanism for degrading RhB by ZET1 photocatalysts was tentatively proposed. The enhancement of the photocatalytic degradation efficiency is due to the low recombination rate of photogenerated charge carriers, as well as a strong synergistic impact of Tb, Er, and ZnO components. Thus, the current study could offer a versatile strategy for the design of new and effective nano photocatalysts for wastewater purification in the future.

GmTRAB1, a Basic Leucine Zipper Transcription Factor, Positively Regulates Drought Tolerance in Soybean (Glycine max. L).

The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors play crucial roles in plant resistance to environmental challenges, but the biological functions of soybean bZIP members are still unclear. In this study, a drought-related soybean bZIP gene, GmTRAB1, was analyzed. The transcript of GmTRAB1 was upregulated under drought, ABA, and oxidative stresses. Overexpression of GmTRAB1 improved the osmotic stress tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis and soybean hairy roots associated with increased proline content and activity of antioxidant enzymes and reduced accumulations of malonaldehyde and reactive oxide species. However, RNA interference silencing of GmTRAB1 in the soybean hairy roots improved drought sensitivity. Furthermore, GmTRAB1 increased the sensitivity of transgenic plants to ABA and participated in modulating ABA-regulated stomatal closure upon drought stress. In addition, GmTRAB1 stimulated the transcript accumulation of drought-, ABA-, and antioxidant-related genes to respond to drought. Collectively, this research will contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms of bZIP transcription factors in soybean's resistance to drought.

Xylopia parviflora (A. rich.) benth. Mitigates anxiety behavior and chronic mild stress-induced depression-like behavior in mice: The involvement of biogenic amine neurotransmitters, cyclooxygenase-2 and stress biomarkers in its antidepressant activity

BackgroundXylopia parviflora is a novel botanical in Modern Chinese Medicine that contains bioactive constituents including alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids, which are the pharmacologically active components in various Chinese herbal formulations such as Coptis chinensis (alkaloid-rich herbs), Ginkgo biloba (flavonoid-rich herbs) and Artemisia annua (terpenoid-rich herbs). ObjectiveThis investigation sought to evaluate the anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects of the hydroethanol leaf extract of Xylopia parviflora using mouse models. We elucidated the roles of noradrenaline, serotonin, cyclooxygenase-2, and reactive oxidative species in mediating its antidepressant effects, providing a fresh perspective on the pharmacological activity of Xylopia parviflora. MethodsThe acute toxicity of XPE was assessed following OECD guideline 420. Established behavioral tests were used to evaluate the anxiolytic (including the hole-board, open field, elevated plus maze, and light/dark exploration assessments) and antidepressant (encompassing the forced swim and tail suspension tests) effects of the extract. Mice received treatments of distilled water (10 mL/kg, serving as the negative control), fluoxetine (20 mg/kg, acting as the reference medication), and XPE (at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg). The concentrations of noradrenaline, serotonin, and COX-2 within the brain tissue were quantified using ELISA kits. The levels of antioxidant biomarkers were evaluated using standardized commercial assay kits. ResultsThe oral/intraperitoneal LD50 for the extract was established at 2000 mg/kg. In the behavioral assessments designed to measure anxiolytic effects, XPE significantly mitigated anxiety levels in mice, as evidenced by an increase in exploratory behaviors (including head dips, sectional crossings, general square crossings, rearing, and assisted rearing) and an increased time spent in the brightly illuminated compartments. Concerning the antidepressant evaluations, XPE significantly reduced depression-like behaviors in mice, which was indicated by an increased latency to immobility and a decrease in the duration of immobility. XPE was found to modulate noradrenaline and serotonin transmissions, attenuate oxidative species, and inhibit COX-2 activity. ConclusionThe findings above demonstrate that Xylopia parviflora possesses anxiolytic and antidepressant-like activities. The antidepressant property of XPE, as revealed in this study, may be attributable to the enhancement of biogenic amines (specifically noradrenaline and serotonin), the suppression of oxidative species, and the inhibition of COX-2 activity.

Subcellular mass spectrometric detection unveils hyperglycemic memory in the diabetic heart.

