External-Radiation-Induced Local Hydroxylation Enables Remote Release of Functional Molecules in Tumors

Radiation-induced cleavage for controlled release in vivo is yet to be established. We demonstrate the use of 3,5-dihydroxybenzyl carbamate (DHBC) as a masking group that is selectively and efficiently removed by external radiation in vitro and in vivo. DHBC reacts mainly with hydroxyl radicals produced by radiation to afford hydroxylation at para/ortho positions, followed by 1,4- or 1,6-elimination to rescue the functionality of the client molecule. The reaction is rapid and can liberate functional molecules under physiological conditions. This controlled-release platform is compatible with living systems, as demonstrated by the release of a rhodol fluorophore derivative in cells and tumor xenografts. The combined benefits of the robust caging group, the good release yield, and the independence of penetration depth make DHBC derivatives attractive chemical caging moieties for use in chemical biology and prodrug activation.     

Cellular Synthesis and X-ray Crystal Structure of a Designed Protein Heterocatenane

Herein, we report the biosynthesis of protein heterocatenanes using a programmed sequence of multiple post-translational processing events including intramolecular chain entanglement, in situ backbone cleavage, and spontaneous cyclization. The approach is general, autonomous, and can obviate the need for any additional enzymes. The catenane topology was convincingly proven using a combination of SDS-PAGE, LC-MS, size exclusion chromatography, controlled proteolytic digestion, and protein crystallography. The X-ray crystal structure clearly shows two mechanically interlocked protein rings with intact folded domains. It opens new avenues in the nascent field of protein-topology engineering.     

Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4): An Interface Enabler for Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries

Solid-state Li metal batteries (SSLMBs) have attracted considerable interests due to their promising energy density as well as high safety. However, the realization of a well-matched Li metal/solid-state electrolyte (SSE) interface remains challenging. Herein, we report g-C₃N₄ as a new interface enabler. We discover that introducing g-C₃N₄ into Li metal can not only convert the Li metal/garnet-type SSE interface from point contact to intimate contact but also greatly enhance the capability to suppress the dendritic Li formation because of the greatly enhanced viscosity, decreased surface tension of molten Li, and the in situ formation of Li₃N at the interface. Thus, the resulting Li-C₃N₄|SSE|Li-C₃N₄ symmetric cell gives a significantly low interfacial resistance of 11 Ω cm² and a high critical current density (CCD) of 1500 μA cm⁻². In contrast, the same symmetric cell configuration with pristine Li metal electrodes has a much larger interfacial resistance (428 Ω cm²) and a much lower CCD (50 μA cm⁻²).     

A Hydrolytically Stable Vanadium(IV) Metal–Organic Framework with Photocatalytic Bacteriostatic Activity for Autonomous Indoor Humidity Control

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with long-term stability and reversible high water uptake properties can be ideal candidates for water harvesting and indoor humidity control. Now, a mesoporous and highly stable MOF, BIT-66 is presented that has indoor humidity control capability and a photocatalytic bacteriostatic effect. BIT-66 (V₃(O)₃(H₂O)(BTB)₂), possesses prominent moisture tunability in the range of 45–60 % RH and a water uptake and working capacity of 71 and 55 wt %, respectively, showing good recyclability and excellent performance in water adsorption–desorption cycles. Importantly, this MOF demonstrates a unique photocatalytic bacteriostatic behavior under visible light, which can effectively ameliorate the bacteria and/or mold breeding problem in water adsorbing materials.     

可持续高分子-纤维素新材料研究进展

21世纪"绿色"化学已成为世界各国社会经济发展中的研究与开发战略方向.纤维素是自然界中储量最丰富的天然高分子,是重要的可再生资源以及未来的主要工业原料.然而由于纤维素存在着大量的分子内以及分子间氢键,其结构致密,难以溶解或熔融进一步加工.本文简要介绍了近几年来关于直接使用物理溶剂方法(非衍生化)对纤维素材料开发利用的新进展,主要包括以下4个方面:(1)纤维素在"绿色"溶剂-碱/尿素以及离子液体体系中的溶解和再生;(2)纳米纤维素的制备以及组装;(3)木材纳米技术的开发及利用;(4)细菌纤维素基材料等,旨在推进"绿色"技术实现纤维素资源的研究开发及利用.     

A Hydrolytically Stable Vanadium(IV) Metal–Organic Framework with Photocatalytic Bacteriostatic Activity for Autonomous Indoor Humidity Control

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with long‐term stability and reversible high water uptake properties can be ideal candidates for water harvesting and indoor humidity control. Now, a mesoporous and highly stable MOF, BIT‐66 is presented that has indoor humidity control capability and a photocatalytic bacteriostatic effect. BIT‐66 (V₃(O)₃(H₂O)(BTB)₂), possesses prominent moisture tunability in the range of 45–60 % RH and a water uptake and working capacity of 71 and 55 wt %, respectively, showing good recyclability and excellent performance in water adsorption–desorption cycles. Importantly, this MOF demonstrates a unique photocatalytic bacteriostatic behavior under visible light, which can effectively ameliorate the bacteria and/or mold breeding problem in water adsorbing materials.     

Building an Air Stable and Lithium Deposition Regulable Garnet Interface from Moderate‐Temperature Conversion Chemistry

Garnet‐type electrolytes suffer from unstable chemistry against air exposure, which generates contaminants on electrolyte surface and accounts for poor interfacial contact with the Li metal. Thermal treatment of the garnet at >700 °C could remove the surface contaminants, yet it regenerates the contaminants in the air, and aggravates the Li dendrite issue as more electron‐conducting defective sites are exposed. In a departure from the removal approach, here we report a new surface chemistry that converts the contaminants into a fluorinated interface at moderate temperature <180 °C. The modified interface shows a high electron tunneling barrier and a low energy barrier for Li⁺ surface diffusion, so that it enables dendrite‐proof Li plating/stripping at a high critical current density of 1.4 mA cm^?2. Moreover, the modified interface exhibits high chemical and electrochemical stability against air exposure, which prevents regeneration of contaminants and keeps high critical current density of 1.1 mA cm^?2. The new chemistry presents a practical solution for realization of high‐energy solid‐state Li metal batteries.     

Precisely Tuning Photothermal and Photodynamic Effects of Polymeric Nanoparticles by Controlled Copolymerization

Cancer possesses normoxic and hypoxia microenvironments with different levels of oxygen, needing different efficacies of photothermal and photodynamic therapies. It is important to precisely tune the photothermal and photodynamic effects of phototherapy nano‐agents for efficient cancer treatment. Now, a series of copolymeric nanoparticles (PPy‐Te NPs) were synthesized in situ by controlled oxidative copolymerization with different ratios of pyrrole to tellurophene by FeCl₃. The photothermal and photodynamic effects of semiconducting nano‐agents under the first near‐infrared (NIR) irradiation were precisely and systematically tuned upon simply varying the molar ratio of the pyrrole to tellurophene. The PPy‐Te NPs were used for cancer treatment in mice, exhibiting excellent biocompatibility and therapeutic effect. This work presents a simple method to tune photothermal and photodynamic therapies effect in semiconducting nano‐agents for cancer treatment.     

Anti-inflammatory bibenzyls from the stems of Dendrobium huoshanense via bioassay guided isolation

Abstract

The stems of Dendrobium huoshanense have long been used to prevent various diseases, including inflammatory diseases. This study was aimed to explain the anti-inflammatory effect of D. huoshanense stems in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages and to discover potential anti-inflammatory compounds. Results exhibited that D. huoshanense stems ethanol extract could significantly inhibit LPS-induced production of NO, TNF-α and IL-1β. Based on bioassay guided strategy, four bibenzyls (1–4) were isolated from D. huoshanense stems for the first time. Anti-inflammatory assay showed 1–4 could remarkably inhibit the production of NO in LPS-induced macrophages. Moreover, quantitative RT-PCR analysis displayed that the mRNA levels of iNOs, TNF-α and IL-1β could also be significantly reduced by 1–4. These results suggested that D. huoshanense stems ethanol extract and bibenzyls 1–4 might be well developed as therapeutic agent to prevent inflammatory diseases.     

Structural and Electrical Properties of Be_xZn_(1-x)O Alloys under High Pressure

We conduct extensive research into the structures of Be_xZn_1-xOO ternary alloys in a pressure range of 0-60GPa,using the ab initio total energy evolutionary algorithm and total energy calculations,finding several metastable structures.Our pressure-composition phase diagram is constructed using the enthalpy results.In addition,we calculate the electronic structures of the Be_xZn_1-xOO structures and investigate the bandgap values at varying pressures and Be content.The calculated results show that the bandgap of the Be_xZn_1-xOO ternary alloys increases with an increase in Be content at the same pressure.Moreover,the bandgap of the Be_xZn_1-xOO ternary alloys increases with the increasing pressure with fixed Be content.At the same Be content,the formation enthalpy of the Be_xZn_1-xOO ternary alloys first decreases,then increases with the increasing pressure.