Intensive glycemic control is insufficient to reduce the risk of heart failure in patients with diabetes mellitus. While the hyperglycemic memory in the diabetic cardiomyopathy has been well documented, its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The present study tried to investigate whether the dysregulated proteins/biological pathways, which persistently altered in diabetic hearts during normoglycemia, participate in the hyperglycemic memory. Hearts of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, with or without intensive glycemic control using slow-release insulin implants, were collected. Proteins from total heart samples and subcellular fractions were assessed by mass spectrometry, Western blotting, and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. mRNA sequencing was used to determine whether the persistently altered proteins were regulated at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level. Western blot validation of several proteins with high pathophysiological importance, including MYH7, HMGCS2, PDK4, and BDH1, indicated that mass spectrometry was able to qualitatively, but not quantitatively, reflect the fold changes of certain proteins in diabetes. Pathway analysis revealed that the peroxisome, PPAR pathway, and fatty acid metabolism could be efficiently rescued by glycemic control. However, dysregulation of oxidative phosphorylation and reactive oxygen species persisted even after normalization of hyperglycemia. Notably, mRNA sequencing revealed that dysregulated proteins in the oxidative phosphorylation pathway were not accompanied by coordinated changes in mRNA levels, indicating post-transcriptional regulation. Moreover, literature review and bioinformatics analysis suggested that hyperglycemia-induced persistent alterations of miRNAs targeted genes from the persistently dysregulated oxidative phosphorylation pathway, whereas, oxidative phosphorylation dysfunction-induced ROS regulated miRNA expression, which thereby might sustained the dysregulation of miRNAs. Glycemic control cannot rescue hyperglycemia-induced alterations of subcellular proteins in the diabetic heart, and persistently altered proteins are involved in multiple functional pathways, including oxidative phosphorylation. These findings might provide novel insights into hyperglycemic memory in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Structure elucidation and molecular mechanism of an immunomodulatory polysaccharide from Nostoc commune

Nostoc commune Vaucher, a terrestrial and benthic blue-green alga, widely used in food and medicine worldwide. N. commune Polysaccharides (NCVP) have excellent biological activities, especially immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic and anti-tumor activities. However, the mechanism and structure-activity relationship of NCVP has been less studied. In this study, based on methylation and NMR results, a novel polysaccharide NCVP2 with 135 kDa, containing→4)-α-D-Galp-(1→, → 4)-β-D-Glcp-(1→, and →4)-α-D-Xylp-(1→ residues as the backbon, was sequentially purified from N.commune by DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-100 column. NCVP2 (50 μg/mL) exhibited the strong in vitro immunomodulatory activity by promoting the generation of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). A total of 2048 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by RNA-seq, including 1019 down-regulated genes and 1065 up-regulated genes. These DEGs were mainly enriched in the immune-related biological processes, involving in Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Furthermore, Western blot results proved NCVP2 could recognize TLR2 and TLR4/MD2, and regulate TLR7/IRF7, MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. In summary, a novel polysaccharide NCVP2 from N.commune was proposed to exhibit significant immunomodulatory effects with multiple-paths and targets, and has great potential in the development of healthy foods such as immunomodulators.

Molecular characterization of major oxidative potential active species in ambient PM2.5: Emissions from biomass burning and ship exhaust

Molecular characterization of major oxidative potential active species in ambient PM2.5: Emissions from biomass burning and ship exhaust

Myocardial cell mitochondria-targeted mesoporous polydopamine nanoparticles eliminate inflammatory damage in cardiovascular disease

Excess reactive oxide species (ROS) is a direct factor in myocardial injury death, thus anti-oxidant therapy is a necessary measure to prevent rapid death of cardiomyocyte cell. Cysteine (Cys) is a potent antioxidant but easily become instability because of the hyperactivity. Therefore, in order to protect the the stability of Cys, we according to the mitochondria are the main sites of ROS production, utilized the loading and ROS scavenging capacity of mesoporous polydopamine (mPDA) constructed a nanosystem targeting mitochondria with effectively ROS elimination capability by loading cysteine (Cys-mPDA@TPP). The mesoporous structure of mPDA effectively inhibited the advance reaction and hyperactivity of Cys, thus effectively improving its stability that reached the double-collaborative treatment excess ROS. In particular, Cys-mPDA@TPP achieved directly reacting with ROS in mitochondria under the targeting of triphenylphosphine (TPP), not only enhancing the elimination efficiency of ROS, but also preventing mitochondrial dysfunction of monocyte-macrophage. Furthermore, with double-collaborative ROS elimination, Cys-mPDA@TPP effectively prevent the damage of cardiomyocyte cell through inhibiting macrophage inflammatory response. Therefore, this study provides a new therapeutic strategy for myocardial inflammatory injury.

DES-driven sustainable dual valorization of lignocellulose into carbon dots and porous biochar for effective wastewater remediation

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are renowned for their effectiveness in deconstructing lignocellulose and extracting lignin, yet the challenges lie in lignin condensation and the disposal of the DES remnants after pretreatment. To overcome these issues, this work proposed a holistic strategy utilizing deep eutectic solvent (DES)-driven lignocellulose deconstruction to upgrade lignocellulose into nitrogen-doped carbon dots (CDs) and iron-decorated porous carbons, serving as photocatalysts and adsorbents, respectively. These nitrogen-doped CDs via the choline chloride/FeCl3 DES pretreatment exhibited abundant nitrogen/oxygen functional groups, enhancing photocatalytic activities and facilitating effective charge separation and transfer. The photocatalytic efficiency of the CDs on dyes reached 97 % under acidic conditions primarily, and free radical quenching experiments indicated that singlet oxygen was the dominant oxidant species. Moreover, the adsorption capabilities of Fe-decorated porous carbons for Congo red reached 2432.3 mg·g−1, surpassing most existing carbon materials. The adsorption mechanism was due to a synergistic effect including physical adsorption, coordination, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, and π-π interactions. This study proposed a synergetic conversion of DES and lignocellulose into functional carbon materials for wastewater remediation, which inspired the development of a green and cost-effective biorefinery.

Enhancing wound healing through innovative technologies: microneedle patches and iontophoresis.

Wound healing is a complex process involving multiple stages, including inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Effective wound management strategies are essential for accelerating healing and improving outcomes. The CELLADEEP patch, incorporating iontophoresis therapy and microneedle technology, was evaluated for its potential to enhance the wound healing process. This study utilized a full-thickness skin defect model in Sprague-Dawley rats, researchers compared wound healing outcomes between rats treated with the CELLADEEP Patch and those left untreated. Various histological staining techniques were employed to examine and assess the wound healing process, such as H&E, MT and immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory and proliferative capabilities were further investigated using biochemical assays. Macroscopic and microscopic analyses revealed that the CELLADEEP patch significantly accelerated wound closure, reduced wound width, and increased epidermal thickness and collagen deposition compared to an untreated group. The CELLADEEP patch decreased nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species levels, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, indicating effective modulation of the inflammatory response. Immunofluorescence staining showed reduced markers of macrophage activity (CD68, F4/80, MCP-1) in the patch group, suggesting a controlled inflammation process. Increased levels of vimentin, α-SMA, VEGF, collagen I, and TGF-β1 were observed, indicating enhanced fibroblast activity, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix production. The CELLADEEP patch demonstrated potential in promoting effective wound healing by accelerating wound closure, modulating the inflammatory response, and enhancing tissue proliferation and remodeling. The CELLADEEP patch offers a promising non-invasive treatment option for improving wound healing outcomes.

Cotton fabric coated with graphene oxide nanosheets and CuO nanoparticles as a “dip catalyst” for the photocatalytic degradation of dyes

This research focuses on the immobilization in-situ of CuO nanoparticles on graphene oxide nanosheets modified cotton fabric (CuO/GO@CF) for the photodegradation, of organic dyes. The process involves coating the fabrics (CF) with graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets through sonication.The produced CuO, GO@CF, and CuO/GO@CF have been characterized utilizing various physicochemical methods, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourrier Transformed Infra-Red (FTIR), trans mission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).The catalytic activity of the nanocomposite was assessed by methylene blue (MB) oxidation. Additionally, a detailed analysis was conducted to determine how various parameters, including catalyst surface, pH, MB concentration and CuO loading (%), affected the degradation efficiency. The results showed that the 10 %CuO/5 %GO@CF with a surface of 4 cm2 (2 × 2 cm) exhibited the highest catalytic activity, achieving a MB removal efficiency of 82 % in 90 min. Additionally, after successive reaction cycles, the synthesized composite showed excellent stability and no appreciable drop-in catalytic activity. Moreover, it was shown that the primary reactive oxidative species (ROSs) in charge of the extremely effective MB breakdown were HO.. Lastly, catalyst stability and recyclability showed that CuO/GO@CF might be used as a substitute photocatalyst for environmental cleanup and dye degradation. This synthetized composite can be easily added to and removed from the reaction solution while maintaining high catalytic performance in the removal of dyes and it could be beneficial in avoiding problems related to powder separation.